New Corners...

This photo was taken a few years ago, and I was obviously in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco. While looking at the picture recently, I noticed my smiling expression looking in another direction. In that observation I had the epiphany that my expression in the photo actually mirrored my current state of mind: Standing on the corner at the crossroads of life and embracing the future with a smile and optimism. I haven’t always been wise enough to embrace that concept. Through my own various experiences of loss, such as jobs, relationships etc., I've been lucky enough to begin to understand the important aspect of cherishing and fully embracing those life changing experiences with a smile. After all, what's the use of wasting our precious energy on the past that we have no power over when we have a future to be happy about? We have the choice to be fearful and sad or the choice to feel free and optimistic. I feel extraordinarily fortunate in that there are always new corners to turn, which bring new and exciting experiences for adventure, happiness and growth.

“In the human heart new passions are forever being born; the overthrow of one almost always means the rise of another.” ~Francois De La Rochefoucauld

Prosperity

The good news is that the moment you decide that what you know is more important than what you have been taught to believe, you will have shifted gears in your quest for abundance. Success comes from within, not from without. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Art of Allowing

I took this picture of The Louvre museum pyramid in Paris two years ago. I've always loved the contrast in the architecture between the 12 century Louvre Palace, (Palais du Louvre which was established as a museum in 1793) and the modern pyramid which which was obviously added later in the 20th century. It certainly pushes the element of the unexpected when you observe the two structures side by side, that are so different yet connected. When the pyramid was added in 1988, it provided a spacious underground lobby below, and the attendance to the Louvre has literally doubled since it's completion. What intrigues me the most about this is the architectural genius behind the thought of adding something so vastly different from that of the original palace, which turned out to be a phenomenal architectural design as well as overwhelmingly embraced by the visiting public worldwide.

The genius behind this is metaphoric, which is that of allowing change. Allowing change, ...sometimes very drastic change into ones life can create beautiful and new direction. We don't always view it that way, because we so often believe that there is only safety in the familiar and fear of the unknown. Familiar is good, but the important factor is balance....a balance of the familiar and the unknown. As I've mentioned before, our current American economy has left thousands in the state loss and confusion. I can very well relate to the experience, however my excitement is rekindled in knowing there are so many other options and different paths to take. Having been in the business world for all too long, it's often a daunting thought to make changes from the safe and financially secure world that it all provides. However, what about one's unique destiny and happiness? I find inspiration from those who have successfully proven that the rare path can lead to success and happiness. They remind me that we don't have to take the same train ride over and over again - unless we only want to end up at the same destination. There are other roads to travel, other sights to see and brighter futures for us to live beyond our own safe circles. The important part of that journey is to allow ourselves to be open and free to take the chance to do something different. Allow ourselves the opportunity to fail and be judged, and to let go of our ego enough to allow other opportunity into our lives. All of these actions are the art of allowing, and it's only after we allow change that we grant ourselves the opportunity to create our own destiny.

"Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step." ~ Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr.

The Power of Thought

Whether you think you can, or think you can't, either way you are right. ~Henry Ford

The Power to Change

Never underestimate the power to change yourself, and never overestimate your power to change others. ~Dr. Wayne Dyer

Endless Vision...

The vision that you glorify in your mind, the ideal that you enthrone in your heart - this you will build your life by, this you will become. ~James Allen

Aspiration

To understand the heart and mind of a person, look not at what he has already achieved, but at what he aspires to. ~Kahlil Gibran

Path

You will recognize your own path when you come upon it, because you will suddenly have all the energy and imagination you will ever need. ~Jerry Gillies

Just A Boy...

So I spent my 4th of July in lovely Newport Beach, California. Gorgeous weather, lots of fun and beautiful beaches. It was a relaxing and interesting trip, and I really enjoyed the entire experience. I went there with my close guy friend, and his single buddies; so I had the unique experience of observing all the singles hanging out in Southern California, with lots of beer drinking, playing, and of course lots of girl/boy watching. Overall it was a learning experience to watch the dynamic on the Southern California beaches, especially at this time of year.

So in watching all of this over the weekend, I'm grateful and very fortunate in how I've made choices around the various men and relationships in my life. There are lots of wonderful men out there, however, there are also a lot of men who are seriously convinced they are their own superhero. Crazy enough, some of these same guys will truly convince many women to believe in their own superhero status. In turn many of those same women will overlook virtually every bad behavior under the moon, then get angry and still stick around because he's cute. They play the cycle over and over again, then get depressed and want the boy to change into a man. The definition of crazy is; "Do the same thing over and over again and then expect a different result." So why do some women underestimate their own power? Why is it they limit themselves and accept crazy boy behavior in relationships? And why do some women sell themselves short? The fact is that the pool is huge, so we're certainly not limited. We have a plethora of good, solid, honest, handsome and mature men out there - yet some women still feel they are limited to relationships with men who are superficial and will always act like boys. People will treat us as we allow them and expect them to treat us. No-one else is ever to blame but ourselves if we allow someone to treat us badly. My mantra is; Don't ever settle and certainly don't waste precious time and energy on relationships with superhero wannabees. Attract a real man, with real values who can be a real hero. Draw the proverbial line in the sand, because if you don't, all you'll end up with ...is a boy.

Beyonce relays that message very well  in her "If I Were A Boy" video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVTyLqkez6A

Living

Don't worry about what the world wants from you, worry about what makes you come more alive. Because what the world really needs are people who are more alive. ~Lawrence Le Shan

Be

How many cares one loses, when one decides not to be something, but to be someone. ~Coco Chanel

Trust

As soon as you trust yourself you will know how to live. ~Johann Von Goethe

Dance

It's the heart afraid of breaking, that never learns to dance. It's the dream afraid of waking, that never takes the chance. It's the one who won't be taken, who cannot seem to give; and the soul afraid of dying, that never seems to live. ~ Song Lyrics, "The Rose"