Terrified.

I have always been terrified of storms ~ I'm sure because of the massively loud and thunder filled storms that would roll in over the lake growing up. The house would shake from the thunder - as if it were about to explode. So here I sit this evening, in the cold dark ~ and with each gust of wind, I find myself taking a big deep breath *in* hoping it will soon go away.

Fall Leaves ~

Remember a time, when you were very young ~ how exciting it was to race through the woods and all those fallen leaves...how eager we were to find within ALL of those leaves that 'most spectacular one' of all?

Do you remember how amazing it felt to hold that one single leaf in your hands, taking in each little splotch and dab of fabulous color, and turning it over carefully to view each of those tiny little lines and veins. Sometimes, it seemed I could spend hours locked into this gaze ~ drawn in by this little masterpiece that I had found laying on the forest floor. It seemed with each subtle twist and turn, I would discover something even more breathtaking. And I would only find my way back when it seemed my heart was satisfied that I had looked over each and every leaf.

This is why, when people ask my favorite season - I will always smile and say, "I love fall most of all." Because, when fall does make its way through to this point of my year - I am once again, most happily and excitedly a kid again racing my way through the woods.

I hope you enjoy the colors, as much as I do, too. If you would like to see those colors up close - you can do so by clicking here

You are never too old.

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. -- C.S. Lewis

And, you are never too old to *believe* that all will fall into its rightful place ~ and the dreams may begin once again.

I took a very slow, cautious ride this morning ~ through the fall leaves, and along a most wonderful path. Thankfully, the hills we ever so kind, tucking quietly up to one side as they watched over this, their visiting passerby.

And though, I felt the need to stop so many times over and again ~ there was always something breathtaking to fill this space. These days I take, moment by moment, in this their most literal sense. And, although it may take me a bit longer to get from point a to point b - I am ever grateful for this pace, as it forces me to breathe in every little detail of every little moment in every little thing that I may pass along the way.

I know I shall pay the price for this outing, but not today - today, I'll sleep deeply with dreams filled of all the wonderful things from this day.

Hope, an owner's manual

Hope; An Owner's Manual

Look, you might as well know, this thing
is going to take endless repair: rubber bands,
crazy glue, tapioca, the square of the hypotenuse.
Nineteenth century novels. Heartstrings, sunrise:
all of these are useful. Also, feathers.




To keep it humming, sometimes you have to stand
on an incline, where everything looks possible;
on the line you drew yourself. Or in
the grocery line, making faces at a toddler
secretly, over his mother's shoulder.




You might have to pop the clutch and run
past all the evidence. Past everyone who is
laughing or praying for you. Definitely you don't
want to go directly to jail, but still, here you go,
passing time, passing strange. Don't pass this up.




In the worst of times, you will have to pass it off.
Park it and fly by the seat of your pants. With nothing
in the bank, you'll still want to take the express.
Tiptoe past the dogs of the apocalypse that are sleeping
in the shade of your future. Pay at the window.
Pass your hope like a bad check.
You might still have just enough time. To make a deposit.

Beautiful.

sometimes a picture has the capacity to offer more than any combination of words, brilliantly strung with the greatest of care - may ever hope to offer.

The Greatest Gift You Can Ever Give.

Is simply to be fully *present* for someone else. To let them know that you are *here* in this *now*, and that you are here for them.

Take one moment today, to simply share a moment *with* someone else.

It's the greatest gift of all, giving of your self *to* someone else. And, it's the one gift most likely to give back.

xo and namaste.

Finding the Good by Falling on Your Ass. - 10/18 Elephant Journal Article

Finding the Good Between the Bumps and Bruises

This past year, for me, has been tremendous in many ways. Fabulously wonderful things have dropped into my lap, and, some not so very fabulously wonderful things, as well.

For you see, as is the case with all things, there must always be balance. And so following every fabulously wonderful thing, it seemed, there was something much bigger for me to experience, to understand and grow from.

I have always viewed everything in my life, all of those ups and downs, as being there for a “reason.” I have always found, that no matter what, something wonderful always comes from these sometimes humbling experiences. For this reason, I wear my “bumps and bruises” with much pride—showing them off as a young child might show off a new toy.

“Look, see what *I* have? Look at how wonderful it is!”

Because inevitably, it’s just these experiences that bring me the most wonderful stories to share. These bumps and bruises are like stories unfolding, with twists and turns, heroes and dragons… and always a “happily ever after.”

This year, I have experienced many challenges in my life, both spiritually and physically. It’s in these moments, that it becomes most pressing—all that I have lost. In these moments when we feel our hearts are lost and our spirits overwhelmed, it becomes so easy to wallow in a shadow or two.

And so it goes: this morning, as I was getting ready to face my day, I had a bit of a tumble—the result of a little unsteadiness and a whole lot of clumsy. As I hit the ground, I felt a pop, a searing pain rolled over my body, brutally forcing out everything that dared to cross its path.

As I lay still in its wake, my mind wandered over to a shadow and I sat quietly, and began to cry. I cried for all that I have lost in this year. I cried for the energy required to face those things with resolve and a smile. But mostly, I cried because it really hurt. And as I took a long slow deep inward breath, a thought came over me with so much force it nearly took that breath away. In that moment, I listened.

“Stop your crying,” it said to me.

“Breathe,” it continued.

“Look for the good,” it reminded. 

I felt a peace wash over me, and though, the physical pain was still very much there… all of that which was there casting such a very big shadow… suddenly disappeared.

Sometimes it takes falling hard on your ass, to pop that most very important thought into your head.
Nothing is so great. Nothing is so overwhelming. Nothing is so life shattering that we can not take a moment to find our center, and really look for that good.

My good is that I have wonderful family and friends who love me. My good is that I am doing what I love most. My good is that my life is abundant.

And that is all and everything that matters most of all.

Even with a gimp shoulder, I am blessed beyond words.

And, tonight, I shall think about a woman who embodies the spirit of optimism and gratitude. At 108 years old, Holocaust survivor Alice Herz Sommer greets every day with a vibrant passion and glow. If you ask Alice how it is that she experiences so much joy in a life filled with hardship, she will smile delicately, lean in, and share with you her secret, “I look, where it is good.”

Thank you, Alice, for coming to me in a moment where it mattered most that I look where it is good.

This universe is beautiful.

This world is beautiful.

Life is beautiful. Live it, no matter how often it is that you may fall hard on your ass.


To see this article, and many wonderful others - you may visit the original link on Elephant Journal. 

Amen.

Sometimes messages come to us in ways that are both curiously magical and wonderfully well-timed.

A must watch.

This is from the movie, "The Cure is You". If you've not yet seen this powerfully moving film - you absolutely must make the time. The message is simple, the impact everlasting. I have this video on my iPhone, and I watch it at least once a week. It has kept my spirit empowered, and belief, unstoppable.

I'll make it so very easy, here is the link...all you have to do is click on it. Easy. Now go -> http://thecureismovie.com/

And then, let me know what you think. If you can't purchase the video for whatever reason, send me a private msg and I will make sure to send one out your way.

Everyone Farts. (Elephant Journal Article 10/10)

The “Toot” of Commonality That Connects Us All.

I had a really rough morning. Like, super rough.

I have been having some health issues, which can sometimes be unsettling, particularly when you’re at “that age” when you start thinking about age and most specifically, sometimes counting out loud the number of hypothetical years you may have left on the planet.

Needless to say, I have found myself in the care of a cardiologist, which, is a very unsettling prospect no matter what the age. It first left me in one of those whole-body, super tense sort of moods. So, there I sat in my cardiologists office—in the snootiest, most “upscale” part of town where everyone takes such great pride in showing how awfully, well-mannered they are in even the most extreme social settings and situations. It was the very last place on this Earth I had wanted to be when feeling in such an awful frump.
As I got settled in, I noticed that the “delightful” couple sitting next to me was obviously mid-squabble, and although I couldn’t hear the details of the upset, I could tell it must have been something noteworthy because the wife was still giving her husband the, “How can I cause your death, and not ever get caught?” questioning scowl.

The hubby just hung his head with that, “How many more years before I die?” tortured look of desperation on his face.

I felt really bad for the fella because he was filling out the new patient questionnaire, and though I would never dare to offer my medical opinion in an area that is most certainly not an area I should be offering my medical opinion, I will say that I could already see perhaps the source of his stress and upset.
I don’t think he actually needed a cardiologist. A lawyer maybe, but not a cardiologist.
But I digress.

At one point, and still carrying the energy of the earlier upset, the wife muttered something not so very nice and something which I shall not ever repeat. Her husband continued quietly filling out his questionnaire, causing yet even more upset for the distraught wife. And, in an act indicating that she had just about reached the end of her “tolerance rope”—she drew in one of those very long, “I’m about to say something quite lengthy and most certainly involving my feelings” sort of breaths.

Sensing this most imminent attack, and in an attempt to, I believe, thwart said attack, this fine gentleman dropped his pen and clipboard to the floor directly to the front of him. In retrospect, I believe the clipboard and pen to have been thrown rather than dropped, but this may be the army girl in me constructing a much more sophisticated strategy where it ought not be necessary. Sometimes the dropping of a pen and clipboard is simply the dropping of a pen and clipboard.

And then it happened.

(read the rest of this masterpiece article on Elephant Journal), and remember to COMMENT and LIKE ME on Facebook - that way, this struggling writer can eat ;-)

Can you Imagine?

Sometimes, at night when the house is still and the clammerings and clunkings of my day have long past... and my body has settled in for just the beginning of a much longer rest...

It's just at this moment, when the mind has realized it's done its bit for the day - that it may take leave, and wander about... and imagine these, the most amazing things... and in its wanderings, find a way to bring to me... these, most amazing gifts.

And just like that, with the blink of an eye - my world has transformed into something, most magical.

I wish the world could see itself just as I do...

If all the world, could see the world - just as *I* do... it might find, these the most amazing stories... where a little girl, might meet a man and his loyal friend, the Elephant.. while walking along a path, in the most tucked away, farthest corner path of this world... and that man, might take a moment to show that little girl that love comes from ALL things and everything...in all things, great and small... love comes to everyone...  including, the most monstrously tall and intimidating of sorts...

 

And then that man, might show her a way to meet the Great Forest King, a crinkly sort ~ who will fluff his chest, and try to show her how AWFULLY very big he is (in the most smallest of ways).. and she would learn, that we are only as big, or likewise as so very small as our minds will allow... 

 

And then that Great Forest King, after some formalities and introductions, would then show her that *all* the greatest friendships are built on trust... but, that sometimes trust can be a tricky sort... and never always showing itself at moments it's needed *most*. And then the Great Forest Kind would explain to her ~ that sometimes in order to have the greatest of friendships, that it's important to take a little leap of faith... because, sometimes trust will only come when it knows that someone *believes* in it most. And when we believe, and when we have trust... sometimes the impossible will happen. It's just that way.

 

 And then at the end of a very long day, the Moonkeeper would emerge to tend to his rightful duties of making sure the Sun was snugly tucked away... and in its place, the Moon might shine brightly for all and everyone of this great world to see...

 And then, this little girl might find her way... to a resting spot, high up into the trees... and almost touching the Moon. Where the fireflies would keep her safe while she slept... and not too high that only the best of dreams may find her.

 

If I could, I would wish the world to see - the world, exactly as I do in these moments tucked away, at the end of my day... when my mind has a moment to wander. 

 

Remember John Lennon

Today is John Lennon's birthday. And, as is the case with each and every single passing of this most momentous occassion - I make it my intention for the day, to infuse as much love, tolerance, and compassion as is humanly possible (at least for this most wonderful weirdo).

Because, I think in doing so ~ somewhere along the way... I may affect the smallest of change, that leads to a much greater whole... that becomes something magnificent... which later becomes something miraculous whereby love... will conquer everything... and all... from the smallest, to the largest.. from the stuff that matters most, and that which matter none at all..

That is my dream on this day...and in every way.

And, as the song goes - you may say I'm a dreamer... but I'm not the only one..

Happy Birthday, John ~ and thank you for the gift of your love.

Long night, longer morning - and a setback..

Long night, longer morning - bad news, and somewhere a setback...

But still, I dream - and still, I can *see* where I am supposed to be...and I won't let go, and I won't give in...because nothing is so great as to keep me from where I most want and wish to be...

Good advice on writing

(reprint alert)

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO WRITING BETTER THAN YOU NORMALLY DO.


BY COLIN NISSAN

- - - -
WRITE EVERY DAY

Writing is a muscle. Smaller than a hamstring and slightly bigger than a bicep, and it needs to be exercised to get stronger. Think of your words as reps, your paragraphs as sets, your pages as daily workouts. Think of your laptop as a machine like the one at the gym where you open and close your inner thighs in front of everyone, exposing both your insecurities and your genitals. Because that is what writing is all about.

DON’T PROCRASTINATE

Procrastination is an alluring siren taunting you to Google the country where Balki from Perfect Strangers was from, and to arrange sticky notes on your dog in the shape of hilarious dog shorts. A wicked temptress beckoning you to watch your children, and take showers. Well, it’s time to look procrastination in the eye and tell that seafaring wench, “Sorry not today, today I write.”

FIGHT THROUGH WRITER’S BLOCK

The blank white page. El Diablo Blanco. El Pollo Loco. Whatever you choose to call it, staring into the abyss in search of an idea can be terrifying. But ask yourself this; was Picasso intimidated by the blank canvas? Was Mozart intimidated by the blank sheet music? Was Edison intimidated by the blank lightbulb? If you’re still blocked up, ask yourself more questions, like; Why did I quit my job at TJ Maxx to write full-time? Can/should I eat this entire box of Apple Jacks? Is The Price is Right on at 10 or 11?

LEARN FROM THE MASTERS

Mark Twain once said, “Show, don’t tell.” This is an incredibly important lesson for writers to remember; never get such a giant head that you feel entitled to throw around obscure phrases like “Show, don’t tell.” Thanks for nothing, Mr. Cryptic.

FIND YOUR MUSE

Finding a really good muse these days isn’t easy, so plan on going through quite a few before landing on a winner. Beware of muses who promise unrealistic timelines for your projects or who wear wizard clothes. When honing in on a promising new muse, also be on the lookout for other writers attempting to swoop in and muse-block you. Just be patient in your search, because the right muse/human relationship can last a lifetime.

HONE YOUR CRAFT

There are two things more difficult than writing. The first is editing, the second is expert level Sudoku where there’s literally two goddamned squares filled in. While editing is a grueling process, if you really work hard at it, in the end you may find that your piece has fewer words than it did before. Which, is great. Perhaps George Bernard Shaw said it best when upon sending a letter to a close friend, he wrote, “I’m sorry this letter is so long, I didn’t have time to make it shorter.” No quote better illustrates the point that writers are very busy.

ASK FOR FEEDBACK

It’s so easy to hide in your little bubble, typing your little words with your little fingers on your little laptop from the comfort of your tiny chair in your miniature little house. I’m taking this tone to illustrate the importance of developing a thick skin. Remember, the only kind of criticism that doesn’t make you a better writer is dishonest criticism. That, and someone telling you that you have weird shoulders.

READ, READ, READ

It’s no secret that great writers are great readers, and that if you can’t read, your writing will often suffer. Similarly, if you can read but have to move your lips to get through the longer words, you’ll still be a pretty bad writer. Also, if you pronounce “espresso” like “expresso.”

STUDY THE RULES, THEN BREAK THEM

Part of finding your own voice as a writer is finding your own grammar. Don’t spend your career lost in a sea of copycats when you can establish your own set of rules. If everyone’s putting periods at the end of their sentences, put yours in the middle of words. Will it be incredibly difficult to read? Yes it will. Will it set you on the path to becoming a literary pioneer? Tough to say, but you’re kind of out of options at this point.

KEEP IT TOGETHER

A writer’s brain is full of little gifts, like a piñata at a birthday party. It’s also full of demons, like a piñata at a birthday party in a mental hospital. The truth is, it’s demons that keep a tortured writer’s spirit alive, not Tootsie Rolls. Sure they’ll give you a tiny burst of energy, but they won’t do squat for your writing. So treat your demons with the respect they deserve, and with enough prescriptions to keep you wearing pants.

A true friend.

A true friend knows your weaknesses but shows you your strenghs;
Feels your fears but fortifies your faith; Sees your anxieties but frees your spirit;
Recognizes your disabilities but emphasizes your possibilities.

- William Arthur Ward

And how very true this is...

Because, she believed.. that's why.

It happened in a moment, quite unexpected... because she once again dared to dream and then the dream was there.

There is magic in every life. And all we must do, is *believe* 

Source: myfriendjules.blogspot.com via Maya on Pinterest

The Great Light Inside a Child's Heart

I love this photo, of a very young girl - who was so very curious of the person behind the lens, and with playful eyes and makeshift hula hoop - 'invited' that artist to play. This young child played outside a charcoal factory in a deep, dark, and most depressing area of Manila - and yet, in spite of all the many reasons that would have caused so many of us to become overwhelmed with our circumstances... her spirit, was invincible.


Hope is everywhere, but mostly - it's in the eyes and smiles and hearts of our littlest planet dwellers. We can learn much from them - if only we allow ourselves the heart and opportunity... to 'play'.


Life should be filled with makeshift hula hoops ~ and smiles that break through even the darkest days.

For the original article, you may 'hop' over to my most favorite spot "elephant journal" - where a group of this world's most talented, crazy creative spirits are coming together to effect great change one single heart, and one single moment at a time.

What are you waiting for? Wake up and Give (10/2)

Posted on Elephant Journal 10/2

It’s a choice… every day, every moment.

Do more than belong, participate;
Do more than care, help;
Do more than believe, practice;
Do more than be fair, be kind;
Do more than forgive, forget;
Do more than dream, work.

~ William Arthur Ward

How often is it that we have the most amazing opportunities, these moments in time to share so truly and completely of our own spirit? To both figuratively, and literally, extend our hands? And in our reach, offer hope?

In every moment of every day—through each and every corner of this great wide world—there’s an opportunity for “giving.”

And through each and every reach and stretch of this most magnificent universe, someone just like you is creating a new chapter in this story of compassion. And it all starts through one random act of loving-kindness.

I am humbled by the most wonderful stories of kindness and grace. Because in each of them, there exists a common thread—a realization, that the true gift is the giving. Through the simplest act of extending our spirit, we are actually “gifted” with something much more marvelously magnificent in return—the opportunity to directly touch the soul and spirit of another human being. This is the magic of loving-kindness.

And, every morning, in those first few minutes when we’re stretching off our covers, and wiping the crusted sleep from our eyes, we make the most important choices of this, our newest day. In those first few moments, we have the choice to express gratitude. We have the choice to express love. We have the choice, to express loving-kindness. And, in those first few moments, we hold in our hearts this most amazing capacity to choose to affect the greatest change. It is in those first few moments, that we reflect… we feel… we decide.

Every Thursday since 2007 Dan Dewey has faced the same choices we all do. And in those first few minutes of his every Thursday morning, Dan Dewey has chosen to share of his heart.

continue reading on elephant journal

The gift of everyday

If you learn to respond that it is both your first day in your life, and the very last day - then you will have spent this day, very well.