The Human Spirit

It seems remiss not to discuss the California wildfires and how they are affecting so many people; sometimes there is a need to bring our minds away from the tragic side of this story to remember what has been saved and that is the human spirit. Newscasters are reporting on this all over southern California and are tending to focus, for now, how many homes have burned and how many people are seeking shelter at safer locations such as Qualcomm Stadium.

The coverage, like the fires themselves, began slowly and gained strength as the days have worn on. Over 1300 homes have now been destroyed and at least 1,000,000 people have been displaced through evacuations, but this is not the real story.

The lives are what really matter. Within each story lies a beautiful turn of events such as the woman who’s friend is letting her entire family stay with them or the video clips of three people, obviously civilians, helping to drag hoses along the lines of the fires assisting the firefighters in their efforts. People have come together to help; people are no longer only concerned with their own world but are there to lend a hand to each other. This is the true embodiment of what it means to be human.

Reporting on this story from New England is difficult for many right now; the top three stories seem to all revolve around the start of the World Series this evening. At first it seemed annoying to hear about such a thing because when compared to the fires it sounds like fluff. Does Josh Beckett starting game one matter more than how many people are taking shelter? Do people want to hear about a tarot card reader who is predicting the Red Sox to take this series in six games? The answer to both questions is yes. The reason it is yes has nothing specifically to do with the Red Sox team or their chances to win a World Series, the reason is what the stories are based on and that is hope.

Hope may sound like a far away emotion for the residents of communities like Ramona, California but it is hope that allows these people to make it through; to realize the only loss is material and although tragic, their families have survived. The helping hands that are carrying bottled water, lending their time as a grief counselor, or taking people in for a warm place to rest all provide the hope to survive, to start over with life. With this hope the human spirit lives on strong and will allow the people of southern California to prevail.

The war of my world

Today is the day that I begin creating ump-teen-billion sample boards so my new business can finally begin. I have been up for a couple of hours going over all the items that need to be purchased to make this dream a reality and although it is a fairly small list that can be acquired from just one shop, I am finding it difficult to get ready to go. Is it fear of success that keeps me tied to this stained and uncomfortable chair or is it fear of traffic like I keep trying to convince myself? Either way is inconsequential, all that really matters is I need to get it done and once I am back here glazing or troweling plaster on 18" x 24" pieces of polystyrene I will feel like a million bucks.

Getting over the fear of rejection is something I have never been good at so I have never really put myself out there to experience it. BAD! It is a difficult battle that always takes place in my head where the perfectionist meets the artist and I sit back to let them fight it out. The big secret is that neither of them ever does win and the battle continues to rage on. For the first time, today is the day where I pick a side and let the artist win. After all, how can I make any mistakes to learn from if I never allow myself to do anything at all?

My first client meeting is already booked for next Monday, she wants a finish in her bathroom and will possibly re-hire me to do her living room as well, so having my book together when we meet is necessary. The job will definitely be a test of my creativity and intimate knowledge of color interaction seeing she loves the colors of autumn but has slate gray tile in the shower. This is where my training in Interior Design will certainly come in very handy as I furiously thumb through my pantone to locate the perfect color to mix. This job will go off without a hitch though, I truly believe that, because I know my skills exist to make it so. Sometimes I just need to write it down to convince the perfectionist to take a hike.

I can now die happy

So here I am sitting at my new computer desk, which is set up right next to the tv, half watching the Patriots CREAM the Dolphins and I am suddenly smiling to the familiar sound of Jason Mraz. Wait a minute...what? 'Am I hearing the tv correctly' I think as I turn to look at the screen. It isn't like Mraz is giving an NFL concert in Miami or anything but this little blitz of music was responsible for extending my smile even further! I would love to know who chooses the music they use when cutting to commercial, that dude has some great taste. Everything came full circle in that moment with the successful blend of my two obsessions, football & Mraz. Life truly does have meaning after all.