It's time to take an extended break (as if I've really been diligently blogging regularly). Yesterday it was snowing (at least it was on TV during the Pats game) here in Massachusetts. So old man Winter is trudging our way. Coincidentally my beloved has urged me (actually has been urging me for quite some time) to write down my experiences I have had while travelling this particular Spiritual path I've been on (meandering anyone?) the past eight years.
I have decided to devote whatever time and energy I have left after running my business to this project. It will be a book. Probably short. Most likely humorous, all about Love & Redemption, sprinkled with mysticism and rebellion, boy meets girl, lots of driving, and transformation - not necessarily in that order.
Hang in there if your jonesing for more info (or gawd forbid more blogs). I hope to emerge from my self imposed hibernation when the snows have melted, the trees begin to bud again, and the warm sun has returned. Until then...
Thanks for reading. Blessings.
J
Monday, October 19, 2009
Sunday, September 27, 2009
War of the Sons of Light against the Sons of Darkness*
Please pardon the intrusion, it is Michael here. I must apologize for my brother Uri – he is at times intrusive and lacking the proper decorum for one of our kind. Some call him edgy and vulgar. I myself see him as young and impulsive.
His view of the human he has been mandated to protect is somewhat inappropriate. We normally do not discuss our humans lives in public, and least not in a such an open forum like what you humans refer to as a “blog”. I must admit to a tinge of embarrassment in what is being openly shared amongst you humans these days over cyber space. With the simple entry of a mere word an entire world opens up at your fingertips. What is this portal called? Giggle? Oh, no, Google. It’s as if “knowledge” is dispersed from an unauthenticated source yet is received as gospel (if only the real gospel was heard again). If you desire an opinion on any subject (or person for that matter) you only have to type it in and hit send.
It is my wish to return this forum to its rightful author. Uri is not happy about the loss of his cyber pulpit. However he has more important things to do and has agreed to return to his duties as guardian angel for Jamie.
Please excuse my forwardness. However in this moment I’d like to ask that you place your attention on the present state of your planet and its occupants. Just see what interactions are occurring between the humans; experience the vibrations of humanity. Are they calming? Is there less divisiveness? Less war? Less hunger? What is happening right before your eyes? And what part do you play? What role do you take on or not? What choices do you make and how do they impact your life? Your world? What kind of impact are you having on the Earth? Do you side with the Light?*
In any case these are simply questions. Not meant to inflict judgment or even a point of view. Just respectfully asking while I have your undivided attention. Again, my sincere apologies if I have offended in any way (and of course for Uri’s behavior).
With the greatest love and respect,
Michael
His view of the human he has been mandated to protect is somewhat inappropriate. We normally do not discuss our humans lives in public, and least not in a such an open forum like what you humans refer to as a “blog”. I must admit to a tinge of embarrassment in what is being openly shared amongst you humans these days over cyber space. With the simple entry of a mere word an entire world opens up at your fingertips. What is this portal called? Giggle? Oh, no, Google. It’s as if “knowledge” is dispersed from an unauthenticated source yet is received as gospel (if only the real gospel was heard again). If you desire an opinion on any subject (or person for that matter) you only have to type it in and hit send.
It is my wish to return this forum to its rightful author. Uri is not happy about the loss of his cyber pulpit. However he has more important things to do and has agreed to return to his duties as guardian angel for Jamie.
Please excuse my forwardness. However in this moment I’d like to ask that you place your attention on the present state of your planet and its occupants. Just see what interactions are occurring between the humans; experience the vibrations of humanity. Are they calming? Is there less divisiveness? Less war? Less hunger? What is happening right before your eyes? And what part do you play? What role do you take on or not? What choices do you make and how do they impact your life? Your world? What kind of impact are you having on the Earth? Do you side with the Light?*
In any case these are simply questions. Not meant to inflict judgment or even a point of view. Just respectfully asking while I have your undivided attention. Again, my sincere apologies if I have offended in any way (and of course for Uri’s behavior).
With the greatest love and respect,
Michael
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Guardian Angel Blues: Part Two
Hey Uri here again. So that was interesting. This blog got WAY more attention since I took over the writing duties from you know who – mister CTD (crash test dummy) himself – laymo Jaymo. What is it with that kid? Moaning and groaning all the time about wanting to be a writer, and how he is stressed out from work and has no time whatsoever to sit down and put his “enlightened” thoughts on paper. As a matter of fact he’d be much safer if he was at his desk and not running around trying to be Evel Knievel. If you added up all the time in plaster casts and getting stitched up he could’ve written a War & Peace size memoir. Sure would make my job a whole heck of a lot easier if he was sitting still…
So Mike, Gabe, Rafe, and I were Skype-ing each other last night around 3am when our humans were supposedly sleeping. That’s the only time we can rap about stuff. Skype is a friggin’ godsend (from where else?). We don’t show up on the screen cause of course we can’t be seen in this realm – but we see each other no worries. Anyway, we were kinda getting’ philosophical about shit, which is by the way not really our style. We’re more blue collar, meat and potatoes cats and this is sort of a problem when we get all sensitive and misty eyed. The heady, “spiritual”, cosmic, woo-woo crap is left up to the Big Guy (well Big Gal really, but that’s a WHOLE nother blog – shhhh, it’s kinda a secret). Truth be told we’re a bit worried about the humans. Nothing we could really pinpoint but just a hunch ya know?
We wuz talking bout roots. Not ours cause we got wings not roots, but the humans roots, both the physical connection to this planet, and the inner connection to the heart. Ahhhhhhhhh maaaaaan, I’m sorry it hurts to even write like this. I’m getting soft in my immortality. I swing a big bad ass sword cause it feels freakin’ cool and I love cuttin’ shit up – not cause I’m so do gooder. Anywho – I’ll press on. From where we sit (pretty sick view BTW) things on planet earth have gotten a wee bit tweaked. Back in the day it was wooden clubs, a cozy rabbit loin cloth and out running gnarly mastodons. Basic shit right? Now it’s gotten all techy and disconnected from the planet and more connected to each other than ever before. That’s sketchy when you get 6 billion humans all instantly connected to one another. Human beings in groups bigger than 4 are bizarre and this time they are living in is the most inter connected ever.
And in all the acquisitions of “things” the humans are losing heart – or at least their ability to check in and listen to what their heart is saying. Intellect is a beautiful thing in balance. But in the many millenniums I’ve been saving dumb asses like Jamo I’ve noticed that those humans who live connected to their inner world seem to be WAY happier than those ones chasing an illusion on the outside. The by product of which is we are having to step in front of a lot of bullets and damn those things are fast. Way easier when knuckleheads threw rocks at each other, or arrows which btw never ever flew straight. When some guy pegged his enemy with an arrow it was like he won the dang lottery…oh nevermind. I’m digressing.
Listen peeps. Just take a moment to look down at your feet. If you can find a patch of real ground. Take your shoes off (brilliant invention BTW) and wiggle your toes around. Feel this planet under your feet and say ahhhh. What do you humans call it? Oh yeah, Mother Earth. That’s an interesting way to treat poor ol’ momma. Now take your hand and place it over your heart (CENTER of your chest FYI) and feel the drum beat. Yup, that’s your heart pal. Connect to it. Make it your home cause when that baby stops beatin’ it’s curtains Mugsy.
Take a moment to realize you’re one fragile mo-fo living in a very fragile world. Best enjoy each little teenie tiny moment. That’s my advice. And I’ve seen some crazy shite in my day.
Gabe calls me the Prophet of Doom & Gloom. I’d like to think of myself as a loving messenger just delivering the mail.
Anybody home?
Later gator-
Uri
So Mike, Gabe, Rafe, and I were Skype-ing each other last night around 3am when our humans were supposedly sleeping. That’s the only time we can rap about stuff. Skype is a friggin’ godsend (from where else?). We don’t show up on the screen cause of course we can’t be seen in this realm – but we see each other no worries. Anyway, we were kinda getting’ philosophical about shit, which is by the way not really our style. We’re more blue collar, meat and potatoes cats and this is sort of a problem when we get all sensitive and misty eyed. The heady, “spiritual”, cosmic, woo-woo crap is left up to the Big Guy (well Big Gal really, but that’s a WHOLE nother blog – shhhh, it’s kinda a secret). Truth be told we’re a bit worried about the humans. Nothing we could really pinpoint but just a hunch ya know?
We wuz talking bout roots. Not ours cause we got wings not roots, but the humans roots, both the physical connection to this planet, and the inner connection to the heart. Ahhhhhhhhh maaaaaan, I’m sorry it hurts to even write like this. I’m getting soft in my immortality. I swing a big bad ass sword cause it feels freakin’ cool and I love cuttin’ shit up – not cause I’m so do gooder. Anywho – I’ll press on. From where we sit (pretty sick view BTW) things on planet earth have gotten a wee bit tweaked. Back in the day it was wooden clubs, a cozy rabbit loin cloth and out running gnarly mastodons. Basic shit right? Now it’s gotten all techy and disconnected from the planet and more connected to each other than ever before. That’s sketchy when you get 6 billion humans all instantly connected to one another. Human beings in groups bigger than 4 are bizarre and this time they are living in is the most inter connected ever.
And in all the acquisitions of “things” the humans are losing heart – or at least their ability to check in and listen to what their heart is saying. Intellect is a beautiful thing in balance. But in the many millenniums I’ve been saving dumb asses like Jamo I’ve noticed that those humans who live connected to their inner world seem to be WAY happier than those ones chasing an illusion on the outside. The by product of which is we are having to step in front of a lot of bullets and damn those things are fast. Way easier when knuckleheads threw rocks at each other, or arrows which btw never ever flew straight. When some guy pegged his enemy with an arrow it was like he won the dang lottery…oh nevermind. I’m digressing.
Listen peeps. Just take a moment to look down at your feet. If you can find a patch of real ground. Take your shoes off (brilliant invention BTW) and wiggle your toes around. Feel this planet under your feet and say ahhhh. What do you humans call it? Oh yeah, Mother Earth. That’s an interesting way to treat poor ol’ momma. Now take your hand and place it over your heart (CENTER of your chest FYI) and feel the drum beat. Yup, that’s your heart pal. Connect to it. Make it your home cause when that baby stops beatin’ it’s curtains Mugsy.
Take a moment to realize you’re one fragile mo-fo living in a very fragile world. Best enjoy each little teenie tiny moment. That’s my advice. And I’ve seen some crazy shite in my day.
Gabe calls me the Prophet of Doom & Gloom. I’d like to think of myself as a loving messenger just delivering the mail.
Anybody home?
Later gator-
Uri
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Guardian Angel Blues
Hi. Jamie has taken a break from his blog and I’ve decided to fill in for him. I am his “guardian angel”. Call me Uri.
Look, I just want to take this opportunity and this forum to get some things off my proverbial chest. First off, we get no respect – I mean zip, zero, nada. People love to talk about their “angels watching over them” like it’s some fluffy namby pamby occupation complete with big lovely wings (like that stupid John Travolta movie) and Bach concertos playing soothing soundtracks and the entire deal Oprah approved. Bullshit. It ain’t like that at all.
It’s dark and nasty and nitty gritty stuff. You all only hear about the humans who die. And don’t get me going about the repercussions of letting your “assigned”* human expire – baaaaad, baaaaad, baaaaad is all I can say. The boss hates when we f-up and let a human die. Usually it’s cause we went for a smoke, or grabbed a café latte or something – I mean we need a break too…but I digress.
*There is one G.A. assigned to a human per lifetime (includes twins, sextuplets etc. Feel bad for dem angels)
You never hear about the billions of near misses every moment of every day. The ones most humans aren’t even aware of. Of how ridiculously close human beings come to being taken out each moment. If you only knew…which is another bone of contention for me. On what planet is anyone required to work 24/7? Not one moment of taking a breather, watching the game on TV, taking your honey for ice cream? Not to mention sleeping. Oh, and those humans who “die in their sleep”? Yup, somebody made a boo boo. Took their eye off their human and wham. Done. Dead. Happened to my buddy Mike just the other day – 2 am went to check his email and left this guy snoring peacefully. Came back not 5 minutes later – freakin’ guy is stone cold. I tell ya it’s a thankless full time gig and I’ve about had it!
Take Jamie my human for example. Not a bad kid but christ almighty (sorry boss) that guy shoulda been tattooed with the crash test dummy symbol. From the word go right outta the womb this joker has had me on full alert. He must be part feline since he has been forever trying to leave this earth (by the way cats really do have nine lives since they’re so stupid – they’d be “one and done” otherwise and then there’d be no more little puddie cats roamin’ the planet…yippee!). He loves to think of himself as a warrior who has survived many a battle and lived to tell the tale. And oh I just loooove the way he embellishes his stories like as if he had anything to do with staying alive. Remember that cliff he launched off of? What an idiot! Thirty-five feet and lands like he’s on a feather bed. Guess who he landed on? ME!!! Then this last incident with the car? Oh man. He slams into a 2010 Toyota on his little carbon fiber bicycle and is walking around joking with the EMT’s like he’s a friggin’ hero. Then he even takes pictures of the huge dent “he left” in the front quarter panel of the Toy. Guess what? Yup, that’s MY DENT!! I mean this kid is a train wreck. He looks like a tom cat all scarred up and those are just collateral damages – anyone of those scars could’ve been lights out Charlie. How about all his motorcycles? No he can’t just have a nice little Vespa scooter something cute and safe, he’s gotta go get that nasty black Speed Triple monster of his and ride it like he’s invincible. Who’s sittin’ on the front fender on high alert at all times? Me of course. ME ME ME!!! Oh I’m really getting steeped now.
I’m considering staging a walkout. I mean if guys who unload trucks have a union why not us? We could then be organized and go on strike, lobby for better working conditions, maybe a little paid vay-kay? Fifteen minute breaks morning and afternoon, lunch break. Eight hour shifts. Pee breaks. You get the idea. That would certainly help the “overpopulation” problem you humans are experiencing if we only worked 40 hours a week. And maybe people would think twice before taking us angels for granted. Maybe never even leave your house. Hummm. I might have to bring this up with Ari and Mike and the guys at our next meeting. But it’s nearly impossible to coordinate our schedules…what a bummer. And besides….
Oh crap there goes Jamie on his skateboard…I gotta fly peeps, thanks for letting me rant and rave. I feel a little better. Though barely.
Just remember next time you step off the curb, even though you look both ways, I’m looking all ways…
Later gator.
Uri
Look, I just want to take this opportunity and this forum to get some things off my proverbial chest. First off, we get no respect – I mean zip, zero, nada. People love to talk about their “angels watching over them” like it’s some fluffy namby pamby occupation complete with big lovely wings (like that stupid John Travolta movie) and Bach concertos playing soothing soundtracks and the entire deal Oprah approved. Bullshit. It ain’t like that at all.
It’s dark and nasty and nitty gritty stuff. You all only hear about the humans who die. And don’t get me going about the repercussions of letting your “assigned”* human expire – baaaaad, baaaaad, baaaaad is all I can say. The boss hates when we f-up and let a human die. Usually it’s cause we went for a smoke, or grabbed a café latte or something – I mean we need a break too…but I digress.
*There is one G.A. assigned to a human per lifetime (includes twins, sextuplets etc. Feel bad for dem angels)
You never hear about the billions of near misses every moment of every day. The ones most humans aren’t even aware of. Of how ridiculously close human beings come to being taken out each moment. If you only knew…which is another bone of contention for me. On what planet is anyone required to work 24/7? Not one moment of taking a breather, watching the game on TV, taking your honey for ice cream? Not to mention sleeping. Oh, and those humans who “die in their sleep”? Yup, somebody made a boo boo. Took their eye off their human and wham. Done. Dead. Happened to my buddy Mike just the other day – 2 am went to check his email and left this guy snoring peacefully. Came back not 5 minutes later – freakin’ guy is stone cold. I tell ya it’s a thankless full time gig and I’ve about had it!
Take Jamie my human for example. Not a bad kid but christ almighty (sorry boss) that guy shoulda been tattooed with the crash test dummy symbol. From the word go right outta the womb this joker has had me on full alert. He must be part feline since he has been forever trying to leave this earth (by the way cats really do have nine lives since they’re so stupid – they’d be “one and done” otherwise and then there’d be no more little puddie cats roamin’ the planet…yippee!). He loves to think of himself as a warrior who has survived many a battle and lived to tell the tale. And oh I just loooove the way he embellishes his stories like as if he had anything to do with staying alive. Remember that cliff he launched off of? What an idiot! Thirty-five feet and lands like he’s on a feather bed. Guess who he landed on? ME!!! Then this last incident with the car? Oh man. He slams into a 2010 Toyota on his little carbon fiber bicycle and is walking around joking with the EMT’s like he’s a friggin’ hero. Then he even takes pictures of the huge dent “he left” in the front quarter panel of the Toy. Guess what? Yup, that’s MY DENT!! I mean this kid is a train wreck. He looks like a tom cat all scarred up and those are just collateral damages – anyone of those scars could’ve been lights out Charlie. How about all his motorcycles? No he can’t just have a nice little Vespa scooter something cute and safe, he’s gotta go get that nasty black Speed Triple monster of his and ride it like he’s invincible. Who’s sittin’ on the front fender on high alert at all times? Me of course. ME ME ME!!! Oh I’m really getting steeped now.
I’m considering staging a walkout. I mean if guys who unload trucks have a union why not us? We could then be organized and go on strike, lobby for better working conditions, maybe a little paid vay-kay? Fifteen minute breaks morning and afternoon, lunch break. Eight hour shifts. Pee breaks. You get the idea. That would certainly help the “overpopulation” problem you humans are experiencing if we only worked 40 hours a week. And maybe people would think twice before taking us angels for granted. Maybe never even leave your house. Hummm. I might have to bring this up with Ari and Mike and the guys at our next meeting. But it’s nearly impossible to coordinate our schedules…what a bummer. And besides….
Oh crap there goes Jamie on his skateboard…I gotta fly peeps, thanks for letting me rant and rave. I feel a little better. Though barely.
Just remember next time you step off the curb, even though you look both ways, I’m looking all ways…
Later gator.
Uri
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Life: Italian Style
This morning I woke up feeling just like I have the entire past month. Dog tired (even after eight hours sleep) and lacking the morning fire I’m so accustomed to. I could feel my frustration build as I mentally scrolled through all that I have to do today. It got even worse when I visited a couple of projects we have going and saw things either not moving fast enough (according to me) or done the way I wanted (again, according to me). Ahhhh. Yet again another beautiful day off to an ugly start. I mean obviously all the ugliness is inside of me as the rest of the world is clearly oblivious to my inner turmoil. That’s cool.
So I stopped by the Atomic Café for my morning cappuccino (yeah, yeah, I got it rough huh?) which Andrew so generously gave to me no charge. That was the beginning of a subtle shift inside me. Mellissa was bopping around behind the cash register and I could feel the energy just crackling off of her as she greeted customers as if each one was her favorite person in the world. Her effervescence was in direct contrast to my lethargy. Two meteors heading in opposite directions, fast. I was sick of falling. I went outside to make a few phone calls and sit in the sun.
A familiar face came up to me and mentioned how he had met my son Nick (who works at the Atomic now) and what a nice young man he was. He also spoke about his trips to Italy over the years and how surprised he was to hear that Nick had spent two years in Assisi. We spoke for some time about the beauty of Italy. I shifted slightly again.
After finishing my calls and coffee I went back in to the Atomic to talk to Andrew. Another familiar face came up and said he just got back from three weeks in Italy. I asked him why he came back. He laughed and said everyone asks that same question. He is a painting contractor in town and he said since he came back home he decided to work every day until noon and then take the rest of the day off. He said whatever he gets done by noon is all he gets done – the rest will be there for him the next day to deal with. Another shift inside me – this one bigger. I went outside somewhat altered and got on my motorcycle and headed to the lumberyard.
I was talking with a friend while there and another friend I had worked with on a crew years ago came up to me and asked me how I was doing. He said I seemed pretty stressed out yesterday when he saw me expressing my frustration over a previous lumber delivery that was missing an item. The way he said it made it seem really out character for me to be so agonized over something so insignificant. Shift. Shift. Shift. I laughed and said if he ever sees me like that again to give me a slap to remind me to relax. He chuckled and said he’d be happy to.
Now I’m in my office writing this blog – the first inspiration in almost a month. And truth be told I have a ton of shit to do that I’m ignoring to get this feeling down on paper (cyberspace). This is what I saw in the first few hours of my morning. Ready (like ready for the punch line)?
In the mastery of me I have forgotten how to master. In the continual funk that I claim to be the result of my construction business, my unhappiness not being filthy rich and my lack of total leisure time to absolutely do nothing if I so choose, I have lost sight of what is. I have perpetuated the belief that the only way I will EVER get it done is by sheer force of will. By trying to control things that don’t need controlling. By wishing things were different to point of making myself miserable. I got a reflection of Jamie today that was pretty unsettling. What happened to that guy who is free in every moment to choose and decide? What happened to living my Dream as if it is my Dream to live as I want? Why is there bitterness creeping into my world? And why do I keep looking for a different result doing the same thing over and over again? Master smashster. That’s such a set up when I see how right now I feel like I’m in canoe on a river and I have no paddle and no way to do anything but sit and float downstream. Guess what?
This morning I found a paddle. This morning I found Italy. You know what I saw about myself? I react to things from a place of tension. Sure things will always show up, no doubt. Especially in construction. Especially in LIFE. So how do I want to make myself feel? Agitated? Depleted? Frustrated? Sure that’s easy. But what if? What if I said I’m going to pretend I’m living life Italian style? Taking things as they come. Stressing less about all that I have to get done, and doing what I can each day. And being good with that.
Here’s the big one; what if I actually enjoyed myself regardless of how much energy I have (or think I should have), regardless of the weather, the progress of the job, the mistakes, the beliefs I have about “how things should be”…what if I actually enjoyed the Dream as is?
What if I said to myself the minute I open my eyes in the morning: “it’s another beautiful day on the planet earth and I’m here to enjoy all of it”. And I do mean all of it.
Hummm. Ok I can try that. I mean why not? Beats the alternative…si?
Nella vita - chi non risica - non rosica…
(In life: who risks nothing - gains nothing)
Ciao baby, ciao!
J
So I stopped by the Atomic Café for my morning cappuccino (yeah, yeah, I got it rough huh?) which Andrew so generously gave to me no charge. That was the beginning of a subtle shift inside me. Mellissa was bopping around behind the cash register and I could feel the energy just crackling off of her as she greeted customers as if each one was her favorite person in the world. Her effervescence was in direct contrast to my lethargy. Two meteors heading in opposite directions, fast. I was sick of falling. I went outside to make a few phone calls and sit in the sun.
A familiar face came up to me and mentioned how he had met my son Nick (who works at the Atomic now) and what a nice young man he was. He also spoke about his trips to Italy over the years and how surprised he was to hear that Nick had spent two years in Assisi. We spoke for some time about the beauty of Italy. I shifted slightly again.
After finishing my calls and coffee I went back in to the Atomic to talk to Andrew. Another familiar face came up and said he just got back from three weeks in Italy. I asked him why he came back. He laughed and said everyone asks that same question. He is a painting contractor in town and he said since he came back home he decided to work every day until noon and then take the rest of the day off. He said whatever he gets done by noon is all he gets done – the rest will be there for him the next day to deal with. Another shift inside me – this one bigger. I went outside somewhat altered and got on my motorcycle and headed to the lumberyard.
I was talking with a friend while there and another friend I had worked with on a crew years ago came up to me and asked me how I was doing. He said I seemed pretty stressed out yesterday when he saw me expressing my frustration over a previous lumber delivery that was missing an item. The way he said it made it seem really out character for me to be so agonized over something so insignificant. Shift. Shift. Shift. I laughed and said if he ever sees me like that again to give me a slap to remind me to relax. He chuckled and said he’d be happy to.
Now I’m in my office writing this blog – the first inspiration in almost a month. And truth be told I have a ton of shit to do that I’m ignoring to get this feeling down on paper (cyberspace). This is what I saw in the first few hours of my morning. Ready (like ready for the punch line)?
In the mastery of me I have forgotten how to master. In the continual funk that I claim to be the result of my construction business, my unhappiness not being filthy rich and my lack of total leisure time to absolutely do nothing if I so choose, I have lost sight of what is. I have perpetuated the belief that the only way I will EVER get it done is by sheer force of will. By trying to control things that don’t need controlling. By wishing things were different to point of making myself miserable. I got a reflection of Jamie today that was pretty unsettling. What happened to that guy who is free in every moment to choose and decide? What happened to living my Dream as if it is my Dream to live as I want? Why is there bitterness creeping into my world? And why do I keep looking for a different result doing the same thing over and over again? Master smashster. That’s such a set up when I see how right now I feel like I’m in canoe on a river and I have no paddle and no way to do anything but sit and float downstream. Guess what?
This morning I found a paddle. This morning I found Italy. You know what I saw about myself? I react to things from a place of tension. Sure things will always show up, no doubt. Especially in construction. Especially in LIFE. So how do I want to make myself feel? Agitated? Depleted? Frustrated? Sure that’s easy. But what if? What if I said I’m going to pretend I’m living life Italian style? Taking things as they come. Stressing less about all that I have to get done, and doing what I can each day. And being good with that.
Here’s the big one; what if I actually enjoyed myself regardless of how much energy I have (or think I should have), regardless of the weather, the progress of the job, the mistakes, the beliefs I have about “how things should be”…what if I actually enjoyed the Dream as is?
What if I said to myself the minute I open my eyes in the morning: “it’s another beautiful day on the planet earth and I’m here to enjoy all of it”. And I do mean all of it.
Hummm. Ok I can try that. I mean why not? Beats the alternative…si?
Nella vita - chi non risica - non rosica…
(In life: who risks nothing - gains nothing)
Ciao baby, ciao!
J
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Have You Hugged Your Awareness Today?
Food for thought that a friend Lee McCormack passed along the other day. How aware are we? What is the reason for our being here? Thanks Lee for sharing this.
Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007.
The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx. 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.
4 minutes later:
The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.
6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again..
10 minutes:
A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.
45 minutes:
The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.
1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.
No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.
This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities. The questions raised: in a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?
One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made.... How many other things are we missing?
Indeed. Exactly how many...?
Thanks for taking the time.
J
Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007.
The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx. 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.
4 minutes later:
The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.
6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again..
10 minutes:
A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.
45 minutes:
The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.
1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.
No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.
This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities. The questions raised: in a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?
One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made.... How many other things are we missing?
Indeed. Exactly how many...?
Thanks for taking the time.
J
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
When the Stars Align
I was speaking with one of my new (favorite) clients the other day. She was asking how my son Nick was doing. I was explaining how wonderful it was to have him home after spending two years in Italy. She could sense and feel my enthusiasm and love while talking about Nick. She then offered how some years back her grown children were living in close proximity to her and her husband and how happy she was about that.
She then said, “Isn’t it wonderful when the stars align?”
That got me to thinking about that feeling. The other night Megs and I were sitting at the dinner table having a meal with my mom, Nick, and Bodhi. I looked around and felt this deep satisfaction seeing the ones I love so dearly gathered together in one room sharing space and time and food together.
I never had quite experienced that sensation. It was so special and warming.
That’s what my client meant by the stars aligning (which she conveyed as much energetically as verbally). It is often a rare thing to have everyone you are close to nearby. Before you know it we have all changed, grown deeper into Life and gone our separate ways.
The stars are continuing to align so very nicely in my world right now. Business is very good. My Dream is sweet and as icing on the cake my brother arrived with his family for a week’s visit.
Pile it on then, I can handle all the dessert Life wants to send my way. I can deal with the stars being lined up and shining down my way.
May they align in this very moment for you too.
Yes!
J
She then said, “Isn’t it wonderful when the stars align?”
That got me to thinking about that feeling. The other night Megs and I were sitting at the dinner table having a meal with my mom, Nick, and Bodhi. I looked around and felt this deep satisfaction seeing the ones I love so dearly gathered together in one room sharing space and time and food together.
I never had quite experienced that sensation. It was so special and warming.
That’s what my client meant by the stars aligning (which she conveyed as much energetically as verbally). It is often a rare thing to have everyone you are close to nearby. Before you know it we have all changed, grown deeper into Life and gone our separate ways.
The stars are continuing to align so very nicely in my world right now. Business is very good. My Dream is sweet and as icing on the cake my brother arrived with his family for a week’s visit.
Pile it on then, I can handle all the dessert Life wants to send my way. I can deal with the stars being lined up and shining down my way.
May they align in this very moment for you too.
Yes!
J
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