...to live in this world
you must be able
to do three things:
to love what is mortal;
to hold it
against your bones knowing
your own life depends on it;
and, when the time comes to let it go,
to let it go.
--Mary Oliver
1/31/10
Wisdom from Mary Olver...the last lines from the poem, "Blackwater Woods"
...to live in this world
you must be able
to do three things:
to love what is mortal;
to hold it
against your bones knowing
your own life depends on it;
and, when the time comes to let it go,
to let it go.
--Mary Oliver
1/29/10
Nothing special
Zen environments lie nowhere but in our everyday living, existing just like the process of falling in drops. How do we listen to the sound of falling in drops? By leaving no space between ourselves, as listeners, and each drop. And by not clinging to any special drop. At this very moment you can be alive to this sound? Can you be aware of the process of your own life falling in drops--without freezing a drop of it?--Dainin Katagiri
1/27/10
Obama digs deep and finishes strong
I like this final passage to Obama's State of the Union Speech. Very Reagan-esque in stature, confidence, and optimism.Remember this - I never suggested that change would be easy, or that I can do it alone. Democracy in a nation of three hundred million people can be noisy and messy and complicated. And when you try to do big things and make big changes, it stirs passions and controversy. That's just how it is.
Those of us in public office can respond to this reality by playing it safe and avoid telling hard truths. We can do what's necessary to keep our poll numbers high, and get through the next election instead of doing what's best for the next generation.
But I also know this: if people had made that decision fifty years ago or one hundred years ago or two hundred years ago, we wouldn't be here tonight. The only reason we are is because generations of Americans were unafraid to do what was hard; to do what was needed even when success was uncertain; to do what it took to keep the dream of this nation alive for their children and grandchildren.
On what it means to be an American, but this is ignored and ridiculed by the GOP. They simply don't care about LGBT Americans
As a nation built on the principle of equality, we should recognize and welcome change that will build a stronger more cohesive military. It is time to repeal “don’t ask, don’t tell” and allow our military leaders to create policy that holds our service members to a single standard of conduct and discipline -- former JCOS chairman General John Shalikashvili.
"The Party of No" at the SOTU address
An insightful tweet from Nate Silver, of www.fivethirtyeight.com:Republican refusal to stand up & clap for centrist policies that poll at 70%+ shows why they don't have 2010 locked up by any means.
46 minutes ago reply
I haven't been blogging lately but am back now
In the last few days, I got some phone calls or emails from friends wondering if I was okay because I hadn't blogged for the past few days. I am fine but just have been working everyday (including weekends) on several clients' businesses. I might not have fresh produce in the frig or haven't been seen at the gym of late, but I am here...doing my best to be present in the middle of a very full life.(This recent photo shows me sporting my princess Beverly Hills Hotel bag -- given to me by my fabulous friend Phil -- that I use to carry fresh chard from the farmers market or my soaking wet gym shorts & jock. Darling, it's all about the yin-yang. Oh, yeah!)
1/26/10
I don't see love in those eyes
Ann Coulter, step aside because there is another neo-con gal in town who supports the homophobes than even you do.
"Hollywood and political celebrities are such lemmings. AIDS ribbons. Foreign baby adoptions. Livestrong bracelets. Now, every fame-seeker and left-wing panderer wants his/her mouth duct-taped to show solidarity with the gay marriage movement. The latest slave to fashion? Cindy McCain, following in the oh-so-edgy-for-Tinseltown footsteps of her daughter, Meghan. Who’s silencing these Prop. 8 opponents? They’re more overexposed than Mariah Carey’s bosom.
"They can talk and talk and talk without fear of retribution, intimidation, or physical violence. Meanwhile, Prop. 8 supporters and donors have been hounded, threatened, blacklisted, beaten, and forced to resign from their jobs for exercising their political free speech. Cindy and Meghan McCain’s silence on the continued thuggery of their anti-Prop. 8 duct-tape wielders speaks volumes."
--Michelle Malkin
"Hollywood and political celebrities are such lemmings. AIDS ribbons. Foreign baby adoptions. Livestrong bracelets. Now, every fame-seeker and left-wing panderer wants his/her mouth duct-taped to show solidarity with the gay marriage movement. The latest slave to fashion? Cindy McCain, following in the oh-so-edgy-for-Tinseltown footsteps of her daughter, Meghan. Who’s silencing these Prop. 8 opponents? They’re more overexposed than Mariah Carey’s bosom."They can talk and talk and talk without fear of retribution, intimidation, or physical violence. Meanwhile, Prop. 8 supporters and donors have been hounded, threatened, blacklisted, beaten, and forced to resign from their jobs for exercising their political free speech. Cindy and Meghan McCain’s silence on the continued thuggery of their anti-Prop. 8 duct-tape wielders speaks volumes."
--Michelle Malkin
Rediscovering our basic nature
Jeff sends me this powerful quote:The one constant of love is the release of emotion. Love is not learned but brought forth from within because it is the basic nature of humans. Only fear causes us to bury the need to love. When we accept our worthiness and reject indifference, only then are we able to be outlets for love.
-- Madisyn Taylor
1/21/10
Democrats get the message, but not the GOP
Another savvy piece. Obama will begin to call the GOP's bluff: help me improve health care, banking regulation, and employment. And predictably, they will say "no" and be called out by voters.
As he should, Obama reins in out-of-control banks
Finally, Obama does the smart thing and goes after one of the main causes of this financial crisis: greedy bankers who privatize profits and dump risk and losses on the public. Just like they did during the Reagan-era, with the savings & loan crisis.Read about it here.
Doing what needs to be done...sent by Richard
There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.
--Anais Nin
Ted Olson makes a convincing case for gay marriage
I know it might be hard to believe, but not all conservatives are neanderthals, with Ted Olson being a great case in point. Read his recent opinion piece in favor of gay marriage. Brilliant.
1/19/10
Lessons from tonight's race in Massachusetts
I give credit to Scott Brown for running a smart, populist campaign against a lackluster and timid Democratic candidate who assumed she was going to win. For example, Coakley had 19 events after the primary through Sunday; Scott Brown had 66. The Democrats have no one to blame but themselves.
However, I don't believe today's result were a referendum on Obama but it shows America's dissatisfaction with his handling of the economy. According to a poll today, 53% of MA electorate approves of Obama, 38% disapproved, which is about right. In fact, Obama came into the office with more pressing problems (including the real possibility of a depression and worldwide financial collapse) than any other president since FDR, and he stabilized things pretty quick. Congressional Quarterly, the impartial Hill magazine, rates Obama as the one of the most successful first-year presidents.
Obama needs to become a better politician, and be tougher with the GOP, Wall Street, and anyone in his party goes off on his own. He needs to take another page from the Reagan playbook (where he continued to blame Jimmy Carter and his policies until the economy turned around) and appropriately remind the country that Bush let Wall Street run wild during his eight years and we are still paying the piper for that. Reagan's inner circle knew how to insulate their leader from criticism even though he made some big mistakes, like approving clandestine arms deals, etc, and Obama's team needs to do that for their boss. Furthermore, I can't imagine Karl Rove ever allowing a situation in Massachusetts to develop like that; he would have squelched it.
Most of all, I am concerned about how this could derail much needed health care reform in this country. It makes no sense that our country spends twice as much per capita on health care as Australia and Denmark and we have a lower average life expectancy than either. And over 35 million Americans are uninsured, and people like me can't shop for a better health care because I have a pre-existing condition (having recovered from an early stage melanoma despite having overall excellent health) and beholden to my insurance company. This is crazy.
Obama needs to get tougher, stay optimistic, and remind voters which party is the real agent of the banks and insurance companies, not the people. Mr. Brown cleverly used his pickup truck and folksy manner to win tonight; but make no mistake, he is no man of the people. Obama really needs to lead!
However, I don't believe today's result were a referendum on Obama but it shows America's dissatisfaction with his handling of the economy. According to a poll today, 53% of MA electorate approves of Obama, 38% disapproved, which is about right. In fact, Obama came into the office with more pressing problems (including the real possibility of a depression and worldwide financial collapse) than any other president since FDR, and he stabilized things pretty quick. Congressional Quarterly, the impartial Hill magazine, rates Obama as the one of the most successful first-year presidents.
Obama needs to become a better politician, and be tougher with the GOP, Wall Street, and anyone in his party goes off on his own. He needs to take another page from the Reagan playbook (where he continued to blame Jimmy Carter and his policies until the economy turned around) and appropriately remind the country that Bush let Wall Street run wild during his eight years and we are still paying the piper for that. Reagan's inner circle knew how to insulate their leader from criticism even though he made some big mistakes, like approving clandestine arms deals, etc, and Obama's team needs to do that for their boss. Furthermore, I can't imagine Karl Rove ever allowing a situation in Massachusetts to develop like that; he would have squelched it.
Most of all, I am concerned about how this could derail much needed health care reform in this country. It makes no sense that our country spends twice as much per capita on health care as Australia and Denmark and we have a lower average life expectancy than either. And over 35 million Americans are uninsured, and people like me can't shop for a better health care because I have a pre-existing condition (having recovered from an early stage melanoma despite having overall excellent health) and beholden to my insurance company. This is crazy.Obama needs to get tougher, stay optimistic, and remind voters which party is the real agent of the banks and insurance companies, not the people. Mr. Brown cleverly used his pickup truck and folksy manner to win tonight; but make no mistake, he is no man of the people. Obama really needs to lead!
1/18/10
The key to happiness
Most unhappy people I know never seem to consider the question below. Instead, it is all about "me," rather than "we." To truly give with both hands is a gift to yourself in addition to others.Life's most persistent and urgent question is: what are you doing for others?
--Martin Luther King, Jr.
1/17/10
Letting go of ego
This passage below summarizes all that is good in my parents' relationship of 51 years. They have a total "we" relationship style that is love-, not fear-based. This passage reminds me of what Marianne Williamson used to say, "Do you want to be right or be happy?" The ego rather be right. David's words are inspiring and insightful.
If the partners in a relationship are mainly concerned with proving themselves right, then the ego rules the relationship. If they are concerned with how to make the relationship work, then cooperative love rules. Ego, which means "I," is the main obstacle to intimacy, which implies "we." In reality, there is no solid, separate self. We are all interconnected and contingent upon one another.
--David Richo
1/16/10
Skillfully working with my fears
The Buddhists encourage us to take the Middle Path in which we don't deny or overindulge our fears. Instead, simply noticing and gently "holding" them when they inevitably arise. When I was younger, I tended to veer off into either extreme. Not so much now. But this requires staying on the spot, being mindful and waking up (over and over again). This practice is challenging and wonderfully-rewarding stuff.
1/15/10
If I lived in Haiti...
...I would find it difficult to keep moving ahead while being surrounded by poverty, the widespread degradation of its natural environment, political corruption and crime, and frequently-occurring natural disasters. This impoverished islands has suffered through many hurricanes in the past decade and now it is recovering from a massive earthquake. So much suffering!Having watched the news about Haiti, I continue to be impressed by the resiliency of human beings and their ability to accept what is and move forward. My prayers are with the people of Haiti.
1/14/10
"Not always so"
“Not always so” is one of Suzuki-roshi’s main lessons, illustrating the idea that we suffer because our preconceived notions and expectations. In contrast, having what Suzuki-roshi called “fresh eyes” requires us to be awake, live in the present and be willing to accept what is in front of us.
1/12/10
Ted Olson’s Opening Statement in Prop. 8 Trial
The federal trial over the unconstitutionality of Proposition 8 began today with a powerful opening statement by attorney Theodore Olson, who with David Boies is leading the legal team assembled by the American Foundation for Equal Rights to litigate the case:This case is about marriage and equality. Plaintiffs are being denied both the right to marry, and the right to equality under the law.
The Supreme Court of the United States has repeatedly described the right to marriage as “one of the vital personal rights essential to the orderly pursuit of happiness by free men;” a “basic civil right;” a component of the constitutional rights to liberty, privacy, association, and intimate choice; an expression of emotional support and public commitment; the exercise of spiritual unity; and a fulfillment of one’s self.
In short, in the words of the highest court in the land, marriage is “the most important relation in life,” and “of fundamental importance for all individuals.”
As the witnesses in this case will elaborate, marriage is central to life in America. It promotes mental, physical and emotional health and the economic strength and stability of those who enter into a marital union. It is the building block of family, neighborhood and community. The California Supreme Court has declared that the right to marry is of “central importance to an individual’s opportunity to live a happy, meaningful, and satisfying life as a full member of society.”
Proposition 8 ended the dream of marriage, the most important relation in life, for the plaintiffs and hundreds of thousands of Californians.
For the full text of his opening statement, click here.
1/11/10
More ancient wisdom
Sent by my friend Richard:The temple bell stops
but I still hear the sound
coming out of the flowers.
--Basho, 1680
1/10/10
The biggest one on the block
This graphic says a lot about the psychology of men and the builders of these skyscapers.
1/9/10
A favorite quote from "The Course in Miracles"
Love is the answer, whatever the question.--The Course in Miracles
However, love sometimes means saying no, setting boundaries, and stopping violence or cruelty.
1/7/10
Olson & Boies' latest step to overturn Prop 8
The Pro Prop 8 people don't want this trial to be televised because they know that transparency is the enemy of fear and prejudice. However, Olsen & Boies win this first battle in what is predicted to be a long court case.
A modern lesson from a 13th century Zen monk
Enlightenment is intimacy with all things.--Dōgen Zenji
1/6/10
The fundamental delusion
The fundamental delusion is believing your perception that you exist separately, apart from others. --Reb Anderson, Zen Priest and author
1/4/10
Dance great, Judith Jamison's mantra for success
Happy birthday to a friend
A belated birthday wish to a very special friend, wonderful husband and father, accomplished artist, and the list goes on ...Happy Birthday big D!
1/3/10
Greatest feeling...
is the feeling of being unconditionally loved/loving unconditionally, with family and friends. I am feeling that today. Happy 20-10!!!
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