Hercules’ true strength.

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One of the most absolute joys of my creative life is writing and producing television and radio promotion packages for Xena: Warrior Princess and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. Never a day went by when I didn’t thank the gods for the opportunity (pun intended)  – to cut promos with one of my great creative partners, J. Churchill Morgan, and the rest of the crew at Crawford Post in Atlanta, GA, to work with a most excellent show production crew in L.A., New Zealand and Canada … and to laugh -spontaneous and pure- throughout the entire experience.

Every once in a while, I look through my box of treasures from that time and reminisce: Gabrielle’s leather journal she carried at the beginning of her adventures with Xena; a box of homemade Hercules and Xena Christmas cards we wrote that we sent to the post production crew (Happy Birthday, Jesus! From Zeus, King of the Gods); song lyrics set to the Hercules theme music that were inspired by Kevin Sorbo’s fabulous mane (Hercules, will you help me please? I’m having a bad hair day!). Hours and hours … and hours … of fun times, which amaze me still. I can never call it work.

This is why I’m sharing a video interview with Kevin Sorbo, who talks about his life and his new book, True Strength: My Journey from Hercules to Mere Mortal–and How Nearly Dying Saved My Life.

As I was experiencing one of the most productive and enjoyable times of my career, our main character –our hero- was at a precipice. And I have to say, as part of this crazy, glorious crew headed by Rob Tapert … never did Kevin’s pain encroach on us making a promo deadline, never did it show in the raw footage we screened, never once did we suffer while he was suffering. In Atlanta, at Tribune Creative Service Group, in the halls and edit suites, his work simply gave us joy.

And I’ll always be grateful to him for that.

Step by step.

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My sister and her daughter walking the labyrinth at Seattle Center in Seattle WA.

My sister and her daughter walking the labyrinth at Seattle Center.

I’m reading a book called The Handmaid of Desire by John L’Heureux, and in it, main character Olga Kominska pauses most days, asking anyone around her to leave, so she could be alone “to do her thoughts.” When I first read this, I laugh out loud, mostly because I totally relate to her practice –realizing I “do my own thoughts” all the time.

If you’re a thought-doer, it could be very satisfying to change your way of doing thoughts every now and again. Try solving the mystery of a labyrinth.

“A labyrinth is an archetype with which we can have a direct experience. We can walk it. It is a metaphor for life’s journey. It is a symbol that creates a sacred space and place and takes us out of our ego to ‘That Which Is Within,'”  quote Lessons 4 Living.

It’s a beautiful way to do your thoughts, plus it gets you off your ass and away from the computer … something I wholeheartedly support, since sitting all-day-every-day in front of one can silence your -well … your thoughts.

If you’re ever in San Francisco CA, walk the labyrinths of Grace Cathedral. Magnificent. Or visit the World-Wide Labyrinth Locator (love this) and find a labyrinth  in your neck of the woods.

This way, you can do your thoughts with a new twist. Who knows? Perhaps you’ll have an aha moment.

Love the answer.

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At the end of the day, who smiles when you speak to them?

(From the meditation, Fill What is Empty, Empty What is Full, by Davidji)

 Love the answer.

(From my heart.)

Two dollar bill.

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I worry that a true spark of imagination is as rare as a two dollar bill.

That the silence in my heart is a sure sign of a closed mind.

That inspired thinking is just beyond my grasp.

When the ebb and flow of work runs its course, it becomes auto-task. And a day full of auto-task is a day full of mediocrity.

I’m always looking for the highs and lows, the rhythm, the gentle drive of an idea whose time has come.

I’m ready to discover that two dollar bill.

Next big thing.

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My next big thing. That’s what is on my mind lately.

Do I need a reinvention or an intervention?

On a clear day, I recently enjoyed lunch high above Seattle at the Sky City Restaurant in the Space Needle. The drink cozies have a tagline printed on the front: Live the View. I brought one home with me as a reminder – if you’ve ever seen the sight of Puget Sound and the surrounding area from up there, you understand.

I’m trying to live the view, embrace the wisdom of uncertainty. It’s usually where I find my next big thing.

Live by your vision.

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Tree pose.

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I’ve discovered Artist A Day by adding the app to my iGoogle home page. The site features “New Art Every Day,” delivered right to my desktop.

Today’s new art is called, “Birdcage” by Los Angeles, CA-based artist Tony Hong, who works exclusively in ink. I totally like the theme … a tree after my own heart, if you will.

For anyone in yoga practice, you may relate to this observation: I’ve also discovered that my sense of balance is a little …how you say… timid these days. Practicing tree pose is revealing this to me.

And I think I’ve found a new visual for balance; a little bird(cage) told me.

Murphy’s romance.

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There’s a pivotal scene near the end of one of my favorite movies, Murphy’s Romance, that I think of often. Emma Moriarty (Sally Field) and Murphy Jones (James Garner) dance around a May-December relationship throughout the story, and now –after Emma and her son move to town with nothing, hurting from a failed marriage and money issues; after Murphy spots her and decides right then and there that she’s the one, only she’s got to figure that out; after Emma starts a successful business boarding and training horses (one, of course, is Murphy’s); and after her ex-husband shows up, only to leave town with his young girlfriend after she surprises him with twin sons (phew) … Emma wonders what can happen next.

Emma: “What’ll I do with my life, Murphy? Should I get rid of the ranch, should I die my hair or put an ad in the singles column, what? Give me some advice, Murphy, you’ve lived a long time.”

Murphy: “You want advice? Write Dear Abby. I’m not a life guard and I don’t put up bail and I’m not your damn Dutch uncle.”

And then, Murphy plants a kiss on Emma, a wonderful wet smooch.

Murphy: “Now, if you don’t know how things are, then you’re not as smart as I thought you were.”

James Garner is honored with a Best Actor Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Murphy, and it’s a joy for me to watch how his character romances Emma –a woman any other woman can relate to. When I was in grade school, my teacher once declared I looked just like The Flying Nun (aka, Sally Field) in my class photo (and I must admit, it was true). So I was drawn to the movie because of the cast. But I watch it over and over again because the themes ring true –even now, after 25 years.

“What’ll I do with my life, Murphy?”

“Now, if you don’t know how things are, then you’re not as smart as I thought you were.”

brainywoman advice.

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“The world is waiting for your success!”

“Next time somebody invites you to share your beautiful life with them, don’t look for excuses –just do it! You have something beautiful to tell, because you are amazing!”

-Patricia Anaya, creator of brainywoman.com, author of The Three Powers and a person who makes things happen.

Thanks, Paty … I needed to hear this.

Happy birthday.

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Today is my sister’s 50th birthday. I flew her out to the Pacific Northwest for a week-long celebration!

It’s always fun to see the place where you live through the eyes of someone who’s never seen it before. I spent my 50th birthday atop the Eiffel Tower; she’ll be atop the Space Needle. Taking a ferry, going wine tasting, visiting Pike’s Market and the Bloedel Reserve –hoping at least one day is clear enough for her to see Mt. Rainer, the Olympics and the Cascades- it’s really a renewal for me, too.

It’s beautiful here. And I’m so glad I can give this experience to my sweet, sweet sister.

Happy Birthday, Nancy! oxoxo