I learned today that this famous quote is not by Goethe afterall...
“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.”
But it is still inspiring.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
That America is capable of change
Today feels like New Years, a fresh clean start. The first day of the rest of my life!
Barack Obama was elected the 44th President of the United States last night. I am filled with hope and pride, and am happy that I can hold my head up high as an American - the first time in over 8 years! People all around the globe are celebrating today!
Be the change! We still have a lot of hard work ahead of us, but I believe we can do it, like I haven't in years!
Barack Obama was elected the 44th President of the United States last night. I am filled with hope and pride, and am happy that I can hold my head up high as an American - the first time in over 8 years! People all around the globe are celebrating today!
Be the change! We still have a lot of hard work ahead of us, but I believe we can do it, like I haven't in years!
Friday, October 31, 2008
Sadly, Studs Terkel has gone the way of history
A "real person" hero of mine died today, Halloween 2008.
Studs made the largest impact on the world by recording oral histories of the "everyman" and collecting them, edited, into volumes.
A true humanist and a believer in our individual spirit, he died today at the age of 96. He would record hours of people's stories then mine them for the gold nugget of truth and perspective. He believed that everybody had a story to tell.
"My discovery was people needed to be needed by others, need to count; that's the word," he said in an interview with the AP.
I've never met him, but I will miss him. May his story go on to inspire every one.
Studs made the largest impact on the world by recording oral histories of the "everyman" and collecting them, edited, into volumes.
A true humanist and a believer in our individual spirit, he died today at the age of 96. He would record hours of people's stories then mine them for the gold nugget of truth and perspective. He believed that everybody had a story to tell.
"My discovery was people needed to be needed by others, need to count; that's the word," he said in an interview with the AP.
I've never met him, but I will miss him. May his story go on to inspire every one.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
A great couple is getting married
Today I learned that a wonderful couple - Missy & Mirna - are getting married tomorrow at City Hall here in San Francisco. They have been together 13 years, and thanks to Gavin Newsom and the CA Supreme Court, they as a same-sex couple are able to strengthen their bond and become family under CA state law.
If the hideous Prop 8 passes their marriage may be voided. Believe me, they are a sweet wonderful pair of women, more deserving of marriage than a lot of people I know. If you knew them, you'd agree, and be perplexed as to how anyone could think they shouldn't be allowed to be married.
I am thrilled for them! Getting married is the single best thing that I have ever done. My life has gotten better and better since P and I went to city hall over 7 years ago and tied the knot.
Congrats, ladies! Enjoy your special day, and may you be married every day the rest of your lives!
If the hideous Prop 8 passes their marriage may be voided. Believe me, they are a sweet wonderful pair of women, more deserving of marriage than a lot of people I know. If you knew them, you'd agree, and be perplexed as to how anyone could think they shouldn't be allowed to be married.
I am thrilled for them! Getting married is the single best thing that I have ever done. My life has gotten better and better since P and I went to city hall over 7 years ago and tied the knot.
Congrats, ladies! Enjoy your special day, and may you be married every day the rest of your lives!
Monday, October 27, 2008
An eerie synchronicity with my namesake
Today I learned that my namesake and I share something else in addition to our name: both of our fathers died when we were infants. Her father died while her mother was in childbirth, so her mother named Joen after him.
The day I was born, 1-1-71, my father named me after her, then died 19 days later.
Could my father have known this connection?
The day I was born, 1-1-71, my father named me after her, then died 19 days later.
Could my father have known this connection?
Sunday, October 26, 2008
That my namesake is among the foremost Gestalt therapists in this country
I just received an email from someone who knows Joen Fagan and apparently found my blog posting from yesterday.
She said that in addition to being "among the foremost Gestalt therapists in this country", Dr. Fagan is "among the most intelligent people you would have ever met." She has had a following in Atlanta for years, was a professor at Georgia State, and has trained scores of psychotherapists.
Lastly she advised that I might want to be a little less flip about carrying her name. (And I so did not mean any disrespect).
Now that I know so much more about her, I'm blown away. It makes me wonder if my father knew more about her, maybe he had met her, or if he had just been so moved by the information he was reading - that he decided to give me her name.
Regardless, I hope anyone who reads this understands the pain and difficulty of being given a name by a man, my own father, who dies less than three weeks later. I was raised in Oklahoma with this unusual name, and although I knew I was named after someone, I have yet to meet anyone else who has ever heard of or has known someone with our name: Joen.
My father was 33 when he died from skin cancer. My mother was 28. They had been married only 6 years, had two children ages 5 and 3 and was pregnant with me when they found out that he had terminal cancer. That's why my mom told him he could name the baby whatever he wanted. His legacy was to name me Joen, as I now know, after an author of a textbook on Gestalt therapy that he was reading.
And now I know that my namesake is brilliant, highly respected, and is living in Atlanta, GA!
She said that in addition to being "among the foremost Gestalt therapists in this country", Dr. Fagan is "among the most intelligent people you would have ever met." She has had a following in Atlanta for years, was a professor at Georgia State, and has trained scores of psychotherapists.
Lastly she advised that I might want to be a little less flip about carrying her name. (And I so did not mean any disrespect).
Now that I know so much more about her, I'm blown away. It makes me wonder if my father knew more about her, maybe he had met her, or if he had just been so moved by the information he was reading - that he decided to give me her name.
Regardless, I hope anyone who reads this understands the pain and difficulty of being given a name by a man, my own father, who dies less than three weeks later. I was raised in Oklahoma with this unusual name, and although I knew I was named after someone, I have yet to meet anyone else who has ever heard of or has known someone with our name: Joen.
My father was 33 when he died from skin cancer. My mother was 28. They had been married only 6 years, had two children ages 5 and 3 and was pregnant with me when they found out that he had terminal cancer. That's why my mom told him he could name the baby whatever he wanted. His legacy was to name me Joen, as I now know, after an author of a textbook on Gestalt therapy that he was reading.
And now I know that my namesake is brilliant, highly respected, and is living in Atlanta, GA!
Saturday, October 25, 2008
My namesake has a private psychology practice
Today I discovered that my namesake, Joen Fagan PhD, has a private psychologists practice in Atlanta, GA.
I don't know whether I should call to speak with her, write her a letter, or be crazy and spontaneous and make an appointment to meet with her, live and in person. Not that she would meet me.
I'm really not sure what I intend to get from meeting my namesake, since she had very little to do with my birth, aside from writing the book my father happened to be reading when I as born. And subsequently named me after, just before he died 19 days later.
I don't know whether I should call to speak with her, write her a letter, or be crazy and spontaneous and make an appointment to meet with her, live and in person. Not that she would meet me.
I'm really not sure what I intend to get from meeting my namesake, since she had very little to do with my birth, aside from writing the book my father happened to be reading when I as born. And subsequently named me after, just before he died 19 days later.
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