Desiderata

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams,it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrman

Greatness

At some deep, inner level each of us knows that we were created for greatness.  We are weary from holding ourselves back from the magnificence we have in mind...

"We are very near to greatness; one step and we are safe; 
can we not take the leap?"

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Elevate humanity...

is to live and to create in a way that when people see it,

people are inspired and become better

just by having contact with their excellence,"

The journey of the moment...

"When you are on a journey, it is certainly helpful to know where you are going or at least the general direction in which you are moving, but don't forget: the only thing that is ultimately real about your journey is the step that you are taking at this moment. That's all there ever is."

 ~Eckhart Tolle

The Trumpet of Conscience...

If you lose hope, somehow you lose the vitality that keeps life moving, you lose that courage to be, that quality that helps you go on in spite of it all. And so today I still have a dream.

- Martin Luther King, Jr

"As iron sharpens iron so must man sharpen man"

I ran into this little gem of an idea the Summer of 1993.  I was working as a camp counselor and for some reason or another( i'm almost certain i wasn't in trouble) i was in the boss' office.  10+ years ago, the image and idea still resonates within me: 6 or 7 men atop horseback in a semi-circle, all looking the same direction and written underneath the photo was the quote:

"As iron sharpens iron so must man sharpen man"

Hmmm.  Interesting.  Do share...

The first truth about sharpening iron: a knife cannot sharpen itself. Nor can something weaker than iron, sharpen iron.  The same truth applies to man, when in line with the 'give and get' of life, friendships inspire you to be better - sharper, more effective and efficient...

While in conversation, he causally recited quotes he heard while at a yoga retreat and he ended his emails with, Namaste.  To say i was excited to meet and work with the Executive Director of the I Can Still Do That Foundation is an understatement.   

First Mondays is the primary live networking component of the I Can Still Do That Foundation and has been around, in NYC, since October 2002.

 

Their mission is to help put creative entrepreneurs back to work and

create new business models and sustainable jobs through positive psychology, 

 networking programs and inter-generational mentoring.     

Additionally, The Foundation provides a free Directory where small businesses

 

 and individuals can post their profiles to facilitate live and virtual networking. 

There are also social networking groups on Facebook, LinkedIn and GottaMentor. 

If you happen to be one of the lucky people who 'don't' need another networking group. Excellent.  Good for you.  The 'give and the get' of life is this:

sometimes you're not 'there' to get somthing
sometimes you're 'there' to give...

don't worry about which one it is
just show up...

Let's get together:  Drink. Eat. and Inspire.  You never know, you just might introduce someone to a little gem of an idea that resonates so deeply it creatively inspires a thought more than a decade later.


Until next time....

Give thanks

"When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the morning light, for your life and strength. Give thanks for your food, and the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies with yourself.” 

Tecumseh Shawnee Chief 

To infinity and beyond...

Finish each day and be done with it. 

You have done what you could. 

Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. 

Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely 

and with too high a spirit 

to be encumbered 

with your old nonsense.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Seize the day

"There are no shortcuts to any place worth going"

Beverly Sills 

An idea that is shared grows stronger...

"Ideals are like stars;
you will not succeed in touching them with your hands,
but like the seafaring man on the desert of waters,
you choose them as your guides,
and following them,
you reach your destiny." 

Carl Schurz

Change is constant; go with the flow...

“No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.”
Heraclitus of Ephesus

Optimism & perspective...

two of my favorite things: 

sunshine & wine

 1/4 full or 3/4 empty?

Honor Yourself...

 
"Honor Yourself"

Dance...

"...Dance like

no one

 

is

 

watching..."

 William Purkey

A sign...

"Beware of your breathing as often as you are able,

whenever you remember"

Eckhart Tolle

Follow your bliss...

I felt an instant connection with her.  Anyone who says, we're going to follow our dreams..."  had me at, Hello.  When i arrived at their place, we immediately picked-up where our phone conversation left off.  Two chatty cathy's going a mile a minute.  No subject off-limits.  All ideas welcome.  As easy as a cool breeze on a hot summer's day.  I was totally intrigued by their story.  Here it is:

Man, I LOVE my job!

Beautiful, elegant and youthful she met him in Florida while on vacation. 

She was living in Colorado at the time; he France.  They spent the entire evening chatting, laughing and deepening a new friendship.

Their first date was in France.  Right?!  That's what i call putting your best foot forward.  He, sent her a plane ticket.  She, meet his whole family...including his mom.  She knew he was 'the one' and was fairly certain he felt the same.

  From that certainty emerged a precious gift;

 So full of energy and high-antics.  It was a fast moving photo shoot - to say the least;)

  

Preciousness personified;

a truly remarkable little spirit with a delightfully wicked personality;

They planted her placenta in this garden;

" I love the way he loves me." She says, to me. 

I can tell...

 

A family that dreams together; stays together. 

 

And, now they are off to pursue their other love - yoga.  It's their dream to open a yoga studio.  A place for people to: relax, relate and release.  I wish them the best of luck moving forward into the unknown. 

 Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls.

Joseph Campbell

 P.S.: And, just so you know i remember...i would fly to France to shoot your new spot in a heartbeat.  Just say the word...bird;)

Until next time....

One must live; not just exist

Wake-up and live

My desire is to live...

How do you want to live?

Hand-to-heart

Mother's day is always a bittersweet day for me; this one is no exception.  All last week i couldn't shake it.  It was like i was Eeyore.  No matter what i did or tried to do - i couldn't shake the little grey dark cloud that seemed to stay with me following me around from here to there.  Everywhere... 

And finally it hit me.  Literally.  I was driving.  The music was loud.  My sun-roof open.  Windows rolled down.  I was enjoying the feel of the wind against my skin about to make a left turn when I saw something or someone who reminded me of my mother and i just lost it...

I immediately start to talk myself down.  It doesn't help.  Didn't help.  Never helps. But still, i try.  Hand-to-heart i try:

 I know it's been soooo long.  I knoooow you've been really good.  I know you just miss her.  I know it's been forever since you've seen her and you just want to see her...sigh...forever's a mighty long time i remind myself...keep going...

I remember meeting forever when i joined 'the club' 5 years ago.  In honor of my sweet mother,  i dedicate this entry to her and all the other mother's i know.  It is with deep gratitude and appreciation that i say thank you because there's another 'forever club' - i had the privilege of joining it 4 years ago...

Motherhood is a club.

Once you're inducted your membership lasts forever.

In accepting the responsibility of motherhood

we are all forced to acknowledge our place in the circle of life

and in doing so pay tribute to our elders, who came before us

and helped create and shape the path we now walk.

Today,  this Mother's day, take time to celebrate

and honor

the people you love.

Express something essential

and illuminate those things

that give life meaning.

 These acts honor the individual

 and at the very center celebrate the moments that create who we are.

Hand-to-heart...

For me, no matter what I say or what I do, the truth.
...i just  really, really, really miss my mother.

Until next time...