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I live in Canton OH. I don’t watch the news. So I was surprised today when a friend told me that Donald Trump would be in our town tonight for a rally.

Damn… that gave me the weirdest feeling as to me, he’s very scary. Scary in that he seems to resonate with divisiveness and I’m about wholeness and oneness. I won’t go further. This blog isn’t about politics. 

On my way home, I drove past the location of the rally just as the doors were opening. There was one lone police car and many people on the streets walking peacefully towards the Civic Center. Many carried signs. I don’t know what they said as I was driving and mostly focusing on the energy of the space, which is what I do. 

And as I drove, I was ashamed of myself. I was looking at people I drove past… thinking to myself, “well, that person certainly isn’t part of my tribe.” To the man on the corner with the sign about deplorables, I smiled, because I didn’t know what he was trying to tell me. I did do some homework when I got home. I won’t go further. This blog isn’t about politics. 

But, I still felt unsettled. A touch worried that something awful might happen in my small town. And a lot wishing I could make things be very different.

This election has shown me clearly what a democracy is about. Every 4 years we vote and a candidate wins. Some people got their wish and others did not. That’s how this game works. But if my choice wins, as happened with President Obama… I need to (and have been reminded forcefully because of social media) be sensitive to the fact that some people did not get their choice. I try not to say much… but from time to time I post something on social media that moves me… and it generally is about something our President has done that makes me feel proud that I voted for him. And invariably, the people who did not vote for him will comment, sometimes very forcefully and even contemptuously that I’m horrible and our president is horrible. I think to myself, “What? Your choice didn’t win so I’m an asshole? No, this is how democracy works.” But I try to shut up and just delete whatever post brought out the contempt and anger.

So now the shoe is possibly on the other foot. Here’s a candidate in my town that I really think is a horrible choice. I won’t go further. This blog isn’t about politics.  But I feel agitated inside… like I need to say something.

So I post this on Facebook…
“Sending light and love for peace and honor to the gathering in the Civic Center, downtown Canton tonight.
May we all remember how to coexist in compassion and harmony.”

And I will go further because this blog is about this. 😉 And because that message was for me. I needed to feel compassion and harmony with the people walking to the Civic Center. There are friends of mine in that crowd. There are people I respect as friends, or co-workers or business owners. I must still respect them and I can’t become that person who just dismisses all of who they are with a “you suck” sort of comment. I must find the positive path.

When you feel unsettled or worried, you have a choice. You can spend your energy visualizing the worst or the best. Whichever you spend your time imagining… remember you are creating. Visualizing isn’t just mental exercise… it is all about creating energy. So what do you wish to devote your energy to? If you spend your time visualizing some catastrophe… whatever that might be to you… you are adding energy to that “story.” And if like me, you choice to visualize peace, love and light… then you are fueling that scenario.
Now I know you might be thinking, “Yeah, airy fairy, law of attraction BS.” But I’ve lived 15+ years of my life under this set of beliefs. And honestly, I believe that thinking and believing in the positive does make a difference. The positive energy that is created around you when you’re imagining something wonderful is REAL and MEASURABLE. And the energy that results when you devote yourself to imagining the worst… that’s equally real and damaging, if for no one else but yourself.
Doubt if you must, but I know for me that it’s true. I can run the positive, happy ending movie in my head or I can spend my energy worrying about all sorts of awful things… but I choose happiness.
So regardless who you support in the political arena, perhaps we can agree on this. Let’s visualize love and happiness. Let’s imagine joy and people feeling fulfilled. Let’s imagine safety and food and health for all. I’ll go so far as to say, I wish for light and love, peace and honor, compassion and joy. And in imagining that, I surround myself with the energy that goes with those wishes.
Whatever comes, let it be loving. Whatever we choose, may we be compassionate. And whenever we are tempted to judge, or separate, please pause and remember that regardless of your religion or lack thereof… our mission is to love. Find a way to love.
<3

If you know me well, then you know that I don’t watch television. I gave it up years ago after traumatic news coverage of 9/11.  Losing the television was actually a really good thing for me. It freed up a lot of mindless time spent staring at the tube. I have had a lot more fun without it.
Over the years, I have bowed to my love of cinema and now I have a TV to watch movies. Last night I discovered “The LIttle Prince” and so many of you offered your insights into the power of that book.

Several months ago, an image with this quote appeared on my Facebook page. “May the next few months be a period of magnificent transformation.”
You know how sometimes you see something and think, “That’s nice.” And other times the phrase grabs you gently by the nape of the neck and exerts just a bit of pressure. As a momma cat might grab a kitten saying, “Now, will you listen?”
So I printed out the picture and hung it on the fridge. Unlike other things that hang on my fridge and only get noticed annually, this stayed in my head.
First I asked, “Why does this seems so important to me?” Is there something I do need to change? ( Yes, here is where I can insert HAHAHA! as of course, there are things that I need to or wish to change.) Hmmm… eat better, more exercise, more reading, less computer, more play, manage money, more focused work times, less worry, less anxiety, less stress, more laughter… yes, I could go on and on.
                                           
I wrote the above paragraphs 5 months ago. About 2 months ago, I closed my gallery. It had been a beautiful experiment I started 9 years ago. I learned a lot from the experience but it had gotten to the point where I was working really hard to barely (rarely) break even. One morning I woke up with the thought, “You need an exit plan” blasting in my head. Now, “exit plan” isn’t something I think I’ve ever said so I’m not sure which spiritual entity to thank for that message. But I acted on it. Like right away. I knew in my bones it was time.
I made the announcement. Sold as much of the stuff there as I could and wanted to and moved the huge amount of stuff to my little house. Then I sat for about 5 weeks. I intended to get right to work, arranging, sorting, painting, sewing…. but I sat. I did get some business done, new logo, new website but most of the time I sat. I choose to call this decompression from massive burnout.
Today, I feel maybe “normal.” I’m sorting thru the piles. I’m inspired to begin painting and designing clothing again. I can see the path to a brighter future and I believe I’m on it. I sleep well. My blood pressure is lower. I’m cooking healthy meals. My expenses are cut by about 70%. I’ve got a month long sabbatical in CostaRica coming up (and it’s paid for.) How’s that all for magnificent transformations?
So my point?
Put this pic on your fridge. I think it’s magic.
Sending light and love, joy and peace.
have fun!!
s

I turned 62 this year. I’m not bragging or complaining, it’s just my reality. And by the way, 62 feels absolutely great. I’ve made a lot a changes over the years in regards to what I put in and on my body, what  I allow in the environment around my body. Maybe these changes have paid off or maybe I’m just lucky but I do feel great. I’m not on any medication. I don’t have aches and pains. My body moves mostly very freely.  Yep, I’m lucky. But what if these changes I’ve made over the years really help? Can these things help you feel great also? I don’t know.  But  a conversation with my holistic physician this morning, (BP 120/69, weight down 4 pounds, no medications) reminded me that most people don’t do what I do because perhaps no one has ever suggested it or explained why these changes might be helpful.
So my next few blogs are going to be on this topic, “Clean up the planet… and start with you.” I am only speaking from my experience but I’m not the only one to thinks this way. I’ve lived in other parts of the country where these concepts are much more common. I’ve been back in Ohio for 15 years now. I am reminded every time that someone at my gallery rolls their eyes about my insistence that we recycle or use clean conscience cleaning products. Doing these things are just common sense for me but to others, I’m viewed as some weird old hippie type (my guess 😉 ).
Maybe no one has explained to some the toll that chemicals can take on you, your environment and the planet. So I’m going to. My suggestions aren’t new, or earth-shattering but I believe they can make a real difference in your quality of life.  Changes aren’t hard but they are changes. Getting used to a new way of doing things can have its challenges. But when the nurse at the doctor’s office assumes something is wrong because I’m losing weight, or has to check my chart twice to believe that I really do not take prescription drugs, I think that perhaps it might be helpful to tell this story.