Stolen Minutes

I recently had the opportunity to “steal” a few more moments of summer. While fall is in full swing here in beautiful Washington State, the sun is still shinning in Las Vegas Nevada! It was so nice just to feel the hot air on my cheeks and to bask in the warm glow of sunshine. Of course, I came home to cold, clouds and rain…. This is Washington after all….

I grew up in the desert. There isn’t anything quite like the scent of sage and sand baking in the sunshine, or the vision of red rock jutting up from the earth against pale blue skies in all its quiet majestic glory. I never thought I would but I miss the desert, terribly. I thought for sure when I moved to Washington that I had found myself in heaven. I love the mountains, the endless pine trees, the thick, lush, green undergrowth and ferns. The weather is mild in both summers and winters and we don’t receive a lot of snow. There are ocean beaches to enjoy, mountains to explore and cities bursting with activity, hustle and bustle. I am finding that I miss the rhythm of the desert; it’s much slower than the high energy of Seattle. There is something about just walking through the sage brush, the smell of juniper, the heat from the sun kissing your skin.

The Art of Chaos

It’s been an interesting couple of weeks for me. I moved, I quit smoking, and I enrolled at a University. I have been busy from the time I wake up, until the minute I rest my head on the pillow….even though it’s not a guarantee that I will fall asleep as my mind continues to work, even though my body is DONE. Tonight is the first night I did not really have anything to do. Sure, I had things I COULD do… like laundry, cleaning, shopping, organizing and settling in from the “great big unpack”, but I found myself incredibly restless instead. I did not have the motivation to start yet another task. I have things that I want to do, like read a book or write something creative and wonderful, but even for those tasks I found I did not have the energy or presence of mind. I feel a little bit like a yoyo. I have been wound very tight, so tight now that my string won’t let loose for me to unwind. I feel it in my neck and shoulders; I feel it in the tension headaches. I have mentioned time and time again how I crave something simple, something routine. I thrive on structure. That’s not to say that spontaneity doesn’t have its place, but its routine in the routine that I desire. I want to have a set work schedule, I want to have a set schedule to study, I want to be able to sit and have a glass of wine or a cup of tea at the end of my day to relax and I want a friend to share it with. I feel like my days are running into each other with out a break in between. Even when I sleep, I don’t feel like I rest. I also feel like something is missing in my life, that there is a void. I don’t know what it is and so it’s hard to work towards filling it. I wonder if the chaos is a way for the subconscious to avoid facing something unpleasant or if the void is a direct result of the chaos and the unsettled feelings I have. I want the same things that every one wants. I want peace, contentment, happiness. I want to feel like my life fulfills a purpose. I want my life to be meaningful. I want to make a difference.

The Canvas of the Written Word

A picture may be worth a thousand words… but the words can tell a story that can never be seen in a picture. It can share with you the before and after, it can tell you about all the little details you see (or don’t see!) in a picture.

Who are the people, how did they get there, what are they doing? The answers to these questions can easily take you on a journey, a journey that’s all your own. No one shares your thoughts, your perceptions and your imagination. It’s all uniquely yours. Paint it with your own colors, thoughts, ideas and feelings. An imagination is a terrible thing to waste!

The Forest

A silken mist spread across the land, coating the quiet earth in its ethreal blanket. You could hear the soft beat of drums from a far away place and a far away time. The rhythmic beating so melodious it blended in harmony with nature. The faint hum of an old tune hung on wind as it whispered through the trees.

The moon cast its glow upon the water, creating an illuminated path to the purple mountain crest. The jagged peaks stood tall against the gray sky as if severing the earth from the atmosphere. The pines stood tall and proud; firmly rooted in the soft earth. A blanket of grass and moss sheltered the earth from the damp and the cold.

In this place, in this space, all time stood still. The future was the present and the present was the past. All of time intertwined to become one; past, present, future, now. Listen…. What’s it saying to you?

I am Student. I am Teacher.

I often kid with people that I have an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. I want to know everything about everything. There is a distinct valid truth to this statement. I learn much from those and the world around me every day. We live in a magical place that is constantly evolving, shifting and changing on us. One minute we can be happy and secure on our journey through life, the next we can be living in fear facing our greatest challenge, unsure of which direction to take. It makes no difference what your age, experience or education. We all have something to learn from each other. Like wise, we have a responsibility to teach others what we have learned. What is the point of knowledge if it is not passed on? I know some people assume that if they keep all their knowledge to themselves that this in some ways gives them power or makes them feel superior to those around them. In the end, it just makes them selfish and greedy, ruled by ego.

We all have wisdom and knowledge that’s of value to those around us. Think of it this way. When researchers decide to test a theory, they do not only explore one option. Instead they call on the experts around them for every case scenario they can possibly come up with. They compile this knowledge and experience to either prove, or disprove their hypothesis. While your experience, or the experience of others, may not fit every situation it doesn’t make your sharing your experience or knowledge invaluable. Just like the research scientists, they don’t only publish the successes, but the failures and the results of those failures as well. We can learn much from what works for others, as well as what doesn’t.

I am Student. I am constantly learning and seeking knowledge. I am Teacher. I share the knowledge and experiences I have with others. I am comfortable in both roles.

The dawning of a new day

The last rays of sunshine spread upon the water casting its red and orange glow; turning the murky liquid into molten lava. Swirls of yellow and gold shimmered against the onset of night. It was dusk. The earth was still, and all was quiet as nightfall lent its magic to the air. In this very moment, a new energy was emerging. One by one the people fell into slumber and began to dream. In these dreams they faced their greatest fears, held on to their wildest hopes and let their true desires come out of hiding. Under the guise of sleep, they understood their journey, they knew their path and they found their way to a place of great happiness and peace. They challenged their biggest obstacles and eventually, were triumphant. With each dream, the energy grew. It began to swell as the dawning of a new day began to arrive. Each night it was the same, the death of a day grown tired as it waits for the rebirth of morning. Each morning blesses us with the opportunity to find that place in our dreams; a place of hope, courage and success with a renewed sense of ourselves. Each choice we make has a direct impact on our lives from the foods we eat, to the people we associate with, to the jobs we hold. We chose daily to face to same old tired lessons, day after day after day. Each night, the magic and this new energy give us the opportunity to stop the vicious cycle, to reach for the stars and to find the happiness and our place in life that is rightfully ours. Our dreams are a mystical place, full of messages from with in about where we are, who we are and what we want to become. If we can capture these moments, we can truly find a place where the stillness of night and the energy of morning merge and become one.

Who can you turn to?

Who do you turn to?
When your world comes crashing down
Who do you turn to?
When no one is around

Who can you count on?
When the tears begin to fall
Who will be there for you?
It feels like no ones there at all.