Fine Art

The world is an awesome planet. I’m driving down the street and when arriving at a stop sign I notice the gentleman in the vehicle next to me is wearing a fedora that is much similar to the one I’m wearing. But even more appreciated is the warm greeting he gestures with the tip of his hat, and rolling down his window, he compliments, “Nice Hat!”

Right then and there I know this is a true neighbor of life and that it is important that we meet this man. We have a very brief car-to-car discussion and within minutes we find ourselves parked in the little baseball field just off the busy street where we first met.

It is unsolicited gesture of kindness like this that proves to me that humankind has the potential to become a gregarious and loving people, a premise that 365 has burned deeply into both my mind and heart.

Not saying that we are on path to be a global government or homogenized society. For our diversity is what makes us rich and magnificently unique. What I am say is this, that in our own communities or in our travels, do we view one another we love and acceptance, without preconceived notions of the negative, but with optimism is seeking our similarities as species human.

And tonight as I aimlessly drive, an unknown friend has done just that, reduced the size of our community with the simplest of gestures, a hat tip and a smile. And as minute as it may seem, the humble acknowledgement has brightened my day more than I can accurately express.

I’m on the receiving side of kindness today, and to tell you the truth, I needed to be here today. It is for this reason I write this with the utmost gratitude and honor for my new friends: Rom, his daughter Anne, son Tom and their young friend Yoadd.

I love this project, it has been a life changer for me; and, my dreams it that it is the same for you. It’s about real everyday people with real-life concerns and experiences. My hope is that from it none of us will ever look at the world the same.

Rom and his children are very a family, and have proven again to us the power within the realms of caring for our neighbors. Their enthusiasm for life and love of the world is evident not only in their countenance but in their literal words.

I’ve coined a phrase, “The silent majority.” In it I am referring to us, the everyday people. For after speaking with so many strangers turned friends, I am realizing that the greater population of us, “real-people,” are all saying the same thing. “We want to get along, be loved and respected for who we are and desire to know that the children will have a safe world to live in. A world with less oppression, less governmental control, and the opportunity to safely live, love and worship, as we desire. Trust me I am not trying to get political, but I just found a quote from the late Ronald Reagan. Whether you approve of his late administration or not, his thought strikes resonance. He stated this, “Government’s first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives.”

Call it a dream or not, but we are the silent majority, and we have the power to build our communities into loving safe havens. It takes not much to be effective in uplifting each other, like for me this evening. I was a little down, but through the tip of a hat from an unknown man my life became much richer. The lesson is there to be learned, and the tuition is free to all. The fee…? Only a sincere smile and a warm heart towards our neighbors. My hope, that we all receive our Master’s degree from the University of Planet Earth (UPH).

Let class begin!

Youthful Instructor Anne takes the podium.

“At school I’m part of the recycling club, and I want to tell everyone to go green.”

She describes her definition of world, “It’s called a community.” Out of the mouths of the children. We have to ask ourselves in checking our outlooks on the youth: Who is the wiser? The old… or the young? And are we listening?

Professor Tom addresses the student body.

“Always stay positive and be happy about what you have, because if everyone becomes negative… then neighbor will turn on neighbor, and the world won’t be a happy place.”

Dean Ram sets the tone for his faculty and all visiting students.

“We should never prejudge anyone, not by color, not religion, not by where we come from. Just be good people, the rest will come from self.”

Visiting student, family friend Yoadd contributes to the curriculum.

“Everyone should be happy with one another. Live life to it’s extreme because it is short… and kind of fun.”

Four distinct views, four sets of suggestions for us all to consider and four lists of concerns and advice that has become a constant within the over 1000 people who have conversed with us in 365.

We shift to the future in part two of our educational workshop.

Again instructor Anne starts the ball rolling.

“The word war will go away and everyone in the world will come together as one big family, and they will notice that no matter how someone looks or is, as long as they respect you and you respect them, we can all be like one family.”

Professor Tom concurs.

“How you look and what you do now will be less important. People will be more thinking about what you do for the whole world, not as much how important you are, but how important you are to everyone else.”

Ram looks at his faculty with loving eyes, but grounds them with a challenging mountain to overcome.

“I’m really, really scared about the level of communication between people. As of today: I love you, I miss you, I need you, is gone. Everything is texting, everything is computerized and the feelings, the emotions, are dissipating from the world. Everything is very technical and I’m really, really scared. I think in ten years it is going to be much worse. I’m afraid parents will not communicate with their kids, kids will not communicate with their friends. They barely do today. Honestly, I think it is going to get worse.”

Instructor Anne contributes to the dean’s comments.

“I see it two ways… Technology, it could be a good thing and a bad thing, like my dad said, people will talk to each other less. Like on their computer or iPad or something. That’s what makes their life… and their life evolves around that.

It is also good for contacting someone or finding someone. We are definitely going to go more green and technology will help that.

But if life totally revolves around your phone or your computer or something like that, that will mess up your life.”

Visiting student Yoadd queues in on the environment.

“Technology will definitely be more advanced, especially when it comes to saving the planet and going green.”

Something is going on right at UPH. And I must credit Dean Ram for his leadership and example to us all. Its youthful faculty is on fire in training itself, and I hope us, to be active in working towards a better future while strengthening our existing communities. Through their example and words today, I know one thing first hand.

I was tired, I was missing being home with my family and I was clueless as to where to journey to meet a friend. And at the particular moment that I let go of my self-control in submitting to whatever is to come, a hat is tipped to me. Call it fate, call it coincidence or call it anything you wish.

Whatever the cause… and trying to not be selfish, I must say, THANK YOU to my new friends, our well has been filled.

For who knew that in the parking lot of a quite little baseball in the burbs of the San Fernando Valley, I would encounter the wisdom of future leaders and the man who is planting the seeds.

And best of all, UPH is open registration with no limits to enrollment. Better yet, it courses are self-created and at will to your development. Consider today the day of orientation and with you at the center of the lecture hall, UPH permissions you, without any limitations, to open your own annex campus wherever you are.

Good luck class of 2012, we are with you.

Lest we never forget, “We are in this thing together.”

“I’ve been through a lot. I’m only twenty-three years old, but still… I’ve been through a lot… a lot of judgment, and a whole lot of that ridicule,” says father, caring boyfriend and young man of street earned wisdom, Latin.

 “Definitely do not judge a book by its cover. That one of my hugest pet peeves, I’m a really great guy,” Latin builds his story.

Many may think that Latin’s claim is self-serving. But in his proclamation there is no essence of boastfulness. Even holding his newborn daughter close to his cheek as he tosses us the self-analysis. There is an inescapable spirit of compassion in Latin’s eyes, one of the first things I pick up on as I approach he and his family today. Latin is not about serving himself. I’ll be upfront in a conclusion, I think Latin is on Planet Earth to be of service to society and I have to call him a peace giver.

And with the accepting nod from Caprice, his significant other, I am confirmed of my assumption in agreeing; Latin is a really great guy!

There is not an ounce of malice or contempt in him as he tells me of his trials, “Because of the color of my skin color and my tattoos, and the way I dress, walk and talk, even the words I use, people misconceive that I am just another thug on the street. They probably think that I have no goals, I have no ambition, and basically my life is going to come to a halt and I that I am going to give up at some point of time.”

And for those who feel the barb of others judgments, Latin give us a pep talk, “I want people to know that there are actually people out there who do care, that want to know the other side of the story. So none of us should judge a book by its cover.

God works in mysterious way, it’s crazy.”

And per Latin’s experiences, “The biggest thing that an African-American, probably mostly males, but females get it too, has to deal with is the whole racial profile.”

He quotes an experience he had with a police officer in Long Beach, A huge white guy who assumed that Latin was a gang member. And that same officer harshly questioned hem about being in a gang the he had never even heard of. On top of that Latin has managed to steer clean of any gang association, other than knowing friend and family that have fallen into the gang grasp. But even with this, Latin did get terribly harassed for just riding his bike on the street.

“No one can do anything about the profiling…” Latin positions, “… a lot of people… especially those in the poverty driven areas, think there is nothing they can do about profiling. They run out of hope. There goals are not being supported, all their dreams are being tarnished… it is really bad.

But there are a few that are out there, like myself, that never want to give up on their dreams, no matter how hard it gets.”

“No matter how hard it gets,” Latin inspires.

He has more, “No matter what type of tough terrain you have to drive through, you have to get there somehow, someway… I never let a situation like the cop, or anyone, profiling me to stop me from ever-moving forward and putting one foot in front of the other. We all have to learn to do that.”

“How would you council people out there who are being profiled?” I ask.

“I’m not a violent person…” Latin explains, “… so I would not fight if I did not have to. I would just keep moving forward. There is nothing you can do about those people, just let them be those people. There is no possible way that they can be helped, as far gone, as they are mentally, that we can turn them back. We Just need to focus on the things that we know we can get done; like living our dreams, going to school, being a good parent, being there for our families. Getting out there and trying hard to be the man or woman or son or daughter or whatever they are trying to be and to just become that.

Look at yourself and the people you know are good people… and help those people.

And to all the negativity… just stay away from it.”

Caprice to this point has been sitting quietly listening. I turn to her in asking for her advice to us.

She thinks for the longest time and then responds with quite a remarkable point of view.

“Toward the world in general?” Caprice ponders… “There is too much negativity: If people could just see the world, and people, through a child’s eyes. To be carefree as if they did not know judgment, or if they did not know there is so much snideness and hateful things out there.

People should be ably to walk down the street and be able to say hi to someone… like in a community. But nowadays people don’t even speak to each other in their own community, in the grocery store or in their own neighborhood. Most of that just comes from people having their nose stuck in the air.

People need to come together, to break this class type of thing and to just to be humble towards everyone.

Everybody would be a lot happier if they were to see the world through a child’s eyes and not to care about what people think.”

Look at life through a child’s eyes. How sweet is that thought! What do you think? Can we do it even for just a few hours a day? Maybe we should accept that as a challenge? I’ll leave it in your court to decide.

Latin looks at what’s ahead.

“All of us need to enter the direction of being positive, smiling at people’s faces, saying hello, giving a handshake instead of a frown or a mean mode.

But still, looking at the future, I have to say that we are heading towards destruction. And if you and I and the others don’t step it up and try to help change what we can change, and what we have the power to change, even that and more… honestly. We are in big trouble.

If we don’t… Destruction and hatred towards one other is going to continue in the same cycle, and that is exactly were we are heading right now; that cycle of hatred and isolation amongst people of all different colors, all different races and all walks of life. People don’t seem to want to get out there and get themselves known or know anybody else. They want to worry about just themselves, or just what they have going on. They want to live life selfishly. And I don’t think that is what life is about. It about getting out there and learning about people and not judging them on a constant basis.

Definitely destruction if we choose to not do something about the way things are now. On the good side, the future is changeable if people can learn to shine in a positive light.”

Caprice again supports Latin’s perspective, but projects a sobering projection, “Ten to fifteen years from now the people will be the same… unless we do something about it. The problem is that a lot of people are stuck in their ways.”

After 280 days and having meaningful discussions with over 1000 people, I am coming to a conclusion, “We are a silent majority.”

The findings are slowly rolling in, and what I am witnessing through the words and histories of the many strangers that I am now proud to call friends in this. There are more people of like mind than we realize.

May we all begin to speak up! Not necessarily in our words, but in our deeds and outlooks towards one another.

Latin summarizes it well, “All of us need to enter the direction of being positive, smiling at people’s faces, saying hello, giving a handshake instead of a frown or a mean mode.

And Caprice gives us the tools do so, “There is too much negativity: If people could just see the world, and people, through a child’s eyes. To be carefree as if they did not know judgment.”

I’ll leave it at that.

Talk tomorrow… My friends.

I’m literally driving down PCH and despite my fear of being ticketed for another $160 mobile device violation that the Highway Patrol so happily issue, I take the chance to dictate into a cool little iPad app that is tolerant to my voice.

I do so because my heart is on fire from the meeting I just completed; one in which, without anticipating, has lifted me up after a few weeks of fatigue. So as I drive, eyes on the horizon, scanning for flashing lights, I can’t stop reflecting upon the essence of my conversation with stranger turned friend, the lovely Patricia.

“Awareness is the only way we can make change…” Patricia warmly encourages. “Our behavior as humans being, for all of us, is a default mode. It is like a computer. It’s how we have programmed ourselves. We have to reprogram ourselves from the past. You cannot change the present if you disregard everything you have done up until now. And that default mode is there for a reason. And, if you want to change, you have to be aware. In our comfort zone we are in that default mode that we did yesterday, and the day before, and the year before.

“You have you have the desire to change; you have to look outside of that default zone, even if it is uncomfortable. You have to want to change, and for many that’s not easy.

“Too many people are trapped in the concept of how old am I. What does that mean? And how old you are? Whatever number it is, it only tells us how long you have been here. It really does not tell us much of anything else, does it?

“You have to ask, what are you doing here and why are you doing what you do while you are here? It is far more important than how long you are here.

“We should be laughing more,” Patricia advises.

“If you focus on time only you are putting yourself in a prison. If you want to do something… do it. Stop looking at time. Age is an excuse. Find a way to have fun in whatever you do.

“Life is nothing more than an experience. It’s all about us interpreting and making choices and how we interpret. We are born to see if we can see through the illusion. Fear creates an illusion that we ‘can’t,’ and if we buy into the illusion it become real.”

Patricia answers the 365 questions:

If you could give the people of the world any advice, council, or pass on any wisdom, what would you tell them?

“’First, I would pass on this advice; there is an infinite intelligence, one presence, one power in this universe and we are not separate from it.  It doesn’t matter what religion you may practice, or doctrines you follow, if you are breathing right now then this one presence, this one power, one life is breathing you to be you… so you are not separate from it. It permeates through every cell of your body, vibrates in all your energy.  With this you can always know that you are connected, there is no ‘alone.’

“Second, I would tell people, ‘beauty’ has nothing to do with what someone or something looks like.  Beauty is a feeling.  When we look at the ocean, the mountains, a painting, a person, it is the FEELING it gives us that determines if we think it is beautiful.  So actually, beauty is in the heart of the beholder.’”

Looking ahead five, ten, fifteen, twenty even one-hundred years and beyond, where do you see the planet, or the people being? Or how, or what, do you advise us regarding the future?

“Spend less time worrying about how long the path is and focus more concern on what you’re doing on the path.  It’s never the number of years that matters, it’s what you do with the ones you have.”

In closing Patricia point us to the trail head of the path she speaks of, “Baby steps will get us to the top of the mountain.”

“Success is the best revenge.” Says nurse Maribel, whom I meet this evening at a local blood drive…. a rather aggressive stance coming from a person who walks with sweetest of compassion and charm.

Instantly, I have to question Maribel’s outlook. It just feels out of character coming from a person who is all about helping others.

“Revenge against what?” I query.

Maribel is a champion for the underdog, “Just for people who always put you down. Who underestimated you… or feel the need to insult you in order to better themselves.”

I question again, “So, then, what is success?”

“Success is about being happy with yourself. No matter whatever weakness you have. Sure, you could have a million dollars, but you can still be miserable, or maybe a terminal illness and be miserable. But you could also be broke as a joke and be happy.”

It’s true; life does have a peculiar way of counseling us. And at its center, life is really not about gaining status or growing wealth beyond measure. It’s about discovery and learning. In my opinion, it is a schoolyard, and we are here to learn what we can before we depart from the Earths surface.

Our lives are full of experiences, what Maribel is proposing is this: That we need to look upon every daily experience as opportunities to learn. Even better yet, as gifts to learn from.

Now I promise you, I’m not looking at life with rose-colored glasses, I’ve had my days of homelessness, my moments of pain and regret and I’ve definitely lived my days of blame from both sides of the window.

There is no way to ignore the terrible circumstances we often find ourselves in, and writing this, I assure you that I am painfully aware of the horrible things that are occurring in the world, many of which bring tears to my eyes in a cry to a higher power… “WHY!”

I’ll not turn away from the fact that atrocities happen every day, and own the knowledge that for many the temptation to retreat or to bury heads in the sand is ever-present.

But still, how many of us have found ourselves in the worst of situations, or perhaps have first hand witnessed any of an endless list of wrong doings. And in such, have either overcome or been inspired by the courage of others.

It matters not whether the glass is half full or half empty. What matters is our willingness to fill to glass and to protect the glass of others… to not let any one glass dry up into oblivion.

And even though that for many, the glass may often be close to dry, while at the same time is overflowing for others, one global question remains, “Did we honor each others glass?”

I’ll be bold in saying this; maybe the troubled are truly the blessed. For without trial, how can one fully appreciate drinking of joy to its fullest potential?

Maribel sort of mirrors this sentiment with her observations of society, “It’s so funny to me; borderline ridiculous, how we are quick to react to negative, but we disregard the positive.”

“Quick to react to the negative,” Maribel points out.

I ponder her finding and come to a conclusion. A conclusion that arrived from asking myself a question. “Is man’s core instinct to react?”

But even further, do we seek the negative and in some subconscious way, direct our path towards pain and away from peace.

Trust me, I am not burying my head in the sand with the above statement. And I’ll be the first to do whatever I can to help those who are being abused beyond their control.

Yet, still I must question, how many of us would rather carry upon ourselves the weight of pessimism, distrust and doubt than to risk exposing ourselves to the light of optimism, hope and outreach. “Yeah… I know… What if I get hurt?”

Well… what if you do? Will you grow from the experience?

I choose growth… How about you?

Maribel brings a bit of perspective to my claim, “’Because of my line of work, I get to go see a lot of businesses, and I get to meet many different people. I interact with a lot of people, and unfortunately, some of the most ‘successful’ people are the most miserable people. They don’t even give us half an hour because they are so pressed on everything. How is that happiness? How is not having half and hour to exchange words with another human happiness.

Yeah it’s a paycheck… but… so what! Where do you end up…? Eighty years old and lonely?

I hope that in the future we come back, or at least turn around. There is no human contact anymore. There are emails… there are voice mails… there is text messaging… but, there is no human interaction.

It’s beautiful that we’re advancing technologically and that we are constantly evolving in that sense. But it is so unfortunate that we don’t take the time to meet our neighbors.

So, I think if we don’t take the time to do that human experience, we’re done!’”

The blood drive is wrapping up and Maribel has graciously given of her time. But in fairness to her co-workers we need to let her help them in wrapping their set-up.

“Do you have any last word of council for us Maribel?”

She paused in thought… and then gives us two winners.

“Be careful for what you wish for…”

And

“…Always! Just give without expecting to receive.”

History repeats itself with a different result. You may or may not remember the Third Street Promenade experiment that I conducted several months ago, or as I have now nicknamed it, operation SMO (Santa Monica Hello).

In it, I spent almost an hour reaching out with greetings to all that I passed before even one person responded with a positive verbal. And that person did so because it was their job in advertising a small café.

And today I find myself in the same situation. I don’t get it? There are thousands of people around, and this time in walking with my wife, I am definitely much less threatening than my last solo Promenade excursion.

I think the tourists are worried that I am trying to sell them something and the locals are buried in their own rushed agenda. For a place that is supposed to be a destination, it surely has a suppressive spirit. I may or may not return, time will tell.

Also, now that we have hit the less ninety-day countdown to the end of this phase of 365, I am reconsidering the communities that I travel too. So in desire of lengthening my stride, soon you will see me in the yet not visited China Town, The Korean District, Olvera Street, Little Vietnam, The Jewish Quarter, Little Armenia and whatever equally culturally colorful burbs I can get to before we hit September 9, 2012 (The official ending date of this portion of my 365 life change, more will be coming, I promise you that).

I confess my time has been limited. Trying to manage my business and personal time with that required of 365 has been quite a challenge. So The travel time is always a consideration in selecting my destinations, Plus, the cost of fuel is becoming a drag to my pocketbook. But, 365 is deep under my skin now, and I hope it is sinking into yours as well. I’ll do what I can to give us all more exposure to other ways of life.

Still, even though the bulk of our strangers turned friends have mostly been met in a fifty-mile radius of my home, we have been fortunate enough to meet quite the range of world citizens. This alone has revealed to us a very interesting cross-section of faiths, genders, ages, political views, race and countries of origin.

And, Richard, why the “History repeats itself with a different result” introduction?

I’ll explain… Today after another one-hour stroll, I am the one who this time receives the warm hello; it comes completely unsolicited, from someone who is completely aware of my presence and is also completely sincere and open in approaching me.

All give a warm welcome to Nazanin. Haling from Iran, she has been in the USA for 2 ½ years and is currently a student at a nearby college.

“Are you a professional photographer?” Nazanin asks.

You have to picture me; jeans, Columbian button down shirt and ten pounds of camera strapped over my shoulder. Perhaps yet another reason people are running from the tourist or paparazzi dude.

What’s really cool is Nazanin sees me not as a threat, but as an artist and fellow human. “Do you take portraits of people?” She questions.

Seems Nazanin is in need of some personal photos taken of her and has correctly profiled me.

We talk about her photos needs for a moment and as we conclude, I realize it would be completely wrong if I do not invite her to join us in 365.

At first Nazanin is a little reserved, but once we talk about the audience 365 has formed as well as the community it is creating, she comes on board without reservation.

“Avoid stereotypes,” Nazanin advises. “We need to not judge people. Like, if you know someone is Muslim, or Jewish or a different ethnicities, or from different religious backgrounds… we must avoid stereotypes.

We need to try to know each person on an individual level. If everyone would practice that… the world would be a much more peaceful place.

Too many people get victimized by general stereotypes that other people create, either politicians or ordinary people, it does not matter where it starts… we just have to treat each other better.

I’m quite idealistic, I know, but I hope that all countries will one day merge under one government. A government that keeps things in order, but I’m a liberal, so a government that does not too much meddle in people’s lives.

People forget what horrible things are happening in other parts of the world… And it is happening… People are getting killed.

I would like to see a world where everyone has a more awake consciousness towards other humans. The problem is that this just doesn’t come ordinary to them in focusing on the fact that people are getting killed or dying of hunger or all that…

…I just hope for a more conscious world.”

It’s a perfect, California Beach day — and although we are driving down Highway 1, commonly known as PCH (Pacific Coast Highway), overlooking a very inviting beach, we are on our way to a job in the city.  I’m acting as scribe for my husband, Richard, who is driving (lucky for us, reading or typing while driving has never been a problem for me).  It’s another good, but crazy day, just trying to hold down all the bases, including getting day 276 posted before day’s end.

As the Stepford-esque woman’s voice on the GPS gives us directions to our destination, I have carefully typed in the digital transcripts of Richard’s interview with our new friend, Daniel.  Daniel, a twenty-year-old film student from Germany has been in the U.S. since September.  His thoughts are welcomed because they are so fresh from Europe and give us a perspective that is as close as we can get to Germany for the time being.

Richard asks Daniel what advice he would like to share.

“I would tell everybody to be thankful everyday and see the opportunities in life because if you are thankful then you can’t be angry or you can’t be fearful. If you see what your are gifted (with), like the gifts you have, (you can) always look at the positive side of things — because no matter what bad things happen in life you can always choose where to focus, the good things you have or the bad things that happen to you. The outside world does have some control over you, but you always have control over yourself, like how that affects you. That is something I’m learning… and I’m really trying to apply every day.”

What do you see for the future?

“I’m pretty optimistic about the future. Hopefully the world is going to become more united. For example, the European Union has lots of problems and that’s really scary right now. Hopefully, in the future, the European Union will become the Untied States of Europe; if they reassemble and come together stronger, like with a centralized parliament, that would strengthen the whole union.

“It’s really important for people to go to other countries and see what other people are like because if people stay always in one country they have these stereotypes… they make assumptions and that’s really dangerous. It’s really important that, as much as possible, we visit other countries and learn something about other people… see themselves and their country in another view. We need more global understanding.”

Richard asks Daniel if his feelings are typical of his peers back home.

“Yes. Generally most of the young people are very optimistic about the future, because now we have so much knowledge and there are so many opportunities, everybody has some dream about it, and it seems really significant to achieve.  I would say most of my colleagues in Germany are pretty optimistic.”

By this point, Richard is very curious — things in Germany sound pretty good, so he has to ask:  “Why did you come to the U.S. to study, and what do you think about this whole “global community” idea?”

“I dreamed about America since I was in 5^th grade… and what I would see on television – like how New York or Los Angeles were portrayed. It was like this big dream, this magical land where I wanted to go. Now that I’m here I see it in a different view, but I still like it. You see that there are some troubles and some problems what are completely different from the movies, but still, it’s a very nice view.

“The American mentality is very nice. Just “Do It,” like Nike says! Which is really awesome if you think about it.

“Some of the people are very hectic and their lifestyle can be really funny. I don’t mind it. Here in Los Angeles it’s crazy — they are really funny and open-minded. It’s crazy, all diverse. For example, on Friday I saw a gay couple walking down the street, which still blows my mind because in Germany it’s not all that diverse… like it is here in Los Angeles.  Los Angeles, probably because it’s such a big city, is probably most different than the whole United States. It is nice because Los Angeles has a nice hope about it for society, and that is pretty interesting.  It gives you a broader understanding and keeps your mind more open – interesting because you see so many people, and they still can all be friends and work together and live together.”

Thank you Daniel, for sharing your thoughts. May we all hope for an optimistic future if we do as you say, “Unleash the power within!”

“Try to take pleasure in at least one thing during the day; and appreciate the little things in life.

“If you have things that you want to do, make a list; my goals for this week… the next week… a month… a year… three years… and look back on them. You always think, oh yeah! I want to do that someday, or that would be cool… I want to do that… and I want to do that; and you never do it and your life passes you by. Writing a list can really help us to accomplish things.

Do just one little thing each day. And at the end of the day, review the list and also say what did I accomplish today;” Life coaching from today’s stranger, now friend, artist Lisa.

Lisa’s energy is beaming and in her is revealed a person who is on this Earth to share her happiness with the world around her.

I consider her a giver of peace. A suitable title for where I run into her today, under the peaceful shade of little secluded art exposition; a little slice of artistic seclusion at a side area in the middle of Topanga Canyon. And standing beside the sound of a naturally fed waterfall… I realize that I have stumbled upon a retreat from the haste of the world.

A magical mini community of sorts, and one that is free of the pressures of religious segregation or any form of class distinction.

It does not take long for me to understand that Lisa is all about doing good… Good for the sake of doing good.

“There is no God and we are all going to die, one day the earth is going to cease to exist and the sun is going to cease to exist. So who cares,” she suggests with the greatest sense of light heartedness.

We talk about her view for a few minutes. And in examining her statement we come to a conclusion as to it meaning. Per Lisa, “’You can view ‘who cares’ as either annalistic or empowering. You have one life and you are going to die one day,’” she vibrantly explains as she responds to her own council, “I know… I’m very dark …”

The last thing I see Lisa as is dark. What I see is a young woman who is passionate about life and embracing every second of it in not wanting to waist a breath of life on meaningless pursuits.

“I just do my thing… Lisa expresses, “…and I am passionate by my thing. I like to paint… It makes people happy, and that makes me happy. People always respond positively to me and that makes me respond positively towards them. If everyone around acted negatively towards me, or looked at me weird, or thought I was a freak, I probably would not be as nice.”

But nice Lisa is, even so much that I cannot stop myself from complimenting her. “Lisa, you are a light to the world!”

Without becoming overwhelmed by my compliment, Lisa remains unpretentious in her composure, “All I do is just smile… We all need to smile… Just that… Smile every day. You smile and people respond to it.

I try to look nice. If you are wearing spikes in your nose and spikes everywhere… in your ears and wherever… Looking freaky… and with negative feelings towards the world. You will receive what you project.

You create your own experiences in life. You can change the world around you. You have that power. And People don’t realize the power that they have. You can blame it on everyone else. It’s easy to blame stuff on other people.

We have to just keep moving, but we have to put out the good energy.

Have I given you enough good nuggets to put in your blog?” Lisa asks.

“Your words are perfect…” I confirm, “…but I have one last question.”

“How would you explain yourself as an artist?”

Lisa thinks for a moment, “I am someone who paints color. That is very important to me. But what is most important in what I do is the how, not the what.

A lot of people are suffering, especially now, so I want to give them some love in their space.”

And after spending half an hour with Lisa, I understand her how.

Lisa is all about love… love for her life… love for her family… love for her craft… and best of all… love for the world and people around her.

Lisa, It’s been a pleasure spending time with your today. Stay who you are. and please keep giving what you give. I think we all need more Lisa’s in our lives.

Shameless Plug:
Pet lovers perk up. Lisa paints pet portraits. If you are interested here is her website: lisagoldfarb.com

My family awaits me today, and in all fairness, to jump into a one hour writing session would be a self-indulgent use of the small window of time I find myself privately encapsulated in. And the fact that this is the anniversary day of my marriage, I feel it a tad insensitive to look away from the importance of this day in burying myself too deeply in my blogging.

That said, and before I introduce you to today’s new friend, you need to know that they put no pressure on us (myself and you – my readers). The truth is that they are as committed to this project as I. Even leaving me at home in full privacy to honor you and what we are doing through 365.

So if there is ever a time that I need your feedback… it is today, and please forgive me for what I admit is the first wholly selfish agenda I have put forth since the inception of 365.

I’d like to thank our new friend, Randy for putting me on path to making a request: May my wife get the limelight today!

I catch Randy at a father/sons campout, and even though his words resonate strong with those shared by many of our 365 friends, they have obviously hit me deeply today.

Randy says, “Treat others as you would want to be treated…” as he keeps sight of his youngest son.

“… If everybody showed each other respect and love, and expected that in return, then the world would be a better place.

I’m and optimist. When you see youth and the children of today, how can you not have hope for the future of the world? I think it’s going to continue to be a good place. I don’t anticipate any big changes, hopefully everybody will be happy and at peace.”

Randy takes a second look at his son, “I’m not full of too much wisdom or advice tonight.”

Randy is not being dismissive. Frankly he is very engaged with me and into 365. But as we chat, it is apparent via his wandering eyes that his greatest priority is in watch guarding his youngest. And in this subtle body language, his actions speak louder than words, “Family First!”

And now with that said, I must focus my actions based on Randy’s example.

I love my family. Could not ask for a more supportive wife and daughter. And even though they have given me this uninterrupted window for authoring. The right thing to do is to honor them for their sacrifice of my time in being so supportive of what we are trying to do with 365. That being to learn to look at each other with welcoming hearts and minds.

So here is where I need your help. I’m hoping we can engage our numbers to give credit to the backbone of 365… My lovely wife.

Who know? Maybe you are about to take part in a romantic notion, maybe you choose not to. But whatever you decide, my hope is through my opening up, and with the help of Randy’s example of priority, that we can all focus our attention on those little gentle life gestures toward family, friends and community. Namely a kind “Thank You.”

So here is the help I ask for. I want to surprise my wife with a “Thank You” attack. Funny, my eyes are welling a little as I write this. “Holly heck Richard…! Pull yourself together… or all of us… your 365 readers are going to come over there and slap you back to manhood!”

“OK! Thanks… I’m back.”

What I ask is this, for the countless hours my wife has sacrificed, and the many meals she has brought me as I type, I ask you this, Can you send her a simple “Thank You.”

I ask not for paragraphs… I ask not for praises… I ask not for your opening of any personal windows… Just a simple “Thank You” in the subject line. If you want to write more, that’s up to you. But again I am not asking for any deep dig of your time.

I consider you all friends and I appreciate you readership. Tomorrow I’ll pick myself up from my romantic notions and dig back into finding our next 365 friend.

You have been a great audience, and I must again thank you for your continued support. Our numbers are growing and I have hope that eventually we can all spread some good will, or perhaps works, within our communities.

And for those of you who are helping me in my romantic venture this day, I give you my wife’s email. ttrad@mac.com.

Talk tomorrow my friends.

Randy, thanks for your inspiration.