I realize when I complain, judge, insinuate, criticize or gossip, I feel ugly.  If I say these things about others, shame on me, because what I think I see in others, I reflect.  If I hear these things about myself, shame on them and I do not have to believe it.  If I say these things to myself, I need to stop, erase and turn it around.

I choose what to think, say and do with my day and I can squander the opportunity or be useful, productive or helpful.  This is personal power of choice.

I have been weak, a coward and have made lame excuses in my time.  Being emotionally dishonest even with myself was common ground.  But I have learned the hard way to speak up for myself, back off from negativity, detach and conserve my time and energy and put everything in perspective and prioritize.  As a result, I am free to follow my dreams.

Thought for the day: Stop sabotaging yourself and don’t listen to the self-defeating self because your words are powerful.

A stroll by the water wouldn’t be complete without a sweet shop.  Miette is a small enterprise on a corner with a delightful showcase from their bakery and others’ wares.A vegan sea salted chocolate bar, salty licorice and a dozen macarons later, we exited.  My family loves the juxtaposition of sweet with savory.

Lots of little storefronts beckon the foodie at Jack London Square.  New entrepeneurs are flocking to share their wares and succeeding by the look of things.  On our way towards the square we stopped into a garage door opening where another bright young start up was serving free (on Fridays) drip organic coffee.  Just outside, young people on bikes, skateboards and sneakers were gathering, chatting and soaking up the sun.  Music from a i-phone boom box was playing jazzy, nouveau sounds.  Inside, a little stand held stirrers, sugar and milk and a tip jar.

“Can you make me an organic decaf?” I queried after everyone else had partaken in a free cafe.

“Absolutely, it will be 4 minutes” Stephen, the barista  answered.  I overheard the other presumed co-owner tell regular clients they were looking into spreading into Santa Monica and opening places south.  Business must be good.  Everything they use, including the  cones used to percolate and drip the coffee, is biodegradable.  Refreshed, we continued on our way to the Pier and I stepped into an Artisan Pasta Shop called Baia Pasta.  A young, Asian woman with a sleeping three year old harnessed in front, by her bosom, welcomed and helped us.  She is vegan and is starting the first ever Jack London Square Vegan Festival come May.  There was a sign up sheet and a list of participating merchants.  The Pasta warehouse is attached to the storefront.  I purchased the Hot Box which included Chipotle, Jalapeño, and Red Pepper and Garlic pastas.  They use only organic flours, extrude the noodles through brass dies in small batches and dry the different shaped noodles at low temperatures to seal in freshness, flavor and keep the texture intact.  We purchased organic seasoned salt mixes.   A plethora of interesting and locally sourced jarred items like pimentos and olives are starting to also be displayed.

This is a fairly new venture and I am digging all the organic, social consciousness and ethical commitment I see as an example here in the Bay Area.

In The War of Art, Steven Pressfield informs us that resistance in all its guises is the enemy of our creative endeavors.

I believe resistance is the opposite of willingness.  Instead of opening up our hearts and minds to receive, we oppose, repel and impede any chance of reaching our highest potential using rationalization and procrastination to counter our efforts.

Be willing to create love, peace and joy.

Be willing to honor your experiences with a positive outlook.

Thought for the day:  Speak what you see as truth but allow others, their point of view.

Meditation is a necessary centering activity that connect you to your source.

Solitary contemplation is a form of meditation.

Being in a state of mindfulness is a form of meditation.

Being entirely present in the moment is a form of meditation.

Expressing your creativity is a form of meditation.

Engaging in your life’s passion or concentrating on your work is a form of meditation.

You do not have to be sitting crossed legged on a yoga mat in lotus position, eyes closed, chanting Sanskrit mantras, mala beads in hand to be meditating although that is also a form of meditation.

Find your forms of meditation.  In any form, meditation, contemplation and reflection releases and relieves tension, worry and chaos allowing you to tap into your peace.

Thought for the day: Seek structure but not so much it is restricting.

The moral codes of conduct are not new.  You already know them.

Remember what is etched in your soul.  Remind yourself of your spiritual foundation, your values or your ethics.  It affords you strength and vigor to work through new experiences and the courage to face change.

Be in the Now and Be the Light.  They say examples are the best sermons.  Act as if you are divine, even if you don’t believe it.  Eventually you will.

Trust you will be able to hear and discern your highest self’s voice and take its direction.  Look within for guidance and solution and then be grateful.

It builds confidence to listen to your conscience and act accordingly.

Thought for the day:  Either life, people, things, places or circumstances are a burden or they are a blessing.  It is a choice on how you view it.  Some of the best lessons are learned from the worst occurrences in our lives.  

Well, I am no fan of the show but I get to listen to all the noise and every time I look I get to see gore whenever a family member watches it so I thought I would write a little song.  I am no Bernie Taupin (Elton John’s lyricist for years before Tim Rice) but here is what I came up with and some dark, electric band should really consider putting music to it.

The wind was howling as I dialed your number ….and the mystery of the black road leading nowhere became apparent.

I huddled in the dark with my red scarf twirled around my neck and called out your name.

CHORUS:

Hurry, come get me

Take me to the cathedral

Hurry don’t let me

Turn into evil

The world has changed and you have been warned today.  

Rags and killings and moans and growls reach to smother your neck and twist your head.

I have to reach you because beyond the yard I hear them following, slow but near.

CHORUS

They’ll bite you and eat you and make soup with blood.

I am running and gunning and need your help now, please.

Tonight might be the finish, the end of my time – so I hope you’re not one of them.

CHORUS

I am having just a little fun.  I counted each line to have the same number of syllables for each stanza so if your musical, I am sure you could put it to music.

I think I am not getting anywhere and then my loving husband comes home with a copy of all of my writing from my blog since its conception and I realize “Wow, I have been doing a lot of writing – I am just all over the place!”  Having it physically in front of me, in binder form, is a great motivator to organize and categorize it possibly into a book or two.

“Handle them carefully …

for words have more power than atom bombs.”

Pearl Strachan HurdA true labor of love

Notice the abundance of avocados and one of my favorite sayings on my coffee cup  – “Be still and know that I am God”.  Also the first page is about Balance, a particularly difficult act of stability we (most of us) strive for daily.  I have a lot of work to do!

How I write is how I think and I write what I think.  I think like I am and I am what I think. I block the light when I am afraid to express what I think and it is no easy task to keep it private when it is made public.  My thinking is varied and ping pongs across the page so copying it for me was a good move on my husband’s part.  Compiling it and refining it will be my work.  Thank you for all the encouragement I get from all of you guys, all of the time.