Enjoyment.  Culminating in a year of interesting challenges and amazing wins (thank you Barack for walking into my life!), growing stronger in my intention to create loving, positive, aware, and conscious souls around me that want to change the world in a fulfillingly gifted way.  People who treat others with love and respect and gratitude.

My wish is to spend more time with family this month than I usually do throughout the year.  Having the quietness to create and design, "sharing me" in all my Christmas gifts this year instead of spending money, being in crowded malls, traffic, around rude people, and subjecting myself to the pains of consumerism.  Plus, I can stay in my jammies to bake, cook, knit, write and sew. 

I have a cool idea this year to write a poem for all those I'm making gifts for that I'll atttach that shares the essence of our friendship, connect or what they've taught or shared with me.  What makes them special, to me?  And I'm sewing little drawstring bags with neat colored ribbons that I'll fill with my scones, lemon poppy seed bread mini-loaves, my bran flax muffins and my white chocolate-butterscotch chip oatmeal cookies recipes.  For people that live close, I'm going to make my white chocolate mousse and put in thrift store/garage sale (that I've been collecting all year) china teacups, so they don't match, and they can serve them for family that's visiting if they'd like.  I'll attach my little poem to the handle with gorgeously colored ribbons.

To slow down, relax, enjoy the bliss and calm, kiss the year goodbye, and thanking it for the lessons it's provided me... :)

Every day....when I went for my morning walk, the clouds were an awesome golden, pinky orange painted against the sky, very Monet-esquely light blue.  Nature, to me is always THE BEST work of art.  It's limitless as to the beauty and the possibilities change within minutes of a sunrise or a sunset.  What's really cool is you don't have to pay to go in a museum to get it - it's free to you and me!

Why more people don't choose good? 

It's so easy to me to be loving, supportive, helpful, respectful, understanding, positive and optimistic...and I just wonder sometimes when I watch how people interact...a SUV woman getting flipped off as I u-turn out of the Whole Foods Market parking lot to see a Ford Pick-Up woman be so incensed that another woman didn't give her the right-of-way, of which she had none anyway coming out of a driveway into traffic (the other woman was in traffic already).  The flipped woman's face contorted to one of hate and anger immediately.  I thought to myself, why take so much energy to do that and to be so hateful to another human being about something so insignificant.  Doesn't that take a lot of energy to act that way, getting yourself in a fluster, being on tilt.  Then I wondered how long she holds onto that feeling, how many times a day, a month, a year, a lifetime.  Is it worth it?

That was my wondering....why not choose warmth and lovingness towards those we intersect?  To me, it's my life and way of being.

That I am always enough.  Every situation, every encounter, every thought comes from the recesses of what makes my beingness, from past lifetimes and their learnings, lessons this life has presented...everything within me is enough for the moment I'm presented.  I have it all within, my angels and my spirit guides, the Light, God, Buddha and my Higher Power, a full army of positivity, all watching over me, supporting my bestest self.  Why do I challenge them and allow the chatterings to infiltrate a crack?

I affirm every moment, every day, every month, every year, I am enough.  I'm where I meant to be and standing in greatness with those Universal entities supporting me in being.

That I enjoy being home to create.  I like that I have my beautiful home surrounding and supporting my imagination.  I enjoy hearing Frisbee, asleep at my feet, having a dream and the funny noises she makes when she must be having a conversation with another dog.  I discovered I love having one of my kitties fall asleep on my lap and purr their life away, giving me such pleasure by their just being.  I enjoy how we talk to one another until Dad gets home.  Besides being my pets, I've discovered they are truly my friends and "companions in mischief".

I've always been partial to Carl Jung and his theory on psychological types.  I would have loved to hang out with him over coffee on a veranda overlooking a Swiss landscape and discuss his thinkings.  He seems like he would have been a cool guy! 

When I meet people, I ask them what their Myer-Briggs is and it's interesting to note not many people know what I'm talking about.  I thought that everyone who moved into the realm of higher education got that experience in Psych 101.  Guess not.

I enjoy knowing as it serves me to see how this person sees and perceives the world.  It also gives me an understanding and knowing about how they hear information and process - helping immensely when I've been in a management role "in service" to my employees and staff.

A bit of info from the Myers-Briggs Foundation:

Swiss psychiatrist Carl G. Jung (1875-1961) who wrote that what appears to be random behavior is actually the result of differences in the way people prefer to use their mental capacities. He observed that people generally engage in one of two mental functions:

• taking in information, which he called perceiving, or
• organizing information and coming to conclusions, which he called judging.

Within each of these, Jung saw people preferring to perform that function in one of two ways. These are called preferences.  He also noted that, although everyone takes in information and makes decisions, some people prefer to do more taking in information (perceiving) and others prefer to do more decision making (judging).

Finally, Jung observed, "Each person seems to be energized more by either the external world (extraversion) or the internal world (introversion)."  What Jung called a person's psychological type consists of his or her preference in each category.

In 1921, Jung published Psychological Types, introducing the idea that each person has a psychological type. The academic language of the book made it hard to read and so few people could understand and use the ideas for practical purposes.

During World War II, two American women, Isabel Briggs Myers and her mother Katharine Cook Briggs, set out to find an easier way for people to use Jung's ideas in everyday life. They wanted people to be able to identify their psychological types without having to sift through Jung's academic theory.

My second favorite theory is Quantum Physics (mechanics).  I also thought Einstein was a cool dude because of his thinking of wearing the same thing every day, so he didn't have to take mindspace in the mornings to decide what to wear and could focus his brain on studying what was at hand.  I also enjoy his quote, "God does not play dice with the universe."   Einstein seems to have liked to ruffle feathers and shake people up to consider other avenues of thought.  I love him for that, because that's how I connect with the world also, not so much ruffling and shaking, but suggesting and consider....

The greatest commitment I made was to my husband.  It's been an e-ticket ride for 17 years, knowing one another for 20, and I am so glad to have been able to enjoy my life with him.  He's been my greatest mirror and commitment to living life fully and not settling.

I can't think of any difficult promises I've made.  If I make a promise it comes from my heart and with that, there is no difficulty attached or I sure as heck would not have promised.  Promise and difficult aren't in the same sentence for me.  A promise is a willingness to be, do, excitement for, commitment to.  Fun!  Difficult for me connects to challenging, forced, uneasiness.  Not so fun!

Do I believe in karma?: Most definitely, this lifetime and past lifetimes.  I truly believe when I put out good in the world, I get good back.  When I'm not as conscious and put out crap, I'm quickly reminded.  I also believe I've had past lives that I get the feeling, I might not have been as loving as I could have been and this lifetime gives me the opportunity to make that right, an amends if you will for when I was a putz. 

In my thinking when I know I'm pushing the envelope with karma, it's better that I take a moment, rethink, reassess and take the side of good, "to be one with the force", because I know my path will detour in an unfavorable way. 

I want the yellow brick road.  Yes, I know it will need to be repaired here and there, for my own spiritual growth...I have mortar in my tool kit and can pause my life to assimilate the lesson as I re-mortar my yellow brick for smooth paving.

Every day of my life.  My home is my sanctuary from the "real world" and I always get a kiss from my hubbie, slobbery "I love you" licks from Frisbee and meows from my kitties.  The best sounds in the world to me.

I'm sure I'll enjoy going "home" after this lifetime too...heaven, the spirit world, whatever comes next on my soul's journey will be a welcome change.  :)

AARP discounts!  Ha-ha!  Truly, I look forward to determing ways I can give back to younger generations through teaching and volunteerism.  I also look forward to getting older with my beloved, sharing the stories of our younger years, sitting on the living room floor of our Hollywood bungalow eating oatmeal and Top Ramen because we had no furniture, except milk crates, nor money, laughing at the craziness of it all, remembering the times when things were rough and we got through together, savoring a slower life, doing what we really enjoy, going golfing, hitting balls, gardening and watching it grow, walking the beach during a storm and watching the whitecaps, experiencing the first snow every year, feeling the crunching of the snow in our Sorel's underfoot while going for a walk in the forest, wearing elastic pants instead of jeans and/or shorts and keds all day.  Being thankful for the lives we led, knowing we made an impact in the world and with people we touched.  Being in the knowingness of life and having the wisdowm to live in the peaceful calm.  Relishing the joys we experienced together. 

The best part of growing up is coming into your own.  Figuring out who you really are minus all the shoulds, coulds, would of's, or living your life for other's approval and validation.  Those parents chatterings in you head, you could have been a doctor or lawyer, because in their generation, that meant something, was intellectually stimulating, provided security, reputation and prestige.  Knowing you found yourself and are doing exactly want you're meant to be doing because everything is lining up beautifully.  And...I'm happy inside.

I can just be, not have to talk, live in the quietness of life.  It's someone who likes to question and ponder life and have no right or wrong answer, being okay with nebulous.  A person who lives their life with a loving and compassionate heart, with no agenda as to how our time will be spent enjoying one another's company.  I enjoy a storyteller, a friend who shares their life through stories and gives me a canvas or framework of who they are. 

Someone I've traveled lifetimes with before.  Breaks past the "getting to know" phase, as there's an instant comfort with their spirit.  A knowing and trust that no harm or hurt feelings will come from this person.

As my friend Justine says, there are only so many friends that can be in your front row.  What makes them unique to be in your front row?

The windows letting nature come in.  The great parks to walk my doggie that are close to home.  My garden because it has such personality and has grown into something I love.  After yoga or before bed, my jacuzzi tub with the block glass window sharing the light, but not letting anybody see in.

Every home has comfort and love because that's what you bring into a space with you.  But I'd miss the memories of family and friends enjoying one another's company, the many cups of 'tea and scones' conversations, the DVD nights or Sunday/Monday football games with nachos.  I can look to a chair, the bar stools, the kitchen or the chaise and remember great conversations with people, friends helping prepare dinners, laughing with friends who don't know how to chop, use the blender, or use the Cuisinart and having a great laughs over messes on the floor, calling the dog to lick it up.  The space brings in the memories and that what I'd miss, recalling them though the visuals.

People's intentions.  My husband can read people beautifully, his intuition tells him exactly what's up with someone.  He reads tells, body language and so gets where people are coming from.  I, on the other hand, always try to find and see the brilliance and light in others, imagine what and who they could be minus the superfluous veils, if they really got real with themselves, dumped ego, stopped allowing judgements, other agendas to intercede and building expectations up like barriers to a fort.

Living this way, I've been naive in my learnings that not everyone wants to grow spiritually, wants to better who they are as a human being, or is appreciative of feedback.  Everyone doesn't come to me with their agenda(s) nicely served up to me on a silver platter, so I know what direction to go next.  I have to listen to what they say and what they say isn't always their truth or what they mean, they may not even know their truth. 

I've learned quite a bit from Maya Angelou when she said, "people show you who they are, believe them."  In my naviete, I've thought, no they didn't mean that, I'll give them another chance.  Bam!  Yes, in fact they did mean that.  Thank you for reminding me of the lesson Maya, I move on...

I am happy right in this moment and want for nothing.  I am blessed with a wonderful life!

If we're talking "wish for": I want our soldiers home, families reunited; the unemployed given employment and provided an opportunity to serve their families and country with honor with how they wish to share their gifts and talents; a slowing of global warming so Mother polar bears can give their children food and a safe place to grow; more people to share their gifts through volunteerism and getting involved in their communities to support the world globally by doing what they can within, using their voice for change, awareness and exploring greater levels of inner consciousness; my really big wish is for this planet to develop into a sanctuary for peace and love among all.

How to make my printer work, foolproof.

Not being able to touch enough people to give it.

Most will say trust.  I find if I trust from the beginning, then get burned, at least I started out trusting and loving and put my all into it from the get-go.  I'd rather live my life that way instead of making someone jump through hoops to "get" to the trusting.  That takes too much time for me and along the way, I'm wasting my time questioning intentions and agendas.

I believe Maya Angelou, "when people show you who they are, believe them."  Through my experiences with them, they will show me who they are and I can choose to engage and continue the relationship, or run as fast as I can in the other direction.  Karma, and the goodness that I treat someone with, will send good energy and positive vibes into the world, through my efforts.  If someone choses to treat me with anything but love and compassion, they're creating their karmic journey for this lifetime and the next.

What are you most passionate about?  Are you living it?  How are you using your passion to contribute to mankind and the planet?

When my hubbie and I saw Andre Bocelli last December.  He sang straight into my heart.  I felt myself rising out of my chair with tears streaming down my face, two thirds of the way into his concert.  My husband wiped my face without my even realizing tears were flowing.  I stood the rest of the time as I'd done at many a Janet Jackson concerts, (well with Janet I'm usually dancing the whole time, not "just standing").  It's not too cool to stand in a Bocelli concert, much different crowd than Janet.  Not one person said a thing to me.  I felt as if I was the only person in the room he was singing to, the only audience member, what a gift.  A moment in time to live such joy, such genius, such undearing love of art - all in one snapshot of my life.

A time for solace.  A time to be at peace, reflect, pause, recollect and then get real clear and use the mind, or words, purpose-fully to ask what's needed or to thank in gratitude.  Visually, I see angels holding hands, spirit guides, people I love who've passed, Buddha, Ghandi and other wise and loving souls, poised to deliver my "askings" for the Highest Good of myself and the planet.  I may think I know what that is, but once I say a prayer, it goes in their hands to determine the best course of deliverance and action. 

I am not attached to what I share, I give it freely and know it will be handled in a way that best serves me, those I touch and the Universal forces at play.  I don't think all my prayers reach the 'top dog', sometimes my angels get the task and go about their way as to it's course.  Not all my prayers are of the greatest urgency and are handled accordingly, by the hierarchy of souls, those "assigned" to assist with my life path.

It would be very large.  It would have all the people I love in one place at one time, along with all the animals I've ever had in my life.  It would have oceans with sunrises and sunsets, mountains like the Himalayan mountains so I could climb and not need oxygen towards the top and to see the beauty surrounding once there, there'd be birds and flowers never before seen, a golf course here and there to play a few rounds every couple days with my hubbie, it would have all the art museums of the world, it would have any kind of music I wanted to listen to, live, right in front of me.  I'd be able to shuffle (like a CD player) any dance company in front of me and any piece I wanted to see.

It would be a place of peace, meadows of lavender to lay in and feel the grass on the back of my neck and legs, streams to sit in and feel the water gurgling and trickling around my body, snowing so I can feel it land on my face and in my mouth, and lakes so I can take a nap in a floating sailboat.  I'd have my hubbie with me to romp around and play and enjoy all these things together.

It would have those souls who helped me out in this lifetime and we'd discuss and reassess what worked, what didn't, did I want to go back, if so, under what agreements and circumstances, who'd come down with me.

Heaven would be where I'd feel the warmth and love of all mankind, enveloping my soul.

The opportunity to let go.  Release frustration.  Move on.

Merely to give of self.  It won't matter where, you'll feel your way.  Something will resonate within, an act will connect to your passion and you'll want to immerse yourself in giving to that. 

The best encouragement I can give is to just start.  Call a friend you admire and ask them if they volunteer and where, can you go with when they go, they'll introduce you to others, or you'll see a need and it hits your funny bone because it's what you do well and enjoy.  Or, just google nonprofit organizations with your zip code, go to Volunteer Match and query organizations in your area that work with homeless, children and youth, seniors, animals, the environment, the list is endless.  You'll find something that will click with who you are and how you'll be in service to those souls you touch. 

The first step is an action step, just give of you.  Step out of your comfort zone and go for it!  You'll meet some wonderfully, gifted souls along the way who will teach you much.

I can't pick just one:
Song: Somewhere (sung by Barbra Streisand),
Poem: Little Boy Blue by Eugene Field,
Art: Monet's Water Lilies

That I'd have the house paid off, all bills paid for a lifetime (water, phone, electric, the "living monthly" bills) and I could use my life to just be and give of myself without having to make money. 

I'd want enough money to take children around the world to see the finest museums and art in the world, (instead of just seeing them in a book), take art workshops from some of the most famous and best artists in the world (art, dance, poetry, written word, music), and be able to pay for children to experience other culture's art and travel the world so they could experience beauty and be inspired to create the art from within, what resides in their souls.

With art and culture being cut from schools and curriculum, I'd want children to be able to explore and discover art and what that means to them, how it resonates within, how art adds value to their life...how their art and what they create allows for questioning and adds purpose to their lives and those having the opportunity to enjoy their "works of art".

The quietness, jammie days, peace and naps.

A loving kiss, with my husband this morning and every morning to start our day together.  'Course we share a few more here and there throughout the day too.  :)

When I see someone discover the essence of their soul, it's purpose here and then their manifestation of who they are and how they share that with us.  That brings more love into the world, along with smiles, joy and blissfulness.

Presents don't really matter anymore.  It's the conversations and the initmate connections that are the amazing gifts to me.

How cute my husband is when he laughs, bubbie.