Light, love and radiance to all of you who have decided to venture here during this time of uncertainty and madness.  I imagine that you all are feeling much like I do as these days come and go.  An air of eerie unease and dread hangs heavy in the ethos.  Daily routines have become a patchwork quilt of their former selves with thoughts of quarantines, social isolation and the unknown of what family members and loved ones could possibly fall prey to this virus sweeping our planet.  Fear and trepidation become the norm as our lives turn away from things which bring light and happiness.

Last month, I laid a portion of my soul out on the table.  Raw and real, painful and true.  My lack of Self-Confidence and how it impacts me in my everyday life.  This month, in the midst of a world gone mad, I want to turn our thoughts and feelings to things which bring us joy.  A celebration of sorts.  Something that can not only brighten the day, but engage your mind and let it wander to places which make you most at peace.  I want to know something about each of you.  I want to learn.  I want to share and then share in return.  A gift, if you will.  I want to hear stories, see artwork, read poetry and prose.  I want to listen to your stories of adventure in mountains, to secluded lakes and quiet sunsets on far off beaches.  I want to turn our minds to something full of light and energy.  A place of peace and smiling.  An escape from this reality we are living.  

I would love to see your responses, whether in the comments to the blog or through an email ([email protected]) on what place makes you happiest.  I'd love to hear stories of your adventures and why in those places, you feel at home.  I want to know what you will do differently once this pandemic has come to an end and where you will celebrate.  Will you journey to a place of azure waters, calm and clean to snorkel with brilliant colored sea life on reefs that stretch for miles?  Or will you find peace on wind swept summits, lungs labored under the strain of altitude as you gaze out at the expansive wilderness which lays in front of you?  Or still yet, will you find yourself hiking amongst tall trees and lushness in old growth forests and the drone of civilization is miles away?

Every email or comment with a story, picture, poem or daydream, will be reprinted here (anonymously, if you prefer) in next months blog for all to read and hopefully be inspired with as well.  For your participation, I will send you (FREE OF CHARGE!) a print of your choosing from my landscape gallery to brighten up your office, home or place you see it best.  A print that I hope will inspire you to get outside and seek what brings you happiness.  A print that makes you smile as you look at it.  A print that allows you to daydream when the world around feels like it is crashing down and imploding.  I want to share happiness and creativity.  An 8" x 10" of your choice for simply sharing with me, a memory or adventure you experienced that brings light to you in times of darkness.  

Creativity.  Sharing.  Adventure.  Kindness.  I'd also love to hear about stories of human kindness.  How a good deed you have done for someone else made you feel and touched you.  Again, another story.  More sharing.  Interested?  I hope so.  Let's share light, happiness and wonder in a time where it seems to be in short supply.  Again, by you opening up and sharing your moment of kindness with me, I will in turn share with one (1) person who submits a story on kindness, a print of their choosing in a size format up to 20"x 30".  Free of charge.  A gift, from me, to you.  Simply for sharing.  A token of friendship and a picture that inspires you to do more good for fellow humans.  

I'll start things off with an act of kindness I experienced with a homeless man on my way to work on a cold, rainy January morning 6 years ago.  As I waited for the light to turn green to make a left turn, he stood there in the rain, with a shabby cup and faded smile.  I asked him if I could buy him breakfast at the Starbucks not even 100 yards away.  His smile and our conversation still rings in my head.  We talked about his service, astroprojection, philosophy and how scones are a much more pleasant way to begin the day than a muffin.  I think about him often.  His smile.  His genuine nature.  The softness in his voice as we chatted like old friends.  I wonder where he is now.  I wonder if he still sits by the I-80 offramp to Norwood Avenue.  I wonder if anyone else has spared 40 minutes to chat with him and just "be present".  

Our souls are merely passengers in this vessel made of skin, muscle and bones.  An opportunity presented to us to touch others through acts of kindness and by sharing dreams and creativity.  A way to touch others and be touched in return.  We walk through life and experience a full and wide sweeping range of emotions.  Maybe our minds and hearts are consumed with fear in our current day?  Maybe we allow the fear to wash over us as we look forward to coming adventures with glee and happiness?  I hope it is the later.  I hope the power of your place of peace soothes your heart and lightens your being.  I look forward to seeing your stories.  I thank you, in advance, for taking the time to share with me.  

It is my hope that you all are now thinking about things that bring you happiness.  Dreams of adventures past and adventures to come.  Far to often as we grow into adulthood, we lose our ability to daydream.  Allow it to come back, if only for a few moments.  Let your heart and mind remember.  Smile.  Experience your adventures and deeds of kindness again.  Our world could use it.

"Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing by pictures, kill nothing but time."

Namaste, Friends...