Freedom, Rapture & Being Alive

by Tess

The Rapture of Being Alive

People say that what we're all seeking is a meaning for life.

I don't think that's what we're really seeking.

I think that what we're seeking

is an experience of being alive…

so that we actually feel the rapture of being alive.

-Joseph Campbell

Happy Independence Day from The Bottom of My Heart.

-Tess xo

{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }

Lori July 3, 2010 at 11:26 am

Great quote and photo, Tess!
Happy Independence Day to you, too.

The ups and downs of life add more crayon colors to my box of experiences. When I come here, I always feel bright yellow (with a big smiley in the middle).
Cheers!
.-= Lori´s last post…BOOM =-.

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Marko -- Calm Growth July 3, 2010 at 11:28 am

I’m not from United States, but many people who I respect are, including you Tess… Happy Independence Day to all those who celebrate it!

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fatima da July 3, 2010 at 2:56 pm

Awesome quote and experience in life it is …Happy independent Day to you too Tess :)
.-= fatima da´s last post…SWOT Analysis For Personal Development =-.

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Caroline July 3, 2010 at 5:53 pm

Ohhhh…love this quote Tess! Happy 4th to you…enjoy the rapture ;)
.-= Caroline´s last post…Oh God- what was I thinking =-.

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HappinessandWisdom July 3, 2010 at 6:17 pm

Your picture makes us smile. Nothing more fun than watching our 2 year old daughter eat corn. In fact, looking forward to seeing it again tomorrow!! The simplest things make us the happiest! The quote’s nice too!
.-= HappinessandWisdom´s last post…Video about Happiness- Epicurus on Happiness =-.

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Jan July 3, 2010 at 6:24 pm

Love the photo. What a cutie. And about the quote: I think Campbell may be right. He was one wise guy. Here’s to living life with joy, to the fullest! Happy holiday, Tess.

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Patty - Why Not Start Now? July 3, 2010 at 6:31 pm

Tess, that’s my absolute favorite JC quote. Happy Rapture to you too!
.-= Patty – Why Not Start Now?´s last post…Meaning Mondays- A Simple Philosophy Emerges =-.

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Nick Laborde July 3, 2010 at 6:33 pm

Great quote, perfect timing for me. I’ve really been making a strong effort to experience rather than just doing.

Just as the picture depicts, we all should live like a kid (to a certain extent), just enjoying the simple things.

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Liara Covert July 3, 2010 at 6:39 pm

The notion of ‘independence’ triggers revelations of the collective oneness that is temporarily discarded or forgotten. The imaginary walls created by the mind are gradually being dismantled by awakening. Any notion of separation, hierarchy or ‘us and them’ is slowly falling away. Ultimately, we are all same. Yet, mind continues to notice difference while soul echoes intrinsic sameness.
.-= Liara Covert´s last post…Be aware =-.

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Raam Dev July 3, 2010 at 9:17 pm

Meaning in life, I believe, comes from doing something beneficial to the wellbeing of all. That could mean improving ourselves so we’re more capable of helping others, teaching someone younger than us who needs direction, or just directly making choices in our life that have a net-positive effect on the world.

Thank you for posting the great quote!
.-= Raam Dev´s last post…Punching my Inner Critic in the Face- An Interview and a New Project =-.

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Sarah Lulu July 3, 2010 at 10:36 pm

YES to feeling alive!!
.-= Sarah Lulu´s last post…Grateful Sunday =-.

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Topi July 3, 2010 at 10:41 pm

Hi Tess,
You’ve given me the gift of a smile, thanks!
I’m also not from the States, but I wish very happiest of Independence Days to all who celebrate it.
Topi
.-= Topi´s last post…5 life lessons Ive learned from my Mum =-.

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susie @newdaynewlesson July 4, 2010 at 2:19 am

Beautiful quote and picture.
.-= susie @newdaynewlesson´s last post…Sometimes It Is Very Hard To Stay Calm =-.

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Joyce of I TAKE OFF THE MASK Blog July 4, 2010 at 3:01 am

Well said, Tess. Without experiencing something, it’s as good as not really knowing whatever it is we thought we knew. I really desire to have more experiences of being alive from day to day.

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Wilma Ham July 4, 2010 at 4:20 pm

Feeling the rapture of being alive in our daily doing is all we can ask for. Eating corn and really tasting it is all we have to do.
Happy 4th, xox Wilma
.-= Wilma Ham´s last post…Are we lovable enough to attract love =-.

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Tony Single July 4, 2010 at 4:40 pm

Ahhh yes… corn on the cob. Very few things can beat it! At the moment, I do feel the rapture of being alive! Woohoo! :)

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Evita July 4, 2010 at 6:29 pm

Oh Tess the photo is adorable! Yes, the experience of being alive!

I love the words you shared from Joseph Campbell – happy day Tess and happy You :)

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Keith July 5, 2010 at 7:50 am

Hello Tess,

I hope your Independence Day was a great one!

Joseph Campbell is awesome and I love the quote you chose and I think it’s pretty accurate. I am grateful I am breathing, that I am alive, but I want to EXPERIENCE life as well as live it.

Thanks Tess!
.-= Keith´s last post…Sunday Stillness =-.

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jonathan figaro July 5, 2010 at 11:16 am

Amen to that. I guess it’s all about being in the moment. Alive and Well. A reason to feel alive.

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Jannie Funster July 5, 2010 at 2:37 pm

Sweet, Tess. And sweet Tess!

Henri Corn Pone is a delightful photo! he looks bright as a shiny button.

xo
.-= Jannie Funster´s last post…1929 Ford Roadster On The Fourth Of July =-.

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rob white July 5, 2010 at 2:42 pm

A fitting Independence Day greeting from an Independent Thinker… Thanks Tess.

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Karl Staib - Work Happy Now July 5, 2010 at 3:48 pm

I loved this quote. I loved it so much that I linked to it from my blog. We are hear to do great work and the only way to do this is to break outside of our comfort zone. We have to push ourselves to great heights. It’s why I love blogging so much. I’m forced to make my next article even better.
.-= Karl Staib – Work Happy Now´s last post…A Simple Guide to Overcoming Project Resistance =-.

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Chris Edgar July 5, 2010 at 5:17 pm

Hi Tess — I love the quote — life is something that it’s hard to figure out purely intellectually, and I think it’s easier to understand when we realize what we’re really seeking is an experience, or maybe a new relationship to the experience that’s already there.

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Cath Lawson July 5, 2010 at 7:49 pm

Hi Tess – I love that picture and those words are so true – for me anyway. The simple joy of feeling and being alive is far more important than searching for meaning.

Belated 4th July wishes BTW – I have been without Internet access for a few days.
.-= Cath Lawson´s last post…4 Stupid Bucket List Mistakes To Avoid =-.

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Davina July 5, 2010 at 11:49 pm

Okay, don’t ask me why but I just about typed, “Merry Christmas”. Huh? Happy 4th, Tess.

That quote was great food for thought. Helped me consider how experience gets heavy when we look too hard for meaning. And then we sometimes feel disappointed, or we don’t know what to do with it when we do find it. One thing’s for sure; experience is experience in any manner of how it comes. As long as we’re here there is experience.

And damn that corn looks delicious!
.-= Davina´s last post…13 Signs Your Ego is Driving Your Blog =-.

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suzen July 6, 2010 at 10:06 am

Hi Tess – Late to the party but here nonetheless, I am LOVING that quote and godonlyknows I try to experience aliveness daily! (Altho when I sit down at the dock, there are times I must take my pulse! haha)
hugs
suZen
.-= suzen´s last post…Taking On McDonalds =-.

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The Exception July 6, 2010 at 11:43 am

The morning of the 4th found me in a Farmer’s Market sinking my teeth into a wonderfully, tree ripened peach….pure rapture… and that is what life is about!! ;)
I hope you had a wonderful holiday Tess!
.-= The Exception´s last post…July =-.

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Hilary July 6, 2010 at 11:51 pm

Hi Tess .. great picture .. and look at those eyes – saying hey I’m enjoying this .. this is my moment of deliciousness .. I love corn on the cob .. and am hoping ours will be ripe here in the UK fairly soon .. I remember many times years ago just eating fresh veg all the time .. masses of corn, artichokes .. broad beans, peas .. too mouth watering.

thanks – lovely sentiments be rapturously alive in freedom .. Hilary
.-= Hilary´s last post…Hotspur- the Duchess and The Poison Garden =-.

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