Throughout my years as a human in training, I can recall and count on one hand the times I've been asked my opinion that led with "and what do you believe?" from the person in authority at that moment. This includes my two decades as a classroom teacher, even longer than that as a real estate broker and residential appraiser, and all of the interactions in my professional and private lives over the past half century or so. When you believe in yourself, everything shifts focus and you create … [Read more...]
Tuesday Morning Choices
Tuesday Morning Choices Become Tomorrow's Reality It was a Tuesday. He'd dropped me off in the parking lot just as they were opening. I didn't look back after I heard the car door shut behind me. I heard my mother's voice in my head... "You come in to the world alone and you go out alone." It didn't feel like anything, as I lay sprawled out on the table. Legs akimbo and me staring at the ceiling so as to avoid the bright light shining overhead. Then voices, and a very tall man is standing … [Read more...]
They Vaccinate Dogs, Don’t They?
Two decades ago I had a very smart boyfriend. He was the smartest person I'd ever met, at that time. He was also aware of how he was perceived and often stated matter-of-factly that he was typically the smartest person in the room in all settings. He insisted that I be included in his Saturday night Poker game, even though I hadn't made that request. Winning more often than the rest of the guys put together made him something of a legend. So I showed up and took my seat at the opposite end of … [Read more...]
Tale of Two Cities: Choosing to Live a Unique Life
Tale of Two Cities: Why I Choose to Live a Double Life When I started my online business in 2006, I moved 30 miles north of where I'd been living for much of my life to a newer city called Santa Clarita. It was the northernmost suburb of Los Angeles and in the TMZ - the 30 mile zone - making it popular for film and television production. That first summer brought record-breaking heat and I decided to drive to Santa Barbara to spend the entire day a couple of times each week. It took about 80 … [Read more...]
Getting Involved
Getting Involved Is Life Itself Life is to be lived and loved and experienced, I firmly believe and practice with each breath I take. It's not possible to achieve these goals unless and until you are willing to go all in, and that means getting involved. Be vary of those around you who prefer to take the opposite path, as they are the people who have voted to take rather than give. Getting Involved to Connect with Others I'm an introvert. But somewhere along the way I made the effort to … [Read more...]
The First Day of the Rest of Your Life
Today could be the first day of the rest of your life. Have you ever thought about that? In the spring of 2005 I woke up in the wee hours of the morning in a cold sweat. Jumping out of bed and startling my little dog in the process, I went to my desk to write down what I was experiencing. It was as though all of my senses were enhanced, with colors brighter, sounds more defined, and even the feeling of my pen touching my notepad was a new and exciting experience. I wrote for over an hour and … [Read more...]
The Prescience of Choice
The Prescience of Choice In the beginning of the year he had promised to visit as soon as his schedule would allow. It was the last Saturday in January when he arrived on the afternoon train, carrying the baggage of a hundred years in a brown canvas duffel bag. He almost missed the last step as he floated onto the platform and met her gaze. She reached down to offer assistance, but he gently guided her hand up to his face. Taking her outstretched fingers into his palms, he covered her face with … [Read more...]
The Day My Body Began to Devour Itself
The Day My Body Began to Devour Itself Was the First Day of the Rest of My Life It began harmlessly enough: I wanted to lose weight and improve my health and was searching for a way to do this as easily as possible. It was December of 2019 and as I was preparing for my annual goal setting I wrote down that I would lose a hundred pounds during 2020. As I wrote the words, lose a hundred pounds my stomach began to hurt. I looked back through the notes from my previous years of formally setting … [Read more...]
Embrace Creativity and Your World Will Expand
Embrace Creativity to Open Your Mind To Different Perspectives Creativity is the doorway to a beautiful life. Often because of the need to survive, we pursue what we can make money from. We put aside our passion and focus on building a career in a field where we think we will make money and have security. Fortunately, your creativity and your passion can be a means for you to make money. Embracing your creativity and viewing life through a different lens could lead to you becoming wealthy in … [Read more...]
Make Better Art… and Rule the World
Is it really that simple? If you're willing to do the work, focus on creating, and make better art, is success bound to come your way? For decades, I was the person who talked a good game but seldom followed through. How we do anything is how we do everything, so this lack of taking action spilled over into every area of my life. I'm not proud of the way I insisted on living for far too long, but I believe that by exposing myself and being willing to be completely transparent to the world it … [Read more...]