7 Billion People

My focus has shifted. I choose to teach again; through writing. Spinning metaphors, analogies, prose, and accumulated wisdom to help kids learn the importance of finding and expressing their "true-selves."

Eventually young humans confront the ultimate question: "I am?" This is one of the significant ways that people-beings are different from the rest of Earth's living things. Our brains make it almost impossible to just BE. Humans expand and contract, rise and fall, lose and find, learn and forget; and always have the opportunity to transform. 

Toddlers have instincts and genetic mapping, and they are heavily influenced by their environment, parents, and food intake. When you observe a group of kids, you notice some of them try new things, while others are hesitant. Some lead, others follow ..... some organize, others leave a mess and get distracted. 

"Trying on different hats" has been my metaphor for a willingness to change directions. I have often morphed to explore new choices; not afraid to be wrong. I am writing a new kids book about children finding themselves. Many kids are labeled early in life; wrong name, wrong body, wrong family ........ stuck in situations that are the wrong "skin."

What if you could go into a "changing room" in a Department store? This big box is filled with names, skins, clothes, and a travel machine that transports you to another place on Earth. A chance to try on new and different appearances and situations. A place to be free enough to express your voice, your Q, and suddenly be able to find your "true-self."


Being stuck as an adult is often referred to as the inability to shed your baggage. The good news is that now some grown-ups have finally started shouting "enough is enough."

segue .....  I know it isn't an obvious or smooth transition, but in my mind it works.


During most of 2011, I have been venting and calling attention to the need for humans to be fed up. Of course, talking heads are already spinning the Occupy Wall St. protests; declaring that they are irrational and irrelevant because there "seems to be no focus on one issue." HELLO! There are so many colliding realities that have been caused by dysfunctional politics and deregulated economics, people young and old have been affected in all kinds of ways. In these times, the harm done to our national treasure, our collective spirits, and the fabric of our society cannot be summed up with a slogan as simple as "Stop War!"

I am heartened that a protest movement has been launched on our streets. An American Spring has arrived. It reminds us that we were outraged 40 years ago, emboldened by images of napalm and dead bodies. There were grassroots leaders willing to speak out, and singer/songwriters filling our consciousness with truths about the lies we were being fed. It has been remarkably quiet in the USA for far too long.


The rest of the world has evolved and the awareness of corruption and deceit in other countries has exploded around the globe. Most of Earth's humans have had to overcome the strangling of free speech, while 35 years of "good times" has softened a generation in America. Consumption of fast food, outrageous entertainment, and cheap mortgages has us deep in crisis, but unable to respond. Too many are brain washed, uneducated, and unmotivated. Its' past time to call out the bullshitters.


Find your voice. Don't just sit there. At the very least, help a child understand what it means to be expressive.

Live Long and Prosper

As my friend's daughter left to catch her plane, the salutation that came to mind was a simple word, "Thrive." As her car pulled out of the driveway, I pondered the source of that expression and realized how genuine, heartfelt, and specific it was.

I've known her since she was small and although I have only seen her a handful of times over the years, I am aware of her journey through the eyes of her Dad, a dear friend. He has been sharing stories of her adventures all these years. He is now 65, and she must be about 32. The road to this moment of departure back to her bliss has been filled with change, exploration, tests, and her share of growing pains. 

As a symbol of my current re-awakening, her journey of self-discovery provides me a window into the collective experience I have been writing about in my yet to be published book for kids of all ages. I don't have writer's block, no resistance to completing it, simply waiting for my illustrator. I won't take this moment to talk anymore about the Book about ONE, but know that these past 4 days in the Northwest has re-vitalized my vision. Thank you to all I have spent quality time with this weekend; you know who you are.

thrive (verb)  =  to do well; prosper

Some humans blossom into interesting, profound, and productive participants in/on the global landscape. Others flourish in simple ways when their "Q" intersects with their work. If you don't want to take a moment to look back at my last Blog post, The Never Ending Story, I'll repeat my definition of "Q": it is your "voice;" your passion, your gift. My friend's daughter has found her voice as a teacher. Not all that surprising in light of her Father's unlimited capacity to mentor/teach. His grasp of what it takes for a young person to become a functioning adult has grown with his accumulated wisdom about his life and his "Q".

Spock was from another world; a planet where Vulcans evolved to "saluting" each other with this magnificent phrase; "Live Long and Prosper."* I practiced Spock's greeting in the late 60's and found it was easy for my fingers to move in his way. The fact that I wanted to perform this salute, does speak to my identity crisis and belief that I must be from another world. I might be a Vulcan; which would explain my stone cold logic in the face of all trauma.

But now my heart leads and my connections deepen. I am more fully engaged and my "Q" is ever present. It is a grand feeling to be so vulnerable. THRIVE!

*All credit to Gene Roddenbury and his visionary Star Trek Franchise

The Never Ending Story

How well do you know yourself? Have you uncovered the unique talent passed to you through your DNA? Did your parents encourage you to express yourself? Were you part of your family conversation? Do you struggle with your self-esteem?   


We're all "wired" differently. Unfortunately, most humans grow to become a person who fits into a square that defines them for life. Instead of a planet filled with 7 billion unique individuals, we have a planet filled with humans defined by their parents, their economics, their country, their religion, and government and corporate institutions. 


The fact that humans don't act on their free will and realize their destiny is a big reason why history repeats itself. This has become Earth's never ending story. If you haven't read the book or seen the movie by the same name, "The NeverEnding Story," take the time to at least read a synopsis. This timeless tale is about the potential disaster caused when "The Nothing" wipes out imagination and creativity. 


I call self-discovery finding your "Q." I have been thinking and writing about "Q" since a day 4 years ago when I met Zoey at work. This Blog is my way of expressing my "Q." 


In the early days of this website, my spirit got ambushed and distracted when Gabrielle Giffords was shot in Tucson. Recently, during a remarkable visit with friends, a revelation appeared in my brain. I know I have found my "Q" and that no matter what triggers the topics I write about, I am expressing my true SELF. 


As a parent, I have always encouraged my son to be confident and to find his passion/mission. Even when he was a toddler, we offered him ideas about an uncovering his individual path. We emphasized that he needed to learn to express himself in whatever ways felt fun, safe, and interesting. *  


In 1990, we recorded "The Never Ending Story" on a VHS tape and for about a year and a half Casey watched a particular scene every morning before school. It is the moment when "Bastian" must learn to "be confident" in order to pass through the gates of "Fantastica," as "The Nothing" has almost completely overwhelmed and destroyed everything. 


We played lots of kids games, too, including Tic-Tac-Toe. Back in those days, I didn't realize that Tic-Tac-Toe can be a negative game in a child's development. After losing a few times, kids learn to focus on blocking the success of their opponent and give up your desire for success. Two years ago, this realization about Tic-Tac-Toe became an integral component of the metamorphosis of my repressed creative spirit.

Out of nowhere, the word X O Q jumped into my brain, and my understanding of life expanded. It dawned on me that if everyone was able to find their "Q," their voice, it would change their vision and open new horizons in their life. I always research words and ideas. When I "Googled" "xoq" I found it is a word in the native Aruban language Papiamento. Xoq means "crossing over." What a revelation and how very synchronistic. As I have mentioned in the past, I love when that happens.


Today I am reminding you to let go of your old stories and don't play games that yield no result. Find your true SELF, be your true SELF, and find inspiration in this wisdom from Steve Jobs:


"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."


*In 1985, we discovered Ragananda (pictured above.) Through her inspiring creator, Gabrielle, Ragananda and her friends guide and entertain children and their parents with  musical stories and meditations for kids of all ages. 


Check out Ragananda's YouTube Channel - Click Here

Inception

Is it time for Another Beginning? That's where I started to go on December 30, 2010. But I got lost; right at the start of a new maze. I have gone so far off of the intended path that some friends have suggested I take a breath, meditate, and/or get back into yoga. These same friends believe that the self-destructive path of humans is inevitable and cyclical; maybe even written. 


But other friends and family encourage me to be passionate, intense, and yes, even angry about the human condition. This week, two events have crossed into my field of vision that make me proud I have been speaking out. 


#1 - An article at Salon.com calling for an American Spring.

#2 - The protests at Wall St.

I don't pretend my voice has added to the public debate, but I do know that I had to speak. At one moment in January of this year, my agitation about politics and economics began. I went back and read all of my Blog posts and it is clear that when Gabrielle Giffords was shot in Tucson in January my thoughts and focus turned outside of personal journey. And although I began this week thinking about reversing the content of my writing, an American Spring and a good old fashioned democratic protest sprung out of nowhere.

In the not too distant past, MLK and Nelson Mandela were catalysts for change. They accomplished their goals in different ways, but both sacrificed so much. This is done with deep commitment, unwavering determination, and by not listening to the advise of loved ones who are concerned about the well being of the person willing to express their anger through writing, speeches, marching; basically shouting "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take this anymore."

A new inception, Another Beginning (AB), has been my fantasy for 35 years. AB has it's origin as a slogan on my first canvas tote bag. Long before bringing your own bag to the supermarket was the in thing, Berkeley's Richard Register produced this inspiration circa 1976 ....... Alan might still have his? But that's now become another story for next week.

[But that's another story] ..... a cool, fancy way of saying, 

"I could tell you about this, but I won't because it's not really 

that related to what I'm telling you about now." 

Used quite often in the book, "The Neverending Story" ...... 

It's basically one of those phrases that everyone yearns 

to find a good opportunity to say .... 

Urban Dictionary

NOTE FOR ANOTHER POST:  
The mention of "The Never Ending Story" in this definition is incredibly synchronistic. That happens to me a lot. I will be researching one thing and land on a reference that contains elements of what is already percolating in my mind. If you have never read the book or seen the original movie "The Never Ending Story," take the time to at least read a synopsis.  For inspiration, my young son watched part of "The Never Ending Story" every morning before school. We played kids games like Tic-Tac-Toe, but that doesn't build confidence; even a child realizes that with 9 squares and X's and O's, you end up focusing on blocking the success of your opponent. Sounds like Congress doesn't it?