Essays 2007

The "Why?" Factor

2007-12-06T12:15:00.000-05:00

This week I would like to break the fundamentals of Life all the way down to their basics. So sit back in your chair and with me, contemplate the "Why?" factor.

Have you ever wondered as Life throws us its curve balls, what the heck is this place all about? why am I here? what am I supposed to learn? and, what can I do about it? Join the crowd....you have just entered in to the first stage of the "Why?" factor. Your intelligence demands that you look at some of the solutions and answers to these questions.

I believe everything around us and all that exists is held together by Love. Each act that keeps the Universe in place, allows the streams to run, the air to blow, the mountains to rise, and mankind to flourish, is held together by a communication and an agreement to continue to exist. What is this communication? the continued practice of Giving and Receiving. For Life to exist, it must contain some component of Love. This is not an accident...the Creator mandates us to become creatures of Love. Life, at its common basics, is Love. With that, for everything to exist and continue, we need Love. Are we blessed by it? and hurt by it? for sure. But that's part of the process...one of the building blocks of Life. We grow with Love....it is only when we are denied it do we start to run into problems. As the Beatles say, "All You Need Is Love,"...it may not have all the answers, but it's a great place to start.

Giving....so why give? why care? how about just sitting at home, kicking back, and looking at the television all day? not give a hoot...about anyone or anything other than ourselves? Realistically, at what point would we begin to deteriorate? Can there be Love without giving? and can there be giving without Love? This is not about money...this is about raw emotion...the art of caring and giving beyond ourselves. Yes indeed, there is a responsibility to how one gives...yet overall at what point do the cobwebs start to surround us when all we care about is giving to ourselves?

Receiving....I for one can testify that there have been times in my life when I was at my wit's end and out of the blue the doorbell would ring or the telephone would chime with a message reaching out saying, "I care." Receiving comes many times when you least expect it. This time of year there are many in need, who are just waiting for that one act or call of kindness. Can we give without someone receiving, or can we receive without someone giving? They are two sides of the same coin. Receiving is the admission that someone took the time to Love.

Giving and Receiving, both necessities for Love to exist. One Mind, One Soul, synchronizing with another. The Gift of Love is the greatest gift of all....this time of year don't be afraid to give, or receive.

For All Seasons,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2007 Jennifer Avalon

Anger and Peace

2007-11-10T12:33:00.000-05:00

All through the week many of us out there sway between states of anger, and peace. When the day goes well, a sense of well-being and serenity comes over us. Everything seems balanced, centered and complete. We wonder why each day doesn't go so easily. The next morning, totally the opposite can occur...each step we make we stumble. Barreling through the day rage and confusion can engulf us and leave us with little room to breathe. Exhausted, we kiss the day goodbye, and hope for a better tomorrow. Peacefulness, tranquility, bliss...anger, confusion, rage, and fear...just a few of the doorways of humanity.

It's quite astonishing how from day to day we can have two completely different faces to wear. In most cases when we look in the mirror, we don't see the dark side...only the light. Yet sometimes, just below the surface, the anger waits for just a chance to rear its head. So often we're quite confused when we see different sides of friends and family....yet we so easily forget that we too surprise them. As we head for the holidays, some rejoice, while others feel tense and struggle with those that they have to see once a year. Are we angry people? or are we peaceful people? The truth is probably somewhere in-between. After all, we're only human, right?

Through the anger and the peace, we grow. We evolve into what we want to become. We do right and we do wrong....we look for praise, and we ask for forgiveness. Anger and Peace...two sides of the same coin. Heads or Tails...where does the coin land for us? We're not alone...as humans we struggle with all different kinds of feelings. Whether it's turning the dial on the television, listening to the radio, or firing up the computer...at the end of the day we get to see what we want and who we are. Sure, some can influence our moods, the state of mind and how we view life through the prism...but overall we determine the quality of our day. The Heavens laugh as man plans...yet the Heavens are there when we ask for help.

The angry pacifist and the peaceful antagonist sometimes can easily share the same air....our two sides do battle each day.

Flip a coin,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2007 Jennifer Avalon

Doing The Dishes

2007-10-12T12:05:00.000-05:00

The sun is barely peeking through the woods behind my house, as I immerse my gloved hands in soapy water to begin the chore of doing the dishes. Doing the dishes is a daily affair...several times a day it needs to be done....the same ritual over and over. Hot water, suds, and elbow grease. As I lift up a coffee mug to wash it, I try to recall where I bought it, who I was with, what year it was. Every mug has a history, since I buy them when I travel, as a keepsake. Each dish also has its memories....some sets were bought when I lived in New York...some plates used to sit on my mother's kitchen table, a few were discovered in antique stores, and although those ones are not "dishwasher or microwave safe", they are reminders to me of another time...a piece of history and past. Some are from England...delicately hand painted with flowers, or scenes of the English countryside. One look at them as I gently suds them and I think of what life must have been like when they were made, and originally used.

I am reminded to slow down when I do the dishes. If I go too fast, something can be broken. If I go too slow, the water will cool down and not be "sanitary." If I don't put gloves on, my hands will wrinkle up like prunes. This is a ritual that takes a certain amount of respect, for all involved. I remind myself to breathe deeply...to glance out the kitchen window and take in the light through the woods. Doing the dishes is a chance to slow down...to pace myself. Sometimes I catch myself just trying to rush and get through it...then suddenly, and I'm not sure how or why, I am reminded to take in the moment, trivial as it may seem. And then I think of how each moment of our lives is to be taken this way....respected, savored and enjoyed, because it will pass all too quickly.

As I finish the dishes, and let the soapy water swirl down the drain, I am pleased that the job is done. A simple task, but rich with atmosphere. Doing the dishes is a throwback to another time, when we all had chores to do to maintain the household. Now most of us have dishwashers (myself included) but I have found that I only want to use the dishwasher when I have a big crowd. There is something lost when we give up daily rituals that are so simple, and so immediately rewarding. So here's to the soap and suds!!

Happy washing,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2007 Jennifer Avalon

Art, for Arts Sake

2007-09-29T13:47:00.000-05:00

Many of us out there tweak and dabble around our basements, garages, and spare rooms, delving into our hobbies and passions that, surprisingly, sometimes become our livelihood. Arts and talents are gifts from the Creator...their purpose is to communicate and establish dialogue between us and God. Art, talents, and hobbies can be used to enhance mankind, and help us develop a greater understanding of why we are here, and what it is we are supposed to do. Sometimes these talents can run amok....and veer off into dark waters, yet, it is in the hands of those with the talents to take responsibility and guide the Art towards the atmosphere of Heaven.

In our society Art has had a price placed over its head....it's value is determined by how much money and riches it brings in. Does the cream rise to the top? or with a good manager and public relations campaign, can you eventually fool the many with junk? Arts main purpose is to enhance the quality of life...to bring us into alignment with our Creator...unfortunately, these days one starts to wonder...have we totally lost touch with the fundamentals of what Art is all about?

Art is the landscape where we can ask questions, congregate, and formulate answers to the problems facing our lives on a daily basis. Art is supposed to elevate our society, embrace what is right, and examine and correct what is wrong. One stroll past the checkout counter at any supermarket, with the rags on sale, and the gossip flowing, one has to wonder, is society's elevator going up? or down? Is the statute of stardom and the standard of Art determined by the number of times one has been to rehab? It's quite easy for a person to be suspicious that perhaps the goal of Hollywood is to build them up, and watch them fall.

So out there, if you are a painter, designer, performer, builder, etc., tweak away! you are not foolish....Art is the gift. It doesn't matter how much money you make at it....the gift itself is the blessing.

Dream on,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2007 Jennifer Avalon

Tune Up

2007-09-01T17:25:00.001-05:00

This is the time of the year when kids go back to school, Summer homes are closed up for the season, and Fall is just around the corner. We start to head into the last quarter of the year and before too long, the Holidays are right in front of us! Many of us make repairs around the house, and tune up the car for the Winter season to come. Why is it that last on our list is a tune up for ourselves?

Tune up, you may say? Why yes....physical check-up, and an overall head to toe emotional inventory is also a priority. It's crazy, but it becomes quite acceptable to take care of everything but ourselves. What can we do to make the journey through the Winter months less stressful and physically taxing? A good tune up lays it all out in front of us so that we can tend to what is needed.

I am a big believer in making a list...just like when we bring the car in to the mechanic, we too need to look over a list to see if our oil needs changing or spark plugs replaced or recharged! Seriously, each year we're alive these tune ups become more important. The condition and the health of our bodies, minds and souls are important, yet, we so easily take for granted their well-being.

Once the tune up is complete, changes can be made, or a clean bill of health can be tucked into your desk drawer. We all have a greater chance of living to a ripe old age if we take responsibility for the things we do have control over. Health is wealth.....in the hustle and bustle of life that can quite easily slip our minds.

Enjoy life....live it to the fullest. We only go around once in these bodies. Don't be afraid to pull into the gas station once in a while to look under the hood, clean the windows, and check the tires. Rest assured, these bodies of ours can give us many miles to go.

Happy Trails,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2007 Jennifer Avalon

Unique

2007-08-04T18:44:00.000-05:00

As much as we think we're not, each one of us is unique. The world would have us believe that we're all a dime a dozen....but are we really? I believe it is a responsibility of every one of us to seek out that uniqueness, embrace it, help it grow, and make it flourish. Uniqueness is what we have, but getting us all to believe that is another matter.

We all possess that one special thing that we do that makes us feel complete and fulfilled. Uniqueness makes us smile, letting us know what we can offer and where we belong. It could be in the arts, mathematics, computers, science, etc. but rest assured, somewhere we all have something unique and special.

We run into trouble when we disregard our special talents, and think there is something else for us to do, until we get fed up of going down dead-end streets, and we turn around and accept...."this is who I am", and "this is what I do best." There is a reason why not all football players become quarterbacks. Some players realize their unique talents are better suited at a different position on the team. We may not be meant to be the CEO of a corporation, but what's so wrong about being a team player, or head of a marketing division? Success happens when a group of unique individuals come together and strive towards the same goals....that's when miracles can happen. Uniqueness to the ultimate degree.

Unique individuals striving for the same purpose create a hybrid that cannot be accomplished individually by themselves. In some strange way the combination of certain people can create an energy or a force that is generated by the combined efforts of all their talents. We are all walking miracles....yet why do we allow ourselves to feel so ordinary, and disposable? Uniqueness is priceless. It is a gift from the Heavens. Still, mankind can so easily brush it aside.

It is not foolish to jot down what it is you feel your uniqueness is. What is it that you have to offer that you love doing? Oh, have I forgotten to mention that? Uniqueness is something that you will love doing. Perhaps growth may be painful at times, but uniqueness is the road to a purpose. Right at the center and the core of who we are, lies our uniqueness...that's the way God planned it. He left us with the mission to figure it out.

Seek and you will find,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2007 Jennifer Avalon

Emotion in Motion

2007-07-22T16:23:00.000-05:00

Every week I receive emails from people describing their lives and how life can throw us all curve balls sometimes. We all have our up and down days...so here's a little suggestion on perhaps finding a way to deal with the emotional roller-coaster we can easily find ourselves on:

Here it is folks....one designated room of your house or apartment where you can go, anytime. I call it "the emotion in motion room." So, you may ask yourself, what do you do there? Ah, that's really up to you. Each room, of course, has to be individually fine-tuned to a person's needs. It could be a laughing room, crying room, meditation room, prayer room, or maybe a silent room to shut out the noise of the world long enough for you to think. If you don't have a room, perhaps you can find a corner where you can put on a pair of headphones to cocoon for a while, to recharge, regroup, and regain some sanity. The emotion in motion room, a private place where one can vent, express, and heal at will.

Getting in tune with ourselves not only enhances our own lives, but those of all we come in contact with. If we don't control our emotions, our emotions start to control us. Taking the bull by the horns allows us to have greater control over surprise situations that can easily pop up out of nowhere. Emotions have a strange way of creating baggage...what we would like is to have good baggage, not baggage that weighs us down. I know the saying, "God laughs when mankind plans,"....that's not what this is about. It's about gaining greater responsibility for one's actions.

Crazy as it may seem, laughing for fifteen minutes, or crying for that matter, can bring about a great sense of relief. For me, meditation is essential for my daily life. Twenty minutes of focus and relaxation recharges my batteries, and allows me to gain perspective over my life. My emotion in motion room is like a good friend...a place to go to think things through, and somewhere in the silence the answers come. Feeling centered greatly improves my ability to connect with the Heavens.

Find your space,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2007 Jennifer Avalon

Blueprints

2007-07-06T07:13:00.000-05:00

This being Fourth of July here in the United States, we celebrate our Independence Day. The blueprint that stands to this day (The Declaration of Independence) represents the beginnings of a nation that stands for "One Nation under God with Liberty and Justice for All." The Founding Fathers wrote this document as a foundation for the United States to build upon...even today it is a work in progress. As history has shown, America still had much to learn about equality and liberty....but this document has evolved for each generation to improve upon. It may not have been perfect, but as time as proven, it represents, perhaps, the most successful form of government in modern times.

We too have within us a blueprint that can be written down on paper as a guide to help us evolve and become more productive and happier people in our lives. All around us are tools that we can use to create this personal portfolio. The Bible, the encyclopedia, and many other books can present ideas that we can use to better ourselves as people. Will our own personal blueprint contain all the facts and all the ultimate knowledge? Maybe not, but as we live on we will fine-tune and improve our own document to grow stronger and more secure.

There are so many things that try daily to rob us of the power that we have over our own lives...and it's very easy at the end of the day to look at your hands and see nothing. If we just create tools, like a blueprint, they can be the maps to show us the way when the weather gets rough. It is your life...nobody knows it better than you. Sometimes we wish somebody could do the work for us....but like the Founding Fathers, we too sense what we need to find stability, health and happiness.

The Declaration of Independence, the document on which the United States of America was built, shows us that it is possible to improve one's life and find a better way. This past week, over 231 years later, it still stands as a beacon for all those in search of freedom. The United States is not perfect, and still to this day has alot to learn....but at least changes can be made to make it better. A work in progress.... and so, too, is mankind.....

Happy Independence Day,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2007 Jennifer Avalon

Health is Wealth

2007-06-23T17:13:00.000-05:00

No matter how much you have, where you live, and what you do for a living, when you don't feel good it's the pits. Be it a bad cold, a touch of the flu, or a prolonged ailment....how you feel drastically affects your life. Is health the ultimate wealth? You bet!

For many Americans, the healthcare industry seems broken. The cost of care in the United States rises horrendously each year. Many no longer can afford coverage where the monthly premiums exceed their budget. This Friday Michael Moore's new movie, "Sicko" opens nationwide...it tackles many of the issues confronting Americans in regard to healthcare. I know, Michael Moore can be a polarizing figure, yet, what I have heard about his latest movie is that his approach is neither Democrat nor Republican...just a satirical look at how the American healthcare system has run amok.

Let me ask you a question...how many people do you know who have to take daily medications? and how many people do you know who don't? A friend of mine recently had a case of poison ivy and went to the emergency unit at her local hospital. The nurse asked her, "What medications do you take daily?" She answered, "None." The nurse at first had a hard time believing her, and then she gave a look, said nothing, and walked away. For many, daily medication has become a way of life. We care profoundly about how we feel, and when we don't feel good, we worry. Our health, in many cases, is not something we think about daily until we get sick.

The beauty of being human is that we have something that is incredible inside of us....an immune system. A reservoir of energy that waits to pounce on a moment's notice on any foreign body that enters into our system. If you've ever had a cold, you know how it goes...first you don't feel 100%, then, you feel a little weak, you start coughing and sneezing and before too long you're in bed looking at the four walls, wondering if you'll ever feel better! You chow down the old reliable chicken soup, some Tylenols, plenty of fluids, and slowly but surely you start to feel better each day. Once you make a full recovery you forget about it, until the next time, and then you go through the process all over again.

What's strange is that each time we get sick and get better we learn a little bit more about ourselves...it tells us what makes us tick, and what truly matters. When we're healthy, we feel we can conquer the world....when we're sick, we think the world is conquering us. The knowledge is what happens in-between. Prevention is key...it's so important to eat right, exercise, keep yourself strong. Vices tear down our health....the less that we have of them, the stronger we are. In reality, does it really matter how long you live, or, the quality of the days you experience? The healthier you are, the more alive you become.

This being summer, many are spending time in different locations on vacation, or with loved ones. Be careful...be safe, stay strong...

Stay healthy,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2007 Jennifer Avalon

Paris Hilton

2007-06-08T17:05:00.000-05:00

If you have been looking at the television for the last day or so you are fully aware that the book of Paris Hilton has entered a new chapter. Some love her, some loathe her, yet one thing is for sure, Paris Hilton stands as an example of our current obsession with the rich and the famous.

Paris is one of a revolving group of starlets who roam the clubs of Hollywood and beyond, night after night. Each evening they battle through hoards of photographers who can't get enough of their aura, smiles and outbursts. Yes indeed she is rich....famous? for what, I'm not quite sure. Is it a reality show, an X-rated movie on the web, an acting or singing career, or could it be just for being Paris? Reminds me of a conversation that I had with a high school student a few years back where she said to me, "Jennifer, I want to be famous." And I replied, "For what?" and she said, "I don't care for what, I just want to be famous." I remember feeling kind of horrified. Has Fame in our society become the ultimate occupation?

The scandal papers just can't get enough of these roaming starlets who parade through the night showing us an existence of what it's like to be in the "in crowd." They often partake in whatever their little hearts desire....booze, drugs, and/or sex of all kinds. Society can't read enough about their latest escapades...in some morbid way, for many they're living their lives for them. Each club and event clamors for their attendance, fully knowing that to have a "happening" you must have one of these starlets in attendance. The hunger grows each day until we arrive at the fever pitch. The point where the star has risen as high as the crowd wants them to be. Now we begin the stage of a free for all....how fast can we bring them down? Paris Hilton unfortunately has reached this point. She's about to learn who her friends really are...she may be surprised how silent the phone will become. The news reports say she is on the verge of a nervous breakdown...in her wildest dreams she most likely never thought the road to Fame would lead to the jail cell. Mommy and Daddy's money, her friend's influences, or people in high places, could not stop the current events. Whatever evolves over the next few weeks, one thing is for sure, the life of Paris Hilton has changed.

I hope Paris turns her life around....in reality, she is lucky she didn't end up dead and/or taken others with her. She may have been just one accident away from "killed on impact." It looks like no one was stepping forward and saying, "You have a problem...you need help." What she probably heard instead was something like, "How dare they treat you like this...who do they think they are?!" Paris is one of the lucky ones...she can come through this fairly intact and develop a sense of maturity, if she wants. So many others who wanted to be the next Paris Hilton never had the chance to live long enough to know that that road is a dead end street.

My wish for Paris is that she takes a good look at herself, reassesses her life, and realizes that Life can be wonderful, and the answers may not be found at the latest club or in a bottle.

Bon Chance,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2007 Jennifer Avalon

Ten Years

2007-05-26T15:35:00.000-05:00

This week marks the Tenth Anniversary of my newsletter. Little did I know back in 1997 how far and how many it would reach. The world has changed quite a bit since then....still, I remain as optimistic as ever that we can make things a whole lot better. Ten years....wow! Over 370 essays, working on my 9th album, over 30 videos and countless daily quotes. I can honestly tell you these past 10 years have been an incredible experience for me. Some have been there from the very beginning, others have joined along the way. I look with excitement to continuing the journey over the next ten years, sharing some stories, opinions, thoughts, smiles and a tear or two. We're really not that different as some would have us believe. We share quite a bit in common. After all, we are all mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, sisters and brothers, friends and neighbors. We all breathe and eat from the same planet...our dreams may differ from time to time, but we're all born and one day we all must pass on. What we do in-between is who we are.

This is also the tenth anniversary of the website. I look forward with excitement and optimism to the next few years where many websites like my own will develop into mini television networks where people can view programs from their living room television screens whenever they choose. Some have that ability now...over time, it will be available to all.

So there it is....ten years! I hope in my own small way I have helped you from time to time. Yes I know....we may not always agree on subject matter, but I'm sure you understand my thoughts come from my heart.

Thanks to all for the continued success of the newsletter and website,

Love, and God Bless,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2007 Jennifer Avalon

The Hermit

2007-05-12T17:56:00.000-05:00

A while back I had a fascinating conversation over a cup of coffee with a new friend of mine. She told me that overall she was practically a Hermit, and proud of it. She informed me that except for me and a limited few number of people, she communicated sparingly with the rest of the world. She went on to tell me that she used to run her own food store for over thirty years and frankly, she felt that she had "tapped out" her supply and reserves of dealing with people. Thirty years of business and friendships, that at the end of the journey, had left her feeling accomplished, empty, and exhausted. Her name is Gayle.

Gayle informed me that after retiring, for the first time in her life she was finding peace and tranquility. The years of being in business had taken their toll and left her feeling that the only way for her to be happy was to be alone. The thirty years with her store had left her no time to develop a social life, and she never got married. Her personal life, she felt, was sacrificed for a successful business. I could not help but observe that with each sip of coffee, as Gayle opened up and told me about her life her sad eyes revealed what she had gone through. Tears welled up when she told me that if she had to do it all over again, she would have gladly forgone some of the money, for a little romance and companionship. I told Gayle that it's not too late to find Love...perhaps it's at this time in her life when she would appreciate it the most. She fired back, "Hermits don't need Love, they need Peace." I replied, "You can have both." She thought about it, and gazed out the coffee shop window. Then I had an idea....I said, "Gayle, how about coming over to my home Friday night....a couple of us girls get together from time to time, just to chat and share a few laughs. Nothing heavy....just a little conversation to help us get through the week." Gayle said that she would think about it.

So, lo and behold, Gayle showed up the following Friday night, nervous, but friendly. I watched as the time went by and slowly the tightness in her shoulders started to relax. She shared with us some wonderful, timeless stories, and we did the same with her. At the end of the evening Gayle remarked, "Is it okay if I come next Friday?" We all gave each other hugs and said, "See you next week." Gayle drove away with a warm smile on her face.

Since that first Friday Gayle has come back time and time again, and now she is "one of the girls." Just a few nights ago she brought up the term "Hermit,"....she laughed and said, "Ladies, I am a Recovering Hermit." Gayle feels she has started a new chapter in her life, and recently a wonderful man has come into the picture. I guess I was right.... one can have Love and Peace, after all.

To Good Friends,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2007 Jennifer Avalon

Where Would You Live?

2007-04-29T06:06:00.000-05:00

If you had the opportunity and the finances to live anywhere in the world, where would you live? Think carefully....because what we answer says a lot about who we are, what we are, what we value, and what we need.

There are certain cities in the world that are considered the hubs of wealth, yet, when you look at the lists of the richest people in the world, and where they live, in most cases they never show up in those locations. Bill Gates, the richest man in the world, lives in Seattle Washington, and Warren Buffet, coming in at number two, lives in Omaha, Nebraska. Surprised?

When over half the world gets by on the equivalent of a dollar a day, where we would live and what we would do with our lives carries quite a great responsibility. If much is given, much is expected. Some would choose a condo in midtown Manhattan, others a home in the Hamptons, still more an alpine lodge in Montana, a chalet in Switzerland, an apartment in Paris, a castle in Scotland, a mansion in Bangkok, a beachfront oasis in Bali, etc. Whatever we would choose, one thing would remain the same...we would still only have one life to live, and 24 hours in a day! What we do with that life and how we spend that time, would say mountains about who we are.

In most of the choices we make in life, there always seems to be a tug of war between the body and the soul. As we may enjoy the finer things, how much and how far we are willing to go to get them eventually comes into question. It is at those moments when we decide, how much do we compromise? If you can afford a huge house, does it mean you should buy it? Do you purchase a half million dollar automobile, or $20,000.00 Ford or Chevy? Things start to add up after a while....and before you know it, you have a lot of things, and not enough time to play with them all.

David Gilmore, guitarist with the rock group Pink Floyd, recently addressed the issue of acquiring things. He said something to the effect that he bought a collection of Ferrari cars, but what astonished him was that after a couple of years, he noticed that not only did he have to purchase the cars, but also provide garages to store them, and employ people to take care of them! You can imagine that after a while it started to look like a business had been built up around his fascination with a certain automobile. When many bands tour the world, they carry with them, in many cases, over five hundred people whose livelihood depends on the success of the tour. Each decision carries with it responsibility and ramifications. What we want and where we live, also carries with it that kind of weight.

A wise man once said the best kind of life is a simple life. One that holds with it a sense of spirituality and lightness of being. Simplicity can cut through anything...there is right, there is wrong, there is up, there is down, there is left, and there is right. Simple.

We may never have everything we want, but there's a heck of a lot to say about contentment. Can we be happy with what we've got?

Smell the roses,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2007 Jennifer Avalon

Boomers

2007-04-14T16:31:00.000-05:00

Over the next twenty to twenty five years the Baby Boom Generation will reach retirement age. In the United States they will become one of the largest, if not the largest, demographic to ever retire. One can only wonder how that is going to change our way of life. How so, you may ask? More people drawing Social Security, more needing health care, some relocating, assisted living, etc. Are the various agencies prepared for what they call the "Boomer Tsunami"?

I recently had a conversation with the director of my local senior center. She could not stress enough how vitally important it is for centers catering to retirees to get their programs together and be prepared for a large group of individuals to need and use their facilities. She is also aware that the face of her center will probably change as a reaction to the needs and wants of the coming Boomer Retirees. Yelling out your favorite Beatles tune will no longer get a blank stare to those over 65, in the next few years. The Boomers are coming....whether we like it or not.

This fact is not being lost on Corporate America and those corporations worldwide. They are strategically aligning themselves with programs and products to cater to the Boomer Demographic, with the disposable income that they'll have. Is it too far fetched to think that one day within the next few years if you visit a senior center you may hear from the back a group of individuals in a rock band blasting out their favorite tunes? Will "Smoke on The Water," "Whole Lotta Love," or, "Free Bird" ever sound the same again? Boomer Bands Rock On!

There will be challenges, yet, the face of old age will change. The transformation of our nation will be quite noticeable. Politicians and entertainment companies will listen and observe the reactions from the Boomers to their policies and tastes. That much buying power coupled with more available time presents an undefiable concoction. There could be a drain and a concern on Generation X'ers to keep the ball rolling...hopefully the transition from Boomers to Generation X'ers will be smooth. Still, it's quite possible that there will be hiccups in the passing of the baton to the next generation.

One final point I would like to present....the contributions of the Baby Boom Generation will be fully examined. Quantity versus quality will be addressed. The Boomers will have a chance to look back on their lives at what went right, and what went wrong. They will want to address, what do they really need to take with them into their senior years? They'll finally have to ask themselves, did they change the world? or just add a new coat of paint?

Live long and prosper,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2007 Jennifer Avalon

Everything Old is New Again

2007-03-31T17:22:00.000-05:00

When you first moved to your current house or apartment, everything looked brand new. When you stared out the window, walked around the neighborhood, shopped at the local stores, everything seemed exciting and crisp. Eventually, this starts to wear away until after a while it seems standard and a little blase. Time has a strange way of clouding our vision. Everything new starts to feel old.

It doesn't have to stay that way. Take a trip, and upon your return, when you turn the key, the perspective will be changed. To not get bored with our lives and our surroundings, we constantly have to find ways of stripping away the fog and allowing new light to shine through those old windows. So how does one make one's surroundings look new? It could be a new coat of paint, rearrangement of furniture, or a special painting in the center of the living room. Everything old can be made new again....all it may take is for our eyes to see things from a different perspective.

The same holds true for our cars, stereos, T.V. sets, etc. Most of the time new items begin to appear old because we allow ourselves to see them that way. Unfortunately, the same can be said for relationships! Some may think their lives can easily change by trading in their spouse for a new model...in quite a few cases, trust me, they don't make them like they used to! There's a lot to be said for "vintage":)

Each morning when I rise the sun coming up always looks new....know why? Because standing before me is a new day, yet to be touched. There is no such thing as the same old sunrise or sunset. While we may feel Time can get repetitious, each second is sparkling new. As our experiences increase with age, the majestic always lies in what is simple. A walk through the woods, and one is totally reassured that the wind never blows the same way twice. All we have to do is shake up the routines, and our minds strip away the cobwebs over our eyes so the windows of our souls can see how wonderful and precious Life truly is.

Old and in the way? Never. Let's raise our glasses to the vintage, to the flavor of Life, that never grows old.

Cheers,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2007 Jennifer Avalon

Comfortably Numb

2007-03-10T17:17:00.000-05:00

Have you ever had a week where so much has happened that by Friday you feel comfortably numb? A state where so much has gone on that not only do you feel neither here nor there, but disorientation circles around you? Comfortably numb....going thirteen rounds in the boxing ring of life. Why does this happen, we may ask? Perhaps it is the minds way of giving us a "time out," a chance to reflect, rest, relax, regroup and prepare to get back on the treadmill of humanity.

I once was walking along a street in New York City, a man bumped into me and kept right on going. I looked back, he didn't even turn around, just headed off down the street, banging into a few other people. On another occasion, I was at the post office and a person went up to the window and asked for three books of stamps. The clerk at the window had a glazed look on his face....he waited about three minutes and said to the customer, "How many stamps do you want?" Comfortably numb, indeed.

Many of us are constantly looking for ways to deal with the pressures of life...some use medication, others alcohol, and some, exercise. Unfortunately, more and more are just choosing to tune out and float. You know what I mean? Just look around...you can see it. It's one thing to daydream...it's something else entirely to look vacated. The band Pink Floyd has written a song all about it called, you guessed it, "Comfortably Numb" !

Have you ever gotten into a car, driven around ten blocks, and wondered how you got there? Comfortably numb. Have you ever had a conversation with someone, tuned out, and tuned back in before the end of the conversation? Comfortably numb. Have you ever had a cup of coffee and then the next minute the cup is empty, and you're wondering who drank it all? Comfortably numb! Have you ever done the laundry, brought it upstairs, and then returned later to pick it up again? Comfortably numb. How about this one....you think it's Tuesday until you get to the office and find out it's Wednesday! Comfortably numb, indeed.

As you can tell, I'm having a little fun with this...but one thing's for sure....this "condition" of comfortably numb can become quite contagious. Let's hope we don't start to live in a world that's just "comfortably numb."

Step lively,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2007 Jennifer Avalon

Sparks

2007-02-24T18:29:00.001-05:00

We all start out seeing the world as a beautiful, wondrous place. Unfortunately, in many cases, life can easily dampen our dreams. As the years roll by we can become discouraged, and eventually abandon the goals we set out on originally. It all comes down to our perceptions, and pockets of little sparks that can justly kick start our engine of accomplishments.

Have you ever been around someone who is full of life and excited about the future? After a while the air around them begins to feel charged, and when they leave you feel a drop of energy. A fully charged individual believes anything is possible, if they just put their minds to it. On the other side of the coin are those who simply fold up the tent and surrender. Unfortunately, we've met some of those people too...how many times have we met someone who we feel has already died, and they're just waiting for their heart to stop beating?

Sparks are all around us...little gems, little miracles that can blast us through a dead-end street. Some people see walls...while others can walk right through them. A wise man once said, if you don't like the way things are, help change it, don't sit back and complain. All it takes is one person to take a bold step. Sparks are there just for the asking, but it's up to us to take the blinders off so that we can see their glow. The breath of God is all around us...all it takes is for us to breathe it in. A spark cannot ignite and glow unless it has oxygen...the air that God provides us to breathe, it too can transform the smallest ember into a flame within the heart.

Good people glow because they are full of sparks...they know that life is a marathon race, where a peaceful death is the finish line. Sparks can help us become super beings who can see beyond themselves. Sparks help us understand that we are all part of the family of man, where every soul is a member. A spark can be a thought, a new idea, a solution to a pressing problem. It's extraordinary how just when we're ready to give up, a spark appears.

Shine On,
Jennifer Avalon

© 2007 Jennifer Avalon

Jot It Down

2007-02-10T18:15:00.000-05:00

Reminiscing about the past can be a tricky exercise. You never quite know what thoughts and feelings can crop up in your mind at any moment. It doesn't always have to be an unpleasant activity. Here is something to try the next time you have a few minutes to gaze into the past and drift through the memories:

Start at the first moment you can remember being alive...let's say it's 3 years old. Picture the year in your mind....think to yourself, are there any positive memories associated with that year? If there are, write it down. Then, proceed to the next year and the one after that, and so on. Each time you remember a positive thought, action, or feeling, jot it down. After a while the list begins to grow and the negative memories fall by the wayside. As we look back on our teen years, some may have been troublesome, but I'm sure we all can pull a chuckle or two out of the rabbit's hat of adolescence. Once you get to the present, look over the list....you may be surprised just how many good times you had and perhaps forgot about. Take the list and put it in a safe place. Whenever you have one of those blue days, where nothing seems to go right, take out the sheet of paper, look over it, and you'll be transported back to a warm moment or two when the world seemed just right.

It's not a foolish exercise....it's not living in the past. It's remembering the good times, and allowing us to count a blessing or two. I am a big believer in positive reinforcements...God knows we need them more than ever these days! But the past doesn't always have to stay in the past....it might help us in the present to be able to burst forth and catapult us into tomorrow, understanding that good times too, can lie ahead...the best days of our lives may not be over, and miracles sometimes come when we least expect them.

When you get together next time with friends or family, try the exercise with them....pass a sheet of paper to each person in the group and get them to write down some positive thoughts and experiences from the past. Then, take turns reading them aloud. Trust me, there will be much laughter, pats on the back, and maybe even some tears of joy. At the end of the evening, you may all even ask yourselves, why don't we do this more often?

A penny for your thoughts,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2007 Jennifer Avalon

Trails Through the Wilderness

2007-01-28T08:35:00.000-05:00

Life is one huge forest...while all around it are multiple trails from which we have to choose. Some are short, some are long...each represent a journey of length and time. We all choose one, whether we know it or not. So let's expand on this concept of trails through the wilderness a little further....

When we examine these trails some are quite astonishing...they can incorporate dead ends, circles and paths that seem to go on forever. I have a cousin who passed away at 26 years of age...I kid you not, he packed more into those 26 years of living then some I meet who are close to 80. Though his trail may have seemed short to some, once inside the forest magical things can happen when you can stumble upon a super trail where Time and Space can be compressed and condensed. Jimi Hendrix, the legendary guitarist, passed away at 27 years of age, yet each year we are still amazed at the depth and expansion of the music that is still being released from the library of material he accumulated and recorded over his short time on earth. The other side of the equation is a friend I have who is 75 years old and spent the better part of her life doing as little as possible. Yes she had dreams, and ambitions, but was so paralyzed by the thought of taking a chance that she chose to not even bother. Unfortunately, Life can end quite quickly, but for those where it does, for the rest of us, wasting Time can become a sin.

Once we enter the Forest of Life, indeed anything can happen! We learn with each step, embrace the challenges, and seek food, comfort and shelter. Yet we are forewarned...it is quite easy to get lost in the forest. Weather conditions can change at any given moment. There are no guarantees, but to increase our odds the better prepared we are, and experiences along the way can greatly increase the odds for us to prevail through. The destination? What else? The other side of the forest.

Some consider Life the ultimate game, where the stakes are high, and mistakes are costly. For me, as I walk along my trail through the wilderness I may make mistakes, but I try to learn not to repeat them. Life can be kind, and Life can be cruel....yet no matter where we are in the forest, if we just look up, there is the sky, reminding us that there is another world beyond the trees.

Happy Trails,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2007 Jennifer Avalon

Full Circle

2007-01-13T17:30:00.000-05:00

Within the past century, decade by decade the family structure splintered piece by piece, and, in some cases, spread itself to the four corners of the world. When the children grew up to spread their wings they couldn't get far enough away from Mom and Dad. "Independence" became the motto of the day. "Doing your own thing," was cool. Unfortunately, something happened to the family along the road to Nirvana...it slammed into a brick wall. In a perfect world, distance and space between family members could be a good thing, but Life has a strange way of throwing cold water on a formula that doesn't work over time.

I'm sure we all have our horror stories of family members who went adrift and did bad deeds....but were we quite prepared to enter into financial and emotional relationships with strangers? What am I getting at? Well check this out....two brothers may have a hard time owning a house together, but have no problem becoming a partner in a condo or co-op with a group of people they don't even know. Whether we care to admit it or not, condos and co-ops are business arrangements that are shared, and if something goes wrong, all are liable. So while we're running from our families, we have landed and embraced relationships unfamiliar to us. While in the past families would pool their money together to purchase property and items, that money over time has been diluted and reduced to less buying power. The tribal family has become franchised.

Welcome to 2007....where people are starting to reverse the trend. I've begun reading where it is now becoming not uncommon for brothers and sisters to pool their money together to buy townhouses, two-family houses, and believe it or not, country inns. They woke up one morning and realized, "Hey, we can buy better and more if we pool our money together." But can you really trust your family? Or do you have an easier time trusting strangers? In the olden days when a family member got out of line, the head of the family called a meeting and solved the problem. If a condo or co-op can have an elected board, why can't a family? What was once scorned and frowned upon, is now starting to be considered an option, once again. Family used to be business, and finance...it just may become that once again.

While many of us in the past set out to try to reinvent the wheel, we may be just finding out that the wagon can run quite well with the wheels we already have. Maybe they just need a little oil and grease from time to time...but vintage doesn't have to be a dirty word. The family structure is the glue that keeps a nation together...without it, over time, we crumble. I think many are coming Full Circle taking what they've learned, and applying it to the family structure and realizing that the best quality of life is when the family is strong, governed, and nurtured. We may return to the days where around one table Grandparents, parents, and children see themselves as friends, not enemies.

Full Circle,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2007 Jennifer Avalon

Purpose of Life

2007-01-05T18:31:00.000-05:00

These days we are hard pressed at times to see the Purpose of Life. If we turn on the television news we see man-made and natural disasters, and the History Channel is ever ready to tell us of impending doom. The older generation moans that it's "not the way it used to be," and the Science Channel tells us that we are gobbling up nature and possibly creating a future furnace that we'll have to try to survive in......so, is it worth it?

The Purpose of Life is to change it....we all come here fresh from Heaven, with traces of the knowledge and splendor, and the Love that creates us all....we are pushed or pulled into an earthly world of distress, disharmony, and decay. It is our job to change it....for the better. To make it become closer to where we originally come from....

So how do we do this? The complicated answer would be to say that each of us must do tremendous and huge things to accomplish this important change, but the truth is, it is the small and often unseen things that will change it the most. If each of us were able to see the Light of Compassion that beats in the chest of each of us, and the Glimmering Threads of Human Connection that makes us all One Family, we would never question or doubt our reason for being here. But by the very nature of birth, those memories of who we Truly Are become fragmented, all except for a trace.....the part of us that can still hear music, paint a canvas, cradle a baby, stroke a puppy.

So every time you smile at a sad soul walking towards you....every time you listen to a friend who needs a sounding board....when you feed a hungry person, take the time to play with a child, or cards with an older senior, these are the gestures that are our Purpose, and will help to Save the World. The ripple effect of a thousand kind gestures....spread across the spectrum of humanity.

Never doubt your Purpose....or ask if your life is "worth it." It doesn't take much to change the world....just the desire to do it.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

love, Jennifer Avalon

© 2007 Jennifer Avalon