Pick a Color

We all know what it’s like. Not in the mood for dancing. Not in the mood for capitulation. Not in the mood for love.

What is this mood thing? It seems to be a state of being of the mind. Like an overcast cerebrum or a bright sunny pineal. I picture it as a reflection of our mental fitness at the moment. Our body gets tired, maybe our mind gets tired, too; or pumped up.

Most of us seem to have the ability to adjust our moods. Maybe we don’t have 100% control, but the conscious mind does seem to have some say about the moods that the subconscious brews up. The thing is, there are subtleties to moods. It’s not always storms or bright sun. I know how to deal with the truly foul funk, but how about the mild malaise?

Half the battle for me is recognizing the power of the “mood” to cast my life for me, hour by hour. Last night I found myself at a fun birthday party with music and dancing and pretty women in party dresses who wanted to talk with me and dance with me. But I was just not in the mood. It was only there at the club that I was able to see how much of a drudgery I had concocted in my mind. It probably took me days to get myself into such a state, and I couldn’t see it until it hit me in the face. Sometimes just paying attention and checking in is half the battle.

More Bigger!

This is the time for grand plans. Small plans take care of themselves. In fact, the year will take care of itself, if we just sit back. Grand plans need some insight and foresight.

We all have big things we’d like to do sometime in the future. Travel to Africa. Find a new career. Take painting classes. For me, like I mentioned a couple of days ago, it’s produce the play, finish the book, make a short film, take a relaxing vacation.

Nice start. But before I move forward, I need to really stretch the ideas. Reality has a way of encroaching on grand goals. But reality doesn’t have to encroach on the ideas. Thinking big doesn’t cost anything. Sometimes you have to go too far if you’re going to find out where the border is.

Produce the play? How about produce the play in ten cities? How about produce the play myself next month? How about recruit Lindsay Lohann to play the lead? She’s probably available.

Short film? How about feature? How about show the film? Have a fabulous screening party, invite everyone I know.

Vacation? How about take three months off? How about stranding myself on an island? How about getting a full massage every day of the vacation?

These aren’t necessarily reasonable ideas, but this isn’t execution time, this is idea time. I need to make sure I’ve made plenty of room for reality.

Gregor Butterfly

The year is new. Fresh as a baby. It is morning in the world. What are we going to do?

Same as last year? Do the same things, perhaps just a bit better? Is yesterday, last week, last month roughly the same kind of day, week, month we want to have this year?

Most of us want some serious change, but most of us have a hard time making that change happen. What is transformation about? Or better, what brings it about? What has to happen for the fat man to become skinny? The lethargic woman energized. The blocked flowing. The undid done.

Don’t ask me. I don’t have the answers to that one. Of course it’s different for everyone, but that’s not the root of the difficulty. It’s in the power of the pattern, the habit, the rut, the groove.

I have some ideas, though.

One - believe change is possible. Drastic change. Transformation. It happens every day to every kind of person. You don’t have to believe it’s probable, but believe it’s possible.

Two - Make space for it. Open your schedule for new plans, your world to new truths, your head to new possibilities.

Three - Be willing to let go. Some things we want to trash, others we cling to like a teddy bear on wash day.

Four - Want it. Just want it. Don’t be afraid to want it. Let that want soak through your body. Wanting isn’t the most comfortable feeling, but don’t fight it. Wallow in that want. Breathe it in and out. The want has power. It is your ticket, hold on to it, and don’t let the fear stop you.

Does it sound like I’m talking to myself? I hope it does. I am. But I’m talking to you, too. Take what I write with a grain of salt. A handful of salt. But if it points you to wisdom, drop me a line and let me know what that is. I can always use more wisdom.

Happy New Year, fellow traveler.

This just might be an excellent year for us.