A Letter For You: February

Hey there Readers,

Where did this month go!?

So many wonderful things have happened in February and the horizon is glowing. The saying, "time flies when you're having fun," is absolutely true. However, in transitioning from January to February, I found myself a little nervous. My goal is to post to Grateful Brand every day for a year unless I am simply unable to. Facing the rest of 2012, I wondered, "How am I going to continue this momentum? Where will I find enough inspiration to post every day?"

The answer I was searching for was obvious, but I am sharing it with you as well because we all can benefit from doing more of it.

Pay more attention.

If you are willing to pay greater attention to your surroundings, heighten your collective awareness and sharpen your senses, you will quickly realize that the Universe will provide you with the information or inspiration you seek. The worry stemming from my presumed inability to produce has given way to confidence because I trust that inspiration will present itself. I just have to be available to see it.

In other news, it's a Leap Year! This means there is one extra day in 2012. Today, February 29, is that day. Now that you are thinking in extras and surpluses, consider this: every day you wake up is an extra day. Celebrate yourself, celebrate life! Pursue those goals and dreams now! There will come a day when we all run out of extra days so make the most of today and every day henceforth, for we are not guaranteed our ration of time, let alone extra.

Keep a journal to collect your ideas and things that inspire you. Once you get into the habit, you will look back over what you have compiled and be very impressed with the positivity, the sources, your interests, wisdom, paths you should consider, etc.

Again, as always, I thank you for following me on this journey of gratitude and I thank you for sharing Grateful Brand with those you know.

Gratefully,

Dane

There Will Come A Day When This Will Not Matter

This picture of a marine returning home from deployment, embracing and kissing his boyfriend of four years is trending all over the internet.

For every one thousand people praising it there are probably ten thousand people denouncing it as utterly wrong, un-American, and immoral.

In light of the recent overturn of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, the military's policy banning gays and lesbians from openly serving in the armed forces, this image is the sign of change taking affect.

Seeing beyond the hype, they are just two people who happen to be men, in love. What is more important in this image is the fact that no one around them seems to care. I repeat: no one cares! And indeed, the marine in the picture posted on his Facebook profile that none of his fellow soldiers nor any superior officer cared.

What his employer cares about is him doing his job. What they care about is him representing and defending this country to the best of his ability, and if called for, with his life.

There will come a day when two men kissing will not matter.

Who are we to tell anyone they are wrong for loving who they love?

If this image offends or disturbs you, well, that says a lot about you. Perhaps, one day, you will be able to find peace with the fact that differences exist in the world. Perhaps you will one day be able to see beyond gender norms, view an image similar to this and see only love. You do not have to accept this otherness into your home, but acknowledge the right of those differences to exist. Live and let live.

To those absolutely thrilled to see gay or lesbian soldiers kiss, by this time next year, there will be dozens if not hundreds of images just like this floating around the internet. They will just be two people in love, reuniting. Their sex will not matter.

Be grateful for all service men and women here in America and the service members of other countries defending their citizens. They serve and sacrifice so that we can live safely.

Who they love is their business. 

Say it With Me, "I Am The Light"

Light is used as a common metaphor for a myriad of positive things: good energy, ideas, divinity, a heavenly space or presence, love, enlightenment, clarity, etc. Interestingly, "the light" is usually something we must go to or search for and discover. This is easy to understand because from a very literal stand point, light--being the kind of light that we use to brighten our homes--does not come from within us, but from finding and flipping a switch on a wall or a lamp.

When considering all of the metaphorical possibilities of light, do we necessarily need to discover it as derived from some other entity or source?

In hundreds, if not thousands of films, there are those classic, "I see the light" moments when a character finally realizes something important as apart of the plot of the story. These "I see the light" moments happen regularly in reality as well. Of course, inspiration or transfer of knowledge from one person to the other or even a profound religious or spiritual experience can cause an inner light switch to be flipped on, but have you ever considered the possibility that you yourself are the light?

Well, now is the time to begin to not just consider the possibility, but to believe it and affirm it.

You are the light!

In our search for reason, answers, solutions and understanding it is easy to externalize the source of all these things because, for one, this is what many of us are taught and conditioned to do, but also because with internalizing comes a sense of responsibility and accountability that many people avoid.

Internalizing the source of metaphorical light may also require bolstering faith in yourself; a heightened sense of belief and confidence. Once you affirm this inner strength you need only look in the mirror. Instead of seeing the light as something separate that you must acquire, you will realize that you are indeed the light and have been the light even when you failed to realize it in the past.

You will no longer have to live your life in a cloud of thought synonymous to a vast dark room full of mislabeled switches. You will be the answer. You will be the reason, the solution, and you will be able to come to a degree of understanding and resolve unlike anything you've ever experienced before. You will be able to stand in the face of everything because you are the light and will cast your light on a path of success and happiness.

Affirm this today! You will be grateful you did.

And The Award Goes To . . . A Neigborly View of the Academy Awards

Tonight is the night! The most talented actors and actresses, directors, producers, composers, screen writers and their peers in film will be honored at the famed Kodak Theatre, 130 yards from my apartment.

You will see from the pictures the barricades blocking my street from Hollywood Blvd. As I am writing this, it is noon and last minute preparations are being made and security has been put in place to accommodate the multi-billion dollar influx of net worth pouring into Hollywood this evening.

All of the individuals nominated have realized tremendous career, personal and financial success but I am confident that if you asked any of them to recount their beginnings in their respective fields, they would have some very humbling stories to tell and would surely show gratitude for where they came from in relation to where they are today.

Lets not forget that you needn't be famous to reflect admirably upon where you've come from. A journey of any nature is something to be grateful for.

Join me in congratulating all of the nominees and winners of this year's Academy Awards!

Nature's Details: Ducks and Green Stuff

It is a wholesome and necessary thing for us to turn again to the earth and in the contemplation of her beauties to know of wonder and humility.
- Rachel Carson

 

 

Beating the Odds

This majestic creature is a Yellowstone, Montana buffalo. I took this picture while riding alongside it in the back on my buddies car. I've mentioned our epic road trip last summer in a couple previous posts.

This creature was absolutely massive. I have seen buffalo in nature documentaries but to actually see a full grown bull in person was a very different experience. We, my friends and our car, were dwarfed in comparison.

But for all his majesty, we learned that buffalo were almost completely exterminated by settlers; a population of millions slaughtered frivolously leaving only a handful left to repopulate the great plains.

In hearing the history of these mighty beasts, I realized that for those last few pure bred buffalo to have survived the onslaught of settlement, they needed to have adapted in ways that may have been completely unnatural to their instinctual impulses, forged over million of years.

While humans were responsible for the near demise of this species, I was still able to draw comparisons.

Living is tough these days even if you have a good job, a home, a car. But in navigating all of the various struggles that can present themselves, we mustn't become so conditioned to human conveniences that we lose our ability or willingness to adapt accordingly.

Though forced to the brink of extinction, buffalo adapted. They became wary. Their senses became more acutely tuned to the presence of man. Their cunning to avoid being seen out in the open increased.

It ultimately took federal protection to save the last wild herd of buffalo but they certainly held their own in light of unrelenting pressure and loss of habitat.

Buffalo could not ask for help. People, on the other hand, depend heavily on their governments instead of adapting. If we all looked within and dug deeper for our will to survive, our story would be more akin to that of the buffalo and I'm sure we would have a greater sense of pride, but time will tell what the history of human beings will ultimately be.

As individuals, think of how you can be more like a buffalo. The odds may be against you but surviving is not impossible.

The Universe Will Move You

I have been living in Los Angeles for almost two years and in that time period I have been fortunate to witness a recurring trend in my life.

What is not meant for me is taken away and that which is best for me is always provided.

This may sound divine in nature and it may very well be, but the Universe is all encompassing and thus should sufficiently cover all of my bases.

There have been dozens of instances where I've wanted something: a new job, a new car, a new relationship, more money, to move to a nicer building, etc. and none of these things was ultimately meant for me to have at the time I wanted them most. However, disappointment is not something that ever lingered for very long. In being in tune with the Universe, I simply chose to believe that an opportunity or want not granted to me was simply not meant for me to have at that time.

I recently accepted a new job with a fantastic company that is literally based a half mile from my home. I couldn't have asked for a better commute nor a more welcoming environment. But this instance of good fortune comes on the heals of me previously declining another opportunity that would have moved me to a place where I knew I would not be as happy as I am where I currently live.

So, I took a risk and asked the Universe to guide me where I needed to be and to my delight, I am staying right where I have been for almost two years; where I have been the happiest I have ever been in my entire life. This is not to say that I just sat down and waited for whatever was meant for me to miraculously fall into my lap. Through a lot of hard work and research, I was able to narrow the scope of my job hunt to a few specific companies and I prepared meticulously to present myself as the most viable candidate. I just feel that the Universe pointed me in the right direction.

Los Angeles, for all is grit, trash, superficiality, smog and traffic, encompasses so many wonderful things. I adore the relationships I have with my friends and family here, the weather is fantastic ... I could go on and on but the point is, I am writing this blog post feeling as though I am being taken care of. I feel incredibly fortunate and I do not believe this consistent good fortune would be shinning upon me if I was not grateful in light of my struggles and missed opportunities.

Show some gratitude and let the Universe move you.

Great Inspiration from Nina Simone: "I've Got Life"

This morning I woke up to one of the best posts I've ever received on Facebook. A friend living in France shared a Youtube video of Nina Simone in concert singing her famous song, "Ain't Got No, I've Got Life."

I LOVE THIS SONG!

Each and every one of us can sit around and talk for hours and hours about what we don't have but those woeful conversations can always be ended with, "but I've got life."

Whatever you may not have and however that sense of lack may affect your life, remember that you could always have less, or even nothing at all.

Have a grateful day!

Merci pour le partage, Max.

"Not In My Backyard"

Meet "Robert" -

After an evening out with friends, I encountered Robert while walking back to my car. He was wrapped as you can see in the picture above in a striped blanket under a brightly lit bus stop awning.

Homeless people are everywhere in Los Angeles, but I took pity on Robert because it was cold out and he was coughing violently.

Robert wasn't far from where I was parked and I happened to have a case of water in my trunk. I pulled out a few bottles and returned them to him, quietly leaving them by his shoulder. I did not want to interact. I was tired and just wanted to hurry home. But upon my third or fourth step away I heard a muffled and raspy, "thank you" from beneath the blanket. I returned to him and asked if he wanted a ride to a shelter or to a hospital to which he replied, "No, thank you. There's no space. There's never any space. I'll be fine. Thank you."

I don't know how Robert ended up in his situation nor do I feel it matters very much. What alarms me is that his plight is the same as over 51,000 other people in Los Angeles county and in relation to volume, little is being done to combat this crisis.

It is very common to hear people complaining about the dense population of homeless people. "Something needs to be done," is the typical assertion.

Well, according to many government officials and homeless advocates, more shelters need to be built and more resources need to be allocated. But this requires space being provided or zoned accordingly and the reason why these shelters have not been built nor the resources allocated is because while people want the problem to go away, no one wants the problem addressed in their neighborhoods or in their local public spaces.

"Something needs to be done, but do it some where else." This is the attitude facing the unsheltered homeless population in Los Angeles county.

So, what are people like Robert to do? Where should he legally go to stay out of the way while trying to recover his health, his dignity, his livelihood and his morale?

We so often forget that Robert could very well be you or me with the loss of a job, a foreclosure or life just taking a turn for the worse. Mental illness or drug addiction could lead to homelessness. A series of frivolous poor decisions may even factor into the equation. Whatever the endless number of reasons may be, there are unfortunately far fewer solutions being offered and hands being extended to help.

If you read this and you have any compassion in your heart, please do something. Where ever you are. Every kind gesture, no matter how small, matters.

How Healthy is Your Ego?

Dictionary.com defines 'ego' as: the “I” or self of any person; a person as thinking, feeling, and willing, and distinguishing itself from the selves of others and from objects of its thought.

Simply, your ego is an internal, albeit invisible mechanism with the sole purpose of prioritizing you first.

We all know or have met people who seemingly focus on nothing but me, me, me, me, me, I, I, I, I, I, my, my, my, my, my and mine, mine, mine, mine, mine. Sometimes I even look back over some of my previous blog posts and gasp at my excessive usage of "I," but we'll save dissection of my ego for another day :)

There is nothing wrong with having an ego. In fact, it is a natural part of the human design. It is when our egos become excessively inflated that problems and conflict arise. The lens through which we see the world begins to filter the grit unrelated to self or self preservation, as if panning for gold in a riverbed. Our egos fixate on that which shines brightest, which, by design, means the ego fixates on self.

Rod Sterling once wrote, "The tools of conquest do not necessarily come with bombs and explosions and fallout. There are weapons that are simply thoughts, attitudes, prejudices -- to be found in the minds of men. For the record, prejudices can kill and suspicion can destroy, and a thoughtless, frightened search for a scapegoat has a fallout all its own -- for the children and the children yet unborn. And the pity of it is that these things cannot be confined to the Twilight Zone."

His observation is brilliantly sound. We cannot simply banish an ego to the Twilight Zone nor become so selfless that we all could stand in for Jesus Christ, but if left unchecked an ego can evolve into the greatest weapon against humanity.

For those who wield little power or influence, the ego doesn't present such a hazard to society as it does to ourselves. Cullen Hightower was quoted, "Our ego is our silent partner--too often with a controlling interest." The control that a healthy ego can have over a person is synonymous to social and professional suicide. Think too much of yourself and you will be ignored, thus killing your ego with soul crushing humility.

One of my favorite pieces of wisdom on managing ego comes from Colin Powell. He said, "Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego goes with it."

Again, there is nothing wrong with having an ego. It is apart of our design. But the ego can be an incredibly powerful tool or influence over your degree of happiness, success, prosperity; all things positive in your life.

Never let an ego navigate the course of your life's journey. Think and see with a clear lens and let your heart be an open, welcoming space. When it's all said and done, you'll be grateful you did.

A Simple Truth from Benjamin Franklin

The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.
- Benjamin Franklin

On this day, take a moment to ponder what sincerely makes you happy. It could be anything.

You may be surprised at what you ultimately admit to yourself. Material possessions may simply fall by the wayside. Whatever brings you joy, acknowledge it, pursue it and seize it with all of your might. Never let anyone snuff out or dampen these feelings, for when you are happy, those around you will feel your happiness and the feeling will continue to spread.

Pursue true happiness. You'll be grateful you did. 

Slow Down

One evening, while taking out my recycling, I stumbled across this little guy making his way up or down or perhaps around one of the bottles. I couldn't remember the last time I had seen a live snail--I do enjoy French cuisine--but I took his presence to be a personal reminder to slow down.

The way we communicate, the various ways we travel, how we process information, the pace at which we work and even the pace at which we socialize has increased dramatically over the past few decades. I did not understand why some people referred to life as a rat race when I was a youngster, but I certainly understand now.

The pressure to keep up with the world around us is heavy. The pressure to stay ahead is mind-numbing.

Life is not fulfilled but constantly keeping up or getting ahead. From this stems worry, stress, anxiety and tension that leads to ill effects on your physical and emotional state that not only spells bad news for you, but bad news for the health of the relationships you value.

Sometimes, it's good to be a snail. In fact, I would argue that removing yourself from the race and unplugging yourself from the digital world at least for twelve hours a week is vital to maintaining a happy and healthy life.

There are so many wonderful things, great and small, elaborate and simple to be grateful for that we rarely take notice of, let alone stop to fully appreciate.

Two facts reign true for each of our lives and those are that we will be born and we will die. The life we live in between should not be a constant race.

Slow down from time to time. Take in the world. Take in your friends and loved ones. Celebrate your life now. There will come a time when what you've achieved and the advantage or privilege you've gained will not matter.

If You've Ever Loved a Pet, You'll Understand

Meet Quarterback (QB) & Sadie -

If you've ever loved a pet, you'll understand why I am including my two beasts in this series on love. When thinking about people, things or experiences that I love or have loved, I have to include them.

I adopted both three months apart from a shelter I volunteered at from time to time when I was in college. It took some time to become comfortable with one another and I even went through a phase of adoptive remorse, but over the past few years they have become my two favorite things about coming home.

When I adopted Sadie, she had been at the shelter for a year and was slated for transfer to another shelter, which implied potential euthanasia.

QB was brought into the shelter by a woman who took him from some kids who had soaked him in lighter fluid. Before she could rinse him off he escaped, still soaked and very flammable. Three days later he showed up on her doorstep with what seemed to be neurological damage from the chemicals. I volunteered to foster him and confirmed adoption two weeks later.

 

 

  

  

 

 

Laugh if you must, say I have too much time on my hands or that they're why I'm single, etc. I can't help laughing at myself daily when I realize that there are more than a few stereotypes of cat ownership that I can admit to, especially how they have evolved from being pets to figurative children.

Simply, I love them and, in their own way, I believe they love me. If nothing else, we cohabit well.

Whatever species of animal piques your fancy or pulls at your heartstrings, I'd advise against letting them consume your life, but make sure they know you love them.

They'll be grateful for you and you'll be grateful for them.