Distractions From The Now

Boy, you can't read a paper or turn on the TV without everyone telling how bad things are. Kind of reminds me of the guy I saw in Midtown NYC as a kid carrying around the world will end sign over his shoulder. So I guess were supposed to spend the better part of our days of our life focus on how bad the economy is. I say there are enough bad things that happen to us as humans that we can't avoid such as getting really sick or losing someone close to us. So when you wake up in the morning, see the sun shining or even rain, it's still a great day because it's one more day you can choose to feel alive and free to pursue your passion.

I had some of my great successes during the last recession of 1989 because I was forced to be more creative to keep growing my photography business. If I crawled into a hole, I imagine you wouldn't be reading this blog because I would have thrown in the towel long ago. Sometimes life will shake you up if you get complacent and who doesn't want to coast when things are rolling along in an easy fashion.

Ok, I agree that the people who you trust, the elected officials and the Fed, make bad short term decisions to avoid recessions to save their jobs. But you can't play the game forever and propping up only works for so long. If you don't like it, you can vote them out or run yourself. No fiat currency has ever lasted except gold (I suggest you buy a few gold American Eagles to put away for when a hot dog costs $75.00. I used to pay a quarter for one.) Invest conservatively, keep some cash and bonds, avoid debt, and own some gold and you won't have to worry and watch the markets all day. On the other hand, if you love the drama......

Feeling Bored

   All too often people need stimulus to keep from feeling bored. In a mind centered world, this is all to easy to understand. The mind needs constant activity and attention.  So we turn to television, the internet, eating when were not really hungry, or work our way into drama by focusing on things that are ultimately not under our control. 

   Instead of falling into the boredom trap, why not try to notice the thousand miracles that surround you every day. These are missed  because they are not of the ego's focus. Within these ten thousand things of the world exists the hidden energy that exists in all of life. The clouds, stars, flowers, trees, birds all are part of the energy that inhabits every living thing. Once you notice that energy, it can stop the mind because it is not part of the mind. The living energy in the universe can't be seen, touched, smelled or heard. Yet it pervades every single thing and every breath you take. Because it can't be seen, the mind can't perceive it, only you can.

   If you took a human body and perfectly placed each part on a table, it would still be all of you yet it would be unable to live in the conventional sense. In the pieces taken apart, you couldn't breath, walk or talk. The invisible energy of life force would not be on the table to view because it exists within the totality of the body but not in the parts themselves. Just yesterday, I was standing on my deck in early morning sunshine by some mornng glory flowers. Seemingly out of no where a tiny humming bird magically appeared suspended only a few feet from my eyes. It was so startling that for a minute my mind stopped thinking.   I just enjoyed that perfect moment of "no mind." I was living in the now. Next time your feeling bored, take a few moments and notice your breath and how it happens without thought. Sense the energy you can't touch in all things and notice how we are and always will be part of it all. Life rarely gets boring if you keep the a little of the awe of nature and the universe within your realm of your thinking mind.

Rain

   What a storm yesterday. I am blessed to have a great view of a golf course in my yard and from the upstairs balcony, you can see much farther then at eye level. If you view a place in nature on a regular basis from the same perspective, you get to see nature in it's purest form, one of continuous change. Certain events have a visual quality that stops your mind and you are totally inspired from simply looking. This is often after the most dramatic changes. 

   Subtle changes are the seasons which happen in small stages over the course of a few months. The dramatic, mind stopping events are large sudden changes such as to wake up to the volume and majesty of a snow scene blanketing the landscape. The quiet and muffled air is deafening in it's quietness if you know what I mean. It's so different that it's the "nothing" that grabs your attention.

   Yesterday nature showed it's force from a tropical storm. The sky swelling from sea water picked up in the Atlantic, dumped nine inches of rain in the course of single day. Seeing the ponds over run and the rivers of water made into rapids where there was only a walking path was incredible. The whole scene was transformed from the power of nature. This morning the sun is shining and the water is gone, looking for the most part as if it was only a mirage. You can experience the essence of life and your true self from these few precious moments when the mind has been stilled and the chatter has been silenced if for only a few minutes.

September Song

   Can you believe the summer is almost over! The fall is wonderful and all seasons have their charm before they wear out their welcome. Crisp mornings and warm liquid afternoons await us and the golf course is of course, a great place to spend time outdoors taking it all in.  This is my busiest season. The schedule is insane trying to get all the portraits finished and ready before the holiday season. If you are thinking of getting your family portraits in time for gift giving, best to call right away and get on the schedule.

 "Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful."