Soul Expression

It is a beautiful day here in Charlotte, NC where I am house and dog sitting for friends. I am enjoying some reflective time and thinking about a birthday party I attended last night at a swanky restaurant. We had a fabulous good time and I enjoyed myself very much. I couldn't help noticing that this particular restaurant, and it's surrounding bars and restaurants, seemed to be a place for those who wish to be "seen". As I gazed around at the $500 haircuts, women trying their very best to move with grace and elegance in dangerously high stilettos that is the current fashion, and all the high end designer fashion, I began to think about where our sense of validation comes from. It made me wonder how many people were presenting themselves in a way that was a true expression of their authentic self and how many were trying to convey an image they thought others would see as desirable. Don't get me wrong--I am in no way judging or criticizing anyone; in fact it

I was gazing at the picture hanging above my fireplace yesterday afternoon--a beautiful photo of a quiet, serene beach. White sand, calm blue waters, with a storm building in the distant sky. I got to thinking just how much our life can be like the ocean, and how our perceptions of that shape our experience of life. The ocean is in constant flux, much like life. Sometimes it's calm and serene. Sometimes it's incredibly rocky and choppy. Sometimes the waves are gentle and soothing. This is how life comes at us, yes? Sometimes full-force and we feel like we have to hold on for dear life. Sometimes it's calm and smooth and we sigh and relax into those periods of tranquility. But it's not so much how the waters of life are that affect us. Rather, it's about our attachment to how it should be, and our resistance to what is that shapes our reality. We so desperately want the waters to remain calm. We get scared, frustrated and angry when they are not. Everything