Chapter I
It was in a deep corner of the library far removed from the check-out and information tables. In fact, there were no chairs and tables — there weren’t even bookcases. Instead, the young adult science fiction section consisted of three book carousels filled with paperbacks. I’d seen Hallmark cards on displays like this but never books. It was a poorly lit area, the only light entering from a small square window high up in the ceiling. It was as if someone had pushed these books in a corner and forgot about them. Like any ten year old the first thing I did was take the books for a fast spin…only a few fell off. I looked around. I didn’t get caught. I then practiced pushing the books around as slowly as possible. My fingers became covered in dust. Pictures of UFOs, aliens and planets jumped off their covers and captured my attention. I read the titles, The Martin Chronicles, The Time Machine, A Wrinkle in Time and Under Plum Lake, and my heart started to race.

Under Plum Lake by David Line. A young boy is ushered into a subterranean world where he encounters a civilization and kingdom unlike anything above ground.

That’s all I will say about the plot. It’s not a book I want to talk about – it’s a book for you to read. It was the first book that completed transported me out of reality. It was the first time I realized the power of my own imagination and that I could see pictures in my mind. It was the first time I realized that people had stories to share about places I didn’t know existed. And I was a willing traveler. (more…)

On my drive home from the post office a dog showed me that I have mastered the art of being patient, the art of appreciating beauty, and that I can face my fears.

As I approached a stop sign I noticed that a dog was up ahead. She was smelling something in the middle of the street. She was a beautiful black afghan hound and completely unaware that she was in danger. I recognized the breed because I was once mesmerized by an afghan hound while watching The Westminster Dog Show on television. When you see an afghan hound you don’t know if you should be in awe or laugh really hard. I’ll leave that up to you:

I sat at the intersection. Luckily no cars were coming. The dog continued to stand in the middle of the street. She was transfixed. I stuck my head out the window to get a better look – what was she smelling? The street…she was smelling the street. I looked at her shiney long coat and noticed her short curly tail. I thought a dog that size would have a bigger tail. Why did she even need a tail like that? Then I noticed she had on a collar and tags. I would pull over and call her owner.

I’m not a fan of dogs these days…especially big dogs that I’ve never met before. I was in a pitbull attack a few years ago and no longer trust dogs. However, I didn’t want her to get hurt. I had to find her owner.

Also, she finally looked up and we made eye contact. She looked serene. In fact, she reminded me of Jesus. I’ll leave that up to you:

Five minutes passed before the dog slowly walked over to the sidewalk. I pulled the car over and walked to her. I took a deep breath and was ready to introduce myself…but I didn’t get a chance. She looked at me for a moment and then headed up the porch steps to the closest house. She barked and a few moments later the front door opened.

When I pulled up to the stop sign my first instinct was to honk at the dog…but I didn’t. Instead I gave her the right of way. Of course, I was concerned that she was in the middle of the street but it wasn’t busy, and I would have stopped anyone from harming her. So, I didn’t rush the situation. In fact, I just appreciated the situation I unexpectedly found myself in. She was a magnificent creature and I really admired her beauty. I liked that she was lost in the moment…caught in the story of a scent.

A dog trainer once explained to me that odor remains on things for a certain amount of time, and for a dog, having a chance to smell them is similar to watching a movie of all of the things that could have happened in that place in the past. He stated that dog owners often get angry at their dogs for stopping to smell things, but it is truly the best way dogs have to discover the world around them; it’s similar to the way individuals use their sense of sight to figure out what’s going on. I’m glad this dog helped me discover who I am today. And I hope she liked the movie.

5-in-5. Five minutes. Five books. It’s a game I’ve played at the library since I was a young girl.

Game Rules

1. Place library card in your back pocket and check the clock.
2. Choose books based on a title or cover art that catches your fancy.
3. Do not read the book jacket.
4. Once you grab the book you must take it.
5. Do not look at the books until you get home.

Here’s how 5-in-5 played out this week:

• The Soul of Rumi by Coleman Barks
• Making Kind Choices: Everyday Ways to Enhance Your Life Through Earth and Animal Friendly Living by Ingrid Newkirk
• The Wheel of Life by Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
• Making a Good Writer Great: A Creativity Workbook for Screenwriters by Linda Seger
• Bonus Book: The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan (The librarian informed me that my book on hold had arrived.)

It looks promising! What are you reading?

During class I looked over my shoulder and stared out the window for a moment. I could see the sun shining behind San Francisco’s Ferry Building. When I turned back I saw the professor in front of the white board and she was pointing to the word, “bravery”. For one quick flash I heard my inner voice whisper, “You dreamt this. The light behind the Ferry Building. The word, “bravery”. You were in this room. You are supposed to be here.” And then the voice was gone and I didn’t remember it again until I sat down now at my computer. Does this happen to you? It makes me wonder if the life I’m living isn’t simply about placing my feet in footprints that are already waiting for me in the sand.

I finally made a decision to take a few months off to “regroup” in order to do something – change careers. After the first month of being off the work-world-merry-go-round, I started noticing the inner voice more and more and she was telling me to get quiet. I craved being alone and desired uninterrupted quiet time like never before.

In the quiet I’m questioning the way I think and what I think about. I’m examining the loop tapes in my head and practicing ways to dispute negative thinking. I’m focusing on the things that bring me joy, trying new things, and daring myself to celebrate my power — as a woman…as a human being.

In the quiet I began to write more in my journal and started this blog to experience and celebrate my creativity in new ways.

In the quiet I think about what I’m curious about and then seek books and web sites on new topics.

In the quiet I’m more grateful for the little things and value my friends and family in new ways.

In the quiet I imagined what my life would be like if I spent more time thinking about, experiencing, and celebrating what I’m good at – not fixated on my “weaknesses”. I discovered there’s a relatively new field called Positive Psychology (based out of UPenn) that focuses on improving the human condition by strengthening what is positive. I discovered there were courses on Positive Psychology being offered at SFSU and signed up. And then I watched the professor point to the word, “bravery”.

In the quiet I have learned it is ok to swap security for my dreams and desires.

In the quiet I have discovered that it wasn’t about “changing careers.”

I wasn’t supposed to do something, it turned out I was supposed to be something – to be authentic and in greater connection with love — to give and receive love.

shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

UPenn’s Positive Psychology Center website explains, “…Positive Psychology is founded on the belief that people want more than an end to suffering. People want to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives, to cultivate what is best within themselves, to enhance their experiences of love, work, and play. We have the opportunity to create a science and a profession that not only heals psychological damage but also builds strengths to enable people to achieve the best things in life.

This week I attended the last class in a five-week course at SFSU called, “Cultivating Core Strengths, Optimism and Resilience.” This course focused on the principles of Positive Psychology. We explored core virtues, identified signature strengths, examined and practiced techniques for disputing negative thinking, and created strategies to build optimism and resilience in our lives.

Our signature strengths come easily to us, cause us to lose track of time, inspire others and ourselves, produce emotions of joy, satisfaction, pride, fulfillment and harmony.

When we focus on what we like about ourselves we feel better. It’s common sense, but not common practice.

How do our lives change when we concentrate on our strengths and not on our weaknesses?

Check out the free questionnaires to identify your signature strengths at www.authentichappiness.com

Note: Try to answer the questionnaires based on how you are feeling right now — not how you wish you were living your life. The strengths are NOT listed in order of best to weakest. It’s simply how the strengths fall on this day on this hour. For example, some strengths may stay consistent in the top 10 slots while others may come and go as you revisit the questionnaire. The results may inspire you to develop and celebrate more strengths into your daily life.

Last week I asked a few friends to brainstorm with me to create a list of Random Acts of Kindness that I could implement.
Here’s the list:

• Pay bridge tolls for car behind you
• Buy someone a free coffee
• Give candy to strangers
• Hold the door open for someone
• Compliment someone on their attire
• Help carry groceries
• Get rid of spare change – Feed a meter
• Give money to homeless person
• Give food to homeless
• Start conversation with homeless person
• Let someone cut in line
• Offer to carry someone’s bag at airport
• Give movie ticket to a stranger
• Donate clothes
• Make a donation in someone’s name
• Mow someone’s lawn
• Prune rose bush – check first with owner
• Bring newspaper up the steps to someone’s porch
• Give someone time by doing something – offer time
• Pick up dry cleaning
• Make something for somebody – a poem
• Write someone his or her own personal theme music

Important Announcement: (more…)

On the weekends I look forward to taking long walks to explore new parts of our neighborhood. This morning I had planned an ambitious route with almost 45 minutes up hill leading to an impressive view of the San Francisco Bay. Before I headed out I downloaded some new music onto my iPod. It’s been a long time since the lyrics of a pop song moved me to tears…tears of hope. I listened to this new song over a dozen times on the incline. Close to the summit I had memorized the lyrics and sang them all the way home. I thank India Arie for sharing her positive and uplifting message. I didn’t even notice the hills!

There’s Hope by India Arie

Back when I had a little,
I thought that I needed a lot.
A little was overrated but a lot was a little too complicated.
See, zero didn’t satisfy me.
A million didn’t make me happy.
That’s when I learned the lesson,
That’s it all about your perceptions.
Hey, are you a pauper or a superstar?
So you act, so you feel, so you are.
It ain’t about the size of your car,
It’s about the size of the faith in your heart.

There’s Hope.
It doesn’t cost a thing to smile
You don’t have to pay laugh
You better thank God for that.
(more…)

I had the pleasure to read “The Hero Project” by brothers Robert and William Hatch. Eight years ago, when they were ages 14 and 11, they embarked on an ambitious project: to interview their heroes and write a book about “how the heroes have made America a better place.” Sure, it was totally impressive that these kids landed interviews with the likes of Jimmy Carter, Desmond Tutu, Dolores Huerta, Yo-Yo-Ma, Madeline L’Engle and 8 others, but what I LOVED about the book is how different the interviews are compared to what we are usually fed via the popular media pipeline. Kids ask smart and honest questions and the heroes tend to let their guard down while chatting with them. If I had read this book as a junior high student I would have fallen in love with history, social issues, and politics! I would have become a very young social entrepreneur.

After I read the book I sat outside enjoying the sun and reflected on the stories and ideas shared by the change agents. I realized that my life is filled with heroes. In particular, SHEROES. I quickly drafted the list below and reflected on the creative women that make my life so rich and fill it with love, invigorating conversations, and humor. These women have three things in common:

(more…)