The Birds and the Bees, Lessons for the Hopeless

Being in the hopeless category and finding some crumbs and specks of hope to munch on to get me through the next crisis or fearful thought gave me hope that I could help the hopeless. We swim around in our pool of fear and bleak outcomes while scrumptious bits of life go floating by us. My dogs are a good example of this. After telling the youthful customer service representative ( I think this was her first job) for the third time I did not know when my tax refund check would come in the mail to pay my overdue car payment, I gave my best guess at a date and said "if the check is not here by then, take the car" and then I dramatically slammed the phone shut. By this time my face was beat red and I was doing laps in a pool of indignation. Just then my teacup sized chihuahua slinks her way up onto my chest and lightly licks my nose. I could not help but to look into those tiny bulging eyes and melt a little.

While you cannot ride a chihuahua into town to get groceries or have her bring you to work, she sure earned her keep by approaching me in such a state and extending love. Life is not what you have or what people think of you, life is about moments. When we are in the moment, the fear of what might be and projection of the future cannot co-exist there. Being in the moment is about not letting the past or future in, just "what is" right now. There was no lack or angst in the moment, I was injecting this into my experience using my mind. As my pet chihuahua was licking my nose there were no bill collectors, self doubt, worry of what might be, just a little wet tongue tickling my nose. I might of missed it, by shoeing her away or jumping to thoughts of worry and visions of taking the bus.

Don't miss your life because you are sad or feeling hopeless. Look at the sun, the trees and birds they don't anguish over finding food or global warming they just are what they are. Yet birds find worms, bees find flowers and trees find sunlight magically with out goals, plans, action steps, life coaches, self help books or religion. I often question if we are really superior to animals and plants? Perhaps they know something we forget over time. Something about the anchor of the universe being within us and to listen and trust this knowing.

If you are feeling hopeless stop thinking and just do. Get momentum going and do anything that will make you feel good that is not destructive. Let your perspective shift and then be in the moment. I recommend getting a little dog or cat they are always in the moment and can help you get there too. Just remember :

When you come to the edge of all the light you have,
and must take a step into the darkness of the unknown,
believe that one of two things will happen to you:
either there will be something to stand on, or,
you will be taught how to fly.
--Patrick Overton

This is what the birds and the bees already know...

In the beginning there was the word and the...

word was "crap" I thought to myself. "I really did it this time. Yes, I did the unthinkable especially in an economy like we have today. I quit my six figure, 6 coke a day (soda, really), double helpings of stress, management position to pursue my dreams. I wish someone had slapped me up side the head. I can hear a whole lot of "Cmon Man" comments in the audience.

I wish I could blame it on brownies me and my college friends ate the night before or hallucinogenic mushrooms in my cobb salad, but no. I must stand here a 40 year old something used to be "Professional" as say I just up and quit. Of course I had a plan, but the plan is taking strange forays into weird uncertain places. For instance, now that money has been low for a while, I have conjured up ways other than my speaking and writing career to make money.

Let's review a few:

• Created T-shirt Web Store on Cafepress.com located at http://www.cafepress.com/recr8tor (To date no sales but feel free to make a sympathy purchase)

• Add Google Adsense to my websites, after 3 months I am up to $5.12 (C'mon Mama needs a new pair of shoes)

• Created an eBook selling Obama's Inaugural Speech in electronic format, http://obamainauguralspeech.weebly.com (The jury is still out on this one)

• Now creating websites for others because I have gotten too good at it http://basicwebsitesnow.weebly.com (Cheap quick and good, no hosting fees)

Of course, there is always the option to finish my book and get on with my speaking, coaching and writing career. I guess these attempts at success in other areas were just an excuse to appease my fear, my internal critic that I need money now not six months from now. So I closed the word processor and opened the internet browser and went to town. Funny it all sounds good in the beginning, but just leads to the back alley where someone takes your wallet, kicks you and laughs while running away.

It has been seven months now, I am unemployed and pretty much freaking out since my life savings started drying up. Illusions of grandeur of my new career are now being traded in for well written resume and prayers at night that I'll get the job. I just have to wonder is God listening or laughing...I would be okay with both...Amen