photo of the day

The explosion of green that is The Paya Trail. Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Honduras.

a total reversal of the truth

To the ego, the present moment hardly exists. Only past and future are considered important. This total reversal of the truth accounts for the fact that in the ego mode the mind is so dysfunctional. It is always concerned with keeping the past alive, because without it - who are you?

- Eckhart Tolle

first water war?

"If Egypt is a gift of the Nile, then the Nile is a gift of Ethiopia,” Ethiopians shoot back with growing confidence. And they have a point. More than 85 percent of the waters originate in Ethiopia, which relies on foreign aid for survival and sees hydropower dams as a potential cash cow and central to its plans to become one of Africa’s only power exporters.

- Reuters

A radical change of perspective is desperately needed by all parties in this quandary.

remembering freddie

Freddie Mercury, the musical genius, would have been 65 today. Thank you for being such a unique and astonishing human being, Mr. Mercury! Your light burned BRIGHT, dude!

Special thanks to my high school/college friend Mario Montoya (a.k.a. "Mario Mercurio") who through his own passion and enthusiasm opened my eyes to the Queen/Freddie Mercury phenomenon. Mario's a talented singer and a HUGE Queen fan. He and two other classmates were Spanish Fly, a high school-era rock-and-roll band. Back in the day whenever he sang Queen's songs Mario would come very, very close to hitting Freddie's out-of-this-world high notes! Gracias por estos recuerdos, cabrónes! Long live Spanish Fly! (And the Fat Bottomed Girls!)

the power within

No person or power in the outside world can compare to the power you have within you. Seek the power within, as it knows the perfect way for you.

- lessons from The Secret

making little lizards

There's a reason these lusty little green critters are not endangered! This seems like a lot to accomplish while holding on for dear life on a smooth vertical wall. Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Honduras.

quote of the day

If you judge people, you have no time to love them.

- Mother Teresa

burning man

The nouveau hippie in me so wants to experience this! The whole concept is exquisitely radical and light years out of the ordinary.

Photo: Time

namaste

The highest in me bows to the highest in you.
May this be the happiest day of your life.
And so it is. 

Thank you, Tanya. Your light is mesmerizing, magnificent woman.

yummy, delicious, happy energy

You know, now that "extra" money is manifesting in my life, I'm finding that the thing that makes me happiest about money is giving it away. Not being frivolous, careless or unappreciative about it, but rather using whatever I feel is "extra" to help the many people I see around me that are SO drastically less fortunate than I am. The mixed reaction of surprise and gratitude I see in people's eyes and faces when I open my wallet and hand them a five, ten, or twenty dollar bill they were not expecting is indescribably gratifying. It gives me chills and goosebumps every time. I find myself grinning from ear to ear for hours afterwards. I don't recall any purchase I've ever made of something material resulting in such an intense rush of yummy, delicious, happy energy. This is particularly true if I perceive the monetary gift was really needed. Awareness combined with empathy and generosity is a natural "drug." Who knew?! Now I know what Bill and Melinda Gates smoke in their "crack pipe."

The infinite abundance of the Universe is mine (and yours).

independence

September is Honduran Independence Month. Dad raised our flag this morning in celebration. Our independence from Spain is celebrated on September 15. An argument has been made that Honduran independence is actually a myth.

powerful

Que nadie te lo cuente.

This life-changing little tidbit was suggested to me by Luís Pérez-Eguiarte, a very significant Mexican friend. The wisdom we exchanged accelerated the process of my eyes opening. This chilango has had a tremendous impact on my life. In a fantastic way.

It roughly translates: "Don't let anyone have to tell you."

In other words, truly live and experience your Life. Have as many interesting, life-enriching, and amazing experiences as you possibly can. Try it. Do it. Taste it. See it. Drink it. Eat it. Listen to it. Learn it. Feel it. Breathe it. Dance it. Visit it. Climb it. Explore it. Embrace it. Enjoy it. Be fearless and courageous. Jump into the Universal pool of infinite possibilities and JUST GO FOR IT!

It is a powerful little gem of wisdom related to:

Let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.

- Franklin D. Roosevelt, being all metaphysical in his First Inaugural Address.

After all, fear truly is the only thing that limits us from our godlike potential. The opposite of fear is love. Realize that deeply and saturate your life with love. Continuing this narrative, some profound wisdom from an unexpected source:

Life is a buffet and most poor suckers are starving to death!

- Auntie Mame*

The infinite abundance of the Universe is ours, if we would simply open our eyes and realize it. This "opening of the eyes," in turn, is alluded to by the singing Jamaican prophet:

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds!

- Bob Marley

There are a whole lot of fear-bound, enslaved minds in this world, let me tell ya. Yet, I truly believe the "emancipation" of the collective human consciousness has not only begun, it is accelerating. (Observe, for example, how the Arabic peoples of the Middle East and North Africa are rising up, demanding, fighting for, and even courageously giving their lives for justice, their human rights, and their freedom.) The best is yet to come for humankind. The glass is half-full. It only gets better.


*Thank you, Claiborne Parker.