Ah Dali is my favorite too! Nothing compares to him! This avatar is not by me unfortunately! It is an artist named Chris Anthony. He is Swedish and his photographs are mainly Victorian Goth inspired. He is has some really fascinating work, the first piece I found by him called "The Loon" really turned me onto him. There are some dark and intense pieces that you can really feel the emotion in.

I was raised by a Greek Orthodox father (Although he leans more along the lines of Atheist/Agnostic) and a devoutly Christian mom. I have exposed myself to various forms of religion and I still frequent many places of worship out of curiosity. No organized religion has felt right nor do I think it ever will. I am very torn like you with my relationship with a higher being, although I would say I am pretty spiritual person. The world is a very messed up place and I can easily see why one would have no faith or belief in a higher being. I have had some very surreal experiences as well as some relatives that cannot be explained. You get scared to really share because of fear of being labelled crazy. For the most part I do keep them to myself, they provide me much comfort and hope there is something out there better than us and also better for us. And yes I have read some parts of the Koran and like the Old Testament it was filled with pain. I cannot get over how the women are treated over there. As for American women well I can see why the world hates us. I like to say I am open minded and want fairness for all beings regardless of gender, but what I observe here is a constant need for such equality that is causing reverse discrimination. Women are gaining more power here and that is ok, but with that men are now being discriminated against. It just does not appear there are any easy and perfect solutions because when one advances, someone else gets lowered. It is hard to say what will happen here, but between the political and economic turmoil, we have endured some radical changes more so than we ever had in such a short period. Like I say socially, politically, economically and spiritually things are very much chaotic. I just can't fathom what the future will bring, but I hope all this evens out.

And my pieces mainly portray the dualism within man. I also have a few that were inspired by a couple of dreams I had. I will definitely get some together and share them with you. I would love to see more of yours, you are very talented!

Your quote is similar to the INTJ prayer: "Help me be open to others' ideas...even though they're WRONG." I don't know I'd say doing it "my way" has lead to stiller waters, it's more I had no choice but to be what I am...and I have paid the price having twice been let go from good jobs because I wouldn't keep quiet about seriously unethical, hypocritical practices. At the end of the day if I can't see a person I respect reflected in the mirror, I don't see the point in living.

Actually your description of moving from interest to interest, place to place describes a good part of my life, always questing for "something better," quickly dissatisifed, not sure exactly what I wanted to do. In brief, my undergrad and masters degrees are in languages and Spanish lit...I did university admissions, registrar, financial aid, got my Ph.D. in Higher Education Admin., went to work as a consultant for an ERP software company, now back into university as a senior administrator. I've moved 6 times to pursue new opportunities my job at that time couldnt offer. Looking back, if I'd stayed put in an earlier job (assuming I'd have been able to "put up/shut up " I'd be retired now w/a nice fat pension. I'd say yes, as one gets older there is more a sense of peace and letting go. Hope all this narrative helps! Feel free to ask if there's more you'd like to know that'd help you in your journey.

Wow what an amazing piece, I love the shadowing you have done in this. Pastels and charcoal are what I love to do most. I am so drawn to symbolism and surrealist art. I don't have any of my pieces in an online portfolio. Many have told me I should try and sell them. I will have to share some with you. Most of what I create has much symbolic element too. This is beautiful and I am glad her departure brought up some good like this piece. That is spectacular and you are very talented.

Very interesting to hear your thoughts on society and BDSM. And of American women too. Do you mind me asking your thoughts on the treatment of women in Muslim societies? Do you have those same questions. I find the treatment over there disturbing however there is much cultural difference to what I have been exposed to.

Thanks for sharing your piece with me! It is beautiful

Oh no worries about responding earlier. I have a hard time keeping up out here and most places online! What a shame your friend took off back to Poland. I can see why you must be sad and it is hard to say goodbye to the people that have left an impact on us. I hope she gets back in touch with you. And she may so don't give up on hope. Writing about the Armenian struggle would be a great piece. And I think more need to be aware of it. I can understand how it is very personal too and would be a powerful subject for you to write about. I was checking out your avatar and trying to decipher if I had ever seen this piece. Where is it from? And creativity is up there like water and food. I am really sorry to hear that you are in a funk state and I have had those as well. Are you bordering on INFP? I have scored INFP before as well but am pretty sure I am closer to an INFJ. But this is my take too on how things are progressing in the world. I think this state of apathy/boredom is becoming very common throughout the world. I also think we are no longer needing to use our brains or tap into creativity as much because we have everything available within a mouse click. I find unplugging from all this, getting back into nature and going to a new place even if close helps to restore vitality to me. Have you every heard of a Highly Sensitive Person? When I was in some of the INFP and some other forums HSP was brought up a lot. There is another version and that is a High Sensation Seeker on top of being HSP. I am an HSP but not into sensation seeking. It seems a good portion of INFP's and those bordering on it are. You may want to read up on it because the things you mentioned in your thread sound similar. I hope you start to perk up soon. I understand creative funks and they are not fun. You will come out of it though I am sure.

By "view" do you mean how did I become aware of it? I'll answer as if that was your meaning (you can set me straight it that's not the case and I'll answer what you really asked ). I first read it as part of a high school English class...it didn't mean much at that time. Several years later I came across it, can't now remember the circumstances, but being older it struck a strong chord since at the time (my early 20s) I was trying to figure out what to do w/my life. When I read it now I see validation for choosing my own life direction, not necessarily following what was "expected" or what others said I "ought" to do. My life may have been more settled and less turbulent had I done that, but I wouldnt trade it. I took the "road less travelled by, and that has made all the difference." I see this poem as the INTJ anthem as it were: our fierce independence and self-direction are forces that propel us onward. Have you felt the same?

Wow your father sounds very similar to my dad although he is not an INFJ. He is Greek, has many Armenian friends and his family escaped Greece and came to America to improve the family's future as well. The Armenian Genocide was such a tragedy and is long overdue for the recognition it deserves, this coming from an American viewpoint. And living in Iran must have been a surreal experience for all of you. I can understand him wanting to bring you to a country that offered you some hope and safety. Have you ever been to the United States? And what an interesting major you are pursuing! You must be taking many architecture courses? You are certainly in an beautiful location for such designing! I went to school and majored in finance. I have been doing this for about 14 years now and although I do enjoy at times what I do, it really isn't my passion. What I really wanted to major in was Art. My parents were not on the same page and had concerns I would not get a steady career after graduation. I followed their advice and although financially it has been positive, it just is not my true calling. I do art on the side as a hobby but would like to go back to school for Art Therapy if I get the opportunity. With my personality I really need to be in a creative field. I also love interior design and although never really interested in architecture design as a career, I have always been so drawn to that as well. I adore history too! It sounds like a really interesting field you are going into. When do you finish school? I saw your post in regards to apathy and I can relate to much of that. I think when you have a creative brain and are not properly stimulated, you can really lose the zest for living. Hopefully once you graduate and get into the actual field you will get out this funk. I am feeling the same right now in terms of my job and although this economy is scary to venture into something completely different I am hoping to make it work! I think it is important to find our true callings and pursue them. It makes for a much more rich life. It is so nice meeting you and conversing! I hope you stay in touch!

Rather an eclectic mix: classical (particularly Mozart and Hayden), operetta (J. Strauss, R. Strauss, Lehar, Kalman), what I call Putumayo music (a label producing quality selections of international music), and salon music. What about you??

Absolutely, travel and especially living abroad are mind and horizon expanding, as long as you're open to the experience. I've known folks who eat at McDonalds and seek other comforts of home wherever in the world they are...what a waste. You come to understand yourself much better, particularly what your strengths and challenges are. Are you familiar w/the American poet Robert Frost?

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

I love this poem; how does it strike you?

Yup, I do; languages, etomology, dialects, etc. etc. I earned a BA and MA in Spanish Lang. and Lit. Oddly my career path took me into IT work, ERP consulting in particular. Now I'm back in university admin., where I started. I was lucky enough to work in Latin America and the Middle East, so honed my Spanish and picked up Portuguese and some Arabic along the way. Being Dutch (or Flemish, don't want to offend ) I'd guess like many North Europeans you're a polyglot. I'm envious you're studying Urban/landscape Design...I had considered being an architect early on, but things took a different path. Do you think you'll stay in the Netherlands after graduation?

Well my wife is an INFJ; I'll have to see if I can get her interested...but I suspect it'd be a waste of time. She IS into murder mysteries, which is interesting considering her sensitivity to others, very unlike the type...but as I tell her, what you read doesnt matter as long as you enjoy it. Chacun a son gout, as they say. So does your hobby relate to your "day job" at all?

Hey, you know me, I'm impressed...many of our fellow forumites have no clue So either you've seen the movie or know Spanish...which is it? I can't quite make out your avatar...

In vino veritas?

I go back and forth so much in regards to the internet. Some days I love to see how it connects people and makes the world a much smaller place, other days I grow more concerned these connections are disconnecting us at the same time. It is amazing how much we have progressed and you wonder at this rate what things will be like 100 years from now. How neat your dad is also an INFJ. I can understand the difference in generations causing some conflict. My mom is probably similar to your dad and it can really cause some grief. She and I are extremely close and at times I think it may not be healthy. INFJ parents certainly try to attain a bond with their children that is often unattainable. I am not a parent but can certainly see what an emotional rollercoaster it is and for an INFJ must be doubly taxing. And what a wonderful opportunity to meet this girl from Poland! You should go visit her! That looks like an amazing place to visit as well. And no, tulips, clogs, windmills, cheese are not the reason for being on the top of my list, although I love many of those things! I was always drawn to the history and architecture there. Not to mention the landscape looks like paradise

That is one of the beauties of the internet - being able to branch out and meet some like minded people. I am pretty fortunate that I have 2 INFJ's IRL. My mom being one and also my neighbor. It is really nice to have them in my life and it's as though a feeling of "coming home" takes over when we are in each other's presence. How about you? I see you are in the Netherlands too, how cool! I am on the East Coast USA, I have always wanted to make my way to Europe, The Netherlands one on the top of my list!

So nice to see some fellow INFJ's out here! Nice to bump into you!