THE FUN FULL-osophy

F orget
U ndermining
N egatives

In all our pursuits, we have learned there is great power in practicing THE FUN FULL-osophy! This week we nominate the talented and imaginative Robert Fulghum as our Team Captain. He suggests that:

“Maybe we should develop a Crayola bomb as our next secret weapon. A happiness weapon. A beauty bomb. And every time a crisis developed, we would launch one. It would explode high in the air – explode softly – and send thousands, millions of little parachutes into the air. Floating down to earth – boxes of Crayolas. And we wouldn’t go cheap, either – not little boxes of eight. Boxes of sixty-four, with the sharpener built right in. With silver and gold and copper, magenta and peach and lime, amber and umber and all the rest. And people would smile and get a little funny look on their faces and cover the world with their imagination. "

TODAY, COLOR THE WORLD WITH YOUR IMAGINATION!
Up, Up and Away…

TRUTH

“IF IT IS NOT TRUTHFUL AND NOT HELPFUL, DON’T SAY IT.

IF IT IS TRUTHFUL AND NOT HELPFUL, DON’T SAY IT.

IF IT IS NOT TRUTHFUL AND HELPFUL, DON’T SAY IT.

IF IT IS TRUTHFUL AND HELPFUL, WAIT FOR THE RIGHT TIME.”

Buddha
‘The Enlightened One’

WE ARE THE ONES WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR

WATCHING THE DANCERS
HOPI NATION
Photo by Edward S. Curtis

THIS IS THE HOUR
The Hopi Nation Elders Speak

“You have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh Hour.
Now you must go back and tell the people that this is the Hour.
And there are things to be considered.
Where are you living?
What are you doing?
What are your relationships?
Are you in right relation?
Where is your water?
Know your garden.
It is time to speak your Truth.
Create your community.
Be good to each other.
And do not look outside yourself for the leader.
This could be a good time!

There is a river flowing now very fast.
It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid.
They will try to hold onto the shore.
They will feel they are being torn apart and they will suffer greatly.
Know the river has its destination.
The Elders say we must let go of the shore.
Push off into the middle of the river.
Keep our eyes open and our heads above the water.
See who is in there with you and celebrate.
At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally.
Least of all, ourselves.
For the moment that we do,
Our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt.
The time of the lone wolf is over.
Gather yourselves!
Banish the word struggle from your attitude and your vocabulary.
All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.
We are the ones we’ve been waiting for."

NATIONAL CREATIVITY DAY E=MC2

ILLUSTRATION OF EINSTEIN BY SABRINA RAE POWELL

WHAT DO SOPHIA AND ALBERT HAVE IN COMMON?
THEY BOTH BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF CREATIVITY!

THE WORD CREATE COMES FROM THE LATIN CREATUS:
To bring into being that which is original, innovative or imaginative.
To cause to exist; produce; to evolve from one’s own thought.

QUOTES FOR THE DAY:

“Imagination is more important than knowledge”
--Albert Einstein—

“There is a fountain of youth; it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of the people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will have truly defeated age.”
--Sophia Loren--

“This day I have imagined something wonderful that I shall surely CREATE!”
--Royce Addington--

CREATIVE QUESTION FOR THE DAY:

COULD E = MC2… REALLY MEAN…
ENERGY = MIND X CREATIVITY to the 2nd POWER?

IT'S NEVER TOO LATE

THE WISDOM OF AN EX-BUDDHIST MONK

1998
Inverness, California

It was an amazingly beautiful fall afternoon. In the glowing golden coastal light, we shared a memorable meal with a charming unconventional man who once lived in Asia for many years as a practicing Buddhist monk even though he was a born and bred Yank. We had been casual friends; initiates to the early morning “regulars” who met at the Parkside Café in Stinson Beach on our way “over the hill”. This transient group of eclectic “locals” enjoyed many a lively conversation and debate. Bob always sat in the same place at the counter and did not appreciate anyone claiming “his spot” which, inevitably, made it all the more motivating (FUN!) to arrive at the café before he did and commandeer it.

Bob is a thinking man with a deliciously irreverent sense of humor and a profound sense about life. On this particular evening, we shared some very upsetting business/financial issues and our recent discovery of irrevocable betrayals by people we had implicitly trusted and respected…family…a brother. Bob listened intently, without interruption. When we had finished our story, he took out a pen and wrote something on a small piece of paper torn from the bottom of our dinner receipt. Without a word, he pushed the paper across the table. It read,

“He who clings to a moment of joy
Does the winged life destroy
But he who kisses the joy as it flies
Lives in eternity’s sunrise”

We looked at him, somewhat puzzled as to what these words actually mean. Bob serenely sipped from his glass of wine. He smiled as he leaned forward and gently said,

“Remember…it’s a journey…all of it. Ask yourself, “What am I learning?”

Never give your personal freedom to another. Decide what teaches you; what makes you a more compassionate person. Guard your spirit, imagination, creative intellect and physical life. Disengage from those people, places and things that harm your essential self. Discovering betrayal…turning and walking away from betrayal…may just be your road to authentic freedom. Let these painful chords teach you but then allow them to fall away and disappear into the light of the universe. Once you truly learn to protect yourself; your “essential self” will ripple and dance with the magnificence of “being” and “living life” in the present moment. This is the essence of joy; a feeling that flies in and out of life on the wings of a moment. It’s illusive and immune to captivity.

We each carry a powerful and unique spiritual imprint. Follow the path of love, kindness gratitude and compassion towards yourself as well as others. Each moment waits to fill you with an awareness and energetic source beyond imagining. The panoramic view of Eternity’s sunrise is always right here (he snaps his fingers)!”

Almost a decade has passed. Writing about it today, from the perspective of a radically changed life (an eight year adventure story in progress) where we live happily ever after in a land far far away (most of the time anyway) still has the capacity to bring tears of wonder and gratitude. Powerful words at a pivotal moment can change lives. It did ours.

Cheers to you Bob where ever you may be.

Postscript:
Never underestimate the power you possess to change yourself and your life.

THE POWER OF IMAGE AND LANGUAGE

This exceptional photo was taken by Y. Nagaskai; winner of the “LOVE” category in the M.I.L.K. Photographic Competition. The description reads: “Holding hands in the surf – an elderly couple get away from it all on Sandy Hook Beach in New Jersey, USA”

THOUGHTS TO CONSIDER:

“WHAT MAKES YOUR HEART FLUTTER?
DO ONLY THAT.
THERE IS NOT ENOUGH TIME FOR ANYTHING ELSE.”
--Richard P. Feynman—
Nobel Laureate in Physics

“THE TRUE OBJECT OF ALL HUMAN LIFE IS PLAY.”
--G.K. Chesterton--

“WE ARE NOT OLD UNTIL REGRETS TAKE THE PLACE OF DREAMS.”
--John Barrymore—

A GIFT FROM THE SECRET SCROLLS

WWW.youtube.com
IN THE SEARCH BOX TYPE IN: THE SECRET TO YOU


"TODAY IS THE BEGINNING OF MY NEW LIFE
I AM STARTING OVER TODAY
ALL GOOD THINGS ARE COMING TO ME TODAY
I AM GRATEFUL TO BE ALIVE
I SEE BEAUTY ALL AROUND ME
I LIVE WITH PASSION AND PURPOSE
I TAKE TIME TO LAUGH AND PLAY EVERY DAY
I AM AWAKE, ENERGIZED AND ALIVE
I FOCUS ON ALL THE GOOD THINGS IN LIFE
AND GIVE THANKS FOR THEM
I AM AT PEACE AND ONE WITH EVERYTHING
I FEEL THE LOVE, THE JOY, THE ABUNDANCE
I AM FREE TO BE MYSELF
I AM MAGNIFICENCE IN HUMAN FORM
I AM THE PERFECTION OF LIFE
I AM GRATEFUL TO BE…
ME
TODAY IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE"
--Text From The Video--

APRIL

APRIL
An Original Painting by Faye Tyler (1910-1990)

“I have always tried to hide my efforts and wished my works to have the light joyousness of springtime which never lets anyone suspect the labors it has cost.”

--HENRI MATISSE (1869-1954)--