Don't look at the scoreboard - just play the game.

Recently I've noticed a consistent theme running through the conversations of my wonderful, spectacular, extraordinarily talented, over-thirty friends - we are all pooped.  Cross-eyed worn-out.  Bone-tired...exhausted.  And, the sobering (almost certainly 'maturing') realization is -  there's no real end in sight.  
 

Cringe and gulp... 

"Don't look at the scoreboard - just play the game"- Drew Brees

We all watched Superbowl 2010 or at least can say the New Orleans Saints were the victors...right?!  One evening while on the phone with my sister, she told me the story of Drew Brees http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drew_Brees.  She ended with the story i'm going to tell in first person because it presents better that way...or at least i think so.   

One evening while flipping through the channels i tuned into David Letterman -  Drew Bree's was the guest.  "How do you handle the stress of a big game?", David Letterman asked.  Drew's response created a new life strategy for me:  When i'm playing I don't look at the scoreboard to tell me what to do -  i just play the game.


I never knew i was such a score keeper until i tried to play the game (live)and not look at the scoreboard (who was or wasn't doing what)...try it for a week and see how you fair.  It ain't easy...but it is important.


until next time...b


keep the sun in your eyes

 

One of the best descion i've ever made...

I met him when i was twenty-three.  It was new years eve, he walked over and invited me to dance.   Eleven months later we went on our first date and with the exception of about 8 hours, one stormy night, (it was a dos-ey of a fight) we've been together ever since.

Fast forward twelve years later: kids, bills, and gray hair...the decision to accept CP's invitation remains one of the best decisions I've ever made...

 

  

The Invitation

It doesn’t interest me
what you do for a living.
I want to know
what you ache for
and if you dare to dream
of meeting your heart’s longing.

It doesn’t interest me
how old you are.
I want to know
if you will risk
looking like a fool
for love
for your dream
for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn’t interest me
what planets are
squaring your moon...
I want to know
if you have touched
the centre of your own sorrow
if you have been opened
by life’s betrayals
or have become shrivelled and closed
from fear of further pain.

I want to know
if you can sit with pain
mine or your own
without moving to hide it
or fade it
or fix it.

I want to know
if you can be with joy
mine or your own
if you can dance with wildness
and let the ecstasy fill you
to the tips of your fingers and toes
without cautioning us
to be careful
to be realistic
to remember the limitations
of being human.

It doesn’t interest me
if the story you are telling me
is true.
I want to know if you can
disappoint another
to be true to yourself.
If you can bear
the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless
and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it is not pretty
every day.
And if you can source your own life
from its presence.

I want to know
if you can live with failure
yours and mine
and still stand at the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon,
“Yes.”

It doesn’t interest me
to know where you live
or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up
after the night of grief and despair
weary and bruised to the bone
and do what needs to be done
to feed the children.

It doesn’t interest me
who you know
or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand
in the centre of the fire
with me
and not shrink back.

It doesn’t interest me
where or what or with whom
you have studied.
I want to know
what sustains you
from the inside
when all else falls away.


I want to know
if you can be alone
with yourself
and if you truly like
the company you keep
in the empty moments.

 By Oriah © Mountain Dreaming,
from the book The Invitation
published by HarperONE, San Francisco,
1999 All rights reserved

Happy bday CP!  I love you...

Forever grateful...b

You don't have to explain your dreams to anyone. They belong to you...

Welcome to Hollywood! What's your dream? Everybody comes here; this is Hollywood, land of dreams. Some dreams come true, some don't; but keep on dreamin' - this is Hollywood. Always time to dream, so keep on dreamin'...

(excerpt from Pretty Woman ...which totally makes my short list for all-time favorite movie ever).

I met and liked her immediately. She was open, honest and passionate in a refreshingly earnest way as we spent the night talking about her non-profit: College and Career Connections (CCC) http://collegeandcareerconnections.org/index.shtml.  

I remember exchanging information with Deann Ayer, founder and Executive Director of CCC (the lady in red),  at the close of the evening with a promise to keep in touch and definitely work together on a future project... 

One year later...

The setting was beautiful, the energy supportive and vibrant;

                       

  

the atmosphere was upbeat, the conversations buzzed with excitement;

...these two rocked the night with a powerhouse vocal performance;

        

and the winner is...

Welcome to DC! What's your dream? Everybody comes here; this is DC, land of dreams. Some dreams come true, some don't; but keep on dreamin' - this is DC. Always time to dream, so keep on dreamin'...

                    

You don't have to explain your dreams to anyone. 

They belong to you...

Paulo Cohelo

 Until next time...b

Are you the bulb carrying the light; or the light within the bulb (all puns intended)

Rooting DC 2010 over and out...and what a success! It was two Saturday mornings ago, February 20th, (to be exact) gardening enthusiasts traveled from all over the greater DC metro area, to gather in DC and get their gardening on...

Folks arrived in the hundreds ready to mentally bathe and excitedly dream of seeds, soil and all things related. As always i'm impressed by the dedication of everyone involved: the coordinators, volunteers, speakers and the attendees.
 
Here are a few images from the spectacular day:


The venue was buzzing with energy and excitement as people got to talk deeply and share with others about their passion.

Several times during the day as i walked through the conference rooms and crowds snapping pictures i was struck by how happy, relaxed and beautiful everyone looked - as if they each had a glow emanating from within...

"Are you the bulb carrying the light; or the light within the bulb" - Joseph Campbell

Rooting DC: Good food. Good people. Great resource.

Until next time....