A Prize for all Intents and Purposes

It was announced earlier today that President Obama had been awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. It's also been announced that he had been honored with this prestigious award for “his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples”.

And a whole bunch of people went "huh?" And phones started ringing, and tv and radio commentators started commentating, bloggers started blogging, and people everywhere started talking - and I think if I hear one more person coming down on President Obama because he won this prize "without accomplishing anything", I will scream loud enough for them to hear me in Norway.

First of all, I am very "middle of the road" politically. I don't vote party lines, I read as much as I can to be able to make the most informed choices I can when it comes time to vote and the bottom line is that I like to think that I can see through a lot of what is campaign rhetoric, so none of my views are ever based on political "sides".

I think it only fair to put the responsibility where it belongs, so if anyone is going to find fault with the Nobel Prize committee's decision, that angst should not be directed toward President Obama. He did not nominate himself or vote for himself. If you have issues with the decision, blame the committee that gave it to him.

Since this prize is awarded to "the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses", there are many who believe that it should not have been given to the leader of a nation who is currently engaged in war. Perhaps not, but perhaps the dream of actually moving forward in any significant way to achieve "world peace" during a single lifetime is nothing more than a pipe dream - at least for purposes of the Nobel Peace prize. But consider the reality that the path to peace must start somewhere and is often laden with switchbacks and cloverleafs, and sometimes you even have to stop and back up a bit to make sure that the path you've chosen is the best one...and chances are good we won't ever get there, much less make it in the span of a presidential term. I would like to believe that after 8 years of unilateral diplomacy that left our country in a less than desirable state of affairs, a return to multinational diplomacy is a good direction to seek. My opinion for what it's worth.

The fact of the matter is that President Obama has been honored with this award, and sometimes being proclaimed "honorable" inspires one to be even more determined to achieve the goals that are expected of someone in his position. What I will say about this president is that I believe that the basic tenets of change that he seems to espouse are more down to earth and "of the common man's concern" than any president during my 50+ year lifetime... Is it just rhetoric? I honestly don't think so - because it's not always what we want to hear - it is what we need to hear. He challenges "business as usual", he ventures into areas of foreign affairs that many of his predecessors could not or would not, and he seems to have a sense of desire to do the best he can with what he has been given.

It is a small man who berates a man for winning an honor he did not seek or expect to win - and I have met and heard many small men today... I often wonder where all of these small minds were when politics opened the door for the best man to win. Why weren't they themselves in the running? Because from the sound of it, they all feel they could have done a much better job. I say - let them walk a mile in President Obama's shoes before they can comment on what should be done and how quickly and at what cost. Change takes time, and whether or not President Obama is up to the challenge - we can make it harder for him to do his job, or we can take an active part in trying to find solutions to the problem. That is our call to action.

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Filled with "Glee"

Have you watched the new TV show "Glee" yet? We finally got around to watching the latest episode that we had recorded on our DVR and I must admit that the show never ceases to leave me feeling good. While there are a number of offbeat storylines playing out in the background, the basic premise of the show is about a small town high school glee club, mentored by a teacher (who was once a member of the same high school's glee club when he attended the same high school years earlier), trying to help save the group from budget cuts by helping them place in "Nationals".

There are a number of things that I love about this show. One is that it shows a teacher who is willing to go the extra mile to help a group of kids achieve their dreams -and he's basically doing it on his own time, chipping in his own money to help with the extras, and trying hard to keep it "about the kids."

I also love these kids... an amazing mixture of lifestyles, backgrounds, social sets - and all with a passion for singing that transcends their lots or stations in life and ultimately teaches them that doing what they love is what will help them find their true happiness.

But I think what I love most is that hopefully this show will reach the eyes and ears of people across the country and show them that performing arts programs are still do-able in schools... and perhaps even out of schools. Funding cuts have done away with many school programs in increasingly higher numbers down thru the years. My kids were all fortunate enough to be able to take part in band and orchestra as they wished, but I can tell you from personal experience that the support from the community was definitely geared away from performing arts and funneled into sports programs. Now, unfortunately, even the sports programs are hurting.

And we wonder why so many kids today are turning to drugs, or crime, or sex, or any of the multitude of activities that they would be better off without... they're all easy-access. I'm a believer that kids who are involved - be it in a school band, or drama club, or sports team, or debate club, or whatever - have an outlet for their energy, learn valuable skills in teamwork and leadership, and in general are much more ready to take on life... but it needs to be easy access. And that means, that as parents and grandparents and community members, it's up to us to give them that access.

When I was in grade school, our local park district ran a drama club. It was staffed by parents who were volunteers, and the park district simply gave us an empty auditorium with a stage to practice in. Everything was donated or came from the funds raised by the small admission costs to the plays. It kept us busy, taught us confidence (well, some of us...lol) and beat the heck out of sitting at home alone.

I wonder how many of you take an active interest in childrens' activities. Even those of you who have full, active family lives surely have room for one of the neighborhood kids to join in your fun.

If you're out of work, do you sit in front of the tv or on the phone bemoaning your lot in life - or do you make use of that time to make a child's life better? Gather the neighborhood kids - teach them the basics of a sport, or take them on a literal "field" trip to a nearby park to find some bugs or birds and teach them about them. Gather the nieces and nephews and encourage them to put on a talent show for the rest of the family at your next family get-together. Show them the sense of accomplishment that comes with cleaning up a littered neighborhood (take before and after pictures to prove the point!) Volunteer at the school. Ask the local principal if there are any students that could use help in your area of expertise. Know a craft? Teach it to a child or group of children. None of these by themselves is a huge endeavor, but to a child who must make a choice between boredom and an activity, the opportunity for a positive activity can have a profound effect on their future.

And in the process, you'll find yourself changing. The world will seem a little more hopeful. The kids you come in contact with will look up to you and you'll know you're making a difference... and they'll know that there are people in the world who really care about what matters to them. You'll all be part of a team - a wonderful team that really can change the world!

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Believe

I thought I would share something today from my library of inspirational quotes and prose... To whomever wrote this, I hope you know that you have inspired at least one other spirit - Thank you...

To believe is to know that every day is a new beginning.
It is to trust that miracles happen, and dreams really do come true.
To believe is to see angels dancing among the clouds,
To know the wonder of a stardust sky
and the wisdom of the man in the moon.
To believe is to know the value of a nurturing heart,
The innocence of a child's eyes and the beauty of an aging hand,
for it is through their teachings we learn to love.

To believe is to find the strength and courage that lies within us.
When it is time to pick up the pieces and begin again.
To believe is to know we are not alone,
That life is a gift and this is our time to cherish it.
To believe is to know that wonderful surprises are just waiting to happen,
And all our hopes and dreams are within reach.
If only we believe.

~Author unknown

Angel graphic courtesy of Free Fairy Graphics (http://www.christmas-graphics-plus.com/free/fairy-graphics.html)

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What Color is Your Energy Today?

If you've read the book The Celestine Prophecy or The Tenth Insight, or any other of the many books and article on the energy we give off during our daily interactions with others, you already know that our auras - those fields of energy that surround us - are subject to color changes as our atttitudes and emotional states change.

That being said, what color is your energy today? Of course every color has its true hues and its muddy hues - the truer the color, the more positive the energy; the duller the color, the more negative the energy.

Are you -

• Red? Are you a bright red - feeling full of passion or courage and ready to take on the world in a positive way? Or are you a dull red - angry at all of the injustices and problems that you feel have unfairly been foisted upon you?


• Orange? Are you a bright orange - full of energy and warmth, ready to take on transitional cycles with a positive attitude? Or a dull orange, feeling somewhat unmotivated and at odds with everyone and everything around you for no real reason?


• Yellow? Are you a bright yellow - cheerful and optimistic - sunny - just like the sun? Or a mustardy yellow, not quite sad, but not quite glad either. You just "are."


• Green? Are you a clear green - feeling balanced, organized and "connected", perhaps extroverted and expressive? Or a dull green - just ready to relax or perhaps a bit envious of those whose life is a bit more balanced?


• Blue? Are you a true blue -full of compassion, acceptance and empathy, ready to calm situations and nurture everyone around you? Or a dull blue - unsure of yourself and your relationships with those around you? Maybe you're having trouble making decisions - or perhaps you just need to "recharge your batteries."


• Indigo/Violet? If you're a deep rich purple, you're probably feeling especially intuitive today. Your mind and spirit are clear and open to growth. A dull purple? Perhaps it's best that others leave you alone today while you sort thru your motivations.

As for me, I'll have a grey poupon today - definitely a lovely shade of mustard yellow right now. I think I'll go pop a favorite CD in the player and see if I can get myself to the bright green I need to be!

It's interesting to note that the colors in our environment also have an effect on us, so depending on how you want to feel, you might consider finding a space with your particular "color needs" and spending some time there!

Have a wonderful day, no matter what your color is!

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Travails of a Butterfly

For me, a butterfly will always be the definitive symbol of change. It's true that many species undergo change in their journey from conception to their eventual demise, but for the butterfly the depth and extent of that change is not without struggle - and that is an integral component of its transformation.

There is a story of a man, a boy, and a butterfly that goes something like this...

A young boy happened upon a chrysalis suspended from a branch in his parent's garden. It was cracked but a hair's breadth open and he could see the movement of the butterfly within struggling to break free. In his youthful desire to help the struggling creature, he gently tore open the chrysalis, expecting the butterfly to spread its beautiful wings and fly away. Much to his dismay and sadness, the tiny creature's wings remained closed - wrapped wet and dark around the tiny body. The little boy watched sadly as the creature's movements lessened and soon became still. Crying, the child ran into his home and buried himself in the pillows on the living room sofa, upset that the tiny creature had died.

The boy's grandfather, who happened to be living with the family, went to the boy to see what was wrong. Amidst sobs, his grandson told him what had transpired in the garden. As the grandfather listened to the boy, he reached over to where a small photo album rested on a nearby bookshelf. Searching through the photos, he finally found the ones he sought. There on the photo album's pages were pictures of another young boy - his son, the boy's father - and in the boy's hands was a box. In the box was some grass and a branch. Hanging from the branch was a tiny chrysalis, and resting on a leaf nearby was a beautiful monarch butterfly.

The grandfather told his grandson that once, while he and his son - the boy's father - had been walking in the woods, they had come across a branch on the side of the path that had broken away from a tree during a storm the previous day. Attached to the branch was a small green chrysalis. His son asked if they could bring the branch home so that the chrysalis would be safe and of course had been allowed to.

Days passed slowly in expectation, but one morning the boy noticed that the chrysalis had become transparent and had begun to move. He excitedly ran to tell his father. Over the next few hours, the chrysalis became almost completely transparent. Now they could see the bright orange wings as the creature moved against the thin shell, creating a small tear in the protective cover and eventually breaking free and attaching itself to the dried shell, allowing its wings to harden as they hung down. After so many hours of struggle, the beautiful monarch butterfly was ready to spread its gorgeous orange and black wings and fly away - but they had managed to take a photo just moments before the butterfly went on to explore the world and its freedom.

The grandfather explained that the butterfly needed the struggle of finding its way out of the chryrsalis in order to become the beautiful creature the little boy had expected to see emerge. As the butterfly struggles against its chrysalis, special fluids fill its wings and soften the shell, allowing it to break free. Unless that struggling occurs, the butterfly will never be able to complete its transformation, spreading its wings in a metamorphosis that is unrivaled. While it is hard to watch as a butterfly struggles to emerge, it is important to allow it to happen.

So it is with us. Many times the struggles that we must endure to transform our lives are overwhelming... but they are necessary if we are to spread our wings and fly. Well wishing family and friends may try to "help" in an effort to lessen our load, but in the end we will not grow strong. Our growth will be stunted, and, like the butterfly that wasn't allowed to struggle its way thru its life cycle of changes, we may never become the beautiful creatures that the universe wants us to be.

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A Single Step

Lao Tzu, a chinese philosopher and founder of Taoism is credited with the quote “A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.”

So our journey together down the path to change begins. This is but a single step in an ongoing journey that I've been on since the day I began my existence some 50+ years ago, but today is the day I ask you to join me on that path. Explore with me, question with me, share with me and I will do the same. I can only give you my thoughts and my perspectives - and I can only ask that you also share yours with me - and perhaps we will learn from each other.

It is my intent, as I continue down this path, to enable change. I know I will have left my mark on the world in a positive way if anything I write here opens a heart or mind to a different possibility. My children will attest to the fact (from years of hearing it from me) that I am a firm believer that if you keep doing the same old thing, you're going to keep getting the same old results. I am also a believer that the reality is that we are only limited by ourselves. Yes, sometimes the path to change is hard and uncomfortable and threatens everything that we've come to believe or everything that has become "comfortable", but without growth we cease to live, to thrive, to experience all that life offers. We become sheltered, apathetic, and even narcissistic...or we become angry, judgemental, and ready to blame everyone and everything else for our lack of happiness. You really DO have control.

I would love to see you choose to do something to change your life and the lives of those around you for the positive - and I want to believe that since you're reading this, you want the same thing. But you can choose to do nothing at all. Either way though, there is an effect. Think about it - and open your mind to a different way of thinking!

I'd like to share something that was written by Siddhattha Gautama - you may know him as simple "Buddha". The word "buddha", by the way, means "enlightened one" - and his writings illustrate the depth of his illumination in the ways of life and learning. Take a moment to think about these words - and let me know what those thoughts are. Positive or negative, you are free to express yourself here. Question it, agree with it, expound on it, beat it down if you can justify doing so, but think about it - and have a wonderful day!

"Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it." ~ Buddha -The "Enlightened One"

Photo courtesy PDPhoto.org

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