To know what you believe is freedom...and freedom is primary

I believe in you.
I believe in me.

I believe the world is a beautiful place.
I believe that exercise and sweating are good for the mind, body and soul.
I believe in freedom, in liberty, in peace.
I believe in personal responsibility.

I believe in friends.
I believe in family, biological or chosen.

I believe in walking away from bad, negative, toxic relationships -no matter what the relationship.

I believe in good. Doing good. Being good. Choosing good. Seeing the good. Good.

I believe nearly everything we do and that happens to us is a choice, with the exception of sexual orientation, skin color, genetic makeup and to which parents you are born.  Perhaps some others.  But mostly, you have more power to choose than you may wish to accept responsibility for.  It's your life - why not make some positive choices?

I believe heterosexuals are born to love the opposite sex and that homosexuals are born to love the same gender. This is not a choice. (and yes, history has shown us there are a few individuals who have "chosen" more as a message than just being who they are, but those aren't the people I am referring to...I refer to "most" of us.  I didn't choose to be heterosexual, yet, I only dig dudes in the sexual department. )  And I believe that ALL are human beings.  And that being human is the only thing that matters. (and treating one another as such)

On that note, I believe in human rights. That means the rights for every human being to be treated like a human being. Regardless of color, religion, sexual orientation, political viewpoint, handicap, economic situation, health, gender, country of origin, social status, career field, level of fitness, perceived attractiveness.

I also believe humans may forfeit that right if their actions violate the safety, well-being, and life-force of other humans.  In the end we are animals, and being human, like everything else, is a choice.

I believe in reserving judgment and allowing empathy and compassion to guide your voice and your actions.
Along with logic and reason...

I believe in having a backbone.
I believe in standing up for what you believe.
I believe in and support gay marriage, as I believe in equal and human rights. That's right, for ALL human beings.

I believe in religious freedom.
I believe in respect.
And I believe that in order to get it, you must give it and mean it.

I believe it is completely natural and healthy to disagree with other people (as long as this is not your daily modus operandi and sole way of interacting with others).

I also believe there is a way to effectively and respectfully disagree and that this distinction can make ALL the difference.

I believe in love.
I do not believe I am altogether sure what love is or means. I am learning.

I believe marriage is for people who want to have babies, and for anyone who simply wants to be married for their own reasons regardless of their gender, orientation, religious or racial affiliations.
I do not know that it is for me.

I believe in truth. Even when it's difficult, especially when it is difficult, because nothing can cause destruction so complete as when dishonesty and mistrust are introduced.

I believe in finding my own rhythm.
I believe in the nonconventional.
I believe in magic.
I believe in monogamy.
I am not sure this is the real natural order of the human animal. 
I believe in it nonetheless.  Maybe it is more appropriate to say "I hope for it".

I believe religion is not only the opiate of the masses, it is the cyanide (Tom Robbins).
I believe in taking care of the earth and our resources.

I believe political parties are bullshit.
All of them.

I believe in beauty. Art. Music. Nature. Animals. Poetry. Literature. Warm breezes. Ocean waves. Mountainous splendor. Desert moons. Kindness. Children's laughter. Appreciation.  Love.

I believe we should all cook more and share wine and conversation and turn the damn reality tv shows off.
I believe we should really try to connect with each other instead of holding each other at arms length or judging. Or holding back for fear of judgment.

I believe that good wine is the nectar of the gods, sunlight held together by water, a work of pure art.

I believe in learning and growing from our mistakes.

I believe in helping others.

Life is beautiful. Death sucks. Them's the breaks. It's going to happen. Celebrate life. But let the dead take care of themselves. You'll join them soon enough. Enjoy your life.  Remember those who passed, but don't pass with them.

I believe people can change. But it takes a hell of a lot of hard work.
and Commitment. 
and Practice.

I believe the need for control will destroy us as a species and perhaps a planet.

I believe in taking deep breaths, enjoying the moment, the people, the places, and the journey we are with, in, and on.

I believe everyone should adopt the mantra "look within".

I believe in happiness.

I believe that heaven and hell are not places you "go", but that we create them for ourselves right here on earth through our choices and actions.

I believe in a universal energy that connects us all and makes us responsible to one another and should humble us and cause us to act with kindness and respect towards one another.

I believe in karma.

I do not believe in any one deity or idealogue or dogma.
I do believe if you believe in a deity, religion, faith - then that deserves my respect.
And by respect, I mean, I have no reason to belittle you because of your beliefs.
I'll gladly engage with you in a debate, but belittle you, try to discourage you, try to "convert" you?
No.  I will not. 
And I won't force a debate on you. 
But I will participate. 

And as long as your belief system does not violate the human rights of others or the safety of the planet or endorse the practice of any sort of physical, mental or emotional destruction or enslavement of others in any way, then have at it.  If it does, please reconsider. 

I especially do not believe any religion is valid that condemns the religions, lives, rights, freedoms, cultures and customs of others just because they are different.

I believe in taking chances.
I believe in leaping. Even sometimes before thinking.
(though thinking is recommended and encouraged...)
I believe in having the right to say "I was wrong".

I believe there is more than one love for all of us and if we are journeying well and learning from it, then the next love can be richer than the previous.

I believe that I am whatever I think I am.  And you are whatever you think you are.  Make it something to believe in.

I believe you can not know true love until you fully love and accept yourself. And I believe I am getting there. Mission not yet accomplished, lots of self-discovery yet to be had and experienced. Lots more lessons to learn. Lots more acceptance to practice. But getting there.

I believe in forgiveness. And that everyone (mostly) deserves a second chance. Not necessarily a third.

I believe, more and more each day, in just being me. Me.

I believe in simplicity.
I enjoy complex.
I believe even the complex is simple at its core.

I believe the world is an amazing place and that we are each out here for each other. The connectedness thing. It's true. Pantheism.  Don't know what that is?  Look it up.

I believe in commitment. To oneself. To another. To friends. To a dream. To your life. To good. To love. To healing. To seeing, hearing, tasting, touching and smelling the world with an open heart and an open mind.

I believe in you.

I believe in me.

I believe in reinvention.
I believe in discovery.
I believe in learning, evolving, growing.
I believe in insatiable curiosity.

I believe that's what this journey is all about.

I believe that when I meet people who move me on the soul level, love me for who I am, and allow me to be me without trying to possess or control me, then those people are my cosmic kin.  My tribe.

Welcome.