Category: greatest hits

If—
Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

The poem, ‘If—’ by Rudyard Kipling awakens the positive feelings in a reader’s mind. While reading the lines, readers become enlightened concerning how to tackle the odds of life. Not only that, but also they start to realize what success means. It is not about winning a battle. Rather it’s about how one fights in the war and stands courageously until the end.

Janine-

Thanks for your insights. They’re reassuring and on point.

Most who see my videos say, “Nice but what is it about?” Or they may say nothing for fear they will appear stupid. Art never has one meaning. It is interpreted by the viewer. Some people don’t think in metaphors. So of course they assume it is some kind of intimidating code. They try too hard.

And maybe it is code. Poetry is symbolic or hidden meaning often. Does that make it better poetry? Not really. But ferreting out the meaning from a poem or a montage is like interpreting dreams.

There are times when some people tell me what they see or feel from a video montage and I think, “How insightful? I just learned something from them.” or “They get it.”

You get it.

More comments below.
On 2/1/22 11:06, Janine wrote:

Hourglass Revisited
There’s so much truth in this video. I agree with this statement: “The black widow symbolizes female loneliness.”
And I would add she represents a woman’s fear of powerlessness and her belief that she must be more male to be empowered and escape victimhood.
I think it’s getting better for boys and girls. MAYBE (I guess it depends on the day or circumstance). But it’s still nowhere good enough.

You definitely get it.

I believe — but am no scientist or expert — that there is a inner part of men that is fragile and vulnerable. These are their female characteristics. Many men hate weakness. Not only in others but in themselves. They refuse to see their tenderness and sensitivity. They bury it or ignore it or deny it. They even want to kill it. If they can they will project it on someone they perceive as weaker and call them dirty and unworthy and try eradicating them with gas chambers and genocide.

A weird thing is happening, media and movies and sport events want women to be tough like men. Even look like men. Spit and snort like animals. Not even men — animals. And women think they need to be equal in strength or better than men. They may think this is the only way they can survive in this world.

I once read an article in Fortune 500 magazine, they were studying women who served as CEO’s in Fortune 500 companies. All these women said their secret weapon to rise to power was their femininity. Not their sexuality. Sleeping their way to the top doesn’t earn the respect of men. Instead men despise those women. (Long story on why another day).

So how did femininity help them. By not trying to act or dress or talk like men or sex symbols, these women stood out. They were then recognized as intelligent and different. Their difference was the distinguishing factor. They wore colorful dresses. Not sexy dresses. Feminine. In a room full of suits, they were different.

Differentiation is a prime marketing tactic. They let men open doors for them. It was their contrast — not their sameness. They became respected for being strong and disciplined women. Their voices were heard.

Now is this every woman’s experience? I doubt it. But for a few, this strategy worked and it was the commonality of the female CEOs. These women earned millions as CEOs.

I never would guess that as a contributor to their power position.

So a lot of men and women are mistaken in their ideas of egalitarianism. Women would do better being women than try to act like men. It’s contrary to honesty. Wearing a tough male mask is recognized as fake.

Not Sons
It’s interesting that you would share this now. I read this poem two weeks ago. And remember thinking that even women and girls have lost their way. So I think amid all the confusion of our modern times, the poem “If” is good advice for any human being. In this case, the word if is synonymous with hope.

Yes. The video is about hope and empowerment. There are ways to overcome or compensate for supposed weaknesses and be seen as a superhero.

For the women portrayed in the video, they all felt empowered when the got their prosthetics. Not ashamed, they decorated their artificial limbs. The accentuated them into symbols. Their difference became their trademark of overcoming the odds. They were showing that they wouldn’t give up. Not giving up is tenacity born from hope.

So I like how you reference the Warrior Daughter. I do have warrior daughters. They are sensitive souls. But watch out if you decide to cross their boundaries.

Over the course of my own life, I’ve tried with all my might not to allow my pain, my disappointments, and my fears to decide how I interact with others. You are a champion. Don’t stop.

Bottom line
As always your content is thoughtful and thought-provoking. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for investing the time to watch and analyze them. I appreciate that. More than you might expect.

I value your opinion.

-Steve

3:47 minutes

When parents are physically present — but emotionally absent, this is emotional abandonment. Neglect.

What are the consequences of intense childhood loss?
Feeling unsafe, fearful and alone.

What do we feel from emotional abandonment?

• social alienation
• guilt
• anxiety
• clinginess
• insomnia
• nightmares
• eating disorders
• anger issues
• depression
• substance abuse
• traumatic reenactment in relationships

6:13 minutes

STORY by Levi Teare

Dark eyes.

That’s all I remembered of the woman.

I wasn’t sure if it was her

until our eyes met.

Those enigmatic coffee brown eyes drew me in.

I had seen her once before in a cosmic moment, I can’t remember where.

No words were spoken, and now again,

our eyes were locked in a room full of people.

She kept looking, never moving her gaze.

Not for a second.

I knew I had to move.

The fates were providing me a chance that I would not- could not ignore.

My feet were moving before I could talk myself out of it.

I split the crowd like a surfer through waves and washed up on that dreamy shore.

Now we stood in front of one another, no words coming to either of us.

That cosmic feeling returned as if the stars aligned on that very spot.

I didn’t sweat or shift my weight, awkwardly trying to force words out.

I was in blissful silence.

The woman looked up at me, her soft dark features would have been expressionless.

But those eyes, those mysterious, deep eyes sparkled with wonder.

She held up a hand, still making eye contact.

I took it, her skin was warm and soft.

I opened my mouth to speak.

Then we were moving.

The woman guided me gently through the crowd.

Out of stone archways and into the still night air.

The stars fell like snow around us.

An enormous moon held up the sky, illuminating our features.

The woman turned to me once more, her straight nose, sharp cheekbones, and soft angelic lips took my breath in the moonlight.

I know you. She says quietly. Stars catching in her long eyelashes.

Her voice took away any chill from the night air.

You do. And I know you. I said hoarsely.

The stars were sticking in her hair and to her clothes.

I knew they must be on mine too.

Tell me my name. She whispered.

Daphne, like the flower.

And yours is Paris, She laid a hand on my cheek.

Your hair matches your eyes.

Blond?

Beautiful.

My heart smiled.

I had never been called handsome – or beautiful.

I felt recognized.

You know me. I said. And you already know your worth. But you are breathtaking.

She smiled revealing dimples.

I know you and you know my worth too.

I do. You are valued beyond riches and kingdoms, my heart bleeds for you.

Do you know your worth? Daphne asked.

Show me.

She stretched out her hand and caught the falling stars.

They fall for you. She said. They fall to kneel at your feet. You are a king.

The stars don’t fall for me. Daphne. I said in a small voice.

She walked me to the far side of the stone courtyard through crumbling archways.

She pointed to the sky.

The moonlight travels thousands of miles just to touch your face.

I’m just one in hundreds of people that the moonlight touches. I dismissed the thought.

Daphne sighed.

You are the only one I’m with tonight. Paris.

If the stars don’t fall for you, and the moon doesn’t shine for you. Then I am.

Can’t Take My Eyes Off You
Frankie Valli

[Verse 1]
You’re just too good to be true
Can’t take my eyes off of you
You’d be like Heaven to touch
I wanna hold you so much
At long last love has arrived
And I thank God I’m alive
You’re just too good to be true
Can’t take my eyes off you

[Verse 2]
Pardon the way that I stare
There’s nothing else to compare
The sight of you leaves me weak
There are no words left to speak
But if you feel like I feel
Please let me know that it’s real
You’re just too good to be true
Can’t take my eyes off you

[Chorus]
I love you, baby, and if it’s quite alright
I need you, baby, to warm the lonely night
I love you, baby, trust in me when I say:
Oh, pretty baby, don’t bring me down, I pray
Oh, pretty baby, now that I found you, stay
And let me love you, baby, let me love you

[Verse 3]
You’re just too good to be true
Can’t take my eyes off you
You’d be like Heaven to touch
I wanna hold you so much
At long last love has arrived
And I thank God I’m alive
You’re just too good to be true
Can’t take my eyes off you

[Chorus]
I love you, baby, and if it’s quite alright
I need you, baby, to warm the lonely night
I love you, baby, trust in me when I say:
Oh, pretty baby, don’t bring me down, I pray
Oh, pretty baby, now that I found you, stay
And let me love you, baby, let me love you

[Chorus]
I love you, baby, and if it’s quite alright
I need you, baby, to warm the lonely night
I love you, baby, trust in me when I say:
Oh, pretty baby, don’t bring me down, I pray
Oh, pretty baby, now that I found you, stay
And let me love you, baby, let me love you
Knowledge Drop: Lauryn Hill Reportedly Recorded “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You” While Lying On The Floor