"We never know how much strength and courage we have within us until we are faced with adversity."
"We never know how much resiliency we have to tap into until we have to endure."
"We never know the mountains we can climb until we are faced with nothing but mountains."
"We never know how strong our bonds, our relationships, are until they are thoroughly tested."
"We never know the storms we can weather until we've been put through the worst ones."
"We never know how much we can shine until we are faced with pure darkness."
"We never know the true essence of love and its many components, until we truly love and are truly loved in return."

~ Quotes-By-Artsieladie

As long as both parties involved are still living. But once one of the parties passes on, it's pretty impossible to make things right with the other person then. Hence, “Unspoken words of today can become regrets of tomorrow.” ~ Artsieladie #Quotes

This is why I try to make a point to say what I feel in my heart as I feel it, because we don't ever know "if" tomorrow will ever arrive for ourselves or others and should it not, then we're left with the regret of not saying what's in our heart or we've left without saying what's in our heart, leaving another or others behind to always wonder.

So we should say what's in our hearts and we should strive to make things right while we still have the chance, today. If we wait or put it off, there may not be a tomorrow to be able to. <3

"The biggest coward is a man who awakens a woman's love with no intention of loving her."

Digi-torials-By-Artsieladie

Quotes-By-Artsieladie - "When you choose to walk the 'pathway of truth and honesty', the going in front of you may get rough at times, but your focus will remain clear, because you won't have to worry about the lies creeping up on you from behind." ~ Artsieladie / @Artsie_ladie

Naomi:
"Love is the secret password to every soul."

Love, true love, in its purest form, is divine, magical, and it's the one force that can wipe out any and all negative forces. But, it's too often cut with lesser and negative elements, and this lesser version then, still perceived as love, true love, can become seen as the negative and ultimately blamed for whatever went or goes wrong.

Love is comprised of many components: caring, kindness, compassion, forgiveness, respect, trust, understanding, empathy, humility, etc.. Such elements as jealousy, control, distrust, ego driven pride, disrespect... these are often brought into the "love equation" and it is elements such as these that then "taint" the love.

Sex is often confused "as love", which is completely false. Sex and love are not interchangeable, for one can have love, show love, give love, but they need not be compelled to have sex to show and/or feel love. Two consenting adults can choose to engage in sex, but this is not the "determining factor" of love. Too many mistake sex for love and then wonder why when the physical sex becomes something similar to yesterday's event, they no longer feel like they are really connected. It's because their connection isn't any deeper than their physical selves. When there is a deep connection, an unbreakable bond formed, that which true love creates, even if or when the physical connection becomes less intense, the bond of love remains not only in tact, but grows in strength and to depths deeper within.

Sex, in and of itself, is a "physical activity" that takes place between two consenting adults. When it is carried out between two people who love each other, "as an extension of love", it is then "making love", because it is a way used to express love and cultivate intimacy between the two people "in love". But THIS is not a necessary component of love. It's an "optional extension" of romantic love.

We can love without sex. This is evident when we love parents, siblings, children, friends, etc.. Since love is "felt", we can feel love for others beyond a "physical presence".

Intimacy and sex are not interchangeable either. There can be intimacy without sex. True intimacy relies heavily on trust. Without complete trust, intimacy in its truest sense cannot be reached.

I find that many people tend to jump to an automatic conclusion when it is said that a woman loves a man or a man loves a woman. It is very often assumed there is sex involved. Yes, there "could" be, but not necessarily. Anyone who assumes this, then it's made apparent that they've never loved a person of the opposite gender without having sex with them. But then, such individuals should not be judging others in accordance with themselves.

Trevor McLeod:
"If someone has to inform the world just how great and wonderful they are or how special they are, then they are none of this. Those who are really great or good or special have no need to speak it, clarify it. Their actions show it and as we all know, actions speak louder than words ever could. Besides a great or good or a special person will not see themselves as such since they are humble. They do not do what they do for attention or pride for they have no ego to please or vanity to polish. Instead you will find them standing behind others, encouraging or even pushing others to be better or greater than they think themselves to be."

Trevor hit this square on the head. I have nothing to add except that I completely agree.

With the end of the last line, "...encouraging or even pushing others to be better or greater than they think themselves to be."

This is especially true when you deeply and truly care about someone. When you care so much for or about someone and you have to watch or even be subjected to a lesser side of them, when you know they are SO much better than that which they're choosing to project, it can really do a number on you inside, emotionally. I find it's usually because they have so little faith in themselves, so they give in and coast along on mediocrity while their true greatness goes untapped and uncultivated. THIS is indeed such a waste. :(

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Censorship... ( https://www.aclu.org/free-speech/censorship )

"Censorship, the suppression of words, images, or ideas that are "offensive," happens whenever some people succeed in imposing their personal political or moral values on others. Censorship can be carried out by the government as well as private pressure groups. Once you allow the government to censor someone else, you cede to it the power to censor you, or something you like. Censorship is like poison gas: a powerful weapon that can harm you when the wind shifts. Censorship by the government is unconstitutional because freedom of speech is protected in the First Amendment, and is guaranteed to all Americans."

I couldn't agree with you more. Mainstream media "serves" the BEST interests of the self-serving zealots, those running our government. MM deliberately and methodically focuses on topics to "distract" The People and to keep The People distracted so The People won't be likely to pay attention to the corruption that's going on with the government behind the scenes.

MM also serves the best interests of big business, just as our government does. MM is officiated over by the CFR and all the major news outlets are ALL under the control of the CFR. Each and every time there's another merger, it means more control of what we're allowed to know about. Walt Disney, which many people think is just a movie maker for kids, is nothing more than a greedy, underhanded MONSTER, as well as Time Warner.

..And patents have become nothing more than tools for the filthy rich conglomerates to rape the pockets of The People.

I fight suppression and control and censorship of the Internet EVERY chance I get, because, what so many people don't realise is that it is the ONE tool that can bring The People the truth, the WHOLE truth, which MM is so against and so, so is the government made up of greedy, self serving zealots. IF we, The People, allow ANY group or government to gain control of it, then we, The People, will be the ultimate losers. If the Internet wasn't such a vital and powerful tool for controlling The People, then those who want to control it, wouldn't be so hellbent on gaining control of it.

...And the UN sucks!! The UN is after control of the Internet, because the UN is NO longer for "world peace AMONG nations". The UN is for "One World Government" and our president is just one of its puppets!

Just like this damn Obamacare. How many Americans are aware of what's in it? RFID chips! There are provisions in it for RFID chips. First, we, The American People are being forced to buy something whether or not we can afford it. Then once we are all registered, next will come the "mandatory installation" of RFID chips. How many even KNOW what they are!? How many also know the control over all of us that would be given to our corrupt government through RFID chips?

Obama is firing high ranking military officials who are failing HIS "litmus test". What's the litmus test? It is a test that asks our military if they will fire on American citizens if they are given orders to. IF whoever is questioned and says "No, they won't" then they are fired. It seems our bloody ignorant president is forgetting that our military takes an oath to serve and uphold our Constitution and to PROTECT the American People. They do NOT take an oath to "serve the president"! But then, he took an oath as well, to uphold the Constitution and to serve the best interests of America and her People. Yet, he has the colossal gall to call Snowden a traitor! ..That Snowden is not keeping "his" oath! 

How many Americans are aware of the FEMA camps that are in existence in the US? ..And that more are being made?

If the American People don't wake up and damn soon, we are all doomed to another Hitler like regime -or- worse. Never say "never" because when we become too comfortable with things as they are and too trusting of our government, we are then under the illusion that tyranny will never happen here, which will make us all "primed for easy pickin's".

..And all this ridiculous blame being placed on Snowden for "telling the truth"! ..And Julian Assange too! ..And Bradley Manning being punished for exposing the truth about the war crimes being committed AGAINST innocent People!

Now America's allies are also questioning our government's ethical and immoral practices with the invasion of privacy. People's privacy is not to be taken lightly or easily dismissed, but GUARDED most profusely. The RFID chips will completely and totally DESTROY EVERYONE's privacy and not just our privacy, but we will be tracked EVERY where we go, EVERY thing we do, EVERY thing we say, etc., etc. and if we don't allow ourselves to be chipped? Well, then we can be held in contempt AND indefinitely and without due cause. ..And if anyone doubts what I'm saying, may I suggest you Google the NDAA act implemented by Obama? Please, read it for yourself! Then tell me that Obama isn't laying the ground work for a MUCH, MUCH bigger plan.

Doing a photo edit for a friend...

This is his original photo:


..And here's the first steps finished in the editing process. I still have to remove the "jpg-ness" and add back some of the dog's longer hairs in a few places. ..And the background may change.

Elfpack-Halloween-Competitions

How can some people "live" with themselves, when they KNOW that a person is telling the truth and the accuser is lying and covering up the truth, but yet, they CHOOSE to not speak up and tell what they know, leaving the person wrongly accused made to be continuously punished, tormented, and victimized? What kind of people would do such a heinous act of apathetic and callous disregard?