I like the ritual of drinking tea and how it soothes me.
I like text messages.
I like the feeling of intimacy and where it takes me.
I like sharing all things, it is the greatest of all my likes.
Why am I telling you all this? Visiting and rejoicing with the things that you take pleasure in returns you to a place of appreciation and recognition. That’s a serving of gratitude on a silver platter!
Rather than criticizing others, we should instead criticize ourselves. By critiquing our pride, our attachments, our anger and jealousy, we can build a stronger discipline with ourselves which leads to a greater spiritual awakening of our soul.
January, the first month of the year 2020, went past like a freight train on tight schedule. In the first days of the month I was delivered a surprise visit from my sister and family, nothing better than that! The next set of days that past had the Professor and I down with the Lucasian Flu, sick as dogs and traveling for work…whew glad that annoyance is over! And these final days that are upon me now were presented to get life back on task, the cleaning up of the aftermath!
All of these life’s distractions and their encumbrances have left me desperate to get back on the spiritual wagon. As a creative being, I have imbedded within me the need to create. It seems the spark that lives inside of me is always hungry.
In 2020, I have some friends who are facing monumental changes in their lives. I want to convey to them that there is grace in every moment we live. Find time each morning for meditations that include thoughts of something wonderful happening. That mantra will get you to step out of your own head for the day and into a mindset of happy anticipation. Good medicine for the body and the soul. I, for one, plan on staying heavily meditative!
I am excited about the new chances coming. I will throw my arms open and embrace them all. I intend to surround myself with people that push me to do and be better. No drama or mess, just higher goals and higher vibrations. I believe that if we dispel jealousy and hate and spread positive energy, we will simply bring out the best in each other.
Today, January 25th, marks the celebration of Chinese New Year 2020; the year of the Metal Rat. This symbolizes new beginnings; fertility, wealth and plenty. It also delivers stability and longevity and the ability to turn unlucky events into fortune! I like everything about these notions!
So bring on your next month 2020 – I can ‘see’ clearly now, I got my vision adjusted!
I love this old photo of my granddaughter – I love her little foot skipping up in glee and the coy smile on her face. She is looking forward with a rainbow framing her thoughts. I thought it so appropriate for this post for a myriad of reasons. For one, she is the next generation coming up – a generation which will surely have to ‘look forward’ in order to be positioned to tackle the huge issues we will leave on the table for them.
2020 starts another decade. In this decade, I am interested in bettering the world we live in by preaching, cajoling, urging and advocating for more kindness and caring to be spread to others. It sounds so simple, but we are humans and subject to human emotions getting in the way. I hope to find a way to promote this magic mantra until it seeps into the pores of all I encounter. Just think of the momentum! One extends a hand to a stranger, and next the stranger befriends another, who in turn blesses one less fortunate, and so on and so on! What a magnificent way of life; and the feeling it leaves in one’s heart? Wow!
I am still working on my annual published thoughts for the New Year. The year-end distractions to my schedule have delayed my usual process. But I hope this post beautifully illustrated by this charming photo reaches you and opens your mind to expanding your heart. And if it does, 2020 should be a very good vintage!
I have been fortunate to connect with so many of you this year. Thank you for the love and nourishment that you have extended me. I am most thankful for the influences I have had; the teachers and scholars that I have followed that have helped mold my view so I could be more easily heard. I have found that through these associations, the more I look the more I find. It is wonderful to obtain that kind of fulfillment.
I used to dance in the dark with strangers. Those days are behind me. The lights are now on and they are LED and bright! This illumination bathes me and by that it seeps down into my soul. I have sought this year to report on kind people because I believe in celebrating those of great mind and heart. The spread of kindness is not just a motto, it is a way of life and I am very grateful to have the desire planted in me to do this very important work.
Here we are at year’s end, and the end of another decade. I want to take this opportunity to speak directly to you.
Husbands – Grasp this…you are the one she chose. When she chose you, she left her independent life and melded hers into yours. Treat her as your Queen. Always elevate her as she is the one who is responsible for your heart.
Wives – He carries the weight of the family on his shoulders. Keep him in arms reach and provide a neck rub when he is tense. Be sure he always has comfortable shoes to stand in.
Children – Listen intently to your adults. Turn away from scoff and scorn, instead turn to encouraging words. Don’t be in such a hurry; take the time to savor each and every accomplishment and goal. What is ‘now’ will fade away each night you lay your head down to sleep. Take time to learn every day.
Friends – Reach back when hands are extended. Accept warmth and transfer it to those you encounter next. The old adage ‘Pay It Forward’ is not merely an expression, it is a call to action, and the doings that result will resonate.
The generations that follow us are facing the terrifying issue of climate change. We are counting on them to do better than we did. They have a long road ahead without a clear and concise game plan. I say to them, for every bruise and bump you receive in your quest to improve the world entrusted to us, may your methods and strategies be well-won and fruitful. Keep striving, and if you have to leave a footprint, leave one of love and kindness.
In closing these reflections, I would like to share these words: twice this week someone told me that by their association with me, I had made them a better person. I was so humbled by these expressions of goodness. If I was, indeed, the one who bettered the path of a fellow human then I am filled with gratitude for that means this movement we have started together is working, and one by one we will all grow in our humanity.
Whenever a writer puts a pen to paper it is always with the hope of reaching a kindred audience; either we write to inform, persuade, or just simply to share. Everyone has a story, thank you for following along through mine.
I spent the early morning hours looking back over the past twelve months of 2019. I like the sentiment it stirred in my heart and soul.
In my world, our family near and far all gathered to witness the wedding of our girl child, and by that union we received another son. And by receiving a new son, we were blessed in receiving his family who are wonderful people steeped fully in faith and who carry joy in their hearts. What a wonderful feeling of peace to know our gal will be loved and protected through this new union.
2019 also brought news of a new child to be born into our extended family. This child, much awaited for, will be the one to make first-time grandparents out of our best friends. We are so happy for them and can’t wait to enjoy the ride through all the anticipation that comes from this upcoming blessed event.
This year our one and only grandchild turned double digits in age. Both her physical growth as well as her personal growth measured leaps and bounds beyond that of her calendar age. What a miracle to witness this new-age champion take her flight.
In 2019, there were also some losses we had to bear. We lost a family member too young, which in turn crumbled the remaining attached family members. Many prayers have been offered to help this family unit heal from this untimely death.
Also this year, our extended family lost two beloved canine members, one expected, one not. The grief of losing a pet is heart-wrenching event, and where it often leads to the opening of another door, it is still an unbearable loss when it occurs.
I have found that as the Professor and I age, we have slowed down, but are nowhere near the ‘out for the count’! We have structured our new normal to include spending a little more time doing the things thatstrengthen us . This effort required finding a balance; we persevered and were successful. Hard work is not just something applied to a full-time career; it follows you all of the days of your life.
So in closing, please know that I have been busy this week drafting my New Year publication. 2019 marks the 22th year where I have sent these musings out to you, my readers. I am hopeful this year that my writings will inspire and propel you into 2020. I am also hopeful that the coming new year finds us presented with many opportunities to make the world a better place.
It is the forced downtime that comes in the days following the holiday rush that gives me a chance to do better. There is a line from my first book, Cerebrations, that goes…”When I come home to the farm, I find how beautiful it is to do nothing, and then rest afterwards.” That statement, borrowed from an age-old Spanish proverb, holds so much truth. We spend so much time caught up in trying to make the holidays perfect, we forget the peace that is supposed to be found in the season of Advent.
His Highness, the Dalai Lama, reminds us to find the quiet in order to open our hearts and minds to receive positive light. I hold this truth to be authentic. Having a compassionate mind leads to the creation of a happy atmosphere, and that fosters a warm-heartedness within ourselves. I have made it a resolution as we close this year to promote these human values and warm-heartedness in myself and those around me.
After all, I was born lucky – the least I can do is spread my gratitude!
Have a pretty mind, a pretty heart and a pretty soul.
This life is not about showing a beautiful face to the world, it’s about showing a beautiful mind. By keeping alluring thoughts in your mind, sweet words will roll out of your beautiful mouth, and you and all around you, will smile.
Life is not about having a small waistline, but instead about making small gestures. Take time daily to think about small ways to make another’s life a little easier. A small waistline won’t count, but a small gesture will.
These days on earth are not about building a rich bank account either. They are about cultivating a rich soul. To enrich your soul, look for ways to feed another – whether their hunger is from a needed meal or a just thirst for comfort. Put another’s wellbeing before your own and by doing so your soul’s bank account will be overflowing with riches!
And finally, this journey should not be spent in efforts to stay young, but in staying loyal. Loyalty and honesty are by far the most intrinsic traits that one can possess. Loyalty is more than a word; it is a way of life.
I am not a rich person financially, but I am in mind and soul. I have so much energy and strength, and I can do a lot of things that make me, and I think my fans, quite happy. When everything else is gone, my soul’s music alone shall live on.
I came across this photo the other day and was immediately transported back to the first days of retirement down here on the island. I find the picture charming but also very illuminating to what is ‘going on’ down on that beach today.
The photo is from 2009. You can see the authentic untouched vibe of this special seashore that I like to refer to as ‘Little Beach’. We discovered this piece-of-heaven when we moved into our villa just one and half blocks away. The Professor and I have watched many a sunset, swam with the manatees, toasted to birthdays, and caught up with family, neighbors and friends – all while sitting on that beach, it is truly a sanctuary.
Cali Cool, Little Beach circa 2010
The 2nd photo is of the same beach but made a bit glamorous by the wealthy California girl who built a huge house on the property adjacent to the beach. She was a character and brought colorful characters into the script of the neighborhood. No disrespect there.
But today is a much different scene. Cali Gold Girl has since moved on and Mid-West Tyrant Bee Atch Woman has moved in and … gasp… has put up ropes and pillars right down to the water’s edge claiming the beach AS HERS! What? I can’t even… Such contemptuous conduct.
I am dumbfounded for the first time in a long time. I cannot fathom why anyone would act in that manner. Or would take an aggressive action like that meant to prevent anyone from enjoying the splendor of such a magnificent creation. I don’t care what creed you follow, I am almost certain that there isn’t one of them that would welcome that kind of behavior.
It breaks my heart that money, greed and power have permeated my Little Beach. It was a place of peace. Over the years, I have spoken to many a native of these parts, ones who grew up on the beach, and they have all concurred this beach to be a special almost sacred place.
I don’t know what’s next, I guess we will just have to wait and see what the Universe has in store.
There are many things that I possess that ‘speak’ to me. I love that I have these treasures within my reach. Whether they are meant to bring comfort or wisdom or even humor, I visit them whenever I feel the urge to obtain the graces they invoke.
The first favorite thing in my belongings is a beautifully carved pewter Hebrew House Blessing. It is hung in my studio, above my desk. It was a gift from a friend and is quite an extraordinary item. While it is meant to bring blessings to our home, I find that it blesses me too, when I am in need, and that is often!
Each pewter medallion of the wall hanging holds one scriptural verse for one specific element. There are six medallions one for each blessing. Since my remembrance of reading Hebrew has dwindled, my friend lovingly taped an indicator on the back of each one – Life, Bounty, Love, Luck, Success, and one that says “I don’t know, I’ll ask David” – David being her scholarly ex. When I feel I need a recharge, my ritual is to approach the blessing and touch one medallion with silent devotion and then turn it around to see what blessing I am going to be endowed with! Now you can see why it is one of my most favorite things.
Another favorite thing I possess is a cashmere wrap gifted to me by my sister. It was an expensive gift (Sis leans towards spoiling me). It is elegant, and sumptuous, and I keep this wrap near me at all times. When I am on the sofa, it makes for the perfect lap robe. When I am heading out to a restaurant for dinner, I grab it because Lord knows the Florida restaurants keep the thermostat set to ‘Downright Cold’ (that’s meant to keep the old folks awake during dinner!) This favorite thing brings me comfort whenever I am in need.
The last item of my favorite things is an antique teapot that belonged to my great-grandmother. While its spout is slightly chipped, to me it is perfect. I use it most nights, and when I do, it conjures up memories of being in Nannie’s house as a little girl. She had all kind of cool things – antique dolls, a cribbage board, a shelf full of Hummels – but my most favorite thing was, of course, the teapot. After her death, it passed down to my grandmother, then my mother and now to me. I love its history and love the way it makes me feel to know that it has survived a century. I AM an old soul after all.
I find I am feeling a bit nostalgic as the holidays approach. I have enjoyed visiting these favorite things with you. I hope it inspires you to visit with a few of your favorite things and let the sentiments they evoke surround you!
This is a portrait of my father at the helm of his 42′ Japanese Yawl, the ‘Morning Star’. Today marks the 35th year of my dad’s departure from this earth. This, to me, means that I have walked on this earth longer without him than I did with him. That’s powerful.
My dad died young, too young – my baby sister was still a teenager which is very sad – no bubba to walk her down the aisle. We made do, however, older brother assuming the role. But no one could really fill his shoes, he had big shoes and an immense personality to match; he had hundreds of friends and a zest for life. I am happy he didn’t put things off in his lifetime, his life went by so quickly. Yes, his departure left a huge hole in our little family.
My dad was responsible for many traits that I possess. He instilled in me a work ethic than is commendable – most who know me will testify that I will work doggedly towards a goal. He also taught me about expectations and how they can propel you, hence him gifting a new Steinway piano for my 8th birthday. My dad always held me to a higher standard, and where that seemed at times to be unfair when I was adolescent, it formulated in me a desire to grow beyond standard measures and seek more perfection in life. Perhaps he knew he would not be around forever, perhaps the high bar he set for me was meant to guide me beyond the days he would have to dedicate to the effort.
Even sitting at his bedside the day before he died, he was setting the bar. He was looking forward with me in mind and speaking of his reliance on me to accomplish what was leftover….”Remember to do this…”, he said…”Remember to do that – I am counting on you”. I remember each word and each tear-filled promise I made. I believe in my heart I have fulfilled them all. I think he would be proud of that result. I know he is still watching over us – the three children he left behind.
I know this to be true – I was his Golden Child. Dad had assigned nick-names to the three of us – older brother was ‘Pud’ (which I guess was some derivation of Pudding); I was ‘Doobie” (which I guess was meant to conger a Do-Bee – as opposed to a Don’t-Bee); and baby sister was ‘Pooker’ (presumably because she was so damn cute, and still is) – regardless they all fit!
I do not, for one minute, take for granted that I am one of the lucky ones. I grew in a family home filled with plenty of love and encouragement. Thanks Dad, for setting that bar high! I did it — I did it all!
