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.)
creativity
Two dollar bill.
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.
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.
Tree pose.
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.
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.
“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.
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
Rumi right.
Every once in a while, my daily reading reveals a gem … a cosmic connection to what’s actually going on in my mind. Here’s an example.
Who makes these changes?
I shoot an arrow right.
It lands left.
I ride after a deer
and find myself chased by a hog.
I plot to get what I want
and end up in prison.
I dig pits to trap others
and fall in.
I should be suspicious
of what I want.
-from A Year With Rumi: Daily Readings by Coleman Barks
20 September
Waiting.
I’m on hold. Some days (weeks, months or years, even) are like this.
Sageland Creative 