Pioneers and Explorers

Dr. Sally Ride was invited to sit on a panel of scientists at the San Diego Air and Space Museum several years ago, and I was lucky enough to be able to snap this photo, now a collector's item.
I get sad each time I look at this photo, for it is difficult for me to accept the fact that
Dr. Sally Ride is gone, taken from this world at a young age.
She was the first woman in space. Thirty years after Ralph
Cramden, on TV's landmark but sexist show the Honeymooners,  told his wife
Alice that he was going to shoot her "to moon!"
Ride went there, not at the end of her husband's fist,
but by virtue of her studies in science and physics and SDSU.
Thank you, Ms. Ride, for having been a pioneer. Thank you, for having been an explorer into outer space, where very few men or women have been. And, most importantly, thank you for
having devoted your life to the education of young children. You were truly a pioneer AND an explorer. Writing prompt: When, in your own life, were you a pioneer?
When did you set out to do something that nobody else around you had dared to do?
Where did it take you and where did you go?
What did you learn? How have you shared that knowledge with others?

Life's Circles

By the end of the day, how many of life's circles have I passed through? My circle encompasses my boyfriend, my aunt and cousins, my extended family and friends, my coworkers. Today I stopped by the dry cleaners and had a pleasant conversation with the young lady who works there. How many people are in her circle? Do I know them? Have you smiled at them during your busy day? Remember that everybody else has their own circle to go home to, to answer to, to argue with, or laugh with. Who is in your circle?

Most Beautiful Place

During the traffic jams and incessant television ads of the season, I like to draw back, pause and find a moment of calm at one my favorite places. This is one of them.
Rocky Mountain National Park, in the fall.
It is quiet, a rustle of the breeze crunches the
dried grass. All I hear is my breath. I can smell
the snow blowing down from the mountains. I am alone: no cars, no hikers. Nothing. It is true peace, if just for moment.
Where is your calm place? Please close your eyes
for moment and travel there in your imagination.
Feel the air on your face. Smell the aroma.
Who is there with you? How does it feel? Write
about it, and enjoy, for a few moments.

MAYA ANGELOU'S BEST POEM EVER

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
enough money within her control to move out
and rent a place of her own even if she never wants
to or needs to...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
something perfect to wear if the employer or date of her
dreams wants to see her in an hour...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
a youth she's content to leave behind....
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to
retelling it in her old age....
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ......
a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black
lace bra...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who
lets her cry...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone
else in her family...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a
recipe for a meal that will make her guests feel honored...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
a feeling of control over her destiny...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to fall in love without losing herself..
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
HOW TO QUIT A JOB,
BREAK UP WITH A LOVER,
AND CONFRONT A FRIEND WITHOUT RUINING THE FRIENDSHIP...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that she can't change the length of her calves,
the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that her childhood may not have been perfect...but its
over...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to live alone... even if she doesn't like it...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
whom she can trust,
whom she can't,
and why she shouldn't
take it personally...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
where to go...
be it to her best friend's kitchen table...
or a charming inn in the woods...
when her soul needs soothing...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
what she can and can't accomplish in a day...
a month...and a year...


Know that you are truly loved by the friend who sent this...
and that she wishes the best for you always...
.............................................wisdom: true!
.................writing prompt: What do you have?

Thankful Exercise

Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, stop, take a breath, and raise your hands in joyfulness and thanksgiving. You are exactly where you need to be right now. Write about it.

Bonsai

The process of relationship is like
carefully growing a Bonsai tree.
Over a number of years, the loving
caretaker who grew this bonsai
patiently bent each branch.
It probably
didn't feel good to the tree.
It probably hurt.
The gardener would also bind
certain branches with wire,
or hang a rock from them in order to bend the branches this way or that.
The gardener was kind, observant, and patient.
In it's own way, the tree would communicate it's pain.
A leaf would drop. A branch might die.
The gardener and the tree have a longlasting, on going relationship.
The tree now looks like this because of its natural need to grow, and the gardener's trained eye for how to guide it in a certain direction.
This is the relationship we have with other people, whether we know it or not. One person bends, the other person sheds a leaf, or a tear. Both are changed in the process. We are all, at one time or another, the bonsai or the gardener. Reflect on a time when you were the gardener. Who was the other person?
How did you bend their branches? How are you changed?

Hold On Tight

The secret to making it through the down slope is to hold on tight and remember to breathe. The wind will cool your face, and you will soon find yourself back on top, even if just through sheer momentum.
After the ride, think of how far you've traveled!
You are now a new person. Savor the thrilling ride.
Please, don't be afraid to think about the rough times, just remember to cherish every moment.
Take a moment to face a time when the roller coaster was on the downslope. Write about it. How did it feel? Get it down on paper.
Now, turn the story around and talk about how you stepped off the ride and moved forward again.

Your dreams are now possible. Please pick up a pen and write them down. Read them back to yourself. Then, take the very first step that can make them a reality. Write a letter, pick up the phone, or just send an email. Put your thoughts and dreams out into the universe. You are there.

The Future

How can we know the future? How much should we worry about it?
If we just keep driving over the ridge, enjoying the view, can we reach the right destination? I guess we need to have a good map, drive safely between the lines, and keep the car in good condition, well stocked with gas whenever possible. What are you doing to have a safe ride? Are you enjoying the twists and turns in the road? Where are you headed?

Granpa: Hard Working Immigrant

My grandfather was an immigrant. I have his original paperwork from Ellis Island. He came over from Warsaw, Poland, in 1915 to make a better life. My grandmother was the daughter of immigrants from Belgium, but she didn't know them, because she was orphaned. Together, they worked day and night in a hot, steamy dry cleaning business in Detroit. I owe them a great debt. They made me what I am today, and I am grateful.
Hard work and determination are in my blood, and the ghosts of my family keep me going each day.
Please take a moment to write down the names of your parents' parents. Where are they from?
What did they do for a living? Have you followed in their footsteps? What did you learn from them? How do you honor their memory?

Panda Bite

Yesterday a cute, cuddly panda baby bit off a woman's thumb. The woman got too close, and the panda had no other way to tell her. Sometimes we underestimate another's boundaries. What are your boundaries? How do you communicate that information to other people, short of biting off their thumb?

Look Out the Window

Wherever you are, look out the window. Let your eyes rest on what you see, taking notice of the general, overall picture. Now, take a visual inventory of everything you see. Just write them down, like a list. Notice as much as feels comfortable. Take a moment, draw a line.

Ok, now, write down what you don't see.

The Three Time Zones of Life: The Here and Now

Joseph Campbell said that we all live in the three time zones of life.
This is best illustrated by the way we drive a car. We must be positioned properly in the road, in the present. We must focus and pay attention to the road ahead of us, the future. And, in order to drive properly and safely, we must regularly check the rear view mirror, the past.
If we were to constantly pay attention to the rear view mirror, we would be unable to drive safely into the future.
However, if we ignore what is behind us,
we run the risk of being caught by surprise.
If we don't stay aware of our position on the road,
we can veer off course.
Please take a moment to become fully present in
the now. Place your feet on the floor. Are you wearing shoes? High heels? Feel the chair on your legs. Is it cushioned? Is it wood? What fabric are you wearing? Feel the temperature of the air on your hand. Is it cold? Jack Kornfeld says great writing starts from the body.
Please take a moment to just write about where you are, right now.

The Del Mar racing season has ended. But I learned a valuable lesson by reading the race program. Each horse is not just listed alone. For each race, each horse is surrounded by the names of his owner, where he was bread, by whom, who is the trainer, and who is the jockey. The people who train him, care for him, breed and clean him: each horse is like a NASCAR driver with a support team. Take a moment. First think of your race horse name. (Adjective, Nown: Lucky Lampost). Now think about, and give thanks to, your support team. What does each person add to your life? Your dry cleaner keeps you looking groomed, as does your hair dressor and manicurist. Your doctor is like your pit crew when you come in for a tune up. Who cheers you on: Go ! Go! Take a moment and think about them. Thank them. Write about them. Where are they right now. What city. Are they alone? Eating dinner? At a play?
Next step: pick up a phone and say hello, and thank them for keeping your mane shiny.

To Honor My Father

I was squinting at the old marble walls, looking for my father's marker. I can't remember where he is buried, for I haven't visited the site since the funeral in 1971. He is in a drawer, a crypt, in a Jewish Mausoleum. It is quite odd to be reading a wall, rather than looking at headstones. Where is he? It is quiet in this building, with only the sound of the wind politely moving through the hall. So many stories, so many names. I suddenly strikes me that I must read everybody else's names in order to find my father's. I must honor the others who have passed on in order to locate my own family member. How fitting, how right. I can't find my father's drawer, but I now take the time to read the other names of mothers, fathers, children and spouses. Somebody loved them, so I will remember them, too. Take a moment. Write down the names of your loved ones. Everybody. If they have passed on, take a moment to picture them in your mind. Say hello. Thank them. Out loud.

Suitcase

It is a packed suitcase. What is the story?

The Topic is Sex

War and sex. Love and anger.
The conquering troops and sexual domination of the conquered.
Fear and Sadness,
Adrenalin and the Rush of Gunfire.
The stories of those who have gone to war frequently include an encounter with love and loss.
When has your story taken you onto the battlefield of love? What was gained, and what was lost? How have you been changed?

Happy Sandwich Moment

Think of your favorite sandwich. Now use that sandwich as an anchor that guides you through your memories. Think of a time you were very happy, and you were eating a sandwich. Go back to that moment. Think about it. What kind of sandwich was it? Who prepared it? Where were you? Who was with you? What kind of day was it? Write about your happy sandwich moment. And enjoy.

The Doorbell

Surprise! The Doorbell just rang, and you have an overnight package delivery. It is something you have been waiting for a long time. What is it? Describe it, and what it means to you.

September 11

I was already crying when I woke up at 6 am on September 11, 2001, for
I woke up knowing that it would be the last day that I would be in the condo where my mother and step dad had spent the last ten years of their lives. I had spent the night alone in the upstairs bedroom, over the room where mom had given her last shout out to lung cancer a few years before. My step dad had been moved up north to live out his days with his real daughter. It was my job to clean out the house and get it ready for sale.
So, I woke up and turned on the TV, expecting to see Katie Couric's smile.
Instead I saw, with sleepy, tear filled eyes, a plane fly into the World Trade Center Tower.
With one gasp I knew that the world had changed, and never felt more alone than at that moment.
Please just take a moment to pray for a better tomorrow.

In memory of Susan Butcher

Alaska: Where men are men and women win the Iditarod.

How many women do you know that have had a T-Shirt printed in their honor? Susan Butcher did.

(Picture from San Diego Union Tribune, Monday, August 7, 2006)

Susan Butcher's name will forever be linked to Alaska and the Iditarod. She won the 1,150 mile sled dog race from Anchorage to Nome four times, starting in 1986. She won the race in 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1990. In all, she ran 17 races, and was the first woman to finish in the top 10.

In order to train for this physically unbelievable challenge, this 5 foot 6 inch, 135 pound winner swam, skied, lifted weight, skied, ran and mushed her team of dogs every day of the year. She lived with her magnificent dogs, and raised them from birth. "When one is born, I immediately breathe into his nose, so that he knows I am part of his pack," she said.

Susan Butcher passed away at the age of 51 on August 5, 2006.
Despite conquering the blizzards of Alaska, she was unable to have her way with leukemia.
Butcher leaves behind a husband, two children, and many adoring fans. She was one of my true heroes. Because of her I strapped on snow shoes and trekked through the Colorado Rockies.
After three hours, I was exhausted, and was able to make it back to my SUV in one piece.
Well, at least she gave me the courage to try.

Susan made her own way through the blizzard. What was a time that you were able to get yourself through a challenge? (If sled dogs were involved, all the better).

Jo'el's Guide to Getting a Life

Each day, Get out of Bed Smiling
Take a deep breath
Center Yourself: You are here, You are YOU!
Approve of Yourself
Like Yourself
Look Inward:
What do you care about?
What do you worry about?
What do you enjoy?
Think about your answers, write them down, and then,
Look Outward:
Do something, anything, go somewhere, anywhere
Go alone, unannounced, say hello
Do research on the internet, read every paper you can get your hands on, listen to local television and radio stations for causes and events you care about, then GET OUT OF THE HOUSE!
Once you get out of the house, TALK TO PEOPLE! Care about other people's feelings, care about their story.
Join, help, offer and volunteer whenever you can.

Reflection:
Remember those who are gone
Honor the lessons you've learned from them
Gather strength from those lessons
Laugh about, write about, the joys you have shared
Feel free to talk to those loved ones who have moved on, let them know you are thinking of them, ask them for guidance, and move forward with your life and give to others.

Take a deep breath
Breathe out
Smile and now go out to enjoy the world..............................

Angel Hunting

I am reading the job listings in the local paper. Every company wants a motivated and responsible employee. Every ad is a laundry list of the perfect employee. These are like singles ads. "This is what you must be." Write a job posting for your guardian angel. What should he/she be responsible for, look for, pay attention to? What should your guardian angel be like? Is there much travel involved? Explain.

Inspiration is all around us

Every single thing that we can see, hear, feel, taste, touch, or think, is something to be written about. Should be written about. No matter how many times somebody else writes about it, each person has their own unique view. You are welcome to this daily journal to ponder, write, laugh, remember, cry or argue. Writing is healing. Please keep paper and pens nearby, like you would a bottle of crystal spring water. Writing in journal, or on a napkin nearby, or on the palm of the hand, is just as cleansing as a long drink of water. Enjoy.