The lyrics in "Rainy Night in Georgia" suggest "it feels like it's raining all over the world." I could relate to that feeling. 

Then. Now in Aspen it actually feels the opposite. It feels like it's only raining here. I guess that's how it feels when you're anywhere that's isolated. Being surrounded by mountains and looking up into the sky, you see rain from a different perspective. You see clouds hanging on hilltops, nearly obscuring the view of the peaks. You also feel cocooned, blanketed and protected. 

And even though the only relevant reference is the use of "rain" in the title, here's one of my favorite songs (music and lyrics) by one of my favorite bands: The Counting Crows:

 

 

The last few times I've been out hiking, I've been singing along to show tunes. Or at least as much singing as I can do when I'm trying to catch my breath! 

If you've followed this blog, you know how important music is to me. All kinds of music. Including show tunes. 

While the hikers around me might not agree, I enjoy singing to everything from "Hamilton" to "The Book of Mormon" and even "Chicago," "Little Shop of Horrors" and "Rocky Horror Picture Show." 

Whatever makes your heart sing – go for it! 

 

 

Pop Quiz: What show tune does this image make you think of? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And now – Some motivation to SING:

And some favorite Show Tunes:

 

 

 

Yesterday's post was about perspective. Today I'm talking about fear. 

Both topics are closely related, because fear is one of those emotions that is based in "time." 

In the same way that anger and resentment keep you anchored to the past, worry and fear are projections toward the future. 

Some people say that worrying doesn't solve anything. It just prevents you from enjoying the present moment. And to a certain degree I agree. But it can be a valuable emotion. A wake-up call to pay attention. To plan. To evaluate the options. To look before you leap. 

I'm currently in a slight state of fear about investing time and/or money on a new project I'm working on. Of, like the quote above (that came from me and my writing) suggests, feeling excitement wrapped in uncertainty. Will this venture be another trip to failure town? Another "learning experience?" Another opportunity to find out what doesn't work – instead of what does? 

Fear can be a paralyzer; stopping you from taking action. Or it can be a motivator; an impetus to take the leap. 

Fear is not a common emotion for me. I made this move with little trepidation. My only concerns were minor, like "will I be able to fit everything I want to take in my car? and "will this person come through with their promise to help me?" Not, "Will I be lonely or homesick?" "Will I regret the move?" 

This new "fear" is different. A combination of "Am I going to repeat the same failure patterns of the past?" with "How can I break the pattern" and "Will I be able to do this?" mixed in with "Is it possible that this move itself has broken the pattern and is now opening up opportunities that I might not have had if I'd stayed in the same place?"  

The quote to the right is from one of my books, and a good reminder for me to myself. When I'm afraid, I need to ask, "Who – or what – do I trust?" 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They say it always helps to "get a little perspective." 

I went exploring, looking for a new hiking adventure, and walked/hiked from the Tiehack lift near Buttermilk to the Aspen Highlands resort. In truth, it's not a very far distance and the terrain is generally flat. But from here it looks monumental. 

It's true about a lot of things in life. When you have the opportunity to see life from a new point of view.  

As someone who is passionate about innovation, perhaps one of the most important aspects of creativity is the ability to shift perspective. In one of my favorite books, The Five Faces of Genius by Annette Moser-Wellman  talks about "the fool" which is bascially looking at a situation from upside down, or inside-out.  

Moving to a new place is an obvious way of changing your view – quite literally by looking out the window. So can driving a new path to work (which experts say can help keep your brain alive), learning a new skill or meeting someone new. 

This quote from the movie "Shall we Dance?" suggests the value of having a partner to have a "witness to our lives."

I suggest you can get the same thing through your friends and family – old and new. 

Mountain Fair

Sunday I went to the Colorado Mountain Fair in Carbondale, Colorado (about 25 miles from Aspen). I'm so grateful to my friend who suggested the outing! 

In my former home, Atlanta, I went to my share of Arts and Dogwood Festivals which had a similar lineup. Artists and crasftspeople displaying a wide variety of talents. It's such fun to see 

So what made the Colorado Mountain Fair different? Quite a few things. The food, for one. I tried something new to me – Pupusas which originate from El Salvador. Yum! Remember what I said about loving Diversity? Here's a link to learn more about this yummy treat.  Now I have to figure out how to make it myself. 

I also loved the diversity of people. Different from Atlanta in a lot of ways, yet still quite varied, especially when comparing it to the Arts Festival in Aspen the weekend before. Sometimes you stand in a crowd and just revel at it's myriad of faces and ages and backgrounds. 

I also had a "flashback" to childhood by trying out Betty Hoops updated version of the classic hula-hoop. It was really fun! Before I could get one, I had to make sure my new, tiny place would have room for me. But now that it did – expect another post about it!  

And, of course, one of the most striking differences were the majestic mountains in around us. I'm still in awe. 

And now some music…

The classic – and a beautiful (and unique) cover: 

 

 

I posted this picture yesterday under my "Busy" post, but thought it warranted its own post. A tribute to my Peeps – near and far.

We can lament the effect of social media on our lives all we want. Yet I also feel compelled to embrace the beauty of it. The people around the world – or maybe even in our own neighborhoods – who we might not have met if it wasn't for social media.

As someone new in town, I walk by parties wonder what it would be like to know these people. From a distance, it looks like fun. A great time.

And it might well be. I might have a lot in common with them, for all I know.

Yet I have also gone to my share of parties where I have nothing to say, and there's very little of interest to hear. 

So just like "real life," online you have to find your tribe, too. Your peeps. People you can open up with and share your thoughts. People who are supportive of you. Who (hopefully) believe in you. Who want the best for you, as you do for them. 

So this post is in tribute to my Peeps. You know who you are. My "beautiful souls" I talk with sometimes several times a day. The people who I can turn to any hour of the day, knowing that someone somewhere will be awake and looking for conversation – or a laugh. 

Thank you, Peeps!  Love you bunches!  

 

 

 

 

 

Yesterday I was busy. Busy-busy. Like "hardly got off the chair or away from the computer" busy all day. I didn't take a break to exercise or watch TV or anything recreational. 

This quote is, of course, important. But so is the opposite, at least with me. I have been spending so much time "making a life" that I haven't been doing much to "make a living." 

Beyond writing and hiking I need to make some kind of progress. A contribution. A difference.

Yes, I enjoy writing this blog. (Some days more than others, but that's true of anything). And I enjoy managing my 

Yes, Happiness is being busy doing the things you love. And I love writing, creating, inventing. But sometimes we need to get out of our comfort/happiness zone just a bit, don't we? 

Rhetorical question. A conflict all authors know. You can't just sit at home and write and not reach out to the world with your "message."  It's like a single female who sits at home every night hoping for "Mr. Right" to show up at her doorstep. Not gonna happen unless she orders a lot of stuff online and has the hots for the UPS driver! 

So you have to get out there. Find your tribe. I got this image from a website (click it to follow the link). I love it. 

I have a couple of treasured online "tribes." Groups that fit this description and more. Like unity, sharing, support. 

One is a group I've been running for about a year and a half. It's a "fan" group for a book series, and is a very special group of beautiful souls. You know who you are – love you ALL!  

This group not only helps me by supporting my own novels, they also provide a lot of love and reinforcement and support. And purpose. 

I started another new Facebook group yesterday for a very different reason. It's a sub-group to a Masterclass for screenwriting taught by Aaron Sorkin. The group is called "Scripts with Purpose and Meaning" and is already turning out to be quite a special group.  

These groups are great. An opportunity to meet people from all over the globe. Yet we all need real, human contact as well, especially when you're new to town, so I'm also reaching out to find and/or put together groups here in Aspen. 

So far – it's fabulous. So many like-minds that also help my mind expand. 

 

 

In addition to looking for a grocery store and hiking trails, one of the first things I scout is a place to reflect and meditate. 

Yes, there's a lot of opportunity for meditative thought while hiking, but there's nothing like finding a special place to go "deep."  To reflect on life, to ask questions for your higher self or Higher Power to answer, or just to remove the thoughts from your head. 

I think I found such a place – and believe it or not it was at a park on the end of my very same street. How fortuitous can that be? Peaceful with waterfalls – both manmade and natural – whispering aspens, a nice breeze and large boulders to sit against.  Ahhh!

So many people talk about prayer or meditation as being similar, but to me they are as I say in this quote. Prayer is talking to God. Meditation is listening.  

I wrote an entire chapter on Prayer in my book Five Reasons Why Bad Things Happen. It's a complicated matter.

Why? Because we so often pray for things that might not be what's best for us. Or we fail to realize that sometimes we pray for something that affects other people in a way that's not best for them. 

When someone online asks for prayers I send this message: It's not a prayer exactly. Instead, it allows the recipient to accept the loving, healing energy. What's interesting is that I've had so many people tell me they can "feel" it. I love that.  

I have asked for many things in my life. Set out countless goals. Made plan after plan. This year (after another in a long series of failures), I my mantra became "I desire not to desire." Saying those words out loud had a visceral, profound effect.

 

 

Here's Garth Brooks' classic song about "Unanswered Prayers."

And, well, for a number of reasons I want to post this song. It's a cover of a Garth Brooks cover of a Bob Dylan song – and symbolizes a dream coming true for an unassuming and very talented singer.

There's a popular saying in skiing, "No Falls, no B***s."  Sort of a take-off on "No Guts No Glory."  

It's a valuable message. If you don't take a risk, then you'll never achieve greatness. If you don't go out on a limb, you'll never reach the fruit. 

But sometimes falls hurt. Guts are just another word for bravado. And limbs (of both kinds) break. 

The older you get, the more your knowledge-base of stories of people falling to their death on trails (or most recently a reporter in North Carolina slipping and pummeting 150 feet to her death on a waterfall), people who get lost in the wood or… worse. 

I'm calling this "Wipeout Part 1" because I'm quite sure they'll be a "Part 2" and probably more once the snow falls and ski season begins.  

In hiking, the analogy of "no guts no glory" doesn't really fit. Or probably shouldn't. But I did take a hike the other day with two major "obstacles," shall we say. 

I was curious about a trail off of "Hunter Creek" called the "Verena Mallory Trail" that might have fewer rocks to navigate. As I was looking at this sign, a hiker emerged and confirmed that this was, indeed, an alternative that would avoid some of the rocks on the trail. 

What he failed to tell me was that this trail was TREACHEROUS. Not only narrow and uneven, it had sheer drop-offs. Where one misstep could have certainly led to death or serious injury. To make matters worse, the black flies were out in masse, biting aggressively. 

I made it – by taking tiny, careful steps – barely. Then, guess what happened? I was so exhausted when I got to the bottom and flatter land, I was checking the time and stumbled. Wiped out. 

It was a few days ago and I'm recovering from my relatively minor wounds. The odd part is that they hurt more now than they did in the hours or even days afterwards. Funny how the body heals itself. (For an interesting article on why healing wounds itch, click here). 

And now for some music: 

Fat Boys Cover (my favorite):

I know I'm showing my age, but The Agony of Defeat in this ABC Wild World of Sports is SO appropriate!

I love this quote and how it teaches us to appreciate diversity and learn to accept people as they are. 

Maybe too many people are separated from nature. Maybe that explains it. Or maybe they are victims of what I call "Social Darwinism." (I didn't coin that phrase; I just have my own interpretation of what I think it means, which is what happens when someone is feeling insecure, he or she feels the need to put someone else down in order to feel "superior").  

I don't know. I do know that diversity makes nature more interesting. Wouldn't it be boring everyone was the same? If all the trees were "perfect?" As much as I love the Aspens here, if that's all there was, if each was identical, it would get old fast. 

Just like in music – we need low notes and high notes, major and minor, sharp and flat, black and white, melody and harmony to make music. A symphony isn't one instrument – it's a variety of sounds and rhythms, each using their unique talent and message to work together to deliver a unifying sound.  

And beyond that, these same instruments can make such a beautiful variety of sounds and genres, from soul to pop to jazz and everything else. 

As someone who has a passion for Innovation (one of these days I'm going to write my book, 50 Ways to Innovate, with over 50 different kinds of innovation), as well as being the inventor of the DrawSuccess Program, I also know how crucial it is to have diversity of thought. "Groupspeak," whether it's in friendships, business or the planet at large, limits creativity and innovation. Just as a closed mind prevents new thoughts.