Making a few seconds count

When I moved back to California to be near my family in Los Altos, it dawned on me that I really didn’t know anything about this town, not even all that well. For the past few years, I only came home during Christmas. When I had any vacation left, I afforded to come home for a long weekend to celebrate Mother’s Day or Father’s Day or Thanksgiving or Easter or birthdays. I never really took the time to get to know the neighbors, let alone get to frequent any of the local businesses and most especially, coffee shops. When I lived in Clintonville, I was a frequent flyer to our neighborhood Starbucks and local artisan coffee shops like Cafe Brioso, Fox in the Snow on 4th, One Line Coffee, Mission Coffee on Price, Stauf’s in Grandview, The Roosevelt Coffeehouse, Cup O Joe in German Village and Clintonville, Global Gallery off of Dunedin. I felt a great sense of home and a radical sense of community I never dreamed of.

I found myself taking walks with an eager desire to meet my neighbors here in Los Altos. Why is this so? Perhaps the Midwest energy has rubbed off me wanting to greet every neighbor, stopping to learn more about them even to stop for a second. It has come naturally for me living away from home and creating a community from Los Altos. Now that I am here at these few moments. Something inside me inspired me to drop my preconceived notions of what the perfect role would be, letting go of deep attachments to the so-called “dream job.” All I wanted to do is do what is needed wherever I go, meeting the locals, learning about their immediate needs and gaps and see how I can be of service. It just takes seconds.

Needless to say, the lessons I have learned along the way have been incredibly humbling turning me inside out. I am currently in a place where I am lucky to walk to the place I work in. I am humbled to share a seat and meet Joe, our 96 yo regular who speaks highly of his grown sons. I am privileged to discover what they love to drink and if I am lucky, I get to learn about them, a sliver of their dream, where they are headed, and what makes them happy. I get to look around me, trees, ants, berry trees and kumquats, dogs, people working on gardens, a gentleman named Bob who always greets my Finnegan with glee, whistling winds and all. I am watching myself being beside myself to be able to have the feet to walk, lungs to breathe this crisp air, the eyes to look and notice, a dog that has no sense of limitation who helps me discover the world through his nose. My writing is not doing this place justice nor can I ever express fully the beauty of the world around me. I won’t even begin to express my deepest gratitude for being sensitive to this world, feeling my living breath and having death near me all at the same time. Feeling the body and sensing the world touching me. I am so in love.

My love letter to you. I write with the deepest reverence. I do not deserve you, a beautiful mother embracing planet earth. I take you so much for granted. I bow down and commit myself to do my insignificant part on this planet. Help me by reflecting on what is needed to be done.

Stay open. Be love. Thank you. xoxo

Getting out and meeting people

Any chance you get at meeting people face-to-face, just do it and accept the opportunity. This is so valuable because it allows us to connect and learn about the people we meet and vice versa. If we are ever so lucky, we can learn about their needs, dreams, fears, and hopes. Being able to see the person in front of you, their facial expressions and hearing their tone of voice is a great opportunity. It speaks volumes.

The less we meet up, the less confident we become, and yes, we can lose touch of our human nature. Imagine if we do not ever get out and hike in the woods. What will happen? When we do not go out and meet people and invest in our friends and community, we become less aware of our body language and fail at picking up social queues. It is like a dance. Getting out and meeting people is taking the step on the dance floor. This dance shows a level of trust and interest in the world.

What type of work do you want to pursue? What are your dreams and hopes? What does it take to show I care? The act of showing interest is a conversation waiting to be had. For instance, if we are going to go into sales, cultivating relationships with people is necessary. When it comes to building new relationships, the foundation matters, showing up sends a message of trust, respect, and interest. If you go out and meet the person you are selling your product to, you are showing them that you are interested in doing business with them. You are communicating that you believe in them, you are sending a message that you care, and this matters so much. Not only that, this product is one that is needed because you have developed a trust with people who have worked in the trenches to share to you that they need this service or solution (you fill in the blank). It is not from the top down. It is from people who are actually working or using the product. Treat people with dignity and respect.

I am aware that I sound like a stream of consciousness (I have vast experience in this, I am laughing at myself), but people are essential. Needs and solutions are inspired by talking to people face to face and in the trenches. I will speak about the products in my later blog post. Right now, I am saying this. Go out and create relationships in the world face-to-face. Listen to people. Open yourself to the possibility of making something greater than yourself. Trust. Look inward and see how you communicate. By going out, you see it is all right. We are all people who have wants, dreams, needs, fears, and hopes. These are windows of opportunity to create something together.

In this device-dependent world, voice and face-to-face interactions are genuinely a higher currency. Showing up takes effort. It is easy to send an email and text. Trust is a currency. Trusting is priceless. Making assumptions and getting in the mindset of negativity does not serve its purpose but put us in a comfort zone of misery and frustration. Love is energy. It is really amazing when we hear that love is patient and that love is kind. The act of respect is compassionate, courageous, and has a rippling effect. When you trust, it shows in the body language. Within trusting, you take risks. Let's not underestimate the power of the human spirit and energy. You got this.

I recently found this insightful Linkedin Learning video about Body Language. If you ever wonder about the energy you project, here's a start. There once was a young woman who got so annoyed about being told that she looked closed off because of her hands being crossed while someone was talking to them. Her old boyfriend gave made a copy of a video on body language. Who do you think that young lady was? Hahaha. Have fun learning more about body language.

Welcome from Body Language for Women by Dorie Clark

Experience - Less is More

I have been asked about what things I have done in the last year since I moved to California. My dream is to go out and help build a creative business where I help people thrive, untangle, unlock blocks, see themselves, get vulnerable, purge, discover the desire, pursue their dreams, get out of their comfort zone, you name it. Because people are amazing. Throughout our lives, we accumulate memories, impressions, thoughts, we are merely a heap. It is our power to create an experience that radiates what is inside us. Underneath all that, there is joy within us. Have you noticed that? I was reminded that we are, after all, makers and creators. It is inside us all.

I am knocked down and gratified to have the time, space, resources, location, opportunities to meet new people to go out for ramen and explore. My initial thought of exploring areas has expanded to a deeper level of experience spiritually. I am not getting paid for these, well at least not yet; but I am going to need some help from you, the people I meet on this journey. I am terrified. I am faced with reality checks and society’s narrative of “normal,” but really? Who wants to be so-called “normal” anyway?

My dream is I am not endorsing any places yet although there are so many incredible ramen shops here that are to be celebrated and most importantly, people to be honored and rocked. I am not again advertising, but the thought is there because I am here, after all, to help people, help business be “un-behind-the-scenes” to be honored. It has been helpful for people to ask about pictures of ramen and places. Things are brewing. Can you help?

In this present moment, though. I reflect on what life has brought to me. No job is worth more than this current experience; this opportunity to get to observe and understand to embrace my family. It is an abundant life to be able to have the time of doing nothing to learn what is there; doing absolutely nothing in the heart of Silicon Valley where every turn everywhere you look, people are coding, creating, making, doing, doing, doing. Any time you’re in doubt where the mind takes you to a place where you are comparing or misery wants to flirt with you, take time to be alone, see and watch where it stems from. If you can or if you are visual, make time to write it down on a journal or post-it notes. See it. Is it true? You decide. Remember, the mind is incredible. You can live like a miserable unpleasant human being; wallowing and whinging in self-pity; easily going down the spiral of the rabbit hole of sorriness. The choice and power are yours. The hard part or work is to take time for yourself to be silent, quiet and reflect. You are more amazing than you think. Let’s experience life. I am here. No expectations. Epic love to you. Whatever.

Current song: Monocle Twins - Breathe on Spotify

Personal Playlist: my california - an exploration on Spotify

Abundance

Remember my last post about going out to meet people face-to-face?

Aww, San Francisco, since that night at 111 Minna Gallery, I have so much more to be thankful for. I have met countless individuals who are getting out there taking steps toward their dream…a manifestation. I had this feeling of abundance come over me that night. I cannot emphasize enough how going out to meet people and learning about every single person you meet can be a gateway (if you want) to learning about yourself and what is most important to you (value). It is an investment, a currency. No matter how small, it’s the quality of the attempt.

Questions to ask oneself: Who am I?

Things that would help you along for reflection: In terms of headspace, mindset and/or values, where were you...what did you find; how did you view failure? As far as your expectations, how did this impact and/or help you? With what stuff are you vibing? What does happiness look like to you now? How are you going to make it happen? Which tools are helping? Who are the people pumping you up? Fill in the question.

The common denominator is the commitment to discover oneself, and there are so many values out there to be found and explored. It is a great feeling to find out what we hold dear. Staying focused, having a clear vision, and making sure at the end of the day, we create time to stop, rest, have fun and care for our well being so the vision remains clear.

This information will serve as a guide as you manifest your vision, embark on your dream. Fill in the blank. Let this help you get aligned whether it is a job search, career move, change of environment even a move to a place you dream of. You have the power to create your life.

Caveat: Just like a garden, it takes intention, care, persistence, consistency, and time. When things don’t go as planned, adjust, adapt, iterate. Be kind to yourself. Cultivate joy.

Hope this opens things up for you. What’s on your playlist right now? Hope it’s sparking creativity within you that you lose track of time. Cheers. <3