{Post It}

“If something inside of you is real, we will probably find it interesting, and it will probably be universal. So you must risk placing real emotion at the center of your work. Write straight into the emotional center of things. Write toward vulnerability. Risk being unliked. Tell the truth as you understand it. If you’re a writer you have a moral obligation to do this. And it is a revolutionary act—truth is always subversive.” 
― Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

I have lots to write, especially regarding these last few glorious years. It's sprawled across notebooks, post-its, and memory. It is my goal til the end of the year to use time in the mornings to put these thoughts down and out of the head and heart...We'll see what comes of it.

{Daily Reflection}

“I cannot pretend I am without fear. But my predominant feeling is one of gratitude. I have loved and been loved; I have been given much and I have given something in return; I have read and traveled and thought and written. I have had an intercourse with the world, the special intercourse of writers and readers.

Above all, I have been a sentient being, a thinking animal, on this beautiful planet, and that in itself has been an enormous privilege and adventure.” 
― Oliver Sacks



I'm completely addicted to photographing everything autumn. The colors outside are at there peak and the weather has cooperated allowing daily photo walks. It's mother nature's miracle this time of year. Outside is a beautiful painting, a big box of crayons.  The light over the last week has added tones and mood. Little details everywhere....

{Autumn Morning}

“The whole sphere of air that surrounds us, Alma, is alive with invisible attractions — electric, magnetic, fiery and thoughtful. There is a universal sympathy all around us… When we cease all argument and debate — both internal and external — our true questions can be heard and answered…That is the gathering of magic.” 
― Elizabeth Gilbert, The Signature of All Things



Hydrangeas in October make me happy...

Rising Strong

Say not I have found the truth but rather 'I have found a truth' 
Say not I have found the path of the soul
Say rather 
'I have met the soul walking upon my path'
For the soul walks upon all paths.
The soul walks not upon a line
neither does it grow like a seed.
The soul unfolds like a reel.
The soul unfolds itself like a lotus of countless petals.
-Kahlil Gibran

Standing outside this morning on the deck. Parka on and coffee in hand. Frost and cold blanket the backyard and the sky now reflects a skyline of cool blues before the sun makes it's way forward for the day. I welcome fall this year and don't whine a bit from the cold. I'm alive. I'm grateful.

{It makes the world go Round}

“Love isn't a state of perfect caring. It is an active noun like struggle. To love someone is to strive to accept that person exactly the way he or she is, right here and now.” 
― Fred Rogers, The World According to Mister Rogers: Important Things to Remember



This post is dedicated to Fred Rogers and The Hug. The human hug. The thing you need on a Friday night when the world has kicked your ass and takin names. But you love the world and all it's ass kicking and just need a hug. Or to laugh. So I haven't had time to write in the morning but it's so needed with the job I'm in right now to keep sane.

So here is to the tender hearts. Like Fred Rogers...who I met when I was 9 or so on the front steps of a Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh PA, many years ago. Cozy up in that sweet sweater on Friday night. I love his show like there is no tomorrow. I love this man.

{Rhythm}

“Nothing happens until something moves.” 
― Albert Einstein

Organization, creativity, structure, motion.
I'm going to use this moment to upchuck all over this blog because I am very underslept and overwhelmed. I've spent the beginning of my week in a training that was both facinating and stifiling.  As a creative, I value the dicipline it takes to get work done.
There are lots of ideas, thoughts that come to my head but I know it is the motion that brings them to life.  
I can hoenstly say that  many times I idle at the 1/4 inch tip that touches the motion, like a wave you see coming toward the shore, wondering if it will make a crash landing or just slide on into the beach.
It's electrifiying place to be, my body and mind feel uncomfortable.
Keeping it classy, I 100% want to vomit every time I show my work or my art.
But shit needs to get done
How to shape the shoreline?
So this training,
 I love good trainings, because it brings together different brains, ideas and fun
This one was about standards, organization, productivity (all important stuff)
ORGANIZE
Hmm, well, let's talk about that
Back to the presentation
 I am not the most organized person so I'm all on THIS.
I took notes, I listened, I participated in the activities. Contemplated using the dictation feature on my iphone. That is how bad I crave organization.
It was fun and energizing. I learned new pathways to productivity nirvana.
And then, bam,  I felt incredibly OCD. As in get me the hell out here. MOVE!
Isn't there any crisis with one of my clients I can attend to? Please?
In a moment the presenter was just talking at me. The energy left.
I sat in front of a person just talking at me.
There was not discussion, no continued energy.
It's frustrating because there was a wave there.
And I know we need them both.
I should figure out how to organize by desk Feng Shei. It is peaceful and makes me want to get work done and just stare at my perfect desk at the same time. Odd.
Find that file in 30 seconds or less. That would be awesome!
I should and I do value this concept.
Concept and motion.

{Well hello 3:00am}

“Mario, what do you get when you cross an insomniac, an unwilling agnostic and a dyslexic?"

"I give."

"You get someone who stays up all night torturing himself mentally over the question of whether or not there's a dog.” 
― David Foster Wallace, Infinite Jest



This post is courtesy of awaking at 1:47 bright eyed and ready to GO! It most likely will not make sense to anyone but myself however, this shit needs to get out of my head. Pardon the language. I get crass when tired, stuck in traffic and playing tennis.

This early morning call seems to be the norm these last few weeks and I'm rolling with it.  So far I've managed to stay sane and can think of only one time I was ready to crash face forward into my desk from the exhaustion.  I'm feeling an interesting energy all around me and it's propeling me forward.  Lots of thoughts and ideas are coming to me and how they weave together is like a 1000 piece puzzle full of intricate detail.

How am handling this?

Notecards and Post-its.  Currently the ideas and to-do's are contained on the ever reliable, thank you 3MM post-it, the classic notecard, the slowly crashing on me iPhone 4s and my current favorite - the palm  and  top of my hand.   That last one gets iffy and I have to be careful not to wash away these notes before transfering to concrete, reliable surfaces  There is always a pen wrapped in the current snazzy low, I haven't had a haircut in a long time- ponytail.  It's convenient and works with a busy schedule.

At least I have a system.

Focusing these ideas and following through has always been a challenge for me. Especially when a lot of thoughts are swirling together at once.  However,  I have been reaping the dicipline and wisdom that comes with age and life experience and finally structure (albiet a loose one) to my life.  I am more patient these days. Restlessly patient.

The place I work really inspries me. It's a smaller companty with lots of potential and great vision.  There is a mix of people from different professions that collaborate real well.  I'm excited to be part of an organization that is growing from the ground up.  There is an openess and innovation that drives the work. I see it as an essential foundation in human services; necessary to match a rapidly changing culture with meeting peoples daily functional needs.  Most of our clients rely on other people from where I work or their family members for daily survival. It is a huge responsibility.

With that I am shutting this brain down (like right?) and going to run.

Peace out