You don't have to hold an opinion about every topic that comes your way. It's just not possible to know everything there is to know about every little thing, so most of the time any opinion that you're defending is simply on shaky ground. That's a weak stance to maintain. That weakness can breed insecurity. … Continue reading Friendly Suggestion
Tag: life
Return to Love
A Course In Miracles says: "only love is real." And yet we tend to get caught up in the world of illusions, when we are anything but loving to each other. Forgiveness is more than just something that's nice to do. Forgiveness frees you from the illusions of anger and fear, and brings you back … Continue reading Return to Love
Valuation
Alan Watts said: "Life is not a problem to be solved, but an experience to be had." It seems that we're all taught the contrary; to view life as a series of problems to be solved. It's certainly an effective way to find success in business. Positioning yourself as the one who can solve the … Continue reading Valuation
Simply Splendid
It really can be as simple as deciding each morning that you are in a good mood. Even if you suspect that it might be a little more complicated than that, what's the harm in giving it a try? At the very least you should let go of any upset over yesterday. Don't ruin your … Continue reading Simply Splendid
Defenselessness
This may sound counterintuitive, but whenever you feel the need to defend yourself, you're really just creating an enemy to defend against. There's always more to the story besides our own self-focused perspective, and we get to be in charge of our reactions. So when we find ourselves in the middle of a fight, defending … Continue reading Defenselessness
Liberate
It can be so satisfying to purge old, unused clothes, knick-knacks and junk. Freeing yourself of all that clutter can make you feel like a brand new person, inspired to live your best life. Stale, worn-out thoughts and ideas can clutter your mind just as much as physical stuff does to your home. The best … Continue reading Liberate
All Things
When we think in human terms, it can be easy to feel hopeless, because humans are fallible. But I have a personal mantra that I remind myself with daily, which is the fact that there is always more to the story. And especially when things seems to get real dark and hopeless, I have to … Continue reading All Things
We Are Love
I read an incredible quote from Deepak Chopra today. He said: "A person desperately searching for love, Merlin said, reminds me of a fish desperately searching for water." In other words, love is all around us. It's what we breathe. Love is the force that gives us life. We don't need to search for love. … Continue reading We Are Love
Fully Lived
I have this habit I'm working to change, where I tend to not fully live in the now. I tend to waste my precious moments wishing that it was a future moment in time, a time I think will be better than the present. I'm trying to change this habit, because I've realized it's a … Continue reading Fully Lived
Mindfulness
It seems to me that the people who get the most upset at opposing viewpoints, are the ones who aren't fully confident in their own. Why else would they feel so threatened? Why else would they feel so manic about enforcing their point of view, if they weren't fully confident that it was a solid, … Continue reading Mindfulness
Filter
Do you realize that nothing seems to be changing in your life, or rather, nothing seems to be changing for the better, because you don't really expect it to? If you don't expect good news, then how can it come to you? If you don't expect positive change, well then you're going to get what … Continue reading Filter
Choose Kindness
The only way to know you've made a good decision is if your heart feels light and free after making it. You know what is the right choice. Any confusion you have is because there is a disconnect between your heart and your ego. A difference between love and fear. Here's a clear way of … Continue reading Choose Kindness
Folks
Our minds are powerful creative forces. What we think about with our minds is what we bring to us. What we focus upon expands. It's important to have an awareness of this, to think about what we do want, and to focus on all that is going right. Equally, we shouldn't waste any time on … Continue reading Folks
Unique Gift
There may be over seven billion people roaming about the planet right now, and then countless billions who have already come and gone, but even among all of those billions, there is no one else just like you. You are a unique gift to the world, and there will never be another you. You're special, … Continue reading Unique Gift
Decide
Decide what you are going to do to have the life that you want to live, and then do it. Don't just stop at wanting that life. If all you do is stay in the wanting phase, then you end up letting all kinds of noise and outside distractions keep you from ever achieving it. … Continue reading Decide
Turn
If it's still upsetting you when you think about the pain they caused, then realize that the upset has nothing to do with them. It's coming from you. Revenge and anger will do nothing to relieve you, only forgiveness can. If you're still upset, then you haven't fully forgiven them or yourself. You have to … Continue reading Turn
Simple
This may sound overly simple, but it's extremely empowering to remember that all we are ever really dealing with is a thought, and that can be changed. It truly just boils down to our thoughts on any given subject. Are we feeling resistance in our thoughts about it? Or are we in agreement with it? … Continue reading Simple
Listen
Listening is the most underrated superpower in the game. True listening is more than just hearing the other person out before you get your chance at the mic. True listening allows the other person to reveal themselves even more than they realize that they may be doing. If you really listen to the other person, … Continue reading Listen
Life
Death isn't rare or unique, or as mysterious as it can be romanticized. It will touch and affect every one of us at some point. Death isn't uncommon, but it doesn't need to be dreaded. Because it's a fact of life, so to speak, death can be a great reminder to live while you are … Continue reading Life
You
The single most consistent relationship you will ever have is the one with yourself. There's that expression, "wherever you go, there you are. " That alone should be enough of a reason to love yourself like your life depends on it. It just makes sense to either find a way to like yourself, or to … Continue reading You
Today
Today you woke up to that "tomorrow" you were only just dreaming about yesterday. Today is a chance to live your dream life. Why put it off for yet another tomorrow? Today you get to laugh. Today you get jump up and dance if you can. Today you get to delight yourself in taking stock … Continue reading Today
Happiness
Our happiness is determined by what is inside of us. It doesn't come from anything on the outside. In fact what comes to us from the outside world is a reflection of our inner thoughts. So if you're stuck on the illusion that you need to wait for a specific thing, or person, or result … Continue reading Happiness
Legacy
Abrupt endings have a way of waking you up. It reminds me of when I was learning how to ride a bike, and I was lucky enough to learn with training wheels. With them, I got to feel really confident riding my bike, until one day the training wheels were taken away, and much too … Continue reading Legacy
Epic Days
Speak up now. Take action today. Be prepared to have this be the last day you are remembered by, because tomorrow is not guaranteed. Love those around you. Forgive easily. Laugh and smile sincerely. Not because it puts others at ease, but because it makes life feel so much brighter for you, and because it … Continue reading Epic Days
Body and Soul
Wayne Dyer said: "Begin to see yourself as a soul with a body rather than a body with a soul." A soul is eternal. It is ageless and limitless. Our limited, aging bodies are only temporary garments we get to try on for a time. They are fragile and beautiful, but they are not all of … Continue reading Body and Soul
What’s Right
It's common to bond with each other over complaining about what's wrong with the world. But thinking about what's wrong, and then complaining about it is exactly how to perpetuate all that is wrong. We get what we think about. We create what we speak of. Jesus says: “Ask, and it shall be given to … Continue reading What’s Right
Cherish
It's a comforting thought to know that bad times won't last forever, because nothing lasts forever. Everything changes. Storms soon pass, and then the sun shines again. But the sun also sets. And good times don't last forever either, because everything changes. Businesses close their doors for good, children grow up and leave, and even … Continue reading Cherish
Optimism
I'm an optimist. I'm inclined to see the good in situations, and in the people I meet. It's a great way to move forward and gives momentum to push past obstacles. Yet it isn't always a guaranteed safeguard against hard times, or dubious characters. I'm well aware that it can't fix everything that's wrong with … Continue reading Optimism
Phenomenon
Is love like a public utility, where you have to be fortunate enough to have a home to then get the privilege of paying for it each and every month lest you risk the power company shutting it off? Or is love like the electricity itself, a natural and consistent phenomenon just waiting to be … Continue reading Phenomenon
As it comes
The times that life has been really hard for me, were the times that I was thinking about how hard life can be. Any difficult task or dreaded situation has always been much harder to bear in my thoughts about it, rather than when I actually ended up doing it. It reminds me of that … Continue reading As it comes
Success
Success can only happen if you begin. You begin by starting where you are with what you have. You can't wait until you get over there to start. You have to start where you are in order to get over there. And then once you begin, it's just one step at a time until you … Continue reading Success
Precious Gift
Life is a precious gift. It's so significant that our own natural instincts will do whatever they can to preserve it when threatened, even by our own selves. Our life force will fight to stay going for as long as it can. It is precious and formidable. But life is also fleeting and fragile. It … Continue reading Precious Gift
Moments
Everything you could possibly need to thrive in this moment is available to you right now, in this moment. Nothing more, nothing less. If you didn't have everything you needed for this moment, you would cease to exist in it. It seems to me that until you do cease to exist, the only thing you … Continue reading Moments
Contribute
When hoping to put some kind of offer out into the world, be it philosophy, artwork, or leadership, it can be seductive to get wrapped up inside analysis paralysis. Too much plotting and planning, analyzing how to go forward in the most perfect way, can have you end up, well frozen. Seth Godin recently said: … Continue reading Contribute
Giggles
My favorite thing about social media is getting to watch cute videos of animals enjoying the heck out of life. What's so captivating is that they are fully present in the moment, living the life that is unfolding all around them. They aren't caught up in their thoughts and worries. They know that all they … Continue reading Giggles
Moments
It's becoming more clear to me that when I miss a moment by being stuck in worry or fear, that I won't be getting that moment back. Our moments are precious pieces of our lives; to be lived, fully in the now. We can't afford to miss a moment. It's not like a TV show, … Continue reading Moments
Be the Peace You Seek
Whatever "life experience" I have, or do not have, should not stop me from moving forward. I cannot recreate my past. I can only create an even better future. And I need to be at peace with that fact. It's empowering to realize that I can be the source of my peace. In the prayer … Continue reading Be the Peace You Seek
You Are Loved
I know that I am loved. I am too blessed to not know. So when things looks dark and scary, I only need to remember what I already know, which is that I am loved. It's this knowing, and the reassurance that it gives me, that propels me to want to share love with my … Continue reading You Are Loved
Sweeping Solution
People have a bad habit of pointing outwards at what they see is wrong in others. But all of that outward focus blinds them to their own bad behavior. Nobody is perfect. Ubiquitous perfection doesn't even exist, as everyone has their own idea of what that should be. The point is that we are all … Continue reading Sweeping Solution
Have Fun
Have fun, because life was meant to be enjoyed. Have fun without keeping score if you're having more fun than someone else, because that's tinged with the pressure of competition. And competition may spike you with a jolt of adrenaline, but ultimately it feels more like work, which has it's value, but isn't purely fun. … Continue reading Have Fun
Enjoy the Ride
Sometimes I spend so much time worrying about what I am going to do next, that I don't realize I've just wasted all of that time worrying. The time passed all on its own, and what did I do with it? I worried it away. There is something bigger than my thinking brain that keeps … Continue reading Enjoy the Ride
A Good Day
It's a good day to be happy. I know it's common to wish this insane year would be over already, but I can't help but think about all of the people who's loved ones never even made it to see this year, be it crazy-terrible or not. I agree that this year sucks, but if … Continue reading A Good Day
Simply the Best
Expect it to work out. Get so busy expecting that good things will happen, that you forget to worry about the bad things that might happen. Expect the best, and you may just get it. You'll certainly be in a good mood by simply expecting the best, until you do get it.
Happy Day
Tomorrow is going to come whether we're ready or not. We are the ones with no guarantee if we'll be there to face it. So, if we do get to see the new day, we should thank our lucky stars and then live it up. Every moment that we get to live is a chance … Continue reading Happy Day
Overthinking
It's the moments when I'm not thinking so much about how things should be, that I feel the most alive. There's a big difference between thinking about life, and living it. I only hope I can remember that more often, especially whenever I tend to overthink things. Those are the times when I hope I … Continue reading Overthinking
Good Deeds
Our actions tell the story of who we are. Actions speak louder than words. So, if you want to convey that you're a good person, it's simple, do good deeds. That alone should be incentive enough to want to make the highest available choice in how to act, every time. But, if that really isn't … Continue reading Good Deeds
Expiration
This has been an extremely challenging year. That is not a surprising statement to anyone reading it and currently living through this year of so-called perfect vision: 2020. In fact, "challenging" may be an understatement. Regardless, we're going through it, and soon it will end. Just like each of our individual stories will eventually come … Continue reading Expiration
Authenticity
I used to push myself to be good enough to belong in a life I didn't really like. I thought I would finally like it if only I got better at navigating it. It was a convoluted expression of impostor syndrome. Impostor syndrome is defined as a psychological pattern in which one doubts one's accomplishments … Continue reading Authenticity
Make the Most Out of Living
Death is shocking, and tragic, and inevitable. It doesn't ever seem to come at the right time to those left behind, always leaving us feeling unprepared. And yet, we know that it will come to each one of us eventually. Knowing this shouldn't make us callous to the shock of death. It can't even do … Continue reading Make the Most Out of Living
This Moment
Eckhart Tolle says: Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have. If we were to truly heed his words and realize this statement deeply and consistently, then I believe that most of our suffering would cease. Suffering comes from resistance. And what we are resisting most consistently is the present moment. We're … Continue reading This Moment
Less Imperfect
If there's one thing I've learned, it's that doing the thing you think about doing, and not quite doing it as great as you'd like to have done it, is still so much better than just thinking and dreaming, plotting and planning on how to do it perfectly. All of that thinking is just a … Continue reading Less Imperfect
Get Still
Sometimes the best thing you can do is get quiet, and tune into your inner wisdom. That usually can help bring you answers better than any video, TV show, book, blog or gab fest. Sometimes it's best to just step away from the outside noise, and get still. Besides, taking a break from all of … Continue reading Get Still
Human Being
A lifelong lesson I'm learning is that I am working too hard at life. I'm making it such a struggle. Can anyone relate? If life seems to be a constant struggle, I suggest you take a look and see if you're trying too hard to control things. That's what I do. I have fallen for … Continue reading Human Being
Great Expectations
Have you heard the advice on how expectations can affect your happiness? It's usually meant to advise against setting yourself up for disappointment by having expectations that are bound to fail. And these expectations are most always about others and their behavior. But what if instead, we had expectations for how we've decided to see … Continue reading Great Expectations
Love First
It seems logical that we should love our bodies, every inch of them, since they're the thing that we have to work with as we navigate life on planet earth. Of course it seems logical to love our bodies, but that's not what the advertisers and drug companies want us to do. They want us … Continue reading Love First
Within
I'm sailing through on a lifelong quest to fully experience (and maintain) joyful living. And all of my discoveries keep pointing out that it comes from within. In other words, we don't have to look very far to find joy. It's already there, inside of us. Eckhart Tolle says, Pleasure is always derived from something … Continue reading Within
Today
When we get stuck on what happened yesterday, or 10 years ago, or even on what happened in 1913, we are holding our lives hostage to the past. Let the past go. Today is a new day. You get to be brand new each day. Or you can be the same victim or hero you … Continue reading Today
Don’t fall for it
I think it's vitally important to be mindful not to hate anyone, even if they seem to be utterly hateful. If you fall for the trap of hating them, it only corrodes you and makes you a hater. Hating them does nothing to make them any less hateful. I say treat them like another thing … Continue reading Don’t fall for it
Love in my mind
I'm going through the workbook for A Course in Miracles (that is, I've started it again - hey, third times a charm) and the lesson for day #30 is: God is in everything I see because God is in my mind. One of my favorite authors on the subject of ACIM is the very entertaining … Continue reading Love in my mind
Better
We think everything happens out there, and that the world out there has too many things that need to be fixed. And it's a big world. And needing to fix such a big world makes it seem like a really big job. But it's important to remember that we each are a part of this … Continue reading Better
Words
I love words. Obviously, I do, as I'm a writer. But words can be used deceptively. A person's actions speak so much more clearly about their character than the words they use. And their energy is actually much easier to read. People can try to spin a story with their words, but if you pay … Continue reading Words
Life
Life is all too brief. So at some point, we should start living it, rather than always working on "getting our act together." How long do you need to give someone to "come to their senses" before you decide you better enjoy what time you have left - with or without them? How many years … Continue reading Life
No Guarantee
From what I know about life, is that it's not a guarantee that we'll all get to live through the end of the day. For some of us, today will be it for this lifetime. So, if you have a dream about how you want your life to be, it might be a good idea … Continue reading No Guarantee
The Why
Why do you want what you want? If you know the answer to that, then getting it is a cinch. We're usually so much more wrapped up in how to get it, and that seems to be the trouble. If there's anything I've learned in my lifetime, it's that I just don't know enough to … Continue reading The Why
Anticipation
The anticipation of something happening is almost always a much more delicious experience than the actual event. Visualizing all of the exciting recreation for that upcoming vacation, planning the wedding of the century, working towards that degree which promises so many job opportunities, or merely dreaming of the time coming up when things will finally … Continue reading Anticipation
Capability
One of my favorite analogies from the teachings of Abraham-Hicks is when they describe watching a little baby first try to walk, as they stumble and bumble around then fall, and how you would never say to them "Get up you little dummy!" because you accept that they are learning and finding their balance. So … Continue reading Capability
Integrity
I think one of the main reasons that animals are so appealing to us, is their pure integrity. They don't speak with words, so they don't lie. When they interact with people, they show us exactly how they feel about us, whether its favorable, or not. There's no subtext, no passive aggressiveness, no labeling, and … Continue reading Integrity
Light
Challenges in life, and troubling situations can cause such despair, but it's crucial to remember that there is a higher power, always available for us to turn to. Even in the darkest situations, we can ask what can we learn from it, and how can we help bring light through to it. Genesis 50:20 says: … Continue reading Light
Beliefs
Oprah shared these words of wisdom about living your dream life: You don’t become what you want, you become what you believe. Our beliefs run our whole lives. They affect how we look at things. They actually limit our focus on the things we do see. And our beliefs definitely determine what we become in … Continue reading Beliefs
A Joyful Heart
I'm no doctor, but I know that there is a force running through us that is ultimately responsible for our health and healing. It's the same force that sparks life into us from the start. Doctors are most definitely needed, but the best of them know that they are there to brilliantly help create the … Continue reading A Joyful Heart
Attention
I learned a technique that I'm putting into practice, which is to notice where my attention goes. I don't know about you, but I can get wrapped up in fearful thoughts and then suddenly I lose the time and place that my body is actually in. Or I'm sucked so deeply into the vortex of … Continue reading Attention
Just Start It
Just start it. Whatever it is that you feel would be good for you, or fun to do, but you're dragging your feet on actually getting to it, just start it. You're not going to be perfect at it, but start it anyway. It might not even be the thing you do for long before … Continue reading Just Start It
Forgiveness is not One-and-Done
Practicing forgiveness is so important for your mental health. Forgiveness helps free you from the burden of being weighed down by anger and resentment. But it doesn't have to be such a significant and ultimate decision. I recently heard author Glennon Doyle give this great description of forgiveness. She said, Forgiveness is not a before … Continue reading Forgiveness is not One-and-Done
Reverence
The older I get, the more I'm mindful to follow the adage to live each day as if it was your last. To be present, enjoying the moments as they come, and to not take things for granted. To drop the troubled stories of the past, and the worries of the future. But I also … Continue reading Reverence
An Empowering Choice
One of the most powerful pieces of advice I've ever received, is that it's vital to mindfully give your energy and attention to what you are for, rather than what you are against. There's a lot of bad behavior out there, and too much negativity, but it does no good to feed it your energy … Continue reading An Empowering Choice
Make a difference
There's so much chaos going on in the world right now, moving at such a fast pace, and it feels overwhelming. It feels so big. If you ever think the world's problems are so insurmountable, and that you have no power to affect any change, just remember this gem of quote from the Dalai Lama: … Continue reading Make a difference
Focus
It's been said that on the other side of fear is your freedom. So why is it so hard to get to that other side? Do we not really want our freedom? Or is fear so captivating that we can't seem to see past it? It's also been said that the opposite of fear is … Continue reading Focus
Be cool
Most of the great teachers advise to let go of desperately wanting so much, and relax. It seems tricky, but it's true. If I'm focused on wanting something desperately, then I'm focused on the fact that I don't have it. I can't get it, because I'm busy wanting it. Wanting and having are two different … Continue reading Be cool
Perspective
Are you living from a perspective of lack, or from a perspective of abundance? Lack causes your energy to contract and close in. Abundance causes your energy to be open and expand. Living with abundance doesn't necessarily mean that you're suddenly a billionaire. Living with abundance means that you feel open, expanded and at ease. … Continue reading Perspective
Yesterday is Gone
Yesterday is gone. Whether it was good, bad, ugly or any combination of it all, it's done, gone and no more. It's only still bothering you if you're looking at it in the rear view mirror. The thing about that is, if you're focused on the rear view mirror, then you can't see what's ahead, … Continue reading Yesterday is Gone
Compassion
Little kids are supposed to learn and grow each day. It's perfectly understandable that they will stumble, wobble, and fall as they learn to walk. It's expected that they won't have all of the words yet to be able to describe what they need. Or even to be able to pronounce them properly. We think … Continue reading Compassion
Miracles
Wayne Dyer said, So many people are expecting a miracle instead of being a miracle. And really, I think it's all about accepting your being the miracle that you are. Because you are a miracle. The fact that you can read my words and process the meaning that I'm giving to them, while your heart … Continue reading Miracles
It’s temporary
Everything is temporary. A job loss is temporary. A great career, at best, is temporary. An economic boom is temporary. An economic downturn is just temporary. And a life, whether it's good or bad, is only temporary after all. In the end, it's all only temporary. Remember this when going through the bad spells, and … Continue reading It’s temporary
Choice
We are gifted with free will. We get to choose how to approach each moment. We get to choose if we want to be happy or not. We don't always get to choose what's happening out there. But if we had to wait on the world around us to look just exactly how we want … Continue reading Choice
How do you do?
I believe the phrase: The way you do anything is the way you do everything. It's all about your mindset. And it's very telling when you realize your own innate consistency. If you're kind and respectful to strangers, and people you may think have nothing to offer you, then it's natural for you to automatically … Continue reading How do you do?
Knowledge
It's important to study and train to develop skills for success. But studying can easily turn into a way to hide from actually becoming a success. Seth Godin asks: What have you done with what you’ve learned? You can pick any subject and gain all of the knowledge there is to find on it, but … Continue reading Knowledge
Look Ahead
I've always been happiest when I have something to look forward to. I feel energized with excitement when I have an upcoming event, a trip, or a goal to achieve. It's different from when I've just wanted to have something end. Wanting to be done with a class, or a job, or even just a … Continue reading Look Ahead
Blessings
Whenever I start to play the sad game of Regrets, wishing I'd never met certain people, or that I hadn't allowed certain events to unfold as they did, I have to remind myself that if it wasn't for living through those things, then I wouldn't be me exactly. Any of the achievements I now have, … Continue reading Blessings
Recharge
Over the last few weeks I've scrolled through more screen time on my phone than I ever have. It seems to be draining the battery faster now, and has gotten to where I need to charge it at least twice a day. I'm also noticing that it gets overheated from working too hard. I'm always … Continue reading Recharge
Don’t forget
We forget all the time that this day could be our last. We forget all the time that we're not guaranteed another Monday, whether manic or chill. We forget all the time that the last text we sent, video we uploaded, or comment we posted could very well have been our final one. We forget … Continue reading Don’t forget
Love Yourself
Love Yourself. It just might be the most important thing you can do. It's certainly fundamental to a healthy self esteem. A healthy self esteem enables you to make good choices for your life. Making good choices for your life, can make a it a joyful one. A joyful life is one worth living. That's … Continue reading Love Yourself
A Life Worth Living
I make sure I laugh every day because I want a life filled with days that I had laughed. I make sure to think of all the people that I love, every day, because I want a life filled with days that I had loved. I make sure to see posts of puppies and kittens … Continue reading A Life Worth Living
The Real Deal
I was never a fan of dress rehearsals. The anxiety of a production is at an all time high that night, and anything that can go wrong, usually does. Actually, they say that a terrible dress rehearsal means you'll have a great opening night. Because, essentially then you've gotten all of the kinks out. They … Continue reading The Real Deal
I’m awake!
My absolute favorite moment of the day, is when I first wake up and realize that I'm awake! It feels like a light switch is turned on, and I'm surged with electricity. The first thought that pops into my head is Thank You-for my life, and then I get so excited at the thought of … Continue reading I’m awake!
Life is short
Life is short. That's what they say, anyway. I know that when I'm at my lowest, life feels like its too long. Like if I catch myself sitting around waiting for a horrible pandemic to end, the days can seem to drag on forever. On the other hand, when it's time to turn in for … Continue reading Life is short
Light is Life
Light is Life. Just look at our plants and pets. They naturally go towards the sunlight. I love the sight of somebody's doggie or cat catching a power nap in the sun. It looks so delicious and they seem pretty darn smart to know how to enjoy it so much. Last year I was shocked … Continue reading Light is Life
Like sands through the hourglass…
As I start to turn in each night, I find myself thinking that it seems like I was just getting ready for bed last night... or last week... or last summer. The days rush by, and we each only get so precious few of them in one lifetime. Make sure you acknowledge the gift that … Continue reading Like sands through the hourglass…
Like a Fox! 