#—— grace muller ↻ ⌊ interactions⌋

[julybloom]

''you’re supposed to call and warn me before you show up here. what are you doing here? it's three am.'' / @evphorium

[julybloom]

grace's gaze lingered on his face, her blue eyes reflecting a mixture of emotions. the playful banter they once shared now felt like a distant echo, drowned out by an undercurrent of unease. his words hung in the air, and she couldn't shake off the discomfort that clung to her like an invisible shroud. the corners of her lips twitched, attempting to muster a smile in response to his theatrics, but it faltered, a mere facade for the turmoil beneath. Hhis declaration of being the perfect soulmate stung, not because she doubted his charms, but because she knew all too well the kind of person he presented himself to be. a player, a heartbreaker – the very embodiment of everything she tried to steer clear of. she felt a knot tightening in her chest, the weight of unspoken truths pressing down on her. the tension in the room was palpable, a silent acknowledgment of the crossroads they found themselves at. bentley, with his charming facade, seemed oblivious to the shifts in their dynamic, but grace couldn't ignore the unease that festered within her. as he dismissed her concern about damaging his heart, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt. her intention was never to wound him, but she couldn't suppress the nagging feeling that this encounter might leave both of them changed, even if only subtly. his assurance that he could "rock her world" tugged at the edges of her composure. "let-down?" she repeated, her voice a fragile murmur, barely audible over the discordant beats of her heart. "it's not about you. it's about me. about knowing the kind of storm i'd willingly walk into if i let myself believe in someone like you. it's about realizing that some souls are meant to collide, but not all are destined to stay intact." she forced herself to meet his gaze, searching for something that could bridge the growing distance between them. "i'm not looking for someone to rock my world. i'm searching for a steady heartbeat, a constant amidst the chaos. And i fear, bentley, you're a tempest i can't weather." the weight of her words hung heavy in the air, leaving the room charged with an anguished silence.

it was odd -- he could feel the shift in their energy, more specifically hers. that once playful demeanor laces with tension. "really is such a shame, bet i'd be the perfect soulmate too." he sighs, dramatically -- still playing it off. in a sense, bentley was aware how he wasn't the relationship type of guy. anyone with eyes could take a glance at him and tell right off the bat that he was a player with charming smiles and flirty words. eyes glances down towards his watch for a split second, wondering if it was all just one silly coincidence. or if this was one of those moments where down the future they'll laugh about with their futures in hand. brushing that thought away, he concludes that it's simply just pure coincidence. "don't worry, blondie. you haven't damaged my heart," he denies shaking his head, brows shot up at her words. "major let-down? now, why do you think getting with me would be a let down? think i could rock your world pretty well." of course, he could see where she was coming from and harbors no hard feelings, but there was a slight curiosity in him wondering where things could possibly lead.

[detectivesus]

I think L and GC only hang out when GC or her friend Josie make a point of posting it. Her friend josie doesn’t give me the best of feelings either tbh posting a story during the England vs Australia friendly of grace saying ‘here with my wag’ and keeping it up for a while and then deleting it. Which doesn’t give me the best vibes from her tbh. I agree with anon that said Leah is papped a lot! And not one time is she papped with GC. It’s always Alex or Keira. Yeah GC only really started to make it clear that she was besties with Leah after Leah got the euros success. And will only post stuff when projects of hers come out. She does it with her friends as well I’ve been a fan of Mae Muller for a while and didn’t know they were friends until after the Eurovision cause Grace would make a point. And yeah with her bf or ex (whatever they are) she posted a story on her insta saying ‘celebrating the boys birthday’ and then she posted a picture where you can see his hair. And that is after the friendly against Australia where that ‘wag’ story was posted. He’s a singer as well he has a two man band with his twin and she follows him on insta, TikTok and threads (which is new so if they weren’t together why follow him?) she will like his posts every now and then it’s strange to me I don’t think I’d still be interacting with my ex if I was seeing someone else and I don’t think I’d like it if the person I was seeing was doing the same tbh. Even Josie still follows him. Her and Amanda don’t even follow each other. L and GCs mum don’t follow each other. I just don’t get couple vibes from them. Like I said the times we see them hang out are the times they do. Either GC is with her friends or Leah is with her friends.

very very interesting, really appreciate the deep dive lmao!!!! this is changing my opinion on it 🤔

[julybloom]

grace's heartbeat echoed in her ears as the countdown reached its climax. the room pulsed with anticipation, the air thick with the weight of unspoken emotions. she turned to them, her voice trembling as she spoke in the final moments. "i never thought I'd be doing this," she admitted, her gaze searching their eyes for a sign of understanding. ''but he left, and i can't stay stuck in the past. i need this, something to break free from the pain." as the crowd erupted into cheers, she pulled away, a mix of guilt and relief flashing in her eyes. "i'm sorry," she whispered, her breath catching on the unspoken turmoil. "i should feel guilty, but i don't. i just want to feel something other than heartbreak." the confetti rained down around them, a surreal backdrop to the complexity of their tangled emotions. her fingers trembled as she reached for their hand, seeking a connection that offered solace in the midst of the chaos. "can we just pretend, just for tonight?" she asked, a desperate plea in her eyes. "i want to start the new year with something that feels real, even if it's just for a moment." the vulnerability in her voice laid bare the ache within, the yearning for a respite from the shattered fragments of a love that had slipped away. / @sungoesdcwn

[julybloom]

she met his frustration with a heavy sigh, her eyes momentarily closing as if trying to find the right words in the darkness behind her eyelids. when she spoke, her voice was a mixture of weariness and vulnerability. "noah, it's not about blaming you. i'm not keeping score of who's bleeding more or who's at fault. it's just... everything feels so complicated now." she looked at him, her gaze softening. "i'm scared, not just for myself, but for us. I never thought it would be like this, and I don't know how we got here either." she took a step closer, her hand reaching out to touch his, a tentative connection in the midst of their turmoil. "it's not about you not being worth it. it's about the fear of losing what we have left. i want to believe in us too, but i can't help but think of the shattered glass, the bleeding, and wonder if we're just walking towards more pain." grace sighed again, her shoulders slumping. "i need you to understand that my fear isn't a reflection of your worth. it's my own struggle with the unknown. the possibility of more hurt terrifies me. but, f we're going to make it through this, we need to find a way to bridge the gap between us without assuming blame. can we try to rebuild, even if it means taking small steps?"

"how is it not that simple, grace? i'm tired of the back and forth here." noah couldn't help the frustrated sigh that left his lips - not at grace, but the situation between them in general. he couldn't understand how they had gotten to where they are now, and honestly he feared that too much had happened for them to ever go back. while noah did try to be sympathetic at the same time, he also was hurting too here. "it feels like you're blaming me for all of this." ever the master at jumping to conclusions, it was second nature to noah; something he never realized he was doing until the words had already flown out of his mouth. "like, shit grace. you're not the only person bleeding for us. i get that you're scared, but to me the possibility of bleeding or the glass shattering is worth it to me. you're worth it to me. can you say the same?"

[architectnews]

The Heights School Building in Arlington, VA

The Heights Secondary School Arlington, Virginia Building Photos, Architect

The Heights School Building in Arlington

Education Building in Virginia, USA design by BIG + Leo A Daly architects

post updated Aug 15, 2020 ; Oct 29, 2019

The Heights Arlington School

Design: BIG with Leo A Daly architects

Location: 1601 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22209, USA

Designed by BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group and Executive Architect LEO A DALY, The Heights building opens as a cascade of green terraces fanning from a central axis, addressing the academic needs of Arlington’s two county-wide school programs while forming a vertical community within its dense urban context.

Located along Arlington’s Rosslyn-Ballston corridor, The Heights merges two existing secondary schools – the H-B Woodlawn Program and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Program – into a new 180,000sf building to accommodate an expected enrollment of up to 775 students.

BIG and LEO A DALY were commissioned in 2015 and worked closely with Arlington Public Schools (APS), WRAP (West Rosslyn Area Plan) and the Arlington community to design state-of-the-art educational facilities that support both H-B Woodlawn’s visual and performing arts-focused curricula and Shriver’s extensive resources for students with specialized educational needs. The Heights is currently on track to achieve LEED Gold.

Situated within a compact urban site bounded by roads on three sides and a portion of Rosslyn Highlands Park, The Heights is conceived as a stack of five rectangular floorplates that rotate around a fixed pivot point, maintaining the community feeling and spatial efficiencies of a one-story school. Green terraces above each floor become an extension of the classroom, creating an indoor-outdoor learning landscape for both students and teachers — an educational oasis rather than a traditional school setting.

“The density of the urban Arlington neighborhood became the inspiration for the school – we fanned the classrooms to allow each and every floor to be connected to the roof garden on top of the classrooms below. The resultant cascading terraces are connected by a curving stair that weaves through all levels – inside as well as outside – making all students, from both programs and all ages, visually and physically connected to each other. Each terrace is landscaped to lend itself not just to the social life of the students but also as informal outdoor spaces for learning.” Bjarke Ingels, Founder & Creative Director, BIG.

A rotating central staircase cuts through the interior of the building to connect the four-tiered terraces, allowing students to circulate outside and forge a stronger bond between the neighborhood and the school. While the upper terraces are more suitable for intimate classes and quiet study areas, the spacious first terrace and 18,700sf recreation field also serve as public event venues for school-wide and neighborhood activities.

“The Heights extends the educational experience outdoors, transforming terraces into a space where learning and playing can flourish. From every floor, students and teachers can immediately connect with nature and the surrounding neighborhood, creating a 21st century school as well as a space for Arlington’s children, parents, teachers and neighbors to gather.” Daniel Sundlin, Partner, BIG.

From Wilson Boulevard, students, teachers and staff are greeted by a triple-height lobby with stepped seating that double as an indoor gathering space for both student assemblies and public gatherings. Many of the school’s common spaces, including the 400-seat auditorium, main gymnasium, library, reception and cafeteria, are centrally located and directly adjacent to the lobby.

Easy accessibility to the community-oriented programs hosted in the school encourages public interaction throughout the building, creating a welcoming environment while heightening the visual connectivity between the shared spaces. Other specialized student spaces include an art studio, science and robotic labs, music rehearsal rooms and two performing arts theaters.

“Underneath the canopy of fanning classrooms, a giant cave holds spaces for all the communal spaces – the theatre, the sports hall, library and canteen – creating a multitude of spaces where students can linger for fun or for study – on their own or in groups. Glass walls open up views between the different activities, making it a three-dimensional composition of all aspects of learning and living in the school.” Bjarke Ingels, BIG.

The classroom bars serve as the primary organizing elements, surrounding a central vertical core that contains the elevators, stairs and bathrooms. As students enter from the central staircase, they are greeted by an expanded gradient of the color spectrum: each classroom bar is defined by its own color, combining intuitive wayfinding with a vibrant social atmosphere from the ground to the sky.

The Shriver Program providing special education for students aged 11 to 22 occupy two floors of the building accessible from the ground floor, and have specialized spaces dedicated to support APS’ Functional Life Skills program as well as privacy and ease of accessibility: the gymnasium, courtyard, occupational physical therapy suite and sensory cottage are designed to aid in sensory processing.

The Heights’ exterior is materialized in a graceful white glazed brick to unify the five volumes and highlight the oblique angles of the fanning classroom bars, allowing the sculptural form, the energy and the activity of the inside to take center stage. In keeping the surrounding neighborhood and former Wilson School in mind, the building’s material palette pays homage to the historical architecture of Old Town Alexandria.

The Heights’ opening marks BIG’s fourth school to complete within the last academic year, following the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Glasir Tórshavn College on the Faroe Islands and WeWork’s WeGrow in New York.

The Heights School Building, Arlington – Building Information

Size: 180,000ft2 / 16,700 sqm Location: Arlington, Virginia, USA Client: Arlington Public Schools Design Architect: BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group Executive Architect: LEO A DALY Collaborators: Leo A Daly, Robert Silman Associates, Interface Engineering, Gordon, Theatre Projects, Jaffe Holden, Faithful+Gould, GHD, Hopkins Food Service, GeoConcepts, Haley Aldrich, The Sextant Group, Tillotson Design Associates, EHT Traceries, Lerch Bates, Sustainable Design Consulting BIG – BJARKE INGELS GROUP Partners-in-Charge: Bjarke Ingels, Daniel Sundlin, Beat Schenk, Thomas Christoffersen Project Managers: Aran Coakley, Sean Franklin Project Leaders: Tony-Saba Shiber, Ji-young Yoon, Adam Sheraden

Team: Amina Blacksher, Anton Bashkaev, Benjamin Caldwell, Bennett Gale, Benson Chien, Cadence Bayley, Cristian Lera, Daisy Zhong, Deborah Campbell, Douglass Alligood, Elena Bresciani, Elnaz Rafati, Evan Rawn, Francesca Portesine, Ibrahim Salman, Jack Gamboa, Jan Leenknegt, Janice Rim, Jin Xin, Josiah Poland, Julie Kaufman, Kam Chi Cheng, Ku Hun Chung, Margherita Gistri, Maria Sole Bravo, Mark Rakhmanov, Mateusz Rek, Maureen Rahman, Nicholas Potts, Pablo Costa, Ricardo Palma, Robyne Some, Romea Muryn, Saecheol Oh, Seo Young Shin, Seth Byrum, Shu Zhao, Sidonie Muller, Simon David, Tammy Teng, Terrence Chew, Valentina Mele, Vincenzo Polsinelli, Zach Walters, Ziad Shehab

Photos: Laurian Ghinitoiu

BIG + Leo A Daly architects

The Heights School Building in Arlington images / information received 291019

Address: 1601 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22209, USA Phone: +1 703-228-6363

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[funface2]

In Memoriam: SHA’s Michael Oshins: Caring, Dedicated, Funny | BU Today – BU Today

Longtime School of Hospitality Administration faculty member Michael Oshins (Wheelock’02), who continued to teach even as he fought pancreatic cancer, succumbed to his disease on Friday. He was 59.

“He was the most beloved professor at the school,” says Christopher Muller, a close friend and a SHA professor. “He knew every student who had graduated and kept in touch with an enormous number of them. There were both present and former students at his funeral on Sunday, and I got emails from students and former colleagues from all over the globe wishing to send their condolences to the family. There was one guy there from the class of ’94.”

Oshins, an Auburndale resident, was celebrating his 30th year of teaching at SHA. As the school’s first associate professor of the practice, he was instrumental in shaping its curriculum and culture, according to Arun Upneja, SHA dean.

“He was the most incredibly optimistic, happy person I have known,” Upneja says. “He lived and practiced hospitality. In terms of how we talk to our students and take care of them in this school, a whole lot of that flows from his mindset. People come in and say, ‘Whoa, this school is different.’ It is different in big part because of his sense of hospitality that he has imbued in this school.”

Oshins had taught different classes over the years, including introduction to hospitality, hospitality technology, marketing, lodging operations, and more recently, the required senior capstone course, Hospitality Leadership. Kristen Verdeaux (SHA’19) took a Harvard Extension course Oshins taught more than a dozen years ago and found him inspiring; later, with a career in event management, she joined the Masters of Management in Hospitality program at SHA largely in hopes of reconnecting with him. She landed in the leadership class, which Oshins cotaught with Suzanne Bagnera, SHA clinical assistant professor and chair of undergraduate programs, in fall 2018.

“That first day we walked into class and he said to us, ‘Guys, I’m sick, I have cancer, but I’m attacking it right now, I have a great team of doctors at one of the best medical centers in the country, and I will be there on graduation day to see you walk across the stage,’” Verdeaux says. “I remember people were crying, and we all had chills. You think about an educator who knows they’re fighting really hard but is incredibly dedicated to his students. That’s who he was.”

“He approached class with humor and grace and interactive learning,” Verdeaux says. “It was refreshing, and I never dreaded going to one of his classes.”

Oshins was an early adopter of computer technology for the hospitality industry and kept a vintage Apple computer in his office. Photo by Boston University Photography

On September 19, Oshins was inducted into Boston University’s Scarlet Key Honor Society, but did not attend the ceremony. Oshins “is the manifestation of hospitality, service, and leadership in one ‘mensch’ of a human being,” said the nomination letter from Leora Lanz, SHA lecturer and chair of the graduate program. She saw him last Tuesday, his final day of teaching.

“Mike has inspired thousands, literally thousands of students during his 30 years at BU,” Lanz says. “He truly loved his students. It’s no surprise that a number of former students attended his funeral service. The number of texts and calls I received once the news was shared was overwhelming. Personally, I am devastated and heartbroken.”

Before joining the faculty, Oshins worked for a company applying then-new software to such industry uses as restaurant reservation systems. He worked with the BU Office of Technology Application back in 2011–12 when the iPad was gaining popularity to create the very first commercial Apple app for BU, Muller recalls. It was called the Revenator, a sliding scale that allowed the user to estimate the sales of any restaurant based on the number of seats and average check. “His innovative approach to joining technology to the classroom was years ahead of the rest of us,” Muller says.

Oshins earned his doctorate in education from Wheelock College of Education & Human Development and his three children have all attended BU. He is survived by his wife, Alison Kur, and their children Abi, Jem, and Zachary, along with his parents and siblings.

Roughly 800 people attended a funeral on Sunday at Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley, Muller estimated. One measure of the regard Oshins’ friends had for his sense of humor is that one eulogist appeared with a Steve Martin–style arrow on his head, while another wore a red clown nose.

One year Oshins was the best man in eight weddings, says Muller, who has known Oshins since they were Cornell graduate students. Oshins was instrumental in bringing Muller to BU in 2010. Muller said their friendship included plenty of jokes about Oshins’ size-15 feet—“these giant boats”—and that in recent years they had taken to referring to themselves as Statler and Waldorf, the two grumpy old men on The Muppets.

“My last communication with him was in texts,” Muller says. “I sent him a picture and said I was thinking of him and signed it, Waldorf. He wrote back and said, ‘Good to hear from you, this is Statler, I’m back in the hospital but all is good.’ And of course it wasn’t.”

Memorial donations may be made to the Mike Oshins Fund at Temple Beth Elohim, Wellesley.

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Bài viết In Memoriam: SHA’s Michael Oshins: Caring, Dedicated, Funny | BU Today – BU Today đã xuất hiện đầu tiên vào ngày Funface.

from Funface https://funface.net/funny-news/in-memoriam-shas-michael-oshins-caring-dedicated-funny-bu-today-bu-today/

[julybloom]

grace felt a whirlwind of emotions crashing over her as maple poured her heart out. the weight of maple's words hung heavy in the air, each syllable carving a deeper wound in grace's already conflicted heart. she watched maple's face, torn between wanting to reach out and wanting to retreat into the safety of her own thoughts. "i… maple, i…" grace faltered, her voice barely above a whisper as she struggled to find the right words. the ache in maple's eyes mirrored the turmoil in grace's own soul, and she couldn't bear to see her hurting like this. yet, the truth threatened to suffocate her, to crush any hope that lingered between them. "i do care about you, maple. more than you know," grace confessed, her voice trembling with vulnerability. "but i can't… i can't do this to you. to us." the weight of her words hung heavy in the air, a silent plea for maple to understand. grace knew the consequences of giving in to temptation, of allowing herself to indulge in the forbidden desires that threatened to consume them both. and yet, the longing in maple's eyes tugged at her heartstrings, tempting her to surrender to the blissful oblivion of their passion. "i wish things were different," grace whispered, her voice barely audible as she reached out to gently cup maple's cheek. "but we both deserve more than stolen moments and whispered secrets. we deserve to be loved openly and without fear." with a heavy heart, grace stepped back, the distance between them stretching like an unbridgeable chasm. "i'm sorry, maple. i truly am."

oh god. was all the femme could think as she watched grace process what she had confessed. the words were being framed like a nice rejection, the type that had the person feeling even worse for putting someone so sweet in such a terrible position. "i... um... i'm sorry, i shouldn't have said anything. i mean, of course, you love her. she's amazing, you both are..." maple spoke out, the hurt in her voice more obvious than she would've liked. even as the other created space between them, she felt like the ground was going to swallow her whole with pure embarrassment. "no, no, it's okay. i overstepped. i think i let all this celebration energy go to my head and read into you being kind. you were just being nice, you love my sister. i was wild to think you felt something for me," at least that's what it felt like, grace wouldn't be saying this kind of thing if she actually felt something back, right? her last sentence made her pause, thinking for a moment. "i mean... if you had feelings for me... like i do for you. you could act upon them. i'm sure we could work out something...." maple spoke in a soft tone, stepping closer with a curious gaze locked on the other. "i'd happily be your dirty little secret, grace, i'd do anything you wanted." should she be admitting this after what just happened? hell no, but something had her wanting to take the risk.

[liberalcom-blog]

Healing I Took Birth for: Practicing the Art of Compassion

https://liber-al.com/?p=40350&utm_source=SocialAutoPoster&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Tumblr For more than 32 years, Stephen and Ondrea Levine have provided emotional and spiritual support to those who face lifethreatening illness and their caregivers; deeply affecting hundreds of thousands of people in the process. The Healing I Took Birth For, which was begun after Ondrea’s own medical prognosis that foretold the end of a lifetime of spiritual exploration, is the culmination of her work. Their collaboration, in the service of the dying, especially during the height of the AIDS epidemic, set them both more deeply on the path of compassion–compassion for self, for others, for all. The Healing I Took Birth For is the heartfelt sharing of Ondrea’s life of service and a deeply inspiring example of how one faces illness and great personal difficulties, with a deep spiritual practice and grace. It is the most “intimate collaboration” she and Stephen have worked on and it will inspire readers to find their own way toward living a life of compassion. Editorial Reviews 04/13/2015 Fans of Stephen Levine (One Year to Live) know that his wife, Ondrea, is always part of the creative process behind his many popular books. In this seeker’s memoir, Ondrea’s voice is the one in the spotlight, as Stephen transcribes her story. Stephen writes in the first person as Ondrea, with less ease and intimacy than readers have come to expect. Her voice seems to have traveled some distance to Stephen’s pen. While there’s an unavoidable remoteness inherent in writing on someone else’s behalf, the effect may also be intentional. Ondrea’s childhood with her undemonstrative parents and her struggles with dyslexia have made it challenging for her to communicate clearly and intimately; Stephen has preserved Ondrea’s distancing by passively describing watershed moments rather than showing us directly how Ondrea experienced them. Details of the exceptional life the two have shared in their work with the dying and grieving, such as their interactions with Ram Dass, are more vivid. While reading Ondrea’s secondhand memoir is not a true “getting to know you” experience, it’s still inspiring to see how she has transformed her unhappy early experiences into a life’s work of helping others. (May) – Publishers Weekly “Interweaving her own story with perennial teachings on mindfulness practice and devotional yoga. This book is a profound healing.” –Miribai Starr – Reviews “We have been patiently waiting for The Healing I Took Birth For. It is a deeply inspiring account of a life devoted to healing and compassionate service. This beautiful book is filled with grace, love, and humanity. Like a pearl diver, Ondrea dives deep in her own wounds to find the gift that can serve others.” –Frank Ostaseski, founder of the Metta Institute “For decades, Ondrea and Stephen have offered themselves in selfless service to all beings who seek a way home within. Once again, they freely share the intimacies of their lives as dharmic teaching for us all. In telling her story, Ondrea validates and elucidates the path of transforming pain into peace. Ondrea’s story is one of her awakening to the beauty of her True Nature. It is also a love story of how the two hearts of Ondrea and Stephen beat as One Heart.” –Paula Whang-Ramos, M.Div., Ph.D., psychologist, minister at Center for Spiritual Enlightenment; Rich Ramos, R.N., M.S., Pediatric Oncology Nurse at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital “Absorbing these vital heart waves of one life. Congratulations on rotating the axis of the universe. Still quivering.” –Gary Gach, Buddhist teacher, author, and translator “As a hospice physician who deals with illness and impending death, I have learned, from Ondrea, the difference between curing the body and healing the shared heart. Ondrea has touched the lives of so many people, and this book will extend her healing work from those who have experienced her compassionate presence to those who will get to know her through her open-hearted words. She is an inspiration to me and to countless others who have been graced by her teachings.” –Fred Schwartz, M.D. “Ondrea Levine’s book reveals her courageous willingness to face the inner linings of her heart and the fearful caverns of her ego-mind. The honesty and transparency of her self-exploration is filled with a sensitivity, grace, gentleness, and wisdom that represents the One. Ondrea paves the way for the reader to follow her in an amazing commitment to a uniquely beautiful journey of the heart. This book is truly a love story of how two extraordinary people become one heart as they face the challenges of illness, pain, and death–not seeing them as enemies, but as an exploration of their way to freedom.” –Gerald. G. Jampolsky, M.D., founder of Attitudinal Healing; Diane V. Cirincione, Ph.D., CEO of Attitudinal Healing International “I read this wise and loving journal avidly, with deep gratitude and delight. These intimate old Dharma friends share how broken hearts, nakedly encountering death and mortality, can catalyze open hearts and selfless service. Their grace-full co-meditations and very special brand of partner spirituality will edify and enrich us all.” –Lama Surya Das, author of Awakening the Buddha Within and Buddha Standard Time “In The Healing I Took Birth For, Stephen not only autobiographically accounts Ondrea’s life, her selfless service, bouts with illnesses, writings, workshops and more, but takes their teachings to a more intimate place than ever before. Through implementing the insights, wisdom, and knowledge shared in The Healing I Took Birth For, I can unequivocally say that I am a better human being because of it.” –Chris Grosso, www.TheIndieSpiritualist.com “I have been a huge fan of Stephen and Ondrea Levine’s work for many years. Their deep, healing and transformative teachings have had a profound impact on my life. They are authentic teachers of great wisdom and heart.” –Marci Shimoff, New York Times bestselling author, Happy for No Reason “This is a brave and intimate, tender and healing story. Great love, strong medicine, just what the heart needs.” –Jack Kornfield, author of The Wise Heart “What a story! And how amazing it seemed as I followed the growth or maturation or . . . or expansion of mind and spirit of someone already so obviously ready, 33 years ago, to hop aboard the same spiritual train where you were punching tickets.” –Lee Quarnstrom, writer-practioner-prankster “Rarely are we offered the privilege of sharing in the rigorously honest, humbly genuine, and deeply authentic inner pilgrimage of another human being. This is the story of how Ondrea was shaped by a symphony of forces–broken open by people, events and winds that blew both harsh and gentle; punishing and uplifting; through darkness and light. Ondrea is a gift to us all. She shares remarkable clarity, insight and counsel for us to hold dear, to cherish, and to pass on to those souls brave enough to follow Love wherever it may take.” –Wayne Muller, best-selling author of Sabbath, and A Life of Being, Having, and Doing Enough “This book is an enheartening masterpiece. I have never felt my heart so close to the surface when reading a book. Ondrea Levine is living proof that grace is not something that pours down from the heavens; it is something that rises up from within us. Reading her story is a blessing not in disguise. This book is the perfect preparation for an enheartened life.” –Jeff Brown, author of Soulshaping: A Journey of Self-Creation “The steadfast union of Ondrea and Stephen that forged a path of healing for so many over the past decades now takes us on an unparalleled inner journey. Her story offers guidance for all those who have been wounded in life, and all those who strive to keep their hearts open. Life events alternating with poetic teachings catalyze both the mind and spirit. Wise, touching, tender and pure, her generosity and honesty will be a source of inspiration for all.” –Francine Shapiro, Ph.D., originator of EMDR therapy, author of Getting Past Your Past “…enlightening and heart opening.” –Sharon Salzberg, author of Real Happiness “In this exceptional book, Ondrea uses the depth of her mind and heart to heal her body and finds, in her suffering, compassion.” –Ram Dass, author of Be Here Now and Still Here “Interweaving her own story with perennial teachings on mindfulness practice and devotional yoga. This book is a profound healing.” –Miribai Starr – From the Publisher #Death,Grief,Bereavement;Biography&Autobiography #Death/Dying #Ondrea;Levine,StephenLevine #PersonalMemoirs #Self-Help #Topical #WeiserBooks

[julybloom]

the holiday season loomed ahead, and she found herself in a predicament. desperate to avoid the barrage of questions about her nonexistent love life, she concocted a plan—fake dating. from the moment they walked through the front door, her parents wore amused smirks, seeing through the facade immediately. the charade began, but she was determined to stick to the script. as the days unfolded, her parents orchestrated increasingly awkward and stressful situations, hoping to uncover the weaknesses in their "relationship." from surprise double dates to overly competitive family games, the pressure mounted. the femme couldn't help but feel the strain, caught between the act and the genuine moments of connection that sparked between her and them. the fake laughter and forced smiles hid the subtle glances and shared understanding that grew with each absurd situation. one evening, after a particularly intense round of charades, she found herself on the porch, seeking a breath of fresh air. "i can't believe they're putting us through all of this," she muttered, looking at them with a mixture of frustration and amusement. ''i'm so sorry for putting you through all of this. i just hope they find some new.. - victims soon. this is definitely not the holiday i signed up for.'' /@falscgcds

[julybloom]

grace took a deep breath, her gaze steady but weary as they locked onto the figure that had once held a significant place in her life. the weight of unspoken turmoil seemed to hang heavily in the air, and with a resigned sigh, she spoke the words that had become an unfortunate truth. "every time you show up here, shit hits the fan," her voice was tinged with a mix of frustration and sadness. the memories of past chaos and heartache echoed in her mind, a relentless cycle that seemed to accompany their every interaction. the room felt charged with an uneasy tension as she continued, her words cutting through the silence like a double-edged sword. "i don't know if it's intentional or just some twisted coincidence, but i can't keep pretending that everything's fine when you're around." her fingers tightened around the edge of the table, a physical manifestation of the emotional strain that had become all too familiar. the scars of previous encounters were etched into the fabric of their shared history, and she couldn't shake the feeling that each reunion was a harbinger of impending turmoil. "you can't just waltz back in and expect things to be okay," grace declared, her eyes holding a mixture of pain and defiance. "i've spent too much time picking up the pieces after you leave." the room seemed to hold its breath, suspended in the gravity of their confrontation. she awaited a response, unsure whether the truth would bring closure or only deepen the wounds that had yet to heal. the cycle of chaos and heartache, once again, hung in the balance, and she braced herself for whatever might come next. / @c4ndycoated

[julybloom]

she couldn't help but appreciate scotty's offer to help, his easygoing demeanor a comforting presence amid the stress of her car trouble. "nice to meet you too, scotty," she replied with a grateful smile. "and yes, i'm staying at the johnson's cabin. how did you know?" as he mentioned the state of his usual meals, she couldn't help but chuckle. "well, then i insist on repaying you with a home-cooked meal. cereal and takeout won't cut it while you're doing me this favor," she teased, appreciating his light-hearted banter. she nodded as he prepared to close up shop. "i don't have much, just a suitcase and a bag. i pack light," she explained, thinking of the essentials she'd brought for her holiday getaway. ''and don't worry about a few wrappers; I'm not one to judge. lunch breaks can be a scramble sometimes." she followed Scotty as they made their way to her stranded car. The crisp winter air stung her cheeks, but the prospect of a warm meal and the company of someone friendly made her feel a bit better about the whole situation. as they approached the vehicle, she couldn't help but feel grateful for the stroke of luck that led her to his garage. "thanks again for helping me out - i really appreciate it," she said sincerely, her breath visible in the chilly air. "and i'm serious about that meal. it's the least i can do for your kindness."

"i can get it ordered here and hopefully get it in by tomorrow." scotty said with a little shrug of his shoulders. it was wishful thinking to get the battery in that quickly. hopefully for her sake, it would get here while she was still on vacation. "it's nice to meet you, grace... i'm scotty. probably should have started with that with the whole car thing." he said with a chuckle. "are you staying at the johnson's cabin? i know exactly where it is." hearing that she wanted to repay him with a meal was much better than any payment, especially if he wasn't able to get this battery in time with how long her stay was. "you don't have to cook for me, but honestly i haven't had a nice meal like that in a bit, it's usually cereal or whatever dave brings in on the weekends." he teased as he motioned to his co-worker. "let me close everything up and get you there, like i said it's not a horrible place to be stuck in, could be worse." he said with a small shrug as he went to clean his hands on his jeans. "do you have a lot of stuff? i might have to move a couple of things... and you'll have to ignore some of the wrappers. trust me, i wish my lunch break was longer." he teased.

[julybloom]

the soft glow of the city lights spilled through the window, casting a gentle illumination on the two figures occupying the room. she sat on the edge of the sofa, her eyes fixed on the person before her, their features etched with the familiar lines of shared history. "you're still my person, even if i'm not yours," she uttered, her voice a delicate murmur that hung in the air, intertwining with the ambient sounds of the night. the weight of those words bore down on the room, creating an atmosphere thick with unspoken emotions. across from her, the other person regarded her with a gaze that held a mix of understanding and a hint of sorrow. the silence lingered, heavy with the unspoken complexities of their relationship. the city outside seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them suspended in a moment that held the weight of years gone by. the flickering city lights played upon their faces, casting shadows that mirrored the complexities of their feelings. grace's eyes, once a reflection of unwavering trust, now carried a glimmer of vulnerability—a vulnerability exposed in the admission of a truth too painful to fully embrace. "i remember staying up this late for you," she added, the words lingering between them, a testament to the countless nights spent sharing dreams, fears, and whispered confessions. it was a declaration that echoed with the nostalgia of a time when their connection felt unbreakable. / @cxnnonball

[julybloom]

''but i can see us lost in the memory, august slipped away into a moment in time. 'cause it was never mine.'' / @eulcgizeme

[julybloom]

''i'm the only one alone at a table meant for two, big sur looks beautiful this mornin' and i should be missin' you.'' / @tookstrength

[julybloom]

she had known this day might come, but the reality of it still hit hard. as he spoke about the baseball season starting and the inevitable travels that came with it, she couldn't help but feel a sense of uncertainty creeping in. the offer hung in the air, and grace felt the weight of the decision pressing down on her. she looked into his eyes, searching for answers that even he might not have. the idea of uprooting her life to follow him on his baseball journey was both thrilling and terrifying. "i..." she hesitated for a brief second, the internal struggle evident on her face. "i care about you a lot, and our time together has been amazing. but moving with you—it's a big step. i have my job, my friends, my life here. i'm not sure if i'm ready to give it all up just like that." as the reality of the distance ahead settled in, she grappled with the uncertainty of their future. the love they shared was undeniable, but navigating the challenges that lay ahead required careful consideration and a willingness to confront the changes that the baseball season would inevitably bring to their relationship.

open to: m / w / nb. plot: due to work, benji has to move away for an extended period of time and now they're figuring out where to go with their relationship from there. muse: benji, 27-29, professional baseball player and a bit of a himbo.

he knew this day was bound to come. it probably wasn't the brightest idea to begin a relationship in the off-season, since they'd become so used to spending time together. at the same time their relationship was also one of the better things to happen to benji recently, and there was a part of him that was desperate to make things work no matter what. "I have bad news, but we should've seen this coming," he pauses, taking a breath to compose himself. "baseball season's starting which means I'm gonna be travelling... a lot. things are probably gonna change between us since we won't be spending all this time together. are you ready for all that... distance? or- here's an idea, you could come with me?"