After a period of intense "running around," whether it be from work, play or simply life in general, I feel that I need some quiet time.  For me, quiet time is not being plopped in front of the television (though I do enjoy a good plopping), or relaxing with friends, but truly some quiet time.  I like to divest my environment of people, things to do, technology and distractions.  This little break from "the real world" is enough for me to recharge my battery and come back to work and play refreshed and renewed.  Like the picture that is the header of this website  and the photo cover of my book, I like to have some time simply to look off in the distance and allow my mind to wander and my body to rest.  Usually, it is during these times that the greatest inspirations have the "space" to enter my mind and leave an impression in my consciousness.

I've been enjoying writing my blog everyday.  I've always been a writer and, for years, I have been in the habit of writing first thing in the morning.  However, that writing was always just for my eyes, an opportunity to expunge my mind of any early morning thoughts and feelings.  This daily blog is up for any eyes to see what I am feeling and thinking and pondering on a daily basis.

This year, when I decided to blog every morning, Monday through Friday, I wasn't sure what the disciplined experience would bring to me.  Perhaps it would simply be one more thing that I "had to get done" in my day.  Pleasantly, that has not been the case.  I look forward to my blog.  I have an eager anticipation of what I will write as I watch the sun lighting up the canyon walls visible through the office window.  I suppose it is because I am writing this blog much as I write in my daily journal, simply from a stream of consciousness with very little editing.  I am putting myself, my inner world and feelings, into a digital format, not knowing who reads it.  It makes me smile.  Ultimately, I feel a certain satisfaction and even happiness from this writing exercise.  

If you are reading this now and ever thought about writing for yourself, to express your own feelings and thoughts, I highly recommend it as a tool for creative expression and mental clarity.  Whether anyone else reads it or not, the words that you write, tell you a great deal about where you are mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually.

I am very fortunate and blessed to have a group of friends who help me to stay at my optimal best --- emotionally, mentally, physically, financially, and spiritually --- by questioning my integrity, honesty and vision.  There are moments when I experience excitement over some new idea or direction in my life.  In that excitement, I become eager to run headlong into new experiences, new decisions, new choices.  Something inside of me revels in the possibilities that open up from the inside out.  However, in that eagerness and excitement, it is tempting to overlook the details of situations and circumstances that sometimes may be out of alignment with my purpose, my passion, and my principles.  I may not see those details because my thoughts are so filled with the exciting possibilities in front of me.  I may not see that in my enthusiasm to attain, claim, or achieve the new goal, I may have to compromise a very important part of myself.  It is at these times that I hear the voices around me, my friends, ask the questions that require me to check my own integrity, honesty and vision.  In doing so, my path, my direction may change slightly to ensure alignment with who I desire to be at my optimal best.  I know that some people think that a great friend is one who agrees with you, takes your side, or supports your endeavors no matter what they may be.  I have learned the great value of friends who do not agree with me, who do not "take my side," and who seriously question some of my endeavors.  I have learned that they do this from  a place of love for me and from a desire to see me at my best.  They offer alternative and complementary scenarios, situations and circumstances, that, ultimately, may be more in alignment with who I say I wish to be in the world.  For me, I have learned the great value of friends who question me.  In doing so, my path stays clearer, less cluttered, and more true to who I am choosing to be.

Yesterday in my yoga class, I was sweating, literally, like a pig.  It's not that I was being super athletic or even that the room was that hot.  I was merely breathing so fully and deeply that I could feel myself heating up from the inside out.  It was an amazing feeling and more than once, I had to drop into what is called, "child's pose," to even out my breathing and allow my body to rest.  As I lay on the mat, breathing deeply, I could feel the mental, emotional and physical challenges of being human simply melting away into the present moment.  Yes, I've heard this talked about in many a yoga class and I suppose I have even felt it to some extent previous to yesterday's class.  But, something was different.  I had a smile on my face and I had no thoughts of judgment or "getting away" from the challenge.  In fact, I noticed that my breathing deepened as the class went along.  "Breathe into the challenge," the instructor says, "see if you can meet the challenge and stay calm."  I got a solid glimpse of that feeling yesterday and I'm eager to feel it again.  Breathing ... breathing ... breathing ...

Even as I begin to write this, I know that I may make a new business partner of mine, Mike, a little uncomfortable.  Mike does not overly enjoy extreme contact with the public or too much attention drawn to him.  This makes us a great balance in business.  I do not overly enjoy creating power point presentations, and discussing and implementing every minute detail of the work we have taken on together.  But, I have benefitted greatly from it.

With Mike, I have learned so much.  Formerly, Mike was a consultant with such organizations as GM, Warner Brothers Studios, Sony, and others.  He retired in his early 40's, built his own house in the Hollywood Hills and leads a very productive life.  He's smart with money and I call him a walking Google, with the exception that I don't have to type anything to search for the answers I'm looking for.  I can ask Mike about almost any subject and a wealth of information and facts come spewing forth from his brilliant mind.  These are great things to admire, but mostly I am inspired by Mike's sense of business integrity.  His very forward focused take on the changing landscape of the business world and the vitally important belief that business SHOULD NOT be separate from personal integrity, lights me up.  For so long we've often heard, "it's just business."  Mike does not believe this.  His take is that you should have the same sense of honesty, integrity and care in both your business and personal dealings.  I believe this same thing.  I don't come from a business background and have always thought that maybe I missed the boat on this huge separation of business and personal in our western society.  

My father was an extremely honest and fair man in business, but his business was always on a small, "country" scale.  I thought perhaps he didn't really know about big business and, therefore, I missed out on that lesson.  To be associated and working with Mike, and to hear his philosophy of full personal integration in matters both personal and business, is truly inspiring to me.  I look forward to the work that we have created together, and the businesses and organizations that we have the potential to affect in a powerfully positive way.

I am very fortunate to be able to work with people who inspire me and consistently help me to question my beliefs and, more importantly, my assumptions.  By doing so, I am constantly exploring new ways of thinking and being.  I am often challenged to re-evaluate my own integrity, honesty and potential, checking for alignment with what I feel is congruent with my sense of what is optimal in my life.  I am thankful for these people and for these moments because they do not allow me to become too comfortable with the concept of my ideas as "right, justified, or superior."  In the work that I do, it is a liability to ever think that you have the answers for someone else or even that your own personal answers to life's questions are in any way immutable and static.  I personally believe that we are always at a place of choice about how we are going to think about and react to the situations that life brings to us.  So, whereas, I do not control the external circumstances of life, I have the ability to choose to feel differently or alter the thoughts, beliefs and perceptions about my life and about the world around me.

As 2010 begins to pick up steam, I'm finding myself inspired by some new ideas.  Some of those ideas are coming from very close friends, some from clients, and a great many from the quiet moments I spend on walks.  Which of these inspired ideas will actually grow roots and bear fruit, I am uncertain.  It is not for me to know or try to work out the details.  It is only for me to hear, be grateful for the moments, and follow my inner compass.

Yesterday I went for a seven mile hike in the Santa Monica Mountains.  It was a beautiful day.  The temperature was in the low 7o's.  The skies were bright blue.  Wildflowers were blooming and around every corner was a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean.  The hike along the steep, rugged trails took about three hours to complete.  Once I got home, I took a hot shower, ate a good meal, watched about an hour of television and went to bed early. 

This morning I woke up with dreams in my head of all that needs doing, but with such a strong desire to simply stay in the bed a little bit longer.  I compromised and had an extra half-hour snooze.  Today I have much to do, but my mind and body are lagging just a few steps behind me.  So, what can I do?  I breathe deeply and I listen to what my body is telling me.  "Take it easy on yourself.  Keep breathing deeply.  You can only do what you can do.  All of the important stuff will get done and what doesn't get done, will not."  I'm moving a little slowly, but by early afternoon I have client meetings.  If I rush through my morning to get everything done that I feel needs doing, I won't be in "recovery" mode.  I'll be in "catch up" mode.  This never seems to work well for me.  Then, I try to move faster than my mind and body really want to go and the day takes on a haggard feeling.  

So, I'm nipping this in the bud.  Deep breath!  Bring awareness to what I am feeling.  Honor it and take the first step.  After that first step, all of the other steps will follow.  It doesn't matter how many steps I take today or how long they take me to move forward.  Just like my glorious hike yesterday, I will get to where I am going when I get there.  I won't rush it.  Instead, I am choosing to simply enjoy the view and each truly precious moment of this lifetime.  The alternative, to not appreciate the moments, to rush through life, is not a choice I wish to make.  There is no greater choice than to honor what my mind and body are telling me.  "Recover and treat yourself well.  It makes a world of difference to you and to everyone else in your life.  When you treat yourself to what you need to be at your optimal best, you can then treat others in the same manner."  And, I breathe ...