The Fences We Keep.

“Even 'paradise' could become a prison if one had enough time to take notice of the walls.” ~ Morgan Rhodes 

I saw the most beautiful of little boys today, standing off and alongside a wooded path ~ the path that marked so very clearly, where he believed his personal 'sidewalk' ended.

And as he stood looking so longingly at the 'other boys' at play ~ I knew at once what was in his heart, the sadness of not being welcomed here.

You see, in this particular snootied up neighborhood, the residents all felt so urgently compelled ~ to keep "their" playgrounds, and the little ones within it...so very clearly away from our 'outsider" troubles.

"That's quite a playground," I leaned in to say...

"Yeah, but I'm not allowed" his little voiced returned.

"Hmm..." I said, as I thought for a while, "well, it's certainly a shame those boys are all locked up in there, that they'll never know the joy playing here on the outside."

And, just like that...this little boy whose sad sullen look would have stopped even the most miserable of misers in their place...this little boy looked up just long enough, to let curiosity slip into dejection's place.

"Well," I leaned in, with a knowing smile in my heart,  "just look over there - that tree is just waiting for a little boy to come climb it.  And just a piece down the ways there's a wooden bridge where the "other boys" fish. And, well... if you're just lucky enough, and with the right stillness of heart you'll see...a magnificent buck easily twice the size of you and me."

And as I watched that sulk slip gently to smile, I could see his heart lift as my simple words settled in.

I believe that's the moment he finally realized, that...those other boys weren't so lucky at all. I mean, who could be lucky being trapped by a wall?

So, my dears, this morning a little message from my heart to yours ~ may we always be mindful of those fences we build... and ever careful of what we are truly keeping in.

Namaste, and much love my most beautiful friends ~ I am sending healing thoughts to each and all and every single one of you on this... most amazing day. 

The Purpose of Being Late.

My dears, my most beautiful friends...I am embarrassed to say, that I had a bit of a late start this morning.

You see, we writers are often distracted by the littlest of things that tend to get swished away into the noise of everyone elses' day...

And, we can't help it, really...as each of our senses are continuously tuning in...waiting...watching...hoping for Inspiration to find us here, once again... 

We writers are the watchers of this world, caretakers of sorts...bringing into view with our most simple words what otherwise might get lost along the way...

So that others might finally see the 'glint of light on broken glass' under the richness of the morning's waning moonlight...and as the dew drips along the length of tree's leaves.

This world is calling you, my dears... begging you please to come back this way....

To pause, one simple moment and long enough...to see...

This richness of life that is left often unseen...

And, just a moment longer to realize... that the brilliance of moonlight is born from our soul...


So, what is it that caused me to slow my pace this day?

Just these few simple words....and the gift they carried with them on this day. 

"You could calm a storm with your tone
And the way you sing, makes the mockingbird hold
The grass you walk on, gives way
Saying please, please, come back this way"

And so, my dears...when this most beautiful Earth calls...stop, please, and listen...

As I promise you, it's only purpose is to steal your breath away... 

So, let the rest of this world wait...just for today, who cares...be late...

Even if 'late' results in spending this day with a bit of grass stuck to one's head...  ;)

Much love, my most beautiful friends ~ and I hope you enjoy my photo to you today.

Finding Joy's Smile Through an Open Window.

“Smiling is the way the soul says hello.
”  ~ Jarod Kintz,

I stop off for a decaf every morning and always on my way into work.

And, not at all because I want or even so much as need it, you see...but rather, more so because the coffee here is delivered always with the happiest of songs.


"Good morning, my dear..." he smiles, and leaning in...this most beautiful morning 'melody' begins.

And, oh...how I grin, as I listen in...just knowing the fullness these few simple notes may bring... 

For you see, Joy's smile has always been right here, my dears... peeking back to us through the space of this small open window.

Much love, and namaste my most beautiful friends ~ and may we all look to the smiles that visit us each day... 

The Signs We Choose to Know.

“Beyond the edge of the world there’s a space where emptiness and substance neatly overlap, where past and future form a continuous, endless loop. And, hovering about, there are signs no one has ever read, chords no one has ever heard.” ~ Haruki Murakami 

Oh, my dears...yesterday, was a most challenging day...and one that left me ponder-wandering along my favorite wooded path, marveling at the trees "kneeling down" gently to soften my way...

My dears, we all have these days ~ those that cause us to look far outside our most settled in self, to find the meaning and purpose in these such things.

I have always fancied myself a bit of a 'sign-seeker' - even from the youngest of age, I would spend hours carefully turning over each and every stone... looking for that deeper meaning most certainly contained. 

And the endless variations of cloud formations, pulling together the most beautiful scenes from this...life's greatest 'play.'

My dears, there is always something much greater to consider ~ that which isn't always quite so immediately clear... 

These are the messages this Universe has so carefully selected to share....and the signs, my dear, are everywhere. 

I wanted to share with you something that I received to my inbox yesterday evening. The subject line, quite literally was, "A Message From the Universe."

I had to laugh as I soon realized, that...it seems, not even the Universe is immune to this glorious age of electronic digitization ;-)

Much love, my most beautiful friends ~ and from the deepest portion of my most loving heart, 'thank you' for the love that you shared with me yesterday. Please know, that the Universe delivered your message with only the greatest of care... 

May your 'search' through this world, lead you to the greatest discovery of you.

"Some claim not to know, not to see... but, Tara...

That there are birds who sing at every hour of the day for no other reason than to be heard...

Creatures of the deep who flip and twirl just for the fun of it...

"Furry friends" who love just as dearly as they are loved, and...

Flowers so exquisite, pleasing human eyes could be their only explanation... must surely prove that you're living in the most magical fairytale ever imagined"

"I Just Helped Him to Cry."

Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child.

The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife.

Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.

When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said,
"Nothing, I just helped him cry."

I think love is just this way ~ we all make our choices everyday in how we may show love to another human... and it doesn't matter how big or how small, because sometimes... it's the smallest things, done carefully, in the smallest of ways... that bring the greatest comfort and joy in our world. 

And it's always our choice in how we may choose to show and share our love to another.

The Most Beautiful Explanation of True Love I Could Ever Imagine (Tissue Alert).

“Live your life from your heart. Share from your heart. And your story will touch and heal people’s souls. ~ Melody Beattie

Sometimes, it is, that we may struggle to find ‘just the right words’ to share and show just have very much we care.

In our minds, perhaps we are thinking just a wee bit too much—in an effort to speak our  most perfect thoughts into being.

And then, there are these moments—where we are stripped to our emotional core…that’s when our heart will step up and speak for us. When that happens, the words flow so very easily—from spirit, to heart, to soul.

The heart will speak when the mind, can not.

This is the story of Danny Perasa and his wife of 27 years, Annie—as they share the wonderfully inspiring love story ever. This video resonated with me in ways I could never have imagined (I mean, it is a cartoon, for goodness sake). But sometimes, it’s the very best stories that catch us completely off our guard.

As you watch this, I would love to hear what true love means to you.

No One Can Determine Your "View."

"The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” ~ W.B. Yeats

I read a most interesting quote this weekend, and if I may be so bold as to paraphrase ~ it went a little something like this; "Our reality is exactly what we choose to see..."

My Mother used to say such things as, "Look for the good in all things..." or...."Let your heart carry you always through..." I suppose this was just her way, a gentle reminder of this most critical connection between our spirit and this world.

And so it was, from such a very early age, I became quite 'aware' that true beauty extended far beyond the limitations of these, our five most simple senses... 

My dears, there is no one else who may determine your 'view' ~ and no one who may ever dare to describe...

The hushed, swirling sounds of fall leaves as they dance along these paved, empty streets...

Or the perfect sweetness of a hot apple cider, and the warmth makes its way through your hands.

And try as they might, they'll fall short to describe...the sound of trees creaking and moaning under the seasons' first heaviest snow...

Or, even the softness of a new rose petal's bloom... 

No, my dears, there is no one else who may define your 'view' ~ just you...

And, the magic is there for all those who'll choose it... 

Namaste, my most beautiful friends ~

Falling Into Limitlessness.

“It's time that I stop referring to myself, thinking about myself, planning for myself, according to the gridlines and the timelines and the guidelines of people. I will expand in this universe, I will not stay on the lines nor within the lines written by this world.” ~ C. JoyBell C.

This is a day for me...

A time to get a little closer to the inside, most beautiful me...

To rejoice in each most fanciful miracle that graciously manifests here before my 'reach'...

Close your eyes, my dears, and just for today listen with all your heart...

Flow into the rhythm of your own spiritual beat...

And step boldly into this immeasurable spaciousness...

Somewhere in between your vision and your dreams...

Limitless in potentiality....this day, it speaks to you...

Begging you to do those things you never thought you could do...

Because, my dears...you were created to embrace vulnerability...

And to fall fearlessly into your very own limitlessness...

Who Is It That Inspires You the Most?

“To give pleasure to a single heart by a single act is better than a thousand heads bowing in prayer.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi

People often ask me, "Who is it that inspires you the most...?"

And though, I rattle off a dozen or so names, they are never quite so interested ~ as these are the names of those who are never known.

Such as, the old man who puffed his pipe in cadence with my each and ever tearful word ~ sacrificing those few precious hours of his last days here, and only to provide my heart a little shelter.

Or, my darling children who have so bravely walked this path with me without ever once letting loose their grasp on Hope's billowing sleeves.

And, not even my dearest friend who has time and time again reached out his hand and in order to help me up from my latest life stumble.

No, my dears,  this simply won't do at all ~ as these are the ones that are not ever known...those few names, that are forever etched to my soul.


And, if I have not mentioned yet this day ~ my friends, I count each of you most dearly among these such heroes...of those, the names not ever known...

We are all meant to inspire my dears, and it's not always through such bold acts of being ~ rather, it's those moments in between that end up mattering the most.

So, if I may now ask of you my dears...who is it that inspires you the most...?

Also, I would like very much for you to meet Alice ~ I pray that we may all live to use our light in just this way.

Thank you, Alice ~ and thank you to all of those 'other names'...

Much love, and namaste...

The Importance of Something Much Bigger.

 “Through our eyes, the universe is perceiving itself. Through our ears, the universe is listening to its harmonies. We are the witnesses through which the universe becomes conscious of its glory, of its magnificence.” ~ Alan Wilson Watts

It was 40 years ago, that the astronauts of Apollo 8 mission orbited our moon for the very first time. The images they captured not only left viewers with a sense of awe and wonder, but they also resulted in a radical shift in our view of this world ~ one in which its true beauty and magnificence could be so deeply appreciated and understood.

From this most simple, metaphorical glance in the ‘rear view mirror,’ we began to see things in terms of a ‘one world’ perspective ~ resulting in a completely transformed view of this planet and mankind’s place upon it.

“One of the astronauts said, when we originally went to the moon…our total focus was on the moon. We weren’t thinking about looking back at the earth. But now that we’ve done it – that may well have been the most important reason we went.”

Indeed, perhaps this was the meaning of that one mission ~ to look back upon this earth with eyes freshened by the brilliance of context.

Namaste, my most beautiful friends...and, may we always understand and embrace the interconnectedness of life.

Looking Outward From Life's Open Window.

“The pale stars were sliding into their places. The whispering of the leaves was almost hushed. All about them it was still and shadowy and sweet. It was that wonderful moment when, for lack of a visible horizon, the not yet darkened world seems infinitely greater—a moment when anything can happen, anything be believed in.” ~ Olivia Howard Dunbar,

There is nothing quite like sitting alongside an open window as the night air begins to settle itself in...

Nor, to listen in to the cricket's rich crescendo as they make ready for their evening symphony.

Or, to savor the sweetness of freshly cut grass as the misty dew collects along the length of its edges.

No, there is nothing quite like this...a velvet sky...coming alive, as a million points of reveal that which "may not bless my waking eyes."

My dears, this is the true beauty of the night...and the miracle of simply looking outward from life's 'open window.'

Be Grateful to All ~ Including Our Enemies.

"If the heart begins to open, so does our life. If the heart begins to open, our sense of trust in ourselves begins to grow." ~ Pema Chödrön

I read a most tragic story yesterday evening. A young man was attacked and killed by a group of teenagers while walking at night to his home. And though, this tragedy of violence holds true a desperate sadness all to its own...these is yet another story, much sadder still.

For you see, when the boys responsible for this young man's death were questioned of their motives, they each answered, so very coldly, 

"Because, we were bored."

So, what is the greater of tragedies here? That of this young man's most senseless death, or...that of the loss of these other men's souls?

"Because, we were bored..." oh, my dears, how those words haunted me late yesterday evening, and as I thought of the horrific circumstances leading up to this news story.

The headlines only tell the part of the story that 'sells' ~ sadly, the rest of those words go unreported. For example, we never hear of a 5-year-old boy being beaten each day by his father, and so much so that he has forever lost his belief in humanity's good.

And, we never hear the story of the crack-addicted parents, who let their child go without and in order to satisfy their own demons.

Have we forgotten that those we may consider our enemy, that they, too, have cried out in the middle of their darkest night? 


My dears, our first instinct may be to feel enraged at this loss, but, does this instinct lead to any sort of resolution? And, more importantly, in closing off our hearts, how are we then able to widen this much needed circle of compassion?


We are often fooled that these fears serve to protect, but, aren't they instead coaxing us to this state of 'comfortably numb..?'

"Be grateful to everyone" is one of the foundations of lojong teaching, and my dears, that gratitude extends also to our enemies.

My dears, there is always a reason, some purpose, to even this life experience ~ in so much, as it offers our hearts the courage and room to grow.

To think of taking the hand of even our worst enemy ~ that is the true test, now isn't it?

And, though this may cause us, at first, to recoil...just remember...

That the hand we offer our enemy, is the one we offer ourselves, as well.

My most beautiful friends, that is the true gift of compassion. 

Learning to Stay Even When the Walls Are Closing In.

“Last night I lost the world, and gained the universe.” ~ C. JoyBell C.

I was listening to a lecture this morning, the topic of which was 'enlightenment.'

My first inclination was, "How on earth are they planning to cover this in just 45 audiobook bound minutes?"

And then, I had to laugh a bit, as I realized I was quickly slipping back into that trap.

You see, 'enlightenment' isn't an 'all at once' sort of thing...and, there is no most magical 'tada' moment in the end.

Rather, enlightenment is what happens most gradually when it is that we stumble and fall about on this, our life's truest path.

Nobody really likes to hear that, now do they? That this process of enlightenment might actually cause us to feel...well, initially...really bad.

But, that's the truth of it now, though isn't it? That this process of getting there, can be so horribly unsettling, that our first inclination is to run away.



Consequently, we end up giving up just moments before the real lesson is made clear.

It's a vicious cycle, isn't it? To chase that which we desire the most, only to turn away just as it's being placed into our hands.

Perhaps this is the source of our own enlightenment  ~ learning to stay, even as those walls are closing in?

The Emotion That Heals You.

“The emotion that can break your heart is sometimes the very one that heals it...” ~ Nicholas Sparks 

I was feeling a bit unsettled the other day ~ a mixture of general fussiness and this insatiable need to be so fully understood.

People are often surprised when they hear me confess to just this, that little bit of humanness that connects us all from time to time.

My dears, in life, we all feel such great emotions ~ that carry with it a swelling fear of disconnectedness.

In some ways, I believe we've fallen into this belief, this fabrication of 'self help' ~ that feeling emotions isn't at all good for our spirits.

So we avoid...we digress...we squash down, we squelch, and we find another way.

But, in the end...how does this serve us?

How does it make us whole by running away?

My dears, when you feel such great unsettledness... don't be so quick to toss is aside. Instead, shine your brightest of lights, and gaze into this...your 'mirror like wisdom.'

Your emotions are very real, my dears ~ avoiding this doesn't make it any less so.

And, as unsettling as it may at times feel, know this ~ that there's nothing at all wrong with feeling this way, at all. Rather, instead...it's the negative actions that may come about from our churning that invite a space for all this trouble to begin.


Why?

Because, reactions can serve as our exit ~ an instantaneous relief to that all-consuming tidal wave of energy. It's our way out and around this uncomfortable messiness. But the salve only soothes, it doesn't ever solve ~ that which is left in our heart to remain.

So, sit with it for just a short while ~ move a little closer in. In doing so, you may find the greatest of lessons ~ that everything, even this, is workable.

But, doesn't it seem at times, impossible to let go of these stories we create?

The, "he did this awful thing to me"s....or the, "my goodness, what a jerk!"s...

Or, far worse yet...

"In feeling this, I am such a bad person"s. 

Sometimes the stories we create can become much bigger that the original issue - so big, that there is no space left for compassion to grow.

My dears, there is nothing here to fix. So, stop this struggle and let those tired old stories go.

Open up, just for this moment here, to breathe ~ because, in doing so we are able to create a foundation of love for ourselves and for others.


And, that my dears ~ is the space where our shared humanity is born.

My most beautiful friends, there is nothing here to fix ~ and this emotion you fear, might just be the very one that heals you.

Much love, and namaste ~

The Healing Power of Hugs.

“That's what people do who love you. They put their arms around you and love you when you're not so lovable.” ~ Deb Caletti

They’re free. We’ve all got them. And we all so very much want need them from time to time.

They make us feel safe, and sometimes help to ‘reconnect’ our body with our mind.

They bring us closer in this one small space of interconnectedness—and, make our hearts smile, big.

They have the power to completely transform our sense of being, within just one single moment.

And no words, or often very few, are ever exchanged in order to confirm that one simple point—that in this space, you are loved.

And, look! Look at how much joy they bring!

So why not take one moment today, to reach out and really touch someone?

In doing so, you might just find that two arms, outstretched, is the shortest distance between two souls.

So, go ahead—go hug someone today.

Bonus: Super amazing hug video!

Not Knowing the Nature of Fear, One Can Never Become Fearless.

“Whatever is seen with the eyes is vividly unreal in emptiness, yet there is still form...and that form, is our teacher. Whatever is heard with the ears is the echo of emptiness, yet real. All our thoughts and memories, “good and bad, happy and sad,” all “vanish into emptiness like the imprint of a bird in the sky.” ~ Trungpa Rinpoche, as quoted by Pema Chodron in Coming Closer to Ourselves.

How often do we allow our emotions to pull us inward, and into those churning muddied waters of what we believe the story to be?

As humans, these feelings, as great as they are...can serve as the thread that draws us nearer to others. And yet, those same thoughts when directed inward...can send us fleeing in fear.

Why are we so very afraid of coming closer to a better understanding? Is it the intensity of the 'flame' that causes us recoil at the stinging thought of a past injury?

My dears, all things that we experience in this life ~ are derived equally from that which we experience and that which we perceive.

But it doesn't change the reality that the form before us is empty, without these stories we choose to create.

Life can be awfully scary, and...it can also be bliss...when it is that we understand the 'shift.'

So, when it is that you feel overwhelmed, remember, 

"Not knowing the nature of fear, one can never become fearless."

In this way, my dears, even fear...can be our teacher.

Much love, and namaste.

Imagine There's No Fracking.

“Let's be clear. The planet is not in jeopardy. We are in jeopardy.” ~ Michael Crichton 

My dears, my most beautiful friends...

We have all read the articles and heard stories of this practice called, "fracking" - in which our most beautiful earth is violated to extract just a bit more fuel for industry's fire.

And though, there are proponents both for and against...it seems, often the personal stories become lost under the weight of much bigger headlines.

My dears, I know it times it may seem that our voice is too tiny for this much bigger world ~ but, when our voices are banded together ~ that is when the real change may occur.

I was very moved by this video, and I very much wanted to share it here with you ~

From Yoko's YouTube Channel:

Started by Yoko Ono and Sean Lennon, Artists Against Fracking is a group of artists, musicians, and filmmakers dedicated to bringing attention to the damages and environmental consequences of hydraulic fracturing.

"Right now, some people are trying to make easy money, and meanwhile ruin this country's future, by a thing called 'fracking." -- Yoko Ono

Yoko Ono and her son Sean Lennon were compelled into action by Governor Andrew Cuomo's announcement that fracking might soon begin in New York -- directly impacting their home in upstate New York. In less than 10 days, they gathered nearly 150 fellow artists to join them in the founding of Artists Against Fracking in August 2012.

Today, at nearly 200 members Artists Against Fracking works to expose and stop the harmful and contaminating practice of fracking for natural gas and oil through mass awareness and peaceful democratic action. At its core, we believe that fracking for shale gas is a danger to New Yorkers. Inevitably, the process leads to the release of toxic chemicals — many of which are unknown and unreported — into our air and water.

"Though my father died when I was 5, I have always felt lucky to live on land he loved dearly; land in an area that is now on the verge of being destroyed."

Thank you, Yoko ~ and thank you to Sean...for helping to give a little volume to our words.

What If You Knew You'd Be the Last to Touch Someone?

“True compassion does not come from wanting to help out those less fortunate than ourselves but from realizing our kinship with all beings.” ~ Pema Chödrön

I read a poem this morning, by author Ellen Bass ~ in which she poses a most simple question, "What if you knew you'd be the last to touch someone?" how might you change your interaction with this world?

The question is indeed most simple, but also one worthy of much deeper contemplation.

What if you knew you'd be the last person to touch another? To be, of their last and final moments on this earth?

Would you, perhaps, take that one moment longer to consider their words?

Might you offer a bit more patience and compassion in lieu of tossing about such grumbling words?

But more importantly, would you perhaps...let them slip past those many fortresses you've built, and in order to experience the true depths of your compassion?

If only we knew...

"What if you knew you'd be the last
to touch someone?
If you were taking tickets, for example,
at the theater, tearing them,
giving back the ragged stubs,
you might take care to touch that palm,
brush your fingertips
along the life line's crease.

When a man pulls his wheeled suitcase
too slowly through the airport, when
the car in front of me doesn't signal,
when the clerk at the pharmacy
won't say Thank you, I don't remember
they're going to die."

My dears, on this day, be mindful to others ~ that their story here is forever intertwined with your existence. And when, at first glance you feel your 'temperature rising' ~ allow a pause instead, for impulse to give way to compassion.

Namaste, and much love on this day ~

The Power of Words.

Words have this most incredible power in our lives. And, in a single instance of syllables and sorting, these few short words have the capacity to completely transform our being.

They represent most courageously our most vulnerable thoughts and emotions ~ those many things, we've often kept tucked away.

They are 'the most powerful drug' known to all of mankind ~

But more importantly, these simple words serve always as the vehicle for our deeds.

My most beautiful friends, please take one moment to watch this most beautiful video entitled "The Power of Words" ~ as I am most certain, by the end, it will have changed you.

Much love this beautiful morning, my dears ~ and may you always feel the love that I am sharing with you each day.

How Do You Love?

"Perhaps all the dragons in our lives are princesses who are only waiting to see us act, just once, with beauty and courage. Perhaps everything that frightens us is, in its deepest essence, something helpless that wants our love.” ~ Rainer Maria Rilke 

How do you love?

Do you love when the morning's light first greets you, and as it gently peels back the sleepy sheers that have been hanging ever so peacefully against your bedroom window?

Or, do you love as the thoughts of this day finally find their way, carrying still the hope from yesterday's journey?

And, do you love when the twilight artist glances his brush furiously against the dwindling light, setting the sky ablaze with the most brilliant of hues?

Or, do you love... to just simply stay in that moment between the wonderment of dreams and the adventures that have yet to begin?

For me? I live to love each day...and I shall love until I become one, with Love.

And, my love is forever right here for you inside of these, my most simple words...

Namaste my most beautiful friends...and, may I ask...how is it that you love on this day?

When You Don't Mind What Happens.

 

Do you want to know what my secret is? I don’t mind what happens.”  ~ Jiddu Krishnamurti

Imagine, just simply imagine if you will ~ what our lives may be if we didn't mind so much what happens?

Where expectations may slip into appreciation, and understanding create a space for compassion.

Then, suddenly this morning act of waking up, might forge a path to our very own awakening.

Imagine, just simply imagine if you will ~ what your life could be...if only we might allow our limited assumptions to be transformed into an endless possibility...


Just imagine...

My most beautiful friends, may we all embrace this day with open heart...and a view of this world, free of expectations.

They Call This "Tree."

“You see what you expect to see, Severus.”~   J.K. Rowling

A dear friend approached me this morning, and in just the slightest state of unsettledness.

You see, someone she had entrusted to act with great care ~ fell short, and left her feeling this great sense of disappointment and sadness.

"I know we are all imperfect..." she shared, "but...I see so much hypocrisy. Sometimes I wish I didn't see."

This is what I shared with her, and for some reason that I do not dare to question...I feel most compelled to share it here with you.

Perhaps, my words will be of comfort to you, as well.

Much love, my most beautiful (and fabulously imperfect) friends...and may we never again see a great Elm as "tree."

"My most beautiful friend...

It's interesting, I was thinking of just this on my way into my first appointment of the day. And yes, we are all magnificently imperfect...gobs of lovely lighted beings...but, I think sometimes we suffer from this thing we call 'labels' And when our understanding and/or expectation of that label has just slightly shifted... it serves as a shock to our system.

You know, there is this most wonderful story... from Buddhist Monk,  Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. I think it is perhaps most suited to this particular experience.

The story is as follows:

Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche  sat in the gardens with his master, and admiring a great elm tree that stood before them. The elm was of such size and stature, that it towered high above them and provided them with the most comforting of shadows. In the farthest branches, a squirrel paused between branches and curious to know his 'admirers' below. And how the sun's light broke free of this great Elm's leaves ~ to create this pattern that danced below. And as  Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche closed his eyes, and breathed in the magnificence of this Elm before him... he smiled, and turned to his mentor to say,

"They call this tree..."

To which, they both burst into laughter.

The story is intended for us to consider ~ the true nature of that which is before us, and that this miracle of life is too great to be limited to the constructs of just one word.

The moment that we attach a name to "the Elm before us" ~ we immediately limit it. The truth of the matter is this Elm is the source for comforting shade... a refuge for squirrel...and, the artistry of the light dancing in patterns below. It is all of these things at once, and yet, we insist on seeing it only as "tree."

My dear, I know I am rambling, but there *is* a point here, I assure you ~ that is, your Yoga teacher is much more than what appeared in that moment...and you must remind yourself of the true nature of his being.

Pema Chodron has a most wonderful suggestion, that we might look onto this world...not as 'noun,' but rather as 'verb'... perhaps, in this way we can be open to the vastness of what is human.

I don't believe this person intended to harm... I suspect, he/she... like all others was simply expressing the greater depths of their human spirit. And in that moment, you were able to see the greatness of Elm through the limitations of tree.

Embrace this...and all those other moments that bring us one step closer to a heart that is fully awakened."

Flecks of Stardust.

“We come spinning out of nothingness, scattering stars like dust.” ― Rumi (Photo by Philippe le Tellier, 1961)

When I was a little girl, I used to spin for hours on end and just enough to feel the room continue on a bit without me.

In those days, I had no worries... no real fears, save for the ghastly boogeyman under the bed. But, I was always assured that the boogeyman had no taste for little girl toes hanging over the edge.

Those were the days, when fears were very much the byproduct of a wildly overactive and vastly unbridled imagination. 

And, when our fears could be forever washed away, just as simply as the tears my Mother wiped away from my cheeks.  

Yes, these were the days, indeed ~ when being small wasn't such a bad thing, after all...and twirling about could cause us to feel so completely limitless.

Namaste, my most beautiful friends ~ may we always and forever hold dear this energy of our twirling spirits.

The Greatest Treasure Ever Known.

"We’ve been filled with great treasure for one purpose: to be spilled.”
~ Yoko Ono

Overwhelmed can be one of the most solitary of emotions. And, these challenges we feel? We actually believe that there are none other on this planet that could have ever known this type of fear, of pain...of unsettledness in our circumstances.

We tuck away inside the comforts of our very own loneliness, and seek comfort in these shadows that exist only within our soul. 

And in doing so, we create this impenetrable fortress around our being.

When, in fact, and...if we were only to pause and reflect, we might realize...that in any given moment there are millions throughout this planet that are experiencing precisely the same.

And, they, my dears...feel this same sense of solitary, too...

It's when we are able understand this connection with others, that suddenly overwhelmed doesn't seem quite so 'big.'

It's this kinship - that removes our sense of being alone.

So you see, even in our darkest of hours - and when we are sitting with our backs to the wall, and feeling so desperately alone....my dears, there is always someone else out there, sitting just as you are...in contemplation of this great big overwhelmed.

And this, my dears...my most beautiful friends...is the greatest gift that humanity has ever known.

That we are not ever here alone.


Namaste

Letting Adventure Find You Here.

“Let us step into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure.” ~ J.K. Rowling

My friends, I am going on the most brilliant of adventures this morning...and one, that I hope shall leave my heart filled with the most fantastic of tales...

And so, that I may return here with only the most wonder-filled stories to share...

Adventure always finds me here ~ with a keen determination to make memories of moments each day that I am here...

"I've an idea," she leans in to whisper, and knowing my propensity to join without question. And, just like that, in a wink...we are gone.

Adventure has this way about her, of taking us gently by the hand...and, of leading us to those faraway places, to stand at the 'edge' of that which we hadn't yet known to exist...

Like glorious Knights, we stand face to face...swords drawn, and ready to fight...all of those many reasons that have ever dared to keep us from our beginning.

Adventure has this way about her...of opening our hearts to that which we never before dreamed possible...urging us onward, as others speak ill of our failure.

Oh, my dears, I am so very grateful to have Adventure find me here... typing out these last few words, to you, and eager to create new stories to share.


Much love, my most beautiful friends...and I pray that Adventure may come to visit with you today, too..

Namaste.

Stepping Through Adventure's Door.

“In the universe, there are things that are known, and things that are unknown, and in between, there are doors.” – William Blake

What would you do if you knew you could not fail?

Would you travel this world seeking a most magnificent adventure?

Or would you stick to the simpler things in life, like eating all of the cake and not making any excuses as to why?
 
Would you finally ask her out, the one that makes your heart smile the most?

Would you do it all, and everything else—if it was such that you could not fail?

Would it be, that you might finally step through adventure’s door?

We all have our ‘bucket lists’—those random things which hang out in our heads, the ‘wouldn’t it be cool’s and the ‘this is so nice’s.

These are the things that fill up our minds—and plant the seeds to all of our dreams. And the only thing that keeps them there boxed up so tight—is quite simply, our own fear to fail.

So, in honor of all those bucket lists everywhere—just a few simple words… “go, now, and do.”

And if it is, that you feel the need for just a little inspiration—well, you’re most welcome to sift through mine. Fair warning, though—peeking into the mind of a writing spirit, can sometimes yield quite unexpected results.

To quote author, Colin Nissan,

“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.”

So, what would I do if I knew I could not fail? Alright, here it is, my list. But spoiler alert—it may be that I’ve already done them all.

My “Bucket List”

I would do something that really terrifies me. Something fabulous, and worthy of mention in at least one or two major newspapers. I’m not looking for front page, mind you—though, certainly not the obits either. Let’s just say, “I want to do something fabulously terrifying, and newsworthy. But that wouldn’t land me in a locky-up sort of place, or some other type of legal-limbo.” After all, a little fear is good for the soul.

I would eat, anything and everything. Like an entire pizza, in Italy. Or, that 40-scoop Ben and Jerry’s Vermonster Sundae at their store in Vermont. Darling, I would rock my Food Channel all night long, and not give a second thought to it.

Iris Apfel: via Tara on Pinterest.

I would wear, whatever the hell I wanted (even on ‘business casual’ days). And, I wouldn’t so much care how my butt looked, or if things were all ‘matchy-match.’ I would wear only those things that made my heart smile big, and the rest would stay stuffed in a box by my bed.

I would never skimp on the ‘I love you’s. I would smother them on, all day long—with my showerings of affection and praise. And, I wouldn’t hold back on the hugs and the smoochies—not ever, for the rest of my days.

I would go on wonderful adventures with my kids. I would show them this world, and all the cool stuff within it—hopping our way from coast to coast. And we wouldn’t stop, until we’d quite had enough—because, a good adventure requires you to explore.

I would see things I have never seen before—like, the Grand Canyon—and just because. And I would stay up really late, to watch the frost form on the leaves—and then, stick around to watch the sun rise again.

I would make room for romance. That’s right, that’s what I said. And I wouldn’t be afraid of falling down on my ass, or letting love smack me upside my head.

I would be silly, everyday. Doing such things like walking into a crowded elevator and asking, “I bet you’re all wondering why I have gathered you here today?” Because, this world needs more silliness in it.

And when it was, that I finished this list—I couldn’t possibly just end it there. Because, if it were such that I could not fail—I’d never hesitate stepping through adventures door again.

Because, if you want what you’ve not ever had—you need to be willing to do what’s not ever been done before.

So, what are you waiting for? Go grab that adventure—or at the very least, take a quick peek through that door..

Bonus—Six Amazing Quotes on Adventure:

“All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.” ~ Martin Buber

“If you’re not living on the edge, you’re taking up too much space.” ~ Anonymous

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” ~ Mark Twain

“Every exit is an entry somewhere else.” ~ Tom Stoppard

“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.” ~ T. S. Eliot

And finally,

“Always remember, it’s simply not an adventure worth telling if there aren’t any dragons.” ~ Sarah Ban Breathnach

Love's Mighty Ocean.

"Nothing can be given or taken away; nothing has been added or subtracted; nothing increased or diminished. We stand on the same shore before the same mighty ocean. The ocean of love. 

There it is ~ in perpetuum. 

As much in a broken blossom, the sound of a waterfall, the swoop of a carrion bird as in the thunderous artillery of the prophet.

We move with eyes shut and ears stopped; we smash walls where doors are waiting to open to the touch; we grope for ladders, forgetting that we have wings; we pray as if God were deaf and blind, as if He were in a space. No wonder the angels in our midst are unrecognizable.

One day it will be pleasant to remember these things."  

~ Henry Miller

My dears, my most beautiful friends;

In life we may often feel this sense of being pulled away ~ ripped from those very things that bring so much joy into our day.

Oh, and what we bid to circumstance...to the spoils of fate...and to experiences long since past... 

We begin to feel that life is left, at best, to chance...

But, in doing so...we forget to dance in the mist of this mighty ocean....

And rejoice, in the this most brilliant manifestation of love.

Namaste, to you my dears....my most beautiful friends... I love you all so dearly.

And, thank you for the pleasure of your company in my garden this morning ~ as your presence here, has made the memory that much more dear...

The Still.

“I loved the quiet places in Kyoto, the places that held the world within a windless moment. Inside the temples, Nature held her breath. All longing was put to sleep in the stillness, and all was distilled into a clean simplicity.” ~ Pico Iyer

 

The Still  by Tara Lemieux

somewhere in the 'middle morning'
before the first light of day
and the last of the evening's mist

and in between the rushed cars
procession, but just before
the brilliant roast tempts me to wake..

there comes so welcome
this quiet hush, the world is at ease
asleep and nestled deep within

the still.

I find my peace.. my first breath, deep,
touch my cheek.. stirs me to wake..

 surrounds me,

with it's soothing embrace..

the still.

and in that hour between

sleep is quick to fall, and the last

few moments sifting through these thoughts of day...

i find you here, my dear...
again, in this moment,
and always...

still...

These Two Hands.

“What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.” ~ Albert Pike

It's a cold reality in our world, now isn't it?  That while we complain over the limitations of our still ample creature comforts...there are those in this world, that lay in the stark contrast of living without.

Without even the most basic needs for survival ~ neither food, nor water, nor the simplest of shelter.

And yet, for some, this evening's rest continues, largely, undisrupted.

My dears, it is not only within our capacity to reach forward a helping hand ~ but it is, by all rights, our obligation as humans... to ensure that all of the love in this world is equally shared.

Today, there will be someone who'll stand near you ~ and my friends, you may not ever know their name.

But, doesn't their heart yet beat the same?

Do they not share the same most deeply of spiritual needs ~ that is, to love and be loved in return?

Aren't we all, still very much human after all? 

And with these two hands, my dears ~ together, we might just change someone's world.


Namaste, and much love this day...

A Little Something on Cultivating Happiness (H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche)

"To expect happiness without giving up negative action is like holding your hand in a fire and hoping not to be burned. Of course, no one actually wants to suffer, to be sick, to be cold or hungry – but as long as we continue to indulge in wrong doing we will never put an end to suffering. Likewise, we will never achieve happiness, except through positive deeds, words, and thoughts. Positive action is something we have to cultivate ourselves; it can be neither bought nor stolen, and no one ever stumbles on it just by chance.”

~ H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

The Littlest of Creatures Who Urged Me to Stay.

“When you run after your thoughts, you are like a dog chasing a stick; every time a stick is thrown, you run after it. But if, instead, you look at where your thoughts are coming from, you will see that each thought arises and dissolves within the space of that awareness, without engendering other thoughts. Be like a lion, who rather than chasing after the stick, turns to face the thrower. One only throws a stick at a lion once.”

~ H.H. Dilgo Kyentse

I was feeling just a bit unsettled today, my early morning rituals disrupted by the immediacy of these other 'even more pressing things at hand.'


And, as I watched the squirrels take morning chase along my garden wall, smiling at the absolute simplicity of their unmitigated bliss ~ I realized, not all of them were caught up in the flurry of their day.

You see, just off to the side and peeking back to me with the silliest of grins, was the kindest of creatures urging me to 'stay'...

And, I had to smile just then as I realized...that I was the one creating this chaos today.

Sometimes this life can seem to keep an impossible pace, but in reality it's the very pace we have chosen for ourselves.

We end up losing ourselves in this flurry of 'stacking and sorting' ~ that the truest essence of our very being seems to be quickly fading away.

My dears, we are so very much more than our task lists might say...

So, why not...just for today...we make room on this list for 'stay'...?

You know, I have it on very good authority that this is really the only way to begin our day... 

Much love, my most beautiful friends...

I'll Bet Even the Buddha had Bad Days.

“I am not this hair, I am not this skin, I am the soul that lives within.” ― Rumi

I found myself a bit ‘uninspired’ the other day—listless, lost, and perhaps, just a little drained. My brain had become a muddled mess of itself—the result of equal parts flu and of misery.

And in that moment, I found doubt and panic settling in—those evil little demons, peering out back at me again from just beyond my laptop keyboard…taunting me with this, as of yet, still starkly white ‘page.’

The thoughts were right there, in here, I knew it—but for some reason, my brain had become completely disconnected from my heart.

I didn’t know quite what to do; so I just sat there, still and silent in my fear.

And then, I just let go, and ‘listened in.’

It was just right then, and as if by some great cosmic ‘cue’… that the Universe sent me the most wonderful of gifts—the silliest of thoughts, wrapped up in its very best bow—and one that caused my face to break out in a grin.

And, as I sat there, giggling just a bit to myself, I thought,

“Ha! I’ll bet even the Buddha had bad days…”

And just as soon as that thought found its way through my head…everything that seemed to matter most in my moment, gently and sweetly washed away.

Yes, I’ll bet even the Buddha felt moments of doubt and of worry as he sat beneath that Bodhi tree on his path towards enlightenment. I mean, do you really think he sat there that whole time without once ever wondering, “Do I have the strength and courage to find my way through this once again?”

That’s when I realized our difference, the Buddha and I, and just in this instance right here—you see, while I was off seeking a response to myself, the Buddha had already found his answer within.

And, do you know what it was that the Buddha did in that moment when he faced his greatest fear? He fell silently inward, and reached his arms forward to touch the Earth. And in that one simple gesture, he found a way to reconnect to this wonderful Universe—to become a thread in this great fabric of life, again.

In reaching forward, he found his very special way of looking back in—of grounding himself in this most peaceful awareness.

Past the ego, the doubt… and all of that fear.

In that one single moment, and in that simple stretch forward—he realized that he was more than all and anything that he could ever possibly feel within his heart. 

And, then… I suspect, he never once worried again.

There is a great power in feeling inter-connected—to feel that we are part of a much greater whole. But sometimes we spend so much time looking outside of ourselves…for answers, for clarity, for strength, for love…that we forget that all that we ever need is right here within.

Because, in those moments when we feel most overwhelmed by doubt… fear… and endless uncertainty, those are the moments that we are most separated from our self.

And isn’t that when all of the real suffering begins—when it is that our heart becomes ‘unhooked’ from our soul.

If we only paused just long enough to remember, that it’s when we feel most overwhelmed—that the answer is quite honestly, the simplest. It’s only through letting go of our ‘pieces’, that we’ll find our way back to ‘whole’ once again.

And that’s when, I suppose, you’ll only then finally realize—that the answer you’ve been seeking is you.

Because, we all know the very best view of one’s heart—is from the outside, and looking back in.

~
 BONUS – 10 of the Greatest Rumi Quotes on Living.

1. “And you? When will you begin that long journey into yourself?”

2. “You wander from room to room,
Hunting for the diamond necklace
That is already around your neck!”

3. “What hurts you, blesses you. Darkness is your candle.”

4. “Forget safety. Live where you fear to live.”

5. “Darkness may hide the trees
and the flowers from the eyes
but it cannot hide
love from the soul.”

6. “The garden of the world has no limits, except in your mind.”

7. “Is it really so that the one I love is everywhere?”

8. “When the light returns to its source, it takes nothing of what it has illuminated.”

9. “Maybe you are searching among the branches, for what only appears in the roots.”

and finally,

10. “Dance until you shatter yourself.”

These Things I Know.

"Compassion and love are not mere luxuries. As the source both of inner and external peace, they are fundamental to the continued survival of our species."

~ His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama 

In Buddhism, we have The Four Immeasurables ~ these four simple truths that underscore our every being.

They are are intended to reinforce that which we already know to be true, but that which is sometimes lost along the way.

That happiness can not be achieved through isolation alone, rather...it's through the happiness of others that our lives become much more enriched.

We all know this feeling, even from the earliest of ages when we shared our first 'artistic masterpiece' with our parents and watched as they posted with pride to the most prestigious spot on the outside of the fridge. We watched their smile, and our own hearts expanded in the rich light of this expression of happiness. For most of us, it was the very first realization that our actions had the capacity to create great changes.

There's a true joy that comes by way of a giving heart ~ it settles in, infusing its gentle loveliness throughout our entire being.

It is the truest expression of unconditional love and loving-kindness.

And that joy, my dears ~ is limitless.

When we are able to focus our energies on that which is of service to others, that brings a smile to the hearts of all others in our path ~ something within our own heart changes...

It is the greatest blessing known to humanity ~ that of compassion, joy, loving-kindness and equanimity.

You see, my dears, it's only when we are able to realize the truth in our interconnectedness ~ that we are able to fully appreciate our own internal happiness.

Namaste ~ and much love my most beautiful friends...I hope you won't mind that I am sharing these truths with you today.

semchen tamché dewa dang dewé gyu dang denpar gyur chik 

May all beings have happiness and the cause of happiness

dukngal dang dukngal gyi gyu dang dralwar gyur chik

May they be free of suffering and the cause of suffering

dukngal mepé dewadampa dang mindralwar gyur chik 

May they be inseparable from the supreme joy that is without suffering 

nyering chakdang nyi dang dralwé tang nyom chenpo la nepar gyur chik 

May they abide in the great equanimity that is free from attachment and aversion.

Namaste.

When Indifference Settles In.

"Indifference and neglect often do much more damage than outright dislike."

~ J.K. Rowling

Oh, how we have all been guilty of this most offensive of human behaviors.

We walk past with eyes averted, hoping our hearts will soon follow suit. But our minds are forever captured by that single image, of another human suffering under Poverty's ills.

And yet, we look away ~ we hurry our pace, fearful to connect to that human heart begging our service...and too afraid to gaze into the haunting, glassy eyes of humanity's disapproval.

What is it that keeps us away?

What creates this space of detachment, to recognize and respond to the basic needs of other beings?  

What is it that allows indifference to settle in?


Aren't we all most human after all?

My dears, the greatest of change begins in this moment right here ~ a simple decision to not ever look away, and a realization that help comes in so many different ways.

A kind heart... a listening ear... a thoughtful gaze. A few pennies, maybe? Reaching out to a friend... let us count the ways, instead of days.

Because, my dears... my most beautiful friends... this world very much needs your love.

Stop looking away on this day. 

Bonus: Encounters on the Exit Ramp

At one of the busiest intersections in Los Angeles, California stood a person, destitute and holding a sign which read simply, "Can you spare a moment? Blessings appreciated." Many cars passed by without notice, as seems to have become the analogy in how many of us live our lives. To those passing by, this was just another homeless person looking for a handout. They had no way of knowing that this "outcast" was actually a highly successful Hollywood film maker seeking a new perspective on life and living.

Take a moment to read how one simple act of standing alone on an exit ramp forever changed this writer's perspective.

Read More

We Are All Explorers Here.

“There are several other sources of enjoyment in a long voyage, which are of a more reasonable nature. The map of the world ceases to be a blank; it becomes a picture full of the most varied and animated figures. Each part assumes its proper dimensions: continents are not looked at in the light of islands, or islands considered as mere specks, which are, in truth, larger than many kingdoms of Europe. Africa, or North and South America, are well-sounding names, and easily pronounced; but it is not until having sailed for weeks along small portions of their shores, that one is thoroughly convinced what vast spaces on our immense world these names imply.” 

~ Charles Darwin, Voyage of the Beagle

Each day that I wake up to greet this world, I am so very grateful.

You see, this past year has been filled in part with some challenges, the sort of life events that greet us when least expected.

And always, leaving us in a most profound and spiritual of 'wondering why's...

We spend days, weeks, and sometimes months ~ seeking out the cause of all that has already been.

And in doing so, we often lose focus of those moments that have even yet to begin.

And then, one day Perspective finds us ~ and in that moment, our purpose becomes clear once again.

This morning, I caught Perspective peeking out at me ~ from the most tucked away place on the dustiest of book shelves...and smiling at me from this pile of well worn, mapped pages...a reminder of all the most beautiful places I have been.

My dears, sometimes it can seem that we spend so much time thinking of the 'storm' ~ so very fearful of losing our 'course' that we break away from this explorer that is inherently within...

We lose sight of those magnificent shores waiting to greet us, and the many adventures that are awaiting us there...

My dears, my most beautiful friends, this is the purpose of our being ~ to embrace life as fearless explorers...

And to be always open to the possibility of discovery.

My dears, we simply can not ever know in this moment now ~ what awaits us when perspective finally settles in.

Namaste, and much love this day.

And may we all embrace this life as a most wonderful adventure ~