March 17, 2008 Lots to Do

I never though or think of myself as disciplined.  I hold my minor rebellions as who I am, but I finally have to concede that I am disciplined.  Because today is typical.  I am writing this.  I will write both my New Futures and my Writing for the Reading zines.  There’s one more piece of writing I’m committed to.  And thenb there’s whatever else, which is considerable,

Of course, when you love to do what you do it isn’t work.

March 12, 2008 Self-Reflection

Finished rereading a classic mystery by one of my favorite authors, Frederic Brown (acknowledged master of both mystery and science fiction, and the unequalled genius of the short, short story [like, the last human on earth was alone in his room.  There was a knock on the door.].)  At any rate one finds great quotes in unexpected places.  This is fromThe Fabulous Clipjoint:

“That’s a hell of a view,” I told him.

“That’s what I meant.  When you look out of a window, when you look at anything, you know what you’re seeing?  Yourself.  A thing can look beautiful or romantic or inspiring only if the beauty or romance or inspiration is inside you.  What you see is inside your head.”

This is not casual.  Because, intimately, there are things I don’t like, I judge… I want and don’t express.  Globally — my god.  Bush??  War?? Hunger??  the planet???  Unfortuantely, in the Yin Yang of life, I can’t only accept one end.  It’s always all there.

So I embrace the opposite ends of my commitments, not resisting them, not rejecting them but speaking for my stand and for my stand and for my stand, which is an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling and socially just world for all of us.

March 9, 2008 Times Different

It occurs to me that watches have become items of habit or vanity.  I notice this as we move into daylight savings.  My cell phone and television and computer all spring ahead automatically.  My car doesn’t yet, but it’s just a matter of time.  So I only have to deal with my stove and microwave and I don’t want them to change automatically.  So the major thing that’s not automatic is me.

Something that I don’t talk about as much as I should is the Global Abundance Alliance.  The GAA consists of people who live their lives out of their commitment to make a difference in the world – empower children, have cities meet the demands of the future,  green the way we build, and hundreds more. 

We sponsor monthly teleseminars featuring different leaders, from new politics, to shifting our view of indigenous peoples.  Next Sunday (8pm – 9:30Eastern – we should all be time adjusted by then) we’re having a brilliant woman – author, playwright, martial arts teacher, friend and feminist, Ellen Snortland.  (See our WIKI for details: <http://globalpromises.jot.com/>) The call is recorded in case you can’t make it. 

I am honored to be on the Board for the last few years.  The GAA reminds each of us of who we are with complete acceptance.  Sometimes I use this blog to be playful and sort of unload my day.  But I never forget my commitment to presence a world with Environmental Sustainability, Social Justice and Soiritual Fulfillment for all of us.

March 8, 2008 Either

Either the Irish are funny or my town is.  They scheduled a St. Patrick’s Day parade for today.  Isn’t it supposed to be March 17?  But it’s stormy today and they had to cancel and reschedule – For March 29?  So I know they understand that it’s supposed to be in March. 

I went to the library this morning (in a storm, remember?)  But I wore my normal not-winter jacket.  And a woman leaving the library offered to share her umbrella an walk me back in.  Very sweet, I thought, but so unnecessary.  She insisted, saying that her dad was the same way – almost cancelled out the sweetness, but didn’t.  Bad enough I only take out large print books, but to be correctly stereotyped bugged me.

I decided to write poetry today.  I never do that.  My poetry is impromptu and I don’t understand it.  I do know that sometimes it’s good…even when forced.

My daughter, Aliya, mother of Diamond and Camron, decided to get her college degree, having stopped after high school.  She’s been in the Univ of Phoenix for the last 4 1/2 years.  She started when Diamond was 3.  She explained to me that Diamond has heard “not now, I’m doing homework,” or the like most of her life.  She didn’t miss school throughout her pregnancy and for Camron’s first 4 months.  She graduates on Monday.

I am awed by her commitment, her persistence, her “no matter what” attitude.  Pride is the least emotion I feel.  I wish I had her extraordinary qualities – There’s nothing she can’t do

March 5, 2008 Mixing it Up

Yesterday I kept confusing with today.  I have a friendwho is my ‘Accountability Partner.’  Every day we exchange emails saying what yesterday’s results were and what we will do today.  Very effective.  And yesterday we both thought it was today.  Very strange.

I’ve been in communication with many, many people this morning, with conversations ranging from – a trip to Morocco, Oprah’s show with Eckhart Tolle, signing up for another social network (Pulse), my mastermind group meeting today – with one of the members missing because she may have to induce her baby’s birth, Jack Canfield and a brief conversation with the GAA secretary.  So getting straight is very crooked.

Okay.  I just have to remember my commitment – a sustsinable environment, spiritual fulfillment and social justice for all.  That unmixes me.

March 3, 2008 On the Lamb

Ho Ho.  March has come in like a lamb.  Saturday starts daylight savings time.  Everything happens earlier, warmth, time, Easter.  The primaries might be decided tomorrow for both parties, which means Labor Day, the traditional election campaign beginning, may start in March.  All bewildering.  I generally try to write essays ahead – kind of a literary pay it forward, but this is perplexing.

In one of my boooks, Guide to a Fulfilled Life I’ve collected essays, quotes and poems from my weekly site e-letters.  And I’ve started collecting and editing a second volume – definitely keeping busy – Hey, it’s obviously spring.  I found most of these essays (I’m going back now) were missing poems.  Yesterday I wrote 3.  Really challenging.  But what makes a poem is your assertion.  I’m good at assertion, also declaration, also speaking the future – environmental sustainability, social justice and spiritual fulfillment,

February 29, 2008 Extras

I wonder if I’ll write this date again for this journal.

I met this morning with Scott Rosen, owner of Transformations to talk with him about coaching.  He has formed a remarkable Holistic center and is trying to develop the coaching component.  What was interesting to me was noticing my own thinking about how to do it – not something I’ve thought about, but something I enjoyed thinking about.

I’ve long thought that creativity comes from commitment, that pressure (this wasn’t) is a spur to creativity…Some people see it as a hindrance, but that’s because they’re concerned about the pressure, not empowered.  This will create a new avenue to the future for me.  Because context is decisive and this will include many more people in my stand for spiritual fulfillment, social justice and environmental sustainability.

Happy Birthday, George

Don’t know if you know that today is Washington’s birthday.  Not Feb 18.  Such a pain to eliminate specificity for the sake of 3 day weekends.

I’m finishing and editing/reediting some books.  Nancy is my editor par excellence, as is everything she does.  I have no problem with issuing drafts as finals – I just rationalize my sloppiness.  But there’s more there than I realized.  Just finished my 2nd novel, actually a novellete.  I like it, but I don’t count.   I also finished a book I call Coaching 2.0 – the purpose is to teach enough about coaching so a reader can 1) get coaching value for him/her self and 2) stumble but be able to coach others

The novel is science fiction – about the consequences we face by not creating a sustainable environment, by allowing animal species to go extinct, etc.  I got tired of preaching after a while.

A friend of mine just bought my book,Less Stress, More Wealth.He says I’m charging too little.  I like that… My commitment is that we’re inspired and empowered to be fulfilled, living in harmony with Earth.  My coaching and books are how I do that.

February 12, 2008 Happy Birthday, Mr. Lincoln

I love these days that make me aware of my age.  This thing we call President’s Day was invented for the sake of 3-day weekend and because — I’m not sure – It was wonderful having off on the 12th for Lincoln’s birthday and the 22nd for Washington’s…. I suspect the south really didn’t like celebrating Lincoln or simply that 2 holidays 10 days apart was too much.

Too many February holidays, not enough March.

I’m on the board of the Global Abundance Alliance and I’m a stand for environmental sustainability, social justice and spiritual fulfillment.  And I’ve cut down on my activities.  But I still take time to celebrate President Lincoln.  We need him today. 

Incidentally–My new free 6 session seminar starts on Monday-

February 10, 2008 It Doesn’t Take a Lot

It doesn’t take a lot to wake me up when I’m awake and  I’ve forgotten who I am for the minute.  Like most of us I am surrounded by reminders – people and things; I just have to tune in, keep my eyes and ears open; pay attention to what I’m doing.  See with my real eyes.

I didn’t ‘do’ anything today and I’ve been filled with what my life’s about, its joy and wonder.  I moderated a board call of the Global Abundance Alliance (can’t possibly stay asleep with such extraordinary people with me on the phone).

Last night our children gave us a super birthday party – which I was reminded of by this great lunch of last night’s leftovers.

Then I finished editing a book I’m selling (Guide to a Fulfilled Life – just email me michael@michaellipp.com — It’s $12.95, but a Valentines Day special sends 3 copies for 30 bucks and includes a collection of my art and love poems.)

Then I made hummus and put up a chicken to roast, because Nancy is taking Diamond for a haircut…. and now I’m doing this and realizing this is one of the thisses that it doesn’t get any better than.  And I can re-read this so cynically, so “this is what’s so great?”

I’m reminded that we often start meals blessing God for our bread… because bread is so simple, so mundane, so meager that if we can bless God for that, imagine the rest of our life, the rest of Life!

And I remind me of my commitment to spiritual fulfillment, social justice and environmental sustainability.