The best you can be

None of us is offered every perfect element to create a perfect life. Yet, we create the most perfect version of ourselves we can with the opportunities, experiences and tools available to each of us.

Change a Moment

Click to Listen to: Change a Moment

iPhones click through to Moments Count where you will find a "download" link.

We come into this world and we change it. Whether you live to be 98 years old or 9 minutes old, you change the world. Your life has impact and each time you encounter another person you have a chance to change a moment, to change a life.

After The Fire

Click to Listen to: After The Fire

music by Kevin MacLeod, Daybreak

Recorded by a stream in a damaged forest five months after a fire, the redwood forest doesn't stop to mourn its loss or consider its tragedy. The forest immediately begins the process of regeneration, of rebirth. Seeds immediately drop, seedlings sprout and life moves forward. What may appear to be a tragedy may well bring new life, new beginnings, changes we don't immediately understand.

Vincent

Click to Listen to: Vincent

Somewhere in you is an artist. Somewhere in your life is an artist that you can appreciate and support.

What is always important is that we take the opportunity to express the artist within and to understand and support the artists in our lives. And when we make the choice to criticize we need to be honest enough with ourselves to understand from where the criticism arises.

For the art that is created is an expression of the interior landscape of the person who created the art and there is no criticism of that expression that does not become a criticism of the human being.

Resources to find your inner artist:

Below are a few of links that we think are helpful if you are thinking about exploring your creative side. If you know of other good resources let us know and we'll post those links here as well.

Paint something:

Click the picture or this link to visit Bob Burridge's website

Bob Burridge is an internationally acclaimed artist who teaches art in a way that allows you to look at your own work and develop along the lines you choose for yourself. And as he says: "It is stress-free, but be warned: you could wind up with too much enthusiasm for painting." Bob's workshop schedule includes classes all over the US. And his initial "Loosen Up" workshop is a great way to find your creative side no matter what medium you want to work in.

Find your inner troubador:

Although this is not a link to lessons, it's a link to song from one of my absolute favorite musicians, David Wilcox about the song that won't shut up until he gets it out of his head. So if a song is really struggling to get out of your head, find a local guitar teacher and find your inner troubador! Then post your cover on David's page! And remember that the right teacher for you will make you feel very good about yourself!

How to change that little voice that says "I can't..."

"We always get exactly what we want. However, we are not aware of most of what we want. To make matters even more challenging, most of us are not even aware that we are unaware of wanting all kinds of things we aren’t conscious of. That is why there is so much disparity between what we think we want and what we actually get..."

In nature

I am one who seeks my self outdoors.
Nature is gracious in its sharing with me. And, I am appreciative.
Its gentle spontaneity, capricious temperament, easy conversation and ceaseless energy offer me respite.

When wandering in fields and meadows, through forests and deserts, along shorelines and foothills I know I will hear inner sounds of my own.
I have learned when I am in the open spaces I can see beyond my physical world to my internal world.

For it is here the quiet journey of a breeze tripping through leafy tangled branches causes me stop. There is so much to know in catching the play of that tiny breeze -- a whisper, a rustle, a languid hush.

The nimble tap dance of the talented creek along the pebbly stones. If I close my eyes for a moment too long I have to push down the urge to applaud the performance, every time….

Last night though, it took a long, long time for a grin to leave my face. You see, a fat raccoon decided maybe he needed to wrestle me for just whose piece of apple it was he was scamperin’ away with, his or mine. Well, I’ll tell ya’, I looked at his clear-eyed determination behind his tailored ebony mask and had to chuckle. ‘Cuz, dang! I knew I’d lose that wrestlin’ match, even if I’d wanted that ol’ apple!!! So, he’d better just hurry, scat off and have his snack. But, as he left, I offered him a little smile of respect for his wily ability to make his way in his rangy world.

But, I’ll tell ya’ there’s nothing in this whole world that pulls me closer to center than looking up at the sky through the majestic magnetic silhouettes of huge powerful trees spiring upwards. Taking in the vision of the tops of an immense forest scraping the sky allows me to breathe with the peace of knowing how large and small is my passage on this voyage we are all taking; it reminds me how quickly it docks and helps me remember we will each disembark….

Oh, but that same sky at night, well now, that’s just such a different space. A huge shadow land above, deep, dark, black, blue and that inky canvas is freckled with tiny illuminated dots we call stars. From our very first mesmerizing childhood gaze at them they sparkle our imagination and light our dreams. And, on these fireballs, so far away, we lovingly wish for all manner of magic we long to twinkle in our lives.

I guess sometimes we forget our lives are the magic.