Reading many Kerouac biographies is fueling greater interest in the work of Ginsberg. This is the first part of the poem, well illustrated with strange figures.
I wanted to make this list to remind myself of what brings me joy. I try to make a concentrated effort to remember what makes me happy in life, and to identify and allow myself to enjoy happiness. This was my vow to myself after deciding to stop taking medications for depression. My belief is that we can reprogram the brain to do just about anything we want it to do, including overcoming the negative pathology that we label depressive disorders. When I feel down, I think about my favorite things, the reasons I love this life, the reasons God put me here, the things that bring me peace and open my heart to joy. Of course, there are levels to everything. If you know me, you know it is never that simple. When I was thinking on how to organize this list, I decided I really need to explain the levels. It is one thing to know you like something, it is another to understand the level at which you love it best. I think you'll be able to follow me here with each category (alphabetical to avoid unintended preferential bias). ANIMALS: Good: Watching them Better: Snuggling/Hugging/Petting/Loving them Best: Knowing you are loved back by them BOOKS Good: reading an interesting book Better: reading an interesting book that teaches you something, makes you laugh out loud, or makes you think Best: reading an interesting book that teaches you something, makes you laugh out loud, or makes you think and then discussing it with a friend who has also read it and has some opinions that challenge or add to your impressions BURRITOS Good: homemade ground beef burritos Better: Freebirds Chicken Burrito: whole wheat tortilla, refried beans, monterrey jack cheese, dark meat chicken, lots of BBQ sauce Best: Eva's beef burrito dinner (covered in chili gravy and melted cheese) or Doneraki's Burritos Texas Style CHILDREN Good: smile or laugh of child Better: Smile or laugh of your child Best: Smile or laugh of child because of something you are doing together CHURCH Good: being in church and learning something meaningful Better: being in church, learning something meaningful, and being surrounded by friends and family of faith Best:being in church, learning something meaningful, being surrounded by friends and family of faith, really feeling God's presence and knowing that others feel it, too DOGS Good: petting a dog Better: training a dog Best: that "a-ha!" moment when they finally understand something you've been trying to teach them FRIENDS Good: being around friends Better: Being around friends who really "get you" Best: Being around friends who really "get you" and having an intense conversation about something inspiring GEOCACHING Good: going someplace to hunt for container or knowledge Better: going someplace cool/beautiful/that you've never been to to hunt for interesting/noteworthy/creative container or answers to questions you never knew existed Best: going someplace cool/beautiful/that you've never been to with some friends that you really enjoy to hunt for interesting/noteworthy/creative container full of trackable items or answer questions that teach you history/geography HORSES Good: being around them Better: Riding Best: Riding bareback MONKEYS Good: Watching them Better: Watching them enjoy something Best: Watching them enjoy something you gave them MOUNTAINS Good: seeing pictures or driving by mountains Better: driving through, near mountains; Upper Cascades Best: Driving up/on or hiking in mountains; Rockies OCEANS Good: being at the beach Better: playing in the water or on the beach with someone whose company you truly enjoy Best: Floating in the ocean with no cares in the world Other Good Things: Burgers Chili con Queso
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