More of the Same (but bigger)

It occurred to me yesterday that along with a top ten for things I’m grateful for about Seattle/Cap Hill, that I should widen the perspective a bit and acknowledge other things that I’m grateful for.

10. Our Winter (so far)

Damn. Right out of the gates and I’m back on Seattle. Forget it, though. It’s sticking. It’s been a beautiful winter thus far. Sure we’ve had our windstorms and the snow, but it has yet to rain for 43 days straight like it did last winter.

The sun is making a regular appearance.

9. Nancy Pelosi & the Democratic Congress

I’m trying to reign in my excitement a bit and not get too carried away. Most democrats are still severely right of where I stand, but I will take what I can get. Last year I spent a significant amount of time searching for my way out of this country. (Run. Run. Run.)

But I’ve always secretly hungered to be here to witness the fall of the empire. (I am in no means implying that the democrats are going to expedite the fall of the American Corporate Empire.)

But until that day comes, it’s just good entertainment to watch Bush get a collective finger waving. (“No! That’s a BAD, BAD boy!”)

8. Dennis Kucinich

The man deserves his own blog entry (coming soon!). For the time being, again, if you don’t know who he is:

www.kucinich.us

He has returned my faith in our ability to successfully govern ourselves in a humane and loving manner.

7. The Evolution of Communicative Technology

I often rant about how frustrated I am in regards to how despite our great leaps in technology, we’re still not communicating about the things that are most important.

However, I understand this takes time. (Say it with me, now, “Pa-tience.”)

I love what it’s doing as far as helping artists to experiment, connect, and gain exposure.

Where it’ll get really good, is when the international community starts over-stepping the boundaries of our borders and governments and begins to form a true global community.

(Damn. I AM a utopian hippie!)

6. Independent Film

This sort of ties into technology, but I feel as though indie film has continuously been attracting a wider (American) audience over the past decade.

Thank God.

5. The Age of Aquarius

Usher in the brotherly love and humanitarianism!

Coming out of the 2000-year Piscean Age, astrologers predict that within the Age of Aquarius the concept of individual nations will fade and that mankind will join together as one people rather than be separated by nationality.

No borders. World peace.

(Hmm. Maybe my utopian hippie desires are in tune with the evolution of universal order?)

It is also predicted that there will be a greater emphasis on the common man and that special privilege for people of higher birth or wealth will die out.

No more class war? Food, shelter, clothing, education, health care and transportation for all? Sure, dish me up some of that.

Astrologers hope that in the Aquarian Age, we will build on past knowledge to discover new truths. (Aquarius is the truth seeker.)

4. Family & Friends

I have a tendency to not share myself well with others. I spend a lot of time in my head. I don’t let a lot of people in. And when I do let people in, I turn up the intimacy volume, often too much, too fast.

I’m trying to find a healthier balance, although I no longer apologize for the fact that I am a super-Cancer. I’m a feeler, a nurturer, and a lover. I get intimate and I’m not ashamed of that.

I’d like to acknowledge the friends and family that tolerate my intense emotions and continue to love and support me, even when the volume gets deafening.

3. Converging with Enlightened Souls

This segues nicely from ‘Friends & Family’. I am proud of myself for continuing to interact with people who are awake and on the forward path of conscious enlightenment.

I don’t need to name names. You know who you are.

(Note: All of us will eventually find ourselves on this list.)

2. Discovering & Living Art Therapy

I’m doing my best to write everyday.
I’m doing my best to photograph everyday.
I’m painting regularly.

Last night I took 45 pics on my walk back from the market.

It doesn’t take that much time and effort to integrate creativity into our daily lives, and the results are so worth it.

1. Realizing, Embracing & Integrating the concept that We Manifest our Experience

This has, by far, been one of my greatest achievements/breakthroughs in this life (and I’ve barely begun to truly experiment with it).

I plan to blog more about this as I learn and live thru more of it.

Thematic Overview: A Return of Hope

There seems to be an overall connection throughout this list: hope.

We all have our struggles and pain, our lessons to live through. We wouldn’t be here otherwise.

The key to staying involved in the game is to maintain a level of hope; a desire to be a part of growth, of making things better. For a good while, I abandoned all hope and that, my friends, was the closest thing I’ve ever felt to death.

It’s good to be alive again.