Follow Your Passion...
and Be Happy.

As I was shopping last week at the Annual African American Art Market in Lost Angeles, where you are exposed to hundreds of artisans, fashion designers, hand made crafts, and such for about 2 weeks. I met a woman... as we shopped for unusual but cool attire, we got to talking. She asked what I did... I responded with my usual, Jamaican Enterprises schpeel, graphic design, yoga, artsy stuff, foundation stuff, grantwriting ect. Her response became the theme for this February blog. She said she was a retired teacher (noble profession), and looked me in the eye and said “wow, how nice that you do what makes you happy.... I’m trying to get there too.” She might have been a year older than me.

As I thought about her this past week, I thought, how many people are spending their lives being secure but not happy.... hummmmm. What is happy worth? What is security worth? And if we are doing what is our passion and it makes us happy, how great is that?.... They say, “if you do what you love, you will never work a day in your life.”

Of course being a Virgo... I kept on thinking....How many creative people are out there trapped in the illusion of being secure with many losing their jobs as we speak.... And how many are frightened to venture out on their own and embrace their passion? And all the while, short-changing themselves from their true potential....After all, God & The Universe will support you if you have faith and your heart is in the right place. Or, you can work for someone else, and be the subject of the new phenomenon, the disposable workforce/society.

I have heard friends say they need to get the benefits, mainly health benefits.... ???.... As a culture here in the US, we tend to put car insurance above health insurance... I hear, "I feel we shouldn't have to pay for it".... WTF!...So let me get this straight, your car is more important than your body temple... again,..????... Insuring a high end car (with the average car costing $25,000.00+) is more important than your health, the health of your wealth (home, savings, investments, family) and so on and so on. I think they have it twisted, after all, you'd never expect anyone else to pay for your car insurance... Health insurance may be a scam, but for $150 bucks a month or more, you won’t lose your life or home. So let’s see the logic, I’ll get a job and suffer through it to be secure, I'll put my health and wellbeing in someone else's hands, be at someone else’s whim, control, and well.... whatever helps you sleep at night.

Right now, the world economy sucks.... People are being terminated quicker than I’m writing this. So why not put your God given gifts and talents to work for you? Dare to trust your gifts and be happy. You may find you have something someone needs and wants...What do you have to lose? Yourself? And who’s more important?

Gail Oliver©2009

Create VS Consume


An Obituary in The Times

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years.

No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: Knowing when to come from out of the rain; Why the early bird gets the worm; Life isn't always fair; And, maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place.

Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an Aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses preaching politics from the pulpit; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason. His 4 stepbrothers survive him; I Know My Rights; I Want It Now; Someone Else Is To Blame; I'm A Victim.

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.
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40 Golden Tips for
A Better Life in 2009

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.

3. Buy a DVR and tape your late night shows and get more sleep.

4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose today is to __________ '

5. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.

6. Play more games and read more books than you did in 2008.

7. Make time to practice Meditation and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.

8. Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6. - Appreciate their genuine nature, strength, and innocence. For real!

9. Dream more while you are awake.

10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

11. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan Salmon, broccoli, almonds, & walnuts.

12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

13. Clear clutter from your house, your car, your desk, and let new and flowing energy into your life.

14. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, issues of the past, negative thoughts, or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away (like any class) but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper.

17. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the energy vampires away.

18. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

22. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

23. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'

26. Forgive everyone for everything.

27. What other people think of you is none of your business.

28. Nature heals everything.

29. However good or bad a situation is it will change.

30. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

31. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful, or joyful.

32. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

33. The best is yet to come.

34. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, and show up.

35. Do the right thing!

36. Call your family often (Or email them notes of a personal nature).

37. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for ______. Today I accomplished ______.

38. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

39. Enjoy the ride. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.

40. Breathe

May your troubles be less, May your blessings be more, May nothing but Happiness come through your door!
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