A true Leader wants things to go well…takes pride in what they set out to accomplish. They are not afraid to be present. They are not intimidated. They will sacrifice a vacation to tend to problems under their governance. They are passionate about their job. They can go off script to answer questions because they know the ins and outs of what they tower over. They have taken the time to learn everything they can about the ship, train, business, country, etc. that they run. It is their passion…it is their mission.

A true Leader doesn’t want shame to glare over their stewardship. They try to bring the best and the brightest together to get things done. They make folks in an organization feel that they are all working towards the same goal, even if they have differing opinions. A true Leader has the grace and finesse to make both sides feel they have won. The last thing a true Leader wants is to have warring factions under the same roof. Just like in a family, a true Leader is able to remind everyone that winning means there must be compromise.

In times of great turmoil, true Leadership is needed. Not Leaders who try to blame others for failures, nor Leaders who hide behind their past accolades. A true Leader realizes that today is more important than the past, and tomorrow is more important than today.

Carpe Diem,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2011 Jennifer Avalon

We foolishly take for granted what we use every day to live. And the funniest part of all is, the folks who are often against big business are the folks who can usually AFFORD to moan about big business. The truth is, “big business” hires people, pays taxes (contrary to what folks say) which means they contribute to the “entitlements” of Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid, because their workers and they are paying into those systems. Try having Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid without the businesses who pay into them with their employees….entitlements couldn’t exist! So I get really frustrated when some folks try to twist the truth about what’s going on with “big business.” Taxes are lower in communities where there is a “big business.” More people are employed, even in smaller businesses, because small businesses grow up around big businesses. That’s the way it works. Ever notice what happens when a “big business” leaves an area? The steel mills in Pennsylvania, for instance? Ever seen it? Empty storefronts…gone are the mom and pop restaurants that fed the big business workers….foreclosures spring up on the lawns….etc.etc. Domino effect.

Whenever people moan about “big business” I think of the ungratefulness they are actually expressing. Big Business can often employ people out of the country now…and why wouldn’t they, if they don’t feel the American people appreciate them anymore? And sometimes, to stay in business, they have to employ overseas. America has not been business friendly now for a few years….. which is what’s hurting our economy to its core. So beware of those who are against business….you might be very surprised by the size of their bank accounts, and/or that deed to the chalet they own in southern France. You might be shocked, actually.

Our country needs a pro-business attitude so it can get rolling again. Without that, we will never have enough of a tax base to support the things we hold dear. And we don’t need to “raise taxes on the rich,”…that will only send them elsewhere. We need businesses to not feel FEARFUL anymore about hiring people. Fear is causing this recession/depression. It’s all so simple….but you would never know it by what you hear in most of the press. Really simple.

Wake Up,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2011 Jennifer Avalon

 We often feel we can quantify pain….mine is worse than yours, or, mine couldn’t ever match yours. Truth be told, the pain of losing a home is probably not as bad as the pain of being molested…a pain that involves the soul. A building can be rebuilt….a damaged soul can take a lifetime to repair. And yet many of us feel that if we appear to visibly have more than others, we don’t have as much pain as someone who visibly has less. But it’s all about what’s going on inside of us.

 When we lose someone we care about, that is a pain of the soul. All the money in the world can’t bring them back, so we feel the loss. If we lose something materially, we can often replace it. And even if we can’t, we can often move on, and get the help to do so. Where do we get the help to fix a damaged soul? And how does anybody see the cracks, to help in the first place?

 We come into this world naked, and we go out naked, whether we like it or not. We bring nothing with us into this life but our bodies and souls, and, I believe, we leave with the same….but with the imprints of those we have loved, and who have loved us, with us…..in our souls. That is all the treasure we can take with us….and the more we have of that, the richer we are….no clothes, no houses, no bank accounts…just Love. The pain of life gone….

 So what really is pain? The lack of Love…demonstrated by those who hurt us, sometimes including ourselves. When a flood or tornado hits, there are often neighbors who demonstrate real Love….when a soul is damaged, there are people who can help also. The trick is to recognize that pain is pain, no matter where it comes from….and only Love can cure it.

 With Love,

 Jennifer Avalon

© 2011 Jennifer Avalon

We buy or rent a house…after a while it seems like “old hat.” Been there, done that….what’s around the corner, on the other side of the wall? Does a vacation take care of the wanderlust in each of us, or does it spur us to want to continue the search for “home.” For some, home is where they grew up, went to school, made friends. And even if most of their friends move away, they still consider their plot of land and four walls to be “home.” Nothing wrong with that.

For others, “home” is truly wherever they hang their hat….can be for many years, can be for only a few. They get to know some folks, and keep in touch with them after they move out of the area, via internet or phone. They fix up or decorate each new place with vim and vigor, but when they leave it looks as if they have never quite been there. It’s quite interesting to see how each of us views “home.”

Some people need to be near water….be it a lake in the mountains, or an actual seaside place. Others can do just fine in the plains, or the desert, or on a farm. But each of us does need to be in a certain environment to feel more “at home.” Have you ever noticed that when you visit a friend in a cabin or house in the mountains, they will have a picture, almost always, of the beach, hanging somewhere in their home? The same goes for the beach folks…somewhere you will find, even if it’s in the bathroom, a print or photo of the mountains. This is what makes me wonder about human nature…are we really forever wanderers on this planet, until we finally go to our “true home,” which is, of course, Heaven. Finding “Heaven on earth” is very difficult, and I think that’s why we long to, or do, dust off our shoes sometimes and “move on.”

Sometimes it is only a vacation we need, just to recharge and come back refreshed, to enjoy our lives. Other times it is a wake-up call that we need to find a new job, a new place, or a better way of living. Life affords opportunities for those things to happen, especially during these times, when so much is in flux. But the strangest part of all is, when things are in “flux,” we feel we need “home” more than ever….

Go Home,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2011 Jennifer Avalon

Some feel that even the subject of Aliens is anti-Christian. I do find it interesting that recently the Pope declared Aliens our “Celestial Brothers and Sisters,” or something to that effect. What does he know? I take that to mean that “They” are here to possibly help, not harm. Also, that because they inhabit the same universe as us, they must be part of God’s Creation.

God created the Universe, and everything in it, according to us as Christians. If that’s the case, then we must take all of that, the “Good, the Bad, and the Ugly,” as part of God’s Plan. I think what is difficult for some of us to handle is, how could a species be more “intelligent” than us, by being able to manufacture spaceships and the like with materials we haven’t even invented yet, according to some of the articles I have come across. How is that possible, we say? How could anyone be brighter than us?

If you were able to have a “Bird’s Eye View” of this planet, what do you suppose you would really think? If you could see all the conflicts at once, and yes, all the good deeds too, how would they balance out? If you cared, wouldn’t you keep an eye? If you didn’t, wouldn’t you never even bother to look down?

Just thoughts on a controversial subject…something to get your mind off the evening news!!

May the Force Be With You:)

love,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2011 Jennifer Avalon

I think if we approach the New Year with a different perspective and keep a symbol or image in our minds it may be easier to stay focused and navigate the road ahead. I approach the New Year as a builder, a person who sees a piece of land, and the possibilities that can come forth. I look at the formulation of my goals, hopes, and dreams as a house…a beautiful shining building that by the end of the year I can be proud of. A builder needs tools, not just hammers and nails but Faith, encouragement, conviction and the belief that when you put your mind to it, anything is possible.

In January we start the foundation…we make sure it is strong and has the potential to hold what we place upon it. We make sure there are no cracks. Each proceeding month we add to our house…floor by floor we put in the plumbing, the electrical wiring, the heating system, etc. Sometimes we make mistakes, one room may not be wired right, so we go back, repair the damage and continue on. By the Spring, we see that our house is off the ground and rising. The contributions we have made to our house are beginning to show. People pass by and are amazed how fast the house is starting to come together…but little do they see the problems that we encountered to get to our level. So on we go, each day building brick by brick with the sky above us…and with each brick a feeling of accomplishment comes over us and a better understanding of the mistakes we have made so that we try not to make them again. God looks down and sees a person trying to push forward with a house of meaning and purpose. A badly built house with a weak foundation won’t stand very long…but a good house can last forever. God understands how hard it is to built good houses.

By the Fall, our floors are completed, and we are about to add our roof. We want a roof that will not leak, that can take the elements. If we have done all our work and done it well, by the end of the year we will be standing in front of a house amazed that we were able to accomplish this once monumental task. We look at each brick and floor and see a story. We see the set-backs and the over comings. It is possible to build a good house, God willing, with the right tools, and determination…All things are possible.

Good Luck with your house,

love, Jennifer Avalon

© 2011 Jennifer Avalon

For many, the memories of “Mom’s” cooking stays with us for a lifetime…we call that “comfort food.” Even if Mom made you spinach noodles on burnt rye toast when you had a cold, you would still consider that your “comfort” food. Food is attached to time and place and, especially, emotions. Give me a bowl of tomato soup and I will tell you about childhood and the flu, and how much that warm bowl of soup meant to me. For some, it’s chicken soup…or lentil soup. Soups are, for most of us, put in the “comfort” category. You don’t even need a utensil to enjoy it!!

Food…too much of the wrong kind can kill us, and not enough of the good kind can malnourish, or starve us. What other thing in our life has that much influence over our well-being? Not much, for sure. When I hear food prices might skyrocket someday, I mull over buying large bags of rice, and dried beans, and little pots to grow parsley (got to have those greens!) and then wonder what I can add, to prevent scurvy…you know, the disease they got on the Mayflower from not having enough citrus! Maybe I can buy canned mandarin oranges? I like those. Or just buy a bunch of fruity jams. If it were down to survival, I would have to consider only those food stuffs that are non-perishable….hmmmm….how many things in our lives have to be used within a certain period of time before they become dangerous to use or consume? Not many….

Food….a true love/hate relationship. It can be one of the most enjoyable pleasures in life, and can be downright devastating, like when one gets food-poisoning. I got so ill once in an exotic foreign country from either bad food or water I thought I was going to die….luckily, I lived to tell the tale:) During the experience I told myself I would never drink or eat again (ha!) These are the crazy things we tell ourselves to feel we have some control over the enormous power Food and Water has over us.

Food…part of the gift God has given us…earth to grow wheat and vegetables, trees to bear fruit and nuts, paddies to harvest rice, oceans to fish, etc. It is not meant to be taken for granted, nor abused, and yet we do both. When we don’t have enough of it we die, when we have too much of it, we die. Somewhere we are meant to find the balance. And for those who are without it, may you soon have enough food to be able to complain about it.

love,

Jennifer Avalon

 Money generally has a bad reputation….it is the “Root of all Evil,” as some say, and has been known to destroy families, in one way or another, either through inheritances or lack thereof, or the perception that one got more than the other. Just ask the Rich….or the Poor. It’s all the same common knowledge.

When politicians talk about raising taxes on the Rich, it actually hurts the Poor. Just look at history. For example, the top 1% of earners in New York, for instance, account for 36% of the state’s total income. If tax rates become too high, some of the Rich leave. Many Rich own homes in other states, and/or other countries. They are wealthy enough to do that. Then what becomes of the tax base, in a state like New York, for instance? Who ends up funding the loss of revenue? Why the Middle Class, of course, and the Poor. Their taxes get raised, or their state budgets get cut. They lose either way. Usually the middle way is the best…the moderate way. Perhaps raising taxes a touch, and cutting a little out of budgets….nothing too drastic, but perhaps that combo makes it fair to everyone. But to punish the Rich has always proven disastrous…because again, as I mentioned, they can just get up and leave. They have the resources to do that. They are not prisoners of their financial circumstances, as many folks are. The Rich and the Poor are intrinsically entwined….because the Poor and Middle Class need the Rich, and the Rich need the workers (both white collar and blue) to keep the machines of their businesses going. We are all dependent on one another. Where it becomes sad is when one realizes that the Rich can now go overseas and hire workers that will take less in pay….the dependency becomes less for the American worker and the Rich. Therefore I cringe every time I hear a politician mention raising taxes on the Rich….it doesn’t work out well for the rest of us…especially now, with cheaper labor overseas.

The Machine…the cogs in the wheel of business and leisure. For one to say they are anti-business is to declare oneself a bit of a fool…without business, we wouldn’t have a country. It’s like when I used to hear people who owned a home say “Oh me, I’m not in the stock market,” well my friend, when your house lost half it’s value with the recession, you quickly discovered you WERE in the stock market, because the value had to do with the banking industry, which is involved with Wall Street. So the good part is that I think people are waking up and realizing that The Machine involves all of us…Rich, Poor, and Middle Class. We all need one another for The Machine to run smoothly.

The more money a person has, the more they spend, usually. Anything that reduces that will hurt the economy….real simple stuff. For The Machine to work well, we all need to understand what makes it tick.

Tick Tock…

Jennifer Avalon

The funny thing about a vacation is that you can have one without ever leaving the spot you’re sitting in. Granted the air won’t feel different…the sounds won’t be either, nor the smells. But how we perceive life is all in our minds anyway, so if we have active imaginations we can leave where we are and go somewhere else just by sitting still. Close your eyes for a moment and imagine you are in a place you want to be….either somewhere you’ve been before, or somewhere you’ve always wanted to go to. If you’ve been there before, remember the details of what you enjoyed about it. If it’s somewhere new, imagine what it must feel like. I sometimes sit very still and remember my time in Heaven. It is a place I go to when I need to calm down and remember what truly matters. I go to The Garden. The colors are brighter, the light is different. And I am reminded that this earthly world is temporary, and we will all go Home someday. A mini-vacation, this life is. And yet we need a vacation from our mini-vacation sometimes!

I live near the ocean, so today I drove down to the beach and took a walk by the sea. I let my feet slosh through the waves, and watched all the many different folks sitting in the sun, and children playing with their buckets and shovels. In the parking lot were seagulls, and license plates from all over the country. I love seeing people swimming amongst the waves….people laughing and smiling. Many are most likely on a vacation…the time to let worries flow by the wayside, and enjoy the moment.

We only have so much time allotted to us during the year for that kind of time….so it’s important to be able to “go there” just by sitting alone in a room with walls. A vacation can be taken anytime we can find the moments…anytime our hearts and minds desire.

Please, go on vacation more often….

love,

Jennifer Avalon

I remember seeing the movie, I think it was called “Alive,” where an airplane crashes on a snowy mountaintop, and, after several days, the survivors realize a rescue is nowhere in sight. As more folks begin to die and freeze, the remaining people decide that in order to stay alive, they must eat their fellow frozen passengers. They cut the frozen flesh into matchstick slivers, and one claims that it tastes like chicken, from what I remember, which I thought was odd, but then again, I haven’t had, thankfully, the experience! I remember being horrified, but realized that it was a desperate and last ditch attempt to stay “alive.” It also made me realize, in a flash, how horrible suicide is, because if people are willing to go to such lengths to stay in this world, then what does it say about someone willing to toss it all away?

We are here for a reason…there is always Hope on the horizon, and there really IS a light at the end of the tunnel. These are basic facts, as far as I believe. Hope is the belief that no matter what Life throws at us, we can and WILL overcome it. I’m thinking now, in particular, about the folks in the Gulf States who must feel absolutely devastated by the oil disaster unfolding. What can one say to them? What was one supposed to say to the people standing in the bread lines during the Depression? If you truly believe you are here for a reason, then you find your way back from disaster, and trouble. You take stock of your situation, and don’t have blinders on. If you see a boulder headed your way, move yourself from its path. Sometimes a change is what’s in order….there are times when it’s just smart to go another direction, or move in a different way. We are all here for a reason….it’s our job to find out what the reason is.

Hope, Faith and Love…the three reasons to swing our legs over the side of the bed. Love, because without it the Universe, and we, would collapse. Faith, because we are always being watched by God and His Angels, and there IS a plan for each of us, and Hope, because a loving, faithful God wouldn’t have put us here, and where we are, if he didn’t have Hope for us. We are never to abandon God, because He never abandons us, even if we think, or feel so sometimes. I think God’s Hope is that we don’t forget this.

The strange thing about Life is that it can change overnight. Bad things can happen overnight, and Good things can happen overnight. The Hope is that we can handle the Bad with grace, and the Good with gratefulness….

Keep Hoping,

Jennifer Avalon

 I know for myself that even though I do a bit of yoga in the morning, and evening, and try to meditate once a day, if I don’t add a walk to my routine, the stress can still build up. Being an artist, I am very sensitive to my surroundings. That is both a blessing, and sometimes, a curse! Why do people with Alzheimers generally not get stressed out? Because they have become de-sensitized, overall. In the late stages of the disease they can become quite agitated, but in the beginning and middle stages they mosey along without much stress because their memories can’t hold onto problems long enough to get upset about them. Well, none of us want to get Alzheimers to be relieved of stress, so we must find other ways to feel at peace!

 In early childhood, Time goes very slowly. We take in the Present, and can focus on the Moment. As we get older, we have to re-learn what comes naturally to us in childhood, because of more input, and overload. The old saying “It’s time to cool out,” is really valuable, because unless we cool out, we will overheat, and then our circuitry has to find ways to slow down again . In my life finding a quiet place (not easy these days!) without the T.V. on, where I can just sit and gather my thoughts for a few minutes, really helps. I visualize a beautiful garden, with a stream and a large tree….and I go there, in my mind, to rest and think. The reason I try to add a short walk, when I can, is because stress builds up in the body, whether we’re aware of it or not, and walking (or swimming) gets rid of the toxins in our muscles. All common sense…..but difficult to remember that we owe ourselves, if possible, an hour a day at least to take care of ourselves. If we don’t take care of ourselves, we will be of no good to the ones we love, and who love us. Most of us are needed by others in our lives, and we owe it to them to take care of ourselves.

 Stress….Life without it is almost impossible, but too much of it can kill us. So when it starts to build up, remember how you felt as a little kid, when your cares were few, and you knew that your journey here is for a reason, and growing up to get to do all those things your parents wouldn’t let you do, you now can do, if you want. Get off your chair and stretch….a few seconds every hour, if you can. Remind yourself that relieving your stress will be good for all…….and focus on yourself for a change.

 love,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2010 Jennifer Avalon

In the animal kingdom, it is fascinating to watch what happens to “blood relations.” A mother of newborn pups will turn her back on a puppy that she doesn’t raise. She will only take care of the pups that she has a hand in rearing. The first time I witnessed this I was a little shocked. What happened to “blood runs thicker than water?” Even in human relations, sometimes friends are closer than family members. Those who have close relations within their families are lucky people indeed, because there is no guarantee that just because you are from a particular family, you will automatically be close. When it does happen however, the saying “blood runs thicker than water,” truly applies. The loyalty that can take place between family, when the relations are good, is pretty astounding.

 They say that some in the animal kingdom will give up their lives to save their human masters. Do you have anyone in your circle whom you could count on to do that for you, if it were needed? For some, it is a family member…for others, it may be a friend. It doesn’t really matter….loyalty can come in all different forms. “Family,” when all is said and done, can be anyone we truly trust.

On a wider level, we are all part of the Human Family…but we often forget this. We become so involved in our own circles and our own problems that what happens to folks worlds away is mostly off our radar. Truth is, what happens to people on another continent does affect all of us…we are all inter-connected. I think that’s why people are so fascinated with the idea of life on other planets. For some reason, even though many of us don’t know, or care to get aquainted with, the folks living next door, or down the street, we are truly curious about the creatures that could be living many moons away from us! Strange, isn’t it?

Family…..the cousin in Kentucky, the Great-Uncle that started the grocery store in the 1800′s, the Grandma who taught you to tie your shoes….the friend who makes you chicken soup when you have the flu, the sister who always makes you laugh when you’re down, the co-worker who shares lunch with you once a week, and listens to your personal problems. People you count on…people you trust….people you love. Family.

Enjoy your circle,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2010 Jennifer Avalon

 Fast track about 33 years later. I am no longer living amongst the palm trees of California, but am living in the concrete jungle of New York City, thousands of miles away from Grandma Eva. One drizzly afternoon while walking north on Lexington Avenue I suddenly felt a pain in my heart. I looked up at the street sign, which said 58^th and Lexington Avenue, and also checked my watch, 4:00PM, because I thought I might be having a heart attack. It quickly passed, but I hurried home. A few hours later my Mom called from California. Her opening line was “Grandma Eva passed away today from a heart attack.” I was stunned and said, “What time?” My Mom replied “1:00PM.” Well, if you do the math, the 3 hour time difference means I was feeling a pain in my heart at the same time as Grandma’s passing. Coincidence?

 Exactly 7 days later I was walking north on Lexington Avenue again, this time with a girlfriend. Suddenly I saw a monarch butterfly flit right in front of us…I said to my friend “Did you just see that?” and she exclaimed “Yes!” I looked up at the sign, and there it was, 58^th and Lexington Avenue, the same spot where one week earlier I had felt the pain in my heart, and my Grandma’s passing. Coincidence? I think not. It is extremely rare to see a monarch butterfly in mid-town Manhatten…or in New York City anywhere, actually. In fact, I have never seen a butterfly in the city ever, before that, or after.

 Was Grandma trying to tell me she had become that “Free Spirit” she always pointed out to me, as a child? Was she first reaching out to me in her pain, and then a week later letting me know her joy? I think so. Why is this important? Because in this crazy world that seems so upside down at times, I find comfort in knowing some things never change…the Love between a Grandma and her Grandaughter can transcend time and space and circumstance. The Love between all of us can do the same.

 With those we love it is important to find the common denominators…those things that we will always remember as memories of one another…because I believe it is those little (or big) things that will be used as love notes later….when we need those whispering embraces the most.

 Share the whispers,

love,

Jennifer Avalon

 © 2010 Jennifer Avalon

 When I “came back” I was in the stream, clinging to a rock. Did I fall in? I have no recollection. I had to wade waist high back through the flowing current to reach the ground. I was completely wet. I never told anyone until about 16 years later, for fear they would think I was crazy.

 One thing is for sure, to me the “Other Side” is more real than here. The feelings, the emotions, the colors, the knowledge, it’s as if one has been out in the cold, and suddenly walks into a warm cottage with a fire burning in the fireplace, and you’re told that you have finally come home….take your shoes off, sit by the fire, warm yourself…you’re home. No worries, no fear…just love and comfort…the way we all wish Home to be. Heaven is just that….the way we imagine. In fact, it’s far greater, because our human imaginations can’t scratch the surface of what Heaven truly is.

 Though I remember the experience as clear as a ringing bell, I know that everyone is put here on Earth for a reason, and that we don’t get to go back there until it is “our time.” And each of us has a time, decided, I believe, by God and His Angels. We are supposed to complete our tasks here, and then we can move on….

 I am not afraid of Death. Life is what can be scary, because there are people in it who are at different stages of their Soul’s development, and one must always protect themselves against those who choose to “walk on the darkside.” We all choose, every moment of our lives, which path we’re walking on. Once we “cross over” the game is up. We are completely transparent in thought and deed….God sees All. God sees All, all the time anyway, but once we are in His territory, we can see ourselves completely too. Game up!:)

 Our real Home is only a breath away, but we spend our lives acting as if it’s a million miles away. Everyone goes Home someday…make sure you’re in the transparent garments you want God (and yourself) to see….

 Dress wisely,

love,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2010 Jennifer Avalon

 As the United States and hopefully the world pulls out of this economic downturn, one point we must accept is that the playing field has been changed forever. Why is this important? Because going forward whatever jobs or industries that are created must include the reality that those jobs can’t be exported or downsized. For example, what good is it if a company manufactures a product, hires workers, builds up an infrastructure and then five years later that company moves its operations to places where workers are paid one tenth the price and all the workers are laid off, or severely downsized, at best, until one day it’s “Closed Up Shop” time?

 A friend of mine shared with me a story that I found quite interesting, one I’m sure you’ve heard from time to time. She designed and developed hand knit sweaters to be worn specifically by women. At first her business started slowly, and over time built up quite a clientelle. Many of her products were available at high end department stores across the country, until one day she noticed that the re-order list was beginning to go down. She visited one of the main stores that sold her sweaters. The buyer came out and asked her to accompany her to her office. Once in the office my friend learned that her products were being closely copied and manufactured overseas and sold at a quarter of the price. What many of us know today as “knock-offs.” Not quite the original, but close enough. Before too long my friend ceased operations. If the job recovery involves creating jobs that this can happen to, it is doomed to fail.

 The challenge is to create jobs that cannot be easily duplicated at a lower cost, while at the same time making them accessible to an open world market. I heard the other day a financial expert say there are only three areas that America has that can’t be easily transferred at will. Silicon Valley, Entertainment, and Finance. Yes indeed, offices and subsidiaries can be opened around the world, but these industries are a lot harder to transfer at will. This list must be added to in order for a new economic boom to take hold. Not only in the United States, but around the world. We can’t allow ourselves to so easily become interchangeable parts, or nothing short of work ants.

 There it is, for all the brilliant minds to ponder….The Challenge. Building a moat around the country, bolting the doors, and constructing fences is not going to help us one bit. The world has to be engaged with all forms of uniqueness. Each country has to develop a speciality that only they can do the best. Impossible? I think not. Ever heard of “Swiss chocolates?”

 Face the challenge,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2010 Jennifer Avalon

 How about you? How are things in your neck of the woods? It’s crazy out there, many are out of jobs, some losing their homes, and we’re left to wonder, is anyone steering the ship? Republicans, Democrats, who cares? Just correct the problems, be honest, and please, no more b.s. I am a firm believer that the government can’t solve all your problems, but they’re not supposed to stand in your way either. If the government really believes that it can run everything in our lives better than us, then by all means line us up one by one, take away our credit cards, clean out our bank accounts, and take over our homes. Otherwise, let us sink or swim by ourselves. Surely, even a five year old child could do a better job than what has been spent by the government on our behalf in the past year. Hey, one guy on the internet suggested that the government give us each a tax free year. What’s crazy? It would have only cost a pittance of what was unleashed, to balloon the deficit. Personally, I don’t think giving each American a million dollars would have been such a bad idea. That would have only cost around 300 million dollars….a tiny drop in the bucket compared to other measures.

 Life, Libery and the Pursuit of Happiness…sign me up! I’m all for it. But lately, across the land, something has gone wrong with this picture. Tea Party protestors, called “Astroturf,”by some…please, I call it an expression of frustration. Americans looking at the Constitution and wondering what the heck is going on? Is it any wonder why Glenn Beck’s ratings are going through the roof. He’s totally tapping in to people whose anger and frustration has left them feeling disillusioned and powerless. Personally I cannot believe some of the jargon that I hear from members of Congress, staring at the camera and expecting me to believe that pigs can fly.

 All that said, I am more hopeful for America than ever, because I know there are people out there who are not drinking the Kool Aid, and walking around brain dead. What a game…they’ve pitted Democrats and Republicans against each other for so long, that is it any surprise almost nothing gets done in Washington? We’ve come to finally realize we have much more in common than we ever thought. How many out there are starting to feel that they’re swinging from the trapeze with no safety net to catch them if they fall? Well that’s where the rest of us come in to grab sheets, netting, whatever materials that are handy, to grab on and create our own safety net, for ourselves, and one another. Americans have risen to the occasion many times before. The people of Haiti just have to look around to see the heart of America.

 We all know full well how to get back up, shake off the dust, and move forward. Banks, Government, corruption, whoever and whatever…we all know something is wrong, and it can be corrected. But please, please, no more five and dime speeches, and juvenile solutions.

 The Truth Shall Set You Free,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2010 Jennifer Avalon

 I have had this discussion with friends before, some of whom don’t believe there is a Devil. The saddest thing of all to me is that the Devil believes in them…in goodness, and in naivety. The Devil is the first to spot Innocence….Frailty, and Weakness of Spirit. If the Devil couldn’t spot these things, then the Devil would have nothing to try and destroy. The whole game of the Devil is to destroy Good, and to push folks on the fence to tumble into his/her arena. For instance, pedophelia is of the Devil….it robs children of their innocence. Really, in all honesty, anything that isn’t for the good of someone, is of the Devil.

 This discussion makes some people very angry. They want to think that nothing can ever hurt them, they are totally in control, and pretending that the Devil doesn’t exist will somehow protect them. The opposite is true, sadly. Everyone can be hurt, we are not totally in control, and pretending the Devil doesn’t exist just makes him/her stronger. Remember, the Devil knows YOU exist.

 So, just what is the Devil? As the Bible says, it is the Fallen Angel. The one who chose to not be a part of God’s Paradise. It is a choice. We all have that choice. We all choose every waking moment of our lives. Someone rarely chooses to be Evil overnight….it’s usually a slow erosion of the Spirit, brought on by a starvation and pain of the Soul, over time. The strangest thing of all about the Devil, to me, is that I believe the Devil wants to “get caught,”…wants to be stopped. The Devil almost always leaves a trail of tears…a trail of pain…a trail of anger. The Truly Strong don’t have a need to hurt folks….only the Weak feel the need to do that. That’s the dichotomy of the Devil….he/she is actually weak. It’s only a strong facade.

 I believe Hitler had the Devil in him…I believe Charles Manson has the Devil in him…I believe pedophiles have the Devil in them. And others too, who hurt innocent people, while building up their Egos. The Ego plays a huge part in the Devil’s existence. Without it, there can be no Devil. Ego is weakness.

 So as you go about your life, please remember that the way to spot the Devil is by his/her actions and deeds, and by his/her eyes…for the eyes will always betray the Soul. And the Soul of the Devil is madness. And if you ever feel yourself in the path of the Devil, remember that LOVE is the one thing he/she cannot see…it is their blind spot. Because when the Devil chose to fall from Grace, the Devil turned away from Love….the Devil can’t remember what Love is….it is a foreign language he/she can’t comprehend. Love is the cape that will protect you. An invisible cape that the daggers of the Devil can never penetrate, as you stand strong.

 Always remember to wear your cape,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2009 Jennifer Avalon

When I was seventeen years old, I was walking through the woods one day, pondering life, when I suddenly felt like I was “shot” out of my body. The next thing I knew I was enveloped in what felt like a cloud of pure Love….and then I realized I was in the Universe, amongst the stars. I felt a sense of peace that can only be described as the “peace that surpasses all peace,”….pure Joy. I knew that this is the place we all come from….the Heavens. I was shown by someone whom I couldn’t actually see, but could feel, and could hear their voice, that everyone has a heartlight….I could literally see light coming out of people’s chests, on earth. I was also told that most people don’t realize they have this. That made me sad. When I “came back” I was in the middle of a stream, on a rock, and when I looked up I could see a waterfall pouring down into the stream…the water was swirling around the rock I was on. I made my way to the shore, and never forgot that experience. It taught me that Joy is in all of us…it is what and where we come from.

Watching the news on television, hearing all the negativity, one can easily forget the truth. What I do every night just before I fall asleep is recite the Lord’s Prayer, because it sums up what I know to be the truth.

“Our Father, who art in Heaven
Hallowed be Thy name
Thy Kingdom Come, Thy will be done
On earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our trespasses, as we
Forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but
Deliver us from evil,
For thine is the Kingdom, and the Power,
And the Glory, now and forever. Amen.”

Peace, and Joy, be with you,
Jennifer Avalon
© 2009 Jennifer Avalon

 The average American has no idea how powerful they truly are. They have generally been mass educated, commercially convinced to spend their savings, and told that adhering to a spirituality or religion is akin to being one step above being brain-damaged….at least that’s what most of the elite media says. The actual truth is that every single American holds tremendous power in their hands….and it comes with the Power of Shunning. I have mentioned this before, but feel it is necessary to remind folks again of the most powerful tool in their hands….and it’s never violence. Violence is only temporary, and backfires. Shunning is lasting, and does the job.

 Shunning is turning your pocketbook away from companies, causes, or people that you don’t like, or share their motives. Shunning can be as simple as not watching certain television shows that you feel are dishonest, or worse. Without your pocketbook, and without your televison views, you would be stunned by what can happen. But until people really realize their own power is that simple, it could take a long time to make things better.

 I’m sure some of us occasionally wish we could just buy a small plot of land in the mountains some where, build a comfy little shack, plant vegetables and fruit trees, go fishing, and try to “get off the grid.” But let’s get real…somewhere along the way, especially now, with all the many forms of media, we will run into the reality of the fact that there is a whole country out there, and we’re a part of it. Our Founding Fathers knew the power Americans could have….that’s why they put themselves on the line to insure that power could never be taken away. But it’s up to us to keep that freedom alive….to keep our Power.

 Use it,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2009 Jennifer Avalon

Summer has its own charm and beauty, yet Fall brings mystery, and sparks the imagination. I’m not quite sure if its the looking forward to Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years…but one thing’s for certain, the spirituality of Autumn breezes through the air. This time of year gives me a chance to look back and see how far I’ve come, what I’ve lost, what I’ve gained. Nature has its own way of helping us come to grips with our mortality and our blessings. It’s so easy to forget, but its the little things that mean the most. Love is all around us, and the stronger, the better, for it is when it is weak we decay. I’m sure if you live in a part of the world that has a harsh Winter, you understand how important community and love is needed to get through.

The economy, quality of life, loss and grief…whatever we may be going through, one day it does dawn on us what truly matters. Although Autumn and Winter may blow cold winds, they also can warm the heart. As the cycle of the year goes by, we always remember what was, and what will be. Our dreams live on, like a blank empty page that stares back at us, waiting for us to imprint upon.

As Fall comes, we do indeed move forward, learning as we go along, hopefully becoming a better person, embracing what we have, and discovering what we need. No matter how many times we circle the year, there is always something new to learn. As nature falls asleep for Winter, many will enfold the charm and the magic of the season.

Stop, Look, and Listen,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2009 Jennifer Avalon

 Betrayal is about loss….the loss of a previous image of a friend or relative, the loss of something you felt you once had. It takes a long time to recover from a betrayal….one has to really look at the entire picture of the relationship, and let go. Anger is involved, as is disgust. And when the anger and disgust fade away, there is sadness and disappointment.

 What makes someone betray someone else? Envy, jealousy, and in some cases, money. Whatever the reason, betrayal is an act of revenge. It can also be classified as an act of evil, in some cases. That’s if one believes there is good and evil, of which I personally believe both exist. For those who don’t believe evil exists, I suppose acts of betrayal aren’t as horrible to them, just as robbery, and pedophilia and murder, are just simple acts of selfishness, in their books. Not to be classified in any way as evil, since evil to them just doesn’t exist. If evil doesn’t exist, then betrayal can’t exist…it’s just another act among many that can somehow be justified.

 None of us are perfect….we probably wouldn’t be on this planet if we were! We all make mistakes, we are all here to overcome. But I feel for my friend, who was betrayed. I told him to try to forgive because I know that in order for the person who has died, the only way he can be forgiven, is for my friend to forgive him first. That’s the way it works, whether we like it or not.

 In the end, we all face Judgement. We all have to look at ourselves, and every good thing we ever did, and every bad thing. We get away with nothing. Some may think we do, but they are in for a gigantic surprise. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” This phrase really does mean something.

 If people only knew this, there would be no more Betrayers.

Light into the darkness,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2009 Jennifer Avalon

Have you ever sat quietly and let your mind race, to places it wants to go? Artists, musicians, writers and people in the arts in general do this all of the time. It’s called “imagination,” and it takes us to spaces and heights that others think are unimaginable….but that’s the whole point of art…to think beyond the confines of earthly reality…to take us to “another place.” This, to me, is the “magic” of art…that it can transport people to other realities.

As a human group, we contain something called a “human consciousness.” It is the collective thoughts of all, combined into one overall idea, or image, of the way things are, or should be. If the collective consciousness thinks the world is a bad place, then the world will reflect that. And if one takes a general look around, it’s obvious that human consciousness has decided that this place is a mess. Can the same human consciousness imagine, also, that this place can be wonderful? Absoloutely. Everything great that ever came to be on earth, began with imagination. Even John Lennon of the Beatles wrote about it, in his song “Imagine.” Because it really is that simple….it really is all in the mind.

Think lovely thoughts,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2009 Jennifer Avalon

History tends to repeat itself….different eras, different people, same scenarios. For many, the blood of  their ancestors still flows through their veins, and that is why a child born a couple of generations after “Uncle Joe,” can turn out being the “spittin’ image” of Uncle Joe! Did the child ever meet Uncle Joe? Of course not…but it doesn’t seem to matter. “Uncle Joe” has come back!

With all these comings and goings of Life and Death and perhaps Rebirth, we are supposed to gain knowledge and improve humankind. In some ways this is happening, and in other ways it is not. Whenever man decides to “play God,” there are disastrous consequences. And whenever man forgets his/her history, there are, sadly, repetitions of the past. Each time history repeats itself there is better technology, and more room for human error.

In the end it is not about “how many toys we have,” “where we live,” “who we know,” “what family I come from,” or “this is how much money I made.” It is about how we treated people, from the simplest exchange at the grocery counter, to the life and death decisions…to even the thoughts we think. It is about how much Love we gave, and how much Love we let in. Both matter. The slate is swept clean, for the love story to continue….

Let it in,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2009 Jennifer Avalon

I read the daily newspapers diligently….the left ones, and the right ones…I like to form my own opinions. I like to feel the pulse of the country. Of course, some of the papers don’t care about the feelings of the majority…..only of posturing to their smaller minority. Other papers aren’t in touch with the two more “sophisticated” coasts. It makes for very interesting reading, overall. Whenever the polls say a “majority of Americans” feel a certain way, I always laugh because the truth is, only 50% of Americans vote, overall, which means of that 50%, roughly 25% vote liberal, and  roughly 25% vote conservative. So that leaves an entire 50% unaccounted for, altogether!! And I suspect that overall, that 50% leans more to the conservative side…which would mean then that about 75% of America is conservative, or, independent thinkers. You would never know this by the so called “polls.”

Outside of America, all around the world nations feel nationalistic, and have agencies and armies formed to protect their beloved countries. So do we, but, some in this country seem to think that  we will just be “magically” protected, even if they bash the very agencies and  armies that are in place to protect us. People who put their lives on the line every day don’t want to hear that  their country isn’t backing them 100%. Granted, there can be abuses in all places of work, but there are ways to address those things, and, in the present case being thrown around Congress, these things have already been addressed, years ago. What is frightening to me is that while liberals and conservatives are arguing, the rest of the world is watching, and probably thinking that we are losing our minds.

This country, since 9/11, has been under tremendous stress. I certainly don’t agree with everything President George Bush did, but  one thing’s for sure, he did keep us safe for all the years after 9/11. I pray to God that our President Obama will be able to say the same thing after his years in the White House…that he was able to keep us safe. At the rate we’re going, I doubt if there will be many individuals who will feel it’s worth it to risk their lives to protect this magnificent country…and that would be a real tragedy. Wake up Congress…..it’s all of our lives on the line. Please put our country and   our safety first…that, for goodness sake, is what we voted you in to do.

Let’s get real,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2009 Jennifer Avalon

 The tragedy of Michael Jackson has happened before to many who have been swept up in the glaring lights of fame and excess. The eerie similarity surrounding Michael’s death and that of Elvis Presley is shocking. Elvis was an icon that pushed the envelope of music for years. Many fans split his career into two stages….before he went into the army in 1958, and after. The changing moment in Elvis’s life was, while stationed in Germany he discovered “prescription medication.” He took pills to keep him up at night when he was out on maneuvers. One problem, when Elvis returned from the army in 1960 the drug taking continued. Elvis never thought he was addicted…to him, it was all legal. He never went to the street corner to buy off the local drug dealer. He just had a series of doctors write him prescriptions. When anyone approached him that he may have a problem with the drugs, they were banished from his realm. What Elvis had left was an entourage of “yes” men. Fast forward to August 1977, and his tolerance and abuse of the medications took his life.

 Michael Jackson in 1984 burned the top of his head when a mishap occurred during a Pepsi commercial. That was the beginning, experts say, with his fascination with “prescribed medication.” Here we are 25 years later, and Michael has left us with suspicions of the same problem as Elvis. Friends have been coming forward saying that they had tried to warn Michael about his growing dependency on drugs. Anytime they brought up the subject, they too were banished.

 There are more glaring similarities. Shortly before Elvis’s death he had just played a game of racket ball while preparing for an upcoming concert tour. Michael had just been rehearsing two days before his death, for a series of concerts in England, which he called his “This Is It” tour. Oddly, another thing they both have in common… Lisa Marie Presley. Elvis’s daughter, and Michael Jackson’s ex-wife.

 Abuse of prescribed medications is turning into an epidemic in the United States, and probably in other countries too. If I see another commercial that says “Ask your doctor if this medication is right for you,” I’m going to scream! A friend of mine recently told me that half of his son’s college class is on mood stabilizers. If anything good is to come out of the death of Michael Jackson, I hope it is the revelation of the escalating abuse of prescription drugs in this country. We only hear about the rich and famous who die from the abuse…not the many others who don’t get a headline.

 Rest in Peace,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2009 Jennifer Avalon

As the old saying goes, if we forget the past, are we destined to repeat it? Or are we doomed to consistently repeat old formulas and ideas that have been proven time and again to fail? Each morning when I pick up my newspaper and read the headlines, is it me, or do you also, after a while, start to feel that you’ve seen this movie before? Have we as a society forgotten what works, and what doesn’t?

Can mankind overcome its defects, to the point of not repeating them? I want so much to believe in the perfect world, where everything can be negotiated and compromised…where nations can sit down around the table, discuss their differences, and find peace. A world where thieves and crooks don’t have their way in our financial markets. Is it naive to want a better world for our children? Eerily, more and more I start to see the mistakes and demons of the past begin to show their faces with new masks. The name Neville Chamberlain has been going over and over in my mind this past week. He was the Prime Minister of Great Britain who tried to reach a peace treaty with Adolf Hitler. Chamberlain was convinced that he could sit down and negotiate an agreement with Hitler, that intelligent men could meet and find a compromise. He watched as Adolf Hitler signed the agreement not to invade Poland, brought that agreement back to the British people and, as he was getting off the plane, held out the agreement and said “Peace in our time.” Before the ink was dry on that agreement, Hitler invaded Poland. We all know where that ended up.

We will find out in the next couple of years if Time is a straight line, or a repeating circle. The past few months President Obama has opened his hands to compromise and peace, over and over. He wants so much to reach common ground with those who consider America their enemy. President Obama will either succeed, or become Neville Chamberlain. What we as a society are going to have to see firsthand is, are there people who want peace, or are there people that will do anything to avoid it?

Time is the great commoditizer. Products that were once extremely expensive eventually drop in price so that just about everyone can afford them. Computers, televisions, flat screens, and yes, eventually, robots. Unfortunately, so too has nuclear material become commoditized. Where once nations shuddered at the thought of a nuclear war, other groups now see no problem with purchasing and using such weapons. Is the time line flat, or a circle? Can one rationally have a conversation with a madman?

I love my country, I love the world. I want all God’s children to get along. Time hangs in the balance.

May true hearts prevail,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2009 Jennifer Avalon

So there it is….many of us know that all the promises, all the guarantees, can they any longer be trusted? Will we ever feel that we have the job that can’t be downsized, or done without? For many years we all thought that we will do the job that pays the most money, regardless of whether we enjoy it or not, and some have found that at the end of that road is a dead end street. All the hopes, passions and dreams we pushed aside, for the paycheck that we thought would always be there, can just as easily vanish.

The great promise of the large 401K, the perfect home, and the mega-bucks job, for quite a few, has come crashing down. If you’re one of them, don’t feel bad…it may be the beginning of an opportunity that will bring you real happiness doing something, this time, that you love. Another friend shared her thoughts with me, angrily saying, “Jennifer, it feels as if somebody came up to me and stole my life’s savings and my home. What adds insult to injury is that particular thief could have been arrested…but in this economic environment, nobody wants to take the blame.” She added, “From here on in, I’m only going to do what I love, for a living. I may end up broke, but at least I’ll be happy, and that they won’t be able to take away from me.” I responded, “I guess you’re not only mad, but now you’re hungry for your passion. God Bless you.”

So many emails, all of them saying the same thing in different ways. What went wrong? I played by the rules. I wasn’t a pig. Something evil went down here. This is America, these kind of things are not supposed to happen, yet nobody seemed to know what was going wrong until it was too late.

I’m writing this essay to let those out there who have been devastated by this downturn, know that they’re not alone. You will come back, but learn, there are always shady people out there claiming to be looking out for us all, yet behind our backs, they’re sharpening their knives. Success can be the best revenge, yet this time let us try to be successful at what we love, and what stokes our passion. Why is it that many times we only find out who cares about us when we go through troubles? Maybe it’s a way to take a good look at our lives, at what we have, and what’s missing.

Carpe Diem,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2009 Jennifer Avalon

Anger is different from Hate….Anger is a naturally occuring emotion that can come and go according to circumstances. Some people are less affected by Anger….they make a conscious decision to allow compassion to override Anger. Hate, on the other hand, springs forth from not allowing understanding and compassion to enter the field of emotion….because when those two emotions do, Hate is overcome.  Hate also comes from a lack of understanding….in a way, it is an overdeveloped response to Anger.

When one Hates, their vision becomes clouded….they succumb to the emotion, and are not able to see the truth of the circumstance. Hate usually develops after a long time of not allowing Anger to vent itself naturally, and safely, so that compassion and understanding can enter the heart….it is an emotion born of repressed Anger. But Hate solves nothing, because the actions taken out of Hate create more Hatred, and just as Loving acts create more kindness, the ripple effect can be powerful, and often devastating. It is important to vent Anger naturally and safely, because if we don’t, Hate can arise in its place.

We have emotions to guide us, and protect us….otherwise, we would all be walking zombies. The difference between us and the future robots are our emotions. Our emotions are what keep us civilized, in most cases. Our emotions also keep us connected to the world at large. Always keep in mind that Love is more powerful than Hate, because Love expands the consciousness of a human being, and Hate contracts it. Only when we understand this can we strive to keep our lives in balance….to let Love be our guide, as opposed to Hate.

Take the time to Love,
Jennifer Avalon 

© 2009 Jennifer Avalon

Is Life fair? Not always….but we must not forget the journey that we are on is a learning process. These times are the perfect example to show us how basically and fundamentally we need Love in our lives. If one does not feel they need Love, then unfortunately they probably have forgotten how to love. The Ego consistently wants us to believe that we are the Center of the Universe. Sorry Ego…Love is the core that holds the Universe together. It is at those times when we are down on our knees, shattered, that the hand of Love reaches out to pull us up.

All through my life I have watched people over and over again reach a boiling point of frustration and anger until at a pivotal moment they throw their hands up in the air and scream out and say, “I give up!” Out of the clear blue sky time and time again a beam of light from someone appears and says, “Let me help you.” On the evening news whatever natural or man-made disaster occurs, within minutes of the event people rise to help. They don’t ask, “What will I get?” They just say, “How can I give?” That’s Love.

Love heals….Love rebuilds…Love challenges….Love grows. We come to earth, and one day we will leave….but Love goes on and on….the way it should be.

Love always,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2009 Jennifer Avalon

The face of anger is revealing itself right across the board. So many who played by the rules are feeling duped. A few days ago I heard an interview where a Reverend mentioned that he hasn’t lost faith in God, but in the System. Here in the United States the past few days have produced much bloodshed in Binghamton, New York, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Two events where anger and disillusionment reached dangerous levels. Most people out there are quite worried about their jobs, yet rest assured, we will get through this period of turmoil, and I believe we will come out stronger as a nation, and as a world community.

Usually anger rises specifically in one area at a time…unfortunately, in the past 6 months it seems to be everywhere….people losing their jobs, mounting bills, and health issues. There’s enough blame to go around, yet I do believe we are starting to stabilize and turn the corner. The line I’m hearing over and over again from friends and people I run into at the stores are “I’m hangin’ in there.”

The kind of anger we are experiencing can be put to good use. It gives us a chance to reflect, observe what went wrong, and try the best we can to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Anger, this time, has given us a chance to get finances in order, live within our means, and stop trying to be something that we’re not. It got so crazy over the past few years that quite a few people pretended and lived like millionaires, totally on credit. There was so much credit available that people practically choked on it. I knew that something was up when I started hearing repeatedly the term “Flipping houses,” as a way to make money. A neighbor down the street told me she had three properties that she purchased, no money down! I said to her, “Be careful.” She laughed and said, “Jennifer, no problem….I’m not in the stock market.” Well, we all found out through this housing crisis, if you own a home, you ARE in the stock market! Assets are assets.

There’s nothing wrong with dreaming, as long as we’re realistic. For me, the one thought that has come out of this is, health is true wealth, for sure. And, can you believe it? Frugality has become “hip!” A comment made by one of the victims of the Bernie Madoff scandal had a nice ring to it, for me. She said “I am not a victim, I am a survivor.” We will survive….we will go on….

Live Long and Prosper:)

Jennifer Avalon

© 2009 Jennifer Avalon

How much better would this world be if those who profess spirituality really believed that there is a God always observing? Would they try a little bit harder to be kind…would they take the hand out of the pocket and lend it to someone in need? Would they re-think the idea that saying one thing but doing another is called Hypocrisy? True Believers do just that….they resist their human impulses and take the Higher Ground…even if it means less for them materially, or it isn’t what they particulary feel like doing at a particular moment…because they know God is watching, and they will be held accountable someday.

We all make mistakes….that’s part of being human. But an honest mistake is one thing….to claim a mistake when it was done consciously and with intent, is another….that is a game, and God can see through it. The ultimate master of the game is God….we will never win against God. The purpose of Life isn’t to win the game….it is to understand why we are here (to love), to correct past mistakes (acknowledgement), and to ask for forgiveness (atonement) We are human….we are not perfect.

I remember as a small child playing outside in the sunlight I always felt the presence of God…I “just knew” that He was around. I think many children “just know.” Perhaps that’s why Jesus said it’s important to come to Him as a child…meaning with the pure heart of a child. Meaning, you really believe, and know that you can’t win the game. Children know that they need their parents…they can’t survive without them. We can’t survive without God…..

Believe,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2009 Jennifer Avalon

If you look at our country as a large tree with deep roots, which represent the Constitution, then the branches of the tree are the various elements of the government….and at the top of the tree sits the President of the United States. The military, who from what I understand are required to read the Constitution on an annual basis, are the ones defending the Constitution, the roots of the tree. When people hear statements on the news like one coming out of Illinois the other day that said people of that state will be able to bear arms, but maybe only if they first purchase a million dollar insurance policy to do so, then the Constitution is being threatened. The Second Amendment was not written to give people a chance to go hunting….it was written so that the folks can defend themselves against tyranny. Tryanny is, for example, when only the rich can afford an insurance policy to have the right to bear arms!

Lobbying is not American. It is not a part of the Constitution. It is using the money from special interest groups to influence senators and congressmen….creating an unequal playing field….once again, not American. One can bend and weave all they want, but at the end of the day I think most Americans know what this country is supposed to truly stand for….and that’s why they are becoming so upset.

What is the answer? Perhaps all of us who haven’t done so should pull out a copy of the Constitution, read it, and see if their elected officials are following it. If not, then we should demand more…more of our officials, and more from ourselves. If we just sit back and act helpless, then we deserve what we get. We are where we are not because enough people are involved and care….it’s because not enough people are involved or care. And why is that so? Because we’ve become lazy….we are a country that eats too much, drinks too much, and chases after material goods beyond our reach. Time to tighten the belts, put down the drink, and get our house in order.

The American Dream is still alive and well….just hidden under masses of neglect and carelessness. The American Dream is a concept….written by the hand of man through the breath of God. We must demand that it be kept alive, and that all of us…elected officials, government, and the person on the street, vow to uphold it. And those who don’t…well, maybe they should buy a boat and go live on an island somewhere….preferably far far away from the coastlines of the United States.

Red, White and Blue,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2009 Jennifer Avalon

I recently had a conversation with a friend of mine where she said to me, “Jennifer, I think we all know right from wrong.” The more I got to thinking about the subject, the more complicated it became. Surely, everyone knows what’s right, or what’s wrong….it all rolls along quite easily until you interject opinion and perception.

Abortion, politics, religion, foreign policy, financial matters, how to raise children, education, social programs, life and death, the death penalty, etc. etc….these are just a few of the subjects where right and wrong, and what is considered a sin in our society, can wave the geiger counter needle all over the spectrum. When one interjects their beliefs on the subject, that too can make the answer of right and wrong quite hazy. If two people have opposing points of view on a serious issue, if both believe they are right, then who’s wrong?

Why am I mentioning all of this? Take a look at the newspapers, and media in general…society has turned Sin into perception. The daily headlines constantly make us all voice an opinion on what’s right before our very eyes. The Iraq war, women having octuplets, the Stimulus Package, and Bernie Madoff….where do each one of us come down on these matters? And at what point do we stretch the line of Sin so far that Sin ceases to exist?

As the old saying goes, “If it feels so right, how can it be wrong?” What’s strange about this statement, for me, is if we as human beings can do whatever we want, then we should be able to eat, drink, drug, sleep, spend, indulge…as much as our hearts desire, without any consequences. If you believe that, I’ve got a bridge in Brooklyn I want to sell you!!

So can we ask ourselves, are we at the point or are we approaching the point, where the word Sin is nothing more than someone else’s opinion we disagree with? Are we on the road of erasing the word “Wrong” from the public square? I hope not. As we live in an imperfect world, perception should never be looked upon as perfection. Disagreement and dissent are fine in a free society….but when we blur the lines of law, we are left with a book of empty pages to live by.

May Justice Prevail,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2009 Jennifer Avalon

Within the past year, along with the financial crisis, many have lost jobs and some their life savings. We have been shown just how badly mankind can screw things up. We have two choices…give up, or rebuild. For lack of a better title, this is the Age of Rediscoveries. We have to go back to square one, examine who we are, what we want to do, and where we want to go. 2009 is the year we rediscover our purpose.

Decades from now people will look back at this time to see how we handled this juncture in the road of humanity. Did we buckle? Did we make it worse? Or, did we get it right? For now, the problems seem many, but I believe we will come back stronger and better than ever, as a society. We are more than money, we are more than materialism, we are Children of God. We always get into trouble when we forget that.

The past few decades the family structure has been disintegrating. Parents and their children couldn’t get far enough away from each other. Family began to feel like a forgotten concept. All of that came to a grinding halt in 2008. We started to realize we needed each other more than we thought. Like the generations before us, Family is re-emerging as the center of our daily lives. I know, some have troubles with loved ones…but if a family is strong, they usually can be worked out. A strong family starts to work like a governing body that can right wrongs, and heal wounds. Where did we ever think that we have to reinvent this wheel?

The Age of Rediscoveries is upon us. It falls to each individual to lift up and rise. The soul is not materialistic…all it needs is belief, love, and faith, and it will rise. Past generations with far more complex problems than us have come back strong, so why can’t we? We can regain our purpose, examine where our society went astray, and implement conditions and guidelines to decrease the risk of this ever happening again.

2009! the journey begins,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2009 Jennifer Avalon

I think if we approach the New Year with a different perspective and keep a symbol or image in our minds it may be easier to stay focused and navigate the road ahead. I approach the New Year as a builder, a person who sees a piece of land, and the possibilities that can come forth. I look at the formulation of my goals, hopes, and dreams as a house…a beautiful shining building that by the end of the year I can be proud of. A builder needs tools, not just hammers and nails but Faith, encouragement, conviction and the belief that when you put your mind to it, anything is possible.

In January we start the foundation…we make sure it is strong and has the potential to hold what we place upon it. We make sure there are no cracks. Each proceeding month we add to our house…floor by floor we put in the plumbing, the electrical wiring, the heating system, etc. Sometimes we make mistakes, one room may not be wired right, so we go back, repair the damage and continue on. By the Spring, we see that our house is off the ground and rising. The contributions we have made to our house are beginning to show. People pass by and are amazed how fast the house is starting to come together…but little do they see the problems that we encountered to get to our level. So on we go, each day building brick by brick with the sky above us…and with each brick a feeling of accomplishment comes over us and a better understanding of the mistakes we have made so that we try not to make them again. God looks down and sees a person trying to push forward with a house of meaning and purpose. A badly built house with a weak foundation won’t stand very long…but a good house can last forever. God understands how hard it is to built good houses.

By the Fall, our floors are completed, and we are about to add our roof. We want a roof that will not leak, that can take the elements. If we have done all our work and done it well, by the end of the year we will be standing in front of a house amazed that we were able to accomplish this once monumental task. We look at each brick and floor and see a story. We see the set-backs and the over comings. It is possible to build a good house, God willing, with the right tools, and determination…All things are possible.

Good Luck with your house,

love, Jennifer Avalon

© 2009 Jennifer Avalon

Yet, “The truth will set us free,” as the old saying goes. As our problems unfold, it is only then we can lay them out in front of us and deal with them. Very few obstacles can be tackled hidden in the attic. Hang in there….the dawn is coming. At first the dawn is very hard to see….it appears as a speck of light, a hazy beacon that in the beginning seems like a mirage….yet slowly and surely its presence starts to appear. Minute by minute the light grows…a flashlight through a dark tunnel that signifies that a change is going to come. Eventually the sun bursts through, in all its glory….warming up the earth, extinguishing the chill. The dawn….a new beginning, a new chance to right the wrongs, and build on the accomplishments of the preceding day. As the seconds pass, as strange as it may be to believe, we start to forget the darkness that we have walked through. As the light grows, and the darkness recedes, over time the shadows become memories. Gone, but just behind us, is the darkness, just waiting to pounce if the light is extinguished.

We have all learned much this year….we will get through, but we cannot forget what we have learned. A new day will dawn and the chill will thaw but our lives will reflect what we’ve been through. Somebody recently wrote to me in an email along these lines, sharing an old saying, “What doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.”

This Holiday Season may we all get stronger, and await the dawning of the new day that is coming.

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2008 Jennifer Avalon

Down the streets, within each coffee shop, around all the malls, if you listen closely you will hear that because of this current crisis, temporarily trust in the system has been severely damaged. Through the years from time to time I’ve talked to people who have lived through the Great Depression of the late 1920′s and 30′s…consistently they have told me that their view of money and assets was greatly changed by that huge downturn. Money, in many cases, was looked upon as something that one minute lay in your hands, and the next, was snatched from your view. We will get through this financial crisis, but some will never forget what they lost, and what happened.

Trust, you may ask? What trust is that? Well, trust in the markets, trust in the banks, heck, trust in the whole overall system. Crazy as it may seem, a few brilliant people came up with a strange notion that you could give people homes, never checking if they could make the monthly payments to stay there. I heard a story on television that at first I could not believe. A man went into a mortgage company seeking a mortgage for a house he was hoping to buy. The sales agent informed him that it would take a deposit of $1200.00 to secure a mortgage on the property. Then, without batting an eyelash, the agent said “Hey, would you like two homes? It can be arranged. Let’s put $600.00 on two properties, and over the next year the two properties will greatly increase in value.”  Folks, this works well as long as properties continue to increase in value…unfortunately, what happened was that the bottom fell out of the housing market, because supply greatly exceeded demand. The man lost both homes, and now his credit rating is close to zero. The man, as they say, “didn’t read the fine print.”   I guess he didn’t bring his microscope to the meeting.

While all of this is going on, there is a ton, and I mean a megaton of cash waiting on the side for what the experts call “The Bottom,” in place in the world markets. Granted, at the bottom, nobody rings a bell…but many experts believe if we are not there, we are really close. When it looks like the collective conscience of the market feels that the bottom is in place, no one is going to want to still be on the ground when the rocket ship takes off. Sadly, those who need the money the most consistently sell at the bottom, out of fear.

Trust will be restored…many will never forget what has happened…yet we will look back on this time as another chapter in the boom and bust nature of humanity. I keep hearing this Holiday Season will be the worst in decades….strangely, each time I visit my local mall, it is jam packed. If the dire prediction is to hold true, there are a lot of people just wandering around looking in stores and buying nothing…I don’t think so! Once the shock of the market crash starts to dissipate, we will stabilize and slowly head back up, with a few important lessons that I hope we never have to re-learn.

Onward and Upward,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2008 Jennifer Avalon

How many times in our lives have we heard the saying, Save it for a rainy day? For some, over and over again. With the financial crisis now circling the world, Save it for a rainy day, means more now than ever.

During the summer we always know when a heat wave hits, eventually storm clouds form to bring it to an end. On the other hand, when a storm is howling, after a period of time has passed the clouds break and the sun shines. Why then financially do we think the rules of nature do not apply? The stock market is quite cyclical…so too is the housing market. I know, this time the buffoons did quite a bit of damage…but the rules of nature still do apply. Still, humanity has a hard time believing that sun and rain are two sides of the same coin.

Many are asking themselves out there, how worse can things get? Well, short of the world coming to an end, we should be close to the bottom of this madness. Why do I call it madness? Because of a strange dilemma of human emotions. When the market is sky-rocketing, a fever grips the community where people can’t buy enough stocks fast enough….hey folks, this is what’s called, Buying at the top, and it can be a long way down. On the opposite end of the spectrum, when people are dumping their stocks at a feverish pace, where they can’t get out of their positions fast enough, this is called, Selling at the bottom. Our emotions tell us to buy when things are wonderful, and sell when things are horrible! It’s crazy….but the opposite, I believe, is true.

As we speak, there are trillions of dollars waiting on the sidelines for all the sellers to exhaust themselves. At that moment, it will look like a cattle stampede to get back into the market. Sadly, it is many of those who need the money, who sold their shares last. Is it truly the rich get richer? Or do cool heads prevail…..

So what do I mean by Save it for a rainy day? When things look like they can’t get any better, take a little off the table, and put it in an emergency fund, for when the rain comes….it always comes.

I remember during the dot.com madness in year 2000, many companies that made no earnings were bid up to astronomical levels. A floor manager on Wall Street remarked, I’ve been here 40 years and I’ve never seen anything new…the same things keep happening over and over again. This was before the housing bubble…well friends, it just happened again! And like the housing mess we are in now, it too will pass, with something else or a new fad waiting to take its place.

The sun shines….the rains come….and the sun shines again. Until the world ends, always keep an umbrella handy, just in case.

Be calm,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2008 Jennifer Avalon

The Lighthouse….maintained and run by the light keeper, fully aware that out across the sea ships search for a beacon of hope and guidance. These days more than ever we too look for the guidance from the lighthouse. Storms come in all shapes and sizes, affecting the few, and the many….still, the lighthouse never wavers, never goes out, and never gives up. Within each storm there is always the feeling that there has never been one like this before….perhaps, or perhaps not. One thing is for sure, there have been storms before and many have survived and come through stronger. Tonight and every night, always keep an eye out for the beam of the lighthouse….it shines for you, and for me.

Some ships around us may be taking on much water and are in a state of peril. If possible, reach out, make room on board your ship, and give them rest. The waves have a strange way of helping those who are lost, be found. The brave and the faithful always grow stronger with a storm. Sometimes when it is most dark, all of a sudden out the corner of our eyes we spot it….a beam of hope that swirls around to guide us into safety.

Sail on sailors….battle on through the storm….and keep an eye out, for as we are looking for it, the lighthouse is looking for us. Like all storms, the ones we face today too, shall pass. We will have time to look back and wonder why it happened…but that is for another day. For now, we search, we reach out, we scope the horizon, waiting for the lighthouse to deliver us to peaceful waters.

Sail on,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2008 Jennifer Avalon

Case in point…the upcoming American elections….on one side Senator Obama…on the other, Senator McCain. The polls show that most people have lined up in support on either side…all that is left are the Independents…those people that each election cycle can go one way or the other. In this case, the Independents are the Grey Zone…they, the experts say, will surely determine the outcome of the elections. The Independents, or Grey People, are never locked into a party or ideology…they walk the middle ground. They view the landscape, see what they think is needed, go into the voting booth and pull the lever. Obama and McCain are fully aware that unless they reach and convince the Independents, they have no chance of winning, no matter how many supporters they have accumulated. This year, with the polls showing that the candidates are in a dead heat, the Independents have never been more powerful.

Wars, conflicts, economics, competitions….the Grey Zone People always hold, in their hands, the ultimate outcome. Grey Zone People are always fluid….never locked in their opinions, constantly looking at both sides of an issue to render a decision. Many feel they are the ones that keep everything in balance.

What the other two sides find quite frustrating is that they can’t always rely on Grey Zone support…each time they have to go out and earn it, which sets both sides crazy. Just because they are on one side of an issue, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they will always be on that side on every issue. They can vote Democrat one year, Republican the next…be a Yankee fan, and then all of a sudden, be a Met fan. The Greys, or Independents, cannot be easily defined….and they like it that way.

Black, White, or Grey….we all have to ask ourselves one time or another, which one are we? One thing’s for sure….you kind of have to admire the Greys a little….they are what they are. They may agree with you on one issue, and argue with you for hours on another. Whatever subject or topic you bring up, you never quite know for sure which side the Greys will be on.

This election cycle, like many before, Senator Obama and Senator McCain have fully entered the Grey Zone.

Vote,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2008 Jennifer Avalon

The Look, yes indeed….That Look….I’m sure people who face tornadoes and hurricanes are fully aware of The Look. The Look represents the acceptance that we share much more in common than we care to realize sometimes. Whenever there’s a blackout, or a storm surge, we all become One. We all face the elements together. The Look becomes entrenched on our faces. Human beings swaying between indestructible, and fragile.

So what does The Look say? “I need you, and you need me.” You can only go so far in this life alone. After God, who else do we have but each other? Perhaps that’s the way it’s supposed to be….the realization that no man or woman is an island. Illness, tragedy, trauma….you name it, out of the blue it can become written on our faces. As a community, storms and seasons are something that we all can experience as a collective body.

So whenever storms approach, or seasons change, take a look…you just might see and be surprised how many have The Look….especially when you gaze into the mirror in the morning.

Join hands,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2008 Jennifer Avalon

How can one put a price on a happy home, or a warm family? How can you place a price on a job or occupation that you love to do each day? Does a peaceful mind have a price? Yet, why do we as a society assign top value based upon monetary value?

Each morning many rise and partake in different forms of exercise…it prepares them for the day ahead and helps a person keep their health, deal with stress and maintain a level of fitness. After these activities are performed does it ever cross our minds to say, How much money did I make from this? Probably not. I could go on and on with examples of how daily, weekly, and yearly successes add value to our lives, yet not to our overall income. Some may argue that good health does contribute to income…I guess in a roundabout way it does, but that depends upon what one considers truly valuable.

When we help others, through prayer and effort, do we ever stop to think how much we made from these endeavors? Or do we look at them as contributions and efforts that make us better human beings? Do all the latest toys have lasting value…if they do, then why is it many material items devalue with age? A friend recently told me, Jennifer, do you know that once you drive a new car out of the dealership garage, it almost instantaneously loses half its value? When a person gets sick, can we place a true value on those that help them get well, free of charge?

Love, Peace, Warmth, and Soul….if these can be placed in a bank account, would those who have them be considered wealthy? I guess it all depends on societies interpretation of value. Somewhere along the way some strange oddball decisions have to be decided…do we spend the better part of our day chasing the dollar bill? Or following the heart?

One thing that’s for certain, at the end of our lives physical and material success cannot be taken with us….yet the bounty of the Soul transcends with us into Paradise.

Treasure is in the eye of the beholder,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2008 Jennifer Avalon

Deal Or No Deal kind of reminds me of another show that operated along the same premise….that show was hosted by Monty Hall and was called Let’s Make A Deal.That show also tested the contestants to see how far they would go before they would take the money and walk away.

So how about you? How much does it take for us as individuals to keep climbing up the ladder, letting it ride or say, That’s as far as I want to go. Each year we hear of many employees taking early buyouts, putting them on the fast track to retirement. Those sweetheart deals seem to be coming less and less these days.

In a recent conversation with a friend of mine we had a chuckle or two about the show Deal Or No Deal. Surprisingly, both of us would quite easily walk away within the 250 to 300 thousand dollar range. Call us chicken, but with each roll of the dice after that, the chances of financial windfall greatly diminish. Here’s a crazy question I have for you all out there….if someone showed up at your door with a million dollar check, and said to you, You can have this check, if you agree to not do any more substantial work in your life. That means, all other goals are null and void. Would you do it….would you take the check? Sounds great in theory, but it’s surprising how fast a million dollars can go through some people’s hands. Not to mention, does life get strange and boring if there are no goals to strive for? Some I know would take the money and run, while others may hesitate.

I believe the reason these shows like Deal Or No Deal are successful is because it forces us to think and contemplate what we would do…how far we would go before we would be willing and content to cash out. It’s a great way to examine all our wants and needs. Those weekly contestants, deep down, represent all of us, while the spotlight shines on their blessings and flaws. The people who seem to do the best on those type of shows are the ones who know what they want and need before the game begins.

Roll the dice wisely,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2008 Jennifer Avalon

Oil and gas are now higher in demand than ever before. While the Middle East pushes supply more and more, the increased supplies can no longer keep up with demands. Added to the problem is the argument of whether speculators are pushing the prices even higher. This is not really addressing the problem….what we are faced with is an addiction to oil and a rejection or stubborness to try other forms of energy. In the short term, whether we like it or not, to get to where we need to be we are going to have to adapt some form of combination of solar, wind, electric and dare I say, nuclear power. One alone will not be enough…and will take too long to get us to energy independence.

Some countries are already there….France for instance has fully adapted nuclear power. Yet a lot of us look like a bunch of bumbling fools arguing over every detail, while nothing gets done and Winter is fastly approaching. Have the chickens come home to roost? You betchya! Many are running around the hen house looking at each other saying, “What do we do? What do we do?” At the current rate of oil increases, it just may be possible that there will be some coal under the Christmas tree, with a little Spam on the dinner table. Santa Claus this year may just have to settle for half the milk and cookies!

Hey, you’ve got to laugh….I look at my car and I can slowly hear a voice saying, “Feed me!” And when I open my wallet, I hear an eerie sound croaking, “Is that all you’ve got?” No joking….many are feeling the pinch! Here in the United States the state of Utah is going to a four day work week, for the workers and the state to save on energy. I’m sure more states will follow. It is a crisis and I do believe some incredible innovation and good will come out of this, in the end. We’ve been lazy too long…there are solutions…we just have to think and be realistic. The world is growing, and so must we. The day of having one dominant force for energy is coming to an end.

Hybrid cars, electric cars, who knows what’s next? But we will look back and question why we settled for so few miles to the gallon….future generations will shake their heads and wonder why it took us so long. I still look at rooftops and say to myself, why don’t they all have solar panels? I know it’s expensive, but like everything else, as more people use them, the cost will go down. Look at the plasma television screens…remember how expensive they were at the beginning? We will innovate and we’ll obtain a more personal understanding of what powers our lives and heats our homes.

Conservation and a little innovation can do wonders. We all just have to learn in government, work, and life, to compromise.

Be energized,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2008 Jennifer Avalon

The very thing most of us fear above all is the very thing that gives us Ultimate Peace of Mind….it is Home Base, where we return to review our Life’s Lessons….did we overcome our personal obstacles, and did we leave the world below us a bit better than before we went there? And, as we sit under the Tree of Life near the flowing waters, can we look at ourselves and say we tried our best?  This is Death….and this is Judgement.

Death is the land where we can see the Heart Light in everyone….the potential of each Soul, including our own. It is the place where all fear, anger, jealousy, and hurt is evaporated….where we get back much of what many of us lost on earth, because of those feelings. Real Love is Peace. This is Death….and this is the Gift.

So why must we go through Life? Because it is the only way back to Death…the journey on the path chosen that shapes what our Souls become. The body will dissolve, but the Soul will always live on….it is this we are Loved for, Judged for, and given the Gift of Death for. Never be afraid of Death….if there is anything to fear, it is a life lived not understanding the consequences of our actions, because we will face them eventually…better to face them here, then to have to try later, from such a distance…..

Carpe Diem,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2008 Jennifer Avalon

Pessimistic, you say? No….realistic! I myself have been told that I am a pretty good oil painter….but I know if I spent a decent amount of time at it, my music would suffer. I had to make a choice….what will come first? This is before one starts factoring in family, friends, and Life. At some stage we all have to sit down and ask ourselves not only what we want to do with our lives, but what we can reasonably accomplish.

So here’s a suggestion…when you get a chance, jot down on a few index cards, or a sheet of paper, what talents and skills you know you have.  Then ask yourself, what one thing do I want to do over all the rest? Then let that one thing become your focus. It’s sad….I wish we all could be more than one person….split ourselves into multiple people and send those persons off during the day to accomplish many missions…unfortunately, it cannot be! Focusing allows us to get better at the given talent or skill we choose.

The landscape is littered with businesses and corporations that started off focusing on their niche in the marketplace. Over time, in order to expand their businesses they drifted so far from their center that their identities became blurred to the public. The latest victim of this scenario is a very famous boutique coffee chain. They tried to expand beyond their store atmosphere and coffee base to include music and multiple items and their core business began to suffer. They also tried to expand too fast, and are now setting about to correct their mistakes, which they probably will. Yet, the lesson to learn is that you can’t be everything to everyone….you can’t do it all.

Growing pains happen to everybody…still, we must try not to take our eye off the ball on what it is that we do well, and love the most.

Choose wisely,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2008 Jennifer Avalon

That being said, I am not foolish….I also believe that there are those out there who will do everything in their power to not allow community and peace to take hold. History is littered with individuals who see nothing short of themselves as God-like….dictators, ego-maniacs who have sneered, spit, and laughed at the idea of compromise. Negotiate? By all means, in good faith….but when one sits across from the table from another whose only objective is destruction and control, we are left with only one action…to walk away and prepare for battle. It baffles my mind every time why the dictators of the past see no other solution than total domination of the planet. To a monster, life is totally meaningless….the only objective is surrender and obey. Freedom? To a monstrosity, freedom does not exist.  For me, I am a believer in peace, if possible, but not at any price.

Freedom too has its army….many who have sacrificed their limbs and their lives so that others can dream and breathe the free air. So many nameless souls who are buried in the ground, each one with their own story to tell. I salute you, Souls of Freedom….your memory and sacrifice will never be in vain. As long as one can dream, there will always be a need for that dream to be defended. I wish intellect and common sense could prevail in solving the world’s conflicts….yet as long as there are those who feed on conquest, freedom and democracy will have to be protected.

I will never give up hope, and I do believe that one day, all God’s children will be able to live together….and on that day we will all look back and ask why it took us so long.

Let freedom ring,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2008 Jennifer Avalon

The 2008 cycle on the political calendar this time seems to be more tumultuous than usual. I recently overheard a conversation where one friend said to another, “If you don’t vote for Barack Obama, I will not be able to continue being your friend.” What’s unfortunate is that they have been friends for over 40 years! The lines seem to have been drawn…there is the Hillary Camp, the Obama Camp, and the McCain Camp…each Camp digging in their heels and basically saying “It’s my way, or the highway.” It’s astonishing the level of disdain and anger that has entered the Presidential Campaign. Agree to disagree? Come the Fall, we will see how much these warring factions are willing to come together. What’s unfortunate is how much these candidates have taken over the relationships between family and friends.

Faith and religion play a large part in the direction of many people….here too the lines seem to have been drawn. A few days ago a friend of mine said to me, “Jennifer, through your website do you reach any Buddhists, Muslims or Jews?” When I replied that of course I do, I talk to people of all faiths, she gave me a strange look and said, “You know, I’m only really comfortable being around people like myself…I don’t like to venture too far off the reservation.” It’s interesting, I wish I had a dollar for every person who I saw on television telling me that if I don’t believe the way they do, I will go to hell. I would be quite a wealthy woman! Which brings us to our next topic…

Money….are you rich? Perhaps, perhaps not. I have an interesting saying to myself, after I pay all my bills and have a little to put away, that anything after that is just more “stuff.” The difference between 2 million dollars and 10 million dollars, is more STUFF. Not that I have 2 million dollars…yet! (tee hee) But quite a few out there are either invested in the stock market, or playing the lottery, or football pools. Being rich may not be such a bad idea after all….yet all I hear on the television with the pundits is “Let’s get the rich!” Keeping up with the Joneses, as the old saying goes, has become one of the ultimate art forms, among some.

Let’s see…how about the next time we have a conversation with someone who disagrees with us, before the dialogue gets too heated, change the subject, pay a compliment, or, commission the old standby….”would you like another cup of coffee?”

Be of Good Cheer,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2008 Jennifer Avalon

Each year that rolls around I’m always astonished at the people who have left my life, and the new ones that have come along. Indeed, there are always those that seem to be around…but on the edges there are always the losses, and the welcomes. Even now as I speak, there are two elderly members of my family that are entering the final stages of their lives. As much as I want them to live forever, I understand that there is a time for everyone. Watching how they are coming to terms with their circumstances gives me great strength, dignity, and courage in my own life. They talk freely about how much time they have left, how they want to be remembered, and their wishes for after they are gone. This past Christmas many of my family gathered around the table laughing and joking that we were all “still here,” while out of the corners of our eyes there was a glance, wondering, would we all still be around to celebrate another holiday?

At the same time, new life entered the fold…nothing is more miraculous than seeing the shine in a newborn baby’s eyes…reminding us all what a miracle Life truly is. The children look to us for guidance, for us to show them around Life’s Hotel…the safe places to play, the rooms to avoid. As the merry-go-round of Life spins it wheel each year, it never ceases to amaze me who jumps on, and who jumps off. This time of year in the northeast of the United States, the ground, the flowers, the trees awaken with new life….ready to blossom and bring forth their rainbow, knowing full well that in the Fall, they too will fold up and go away for the Winter.

We all live on the merry-go-round….being told when we got on, and wondering when we too must jump off. The merry-go-round of Life is quite busy, while also quite peaceful. There are no real surprises….we all know that we come, and we go. What happens in-between is what it’s all about.

Enjoy the ride,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2008 Jennifer Avalon

Now crazy as it seems, I got to thinking….with all the manure that we humans deposit in our toilets daily, why can’t we build plants where the methane created from our manure and waste be transposed to energy? Did you ever think that our contribution to the toilet bowl could end up powering our homes?? A few more stories like the one on the evening news, and I do believe some town or city is going to put this idea fully into practice.

As far as stretching gas mileage, a local television station, WBZ in the Boston area, did a fascinating report on a New England man who has invented a way for a car to get up to 150 miles per gallon with a hybrid automobile. The contraption that he demonstrated was a converter that turbo-charged the battery system in the hybrid, and gasoline was only used when the batteries got low. See, there are people out there looking at ways to solve our energy crisis.

It’s astonishing that many times the greatest inventions or ideas take place from people mucking about in their garages, or doing a job that is totally unrelated to a problem that it solves. I do believe it is only a matter of time before all of our homes will have solar panel roofs. What a waste of space right now, where energy can easily be created to power our homes. Trust me, we’ll all get used to seeing those panels on our roofs when we get our future heating and electrical bills.

We haven’t even begun to try the numerous solutions to our energy problems. With oil hovering around $110.00 a barrel, it’s only a matter of time before we start seriously considering the ways we get energy. So remember the next time you go to the bathroom, how valuable your “deposit” really is.

Go Green, Go Solar, and by all means, Go Manure!:)

Jennifer Avalon

© 2008 Jennifer Avalon

I know, I too have been to the gas pump lately, and looked at my quarterly payments to my healthcare provider. But I don’t want this essay to focus on a negative approach to these dilemmas that many of us face. We do have more power than we think….how so, you may ask? Well to start with, you have the money in your hand….just like if you were going in to purchase a car, buy a house, or get a new refrigerator….you do have the power to negotiate. How can you negotiate at the gas pump? Many wholesale merchants, like BJ’s, Sam’s Club, Walmart,and Stop & Shop, etc. have gas at facilities that give their members discounts at the pump. Also, conservation and carpooling can do wonders for the pocketbook.

How many of you out there have recently seen or received in the mail advertisements offering huge discounts on selected items? Hey, it’s on the television everywhere that we must be in a recession….this doesn’t escape or go over the heads of retail chains that have to meet their payroll and bottom line each week. If you have the money, you can negotiate for a better price on just about anything. If you go into a store, don’t necessarily accept the price that you see on an item….many times the salesperson or owner are quite happy to give a discount to close a sale.

And last but not least…healthcare. How many of us out there, before we go to a doctor or dentist, ask them, when possible, how much their service costs? Unfortunately, quite often we walk in with a blank check, freely accepting whatever the price. More and more healthcare insurance companies, each year, decrease what they are willing to pay for our healthcare visits. I have been told by my insurer that whenever possible, I am to call them before I go to any practitioner, so that I fully understand what is and what is not covered. An emergency is an emergency….and in those cases one does not have the luxury…but overall, as long as we hold money in our hands, we do have a right to say, “how much?”

There are so many other issues that each individual grapples with daily. These are just the tip of the iceberg, but many of us out there, overall, are extremely concerned about runaway costs. We do have the power….we are not alone….and just about everything can be negotiated more than we think.

Spend wisely,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2008 Jennifer Avalon

I recently had a conversation with a friend of mine where every five years she attends her high school reunions. She explained to me that the first time it was wonderful to catch up with old friends and reminisce about the good times, and acknowledge a tear or two. She then went on to say that after a while these reunions started to become painful. It was always a question of who would show up or who wouldn’t….she concluded that she was fully aware that she couldn’t truly go back, yet looked upon the good old days as a foundation for what was to come. We all get older each day….the trick is to improve and find a little peace and contentment.

Favorite songs, favorite movies, enjoyable vacations, your first car….all of these things are not there to show us that the good times are all behind us, but perhaps the best may be yet to come. Our faces may change in the mirror over time, but do we truly want to stay at 16 forever? Do we want our lives to stay in a holding pattern? Or is it really acceptable for cobwebs to sprout up around us? The only way for these things to not happen is for time and change to occur. For sure, when we look back we may agree that one decade may have been better than another, but overall was yesterday just there to show us tomorrow?

I recently thought about the places I have lived in the past. Overall, I enjoyed every one of them, for different reasons. Still, there must be a reason why I no longer live there. If our lives add up to an incredible book, then there must be chapters…each chapter being a different stage and part of our lives. I do enjoy looking back and visiting the past from time to time….but it never slips my mind what wonders the future may hold.

Life is full of comings and goings….it will probably always be that way until the day we die. We can only imagine what story this planet will tell, when its life is over.

Seize the sunrise,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2008 Jennifer Avalon

It’s all around us….the internet, telecommunications, medicine, transportation…you name it, innovation is being practiced daily. For some, our best days lie ahead, while others think that our golden era is behind us. Innovation always brings about change…and change is something, in one way or another, we all struggle with from time to time. It is quite possible that within the next twenty years the innovation that will come forth will surpass much of what we have done in the past one hundred years. We are all going to have to take a long hard look at what world we want to see materialize.

There is quite an argument for who is best for the practice of innovation. This being an election year, who is best to take the mantle of innovation…Republicans, Democrats, Conservatives, or Liberals? This year in America we get to make the choice. While Conservatives see an ethical steady-as-she-goes policy towards business and innovation, Liberal ideals always are there to think outside the box and come up with alternative answers for current dilemmas. Some of the innovative issues on the table? Let’s touch on a few….cloning, robotics, stem-cell research, space travel, and one that’s always in play….religion. Who best should handle the baton of our future? Can mankind control his thirst for knowledge and power, or should he put the pedal to the metal and just go for it? How about alternative forms of energy? Where are they? And why aren’t they here already? Innovation is going to have to answer these questions. By this point, we should have more choices as to how we heat our homes.

More and more countries are embracing innovation. China and India are playing catch up, but they are catching up fast. As the world becomes smaller, innovation becomes larger. I still know people who refuse to have a television set in their homes…they believe it destroyed the family unit. Like all facets of innovation, inventions can be used in both a positive, or negative, way. The way children learn these days is drastically different than even their parent’s generation. Computers have become a vital part of many occupations. What was once written by hand, in a split second is now processed and delivered by a PC, or MAC.

Innovation….love it, or scorn it…it’s here. How far can it go? Who pushes the envelope? Or do we eventually fall off a cliff? We’re all going to have to grapple with these questions. Is it possible to drive ourselves into the future, not too fast, not too slow? I guess we’ll all find out….by all means reach for the Heavens, but don’t forget to keep your feet on the ground.

Choose wisely,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2008 Jennifer Avalon

Just like our bodies, if too much of one thing or another upsets our systems, we become ill. The same can be said of Nature….she is as tough, and as delicate, as we are. She fights for her survival, as do we, when she feels threatened….heavy snowfall during a drought, fires when there is tangled undergrowth, glorious sunlight after a flood. Mother Nature, like us, wants to be kind, in general, and only bares her teeth when she isn’t respected….hence, Nature Demands Respect.

As children, we know this instinctively. We know if we build the sandcastle too close to the ocean’s edge, it will be gone by morning….if we dig too deep in the dirt, the ants will surface and bite us….if we climb too often on the branch of the old oak tree, we will land on our behinds. As adults, we think we can overcome Nature…that she will bend and weave under our heavy dominance. The opposite is true…it is us who must bend, weave, and sometimes break….

Mother Nature demands respect….and she will get it whether we offer it to her or not. Because in the end, it is she who, along with God, rules the Universe….and the Lord will always make sure that Mother Nature will be kept in balance….for the sake of us all.

Respect Mom,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2008 Jennifer Avalon

Schools, jobs, religion, and just plain living…these are tools to help us grow….help us discover what is going right, and what is going wrong. We start to run into problems when we digest the wrong information, or simply let the right thoughts go in one ear and out the other. I have a friend who reads the Bible daily, and tells me that she believes totally in the Lord…unfortunately, if you saw the way she lives her life, you would never believe it. How many people do we know who have health problems…they know the cause, yet they refuse to correct the source of the problem? Some have financial problems…yet they refuse to slow down their spending, while the debt on their credit cards grows daily.

We all make mistakes…yet, aren’t we supposed to learn from them, so that we can correct them? Money, alcohol, drugs, and yes, food, can easily get out of hand…at some point we’re supposed to stop, examine, and ask ourselves, what the heck am I doing? The mistakes can go on and on, until we realize the big word that we are trying to avoid…. “Change”…. eventually comes. The quicker we deal with our problems, the easier it is to move on.

Time multiplies the Good, and also the Bad….plain and simple, whether we like it or not. The slate or notebook we have in front of us has to be periodically examined and updated. Denial is not, as they say, a river in Egypt! Spirituality is there to help us extract the weeds from our garden. Until somebody comes up with a way for us all to live here forever, we are only visitors to this planet, who must accept a way to digest and grow. Many times I’ve asked myself, if so many people are praying to God daily, why does the world still look the way it does? Something has to be wrong with this picture! Are the Words of the Heavens just being digested and abandoned, like a plate of spaghetti? Or one day will we truly look at the pages of our Holy Books and finally understand the paradise that God wants us all to make this planet? Talk may be cheap, and paper may not refuse ink, yet surely in our hearts we must know the Truth. With each sunrise brings a chance to make our lives better, and what can be done today should never be put off until tomorrow. The path lies ahead….all we have to do is put one foot in front of the other, and climb on the shoulders of giants.

Carpe Diem,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2008 Jennifer Avalon

Many baffle over the years of why some addictions, over time, just seem to creep up on us….out of the blue we go from something that seems totally controllable to somewhere else, where our lives start to spin out of control. Addiction is all around us….could it be that one of the lessons of life is to find balance, control, and awareness? We are all, whether we care to admit it or not, truly addicts in one way or another, but one of the nastiest, unforgiving, relentless addictions of all is the one thing we can’t live without….Food.

The alcoholic, drug addict, shopaholic, can cease with their addictions if they just abstain. People must eat to live, and somewhere along the line we must find discipline and control over the food we consume, while never having the luxury of giving it up.

I recently had a conversation with a friend of mine, where we both thought it strange that society doesn’t really look at food as a drug….but as a pleasure and sometimes, a reward. As we get older, the food we choose to eat affects us more profoundly. Where in our youth we could have indulged the sweets and saltines to our heart’s content, by middle age we are warned of the continued affects they can have on our bodies. America today sits on the cusp of a diabetic explosion, making many feel that the diets they once could partake of are leaving them at a dead-end street. The second part of their lives, some are left having to re-learn new ways to eat. Unlike the alcoholic, most doctors will give a person a list of foods to avoid….but can a doctor tell a patient to give up food altogether? I don’t think so! Therein lies the comedy and tragedy of a food addiction…can’t live with it, can’t live without it.

I, too, am a self-confessed foodaholic. I love food…I enjoy all things about it…shopping for it, cooking it, eating it. There! I confess, like many, to enjoying every smell, taste, and sip. What seems to work for me to control my appetite is that I watch what I eat and once a week, I fast on liquids. I also walk about 25 minutes a day in the fresh air. The fasting, in some strange way, helps me re-set my taste buds each week. After a day of fasting I find I appreciate and control my intake of food better. Knowing I can’t live without food, I would rather that I control it, then it control me.

This essay is very meaningful to me….as I receive many emails from people telling me about their problems with diet and food. Obesity is turning into an epidemic…..surely it cannot be an accident. Perhaps the American love affair with food should be reduced to a lifetime friendship!

Bon Appetit!

Jennifer Avalon

© 2008 Jennifer Avalon

I think if we approach the New Year with a different perspective and keep a symbol or image in our minds it may be easier to stay focused and navigate the road ahead. I approach the New Year as a builder, a person who sees a piece of land, and the possibilities that can come forth. I look at the formulation of my goals, hopes, and dreams as a house….a beautiful shining building that by the end of the year I can be proud of. A builder needs tools, not just hammers and nails but Faith, encouragement, conviction and the belief that when you put your mind to it, anything is possible.

In January we start the foundation….we make sure it is strong and has the potential to hold what we place upon it. We make sure there are no cracks. Each proceeding month we add to our house….floor by floor we put in the plumbing, the electrical wiring, the heating system, etc. Sometimes we make mistakes, one room may not be wired right, so we go back, repair the damage and continue on. By the Spring, we see that our house is off the ground and rising. The contributions we have made to our house are beginning to show. People pass by and are amazed how “fast” the house is starting to come together….but little do they see the problems that we encountered to get to our level. So on we go, each day building brick by brick with the sky above us…..and with each brick a feeling of accomplishment comes over us and a better understanding of the mistakes we have made so that we try not to make them again. God looks down and sees a person trying to push forward with a house of meaning and purpose. A badly built house with a weak foundation won’t stand very long….but a good house can last forever. God understands how hard it is to built good houses.

By the Fall, our floors are completed, and we are about to add our roof. We want a roof that will not leak, that can take the elements. If we have done all our work and done it well, by the end of the year we will be standing in front of a house amazed that we were able to accomplish this once monumental task. We look at each brick and floor and see a story. We see the set-backs and the over comings. It is possible to build a good house, God willing, with the right tools, and determination…….All things are possible.

Good Luck with your house,

love, Jennifer Avalon

© 2008 Jennifer Avalon

Have you ever wondered as Life throws us its curve balls, what the heck is this place all about? why am I here? what am I supposed to learn? and, what can I do about it? Join the crowd….you have just entered in to the first stage of the “Why?” factor. Your intelligence demands that you look at some of the solutions and answers to these questions.

I believe everything around us and all that exists is held together by Love. Each act that keeps the Universe in place, allows the streams to run, the air to blow, the mountains to rise, and mankind to flourish, is held together by a communication and an agreement to continue to exist. What is this communication? the continued practice of Giving and Receiving. For Life to exist, it must contain some component of Love. This is not an accident…the Creator mandates us to become creatures of Love. Life, at its common basics, is Love. With that, for everything to exist and continue, we need Love. Are we blessed by it? and hurt by it? for sure. But that’s part of the process…one of the building blocks of Life. We grow with Love….it is only when we are denied it do we start to run into problems. As the Beatles say, “All You Need Is Love,”…it may not have all the answers, but it’s a great place to start.

Giving….so why give? why care? how about just sitting at home, kicking back, and looking at the television all day? not give a hoot…about anyone or anything other than ourselves? Realistically, at what point would we begin to deteriorate? Can there be Love without giving? and can there be giving without Love? This is not about money…this is about raw emotion…the art of caring and giving beyond ourselves. Yes indeed, there is a responsibility to how one gives…yet overall at what point do the cobwebs start to surround us when all we care about is giving to ourselves?

Receiving….I for one can testify that there have been times in my life when I was at my wit’s end and out of the blue the doorbell would ring or the telephone would chime with a message reaching out saying, “I care.” Receiving comes many times when you least expect it. This time of year there are many in need, who are just waiting for that one act or call of kindness. Can we give without someone receiving, or can we receive without someone giving? They are two sides of the same coin. Receiving is the admission that someone took the time to Love.

Giving and Receiving, both necessities for Love to exist. One Mind, One Soul, synchronizing with another. The Gift of Love is the greatest gift of all….this time of year don’t be afraid to give, or receive.

For All Seasons,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2007 Jennifer Avalon

It’s quite astonishing how from day to day we can have two completely different faces to wear. In most cases when we look in the mirror, we don’t see the dark side…only the light. Yet sometimes, just below the surface, the anger waits for just a chance to rear its head. So often we’re quite confused when we see different sides of friends and family….yet we so easily forget that we too surprise them. As we head for the holidays, some rejoice, while others feel tense and struggle with those that they have to see once a year. Are we angry people? or are we peaceful people? The truth is probably somewhere in-between. After all, we’re only human, right?

Through the anger and the peace, we grow. We evolve into what we want to become. We do right and we do wrong….we look for praise, and we ask for forgiveness. Anger and Peace…two sides of the same coin. Heads or Tails…where does the coin land for us? We’re not alone…as humans we struggle with all different kinds of feelings. Whether it’s turning the dial on the television, listening to the radio, or firing up the computer…at the end of the day we get to see what we want and who we are. Sure, some can influence our moods, the state of mind and how we view life through the prism…but overall we determine the quality of our day. The Heavens laugh as man plans…yet the Heavens are there when we ask for help.

The angry pacifist and the peaceful antagonist sometimes can easily share the same air….our two sides do battle each day.

Flip a coin,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2007 Jennifer Avalon

I am reminded to slow down when I do the dishes. If I go too fast, something can be broken. If I go too slow, the water will cool down and not be “sanitary.” If I don’t put gloves on, my hands will wrinkle up like prunes. This is a ritual that takes a certain amount of respect, for all involved. I remind myself to breathe deeply…to glance out the kitchen window and take in the light through the woods. Doing the dishes is a chance to slow down…to pace myself. Sometimes I catch myself just trying to rush and get through it…then suddenly, and I’m not sure how or why, I am reminded to take in the moment, trivial as it may seem. And then I think of how each moment of our lives is to be taken this way….respected, savored and enjoyed, because it will pass all too quickly.

As I finish the dishes, and let the soapy water swirl down the drain, I am pleased that the job is done. A simple task, but rich with atmosphere. Doing the dishes is a throwback to another time, when we all had chores to do to maintain the household. Now most of us have dishwashers (myself included) but I have found that I only want to use the dishwasher when I have a big crowd. There is something lost when we give up daily rituals that are so simple, and so immediately rewarding. So here’s to the soap and suds!!

Happy washing,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2007 Jennifer Avalon

In our society Art has had a price placed over its head….it’s value is determined by how much money and riches it brings in. Does the cream rise to the top? or with a good manager and public relations campaign, can you eventually fool the many with junk? Arts main purpose is to enhance the quality of life…to bring us into alignment with our Creator…unfortunately, these days one starts to wonder…have we totally lost touch with the fundamentals of what Art is all about?

Art is the landscape where we can ask questions, congregate, and formulate answers to the problems facing our lives on a daily basis. Art is supposed to elevate our society, embrace what is right, and examine and correct what is wrong. One stroll past the checkout counter at any supermarket, with the rags on sale, and the gossip flowing, one has to wonder, is society’s elevator going up? or down? Is the statute of stardom and the standard of Art determined by the number of times one has been to rehab? It’s quite easy for a person to be suspicious that perhaps the goal of Hollywood is to build them up, and watch them fall.

So out there, if you are a painter, designer, performer, builder, etc., tweak away! you are not foolish….Art is the gift. It doesn’t matter how much money you make at it….the gift itself is the blessing.

Dream on,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2007 Jennifer Avalon

Tune up, you may say? Why yes….physical check-up, and an overall head to toe emotional inventory is also a priority. It’s crazy, but it becomes quite acceptable to take care of everything but ourselves. What can we do to make the journey through the Winter months less stressful and physically taxing? A good tune up lays it all out in front of us so that we can tend to what is needed.

I am a big believer in making a list…just like when we bring the car in to the mechanic, we too need to look over a list to see if our oil needs changing or spark plugs replaced or recharged! Seriously, each year we’re alive these tune ups become more important. The condition and the health of our bodies, minds and souls are important, yet, we so easily take for granted their well-being.

Once the tune up is complete, changes can be made, or a clean bill of health can be tucked into your desk drawer. We all have a greater chance of living to a ripe old age if we take responsibility for the things we do have control over. Health is wealth…..in the hustle and bustle of life that can quite easily slip our minds.

Enjoy life….live it to the fullest. We only go around once in these bodies. Don’t be afraid to pull into the gas station once in a while to look under the hood, clean the windows, and check the tires. Rest assured, these bodies of ours can give us many miles to go.

Happy Trails,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2007 Jennifer Avalon

We all possess that one special thing that we do that makes us feel complete and fulfilled. Uniqueness makes us smile, letting us know what we can offer and where we belong. It could be in the arts, mathematics, computers, science, etc. but rest assured, somewhere we all have something unique and special.

We run into trouble when we disregard our special talents, and think there is something else for us to do, until we get fed up of going down dead-end streets, and we turn around and accept….”this is who I am”, and “this is what I do best.” There is a reason why not all football players become quarterbacks. Some players realize their unique talents are better suited at a different position on the team. We may not be meant to be the CEO of a corporation, but what’s so wrong about being a team player, or head of a marketing division? Success happens when a group of unique individuals come together and strive towards the same goals….that’s when miracles can happen. Uniqueness to the ultimate degree.

Unique individuals striving for the same purpose create a hybrid that cannot be accomplished individually by themselves. In some strange way the combination of certain people can create an energy or a force that is generated by the combined efforts of all their talents. We are all walking miracles….yet why do we allow ourselves to feel so ordinary, and disposable? Uniqueness is priceless. It is a gift from the Heavens. Still, mankind can so easily brush it aside.

It is not foolish to jot down what it is you feel your uniqueness is. What is it that you have to offer that you love doing? Oh, have I forgotten to mention that? Uniqueness is something that you will love doing. Perhaps growth may be painful at times, but uniqueness is the road to a purpose. Right at the center and the core of who we are, lies our uniqueness…that’s the way God planned it. He left us with the mission to figure it out.

Seek and you will find,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2007 Jennifer Avalon

Here it is folks….one designated room of your house or apartment where you can go, anytime. I call it “the emotion in motion room.” So, you may ask yourself, what do you do there? Ah, that’s really up to you. Each room, of course, has to be individually fine-tuned to a person’s needs. It could be a laughing room, crying room, meditation room, prayer room, or maybe a silent room to shut out the noise of the world long enough for you to think. If you don’t have a room, perhaps you can find a corner where you can put on a pair of headphones to cocoon for a while, to recharge, regroup, and regain some sanity. The emotion in motion room, a private place where one can vent, express, and heal at will.

Getting in tune with ourselves not only enhances our own lives, but those of all we come in contact with. If we don’t control our emotions, our emotions start to control us. Taking the bull by the horns allows us to have greater control over surprise situations that can easily pop up out of nowhere. Emotions have a strange way of creating baggage…what we would like is to have good baggage, not baggage that weighs us down. I know the saying, “God laughs when mankind plans,”….that’s not what this is about. It’s about gaining greater responsibility for one’s actions.

Crazy as it may seem, laughing for fifteen minutes, or crying for that matter, can bring about a great sense of relief. For me, meditation is essential for my daily life. Twenty minutes of focus and relaxation recharges my batteries, and allows me to gain perspective over my life. My emotion in motion room is like a good friend…a place to go to think things through, and somewhere in the silence the answers come. Feeling centered greatly improves my ability to connect with the Heavens.

Find your space,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2007 Jennifer Avalon

We too have within us a blueprint that can be written down on paper as a guide to help us evolve and become more productive and happier people in our lives. All around us are tools that we can use to create this personal portfolio. The Bible, the encyclopedia, and many other books can present ideas that we can use to better ourselves as people. Will our own personal blueprint contain all the facts and all the ultimate knowledge? Maybe not, but as we live on we will fine-tune and improve our own document to grow stronger and more secure.

There are so many things that try daily to rob us of the power that we have over our own lives…and it’s very easy at the end of the day to look at your hands and see nothing. If we just create tools, like a blueprint, they can be the maps to show us the way when the weather gets rough. It is your life…nobody knows it better than you. Sometimes we wish somebody could do the work for us….but like the Founding Fathers, we too sense what we need to find stability, health and happiness.

The Declaration of Independence, the document on which the United States of America was built, shows us that it is possible to improve one’s life and find a better way. This past week, over 231 years later, it still stands as a beacon for all those in search of freedom. The United States is not perfect, and still to this day has alot to learn….but at least changes can be made to make it better. A work in progress…. and so, too, is mankind…..

Happy Independence Day,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2007 Jennifer Avalon

For many Americans, the healthcare industry seems broken. The cost of care in the United States rises horrendously each year. Many no longer can afford coverage where the monthly premiums exceed their budget. This Friday Michael Moore’s new movie, “Sicko” opens nationwide…it tackles many of the issues confronting Americans in regard to healthcare. I know, Michael Moore can be a polarizing figure, yet, what I have heard about his latest movie is that his approach is neither Democrat nor Republican…just a satirical look at how the American healthcare system has run amok.

Let me ask you a question…how many people do you know who have to take daily medications? and how many people do you know who don’t? A friend of mine recently had a case of poison ivy and went to the emergency unit at her local hospital. The nurse asked her, “What medications do you take daily?” She answered, “None.” The nurse at first had a hard time believing her, and then she gave a look, said nothing, and walked away. For many, daily medication has become a way of life. We care profoundly about how we feel, and when we don’t feel good, we worry. Our health, in many cases, is not something we think about daily until we get sick.

The beauty of being human is that we have something that is incredible inside of us….an immune system. A reservoir of energy that waits to pounce on a moment’s notice on any foreign body that enters into our system. If you’ve ever had a cold, you know how it goes…first you don’t feel 100%, then, you feel a little weak, you start coughing and sneezing and before too long you’re in bed looking at the four walls, wondering if you’ll ever feel better! You chow down the old reliable chicken soup, some Tylenols, plenty of fluids, and slowly but surely you start to feel better each day. Once you make a full recovery you forget about it, until the next time, and then you go through the process all over again.

What’s strange is that each time we get sick and get better we learn a little bit more about ourselves…it tells us what makes us tick, and what truly matters. When we’re healthy, we feel we can conquer the world….when we’re sick, we think the world is conquering us. The knowledge is what happens in-between. Prevention is key…it’s so important to eat right, exercise, keep yourself strong. Vices tear down our health….the less that we have of them, the stronger we are. In reality, does it really matter how long you live, or, the quality of the days you experience? The healthier you are, the more alive you become.

This being summer, many are spending time in different locations on vacation, or with loved ones. Be careful…be safe, stay strong…

Stay healthy,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2007 Jennifer Avalon

Paris is one of a revolving group of starlets who roam the clubs of Hollywood and beyond, night after night. Each evening they battle through hoards of photographers who can’t get enough of their aura, smiles and outbursts. Yes indeed she is rich….famous? for what, I’m not quite sure. Is it a reality show, an X-rated movie on the web, an acting or singing career, or could it be just for being Paris? Reminds me of a conversation that I had with a high school student a few years back where she said to me, “Jennifer, I want to be famous.” And I replied, “For what?” and she said, “I don’t care for what, I just want to be famous.” I remember feeling kind of horrified. Has Fame in our society become the ultimate occupation?

The scandal papers just can’t get enough of these roaming starlets who parade through the night showing us an existence of what it’s like to be in the “in crowd.” They often partake in whatever their little hearts desire….booze, drugs, and/or sex of all kinds. Society can’t read enough about their latest escapades…in some morbid way, for many they’re living their lives for them. Each club and event clamors for their attendance, fully knowing that to have a “happening” you must have one of these starlets in attendance. The hunger grows each day until we arrive at the fever pitch. The point where the star has risen as high as the crowd wants them to be. Now we begin the stage of a free for all….how fast can we bring them down? Paris Hilton unfortunately has reached this point. She’s about to learn who her friends really are…she may be surprised how silent the phone will become. The news reports say she is on the verge of a nervous breakdown…in her wildest dreams she most likely never thought the road to Fame would lead to the jail cell. Mommy and Daddy’s money, her friend’s influences, or people in high places, could not stop the current events. Whatever evolves over the next few weeks, one thing is for sure, the life of Paris Hilton has changed.

I hope Paris turns her life around….in reality, she is lucky she didn’t end up dead and/or taken others with her. She may have been just one accident away from “killed on impact.” It looks like no one was stepping forward and saying, “You have a problem…you need help.” What she probably heard instead was something like, “How dare they treat you like this…who do they think they are?!” Paris is one of the lucky ones…she can come through this fairly intact and develop a sense of maturity, if she wants. So many others who wanted to be the next Paris Hilton never had the chance to live long enough to know that that road is a dead end street.

My wish for Paris is that she takes a good look at herself, reassesses her life, and realizes that Life can be wonderful, and the answers may not be found at the latest club or in a bottle.

Bon Chance,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2007 Jennifer Avalon

This is also the tenth anniversary of the website. I look forward with excitement and optimism to the next few years where many websites like my own will develop into mini television networks where people can view programs from their living room television screens whenever they choose. Some have that ability now…over time, it will be available to all.

So there it is….ten years! I hope in my own small way I have helped you from time to time. Yes I know….we may not always agree on subject matter, but I’m sure you understand my thoughts come from my heart.

Thanks to all for the continued success of the newsletter and website,

Love, and God Bless,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2007 Jennifer Avalon

Gayle informed me that after retiring, for the first time in her life she was finding peace and tranquility. The years of being in business had taken their toll and left her feeling that the only way for her to be happy was to be alone. The thirty years with her store had left her no time to develop a social life, and she never got married. Her personal life, she felt, was sacrificed for a successful business. I could not help but observe that with each sip of coffee, as Gayle opened up and told me about her life her sad eyes revealed what she had gone through. Tears welled up when she told me that if she had to do it all over again, she would have gladly forgone some of the money, for a little romance and companionship. I told Gayle that it’s not too late to find Love…perhaps it’s at this time in her life when she would appreciate it the most. She fired back, “Hermits don’t need Love, they need Peace.” I replied, “You can have both.” She thought about it, and gazed out the coffee shop window. Then I had an idea….I said, “Gayle, how about coming over to my home Friday night….a couple of us girls get together from time to time, just to chat and share a few laughs. Nothing heavy….just a little conversation to help us get through the week.” Gayle said that she would think about it.

So, lo and behold, Gayle showed up the following Friday night, nervous, but friendly. I watched as the time went by and slowly the tightness in her shoulders started to relax. She shared with us some wonderful, timeless stories, and we did the same with her. At the end of the evening Gayle remarked, “Is it okay if I come next Friday?” We all gave each other hugs and said, “See you next week.” Gayle drove away with a warm smile on her face.

Since that first Friday Gayle has come back time and time again, and now she is “one of the girls.” Just a few nights ago she brought up the term “Hermit,”….she laughed and said, “Ladies, I am a Recovering Hermit.” Gayle feels she has started a new chapter in her life, and recently a wonderful man has come into the picture. I guess I was right…. one can have Love and Peace, after all.

To Good Friends,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2007 Jennifer Avalon

There are certain cities in the world that are considered the hubs of wealth, yet, when you look at the lists of the richest people in the world, and where they live, in most cases they never show up in those locations. Bill Gates, the richest man in the world, lives in Seattle Washington, and Warren Buffet, coming in at number two, lives in Omaha, Nebraska. Surprised?

When over half the world gets by on the equivalent of a dollar a day, where we would live and what we would do with our lives carries quite a great responsibility. If much is given, much is expected. Some would choose a condo in midtown Manhattan, others a home in the Hamptons, still more an alpine lodge in Montana, a chalet in Switzerland, an apartment in Paris, a castle in Scotland, a mansion in Bangkok, a beachfront oasis in Bali, etc. Whatever we would choose, one thing would remain the same…we would still only have one life to live, and 24 hours in a day! What we do with that life and how we spend that time, would say mountains about who we are.

In most of the choices we make in life, there always seems to be a tug of war between the body and the soul. As we may enjoy the finer things, how much and how far we are willing to go to get them eventually comes into question. It is at those moments when we decide, how much do we compromise? If you can afford a huge house, does it mean you should buy it? Do you purchase a half million dollar automobile, or $20,000.00 Ford or Chevy? Things start to add up after a while….and before you know it, you have a lot of things, and not enough time to play with them all.

David Gilmore, guitarist with the rock group Pink Floyd, recently addressed the issue of acquiring things. He said something to the effect that he bought a collection of Ferrari cars, but what astonished him was that after a couple of years, he noticed that not only did he have to purchase the cars, but also provide garages to store them, and employ people to take care of them! You can imagine that after a while it started to look like a business had been built up around his fascination with a certain automobile. When many bands tour the world, they carry with them, in many cases, over five hundred people whose livelihood depends on the success of the tour. Each decision carries with it responsibility and ramifications. What we want and where we live, also carries with it that kind of weight.

A wise man once said the best kind of life is a simple life. One that holds with it a sense of spirituality and lightness of being. Simplicity can cut through anything…there is right, there is wrong, there is up, there is down, there is left, and there is right. Simple.

We may never have everything we want, but there’s a heck of a lot to say about contentment. Can we be happy with what we’ve got?

Smell the roses,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2007 Jennifer Avalon

I recently had a conversation with the director of my local senior center. She could not stress enough how vitally important it is for centers catering to retirees to get their programs together and be prepared for a large group of individuals to need and use their facilities. She is also aware that the face of her center will probably change as a reaction to the needs and wants of the coming Boomer Retirees. Yelling out your favorite Beatles tune will no longer get a blank stare to those over 65, in the next few years. The Boomers are coming….whether we like it or not.

This fact is not being lost on Corporate America and those corporations worldwide. They are strategically aligning themselves with programs and products to cater to the Boomer Demographic, with the disposable income that they’ll have. Is it too far fetched to think that one day within the next few years if you visit a senior center you may hear from the back a group of individuals in a rock band blasting out their favorite tunes? Will “Smoke on The Water,” “Whole Lotta Love,” or, “Free Bird” ever sound the same again? Boomer Bands Rock On!

There will be challenges, yet, the face of old age will change. The transformation of our nation will be quite noticeable. Politicians and entertainment companies will listen and observe the reactions from the Boomers to their policies and tastes. That much buying power coupled with more available time presents an undefiable concoction. There could be a drain and a concern on Generation X’ers to keep the ball rolling…hopefully the transition from Boomers to Generation X’ers will be smooth. Still, it’s quite possible that there will be hiccups in the passing of the baton to the next generation.

One final point I would like to present….the contributions of the Baby Boom Generation will be fully examined. Quantity versus quality will be addressed. The Boomers will have a chance to look back on their lives at what went right, and what went wrong. They will want to address, what do they really need to take with them into their senior years? They’ll finally have to ask themselves, did they change the world? or just add a new coat of paint?

Live long and prosper,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2007 Jennifer Avalon

It doesn’t have to stay that way. Take a trip, and upon your return, when you turn the key, the perspective will be changed. To not get bored with our lives and our surroundings, we constantly have to find ways of stripping away the fog and allowing new light to shine through those old windows. So how does one make one’s surroundings look new? It could be a new coat of paint, rearrangement of furniture, or a special painting in the center of the living room. Everything old can be made new again….all it may take is for our eyes to see things from a different perspective.

The same holds true for our cars, stereos, T.V. sets, etc. Most of the time new items begin to appear old because we allow ourselves to see them that way. Unfortunately, the same can be said for relationships! Some may think their lives can easily change by trading in their spouse for a new model…in quite a few cases, trust me, they don’t make them like they used to! There’s a lot to be said for “vintage”:)

Each morning when I rise the sun coming up always looks new….know why? Because standing before me is a new day, yet to be touched. There is no such thing as the same old sunrise or sunset. While we may feel Time can get repetitious, each second is sparkling new. As our experiences increase with age, the majestic always lies in what is simple. A walk through the woods, and one is totally reassured that the wind never blows the same way twice. All we have to do is shake up the routines, and our minds strip away the cobwebs over our eyes so the windows of our souls can see how wonderful and precious Life truly is.

Old and in the way? Never. Let’s raise our glasses to the vintage, to the flavor of Life, that never grows old.

Cheers,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2007 Jennifer Avalon

I once was walking along a street in New York City, a man bumped into me and kept right on going. I looked back, he didn’t even turn around, just headed off down the street, banging into a few other people. On another occasion, I was at the post office and a person went up to the window and asked for three books of stamps. The clerk at the window had a glazed look on his face….he waited about three minutes and said to the customer, “How many stamps do you want?” Comfortably numb, indeed.

Many of us are constantly looking for ways to deal with the pressures of life…some use medication, others alcohol, and some, exercise. Unfortunately, more and more are just choosing to tune out and float. You know what I mean? Just look around…you can see it. It’s one thing to daydream…it’s something else entirely to look vacated. The band Pink Floyd has written a song all about it called, you guessed it, “Comfortably Numb” !

Have you ever gotten into a car, driven around ten blocks, and wondered how you got there? Comfortably numb. Have you ever had a conversation with someone, tuned out, and tuned back in before the end of the conversation? Comfortably numb. Have you ever had a cup of coffee and then the next minute the cup is empty, and you’re wondering who drank it all? Comfortably numb! Have you ever done the laundry, brought it upstairs, and then returned later to pick it up again? Comfortably numb. How about this one….you think it’s Tuesday until you get to the office and find out it’s Wednesday! Comfortably numb, indeed.

As you can tell, I’m having a little fun with this…but one thing’s for sure….this “condition” of comfortably numb can become quite contagious. Let’s hope we don’t start to live in a world that’s just “comfortably numb.”

Step lively,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2007 Jennifer Avalon

Have you ever been around someone who is full of life and excited about the future? After a while the air around them begins to feel charged, and when they leave you feel a drop of energy. A fully charged individual believes anything is possible, if they just put their minds to it. On the other side of the coin are those who simply fold up the tent and surrender. Unfortunately, we’ve met some of those people too…how many times have we met someone who we feel has already died, and they’re just waiting for their heart to stop beating?

Sparks are all around us…little gems, little miracles that can blast us through a dead-end street. Some people see walls…while others can walk right through them. A wise man once said, if you don’t like the way things are, help change it, don’t sit back and complain. All it takes is one person to take a bold step. Sparks are there just for the asking, but it’s up to us to take the blinders off so that we can see their glow. The breath of God is all around us…all it takes is for us to breathe it in. A spark cannot ignite and glow unless it has oxygen…the air that God provides us to breathe, it too can transform the smallest ember into a flame within the heart.

Good people glow because they are full of sparks…they know that life is a marathon race, where a peaceful death is the finish line. Sparks can help us become super beings who can see beyond themselves. Sparks help us understand that we are all part of the family of man, where every soul is a member. A spark can be a thought, a new idea, a solution to a pressing problem. It’s extraordinary how just when we’re ready to give up, a spark appears.

Shine On,
Jennifer Avalon

© 2007 Jennifer Avalon

Start at the first moment you can remember being alive…let’s say it’s 3 years old. Picture the year in your mind….think to yourself, are there any positive memories associated with that year? If there are, write it down. Then, proceed to the next year and the one after that, and so on. Each time you remember a positive thought, action, or feeling, jot it down. After a while the list begins to grow and the negative memories fall by the wayside. As we look back on our teen years, some may have been troublesome, but I’m sure we all can pull a chuckle or two out of the rabbit’s hat of adolescence. Once you get to the present, look over the list….you may be surprised just how many good times you had and perhaps forgot about. Take the list and put it in a safe place. Whenever you have one of those blue days, where nothing seems to go right, take out the sheet of paper, look over it, and you’ll be transported back to a warm moment or two when the world seemed just right.

It’s not a foolish exercise….it’s not living in the past. It’s remembering the good times, and allowing us to count a blessing or two. I am a big believer in positive reinforcements…God knows we need them more than ever these days! But the past doesn’t always have to stay in the past….it might help us in the present to be able to burst forth and catapult us into tomorrow, understanding that good times too, can lie ahead…the best days of our lives may not be over, and miracles sometimes come when we least expect them.

When you get together next time with friends or family, try the exercise with them….pass a sheet of paper to each person in the group and get them to write down some positive thoughts and experiences from the past. Then, take turns reading them aloud. Trust me, there will be much laughter, pats on the back, and maybe even some tears of joy. At the end of the evening, you may all even ask yourselves, why don’t we do this more often?

A penny for your thoughts,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2007 Jennifer Avalon

When we examine these trails some are quite astonishing…they can incorporate dead ends, circles and paths that seem to go on forever. I have a cousin who passed away at 26 years of age…I kid you not, he packed more into those 26 years of living then some I meet who are close to 80. Though his trail may have seemed short to some, once inside the forest magical things can happen when you can stumble upon a super trail where Time and Space can be compressed and condensed. Jimi Hendrix, the legendary guitarist, passed away at 27 years of age, yet each year we are still amazed at the depth and expansion of the music that is still being released from the library of material he accumulated and recorded over his short time on earth. The other side of the equation is a friend I have who is 75 years old and spent the better part of her life doing as little as possible. Yes she had dreams, and ambitions, but was so paralyzed by the thought of taking a chance that she chose to not even bother. Unfortunately, Life can end quite quickly, but for those where it does, for the rest of us, wasting Time can become a sin.

Once we enter the Forest of Life, indeed anything can happen! We learn with each step, embrace the challenges, and seek food, comfort and shelter. Yet we are forewarned…it is quite easy to get lost in the forest. Weather conditions can change at any given moment. There are no guarantees, but to increase our odds the better prepared we are, and experiences along the way can greatly increase the odds for us to prevail through. The destination? What else? The other side of the forest.

Some consider Life the ultimate game, where the stakes are high, and mistakes are costly. For me, as I walk along my trail through the wilderness I may make mistakes, but I try to learn not to repeat them. Life can be kind, and Life can be cruel….yet no matter where we are in the forest, if we just look up, there is the sky, reminding us that there is another world beyond the trees.

Happy Trails,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2007 Jennifer Avalon

I’m sure we all have our horror stories of family members who went adrift and did bad deeds….but were we quite prepared to enter into financial and emotional relationships with strangers? What am I getting at? Well check this out….two brothers may have a hard time owning a house together, but have no problem becoming a partner in a condo or co-op with a group of people they don’t even know. Whether we care to admit it or not, condos and co-ops are business arrangements that are shared, and if something goes wrong, all are liable. So while we’re running from our families, we have landed and embraced relationships unfamiliar to us. While in the past families would pool their money together to purchase property and items, that money over time has been diluted and reduced to less buying power. The tribal family has become franchised.

Welcome to 2007….where people are starting to reverse the trend. I’ve begun reading where it is now becoming not uncommon for brothers and sisters to pool their money together to buy townhouses, two-family houses, and believe it or not, country inns. They woke up one morning and realized, “Hey, we can buy better and more if we pool our money together.” But can you really trust your family? Or do you have an easier time trusting strangers? In the olden days when a family member got out of line, the head of the family called a meeting and solved the problem. If a condo or co-op can have an elected board, why can’t a family? What was once scorned and frowned upon, is now starting to be considered an option, once again. Family used to be business, and finance…it just may become that once again.

While many of us in the past set out to try to reinvent the wheel, we may be just finding out that the wagon can run quite well with the wheels we already have. Maybe they just need a little oil and grease from time to time…but vintage doesn’t have to be a dirty word. The family structure is the glue that keeps a nation together…without it, over time, we crumble. I think many are coming Full Circle taking what they’ve learned, and applying it to the family structure and realizing that the best quality of life is when the family is strong, governed, and nurtured. We may return to the days where around one table Grandparents, parents, and children see themselves as friends, not enemies.

Full Circle,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2007 Jennifer Avalon

The Purpose of Life is to change it….we all come here fresh from Heaven, with traces of the knowledge and splendor, and the Love that creates us all….we are pushed or pulled into an earthly world of distress, disharmony, and decay. It is our job to change it….for the better. To make it become closer to where we originally come from….

So how do we do this? The complicated answer would be to say that each of us must do tremendous and huge things to accomplish this important change, but the truth is, it is the small and often unseen things that will change it the most. If each of us were able to see the Light of Compassion that beats in the chest of each of us, and the Glimmering Threads of Human Connection that makes us all One Family, we would never question or doubt our reason for being here. But by the very nature of birth, those memories of who we Truly Are become fragmented, all except for a trace…..the part of us that can still hear music, paint a canvas, cradle a baby, stroke a puppy.

So every time you smile at a sad soul walking towards you….every time you listen to a friend who needs a sounding board….when you feed a hungry person, take the time to play with a child, or cards with an older senior, these are the gestures that are our Purpose, and will help to Save the World. The ripple effect of a thousand kind gestures….spread across the spectrum of humanity.

Never doubt your Purpose….or ask if your life is “worth it.” It doesn’t take much to change the world….just the desire to do it.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

love, Jennifer Avalon

© 2007 Jennifer Avalon

The Purpose of Life is to change it….we all come here fresh from Heaven, with traces of the knowledge and splendor, and the Love that creates us all….we are pushed or pulled into an earthly world of distress, disharmony, and decay. It is our job to change it….for the better. To make it become closer to where we originally come from….

So how do we do this? The complicated answer would be to say that each of us must do tremendous and huge things to accomplish this important change, but the truth is, it is the small and often unseen things that will change it the most. If each of us were able to see the Light of Compassion that beats in the chest of each of us, and the Glimmering Threads of Human Connection that makes us all One Family, we would never question or doubt our reason for being here. But by the very nature of birth, those memories of who we Truly Are become fragmented, all except for a trace…..the part of us that can still hear music, paint a canvas, cradle a baby, stroke a puppy.

So every time you smile at a sad soul walking towards you….every time you listen to a friend who needs a sounding board….when you feed a hungry person, take the time to play with a child, or cards with an older senior, these are the gestures that are our Purpose, and will help to Save the World. The ripple effect of a thousand kind gestures….spread across the spectrum of humanity.

Never doubt your Purpose….or ask if your life is “worth it.” It doesn’t take much to change the world….just the desire to do it.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

love, Jennifer Avalon

© 2006 Jennifer Avalon

Picture yourself on a hilltop…while all around you are levels of protection, each one existing to defend your way of life, family, and neighbors. One by one, these levels of protection have been attacked and compromised. Be it corruptions of government, or scandals within religious institutions…while each one falls the wave of turmoil moves closer. Radio and television host Glenn Beck calls it “the gathering storm.” He believes that the same atmosphere exists now as pre-world war two. Glenn believes it is 1938 all over again.

I try to stay quite positive in my own life…but I do believe there are forces in play to change the landscape and the way we all live. Have we all gone mad, or is there truly something brewing out there, something on the horizon, where someone believes it is their destiny to rule and own the world? It can all seem quite bizarre and funny until someone like the President of Iran not only says he wants to wipe Israel off the face of the earth, but take on the Anglo-Saxon way of life also. Other heads of state around the world also chime in from time to time their visions of a New World. Each week there is a new face standing on the soap box of threats.

Neville Chamberlain who was Prime Minister of Great Britain met with Adolph Hitler to try to negotiate a peace treaty before the start of World War Two. He arrived back in England waving a piece of paper, saying “I have met with Chancellor Hitler, and I trust him…there will be peace in our time.” While he was speaking the words, Hitler was invading Poland. As all this was going on, only one person in the British government took a strong stand against Hitler….guess who? Winston Churchill. Was Churchill naive? Or did he see the devastation that was about to come? Some are saying the same denial is taking place again.

Is the United States the Great Satan, as some would lead you to believe? Or is there another agenda in play in someone else’s mind, who has a different vision of what the world should be like? Two opposing ideologies are on a collision course, and unless someone steps in and is able to head them off at the pass, the outcome is starting to appear quite obvious. If this happens, it will make the Second World War look like a tea party.

Why do I write this, especially at this time of year? Because the greatest gift we all can have is Peace. If there is a “gathering storm,” perhaps someone can break through the clouds with a little gleaming sunlight. Perhaps someone can blow away the clouds and calm the winds. I don’t know if one country can do it alone, but there is a power that is strong enough to wipe away the darkness. God, we need you now more than ever.

Give the gift of Peace,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2006 Jennifer Avalon

For me, there is no greater gift than a hug, a handshake, or a tender kiss…why? Because they come straight from the heart…they weren’t purchased in a store…they are given unconditionally. The Christmas Season is about the miracle of a birth….who’s to say that miracles can’t happen in our own homes also. The Star that shone for the Three Wise Men along their path to Bethlehem still shines today, to guide us along our journey of life, until we reach the Promised Land. Throughout the centuries, wise men have told us this message over and over again. We All Shall Overcome, someday.

Whatever the future may hold, as long as we have each other and as long as there is Love in this world, there is a chance for mankind to climb out of the Valley of Fear. This Christmas, may we all join hands around all of our tables, no matter how large or small, look up, give thanks, and pray for Peace. If we all for just one moment stop what we’re doing, collectively project our thoughts into the universe, the amplification of Love will calm any waves of despair.

Christmas is about birth…is about Love…is for everyone to feel a part of. No one is left out of a true Christmas. New Year’s is about rebirth, Hope, and dreams….and the Faith that all things are possible.

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2006 Jennifer Avalon

As I journey through my trying times, I am always amazed at how many others also face moments of crisis. I kid you not, it almost feels sometimes that we’re all joining hands together, helping each other get through, and keeping each other from going down. One thing’s for sure, when a group of powerful souls gather together in a room with the Heavens looking over, the mountains can be overcome, and the wounds, over time, do heal. My family and friends are always there for me in my times of need. As easy as it can be to take them for granted, always around Thanksgiving I try my best to tell them, “Thanks,” for just being there.

It’s quite interesting that when things go wrong we say, “Why me?” yet when things go right, it’s easy to feel, “Why not?” Each gift that we receive is truly a blessing and can never be taken for granted, as when despair and misfortune comes knocking at the door, it is at those times that we must overcome and evolve into better people. The Heavens see the Greater Picture while we mere mortals journey on down the road of life.

Thanks to One and All….those whom I’ve lost, those that I still have, and those I have yet to meet,

Happy Thanksgiving,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2006 Jennifer Avalon

We all are Minstrels with a job to do. When the crowds cheer loudest, the feeling can be empty, yet, when just one voice answers, the heart can overflow. In life, things are never quite as they seem…each day one feels like a walking contradiction…still, the Minstrel in us all forges on with the hope and belief that we all can make this world a better place. Whatever the instrument, the words, or the tune, all our hearts have a song to sing, for the orchestra of life. Either rich or poor, strong or weak, the ears of humanity listen each day for the song of Hope. Silence may be golden, but sound is eternal. Each one of us have a song to sing…whether we know it or not, and every night the Heavens listen, hoping that the chorus grows louder each day, fearing that we all become a distant echo.

So on we go, step by step, mile by mile…until the journey’s over, and the symphony of our lives is complete.

Lift up your voice,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2006 Jennifer Avalon

For example: This week at various times I too have fallen victim to “clashing shows.” America has gone crazy for a show that I have touched on before….called, “Dancing With the Stars,” a weekly show where a champion dancer is partnered with a celebrity, who has very little dancing experience. This is all fine and dandy, unless another one of your favorite shows is on a different channel, at the same time. In my case, it is the Fox Network’s “House,” and also Sci-Fi’s new series “Eureka.” So what do I do? I watch “Dancing With the Stars,” which is now a two hour show, and videotape “House,” and “Eureka.” If this dilemma of having different shows on different networks at the same time starts to repeat itself on multiple nights, by the end of the week you begin to accumulate a nice stash of shows to watch over the weekend.

What kind of effect does this have on your life? I kid you not, some of my friends and I have talked about this….you start to schedule your life around finding time to see all these accumulated shows! Yes indeed…there truly is “only 24 hours in a day!” Tell that to the networks! The scenario gets even more complicated when one or more people in the same household begin to make their favorite shows known also. Moms, Dads, and kids all wrestling with a perilous thought, “What do we watch?” and “When can we watch it?”

I have found it is not a problem taping or tivoing these assortment of shows….but trying to find the time to watch them starts to become a ridiculous problem. It reminded me of a conversation with a college student a number of years ago, where she mentioned that quite a few students were addicted to soap operas, and they would schedule their classes around the ability to be able to watch their favorite soaps! (this was before the days of video). Let me ask you this…how many people do you know videotape their favorite shows during the day, while they are at work, to watch them when they get home? Many do.

T.V. Time, in many of our lives, has become profound and real. More and more, we are determining what we want to watch, and when we want to watch it. Mornings, afternoons, and evenings….for many households the videotape is running. We change our lives, shuffle schedules, and buy popcorn to make sure we don’t miss our favorites. As the old saying goes, now more than ever, “The Show Must Go On.”

Don’t touch that dial!:)

love, Jennifer Avalon

© 2006 Jennifer Avalon

Time and time again, be it countries, corporations, teams or clubs, the corrupt and self-centered can quite easily take over any institution and wield their power. Can the best and the brightest still rise, or has today’s society set out to destroy anyone with new and noble ideals? I can’t for the life of me believe that in the 2004 National Election in the United States the best two people we had to pick from was either George W. Bush, or John Kerry. That’s it? The best and the brightest? Surely there had to be somebody else? Could the answer be that the best and the brightest are no longer willing to allow themselves or their families to be dragged through the mud of politics? The minute someone of either high status or strong integrity announces that they are interested in running for office, within moments the vultures start swarming to see what kind of meat they can pick from their bones. Instantaneously, reporters are summoned to dig up the dirt by any and all means, so that they can have the lead story on the evening news. No wonder the best and the brightest, when asked, say “Thanks, but no thanks.”

For those that do make it through, they better have some personal money, because if they don’t, the Money-Mongers will be banging on the door saying “Without us, you won’t get elected, and one last thing….we own you.” Democrats against Republicans….Republicans against Democrats…the Money-Mongers don’t really care who gets elected, because they give money to both parties…that way, they can’t lose. This November we Americans cast our votes for our candidates of choice…unfortunately, we’re never told who the Money-Mongers are behind some candidates, and when push comes to shove, do those candidates represent Us? Their Party? Or, the Money-Mongers?

Until things change, most, if not all of the best and the brightest will never seek office. I’m sure where you live, whatever country that is, you too have seen examples of how large sums of money can corrupt and control a society. The United States is an incredible country, if it is just left alone to be what the Founding Fathers intended it to be. The 24 hour cable news cycle has shown us that politics has become one of the most lucrative professions ever. The amount of advertising dollars that have been spent by both parties could feed the homeless for years.

So next time you see a Senator or Representative of the Congress debating the contents of a bill before them, think to yourself, who’s words are they saying, their own, or the Money-Mongers? So do we have a Two Party System? Or Three? Democrats, Republicans, and Money-Mongers. If the Democrats hate the Republicans and the Republicans hate the Democrats, guess what? We’ve just elected the Money-Mongers.

Let Freedom Ring,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2006 Jennifer Avalon

Every few days I type in a location from my past to see how things in the neighborhood have changed. Sometimes I’m surprised, sometimes shocked, at how little Time can change a place. Google Earth allows a person to hone in on any location, be it city or town, or countryside….London, New York, Paris, or Rome….one click and you’re there. Seeing the world as a globe spinning through space, wherever you roam on planet Earth, one cannot help but feel how small Earth really is. Be forewarned, these little trips with Google Earth can be quite emotional. Memories may rush back, or excitement beckon, as you think about future trips you could take to a chosen location. One has to wonder, what’s next?

It’s quite amazing to sit in front of the computer and gaze upon the city of Paris, inch by inch, or as a friend of mine said, taking a look at the elementary school she attended while she lived in South Wales, UK. It’s all there…all ready for us to just click and gaze. How about you? what would you like to see? Do you have a favorite city or country?

Traveling can be quite expensive….yet Google Earth, except for photographs, is the next best thing to being there. I’ve included a link to Google Earth at the bottom of this essay…if you’re interested, pay a visit. Although it may not replace a one week vacation to a favorite spot, it can bring the flavor of a place to your home.

Bon Voyage,

Jennifer Avalon

Download Google Earth

© 2006 Jennifer Avalon

I recently had a conversation with a neighbor of mine who shared with me an interesting experience of hers. She attended her 25th High School Reunion where she had a graduating class of 125 classmates, and was shocked to find out that 25 years later, half of the class was deceased. That’s right….only 62 were still alive! She thought about her graduation day when the principal of the school gave an incredible speech on how they all should strive to the limits and climb the mountain of success. In reflection, she said to me, “Jennifer, one little part the principal left out was that in hindsight, he should have told us to put a little time aside each day for staying alive!” President Bush recently turned 60, and a reporter mentioned that over one third of the people born on that day never made it to 60. In my area, I read that a local baby boomers group got together and celebrated the fact that many of them would be retiring next year at 62. What shocked them was also the amount of boomers their age that never made it…one wrote, “Thank God we’re still here.”

So how many of us truly live to a ripe old age? Is it as many as we think? Or is it “Survival of the Fittest?” One thing’s for sure, as busy as our days may be, if we plan to be around for the long haul we’re going to have to find some valuable time to put aside for our maintenance and well -being. If it’s good for the car, it’s good for us!

As I was thinking about this essay over the past couple of days, it was quite interesting that every day I was coming across stories on the subject matter of life and longevity…some of which I was surprised at. Did you know that more people worldwide commit suicide then the amount of people who die from murder and war? I didn’t! As much as we like to think we are indestructible, Life has a strange way of reminding us that we are all just flesh and bones.

I don’t find the truth depressing…because after all, it’s what we don’t know that can hurt us. We are born on this planet and we need food, clothing, and shelter to survive. That’s the physical part…..spiritually we need Love. Everything after that is gravy, totally created by humanity…money, transportation, jobs, etc. Many spend their lives accumulating material goods until one day they realize, do I really need all this junk? when I just need a little to make me happy? Accidents may happen every day….but we have to stay fit physically and spiritually to survive.

Grow old along with me,

love, Jennifer Avalon

© 2006 Jennifer Avalon

As I went about moving the furniture, repainting the wood floor, and repositioning pictures and paintings, it was as if, after a while, the living room itself started to have a conversation with me. Each change I made I felt was done in agreement with the room. This process took two days…the room was transformed, bright and new, while still retaining its original character. I only wanted to give the room a fresh look….while not erasing the memories.

How about you? Have you ever gone through this experience? Possibly so. When you go out to run errands, and return home, the difference can be striking and gratifying. So many of us feel we have to move on to a new house after five years or so….forgetting that it is quite simple to just re-invent the house that we have. A friend of mine who was considering selling his house and moving, fixed it all up to put on sale, and it was at that point he looked around and said, “What, am I crazy? The house is now the way I wanted it all along! So why move?”

As we enter each room in our home, the walls speak back to us of all the time that we have spent in that surrounding. In this day and age, it is so easy to get bored in the shortest span of time. While we forget the history that we are personally creating, revamping our surrounds gives us the opportunity to look back and plow ahead.

If home is where the heart is, it too needs a little tender loving care to let it know how much it means to us.

Home Sweet Home,

love, Jennifer Avalon

© 2006 Jennifer Avalon

It’s quite amazing, when you think about it, how we humans are able to get so many things right, with the obstacles that we have to overcome. In the year 2006 surprise, surprise, so many are still here! If one was to turn on the evening news and see the havoc that is revealed on a daily basis…a person could easily come to the conclusion that it is nothing short of a miracle how we all can continue to exist together. Each day always brings with it a new set of choices.

Isn’t it strange that most of the answers to complicated problems can be answered quite simply…not complicated, not cluttered, at times with just one line. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if an independent force could intervene in the war between Israel and Lebanon and just say “STOP, put down your weapons, and go home to your families.” It’s as easy as that, STOP killing each other…there can be no winners. The independent force would round up all the weapons and say, “ENOUGH.” I don’t know about you, but I don’t need to see any more children getting killed for whatever reason….because next year it’ll be something else. Some other place….someone else’s choice….for whatever reason….to kill.

May we all make the right choices, may we find the peace that we so desperately need in this world, may we never forget the light in a newborn’s eyes, may we never forget the last words before someone dies. Perfection may not be obtainable, but growth and contentment can be found within our hearts. As we sail through life, the direction we choose can either leave us lost at sea, or headed for home. We are what we choose.

Choose wisely,

love, Jennifer Avalon

© 2006 Jennifer Avalon

This time around the stakes could not be greater….for the first time the word “nuclear,” has entered the equation. How long will it be until multiple Middle Eastern nations have nuclear arsenals? Rest assured, we are heading down that road. What’s starting to look more difficult to understand is, can nations fight their way to safety? What do you do when nations don’t want to negotiate, don’t want to disarm, and can’t find Peace? Let’s hope it’s not inevitable that we arrive at the Line in the Sand.

I still have hope that the current conflicts in the world will resolve themselves…but what I find troubling is that each time around the wheel the challenges rise further. I pray that cool heads prevail….but with each passing day I am hearing lines on the news that sound eerily like those that got us into two World Wars. Not bad for a planet that has more PhD’s then ever….what are we really learning?

So many people praying daily to one God….yet the only solution that man ultimately comes to is War. Does it really matter what Age we are in if that is the only conclusion we can come to, to solve disagreements? I call on man to implement the true hope of God…that only through Peace can we find lasting progress. It doesn’t take a microscope to see what’s wrong on Planet Earth….let’s hope it won’t take one to find the broken pieces.

Love thy Neighbor,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2006 Jennifer Avalon

What more does Hate fear, then Love? or Despair fear more than Hope? or, does a frown run from a smile? Which action or choice we choose rests with us. We can never get enough of the Joy of Life…we must make it surround us, embrace us, and enhance us. The danger is when we blind ourselves of all the good, and swim in a sea of sludge. We take so much for granted on this earth….that we always expect things to just be. The sun, with all it’s beauty, doesn’t have to rise in the morning….but it does. How many times do we take each minute, hour, day, and year, for granted, as if we have a never-ending, unlimited supply? Well, we don’t….each day is a golden nugget from Heaven, for us to cherish and leave our mark.

Joie de Vivre…taste it, drink it, feel it….it’s nourishment is timeless.

Cheers,

love, Jennifer Avalon

© 2006 Jennifer Avalon

Loyalty is that prodding finger that constantly reminds us who we are and what we stand for. While storms swirl around us, and doubt blows through the wind, Loyalty is what keeps us straight and tall without giving up. We all in our own way, from the day we are born, do battle with injustice, fear, doubt, and compromise. Loyalty is there to always remind us that some things are not for sale. Loyalty and Dignity walk hand in hand, through all terrain. True Loyalty is not laced with foolishness or dominance. It is a collection of principles that are established to evolve the world to a better existence. The purpose of Loyalty is to give one a perspective and wide range of vision, while holding the Truth close to the heart.

The ultimate Loyalty comes from God….while there are those who may disagree, God never abandons us. What we learn from the Heavens about Faith and Purpose, we are obligated and bound to disseminate upon earth. Loyalty challenges us to understand that while Peace is the destination, the journey can sometimes be quite rough. Love, Peace, Loyalty…have they become relics, or are they destined to consistently be reborn?

In the hands of Loyalty is Hope and Understanding. Loyalty has to stand strong to tell someone they are wrong, even when they think they are right. If Loyalty is the foundation of a good friendship, then Truth is the house that it is built upon.

Be true,

love,
Jennifer Avalon

© 2006 Jennifer Avalon

This time of the year in the United States, the full power of Nature starts to emerge. How many hours of a life can be recharged by just staring at the beauty of a flower? How many lives can be extended by watching the world go by under a shady tree? What a wonderful feeling it is to stretch out on a nicely mowed lawn, surrounded by Nature’s blanket of green.

Nature is priceless….yet it is also free to experience. It can never be taken for granted. While it can be breathtaking and extraordinary, it can also be powerful and ruthless. Nature can deliver with one stroke a sun drenched day, yet turn dark, stormy and blow winds that can devastate the terrain. One thing’s for sure…Nature demands respect.

Each year as the seasons pass, the performance of Nature is witnessed by all. It is one of the last bastions of Life that Man has no control over. Nature can hurt, and heal. It teaches and reminds us that we live on a planet spinning through space and time. Many feel Nature is a reflection on how we live….. others see it as a force to be reckoned with. Nature is with us, whether we like it or not.

So enjoy, respect, and experience it…the greatest performance that planet earth has to offer. If Nature is a stage, we all are truly the actors.

The show goes on,

love, Jennifer Avalon

© 2006 Jennifer Avalon

We buy, we sell, we win, we lose…..whatever the outcome, Money always seems to hang like a shadow over our heads. Is it far fetched to say that the majority of our problems are Money related? Is it far fetched to say that most of the evil acts that are performed have their roots in Money? The reason Money can do so many bad things, is because it exists….still, the reason Money can do so many good things, is also because it exists. It’s not about the amount of Money…..it comes down to what we do with it.

It’s possible that one of the most fundamental reasons that Money is used in our society is that everybody and everything is assigned an amount of value. Life may be priceless, but rest assured, there are those out there who have no problem coming up with a number for an individual’s life. Just walk down the street and most of the time what you see and hear has a tinge of Money. All over the place, everything after a while seems to be vying for what you have in your pocket. The amount of advertising dollars spent yearly is astronomical…all of it competing for what you may want to purchase. It helps, it hurts, it rises, it falls……Money, ironically, sometimes seems to have a life of it’s own.

Money released in the right direction can do an incredible amount of good…..but if we take no responsibility and oversight, Money can just as easily be re-directed and sent on a pathway to destruction. The past few weeks the Enron trial is getting many headlines…what we keep hearing over and over again is nobody seems to know what happened, and it was the other guy’s fault. The Money just disappeared. How Enron crumbled is a mystery…..heck, some even say it happened by itself!

Money is a necessity in our society…to pay our bills, and do commerce. Yet we must always remember we own it….it doesn’t own us. In the end, we can’t take it with us.

love, Jennifer Avalon

© 2006 Jennifer Avalon

Is mankind’s mission to bring about a planet of peace and tranquility? if that is the case, then the weapons of destruction must be extinguished. Is the human civilization forever doomed to choosing either one side, or another? Good against Evil, Peace Versus War, Hate against Love. How many more wars do we have to have before this competition is ended?

The more we drift from the Will of God, the further we drift into the wilderness. Surely, we were not put here to kill. If an extraterrestrial craft with any form of advanced intelligence were to approach our planet right now, would it surprise any of us if they just kept going? Have our egos gotten so out of whack that we think we ARE God? How many go to sleep each night thinking no one could be smarter, while others wonder if there will be a world waiting when they wake up?

I think many of us understand that we are heading for some form of major confrontation that will affect the entire planet. It’s in the air…it whistles through the streets, it ripples with the flag. As we walk the streets and catch a glimpse of the eyes, written on many faces, without a word being said, is the sense that something is coming. The question is, can mankind find a solution to head off the abyss?

Stay close to your families, stay close to your friends….let them know you love them. All of this may end up being “moot”…nothing to worry about….then the worst you’ll have done is spread a little more Love….but if it does come to pass, you’ve surrounded yourself with the most important line of defense.

Take the time to love,

love, Jennifer Avalon

© 2006 Jennifer Avalon

Within the past two weeks I have read that two horses were successfully cloned from a champion thoroughbred racehorse. At the press conference the participants mentioned that they expect to do thirty more over the next year. Why is this important? Horses are mammals, last time I checked…and so are we. Are we fully prepared for the impact of clones in mass numbers on our daily lives?

So what about the robots? We’ve all seen the demonstration of Japanese robots…I know, they look a little strange and mechanical, but trust me, things are moving fast. I always believed that the robotic brain or program would enter our lives first, to be followed by the hardware or body. Sprouting up all over the Internet are sites where you can communicate with or create your own ChatBot. Some of the software is free, where you get a choice to implement the subject matter and interests that you want the Bot to have. I have checked out some of the sites…it is truly fascinating. You ask the Bot a question, and it answers, and as each question is accumulated, the Bot begins to develop a greater understanding of who you are, what you like, and what information you need. Eerie, but interesting. A computer in every home? How about a robot in every living room? These robots will quite easily be able to be personalized to each person’s or family’s satisfaction. You want a robot interested in sports? Presto! You got it. How about a political robot?…Tell me this, how long will it be before “Meet The Press” is hosted by “Tim Chatbot!!” I’ve read articles where people are concerned that Artificial Intelligence can increase at thousands of times the speed of the human brain.

So what’s it going to be? Do you want a clone? Or a robot for your birthday?….think hard. One or the other is coming to a store or manufacturing facility near you. So check it out….stay informed. If you have a few minutes, read up on the latest clone research, and enter Chatbot in your search engine to see what’s coming. People are going to be talking about the ethics of these issues as they evolve, for years.

Be informed,
love, Jennifer Avalon

© 2006 Jennifer Avalon

Let’s get real….with television’s 24 hour news cycle, how much is enough? Hey guys….I know the world is going to hell in a hand basket, but how many times do you expect me to hear it before I just “zone it out?” I find myself these days more and more tuning into shows on the Discovery, or Travel Channel. There are many things I probably will never be able to do in my life, but at least for fifteen minutes, I may be able to get a glimpse of them. Each evening I try, whenever I can, to take a fifteen minute “vacation” to see, hear, or experience something I have not done before. I find this exercise a great refreshing excursion outside the norm….so that when I “return,” I am filled with a feeling of newness.

All it takes is fifteen minutes….around the block, or around the world through television, or the internet…it doesn’t matter. What matters is that you are transported to someplace you’ve never been before. If we humans are a collection of our experiences, the more, the merrier.

Bon Voyage!!!

love, Jennifer Avalon

© 2006 Jennifer Avalon

I got a chance to rent the movie “Two for The Money,” this past week….an interesting film starring Al Pacino and Matthew McConaughey. The premise of the movie is that Matthew’s character has a knack for picking winning football teams on Sunday. His percentages are so good that it reaches the ears of a large bookmaker in New York, played by Al Pacino, who offers Matthew’s character a job with a large salary. What is revealed during the movie is what great lengths people will go to in order to bet money to win on games. It is shown that betting on sports is an over 200 billion dollar business a year. What we eventually see is how important money is to the general population. Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Monte Carlo, etc….the planes fly in daily for the chance to touch the golden nugget, despite the odds against them.

I also visited an Assisted Living facility, where an aged friend of mine who recently lost his wife, lives. As I entered the lobby and passed along the corridor, lining the walls were painting after painting done by some of the residents. I kid you not, the talent and the dedication were obvious. Underneath each painting was a price which someone could pay to purchase the artwork. Unfortunately, not many of the paintings appeared to be sold. One doesn’t have to stretch too far to come to the conclusion that there are more who are willing to spin the wheel for a dance with Lady Luck than to appreciate a one of a kind expression of the heart.

The streets of Hollywood are lined with actors, screenplay writers, and wanna-be directors, just hoping for the chance for their dreams to light up the Silver Screen. In Nashville, Tennessee, each day a bus lets someone off with a guitar in their hands, searching for the elusive Recording Contract. Does the “Starving Artist” always have to starve? or is there, or could there, be a way to put a little food on their table?

Writers, musicians, photographers, painters, filmmakers…..a system must be created to address and appreciate each one of their talents. I know…the cream rises to the top….there are grants for the asking….but seriously, if a system can be created to engulf sports betting and gambling, is it too far-fetched that some of that money could be directed to the Arts?

I’m sure you have your thoughts….here’s one of mine: I recently paid a visit to a local music store…what astounded me is the amount of musicians and singers who purchase equipment weekly from the store. I asked myself, what are they doing with all that equipment? So I mentioned to the manager, “I know this may sound crazy, but wouldn’t it be great if you put together a small selection of CD’s from local musicians who purchase equipment from your store? Can you imagine the buzz that it would send through the music community in your neighborhood?” The manager looked at me baffled but said, “You know, it’s not such a crazy thought…let me think about it.” If a store sells items, it’s not a bad thing to display the fruit that springs forth from those items.

Money is Power….and it does send a message. How we use it contributes not only to our environment, but also to our lives.

Place your bets,

Jennifer Avalon
© 2006 Jennifer Avalon

Though we have the radio in our hands, responsibility of how we use it comes with the turf. While we want freedom to choose whatever we want, those choices can greatly influence our lives. Across the radio dial are multiple stations that transmit 24 hours a day….and those stations are there to develop a following of like-minded people. We all have our favorite television shows, and radio shows, and those favorites do reflect who we are. No one knows this better than the advertising community…..the commercials on the stations cater to a certain demographic that they believe will purchase and embrace their product.

As we get older, we become more selective of our stations….and eventually we settle on one, two, or three personal favorites. In many cases, we settle into these choices and waver little. The young, on the other hand (kids and teenagers) are more open to suggestion, and in quite a few cases have been known to spin the dial like a wheel, just for the fun of it. The young are quite susceptible to influence…more so than the older demographics. As long as we hold the radio, what plays through the speakers is up to us. If we don’t like a station, we turn it off…if we enjoy it, we can play it 24 hours a day. With that in mind, any complaints must rest at our doorstep. Influence is everywhere….what is influential to us personally is up to us.

The Beatles influenced multiple generations…still, once in a while it is quite easy to run into someone who will tell you point blank that they never liked them, and never enjoyed their music. While many listened to all the Beatle records, some just changed the channel. Music programmers have said on numerous occasions that even a bad song, if it’s played enough, people will start to like it……hmmmmm……I wonder what that means.

So check out that radio…pick a station or two…the hills are alive with the sound of more than music.

Touch the dial,

Jennifer Avalon
© 2006 Jennifer Avalon

What do I mean? Well here it goes: We either believe that there is a God, or we don’t….plain and simple. Yet, in many cases, that simple decision sends us off in a direction that will determine almost all the events that will engulf our lives. If we believe in God, then every single decision that we make must not only bring us in alignment with that belief, but also closer to God. If God exists, and is responsible for all that we see here and feel, then that belief must flow through every cell in our bodies. The alignment with that Divinity will solve most, if not all, of our problems. I am not talking about showing up for Church, or House of Worship, for lip-service on Sunday, I am talking about actually allowing the influence and alignment with God to be with you all week. True Believers know this.

If we don’t believe in God, then whether we know it or not, we develop our own alternative belief system. If we eliminate the presence of God, we then have to seek out and acknowledge that something else or someone else is in play. While believing that God does not exist, we are left more or less with one entity running the show…..Man. Mankind calls the shots.

Suppose you invite the truly religious leaders of the world to a party, and one by one you ask, “What does God mean to you?” Over and over again you would probably hear statements like, “God is my source for peace of mind,” “God wants us to progress as a human family,” and, “God is the Light and our Salvation.” Is the purpose for man to contemplate that there is something greater than himself? Or is man’s purpose to reach the answer that he or she is the center of their own universe?

For those who believe in God, it can sometimes be quite a hard road to hoe. Doubts, indecision, being criticized, being judged on your Faith. In the belief of God, and of its defense, this all comes with the turf. While at the same time, this belief can also bring peace of mind, tranquility, acceptance of Life after death, a reason and plan for one’s existence. For those who do not believe in God, they too have their road to hoe. The mysteries of life haunt all of us….how we solve them individually is up to us. For me, nature holds one of the most profound keys…..as long as the sun rises in the morning, and sets in the evening, someone has created a miracle.

Thanks be to God,
Jennifer Avalon

© 2006 Jennifer Avalon