We often find what we're looking for.

Custom Paint Job

I am attracted to unique and unusual things.  Take this car, for example.  The custom paint job is so unusual that it’s incredibly difficult not to notice it.

I wouldn’t exactly call this pretty.  And if I could have a custom paint job on my vehicle this isn’t the one I’d choose.  But these things are neither here nor there. I like this car because it’s different–it has character.

Character makes me smile.

Character is bold.  Character doesn’t give a flying yahoo who approves or doesn’t approve. Character is true, and truth takes courage.

It brings me joy to know there are people among us who possess the gumption to express themselves so openly.

I think there may be hope for us yet.

Yellow Belt Kellen

I love surprises. Especially joyfull ones. The karate class my kids have been taking is proving to be one of those very things.

Every class at East West Martial Arts that I’ve seen begins with a student pledge that nearly moved me to tears the first time I heard my kids repeating it.

I will develop myself in a positive manner and avoid anything that could reduce my mental growth or physical health.

I will develop self-discipline in order to bring out the best in myself and others.

I will use common sense before self-defense and never be abusive or offensive.

This is a black belt school. We strive for black belt excellence. We are dedicated. We are motivated. We are on a quest to be our best.

Reading the words is one thing, to hear all the children loudly and enthusiastically repeating the phrases after the instructor is another.

And it’s not just the student pledge that puts a lump in my throat, its the way the instructors focus on a value each week and actually sit the kids in a circle around them near the end of class to talk to these young students about what those values mean and how they show up in their daily lives.

To see and hear my children learning about things like integrity, potential, respect and best effort fills my soft, mushy heart with all kinds of gooey goodness.  On top of which they’re learning how to focus and be comfortable and confident in their bodies.

I am overjoyed to find something for my kids that cultivates such positive mental, emotional and physical growth all at the same time. It inspires me. Just from sitting in the room watching, I believe I leave there walking a wee bit taller.  And, if I’ve let myself be really present, I find I’ve realigned myself with my life goals.

I will develop myself in a positive manner…to bring out the best in myself and others…and never be abusive or offensive. This is a totally awesome life. I strive to live fully every moment. I am dedicated. I am motivated. I am on a quest, to be my best.

Taryn

My daughter has got a mind of her own.  It’s one of the many things I love about her.

This morning, when I asked her what she wanted for breakfast her reply was a definitive, “Toast with butter, toasted.  And LOTS of butter!”

I had to laugh.  Toast, by definition, is toasted.  And it usually comes with butter.  But Taryn wanted to make sure she got just what she wanted, so she asked for it twice.  Toast with butter. Toasted. With LOTS of butter.

I can laugh all I want, but this six-year-old has got a thing or two (thousand) to teach me.

• when you want something, ask for it
• if you want it just the way you like it, be CLEAR when you ask
• don’t be afraid to ask twice–just in case
• it helps a little if you smile and have cute pigtails

You can bet when I made that toast (toasted) that I heaped all kinds of butter on it.  And I smiled the whole time.

Yes is a world

yes is a world
& in this world of
yes live
all worlds
-e.e. cummings

There are few words more powerful than yes. Yes is more than a word–it’s a way of being.

Yes opens doors and windows and worlds. Yes is adventure and power and optimism.

Yes is the cosmic version of chocolate.

To find out what I mean, try this little experiment:  Stand or sit quietly. Close your eyes.  Say to yourself “YES” three times.  See how that feels.  Now, say to yourself “NO” three times.  See how differently that feels.

Answering yes, even when there is no question, opens up galaxies of possibilities and hope.

Yes.  Yes.  Yes.

Make Peace, photo by Sanja Gjenero

Today I had the privilege of witnessing a genuine bond of appreciation and community between two people. It warmed my heart the way a really good love story does—the kind that gives me the uncontrollable urge to hug someone.

My friend Kristin and I walked up to our favorite food cart and before we could even order the nice man behind the window addressed Kristin with a wide smile and a heartfelt ‘how are you’. He quickly thanked her for joining their fan page on Facebook and did it in such a manner and tone that you’d think she had given him something of great value.

For him and his family-run business, publicly acknowledging her support of their food cart IS of great value. In this moment of genuine appreciation, Kristin offered a sincere ‘you’re welcome’ – both in word and gesture.

The shared sense of community linked them so strongly I could almost see gold chains in the air between them. It was lovely. Simply lovely.

Standing there enjoying the radiating warmth and abundant smiles filled me with hope and love. And hope for love.

Love thy brother. Love thy community. Love.

Frosting shots at Cupcake Jones

Never, until today, have I heard of frosting shots.  All I can say is, “WOW.”

Today is Treat Tuesday and our trio of treat seekers went to Cupcake Jones.  Had I any idea how delectable the frosting is on their cupcakes I would have had a shot of frosting. Alas, life is a journey and we learn as we live.  Which is to say I ordered a cupcake.  Mocha Almond Fudge.

The cupcake was pretty tasty, but the frosting was the real treat and I found myself eating it first, leaving a quarter of the cake behind entirely.

There’s a life lesson here.

Some treats are better than others. Some days are better than others. Some parts of the treat are better than others.  Some moments in the day are better than others. It’s perfectly ok to eat the frosting and leave the cake. Savor the best moments of the day and let go of the rest.

Holding on to moments, events, conversations (or cake) of the day that displease you puts unnecessary junk (calories) in your brain (on your hips) that does not serve you.

So what I’m really saying here is that everything I need to know about life I learned from a cupcake. You know, that kind of works for me.

DailyGood

I sign up to get emails delivered to me by various inspirational websites.  One I am really enjoying is Daily Good.

“DailyGood is an inspiring quote, a related good-news story, and a simple action — delivered to your inbox for free by volunteers every day. Just a ripple a day, simply to spread the good.”

I love it.  Saturday’s good-news story starts out like this:

Bren Bataclan’s cheerful cartoon creatures have been exhibited in some high places: at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, in Logan International Airport and even on a Girl Scout patch.

But lately he’s been leaving his artwork outside unemployment offices and closed-down retail stores across the country bearing the note: “Everything is Going to Be Alright – This Painting is Yours to Take.”

Savor more; fix less. Laugh more; cry less. Anticipate positively more; anticapte negatively less. Nothing is more important than that you feel good. Just practice that and watch what happens.

– Esther Hicks

There was a time when I would have thought this to be a very selfish way to live. Now I know that this is actually a very generous way to live.

How much more do we give when we’re happy, rather than sad?  When we are happy and feeling good we listen more, help more, love more, laugh more and smile more–all of which benefits others as well as ourselves.  We do the world a great service by being joyful in it.

Spicy, dark drinking chocolate

Sitting on a park bench reading the underlined passages in my copy of Ask And It Is Given, I was reminded of the power of feeling good. “There is no greater gift you can give than your own happiness.”

Esther and Jerry go on to say that when we are happy, everyone around us benefits (which is now scientifically proven by Fowler and Christakis).

I don’t know about you, but when I think happiness, chocolate is almost sure to follow. This is an opportune time to practice seizing the moment.

In the interest of happiness and the greater good for all, I quickly texted my two chocolate-loving co-workers and it wasn’t long before we found ourselves sitting at Cacao.

Cacao is a heavenly place.  It’s nirvana smack-dab in the middle of Portland, Oregon. And we three, sipping, savoring our drinkable chocolate were elevated to levels of joy untold.  The spicy dark chocolate with a touch of cayenne is my favorite.  I pledge my undying love to it.

We were all so thrilled with ourselves and the liquid loveliness before us that we decided we should do something fabulous every single week. Tuesdays are a good day for fabulousness, we decided. “Treat Tuesdays,” affirmed Kristin. And so it is.

From now until forever we are celebrating Treat Tuesdays with something marvelous. I highly recommend you join us.