Tuesday, November 30, 2010

The Fountain

Unlike a fountain that circulates the same water in an enclosed, perpetually recycling system, a human being circulates thoughts in an unlimited reservoir of self.

Don’t limit yourself to being a mere fountain when you contain an ocean.

Monday, November 29, 2010

The Road

The wide open road is the single most hopeful thing in the world.

Look straight ahead and see it disappear into a point at the horizon.

That point is the future.

Seeing it, your lungs swell with joyful breath and buoyancy, and your heart feels a sweet nostalgic tug forward.

The road is calling!

Sometimes, it is the road home.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Afraid of the Dark

Don’t be afraid of the dark.

Shine!

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Museum Awe

Some people think that museums are boring places filled with old things that no one cares about.

Tell them this:

The next time you enter a museum, walk quietly with stilled breath and sacred awe.

A museum is a holy shrine to the achievements of the human race.

It is in fact the most mind-blowing place to be, because it contains the only human-made things that are truly immortal.

Friday, November 26, 2010

Super Us

Ever been a one-person marching band? These days many of us are.

The last several years of financial, emotional and motivational turmoil have been incredibly challenging and tough in so many ways, which of course makes it very difficult to be creative. And at such a time, being creative is the one thing we have to be.

Almost requires a person to be superhuman to do it all.

You know what? Many of us are. What we do every day in order to pursue our dreams and at the same time hang in there and keep a roof over our heads and food in our bellies, is amazing. At one time or another, most of us are fulltime laborers, professionals, homemakers, nurturers, teachers, healers, inventors, providers, creators of artistic beauty, urban jungle warriors, saviors of the universe and everything else—all crammed into one person.

This really is the age of the super being. No wonder media supernatural heroes are so blazing-hot right now.

The world requires it.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Your Best Friend

Your best friend is sitting on your lap purring, and at your feet wagging his tail.

Curled in a soft ball, your best friend lies on the windowsill, or perches on top of the stuffed chair, to be near you.

When you come home, your best friend greets you at the door, dancing with joy, and watching you with impossible attention.

When you cry, your best friend gets up and comes to you unconditionally, so that you can put your hands on the warmth and rest against the beloved fur.

Don’t ever forget.

Don’t ever abandon them.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Treasures

The greatest treasures cannot be stolen because they cannot be re-sold.

They can only be given away.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Signs

Signs of all great things are written right before our eyes, in a near invisible code of strangeness, wonder, and beauty. Sometimes it’s a shape, at others, a color, or a sound, a single pure note. It is also a scent, or a brief feather touch.

We look upon the world every day and see something simple, ordinary and commonplace.

But occasionally, something takes our breath away.

That’s when we are given a glimmer of the true signs.

Today, watch closely.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Elemental Feast

The Snow Queen married the Rain King.

Their children are Hail and Storm.

Behold their Feast.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Love at First Sight

Falling in love at first sight is no different than picking out the prefect dress.

It can happen.

But you still don’t know for sure until you’ve taken it to the dressing room and tried it on in front of a mirror.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Author’s Secret

No book is ever truly finished—the author simply makes the conscious agonizing choice to stop fiddling with it . . .

. . . and then there’s this thing called a deadline.

For that matter, no book is ever truly begun—the author stares at the blank sheet, starts drawing stick figures and monstrous ducks on the corners . . .

. . . and then there’s this thing called a deadline.

Friday, November 19, 2010

As the Rain

Rain beats against the world outside in torrential streams of sky water.

It washes away everything.

May our forgiveness do the same.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

The Queen of Flowers

The rose is the queen of flowers.

She is an amazing blossom that embodies beauty, elegance, and love. And pride—don’t forget the thorns. No other flower carries so much complexity, meaning, and impact through the ages.

What is this something about the regal rose that gives it such potent magic?

Look closely at the rose and answer for yourself.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Sense of Security

A sense of security is a precious state of mind—labor-intensive to achieve and precarious to sustain.

So many of us work hard for most of our lives just for a glimmer of it.

Security comes in so many flavors—personal, financial, emotional, spiritual, intellectual.

Never take your sense of security for granted.

Be a security guard for all.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Well Groomed

The next time you visit the cosmetics counter, browse those rows of powders and creams, and are overwhelmed with a million shades of lipstick, blush, foundation, and eyeliner—consider the cat.

All it needs to stay well groomed is its own saliva.

Monday, November 15, 2010

The Entrance

The still surface of a lake is a membrane separating the worlds of air and water.

It is a hair-thin sliver, as fine as a breath, the thickness of a blink, a single molecule of difference . . .

Along this edge lies the entrance to Faerie.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Some Puzzles

Not every puzzle is intended to be solved.

Some are in place to test your limits.

Others are, in fact, not puzzles at all . . .

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Smooth Polished Rock

A wise person is like a smoothly polished rock: it takes time to become either.

Friday, November 12, 2010

Coliseum of the Surreal

The poets huddle together in the corner like football players.

And the ball players are out before an audience, performing modern poetry in motion.

You sit watching, with your thumb ready to signal victory or defeat.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Reaching for Everything

When you reach for the stars, you are reaching for the farthest thing out there.

When you reach deep into yourself, it is the same thing, but in the opposite direction.

If you reach in both directions, you will have spanned the universe.