Imagine

Today would have been the 71st birthday for John Lennon.  A prolific man, who wrote from the heart and was highly criticized for it.  I admire his ability to put himself out there for everyone to see, and many judged him harshly.  He was a man ahead of his time politically, and really only wanted a peaceful existence. His music is timeless and it makes me wonder what further greatness he would have achieved had he not been taken from this world too soon.  I like to imagine him as front man for a  band of musicians in the 'nother world beyond, marching to a joyful tune and encouraging everyone to come together in peace and harmony.  It's icons like him who inspire me to be creative, fearless of judgment and criticism. I try each week to write about things that inspire me, things that are close to my heart.  A combination of aging and having been through personal crisis for a few years now, has me quite pensive much of the time.  I'm still trying to figure it all out.  The cliche why I am here, what my purpose is, how do I best serve both myself and others.  I don't like to sound selfish, but one thing I have learned definitively, is one cannot be fulfilled and happy with anyone else unless they are fulfilled and happy with themselves first.  For someone like me who has spent my entire adult life being the mom who gives everything to everyone (and did so freely and willingly) and leaving myself always for last, shaking the guilt that goes along with trying to turn that around and put myself first is a real challenge.  Old habits and all that jazz.  I'll keep working on it though, as long as I'm breathing I'll be a work in progress.   

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I don't pay a lot of attention to celebrity gossip or news, but one thing this week caught my attention.  It was an interview with Ellen DeGeneres talking about what is important in her life.  She's made it to the top both in the comedy world as one of the best in stand up, and then she became popular in daytime television.  She confessed what I believe to be true of anyone, that personal happiness is utmost important.  She was generous enough to reveal a statement her partner Portia de Rossi said to her in their wedding vows: "It is important to be loved, it is profound to be understood".  This really hit home with me!  I've been trying to verbalize that emotion to anyone who will listen to me, that it is so important to be understood.  To be accepted and loved and not judged for who and what we are, is complete validation.  I meet many people who lack validation in their own lives and their unhappiness is painfully apparent.  I go out of my way to try to be more understanding of those people.  Being a child who grew up during the flower power era of peace and love, it is starting to absorb into my psyche now what that truly means.  Complete acceptance and understanding without judgment.  If we could all be a little more tolerant, think how much better relationships are, or even simply day to day relating to others.  Smiles help a lot, too :-) 

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How 'bout that Occupy Wall Street movement?  On second thought...nah...I'll leave all the political discussions for Facebook and for message boards.  It's not that I don't have political views, or that I don't believe our country is in dire straights and needs a serious wake up call to reorganize and re prioritize, or anything like that.  Or, that our politicians and government have far too much power and authority in our lives, or that they take way too much of our slaved for money and dole it out to other countries when we've got serious problems here we need that money for, or that we've stuck our noses in other countries business and spent too much money and lives on fighting someone elses wars...no, none of that stuff.  I'll leave that to the pros to debate and argue about. *wink*

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Fall is in full swing here in the Pacific Northwest.  My favorite time of year! The warm cider hits the spot.  The leaves are turning and the beautiful colors are inspiring.  I wake in the morning to turn the heat on to take the chill off, still can leave for work in my flip flops, sometimes have to switch to a/c in the afternoon, then come home in the evening and put the piggy slippers on to warm my chilled toes.  It's perfect!  It's also the perfect time to get your cool weather reading in order.  As I previously announced (ok...shouted!), "Random Encounters" was favorably reviewed and highly recommended by Ms. Nora Chipley Barteau . It is the first completely unbiased professional review I received and it is very rewarding to have a professional and complete stranger give validation for what my friends and reader guinea pigs already told me...it's a great read!  So, grab your fleece throw, and hot cup of something or your favorite liqueur or shots to stoke the inner fire (Mexican Moonshine is highly recommended) and snuggle up with some great reading this winter.  Both "Random Encounters" and "Bright Lights, Money & Show Biz, Honey" are available at my website.  You can get either of my books or buy them both and get "LifeLoveLust" as a bonus.  Makes for some great light reading, with a little laughter mixed in to give you some giggles.

I'm still at LifeLoveLust this week, I'm working on the new site, it's a bit of a challenge for a thick head like mine, but I hope to have it out of the construction phase and ready for viewing by next week.  Or, if you prefer you can get it from Amazon Random Encounters or for Bright Lights, Money & Show Biz, Honey

Except for this weekly creation, I'll be taking a short break from writing to work at my fun job, getting some bands and solo artists out on the road, so I'll be announcing that in the near future.  I love working with independent artists, it's a lot of fun!  Speaking of independent artists, I finally finished a great story!  I'll be showcasing "A Spy at Home" by Joseph Rinaldo next week.  It's an engaging story and I’m intrigued by it, so I'll delve deep into the mind of the author to get the plaguing questions answered.

Hug somebody today!

Randomly yours,

~ K