Facetime isn’t just for iPhones.

You know what’s amazing?
There are millions of people in the world and yet we all look different.
There are so many combinations of two eyes, one nose, and a mouth it’s amazing.
It certainly makes my face making attempts with a Mr Potato Head look infantile.
Because if you really stop to think about it, how is that possible?
Furthermore, if the eyes are the window to the soul then your smile is it’s door.
Growing up my Mum often pointed out people’s unique or beautiful smiles.
They not only change a persons appearance but display a light or happiness from someones soul onto their face.
Even crooked smiles are lovely, because why should they be straight?
Trees that wind and twist are often more interesting than the straight and narrow ones, the same could be said of smiles.
In a busy distracting world “grownups,” tend to lose their childlike wonder.
If you’ve ever noticed,anyone that retains it comes off as “magical” or easily amused.
That’s not so because those people have just found how to quiet their minds to catch the things in life that often go unnoticed.
In the film American Beauty,I once thought the bag in the wind scene to be stupid(below).

However, it isn’t and it’s a good example of just quieting yourself to notice the unseen beauty around you.
When I find myself looking too much at ground level, I know it must be time to look up.

Because if you fail to look beyond yourself or your immediate surroundings you’ll miss out on the beautiful sky and looming buildings just above your head.
As we know, a bird cannot fly very far stuck in a cage….
The “world” looks up to supposed perfect celebrities, but they forget its better to look down.
After all kids see at a lower level(eye-level) that’s why they catch more than us.
While were thinking of jobs, appointments, bills, or a current dilemma we miss the small things like a passing smile from a stranger, the little fuzzy caterpillar climbing a tree, or tiny birds hopping along the sidewalk in all their cute glory.
Life is a series of many small moments, and while in our “grownup” heads we simply miss them.

some of my favorite smiles:

Keep looking up(and down!),

September 17, 2014

Parents just don’t understand

As the young Will Smith sang“Parents just don’t understand.”
While 16 year old me agreed with that, I actually felt that way not too long ago.
When I was first taken to my parents home for recovery I was highly agitated about it.
I even accused them of kidnapping me!
However, after one day when I was particularly mean to my Mum(i.e taking it out on Her) I began to think that maybe it’s ME that doesn’t understand…
After all they want the same thing I do, which is ultimately to get my life back.
As teens we all despised our own parents at one point or another and I found myself feeling that way again.
Although at the time I failed to take into account that they’re just people too.
We all were struggling with how to deal in the midst of this tragedy(see here.)
After I thought about it more and reminded myself that we were all working towards the same goal, it helped lessen the frustrations.
Because, you know they’re just humans too.
In fact they were a pair of rock n’ roll kids who basically ran away from home together at the age of 18 or so.
See the awesome “professional picture” of them below from the 1980’s which is my favorite. Many a visitor to my NewYork apartment marveled at it.

When it comes down to it between these two humans, I think they did a pretty good job in raising me. They truly love my sometimes crazy self.
In sum, who I am today has in a large part been due to my parents.
Whether it be due to age or trials and tribulations, I’m proud of who I am.
They helped me when I needed it, and even when I accuse them of kidnapping they still love me and your parents do too, so try and cut them a break once in awhile.

Rock on and cheers!

September 12, 2014

Are you a Beyonce’ Babe?

This is a blog post for all the “Beyonce Babes,”out there.

I was thinking recently about a few of my very good girlfriends and I came to the conclusion that they’re “Beyonce’ Babes.”
That is their designation because they possess the qualities of strong independent women.
As a person of the fairer gender that is what I look up to and aim for.
These are ladies I’m proud to call my friends.
They are women that take care of themselves, rarely rely on a guy, possess creativity, intelligence, and adventure.
These are the type of ladies I want to have a party with in life for a long time to come.

Thank you for going against the age old stereotypes that society has come up with over the years. Whether your a male or female, don’t fret over what others think.
Perhaps that is something that comes with age, but you can get there faster by taking notice of the lessons or mistakes that others have learned.
It’s no wonder the elderly rock stretchy pants and loafers like there is no tomorrow, they simply don’t care!
In conclusion Ladies and Gentleman take heed from them and shed the opinions of others that you don’t need.

rockin’ “stretchy pants,” yours truly,

September 8, 2014

Make a list of donts

“If your always wishing you were somewhere else, you’ll miss most of your life.” -unknown.

All of us at one time or another focus on what we don’t have.
However, when you flip the switch and focus on what you DO have that list of don’ts, suddenly becomes much more positive.
Lately I have decided to make a list of don’ts in order to feel better.
For example:
While I may have had a devastating stroke, I don’t have many of the problems associated with one, thus I made a list of what I don’t have.
This is like many positivity exercises, although I’m no new age guru.
While I did previously subscribe to some of it, I no longer do.
Instead of believing in only myself, I do indeed believe in a higher being.
Part of that is still very much positivity,health, and wealth.
While your list may be different than mine, I think you too will find your list puts a spin for the better on an otherwise negative view.
Furthermore by taking note of what you don’t have rather than be saddened by it, you’ll probably be more grateful.

While wallowing in your own problems it’s easy to get swallowed by them.
There are times I’m sure when you’d rather be someone else.
Little do you know there is someone who would wish to be you!

I went on for months wishing I was anyone but me.
Except one day I met a woman bound to a wheelchair, that really wished to be me.Little did I know the blessings I had because I was too busy looking much farther than my nose.
When your studying for a test if your overly concerned with the final grade, you won’t do well in studying for it.
I was so worried about where I would end up I forgot to look where I was at that moment.
The best advice my parents received while I was in an ICU dying was this: “Don’t look any farther than right here.[ taps nose]

To summarize, if you look too far in the future or too far in the past, those thoughts will eat you alive.
Life, for me at least truly is day by day.
After all, we aren’t promised a tomorrow.
The best you can do is take advantage of your here and now.
I am still learning as are all of us, but at least I can share my wisdom in hopes you will avoid your own troubles.

Cheers my fellow friends and travelers! I bid you well on this journey,