PAINFUL THINKING

FREAKIN BRILLIANT GORGEOUS XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Oh my …..........his life breathes out of the lines on his face…....the texture of this, tones you have used are deliciously amazing to me….........You have made this a stand out!!! XXXX

Fantastic Linaji

wow this is an amazing image hun! love all the details and depth. His face reflects his life!! xxxxxx beautifully captured sweets

The path to enlightenment is long and filled with stumbling blocks. Thank you for a beautiful narrative and a wonderful photograph. You help put it all in perspective.

AS I say always !!!
Teacher !!!
Great work , just perfect !!!

Great Hugs Linaji :)

I don’t have words Lina…
this aches in my soul…Well captured!!!

Brilliant image such a soul missing out on lifes riches such a hard life shows with his lines. He must be “The Story Teller” you have definately made him stand out! – David :>))

Lina, you personal insights never fail to move and enlighten me. It is such a pleasure to walk some of your journey with you.

wise words too…

stunnin work pal love it!

This is seriously brilliant Lina….the image is just…..i can’t find the words…..the depth is just beautiful…..it speaks to me even without the words….once again i must say u r one AMAZING woman!!!! thank you xoxoxo

oh Linaji… this is incredibly intense image… great words with that… I am learning.. to smile again, to be positive, to hold to all what’s good and find a joy even in those tiny things like a pound of chocolates before PMS, lol!!! It’s so hard sometimes.. and I let them go.. tears that clean my heart from dust of despair and bring light of hope… xoxox

excellent capture and so true words although difficult at times to achieve….you can feel this:)

you can really feel this piece
nice indeed
fav…..

compelling image and sidebar.

Wow amazing image and I love your message….
“When I came to understand that my own choice of thoughts made me feel either good or bad I began to be conscious of my thinking and started to take full responsibility for my thoughts.”
I think you just taught me something really valuable today. Thank you so much for sharing this. It’s definitely made me think about my own thoughts.

There is a lot of pain and sadness…And misery in this man’s face. Oh, and lonliness…

“loneliness”

Ouch …........ you can feel the pain …........

Very emotional capture Linaji!! :)

WOW

The image and the commentary are both so powerful and deep… well done!

Great image here linaji!!..and yet again the wisdom in your words helps me gain footing on my path…thankyou! : ) xo

So well captured….so much power in the commentary…yes indeed, we choose….we always have that freedom….to CHOOSE. Beautiful work!

BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

wonderful image!

You’ve captured this man’s pain and despair so well, Lina, I can feel it very deeply. And, yet, despite his pain, there is great strength in his face, a determination to survive, to continue. I wish him well, I feel he will survive, no matter what. Your words about your discovery are enlightening, and they will provide a light for those who are open to learning, to making their own discoveries. A very sensitive shot, and beautifully written prose.

What a poignant capture and a feeling that we all have gone through at certain times of our life. However, I truly agree with you Linaji, that we must take control and responsibility for our state of mind. Living a life in anger, fear, sadness, or grief, harms our psyche and makes us a prisoner of our emotions. Better to let go and move on and be in the driver’s seat! Really a sad thought provoking image….

Lina, this is an amazingly, beautifully painful image and simply brilliant writing. And all so true. Yes, it takes a lot of practice to consistently strive for better feeling, to learn to choose to feel better. Sometimes I feel like with 2 or 3 steps forward, I fall back one. But that’s still one or 2 that have moved closer to consistent contentment. :o) LOVE this!!

this is intense! makes one curious about the stream of thoughts running through the subject’s mind

Choices, as always, make us what we are…IMHO…a most wonderfully humane illustration of a most common human emotion…pain…

what a powerful image!! Very very special

I know exactly what you mean, Linaji. Happiness is a choice (read that on RB somewhere). I too, have gone through this process and have come to realise that my thoughts of pain and negetivity all take place in my mind and it is all a matter of choice. I have read so many books concerning positive thinking etc. and for a long time I thought that I understood it all, but my heart didn’t. But now, I know, my heart is not capable of untruths, negativity, darkness – it is ALL my mind. Actually, I have been trying to write about it – as a reply to ‘A day of today’. Thanks for your words. Concerning the image – the pain is etchted deeply….... It is really good. .

the pain of life, the harshness of it all, brilliantly captured x

Masterful portrait, linaji. I have never seen a better. The treatment really works! You have made the painful thinking palatable! How I needed this lesson today. Thanks, Love.

gorgeous

interesting work. the slight distortion make you wonder if you see it true a reflection. He certainly has seen life and life wears you slowly down to the bone.
Great work Lina
...roy

Firstly, this picture is wonderful! Secondly, the description is very good. I have read books how to control thinking and it really works. We are able to choose the way we feel. It’s the truth.

Great character shot, wonderful portrait…. Great commentary….. now just to remember I know that and stop dwelling on the past….

Such a powerful portrait, intense & beautiful, sad, strong, incredible

INTENSELY POWERFUL IMAGE! Your words I could not agree more with, wow…how many hours have we spent talking about exactly this huh? Love you and your thoughts! :)xoxoxoxo

powerful in every aspect…creating the feeling…great work lina….how was the party saturday???..thought of you and sent you smiles.xoxox

Oh…I’m still in the queue…

i will be available tomorrow…not early …i will mail you ok..we will do chicken talk..:)))xox

STUNNING!!!!
truly a masterful portrait!!!
and such a beautiful matching narrative!!
love ya friend!!

this is so amazing in many ways – i love your writing and agree with 100% about taking responsibility for one’s thoughts….. sometimes people, perhaps like the man in this image, had other things happen to him that made it impossible for him to think well. Mental illness takes control of the brain and denies you the freedom to choose your thoughts. Poor man …. this image is touching, I feel his pain…. well done…

What a fantastic capture ~ so much emotion. I love the words you have chosen to accompany this piece, I too try and live by the same philosophy everyday.

very powerful….....

You won’t believe what I just did… I opened a Word doc under this picture so I could look at it while writing. That’s something they should deal with on RB cause with some pictures you can’t just take a look, turn a way, and jot down what you’ve retained. Some pictures have such depth that they need to be savored while expressing what they’re doing to you… like this one.

I understand your message cause we’ve talked about it, and it makes me happy that you’ve mastered it to the extent you’re ready to share it with us and reach as many people as you can. That’s why you knew you needed the right image. You couldn’t get the message across unless we understood the pain. I don’t know where you shot this… I get the feeling he’s in a prison. Natural daylight bathing his face and surroundings with what we would normally embrace being free. But he is not. Looks like a long suffering prisoner… but I feel there’s more to his suffering than the physical confinement inflicted on him. His matted hair shows he no longer cares about his cleanliness or appearance. His skin is pallid and loose as if preoccupation excludes nutrition… and the deep set lines in his face show us he’s been frowning for many, many years. That the deep set expression has been worked over and over every day of every week, month and year through painful thought.

But I’ve seen lots of pictures of the mental suffrance of man… so what sets this apart and draws me into your message so deeply? OK, first of all your processing makes sure that we feel every deep wrinkle and touch every single grey hair, and that we follow the deep furrow of his eyebrows leading us up to his mottled and knotted forehead. So, amazing job making us FEEL pain of thought. But something draws me to the earrings and I had to think on it a bit… it’s like at one point in his life his thoughts were channeled to style and gratification from his peers, like he was part of a movement and he felt secure. Somehow it seems those thoughts became channeled to despair… not a result of a single event, but of a long string of wrong choices over many years, and dwelling on the consequences of each one.

It’s amazing to me how you managed to impact such a degree of emotion into this. I feel his pain like we all have at some point… to the extent that we’re ready to listen to how you are learning to manage it. This is how religions are developed. Baby, you are on the way to illustrating your own bible. Awesome emotion, amazing art.
You’ve SO blown me away with this.

Now to copy/paste…then clickk the Fav button!!

Besides the Fact that YOUR post and treatment here is just SUPERB….but You Also Have Captured the EXPRESSION and the FEELING here so PERFECTLY…...WOW….just STUNNING!!!! xx

Wonder work linaji! Words and image! Kudos!

So brutally honest…this photo makes a huge impact on the viewer. Wonderful p-processing!!

OK, so many comments in just 1 day … maybe that’s why your haunting image hasn’t featured so far. I’m guessing it will, soon though!! Goodonya!

IMHO means “In My Humble Opinion…” ok luv, sweetheart, ........?

I saw this show up in the lower right corner of my bubble page and it grabbed me. The postition of his head looking down like that and his expression told me that you captured something special. You caught the essence of his soul in this image. Very well done.

well, dear, i could not possibly allow myself to be the reason for the tears of a woman. having said that, i m actually off to new york next weekend, and i sure will be photographing “my lady” :-) will keep you posted.

xoxox

great work linaji! xo

Fabulous work Lina and a wonderful story…great work hon;)

wow excellent capture! sad to see isnt it !

What a fantastic character with so much emotion and your story is soooo sooooo true, I have been there, and it’s getting so much easier, I actually switch off while painting, I get into a world of my own, my spiritual side, and can be there for hrs….without my knowledge, till the dogs bark or the phone rings…

awesome capture…true emotion…just when you think you have it bad, you see someone that is worse off… well done :-)

Wow what some powerful words. But it is very true. You captured the true emoting. Excellent.

Wonderful image – and words. I can relate so very much. I’ve been there. I am there.

great capture

great portrait! i like your (HDR?) processing here, quiet fitting for the type of portrait, it’s certainly does help actuate the characteristics in his face and the sadness. well done :-)

wonderful image

ah, very thought provoking linaji!
wonderfully captured :)

great job

wow! what a portrait…..

nicely said, terrific emotion/details/capture.

very nice!!

This page is a good read!!!

I resonate with your wonderful essay and insightful commentary on a spiritual level.
Happiness is a choice. We create our own reality and that which we focus on we give power to.
Your image is thought provoking and saturated with emotion. It is a powerful portrait!!

”....I can go for a few days with thoughts that are quite painful. But you know.. it beats years of it!!
Years to months to days to weeks to hours to minutes to NOW.” Brilliant photo and brilliantly thought out words. I love the dialog between you and billiboy.

Thank you to you and the hosts of Freedom in Words for featuring Bridges.

I really liked what you said about our choices in life and I think your photograph says a lot….Thankyou!!

incredible, incredible image … and your words … oh, honey … how very, very true!!! I live it as well … it’s sooooo easy sometimes … and sooooo hard sometimes. But it does work!!!! Bless your heart … I’m glad you’ve found the secret, too!!!!!!!!

This is such an incredibly intense and emotional capture. Love your words too. I try to live by those words and actions also. Thank you for sharing!

Brilliant work, Lina!

What thoughts and memories are hidden behind that time worn face! This is really a great photo. Bill

thank you for sharing your heART

click on sign to see features!
♥t

This is a very moving image. I think we can all recognize this place. It’s beautiful to be there…for where it allows us to go.

Thank you for the inspiring accompaniment of words. Linaji, all of your work clearly serves something greater. Congratulations on making a way for that “something greater” to shine through. Very glad to have found your site.

Always wise words of wisdom from you Lina. Such an emotive, beautifully sad image which brings reflection and gratitude to my heart. Thank you for all you do for all of us.

that is brilliant work, lina! Congrats on your features!!!
xoxoxo

nice image, Linaji.

What shall we say?
Shall we stay
in a place in time
where we are victims?
Shall we make excuses ?
In the darkness.
Or shall we make plans?
Shall we take
the road less travelled
finding our way?
looking ahead
Into the light.
Life is hard sometimes.
Rejoice in hardships conquered
Knowing they make us stronger.
What is joy without sadness?
Pleasure without pain?.
It’s not how many times you fall
but how many times you get up.

Thanks Linaji
I seem to always find inspiration in your work.

The impact of this photo is tremendous .It makes me think.

Aww this is enchanting sweetheART soul searching stuff! love it! ;} happy hippy hugglez

What a marvelous face that seems etched with every mile of his journey through life.”Life is what you make it and you can make it worth the try”...an old song lyric.

Absolutely fantastic capture! Excellent work!

Very strong, intensive work!!!

wonderful image. As it has been written and lived by many before us, the true enlightenment is just to “be” in the now.

It was hardship.
Contained in any face line,
overflowing the consecuence of feelings.
It was thoughts flooding and myself witnessing.
No more thoughts to these ones.
They appear, and feed my ego.
My essence….
revolting consequence….too
of printed consequences….of living.
No owning any of them,
behind, musing elements of hunger.
The earings tinkle in my left brain,
alerting my shadow form of being.
Powder …..unthinkable joy,
of a mere breathing.
When hunger is biting my core.
Rosa (such a good portrait, Lina….love the treatment, heavy dusted, hard to the limits. Love)

Wow, it took me long to get here, lol

I Love this shot friend, And whatever you done to it,
It’s f*ing awesome!!!!

Beautifully emotional! Congratulations on your feature!

wonderful portrait. I’m so glad I read this the first thing this morning. I tend to feel victimized at time and forget that I am the one choosing to think what I’m thinking. there is so much freedom in that. I can still choose to focus on pain and sadness, but as soon as I realize that it is my choice then I can’t blame the world and be a victim because it is my own choice. Thank you so much

very emotional image…makes me stop and think and appreciate what I have….

Painful repercussions are evident in this magnificently poignant portrait. I have been viewing this for a few days now and each time see something else that adds to the enormity of the pain. There are no words needed. One can perceive everything very simply and relate to the intensity of his gentleman’s pain emphatically. Congratulations Linaji for your feature, but more importantly well done for drawing our attention to the plight of many people in this gentleman’s situation. Wonderful work! I hope you are well? Thinking of you!Sx

having lived with clinical depression for all my 48 years of life, I know that it is my mind that creates the thought I then choose to listen to… or not… unfortunately with me, its a brain injury with no cure and so I have had to learn to live with the thoughts that run rampant through my mind… but there are so many tools to help one learn to live and love and enjoy the fleeting beauty that is life – and this is one that you have given us, both in words and image – for what is art, or creativity, but the soul speaking to the world – THIS IS ME!
simply the best way to heal is to create…
thank you for allowing us into this mans grief and pain so that we know we are NEVER alone:) blessed be:)

Gosh I was bowled over by the image and your utterly honest heartfelt words in describing this man and your ability to choose your state of happiness … then I started reading the responses and am even more blown away!

You have touched hearts and opened a sunbeam for many.

Congratulations on your very well deserved accolades. Outstanding.

Brilliant portrait!

Truly amazing…..

This is so wonderful and so true!

Could not have been better captured nor titled….great statement…

Wonderful portrait-so expressive! Great description, too-I wholeheartedly agree. :)

This is one of the best things I’ve ever seen..

A very sad and emotional image I wonder what this man has gone through in his life time and by judging his face he still seems to be young

Well, everything is already said… A wonderful image. This face speaks!

WOW! Beautifully shot!

Very powerful!

BRILLIANT image and text linaji!!!
The depth of his pain… etched upon his face ….for all to see…... yet such power and strength of character as well!! Some can hide their pain and despair well for awhile, but always …the face…the look,....and the eyes never lie. I rejoice in your discovery that you can choose happiness over sadness. It seems so “easy”... but I know for a fact that this is an ongoing art that requires practice as you mention. Bless you in your choices!!! Thank you for sharing!!!!

very intense and love the words you wrote

Have do share this with you!!!

Maybe you have other plans. . . ================================

I woke up early today, excited over all
I get to do before the clock strikes midnight.
I have responsibilities to fulfill today.
I am important.
My job is to choose what kind of day I am going to have.

Today I can complain because the weather is rainy, OR…
I can be thankful that the grass is getting watered for free.

Today I can feel sad that I don’t have more money, OR…
I can be glad that my finances encourage me to plan
my purchases wisely and guide me away from waste.

Today I can grumble about my health, OR…
I can rejoice that I am alive.

Today I can lament over all that my parents didn’t give me
when I was growing up, OR…
I can feel grateful that they allowed me to be born.

Today I can cry because roses have thorns, OR…
I can celebrate that thorns have roses.

Today I can mourn my lack of friends, OR…
I can excitedly embark upon a quest to discover new
relationships.

Today I can whine because I have to go to work, OR…
I can shout for joy because I have a job to go to.

Today I can complain because I have to go to school, OR…
eagerly open my mind and fill it with new tidbits of knowledge.

Today I can murmur dejectedly because I have to do housework,
OR…
I can feel honored because the Lord has provided shelter
for my mind, body, and soul.

Today stretches ahead of me, waiting to be shaped.
And here I am, the sculptor who gets to do the shaping.
What today will be like is up to me.

I get to choose what kind of day I will have!

Have a GREAT DAY my friend

OR…

maybe you have other plans.


_{Author Unknown}

HOW HAVE I NOT SEEN THIS BEFORE!!!
LOVE it!!!
Incredible capture with equally incredible words
im in awe

Great work

Terrific

Wonderful!! There is so much to contemplate in this image!! So many stories to tell

very moving indeed!

I guess, after scrolling and scrolling past all the wonderful comments you’ve gotten, you don’t need to be told what a supurb portrait you have in this. It is supurb, though. And, I like what you’ve said with it. It’s a Truth.

Brilliant work! Very emotional!

Very nice work

Absolute brilliant Lina. It looks so real. Fabulous work.

Stunning Portrait !

Exceptional!!!

ok…WOW…as I was slowly rolling my way down to this box to let you know how much I loved this image, I was even more blown away by the depth of the comments left by your friends here….Truly amazing that one picture and the prose along side it can reach down and clearly grab your heart like it has to everyone above me…..and now mine…I usually photograph things that don’t look back at me….(no portraits I mean ;) I came to say hello to you this morning while I’m sipping my coffee and was totally captivated. Glad I saw this in the morning ( I think someone else noted that somewhere up there…lol…) but it’s true. Once the day gets going…things get crazy busy sometimes and I might have missed this…you know..not stopped and lingered here. I’m so glad I did..
It’s really an amazing piece… really good work, linaji xxx

3 casue i’ve alwasy loved it :)

i finally was able to create the label for featured pieces
AND YOUR PIECE WAS ONE OF THEM THAT WAS FEATURED
SOME TIME AGO….

Brilliant shot ..reminds me alot of so many people around here … the hair, the face … a story that does not need to be told by words as it is written on his face … bloody awesome!

AWESOME Linaji!

Loved the HD!

What an AMAZING portrait :)

optimism makes me sick. good picture though

fine piece of art, great !!!

Great candid portrait!

Wow, this is excellent – so much feeling and compassion!

S P E L L B I N D I N G … Instant fav!

Great

Amazing work!

This is an exceptional image and the words that go along with it really tell a good story/. Sometimes the choices we make have become so ingrained its like second nature and it becomes our comfort zone. Thank you for these thoughts. Patrick

Superb shot and words. You are getting blessed.
POP’s

A powerful example of where not to go … There is a man who lives on and around the streets of Adelaide, who I’d swear was this man’s twin!! ... I would often cross paths with him when I worked for several years in the CBD … as an aside, your photograph reminded of a similar piece I’d done some time ago

I have meetings and conversations with folks who live such as these guys reflect, way too often. Few of us do the best we can to make their lives a little less tragic … thanks for the sharing

Wow fantastic work Crow!! your story touches my heart.. thanks so much for sharing your experience. I just feel we all are doing what we will and for that is enough. Life is never finished and never done and I believe this so strongly that when I see people like this Me too.. find it easy to converse and allow for their journey.. Really amazing work Crow. xx

Beautiful,Soulful. I have trouble shooting the urban street scene, esp people. I could never draw faces correctly, until I discovered I had a block about SEEING people’s faces. This shot reminds me of a songs lyrics (The Pilgrim Chapter 33)
“See him wasted on the side walk, in his jacket and his jeans, wearing yesterdays misfortunes like a smile.” “Once he had a future full of money love and dreams,,,that he spent like they were going out of style. He’s a poet and a preacher and a problem when he’s stoned” ’ He’s a walking contradiction, partly truth and partly fiction, taking every wrong direction on his lonely way back home.” If you’ve never heard the song,,,it is worth a listen. The shot is perfect.
Oh and congratulations on the feature.

Linaji this is a wonderful portrait shot … very strong and you have captured this man’s inner reflection so very well … fabulous work :)

Amazing Capture my friend so well done xx

Power of Now perhaps?

Just finished reading ‘by the river piedra I sat down & wept’ by paulo coelho … If ur into Tolle U would love it linaji! :)

Wow! You have captured the soul! there is so much character and untold stories here.

Ah, moments of joy, in the now. A sensitive portrayal here, in your art and through your words, Lina. Lovely of you to share both!

The emotions are well conveyed. Some emotional scars do not go away; but does not mean we can’t search for the light.

this photo deserves long comment
too much in it + breathtaking text
love you, be bach on this
wow – let me not correct Bach here, he does belong … so very much
:)

wonderful image

Everything that is possible to express on a sensitive image like your Masterpiece lina ,has already been done ,and beautifully done so too ! ..but the most sensitive thought belongs to you ,for seeing the image in the first place ..Bravo !!

Excellent capture and treatment, powerful portrait work!

my goodness Linaji…this is so powerful in every way xxx

wow wow wow… this guy is about to jump out of my computer screen it’s so real. great capture!!

Love this shot, Brilliant !

Yes, it is an impressing portrait, tells so much!
About the responsibility of our own thinking, I want to add this:
Quote:
“The optimist is not much more right or wrong than the pessimist, but his life is much more joyful!”

Here are some backhugs, Lina Dear!
Well…....it is a quote of …I don’t remember whom…..but it is not “origin Andrea”, haha
Have fun, wherever you are going!

Very powerful and emotive work Lina,
and yes, we can control our thoughts.
We have the choice to feel good.
That doesn’t mean we can allways feel good,
bad things can happen, and it’s OK to feel bad sometimes,
as long as we know it’s temporary situation, and we will feel good again.

This is so stunning Lina – so moving. What amazing depth you’ve captured in this image. Powerful – as is your writing.

This is very powerfull and emotive portrait, but what makes it really outstanding is the narritive, foundemental truth.

Always profound Lina. We definitely can choose painful or happy thinking. I have some extremely negative friends which I tend to avoid as I cannot handle their negative thinking and the way it tries to suck me into the void of despair. I often have experiments on myself with my thoughts and my reactions to my thoughts…..a sublime day when I found I could create my own nirvana through my thought patterns. xxxx

Powerful brilliance in image and writing… Bravo, linaji!!!!

You are so truly talented and gifted wonderful work achieved, stay blessed :)

JUST OUTSTANDING, I am speechless, wow!

GREAT work of art! and the words are full of compassion and hope. Thank you for sharing this wonderful work!

This piece moves me..I LOVE it

Fabulous Work

Strong, moving, and Most Excellent Photography…..very compelling words too!!

I don’t think life has been kind to this man. Wonderful photo.

Summarizes what I felt for weeks now… excellent photo but the writing is what put it down. We control our thoughts and the beating of some of ‘em can be that visual (as the pic).... very inspirational philosophy n health. TY.

I even enjoy the way you think….mastering the inner surf I call it sometimes. Love your work.

Oh my God, this is sooo beautiful linaji!!!!!

Great capture of emotion. Love the tones and the texture.

wow i love this … like reading a book.

Truly powerful image and words. You speak truth and wisdom in your words. I like to beleive we indeed have a choice in the thoughts we think. After all, they are our thoughts aren’t they? Anyhow, when I start feeling painful thoughts coming on I start writing and purge my soul so to speak and then they start to recede. I Love this Lina :) xoxox

Beautiful!!!

If ever a picture was worth a thousand words, this is it. Bravo!

Brilliant capture, oozes emotion and character.

Wow … this thinking really does look painful.
Amazing capture. * Coy *

amazing capture. reminds me of a man i knew growing up. powerful image. words are perfect. =)

Outstanding work!

Debra

Perfect.. In this very moment, PERFECT!! xoxo

Drop dead gorgeous. I just love this.

I see the image,it is very creative. More than the image though ,I see your tremendous insight . You state your thoughts now very clearly and simply, that is what will get through to us. Thank you for shortcutting the route for all of us and from now on my thoughts will be positive and although I love everything around me and enjoy all of life at the moment; your advice ,your thoughts will be the icing on the cake for me. Thankyou “Here’s tay yea—There’s nane like yea”
Alex

you have it ,spot on,

WOW! (just a tiny word) but WOW – your words with this image are so thought provoking. Congratulations on the discovery of this new way of thinking… If only we could learn when we were younger… If only we could teach this to our children in a way that they could understand it.
I guess, only living can truly teach us to let go of our allowance of others controlling how we feel and react. As you say, it is a daily effort to be conscious of our thinking and to start to take full responsibility for our thoughts
WOW again, see what your one image and your words have done? They have made me think. . . Thank you!!!!
♥Rhonda