It was a chilly May morning in 2009 and I took several, very deep breaths and let them go—not the breaths—but several pieces of furniture birthed during my previous life of wife for 33 years. 

There I stood in the middle of the yard sale, wearing the artfully painted smile of a recovering Stepford Wife, dispassionately watching as uncaring strangers poked, prodded and pack away belongings left over from my painstakingly crafted, failed fantasy marriage. I waved goodbye and wished my old friends, Cuisinart (™), Capodimante (™) and carved rice bed, well as they waltzed away down the driveway with new partners. 

MetaStudies Institute: Music by Allen Burns

Allen Burns has a magical connection to spirituality that radiates through his music and touches your soul. His music transcends the Earthly plane and takes you to incredible heights. Each CD is infused with an energy source called Re Hu Tek that originates from ancient Egypt.

There is nothing like Allen's music in the world. To quote so many who listen to his CDs/MP3s, "He is amazing."

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"We can deny everything, except that we have the possibility of being better."

 ~ The Dalai Lama

We lament over our faults and shortcomings. We stress over all those things that don't turn out the way we would like. Yet, so long as we can remain open to the possibility that we can become better, we have the opportunity to grow and learn from our shortcomings and sufferings, becoming wiser, more joyful human beings as a result.

What you think of as your weaknesses are, most likely, blessings in disguise. Embrace your weaknesses. Be grateful for them. Turn them into your greatest strengths. Allow them to teach you - to transform yourself into a better being.

Recently I was enjoying a lovely day by the sea- shore, it was rather windy but fairly mild in temperature, the wind actually made the scene more beautiful, whipping up the waves as the crashed amongst the rocks. As I walked I was fascinated to see so many beautiful pebbles, it was a beach I had not visited previously and the number of pebbles and their sheer variety came as a surprise.

I was at once taken back to my childhood and the joy of scrambling around in rock pool, collecting shells and stones in my tin bucket! I vividly recall carrying this bucket home with me to my city house and loving the sight and smell of those items long after the holiday had ended. I was particularly fond of stones and pebbles, keeping them in a wooden box which I still have today .Not only does it take me back to childhood it reminds me forcefully of how quickly life goes by and we must enjoy and appreciate every day.

The Essence of Storytelling

Foreward by Deena Metsger

Publisher's Description:

Our Secret Territory is composed of revelations from the life of a world famous storyteller including extensive travel and projects spanning thirty years. It helps readers understand the power of storytelling as a profound and unique art form combining modern solo theater, spoken literature, spirituality, and direct oral tradition akin to ancient ritual. The book is shaped with stories and poems and a remarkable fairytale that weaves in and out of a life of experiences: rescuing ex-child soldiers from a devastating war; working with epic singers, Native American storytellers and Tibetan meditation masters; designing a playground; telling tales to Roma mothers and children; and saving a zoo in Northern Romania.

Publisher’s Description:  Creative Thinkering shows readers how to resurrect their natural creativity. It explains that creative thinking requires the ability to generate a host of associations and connections between two or more dissimilar subjects, creating new categories and concepts. Then Michalko goes on to offer practical examples of how to use this technique in a variety of different ways to inspire new ideas and solutions to problems in both our professional and personal lives.