"The afternoon knows what the morning never suspected." ~ Robert Frost

My 'morning' was a lengthy and thorough preparation for my afternoon, not to mention my evening. Twenty years ago I had absolutely no idea my life would be anything like what I am experiencing now. What will the night be like? I am grateful!
Love, Diederik

"It is not the neurotic's self-concern, whether pity or contempt, which breaks the circle formation; the cue to cure is self-transcendence!" ~ Viktor Frankl

Ah, yes to take my 'cue' and realize that the suffering, the embarrassment, the shame, was all written, directed, and acted out by me. Life becomes fun and amusing when I hold this to be true; where I an take a moment after an event, look about me thoughtfully, and joyfully say "...And scene!"

Love,
Dave

*Dave is a counsellor with Choose Again, offering sessions in Vancouver

"My experience is what I agree to attend to." ~ William James

I like the wording here, as it reveals experience as an interaction between the internal and external, with the ultimate decision coming from me.
Love, Dave

"I will not serve God like a labourer, in expectation of my wages." ~ Idries Shaw

Serving 'God like a labourer' implies inequality. Only in Oneness can I genuinely and joyfuly serve. The wages are inherent in the serving, not as a reward, earned at great cost to myself, at some later stage.
Love, Diederik

"Not to take possession of your life plan is to let your existence be an accident." ~ Yalom

Now, letting my life be an 'accident' would be just fine if I enjoyed the 'accident', however that is rarely the case; accidents are generally speaking not enjoyable. I have to take ownership, I have to accept my role as the dreamer of the dream AND I have to accept the faith based position that all ahs always been for me. The question: "What is this for?" now becomes the first thought rather than that old tiresome refrain of "Why is this happening to me?" Piece of cake...

Love,
Diederik

*Diederik is the founder and program director for Choose Again

"A curious thought experiment....Nietzsche's message to us was to live life in such a way that we would be willing to repeat the same life eternally." ~ Yalom

Who could have thought that Nietzsche and ACIM would be teaching the same lesson: "You are asked to live so as to demonstrate that you are not an ego." If I lived that way I would be more than willing, or, rather, I would not have a choice to live forever. Ego is the idea of time. No ego = no time = eternity.
Love, Diederik

"People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can't find them, make them." ~ George Bernard Shaw

It may be a matter of beginning to recognize and accept that whatever I have in my life is my choice, or, at the very least, to accept that my experience of whatever happens is my choice. From that place of absolute accountability I have the freedom to become a creator. 
Love, Diederik

“The more we acquire the more we crave, and the deeper our sadness when our yearning is not satisfied. Lads, listen to me: If you crave happiness, do not waste your life struggling for that which you really do not need." ~ Yalom
 
It is so tempting; it is so seductive when happiness and joy seem to elude me to search for a quickly available substitute. Nothing I think I may need will ever truly bring me a deeply grounded sense of Peace. 
Love, Diederik