the problem with problems

Life is full of illusions - and if you don't believe this, consider reading The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle.

One illusion?

Problems

You can't touch a problem. In fact, you can't even solve one.  Realize that there are no problems - only situations that can either be dealt with right now or left alone and accepted.  

If you became completely present - focusing your attention on this very moment - it is impossible to have a problem. Our minds create problems to create an identity of sorts. Pain. 

Don't identify yourself with pain. Make the choice to create no more pain for yourself. Give up the suffering of the 'problem illusion.' 

Un-do the collective contamination on this planet by making the conscious choice that you will create no more pain for yourself by identifying your life - your self - as problematic.

The next time you have a 'problem', I challenge you to go ahead and describe to yourself why it is actually a problem in this very moment.

Problems are mind-made and they need time to survive. But they cannot survive in the actuality of right now.

perception vs. truth

Ever walked through the rain

and

felt

like

the 

drops

never

touched

you?

be there...

"On behalf of every man, looking out for every girl - you are the God and the weight of her world."

~John Mayer

Thinking of the upcoming "Father's Day" and each year I think of the same thing....

It's not just a day for Fathers.  It's a day to all the men who have made a positive difference in the life of a child or a grandchild - any child, even the ones in adult skin.  There are quite a few men in my life who are not blood related - who choose to be there for me, for my kids.  And the ones who are true blood - well - they choose to be there too.  

I am so lucky to have this yet I am also reminded of the ones who aren't.  I have always believed that parents who do not make their kids feel like the most important people on the planet (fathers specifically) are contributing to one of the most catastrophic man-made epidemics our race will endure.

John Mayer won song of the year for his lyrics to the song "Daughters" and it's no mystery why...

"Fathers - be good to your daughters, daughters will live like you do.  Girls become lovers - who turn into mothers, so mothers be good to your daughters too."

Men, boys - realize the power you have to give someone their wings in life.

It's the most important job you'll ever have.

Thank You, Dad.

when you close your eyes

Who do you say goodnight to each night?

Include those who may not hear you in your thoughts...

it's true - you

Stephen Hawking once said that the more aware an animal is of its environment, the more successful it will be.

I can't help but think how connected this is to Eckhart Tolle's belief that lack of self-awareness is the most concerning human epidemic - that consciousness IS success, personal success and thus a collective success.

And then, conveniently, the Buddha.."It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. It cannot be taken from you."

If we all strive to find our own truth, the truth is inseparable from who we are.

Believe in yourself or at least let me believe in you.

up close

Had the rare opportunity last night to watch a giant Leatherback turtle (shell at least 4 feet from head to tail) come out of the surf and nest on the beach. I stared at her in awe for at least 45 minutes as she slowly 'flippered' her way through the sand. I could not stop thinking about how old these creatures are, both on the scale of evolution and this one particular turtle.  She was not afraid of me as I stood my short distance behind her, watching her use her back flippers to create a corkscrew motion in the sand, digging a hole two feet deep beneath her.

The sheer size of her was mind-blowing.

Woke up this morning and thought it was a dream.

Then I saw the tracks on the beach...

atmospheres

It's a rainy day over most of south Florida which means I'm in this boat on this lake

I've been here before - waist deep....head first....drowning - but today I'm very much afloat. It will never stop raining no matter how I evolve...and I like that.

But it always makes me stop and think about

what rain sounds like to me on this particular day...