“Everybody needs to take it down a notch…” —Brandon
honesty
Sidewalk Ghosts / Interview 457: “Andrew… Thanks For Pulling Us Together"
“Stop competing with each other. Instead, try to build with each other…” —Andrew
The room is spinning left to right, up and down. Not the most comfortable way to begin the day, but none-the-less, the state I find myself in this blessed Sunday morning. No, I’m not suffering a hangover from a Saturday night binge of memory depriving consumption. Those are days long past for this conservative and alcohol-free father. But if you are in a spinning state, please do not feel as if I am not empathetic. I know how you feel, I’ve been there, done that.
Seem that writing is my distraction from the vertigo I’m experiencing this morning. The cause of my condition is a complete mystery to me. Perhaps it’s the late nights of 365 writing and editing. Maybe the pace and the passion for that has driven me to double-time all my efforts in supporting my family and managing my business while balancing it in growing our 365 community: All things that are core to who I am and key motivator to getting outside of myself. I know, “getting out of myself.” A statement that sounds a little suspect coming from a guy who is constantly writing articles and works in the fields of advertising, film making and communication.
Yes, I admit, I’ve been fortunate to find something that I enjoy and feel obsessed to do. But as in all things, a career in arts and communication can be easily viewed with rose-colored glasses. Although grateful, the ride has been a 30-year roller coaster of emotional and financial peaks and valleys, and like many of us, the daily question of what will tomorrow bring is ever-present. I’ve had my homeless days as well as my time of security: lessons that have brought me to this junction of my personal and professional life, and the understanding that at any moment, for any of us, life can change in the fraction of a second.
Why I write this entry is a mystery to me. Quite possibly it is the council of today’s friend, Andrew, as he challenges us to, “Build with each other.” Or, plausibly its offer of distraction away from the rotating room that is so apparent around me. Whatever it is, I’m here. Sharing with you what is in my head. Or better yet, floating from side to side in the off-centered Ferris wheel of my dizzied self.
Vertigo (as much of a pain-in-the-brain that you are), I thank you for getting me to the keypad. I hope as you read this entry that we are seeing each other as the fragile humans that we are all. We never know what is around the corner on any given day.
Over and over again we read, watch and listen to stories that the media and society place in our paths—some uplifting, others tragic. We are endlessly bombarded with a barrage of viewpoints from just about every perspective imaginable. Do this or you’ll become that; be like us or you will be damned; you are wrong and I am right. The list goes on and on, and as we live our lives, we absorb. Our navigation becomes blurred and our intuition gets foggy.
Often I’m asked, “How do you find your perspective in writing?” A question that boggles my untrained literary mind. I don’t even consider myself a writer and I do my best to take zero ego credit for whatever spins off my fingertips (please excuse the vertigo induces spinning metaphor).
So how do I answer the query as to where I find my editorial jump off? Truly, I’m a little dry mouthed for an accurate response, but I’ll give it a shot. It is not of me or for me. It is of you and for you.
This, “We, the silent majority” thing that we so often speak of… is real. Every day I am reminded of the magnificence of human. This society that we are calling 365, it is alive, united and breathing. Each day I am uplifted as you visit our website, view our YouTube Channel and Like our Facebook. Every month I am inspired as I receive your subscriptions and comments, and to have had the opportunity to be the spokesperson for the 100s (getting close to 1000s) of amazing people who have opened they’re lives to us. I am humbled, appreciative and ready to facilitate all that I can. You are strangers no more. So I don’t write, I pay tribute; tribute to you, strangers that I am now proud to call friends.
Sure, maybe I’m a little codependent on Operation-365. Yes, it is an addiction. My family can testify to that point. They have been very patient with me, and us. 365 is a labor of passion and whatever speaks through it is there for one intention: To give us all stage for being heard by sharing who we are and what we have to contribute to the world.
With 3 years behind us, what I have learned (and I pray you as well) is that even in our diversity, there are many connecting dots. That is why I write, and that is what gets my fingers moving. Bottom line, without you I would have nothing to say.
Yes, I am happy to make my contribution and will continue to do so. Yet, in closing today’s post, I must expose a dream, one that radiates from the most sincere heart.
I need your help and I ask for your involvement. You are important and wonderfully unique. Without you, our society of the awakened would be extinguished. It is with open arms that I invite you to take part in expanding our awareness of each other. For this purpose we have created our online interview: Interview-365. Through it you have the ability to let your words of wisdom be heard. Please take a moment to share with us.
We are at a point of magnificent emergence as a vibrant culture. But, there is only so far I can personally travel to expand our mission of unity. My funds and time are limited and, as one man, I’m a little restricted as to how much I can sustainably contribute on a day-to-day basis. But with you on board, our depth and reach has infinite potential.
No matter where you are, your background or your circumstance… one absolute fact is impossible to ignore…“We are We,”equally human to the core. And that is the magic of Operation-365.
We look forward to hearing what you have to say!!
Talk soon my friends,
Richard
Sidewalk Ghosts / Interview 456: “A Better Version Of Yourself…”
“I think the biggest or the most important words I can find right now is just to be yourself, and try and wake up every day and become a better version of yourself…” —Moises
Sidewalk Ghosts / Interview 448: “A Land Called Cobb County”
“I am a direct descendant of two people on the trail of tears…” —Beal
Sidewalk Ghosts / Interview 447: “Find The Magic”
“There’s me words of wisdom… If you are going to commit, commit all the way…” —Chuck (with Karen)
Sidewalk Ghosts / Interview 444: “I’m Just A Kid In An Older Body”
“Try to imagine yourself as if you’re gonna meet yourself for the first time. What would you want yourself, to pretty much, think about you?” —Beast
Sidewalk Ghosts / Interview 441: “They Need Love”
“To many people, they work a lot, they forgot about their kids…” —Orlando
I could write a long essay about Orlando. But to keep it short let me share a few qualities of this kind man: Humility, intelligence, caring, politeness, acceptance, courage and a loving commitment to family. Enough said. Orlando, welcome to Operation-365 my new friend.
Sidewalk Ghosts / Interview 438: “What Good Is Waiting?”
Sometimes it feels as if the world is conspiring against 365, something that I am learning to take as a compliment. My reasoning? If what we are doing has no significance then it would most likely receive no resistance. So again, bumps are just part of the path in growing our community and our message of unity.
Why do I express this notion? Well, let’s just call it the mystique of the magnetic jungle and its effect on the audible world. Easier translated: My batteries died mid-interview on microphone one.
“Way to go Richard! You’ve directed and produced industrial film and commercials. How can you let this happen?”
I know, mud in my face. To say I have any excuse would be a great fabrication. I was monitoring the interview of today’s “Stranger,” now “Friend,” Liza. I took my time setting the audio levels. Yet at the end of the day I ended up with very sketchy sound. So much so that I am embarrassed to even stream what seems like more background noise than narrative. Yes, microphone one was the very microphone that was intended to capture Liza’s words. But there is a silver lining to this story. Maybe even a higher than my reason for its happening.
You see, for days I’ve had a message growing in my heart, one that has blossomed from the meeting of our last several strangers, all people who originate (Like Liza), not from North American soil, but from continents troubled by great abuse of human rights–countries that, for many, give first-hand witness to the depths of human brutality (and I am making a few assumptions here as to the full history of my new friends). So perhaps loosing my audio was meant to be, as it allows me to write this entry—that is, if you believe that sort of thing.
Still, credit to whom credit is due, for Liza, an amazing artist in her own right, begins our narrative theatrically by asking to sing a song. That’s right… a song, as I interview her on the sidewalks of Tarzana, California–a song that reminds us of the resiliency of many of our 365 friends.
As Liza sings, no worry does she show while many passing pedestrians gaze at us, nor does she flinch with any display of intimidation as my two cameras stare right back at her—just a joyful peace to offer her talent.
At first meeting with Liza, it is easy to be smitten. There is a special quality to this brave lady. An essence that draws you to want to know her, one that is more than merely comforting, it is inviting.
Born in Lebanon, Liza migrated to the United States in 1978. In speaking with her it is impossible to not feel of her depth of understanding of this experience we call “life.” Light-filled is her face and pure and direct are her words… oh yea, that song? Liza sets it up.
“I’d love to sing a song. It is an international song the applies everywhere and to all people.”
In a voice the likes of Liza Minnelli she begins:
What good is sitting alone in your room?
Come hear the music play
Life is a cabaret, old chum
Come to the cabaret
Put down the knitting, the book and the broom
It’s time for a holiday
Life is a cabaret, old chum
So come to the cabaret
Come taste the wine
Come hear the band
Come blow that horn
Start celebrating right this way
Your table’s waiting
What could permitting some prophet of doom
To wipe every smile away
Life is a cabaret, old chum
So come to the cabaret
I used to have this girlfriend known as Elsie
With whom I shared four sordid rooms in Chelsea
She wasn’t what you’d call a blushing flower
As a matter of fact she rented by the hour
The day she died the neighbors came to snicker
“Well, that’s what comes from too much pills and liquor”
But when I saw her laid out like a Queen
She was the happiest corpse, I’d ever seen
I think of Elsie to this very day
I remember how she’d turn to me and say
“What good is sitting all alone in your room?
Come hear the music play
Life is a cabaret, old chum
Come to the cabaret
And as for me
And as for me
I made my mind up, back in Chelsea
When I go, I’m going like Elsie
Start by admitting from cradle to tomb
Isn’t that long a stay
Life is a cabaret, old chum
It’s only a cabaret, old chum
And I love a cabaret
As I sit her, absorbing the lyrics, a somber note is kindled in my heart as a think of Elsie, the central character in the lyrics. What side of the track of judgment do I (and we) stand on? Are we comfortably seated at the platform of the snickering neighbors, or are we willing to admit to the shared length of our stay? A thoughtful consideration for certain; not one of us is perfect or infallible.
The point being (and what I feel Liza is suggesting) is that we should look beyond the first impression we conjure as we interact with the people around us and, in doing so, lovingly embrace the cabaret we call life.
She shares a few thought as to how to get there. “We have to create happiness for the children. The children today don’t have happiness. The parents are not happy. Me as a kid, I remember with my family. I was a very happy kid. That’s why I am able to smile and give this love to other people. But we don’t see this in this young generation; too much greed, too much selfishness. Why don’t we replace that with loving each other?
With all the races and all these religions. We only need one religion in this world. It’s the respect and to love each other, and with that we will not create this fundamentalist and the extremists, and these dirty politics around the world. We can share the whole earth with love, and worshipping our lord. You know, God above, God almighty… Amen.”
Liza, thank you for your street side audition. But with that said, may we remove you from the stage and place you in a new role for the day. Welcome, Director Liza, you have motivated us as participants in a virtual and ongoing awakening of unity. Its title, “What Good Is Waiting?”
Talk soon my good friends,
Richard
Sidewalk Ghosts / Interview 437: “2 is better than 1, 3 is better than 2…”
“Everybody has to be connected to each other and helping each other. Not just thinking about themselves and acting selfish… The Karma is coming back to you.” —Arian