Part II - The Bright Side of Life (and Death)

It’s Halloween, and styrofoam graveyards have popped up all over the neighborhood. I’m reminded that I’ve had a fascination with cemeteries ever since the 7th grade. My junior high school was located next to an old church, and during cheerleading practice I used to watch the Cross Country team run out from the wooded path that wove through the graveyard. What were they running from – ghosts, ghouls, and goblins – or just a wicked coach?

The Haunted Mansion at Disney World reminds us of our mortality and implores us to find a sense of humor in it. The seemingly endless line into the attraction is made somewhat less painful by the slapstick cemetery leading up to the macabre doors, in which several of the epitaphs were written in honor of famous Disney Imagnineers. The tombstones read like comic book pages:

HERE RESTS WATHEL R. BENDER, HE RODE TO GLORY ON A FENDER

HERE LIES GOOD OLD FRED, A GREAT BIG ROCK FELL ON HIS HEAD

What might mine read? - HERE LIES SENSE SAVVY ME, I STOPPED TO SMELL THE ROSES AND WAS STUNG BY A BEE - I think I have to work on that!

A night-time trip through a real cemetery would definitely creep me out, but a daytime visit has the completely opposite effect on me. In fact, I feel a strong sense of wonder and intrigue upon entering a cemetery, and the older the gravestones are, the more I relish the experience. Isn’t it just like walking into a library, in which each tomb is an abridged book? Only, the graves aren’t as well organized as the Dewey Decimal system. And, there’s seemingly no rhyme or reason to how the stones are laid out. All I know is that the spots are filled on a first come, first serve basis.

Like a book, the gravestones tell us that our lives meant something, and that the time we spent upon this Earth really did make a mark. During the final Oprah Winfrey show, she said, “Just being alive makes worthiness.” Moreover, “everyone wants to be seen and heard,” – this seems to be equally true in both life and death. Each tombstone provides some highlights of its resident: a beginning (the birth date), an ending (date of death), and often a vague, but touching middle, which usually reads something to the effect of “he was a loving son/daughter, father/mother, and grandfather/grandmother.”

Cape May Gravestone

However, there’s so much left unknown. And, that’s what really fascinates me…the missing details - the Who, What, Where, When, and Why that would connect the dots between the “Once Upon a Time” and “The End”.  What was each chapter of the person’s life like – what were their mysteries, the fantasies, the romances, the dramas, and the comedies? Did they actually like the family members they’re now buried next to for all eternity? Did they ever figure out and pursue their life purpose?

On a trip to Cape May last year, my husband and I biked to Cold Spring Presbyterian Church. The congregation dates back to 1714, and the headstones in the surrounding cemetery date back just as far. There was a gravestone (pictured to the right), that was so well constructed, that even at nearly 200 years old, I could clearly read the epitaph as follows:

In memory of Reubin Suthard who departed this life August 17, 1813,

Aged 23 years, 10 months, and 26 days

Parents and Friends weep not for me

Tho I was drowned in the sea

It was God’s will it should be so

Some way or other all must go

In the olden days, the life expectancy was about three decades shorter than it is today. And, since life was so fleeting, one’s history was recorded down to the very last day spent alive on Earth. I’m heartbroken at the tiny graves of children whose lives spanned just months or even days. But, death is inevitable, and this is plainly stated on Reubin’s tombstone. It seems to me that Reubin Suthard lived it right. If I had to guess, Reubin was a seaman, who lived out the life he was meant to lead and died doing what he loved to do. Everyone knew it. How else would his family come up with this epitaph?

Who hasn’t thought about their own funeral? Don’t we all wonder how many people will show up, what will they say, and who will come to visit once we’re six feet under? But, why waste our time on such silly questions. If we live our lives authentically, from the heart, and in service to the world, we should have nothing to fear or regret about what our tombstone will read.

Here are Thirteen Halloween-Inspired, Words of Advice About Life and Death:

1. “Everyone has a calling. Figure out what you should be doing and get to the business of doing it – don’t waste another minute.” – Oprah Winfrey

2. You only live once (as far as most of us can remember), so act like it.

3. Make every year, month, day, and second count.

4. Choose a great environment and make it beautiful – you may be there for eternity.

5. Love and appreciate your family – you may end up living together forever.

6. Ask yourself, “Did I live today as if it were my last day?” If not, try again tomorrow.

7. Figure out if you're "living it right".

8. Always accept today, but ask yourself, "What can I change about tomorrow?"

9. Don’t let yourself be bored stiff. You’ll have plenty of time to be stiff as a board.

10. “Do not wait until you are on your deathbed before you start to recognize that no material possession, no job, no status, no thing matters in terms of defining who you are.” - Eckhart Tolle

11. Have a sense of humor about life and death.

12. Live and learn from these songs:

• Live Like We're Dying – Kris Allen
• 100 Years – Five for Fighting
• Love the World You Find – The Flaming Lips
• Why Georgia (Am I Living it Right?)– John Mayer
• Life in One Day - Howard Jones
• Time of Your Life – Green Day
• You Learn – Alanis Morisette

13. Always Look on the Bright side of Life. Watch this video and sing along at the top of your lungs – Always Look on the Bright Side Sing-along 

If life seems jolly rotten
There's something you've forgotten
And that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing.
When you're feeling in the dumps
Don't be silly chumps
Just purse your lips and whistle - that's the thing.

And...always look on the bright side of life...
Always look on the light side of life...

- Lyrics by Eric Idle, Monty Python's Life of Brian

Click here if you missed The Bright Side of Life and Death - Part I

The Bright Side of Life (and Death) – Part I

It’s sad, but true, that the death of others is meant to teach us to savor our own lives, but the sad truth is that it usually doesn’t.

 

This past year, my husband lost two friends. And, I mean that both literally and figuratively. One friend committed suicide – he was a lost soul. The other was lost in a rafting accident in Montana, missing amidst the rapidly rising waters, sadly to be found dead two weeks later. My husband attended the funerals for each of these men who were only a smidge older than 40 and left behind wives, children, and loved ones. Though profoundly impacted by those fatalities, I wonder what lasting impressions they might leave on us for the long term. After all, life goes on for the rest of us.

But, what does it really mean to “go on”? Are we merely trudging through our lives, glossing over each moment, busily pursuing our “Shoulds” and “Have Tos”, all the while wishing that our lives were somehow different than what actually is? How many of us are truly living our lives as if it could be the last day, the last hour, or even the last waking breath? Are you embracing the life you have even though it may not look and feel picture-perfect every day?



When will the rain stop?

 Over the past 12 months, I personally suffered “death by a thousand cuts.” What do I mean by that? It seemed that a curse of never-ending oddities was cast upon me by some Universal jokester, and once strange things started to happen, the floodgates opened. As I’m hitting 40 years old (this Friday!), I can accept that shit happens. But, it began to feel like I had become Bill Murray in Groundhog Day, sentenced to live a life of getting it wrong, over and over again, until I got it right. While no singular event was a matter of life and death, the compounding effect of each troublesome incident began to take a serious toll on me. Each upsetting nick chipped away at my emotional stability creating a canyon of depression that I had never felt before; hence, “death by a thousand cuts”.

By July of this year, I began to feel somewhat hopeless; wondering when all of this craziness would stop. As a trained life coach, I inherently know that there’s a purpose to all that happens, but being temporarily blinded, as if I had been hit over the head one too many times, I had a hard time seeing that. Then I had a situation at work, which really got me tied up and stressed out. But when I finally delivered my presentation, my worry turned out to be much ado about nothing, and in fact, I came out of it with flying colors.



I can see clearly now, the rain is gone.

 I could finally see that for each uncomfortable thing that had happened over the past year, my life had not only gone on, but it had gotten much better in some regard. The more that I accepted “what is” rather than what I wished life should be at every moment, the more I could clearly see that my life would go on for the better – it always does. And, if I took the time to savor the present moments, no matter how odd they seemed, and believe that circumstances could be different (if that’s what I really want), then all would be better in due time. Looking back now, I can confidently say that what didn’t kill me has definitely made me stronger. Here’s just a few of the things that happened, and how I looked at the bright side of life:

•  Last September, my car broke down on the NJ Turnpike. Thankfully, I didn’t get into an accident. Despite my emotional attachment to the SUV that had carried my infants home from the hospital several years earlier, I had to accept that it was finally time to ditch that clunker, and invest in a much safer, swankier car. Now, I love my new Mazda…Zoom-Zoom!
• A few days later, while driving my husband’s car, I got a ticket for going the wrong way on a one-way street (it was a very short street and a much longer story!). I’ve since learned to slow down, and be more mindful of my surroundings (and the law) – a choice which I’m sure will help me avoid future mishaps.
• The very next day, a much anticipated four-day getaway to Cape May with my husband turned into a one-nighter when my son ended up in an emergency room three hours away. Fortunately, we had already made the most of our 24 hours down the shore, and more importantly, we were able to make it back in time to comfort our son through an unplanned, Civil War-style surgery.  The feel of clenching his tiny hand and knowing that I was there for him, remains with me today.
• A month later, my 5-year old got kicked out of his kindergarten after-school program due to bad behavior (seriously?!). We were forced to find a babysitter who turned out to be the angel he needed to help him mature. Now, he’s off to a great start in first grade.
• Back in March, my nearly finished basement flooded, but because my contractor was three months behind, the hardwood floor hadn’t been installed yet. Luckily nothing was seriously ruined, and as a future precaution, we installed a back-up hydraulic sump pump. When Hurricane Irene came, despite losing power for two days, we were one of the only houses on the block to emerge with a dry basement and absolutely no damage! And, we had the capacity to help our neighbors recover.
• I could have never imagined that my contractor would still be working on both upstairs and downstairs home renovations (9 months off schedule!), which have left every room in my house turned upside down, as well as our daily lives in chaos. However, I’ve learned to me more flexible in all aspects of my life. I now know that the only belongings I really need access to are my mountain bike and my beach chair. And, during the time we had only one TV, which was hooked up in the master bedroom, the whole family loved crowding into bed together to watch movies. Our patience is finally paying off, and, in just a couple of weeks, I’ll have a beautiful, Sense Savvy home to enjoy with family and friends.

The list of maladies goes on and on, but I think you got the picture that this year kind of sucked.  But, did it really?  I recently watched one of my favorite movies, “Evan Almighty” starring Morgan Freeman as God and Steve Carrell as Congressman Evan Baxter who is chosen by God to act as a modern-day Noah (as in the Ark). Amidst the humorous story, there is a very pertinent message that speaks directly to my recent trials and tribulations. In one scene, God (posing as a waiter in a diner) comforts Evan’s wife Joan who thinks her husband has gone insane as he’s building in Ark in their backyard. He says to her:

“If someone prays for patience, do you think God gives them patience, or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? If they pray for courage, does God give them courage, or does he give them the opportunities to be courageous? If someone prayed for the family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm, fuzzy feelings, or does he give them opportunities to love each other?”



There is a purpose to all that happens.

In some regard I feel that the year-long curse has been lifted, although I’m wise enough to know that bad things will always happen to everyone. However, if we choose to face rough times with a positive attitude, embracing them as opportunities to learn, grow, and teach, we might just get everything we want...and undoubtedly, everything we need.  Always look on the bright side of life.

Click to watch the Evan Almighty - Opportunity Clip, and stay tuned for Part II of this blog, “The Bright Side of Life (and Death)”.

 

Fairy Tales Do Come True

It’s highly unlikely that you’ll ever live the royal life of Prince William and Princess Kate, and, you know what, that’s lucky for you because, really, who wants to spend one's entire life perfecting the royal wave, appeasing the Queen of England, and being followed by the paparazzi? Instead, most of us will spend our lives living in relative obscurity amongst handfuls of family, friends, community, and coworkers. And, that’s totally okay because we’re highly capable of imagining, pretending, and creating our very own fairy tales.

Disney Royalty

One of the keys to living a fulfilled life is to enrich our everyday experiences with delight, excitement, and the element of surprise. No organization on Earth, at least that I know of, does a better job of creating magic and surprise than Disney. And, the wonderful thing about Disney is that they make you feel like a Prince or Princess no matter what age, race, or socio-economic pedigree you hold.

Look, there’s no doubt that our lives can seem routine, mundane, and down right unfair sometimes, especially, if we allow ourselves to get sucked into the vortex of the daily grind. Really, I know it’s not just me who wakes up on a Monday morning feeling like Cruella De Vil. Come on now…who doesn’t transform into a Disney villain every once in a while…any Captain Hooks, Jafars, or Ursulas out there…go on, raise your hand (or your hook)?

Figment

On a recent trip to Disney, I revisited one of my very favorite attractions called “Journey Into Imagination with Figment” at the Imagination! Pavilion in the Future World area of Epcot theme park. The ride begins with an invitation by Chairman Dr. Nigel Channing to attend an open house event at his prestigious Imagination Institute. Inside his fascinating sensory labs, Dr. Channing sets out to prove how the 5 senses—sound, sight, smell, touch and taste—capture and control the imagination. The playful purple dragon Figment has joined Dr. Channing’s tour, too, and through mischief and music, he sets out to prove that imagination works best when set free.

Both Dr. Channing and Figment are correct! When we combine our five senses with our imagination, we open ourselves up to savoring the present moment, and at the same time, we can see things in a whole new way, which allows us to project what our future could look like. Coincidentally, to prove how powerful our senses are to our experiences and memories, this was the only ride that my 5-year old remembered from a visit two years ago, especially where Figment transforms himself into a skunk in the Smell Lab and sprays the riders with a skunky scent!

To kick off the start of summer, get ready to breakout and be free, just like the kids in your neighborhood will be doing this summer. Use your imagination and your five senses to feel like an everyday Disney Prince or Princess. Reach into your inner Sorcerer Mickey, spark some early July 4th fireworks into your life, and as Disney would say, “Let the Memories Begin”…

Fantasmic! Mickey

Sight and Sound:  Go into nature, and have fun with the animals you encounter. Can you imagine them as Disney film and cartoon characters? The wildlife is already in 3D, which is all the rage in movies these days, but you can also pretend that they’re brightly colored with exaggerated cartoon-like features, and imagine what they might say to you or the fellow creatures around them. You’ll have yourself cracking up in no time. Within my own neighborhood and local parks I’ve encountered hundreds of birds ranging from blue birds to robins, blue herons to snowy egrets (think Snow White); deer, bunnies, butterflies and skunks (think Bambi); fish and turtles (think Finding Nemo), frogs and fireflies (think The Princess and the Frog); chipmunks, squirrels, and raccoons; ants, insects, beetles, and spiders (think A Bugs Life); fox, bear, bumblebees, hummingbirds (think Song of the South); dogs and cats (think Aristocrats), and the list goes on and on.

Once you’ve found yourself communing with the animals, don’t be surprised if you find yourself starting to hum this little ditty:

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay
My, oh my, what a wonderful day
Plenty of sunshine headin' my way
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay

Mister Bluebird's on my shoulder
It's the truth, it's actual
Ev'rything is satisfactual
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay
Wonderful feeling, wonderful day, yes sir!

Sing it to yourself, sing it to your kids, hum it on the way to work, and I dare you - sing it on the subway, sing it to your coworkers, and sing it in the grocery store. See what a smile you put on their face (some may be laughing at you, but most will be laughing and singing along with you!) But don’t blame me if you find yourself singing it all day long!

Touch: Feel the heat and get wet this summer! Run underneath the sprinklers, jump in the pools, swim in the lakes and the oceans, and visit the local waterparks and sprayparks. Can you imagine yourself rushing down Disney’s Splash Mountain, getting sprayed by the elephants’ trunks in the Jungle Cruise, and floating through the murky waters of the Pirates of the Carribbean?

Imagination by Disney

Smell: I suppose you could pretend that you’re at Disney’s Animal Kingdom by visiting the smelly, poop-throwing monkeys at your local zoo. Or, let me suggest a much less malodorous idea, which would be to visit the air-conditioned Disney Store at your local mall, and test Disney’s new fragrance, Imagination. The packaging is strikingly beautiful and the scent is absolutely surprising. It’s meant to make you ponder what Never Land might smell like or an enchanted forest of sequoia trees, cool moss, and green leaves. I bought the candle without hesitation, and the very next day I went back to the store for the hand and body lotion. Yes, I smell like a forest, and I love it. Launching in July is the next fragrance – Magic, intended to epitomize the adventure of Disney and all that is Mickey Mouse. And, in the fall, Pixie Dust, a fragrance inspired by Tinker Bell, of course.

Taste: And when you arrive home from the mall, turn your own home into a Disney Castle by lighting your new Imagination candle, then whip up a batch of Shirley Temples (Disney’s staple nonalcoholic drink). Ingredients per drink: 6 liquid ounces lemon-lime flavored carbonated beverage, 1 1/2 tablespoons grenadine syrup, and 1 maraschino cherry. Feel the sweet cocktail tickle your taste buds while it teases your childish heart. Are you getting that fairy tale feeling yet?

Now, sit out in your yard, look for your favorite furry, flying, or four-legged Disney friends - look closely at the fireflies, and you just may see Tinker Bell. Then, plop down on the sofa inside, and enjoy your favorite Disney movie (wearing Mickey Ears is optional). Feel the magic in the air, and savor these little moments in your life. Wish upon a star tonight, wake up tomorrow singing "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" and fly to your heart.

"Fairy Tales Do Come True" Video Playlist:
Fly to Your Heart (Selena Gomez from Tinker Bell, the movie)
Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah
One Little Spark (Journey into Imagination)

Art Alive

Have you ever visited a museum with the intention of flexing your cultural muscles, only to end up feeling like a confused rat running through a maze? Perhaps you’ve visited a famous museum, for example, The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. And, your plan for optimizing your experience at this cultural Mecca was to run right to the classics (Warhol, Matisse, O’Keefe?), or possibly go straight to the wing that represents a specific time period you’re interested in (Medieval Art?), or a find the gallery that features art from a particular region of the world (Arts of Africa?).

After you’ve seen the museum’s highlights you fly through the rest of the galleries, brushing by several items at a clip, and you say to yourself or your companion, “Oh, that’s pretty.”, or “Gee, isn’t that interesting?”, or “That’s the strangest thing I’ve ever seen!”, or “Don’t you just love that?” And maybe you even stop at something that really catches your eye, and you read the gold-plated description, which tells you the name of the artist, the year in which in the piece was created, the title of the painting, and a ho-hum description of the piece. That’s exactly what I used to do, and in some cases just going with the flow has served me well. (You may recall my previous blog in which I described my discovery of Winged Victory at the Louvre).

Being that you’re smarter than an average rat, if you’ve got a map of the museum, you’ll certainly get to where you want to go. But what about all of the other wonderful sights you might miss along the way – does it seem like a dead end?

BONUS - Stick with me through this article, and I promise you’ll see how my tips and tricks can be applied to your every day surroundings whether you plan to go museum hopping or not.

So, how do you make the most of your visit to a museum, thereby avoiding dead ends and bringing those seemingly random works of art to life?

On a recent girls’ getaway with my mother and my sister, we were blown away by the Delaware Art Museum. The museum was nice, but it was the tour guide that was absolutely spectacular. If there were an Academy Award for “Tour Guide of the Year”, the Oscar would go to Rena Tobey! Who knew that a little museum tucked away in a small neighborhood in Wilmington, DE would house such a brilliant tour guide. This rather unassuming, modest woman literally pulled us right into the art. She had us entertained and intrigued, all the while engaging each of our senses. She was an actress, storyteller, and mystery theater hostess all wrapped into one, and I hung on every word she said. My heart beat with excitement over what I might experience next.

Lady Lilith

Rena took us directly to a collection of paintings by a group of young British artists in the mid-1800s called the PBR, or Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. Mostly students at the Royal Academy of Arts in London, these young men opposed the art of the day, which encouraged a style of painting that was based on the art of the Renaissance (i.e., the time of Raphael). The PBR held certain ideas in common:

1. Love of the Middle Ages, because this art was perceived as authentic, simple and honest.
2. Modern Life Subjects, because painting scenes of modern issues gave them a way to critique modern society.
3. Recording Nature, because they painted the natural world in great detail with keen attention to color and texture, in response to the negativity of the Industrial Revolution.
4. Literary Inspirations – they shared a love of literature and a broad range of literary sources inspired their paintings.

During Rena’s one-hour tour, she dispelled secrets from the artists’ minds beyond our wildest imagination. She divulged the artists’ joys and elations, heartbreaks and suffering, and the deepest, darkest, twisting and turning backstories I’d ever heard. She described in great detail how sensory-inspired these works were.

Two particular paintings that Rena stopped at really showed us the light:

1) Lady Lilith (upper right), 1868 by Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882). Lilith looks like an angel, but thanks to Rena’s providing us with an understanding of the symbolic flowers, red sash, mirror, etc., we now know better that the artist really thought of her as a devil. Who would have known?

Isabella and the Basil Plant

2) Isabella and the Basil Plant, Holmer Hunt (right). Do you think there’s soil inside that pot of basil? Think again! What’s inside the pot will astound you. I won’t give it away, but if you read the poem by John Keats with the same title as this painting, you’ll know the secret too.

By the end of the afternoon, we had only viewed a handful of paintings, but it was much better than seeing a few hundred that would have left me senseless.

Ready for your sensational art experience?

Tips and Tricks for Planning a Sensational Museum Visit

1. Always call ahead to find out about the museum’s latest highlights and special exhibits
2. Ask if they offer tours – is it live, recorded, and/or self-guided?
3. Take the tour! There’s a high probability that the museum staff knows a little more than you do, and what you’ll find out might astound you.
4. If tours aren’t available, and you have to go it alone, ask yourself the following questions:

• What are all the sensations that you experience beyond just viewing the works?
• What lens are you looking through?
• If you were able to touch the things in the painting, what might they feel like?  Describe the textures.
• What sounds might you hear?
• What might you be able to smell and taste?
• What’s the backstory – what was the artist really thinking?
• What draws you into it?
• What’s the artist’s intent?
• What makes you want to talk about it?
• What does it represent for you?

Now here’s the BONUS I mentioned earlier. I realized that you can have a museum-like experience anywhere – all you have to do is expand your definition of Art. Try this - look at a magazine or billboard advertisement as if it were a famous painting; look outside your window as if it’s a framed drawing; look at your wall calendar that has at least 12 unique images. What do you see in all of this? What are the sensations you experience? What was Mother Nature’s intent? What’s the backstory behind what you see? You may not know all the answers, and the best part is that you don’t have to – one thought will lead to another, and who knows where your curiosity might lead you? One thing’s for sure, the art will come alive, and you’ll come alive too.

My Sense Savvy Wings

It’s 7:00AM on a cool Monday morning some time in the fall of 1989, and I knock my alarm clock off the makeshift nightstand. I drag myself to the shower, throw on my sweats, and huff it across the University of Virginia grounds. By 8:00AM, I’m in a movie-theater style seat of a small auditorium, and I turn to the student sitting next to me, “If I fall asleep when the lights go out, please wake me up.” By 8:15AM, I’m out cold, and the girl next to me gives me a nudge. I wake up, slightly startled, and I hear the words of my sister a few months earlier as I was registering for my first semester of classes. “Why don’t you take Art History,” she said…”It’s an easy A,” she said...”You’ll have fun,” she said. Sitting in the dark, recovering from a weekend hangover, viewing slides and memorizing details of cave paintings, Mesopotamian figurines, and religious murals, wasn’t exactly my idea of fun. After several weeks of sleeping through the class, I got a B…thanks, Sis. Unfortunately, Art History was slightly lost on me…at least in that year.

And then something phenomenal happened in the summer of 1992. I took an International Finance course in Europe – a four-week trip to Paris, London, Frankfurt, Zurich, and Florence to learn about complex foreign currency transactions and hob-knob with executives at famed business establishments such as Lloyd’s of London. That was all very interesting, but the real enlightenment was in the culture – the food, the drink, the scenery, the architecture, the shopping, the men, and the museums. It’s not like I’d never been to a museum before, but when I stepped into the Louvre in Paris, it was as if I had seen art for the very first time in my life – it literally came alive, and I finally understood what Art History was all about!

Winged Victory - Louvre

I’ll never forget turning a corner of the Louvre, looking down a grand gallery and seeing the most beautiful sculpture I’d ever seen in my life - Winged Victory of Samothrace, a.k.a. Nike. She was perched high above every other statue as if she owned the joint. For me, it was love at first SIGHT. Dating back to the late 4th century B.C., the Greeks represented Victory (Nike) in the form of a winged woman, and its combination with a ship’s prow, indicates the commemoration of a naval victory. According to the Louvre, this monument used to stand on the island of Samothrace, and the figure presents itself on a diagonal, in a three-quarter view on its right side, facing into the wind.

I was captivated, practically to tears, by the splendor of Nike’s strong female form, the movement of the folds in her drapery, and the detail in her expansive wings. I could practically feel the wind blowing all around her, and I was blown away. I felt such a strong connection to this statue, as if she was real, and I didn’t want to leave the gallery. Like a “Night at the Museum” movies, I wished that she’d come alive so that she could tell me all about her conquests and how she keeps so physically fit and mentally strong. Despite her obvious lack of a head, this inanimate object was clearly speaking to me - just not out loud. I left the museum that day feeling as if she had imparted some of her ancient secrets upon me. And, I was extremely fortunate to have future business trips to Paris in which I would visit with her a couple more times – my adoration for her never waning.

To this day, Winged Victory is still the most stunning, awe-inspiring piece of art that I’ve ever seen. And, also landing within my Top 10, is Venus de Milo, a representation of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of Beauty. Both statues feature curvaceous, thick and sturdy, yet very feminine features, like those of a real-life modern woman who’s not afraid to love and reveal her body just the way it is.

Shortly after graduating from college, I happened upon a Museum Store at a local mall, and there, right before my very eyes, were perfect replica statuettes of Winged Victory and Venus de Milo, each about 2 feet tall. Together, they cost $400, which was a huge investment for me at the time, but I just had to have them because they “spoke” to me too.

Exactly two decades after that infamous, sleepy, Art History class, I found myself in the autumn of 2009 developing my Sense Savvy Living (SSL) blog and working with a graphic designer to craft the SSL logo. Now, take a close look at the SSL stick figure…can you see how the silhouette bears a striking resemblance to Winged Victory? But, guess what…it wasn’t planned at all, and I just noticed it myself a few weeks ago. Back when I first developed the logo, my friend Lisa called my free-spirited SSL stick figure, the “Swoosh”. Again, isn’t it strange that I didn’t make the connection to the Nike footwear Swoosh™, which was likely fashioned after a wing? But, it’s definitely all connected and not by chance, although it may seem so. All that Winged Victory represents - her fortitude, courage, strength, confidence, and “joie de vivre” - is naturally woven into the fiber of who I strive to be everyday. So, it’s no surprise that in the early design phases of the logo, I gravitated toward images that represented her. In essence, the SSL logo is my Sense Savvy Wings. My logo hangs on the bulletin board in my home office and serves as a continuous inspiration to me that I can soar to whatever heights I desire.



Winged Victory - My Bathroom

And, the Winged Victory and Venus de Milo statuettes currently reside in my master bathroom. “Where?!” you might exclaim. Yes, you read correctly. My Nike statue is perched on top of a half wall on the side of the soaking tub, in direct view from the toilet (a venue that allows me to visit her frequently throughout the day, in peace, quiet, and contemplation). And, Venus de Milo stands across from Nike on the other side of the tub. These are the striking images that I see first thing in the morning and right before I step into the shower. The imprint of their graceful, victorious images, mixed with the enlivening, steamy shower and the solitude of four walls infuses me with all the power I need to take on the day. Sounds similar to how Clark Kent used to step into a phone booth to morph into Superman, doesn’t it? Okay, perhaps that’s stretching it a bit, but I definitely feel empowered to hit the ground running with a “Just Do It” attitude!

For the record, I Aced that International Finance class, and as far as I’m concerned, I’ve earned an honorary “A” in Art History.

What is the art or symbols that represent you? How do they inspire you? How can you put those objects of beauty in clear view every day to energize your life?

So You Wanna’ Be a Blogger (or Just Share a New Idea)?

I was a blogger before I was a Life Coach, and now I’m a Life Coach because I was a blogger. I knew in my heart that I had something passionate to share, but how compelled would others be to read it? Curious to find out, I stepped precariously into the vast literary unknown. And, realizing that I hadn’t sunk into quicksand, I took a second little step, and then another one which was bigger, and then yet another one which was faster, until I ultimately ran into my voice. It was the voice that was screaming to get out of my head for my entire life, but no one could hear it, not even me. As I persisted to write and promote my blog, I unleashed more about myself than I could have ever imagined. And better yet, I found MY audience…the audience that was actually looking for me. And because of my writing, my readers have also learned more about themselves, and that’s what coaching’s all about – a synergistic relationship!

So you wanna’ be a blogger, or possibly just share your thoughts about a new endeavor? Just sit down and write, right? Well, if writing or promoting yourself were that easy, everyone would be doing it, wouldn’t they? So how does one go about creatively expressing and promoting themselves through blogging or some other art from? My Top 10 Blog Tips will get you up and running in no time. But, if writing’s not your forte, then consider how to modify these tips to simply talk about your new project, idea, or hobby with others:

1. Get Uncomfortable. You’ve heard the old adages: “Do one thing every day that scares you,” or “What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.” Well, this is what blogging’s all about. If the thought of writing or sharing your deepest thoughts scares you to near death, then your head’s in the right place to start.
2. Get Started. Once you setup your blog account pick a date to write your first post, and then stick to it. Start at square one. Your initial entry should focus on the purpose of your blog – who are you, why are you starting this blog, and what do you plan to write about? Then share your blog address with EVERYONE you know.
3. Get Personal. Write as if you were having a conversation with a good friend, speak frankly from the heart, and share your own experiences. If you’re naturally funny, then be witty. If you’re naturally serious, then be straightforward. But most importantly, no matter what your style or content is, always be yourself, and offer plenty of real-life examples to support your ideas.
4. Get to the Point. When talking about yourself it’s very easy to digress and self indulge, which is entertaining for a little while, but eventually you have to get to the main point. What are you really trying to teach your readers (or friends/family), and what do you want them to do with the information? For instance, do you want them to simply ponder your ideas or take a specific action? Make it very clear what the call to action is; for example, do you want them to sign up for something, live a healthier life, be a kinder person, etc.
5. Get Physical. Have you run out of original blog topics or maybe you're having a hard time achieving clarity in your thoughts? Then go for a run, literally, or engage in some other type of physical activity. The best way to boost your creativity is to get out of your chair, get out of the house, step into nature, clear your mind, and get your blood pumping. How do you think I came up with this Top 10!
6. Be Open. Ideas are swirling all around you. Interesting things are happening all the time. Connect the dots between your personal perspectives and your daily moments. Start to see the beauty and the element of surprise in your every day life, and suddenly you’ll be bursting at the seams to share your latest endeavors. Be confident that if something’s meaningful to you, then it must be meaningful to a like-minded audience.
7. Be Sense Savvy.  Talk about your passion as if others could actually Touch, Taste, Smell, See and Hear it.  Describe your thoughts with the most delectable, descriptive adjectives or adverbs that make others literally want to reach out and grab your words.  As you appeal to others' senses, you create a tangible vision of how something new could look, sound, feel, and possibly even taste or smell like.   
8. Be Patient. So you’ve written a handful of blog posts or emails, and you don’t have thousands of readers and hundreds of comments yet? Remember the famous quote from Field of Dreams, “If you build it, he will come.” Just relax and stick to it. Strive to raise the world’s consciousness one person at a time.
9. Be Amazed. After one year of writing, I’ve acquired a couple hundred readers through various channels, and I’ve been shocked by the demographics of my most loyal fans. In fact, I’ve had to rethink my coaching niche a couple of times based on the feedback I’ve received! And, how about this for a shocker – this past month, my blog was viewed 595 times – 380 times from the US, 102 times from Russia, 23 times from Ukraine, 21 times from Moldova (where on Earth is that?), 15 times from the Netherlands, and over two dozen times from other countries around the world! You never know exactly who’s reading you, and the impact you could have on someone’s life on the other side of the planet!
10. Be Humble, But Not Too Humble. Maintaining a sense of humility is extremely important if you want others to relate to you; however, you’ve got to know when to toot your own horn. If you’re using your blog to promote your business or a new project, then don’t be shy! Just as you would inform new acquaintances of your day job, also let them know that you’re a blogger (or that you do whatever it is that you’re passionate about), and tell them exactly what you write about, or why you do whatever it is that you do!

Still feeling a little apprehensive? It’s perfectly normal to feel that way when you open yourself up to the Universe, but remember this…by inviting someone into your World, you just might change the World.

Shari’s blog, Sense Savvy Living, offers “Inspiring, Real-Life Ideas to Touch, Taste, Smell, See and Hear Your Sensational Life”. Shari’s articles can be found at http://www.sensesavvyliving.com/, and her daily sensational adventures can be followed on Facebook – just follow this link: SSL on Facebook. Hope you “LIKE” it when you get there!

HEARING 2011 - New Year's Resolutions

Our last day of this week-long series of Sense Savvy New Year's Resolutions focuses on our sense of Sound. Say with me...

Today, I resolve to ignite my sense of Sound, jumpstart my soul, recharge my sanity, and revive the world.

1. I will ensure the health of my ears to optimize how I hear the world. I will see a general practitioner or ENT (ear, nose, and throat doctor) at least once per year, or as often as the doctor prescribes.
2. I will protect my sense of hearing by avoiding excessively loud noises, wearing earplugs in loud settings, wearing protective headgear in risky situations and cold environments, and safely cleaning my ears.
3. I will sharpen my sense of hearing by listening intently in a conversation, focusing on the sounds that are important, and drowning out those that are not.
4. I will experiment with new sounds and be open to world music. I will listen to new radio stations, and I will be curious about the music of foreign peoples. I will remember that we are all connected to each other, and I will use this notion to improve my personal interactions.
5. I will listen to the simple sounds of the world – the rain, the ocean, the birds, the rustling leaves, the buzzing bees – and I will appreciate them.
6. I will think about sounds and songs from the past that made me feel happy, optimistic, and content. I will listen to those sounds and music more frequently.
7. I will think about sounds that detract from my positive feelings. I will strive to minimize those sounds in my life.
8. I will utilize sound and music to heal my mind, body, and soul. I will learn new forms of sound meditation to awaken and relax myself. I will listen to songs and artists that are engaging, insightful, and upbeat. I will support music therapy programs that help children, the disabled, the ill, and the elderly.
9. I will support music in our children’s schools, be a patron of live concerts, and use music to bind people together toward positive, common goals.
10. I will keep a journal, and write about new and wonderful sounds. How do they make me feel? How do they empower me? How will I incorporate sound into every aspect of my life? How am I grateful for my sense of hearing?

To wrap up this week of Sense Savvy 2011 New Year's Resolutions, I'd like to leave you with this music video of a random guy lipsynching one of my favorite songs, Let Your Love Flow by the Bellamy Brothers. This pretty much sums up how our senses impact how we feel about ourselves, our relationships, and our world.

Try the video below first, but if you have technical difficulty click here - Let Your Love Flow Video. Sounding off until next week!


Bellamy Brothers- Let Your Love Flow (Lip Sync) - The funniest videos clips are here