I admit that I really enjoy having a group of adult friends who really are still kids at heart.  For Easter, my dear friend and writing partner, Jillian, wanted to do Easter Egg dying, hiding, and some game playing.  "Absolutely!" I said.  So, yesterday a group of 6 of us decorated 2 dozen eggs, hid them in the front and back yard, ran around like little children trying to find the most eggs, and laughed at ourselves until our bellies hurt.  We ate food and sweets and played a board game long past the time that any of us wanted to keep playing.  We were determined to finish the game, though by the end we were ready for anyone to win so that we could move from the game to the next activity.  I loved it!  For a day, we all reverted to childhood and played the games that children play.  The only thing missing was a visit from the Easter Bunny.  Then, again, who is childish enough to believe in such things???

Thank you to my many friends who help me to remain young at heart!  I hope we are still playing together well into our 90's.

I spoke with my mother yesterday to wish her a Happy Birthday and she let me know that she was keeping tabs on me through this daily Inspiration Blog.  I was surprised and flattered and it got me to thinking about who is tuning in to read what I am posting.  I've had a few friends say, "Oh, I read what you wrote about such and such."  It always brings a smile to my face and I get a bit closer to those who are reading.  However, as of yet, I have not received direct comments on the blog itself.  So, I'm making it official.  I'd like to hear from you through comments on this blog.  Up until this point, I've been writing as I've been moved to write and have not been concerned with comments.  I'm now inspired by the idea of creating a bit of a dialogue here on this blogging site.  Let me know what you'd like to hear about --- particular subjects, questions, thoughts, etc.  There is an option below this box that simply reads, "Comments."  If you feel inspired to say something, click on that button and leave a comment.  I'm interested to see where this new dialogue leads.

This week, after a three week hiatus, I went back to work with my business partner, Mike.  He is getting over a bit of a cold and I'm getting over the need to "catch up" with some self-imposed deadlines and long term goals (if you've ever placed yourself under that self-imposed crunch, then you know how heavy it can sometimes be).  By the end of the day, yesterday, in our somewhat exhausted stupor, we had reconfigured and clarified the over-arching theme and recurring elements of the work we are currently presenting.  The overall thrust and current title of the work is "INTEGRITY RESURRECTED:  Prioritizing Humanity to Achieve Sustained Prosperity."

Every time that I take another step in this creative process with Mike, I am inspired by the possibilities of what we have to offer to businesses, organizations, corporations, and individuals.  There are little "aha" moments that seem to jump out of us and we know that we have something that is bigger than us.  These moments seem to offset the other times where we say, "Wow!  There is still so much to do."  My task in all of this is to keep reminding myself that it is all one step at a time, and to consistently bring the passion of what we are doing to each and every step.  Today, another step ... deep breathe ... and go!

Here come the clouds for a Southern California drenching later today.  In so many places, the coming rain indicates an interruption in "business as usual."   But, for me, when I know the rain is coming, I know that this usually dry area is about to get a little bit greener.

The rains we had at the beginning of the year helped Spring to open up in a beautiful way.  The continued rain insures that we have green that continues through the summer with growth aplenty.  Life can be viewed in the same way.  I like smooth sailing most of the time, but I know that when I hit an especially stormy spot, growth is not far behind.  It can be a challenge to remember this fact during the dreary and stormy spots in life, but the growth that follows is always undeniable.  So, come on clouds, come on rain, come on growth!!!

Tonight I will be joining friends for Passover Seder --- a meal filled with ritual and social interaction.  I really enjoy this holiday tradition and the friends who invite me entertain those of Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, Agnostic, and Atheist beliefs.  It is a night for all to enjoy.  

The Brown's always host and celebrate this holiday with an equal mix of tradition and fun.  It is an inspiring night because I know the Browns to be philanthropists of the highest order.  Their giving nature is not reserved only for high holy days or special occasions.  They consistently give back to the community and lend a hand up to those who need it.  This never seems to be from a need to impress, but truly from a spirit that enjoys giving and sharing.  

I smile even as I write this because I can imagine tonight's proceedings as the Browns read from Biblical texts, play the customary games, make traditional toasts, and generally fill their home with warmth and love.  They keep a true spirit of celebration that excludes no one.  I am honored to once again be invited to share this special night with them and with the friends who will join in tonight's festivities.

When I sit down at my computer in the morning, I often do not know what I am going to write.  I sit for a few long moments, breathing deeply, looking out the window, letting my mind wander.  Eventually, something outside catches my eye or my mind follows a path to something that I find interesting, poignant, or amusing, and I begin to write.  This morning I sat longer than usual.  

The natural landscape outside of my window changes ever so slightly everyday.  The same familiar pattern of the sun inches across the hill in front of me.  I hear the ticking of the clock and I see the same inspiring pictures of friends, family, clients, etc.  Today, I noticed that the moment of inspiration for something to write about did not hit me right away.  I enjoyed the warmth of my coffee and the smell of the jasmine.  I saw the hummingbird zoom in and out of my periphery.  Then, as my mind and my body grew calmer, a tug of inspiration finally came to me.  I wondered about my personal process of getting words out of my head and onto the page and I began to write what you read here.  It may not seem so revelatory or mysterious in the reading, but to me, as simple as it may be, I am more fully understanding the process of creation.  For me, the joy is not so much about the medium (words, music, movement, body language, brush strokes, etc.) as it is about the act of creating itself.  Every morning I have an opportunity to let words flow from my mind through my fingers onto a keyboard and, through the magic of technology, into the blogosphere for anyone interested enough to read.  That's what I found inspiring this morning.  All too often, there is a need for my creative endeavors to have life beyond the moment of initial creation.  With this daily writing, this blog, that need is absent.  There is only the simple joy of showing up every morning (Monday through Friday) and putting moments of feeling and thought into words.  Every morning there is a discipline of clearing my mind and allowing a space so that some form of inspiration can flow through me.  The content is secondary to the act itself.  And that, I find inspiring.

I've been forgiving myself a lot lately.  I believe that forgiveness is a cornerstone to healing.  In equal parts to love and acceptance, forgiveness opens a doorway inside of us that may have previously been blocked by regret, guilt, shame, blame, justification, or even vengeance.  Forgiveness allows us to take responsibility for our own feelings and have new perspectives about the stories of our lives.  The interesting thing about forgiveness is that often we do not know how deeply the layers of revelation are buried inside of us.  

Recently in my forgiveness work, I found myself letting go of some guilt I felt for enjoying certain pleasures in my life that I had judged as being decadent.  As the guilt faded, I was left with a feeling of gratitude for the opportunities and experiences I've been given in my life.  Gratitude filled the spaces where previously guilt had been.  What a change.  What a difference.  I found it invigorating to experience this shift in perspective.  

Daily, I am tapping into feelings and thoughts that no longer are serving my optimal best.  And, with each thought or belief that doesn't lift me up, I forgive myself and make an adjustment in my thinking.  Then, if the thought comes up that I should have done this sooner, I forgive myself for that.  How much deeper can this exercise in forgiveness go?  I'm willing to find out.

Last night I went to a seminar led by my friend, Lisa Brisse on behalf of her company, State of the Heart Fitness, www.StateoftheHeartFitness.com  I've known Lisa for years, since her days at the Pritikin Wellness Center.  She presented a PowerPoint Presentation and interactive talk that was inspiring and that got my mind thinking about my own state of health and well-being.  If you are in the Los Angeles area and are interested in Optimal Health, State of the Heart is a great place to check out.  And, like with all self-empowerment programs, a warning must be made.  If you want change in your life, change happens.  Change can be challenging, but also extremely rewarding.  State of Heart is certainly a place that facilitates creating healthy patterns in an individual's life.  Lisa, thanks for the information and the inspiration.

My friend and housekeeper, Marta, has a son named, Kelvin.  He is 13 years old and has won every major scholastic award his school has to offer.  He has never missed a day of school and he has a smile that lights up any room he enters.  Marta came this morning to work and she informed me that Kelvin has another honor to add to his mantle.  He entered the Los Angeles Marathon and he came in first in the 13 to 16 year old category with a finishing time of 3 hours and 21 minutes.  This was his first Marathon, but apparently not his last.  His goal next year is to beat the time that he set this year.  

With every achievement that I hear Kelvin earns, I can only ponder where his life is going and what accomplishments are still to come.  Certainly, his personality, his academic prowess, and his indomitable nature have all been greatly nurtured by the same traits that exist in his mother, Marta.  I feel extremely blessed to know this family and I am inspired by what great things they continue to bring into the world.  Congratulations Kelvin!  Congratulations Marta!  

Yesterday I appeared on MTV's "Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory."  I had such a good time.  It was a lot of fun, we laughed a lot, and I really enjoyed the cast of characters that make up that reality show.  They ran on time.  There was no pressure on the production.  Everything was very good natured and I was impressed by how much the people over there really like each other.  They did not overproduce the segment and they let me do my work.  I rarely get the opportunity to work on something that is truly fun from beginning to end.  Usually, I deal with a lot of nerves, sadness, fear, etc.  Now that I've had a taste of how it is possible for me to work on projects where the overall aim is having a good time in a good-hearted way with a lot of laughter, I am hungry for more.  Hmmm, what does life have in store next???