Josh Ritter...again.

I've just found out that Josh Ritter is coming back to Dallas in February. I couldn't be more excited about this, especially since I thought I might have to shell out some major dough to see him in either DC or Philly in Feb. If you've never seen Josh Ritter or even heard of him, I encourage you to check out his music (especially if you are a fan of great folk sounds and excellent song writing). I was first introduced to their music in LA by a dear friend of mine who seems to have impeccable taste for music all around. At first, I was skeptical but Josh had me at "If this was the cold war we could keep each other warm..." I think it was the first time in my life I had been truly moved at a concert, not to mention a concert from a band I had never invested any real time listening to. He is by far in a league of his own. A best kept secret, a diamond in the rough. I am counting the days until accessibility to Josh and his band at such venues as the Granada Theater for $24 per ticket is obsolete.

Josh Ritter, at the Granada Theater in Dallas. Feb 28th, 2011. What a great way to begin 2011.

Your Inner Voice Offers The Best Advice

We have all found ourselves in sticky situations where it feels like it's going to be harder to walk away than we give ourselves credit for. It is in those moments when we need to let our body and mind go into "auto pilot" and just start walking. It takes a lot of guts to fully trust our instincts at times but I must tell you, that gut feeling is your other self, the self that is not attached to the feelings, the emotions, the fears. It is the voice of reason, the same voice we'd use to give a friend or family member advice. Don't argue with it or try to reason with it. Trust it. Don't think for even a second that you're making the wrong choice. Whenever you feel uncomfortable, uneasy, alarmed or whatever negative reaction you're experiencing, it is your natural, built-in defense mechanism that is urging you to move for your own safety, whether physical, mental or emotional. Moving away without fear is hard sometimes but you must trust that your best interests are in mind, even if they are coming from within. Nobody knows you better than yourself and nobody knows what you need, or don't need, better than you.

Honesty.

“Not only is honesty compatible with genuine kindness, it is the basis of kindness. False kindness pollutes. As long as you are not living in the truth, you cannot really communicate with others, you cannot have trust, you cannot relate. As long as you do not call the hard realities by name, you are living in the land of dreams. There is no room for you and me there, but only for harmful illusions. In as much as we lie, we live a life devoid of reality. And kindness cannot exist in a world of masks and phantoms.”

Today I am once again reminded of the power of honesty, as well as the power of dishonesty. They are both equally impactful but each one brings its own share of positive or negative. When I first read the phrase: “Honesty is the basis of kindness”, I had to sit and think about it for a while. I wondered if I had ever met a dishonest person who was genuinely kind. I’m almost sure I have but perhaps what I’ve really seen in someone like that is a perception of honesty, a false kindness. Maybe this masked kindness comes with a hidden agenda or selfish gain. I had never really thought of it that way before, but to be honest with ourselves first, we can in turn be honest with others a lot easier. I have always said that the basis of effective communication lies in honesty. Not only in the things that we aren’t saying (though we should), but also meaning the words we are saying.

One Step Closer.

“The victory of success is half won when one gains the habit of setting goals and achieving them. Even the most tedious chore will become endurable as you parade through each day convinced that every task, no matter how menial or boring, brings you closer to fulfilling your dreams.”

My life is taking on a fun, new shape and I finally feel like I'm in a place that makes sense. I have just signed a new lease on my creative design space in Deep Ellum. One part excitement to two parts crazy, freaked out. But I know I'm doing the right thing, stepping my foot in the water and moving in the right direction. For the last year and a half, I have desperately needed a place where I can twist the lid off and let my creativity out. This place is MY space. My humble, 525 sq. ft space. I can write my name on it's wall if I want to. My space, with hardwood floors, once painted over in navy blue and two brand new windows to let the light drench the white walls. I imagine all of the hours I will spend here, creating, thinking, thriving.
I feel, in many ways, like a tree sprouting new branches; arms outstretched, aiming towards the sun.

We evolve at the rate of the tribe we are plugged into

Humans, by nature, are tribal. We surround ourselves in tribes of kindred souls. The more like minded people we are exposed to, the more we learn about who we are, grow and are inspired. My father used to say "If you want to soar with eagles, you can't peck with chickens". If we are curious about our life, what we want and what it is that maybe we aren't getting, it is possible to look at our surroundings, our friends and ask if these people inspire us, 'get' us or challenge us. What is it that we want to learn and are we surrounding ourselves with people who nurture that?