Flying Out of the Blue

Knowing when to stay and when to go.....

noreply@blogger.com (Cate) — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 09:45:00 +0000

I leave Italy one week from today.

Three months ago, I departed my known world with these lyrics from David Byrne’s “Glass and Concrete and Stone” in mind:

Looking at happiness
Keeping my flavor fresh
Nobody knows, I guess
How far I go, I know

And so I started this adventure with open bookends...

and with more David Byrne (Talking Heads – “Once in a Lifetime”) lyrics:

And you may find yourself in another part of the world...

I have not rushed to see every famous thing, here in the old world. I did not come to sightsee. Mostly I have been in place…

Letting the days go by
Let the water hold me down

And I have found much to love in my quiet wanderings.

Here are some random samples of European flavors to savor:

Things to love about Italy:

women in skirts on Vespas

men in pink pants

the song of cicadas

angels on bridges

Aperol Spritz with free appetizers

Things to love about France:

cheese

Pastis

multi-language Scrabble at night in the café on the square

being able to speak the language

the stranger with the kindest face I’ve ever seen

Things to love about Germany:

girls on bicycles

women in braids

tall, good-looking men who drink beer for breakfast

windows that both tilt and open – hello America!

efficiency and cleanliness in every corner

And yet,

despite all the new experiences and new friends to love,

I am ready to come home.

Travel can be both exhilarating and isolating...

It is like being invited to a party,

but watching it through the window from the sidewalk.

And you may tell yourself,
This is not my beautiful house
This is not my beautiful wife…

That said, people here have been extremely friendly. Indeed, I have had to ask for assistance a number of times and have only experienced helpfulness and generosity (sometimes in words I couldn’t understand but, still, the kindness is decipherable).

Of course, when traveling, one has to be prepared to be humbled by the inevitable mistakes that happen. Traveling alone, in particular, can be very educating.

Here are six handy travel tips I can share with you:

Do NOT get involved in an emotional text message while waiting for the train. If you do, you will find yourself, ten minutes later, sitting on the slow rumbler that stops at every god-forsaken little station, examining your expensive ticket for the high-speed trip, as your sleek, modern train whizzes by. The Hey, that’s my train moment……
Do NOT agree to rub ointment onto the aching back of an Italian man. When he goes to the hospital in an ambulance, it is not your fault. The fact that he phones a dozen people to discuss the situation, saying things like “L’Americana” and “massaggio” will remind you to never do this again. In fact, the Italian Parliament is probably drafting a law, even now, to ensure that you, personally, never again perform “massaggio” in Italy.
Do NOT let the owner of the lovely restaurant on the outskirts of Sienna ply you with free Limoncellos, no matter how nice he is, or how sweet and yummy they are. If you get lost finding your way back to the hostel that night, it is your own fault
Do NOT bring luggage to Corniglia, in the Cinque Terre. Just don’t. If the sun is relentless and the bus is done for the day, it is just you and 400, yes 400, stairs to climb from the train station to the village. Trust me, it’s better to wear the same sundress for three days....
Do NOT sit on the Altstadt in Dusseldorf, at night, in a pretty dress. Known as “the longest bar in the world,” this is not a place I’d recommend wandering alone. The men are not shy…...
Do NOT try to drive like the Italians. When they roar up on your tail and park there, 2cm away, set aside your driving bravado and just pull over. Let them rush past you. Let them rip down double roads the width of a horsecart. Let them pass the ubiquitous bicyclist on a blind corner. In this case, when in Rome, do NOT do like the Romans….

These may (or may not) be valuable lessons. Some of them may (or may not) end up in the book on which I am feverishly working, day and night (well, that may be a small exaggeration, but it is coming along). Fresh inspiration is a beautiful thing. As is the call of one’s home.

And so, in a week, I return with several mementos (the snakeskin I found, a few feathers, the rosaries blessed by the pope – one for me, one for my mom), a few lessons, a couple new friendships, and one open heart..............

and more David Byrne singing in my head -

I’m wakin’ at the crack of dawn…
Gonna be on my way…
And my head is fifty feet high…
Let my body and soul be my guide.

I hope to see you all soon!

xox, Cate

The gritty underbelly of glamor

noreply@blogger.com (Cate) — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 06:34:00 +0000

Every glamorous thing has its flip side, when reality smacks you in the face.

You know what I mean - that fleeting “I hate everything” moment that comes to all of us.
We tend to shun such unacceptable thoughts because it’s not nice to hate and my mother taught me to count my blessings.

Counting blessings is good, but there’s still that moment….

Here are some examples you may relate to:

Having a Baby.

What a wonderful, exciting event!
Everyone gushes over you; you get to buy new clothes; people hold parties just so they can give you gifts; and babies are so adorable….

Then, there’s that moment when you realize it may be years before you sleep a night through, there’s spitup stains on the shoulder of every blouse you own, your figure will never be the same, and good god will he never stop crying?

Getting a Job out of College.

What a wonderful exciting event!
Everyone gushes over you; you get to wear grown up clothes; you’ll be raking in the dough; and the girls will swoon over your hot new car….
Then, there’s that moment when you realize you hate your boss, the paycheck barely covers the rent-plus-student-loans, 6 am is freakin’ early, and oh god am I really going to be doing this every day for the rest of my life?

Falling in Love.
What a wonderful exciting event!
Everyone gushes over you; you go buy sexy new shoes; there’s magic in his every look and touch; and he is so handsome….
Then, there’s that moment when you realize he farts in bed, he wants to watch sports all day, your sink will never again be free of dishes, and how could anyone hate your mother.

You know what I mean.

Well, I reached my “I hate everything” moment yesterday.

I hesitate to share this side of me, because I know you all think I am “living the life” here in Tuscany. Yet, in the interest of honesty, here it is: the gritty side of the glamor:

For the last month I have basked in the sun, savored nature’s bounty for every meal, relished getting my hands into soil again, and appreciated all the abundant plant and animal life.

Yesterday, that all changed.

First, I was so frickin’ hot. Yes, I know you all are hot too. But (and yes, I am whining) I have no air conditioning, no cold water, no ice (the freezer doesn’t work), no access to a pool or lake, and I’d surely expire if I rode the bike into town for a cold beer.

Second, my love and appreciation of all things living is kaput. I’m talking about mosquitos. Are they really one of God’s creatures? Why, I ask, why?

Sure, I brought repellant, but I’m pretty sure the jokester at the factory put attractant in my bottle. I have so many bites, I look like I have chicken pox. The little bastards are stealth machines – tiny and silent. I seldom even see one to swat at. But the evidence of their presence is abundant. Last night, as I lay “protected” under my mosquito netting, I saw one fly by my face. I wanted to cry.

I tried rubbing my body with mint, basil, and clay from the stream (the clay was a good look). These are supposedly natural repellants. Not.

The Buddhist owner here says mosquitos don’t bother him and that I just need to make peace with them. So, I tried to create positive zen energy by telling the little buggers I would not try to kill them if they would not eat me alive. I actually refrained from swatting them for a period…but they did not reciprocate the kindness….

So, fuck natural remedies and fuck sending them positive energy. I resorted to Deet. Nothing like bathing in chemicals every morning and night. Plus, there’s the smell. Ugh. I laughed when an Italian lady at the market said to me, “Oh, you smell good. I love your perfume.” Parfum de Deet, it’s all the rage. Then, I ran out of the stuff, and you can’t find it here.

I’ve hardly slept at night due to the sensitivity of all those bites and I can’t open the windows because the screens suck and it’s too hot out there anyway.

Plus, I was tired of dirt under my fingernails.
And tired of getting shocked every time I plug in my old metal-sided computer (power converter not withstanding).
And I would have killed for a burger, or a Starbucks iced latte, or even a popsicle.
And then, the final straw. I had a gastrointestinal reaction to something I ate and my stomach was in revolt.

That’s when it happened. I got to that point. The “I hate everything” moment.

It came in the middle of the night and I didn’t fight it.

I just lay with it. I looked it in the face, acknowledged it, and accepted the moment.

I knew that it came from a culmination of many things: losses, challenges, changes, incessant itching.

I relished, for a moment, the grief that still rolls over me from some of the recent transitions in my life. I let it lie on me like an exhausted lover, cherishing its weight, then patting it on the fanny and telling it to move off.

I sighed, for a moment, over the feeling that life is just too hard, sometimes. I let that belief soak gently into me and disappear, like soft rain on hard ground.

I said out loud, “And I’m tired of trying to speak freakin’ Italian!” And that was okay, too. And it made me laugh, which made my stomach gurgle, which made me giggle again.

And then it was done. My happy equilibrium returned and I fell to sleep peacefully.

I’m a big believer in letting all emotions have their moment in the spotlight, without judgment. Yet, we are taught to repress our negative emotions. We've all seen someone yell, “I’m not angry!” or say, “Everything’s fine,” with their features screwed up tight, or deny that they are irritated, after pitching a bitch fit, simply because being irritated is not on their list of allowed emotions. This is something we learn from years of social training.

The best way to get to the other side of an emotion is to lean into it. Kind of like crossing a river. You can lean into the current and move through it, or you can turn your back to it and let the current knock you in the knees.

“What river? I don’t see any river.”

Denying it does not make it go away.

We start early to indoctrinate our children on this “just say no” to emotions. If a child comes home complaining about a teacher, most parents say all sort of things like: “She’s just trying to help you,” or “You need to be paying better attention,” or “It’s not nice to call her a mean old cat.” And the child will argue back and explain and get more upset (because he hasn’t yet learned the rule about which emotions are okay and which are not).

I learned, with my kids, that acknowledging the emotion immediately diffused it. I would simply say, to the complaining child, “It sounds like you’re upset.”

He would look me in the face and say, “Yeah.” Then, having been heard and understood, he would go play and forget all about it. Try it. It works.

It worked for me last night. I looked that unpleasant emotion in the face and it quickly disappeared..

So, I say, let those emotions have their day. Lean into them. Let them be in the spotlight for the attention they crave. Then, they will simply escort themselves off stage, like characters whose scene is over, leaving you to enjoy the play.

And in the meantime, is anyone willing to mail me some Deet???? Email me at cjmighell@gmail.com

It takes a village....

noreply@blogger.com (Cate) — Sun, 28 Jun 2015 09:42:00 +0000

As most of you know, I love to write.

Many of you read my first mystery, Silent Sky. Yes, I like to write about adventure and action . . . and yes, Reina is getting into trouble again. . . . She just can't help it!

What you may not know, is that I have oodles of other stuff that languishes, lonely, on my computer. I just am not very disciplined about submitting stories and articles and poems for publication. Sometimes, I wonder if, as with Emily Dickinson, my poetry will be discovered post-mortem and will find a place in this world.

Or, perhaps I'll get the guts to publish some of it one day.....

Anywho . . . I am making an effort to get my writing out there in the world. And that is where you all come in. . . . .

I would love it if you would all read the piece that just got published in the lovely, online elephant journal. Just click on the link below and check it out. Then, even if it is not your cup of tea, if you would be so kind as to share it (ASAP if possible as the internet world moves quickly) to your family/friends on facebook, google+, and any other social media you use, that would be so totally awesome!!

http://www.elephantjournal.com/2015/06/a-yoga-garden-discovered-in-tuscany/

I hope you all know how much I appreciate the support and comments and love I receive from you! Keep sending me emails.

xox, Cate
cjmighell@gmail.com

Today's Friday, I think I'll Move to Italy

noreply@blogger.com (Cate) — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 15:57:00 +0000

Buon Giorno from Italy!

One month ago I decided I needed a change. Now, some people rearrange the furniture. Me, I moved to Italy. For a time, anyway, exact dates yet to be determined....

People ask, "How did you just up and do that?" Well, I hopped onto a website, found a housesitting position in Tuscany, and two days later bought my ticket.

Most people are not comfortable with such drastic changes, and for good reason; There is the house and car and pets and job and all the stuff to take care of.

Several years ago, I started simplifying my life by paring down on life's "stuff." I ruthlessly sold, gave away, or threw away all kinds of things, even those items that held memories or family significance.
Sure, I still have the photo albums of my kids and some small family mementos, but did I really need to store that antique dining room table for the "someday" that one of my kids might want it? Nope. Let it go. What about the extra coats and blankets crammed in the closet? (in case of a terrorist strike on our power grid) - Let 'em go. What about the piles of electronic cords and bits accumulated from various past computers? (might need one to garrotte a zombie during the apocalypse) - Let 'em go. What about the blenders (how did I end up with three?), the broken lamps, the mismatched Tupperware, the extra frames, the scraps of paper/wood/fabric/metal/junk that I might need someday for something? - Let 'em all go.

And, I discovered that with each layer I let go, I felt lighter and lighter. I tell people, now, that I spent 25 years accumulating stuff and I spent the last five trying to get rid of it all.

I see so many houses full of clutter - old magazines, figurines and trinkets, a china cabinet full of vases and never-used crystal glasses. Walls, corners, closets full of precious "stuff" that accumulates like layers of papier mâché, restricting our mobility. When I walk into a house full of old stuff, I immediately feel it weigh down my energy. There is a reason spas are so spartan, clean and bright; Open space allows energy to flow freely. I often notice that the inhabitants of cluttered homes are perennially tired, overweight, or even sickly. It is no wonder! Their energy is slumping with the dust bunnies beneath the unused piano.

Step one to being open to change is to get rid of stuff. Trust me, you'll feel better. Take your stuff to someplace like Goodwill and allow someone less fortunate to benefit from your discards. I love to shop at Goodwill. I like that no new resources are consumed in what I buy and I also find some awesome, unique clothing that is impossible to find in the ubiquitous chain stores.

Step two to making positive changes is learning to develop a comfort level with the unknown. The unknown is scary, kind of like that monster under your bed when you were a kid - I vividly recall how terrified I was, as a child, to put my feet on the floor because of whatever it was that was lurking under my bed. And yet, like that imaginary monster, the reality behind our fears doesn't really exist.

Yes, real and present on a recent walk

I ask myself, when fears crop up (and they do), "Is this a real and present danger, (i.e., the house is on fire; I could perish in the flames) or is it an imaginary scenario?"

Imaginary scenarios include, "What if the plane gets highjacked?" "What if my money and passport get stolen?" "What if TSA finds more than 3 ounces of lotion in my carry-on and throws me into the gulag?"

Yes, any of the above could happen (well, maybe not the gulag...) but they are not real and present dangers. Yes, I need to prepare adequately and take precautions, as with anything, and then I need to step forward boldly in action. That is where the fun starts to happen in life. New experiences, new people, new challenges to keep the mind and body and soul growing. Change is invigorating!

"When you step out boldly toward change, the universal plates move to support you -

dance lightly and joyfully on the shifting times"

Step three to experiencing the benefit of change is to cultivate a sense of attention. Be aware of when something doesn't feel right in your life. If your life is feeling stale or unsatisfying, be open to looking it in the face and asking why. In all likelihood, it won't require a wholesale move to another country, but perhaps a little change will breathe more joy into your life - take dancing lessons, learn to fly (had to throw that one in), get a sex change (just a quick nod to Bruce Jenner there). Be attentive to your life. It's the only one you got, so don't waste a single day wishing it were something different.

And when you make a change, be attentive, and accepting, of whatever it brings.

This is me without luggage

For example, lost baggage. Okay, I can wear the same clothes for three days. The other passengers in the train may not like it, but c'est la vie! Oops, thats' French, which brings me to the next difficulty: I don't speak a word of Italian (other than pizza, spaghetti, ravioli, etc). Not being able to communicate is an ego leveler. On my first trip to the supermercado, I brought a bunch of fruits and vegies to the check out not realizing I was supposed to weigh them and put the pricetag on myself. Of course, the line was building up behind me, with me stumbling to understand.... Embarassing, yeah, but I just smiled, said grazie and headed back to the produce section.

Unlike some European countries, very few people here speak English. And why should they? It's Italy, after all, and their language is perfectly good. So, I am busy learning enough Italian to not feel like an idiot in public. Other little challenges crop up every day - how to get around, how to find a public toilet, how to smile at the attention from handsome Italianos without giving them too much encouragement....

Change is life's way of opening new doors for us (although sometimes you have to wait for that door, as in when you bike into town several kilometers away, only to find that the store is closed from 12:30 to 4:30! - see left)

Sometimes change is a little painful during the transition period, especially when it comes unasked, as in the loss of a loved one, but there is a whole new world available to us when we step across the threshold of change.

So, see if your life could use a little (or big) change. And if you do end up in Italy...be sure and look me up! But wherever it is life brings you, I hope your view is grand!

xox, Cate

In Need of Mental Floss

noreply@blogger.com (Cate) — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 04:13:00 +0000

I have decided that I have "professional schizophrenia."

You see, I really want to spend all my time writing. And I need to finish/publish all the stuff I've written - ghost stories, erotica, children's books, poems, and that PROMISED sequel to Silent Sky!
For those of you who have asked, the sequel won't be long. See below for a contest to title it.

The other part of me says, I really want to spend all my time flying. I want to stay steeped in aviation and have amazing flying adventures. I want to go and see and do, not sit around behind a computer! To that end, I have recently started working with NW Seaplanes out of Seattle. Who knows, maybe I'll finally get my floatplane license . . . in a De Havilland Beaver? Big Smile! And I want to fly to OshKosh this year, an event I've never been to - always too busy running my businesses.

And yet a third person inside me says, I really want to spend all my time helping people. I obtained my Life Coach Certificate this year (through the Tony Robbins - Rock Star of Transformational Change - program) and so many people tell me how my words and suggestions have helped them find positive change within themselves.

I suppose we all find ourselves pulled in different directions. We struggle to balance the work vs. play/earn vs. spend/do vs. be sides of our selves. Although sometimes I chastise myself for not marching more methodically toward my goals, I am also kind to myself. It will all come in time and, somehow, all the puzzle pieces fit together to make the whole of a well-lived life.

What do you work to juggle in your life?

Mark Twain said,

The two most important days of your life

are the day you are born

and the day you find out why.

I do believe we are all put on this earth for a reason, with a mission. I'm fine-tuning what mine is. What's yours? I love to hear from you, as always.

Oh, and here is the Book-Naming Contest: I want the title of the sequel to have the word "Sky" in it (you know, like Silent Sky) only different. I realize you don't know the content, but know that Reina and friends will have to unwind a mystery that will lead to danger and excitement. So . . . throw out some titles. Anything goes as long as it has the word "Sky" somewhere. If I choose your title, you get a free, specially signed, copy

Looking forward to your comments/emails! cjmighell@gmail.com

xo, Cate

Reality - It's a Whole New World

noreply@blogger.com (Cate) — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 20:13:00 +0000

When I was raising my boys, I watched a lot of Disney movies with them. As you know, all those films end Happily Ever After. Of course, we all know reality is something quite different. The bad guys don't always get their comeuppance, the genie doesn't really appear to grant your wishes, the princess doesn't necessarily ride off into the sunset with her prince.

You were probably taught about reality too - that you have to work hard, often in a job you hate, to pay the bills; You have to scrape and scurry to climb that ladder so you can have all those things that are supposed to make life better; You have to protect your own, because there is not enough to go around; And, if you suffer enough, you will get your reward in the after life.

In fact, our whole world is built on those premises. Scrape, Scurry, Struggle, Protect. We do work that numbs us to death because it will enable us to buy that bigger house or boat or car. We don't stop to give that guy on the corner twenty bucks because, dammit, we worked hard for our money (and he didn't!) Our corporations underpay employees so they can increase profits. Our countries wage war to protect economic security and religious self-righteousness. And each fear-based, defensive action perpetuates another round of war, poverty, hate, hopelessness.

Don't get me wrong. I am no stranger to "reality." I grew up economically deprived. I've worked hard at jobs I hated. I've decreed the beggar on the street to be a "bum." I've tried to justify religion and war, in the name of God and self-defense. I've accumulated wealth in the hopes it would buy me happiness.

But guess what? None of it worked. Living in fear and self-defense just doesn't bring happiness or security, on a small or large scale. Check it out:

"For most of this century, we've been fighting wars to enhance our security, and each time, we find ourselves with more enemies and less security." -Steve Chapman

So, something's gotta change... Can I change the world with one blog post? I WISH!!!!

Can we change at all? I believe the answer is yes.

I believe we change one person at a time. Personal transformation and empowerment has always been near and dear to my heart. It is what I loved about teaching people how to fly and what I love about being a Life Coach, writer, and speaker.

I hope you will join with me - and Disney's Aladdin - in believing the world into a different reality. I can personally testify that when we change our beliefs, we change our reality. I've seen it in my life and I've seen it in others. Your life depends on it. And so does our world.

I can show you the world
Shining, shimmering, splendid . . .

I can open your eyes
Take you wonder by wonder
Over, sideways and under
On a magic carpet ride

A whole new world
A new fantastic point of view
No one to tell us no or where to go
Or say we're only dreaming

A whole new world
A dazzling place I never knew
But when I'm way up here, it's crystal clear . . .
Soaring, tumbling, freewheeling
Through an endless diamond sky

A whole new world
Don't you dare close your eyes
A hundred thousand things to see
Hold your breath, it gets better

I'm like a shooting star
I've come so far
I can't go back
To where I used to be . . .

A wondrous place
For you and me

Listen to Aladdin here

PS. I know I've been a long time silent. I missed you all!!

xo, Cate

New Adventures

noreply@blogger.com (Cate) — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 01:56:00 +0000

Christmas morning chaos

Some people seem to have a pretty straight course through life. That is apparently not my destiny. Perhaps it is because I was raised in a normal-sized house with 11 siblings. The home environment was like that of a Mexican Jumping Bean (remember those?) - there was always something popping or rolling or moving. One never knew how many would be at the dinner table or who would be found kissing their boyfriend behind the hall door. One had to move quickly to get a turn at the bathroom, a hope for another scoop of spaghetti, a chance for a sofa seat instead of the floor. It was busy and chaotic and ever-changing. And that seems to be the pace at which my life still runs.

I've always sought out new adventures

The latest change in my life was completely unanticipated. After careers in teaching all ages, running million dollar companies, aviation instruction and travel, and book writing, I was offered a chance to be an "Adventure Consultant" (who could turn that down?) The job entails custom-designing offsite wilderness adventures for companies. One person I spoke with said, "That has got to be the best sounding job title I've ever heard." Of course, his title was "Perks Director" so I felt the same way toward him.

Flying fun!

So far, the best part has been visiting the properties (had to fly there in a de Havilland Beaver on floats - darn!) We did lots of fishing and brought home loads of salmon. I can't complain. If any of you know of companies that do trips like this, get them up here! I promise they'll come back with big grins!

In the meantime, I'm still writing, still dancing, still flying, and I just started piano and voice lessons. It's that Mexican jumping bean thing. Gotta keep rockin' and rollin'!

Hope your life is rockin' too! Drop me a line....cjmighell@gmail.com

xo, Cate

Struggling

noreply@blogger.com (Cate) — Fri, 08 Aug 2014 20:59:00 +0000

I had a dream some nights ago in which I was trying to prepare for a trip to the airport. I was rushed, and stressed that there were so many things to pack, and so many things to do to meet my timeline. I found myself hurrying across a town square, in some unknown town, to make it to a restaurant where I had, for some reason, left some of my things. I forced what I could into my luggage, and shoved the rest into a grocery bag. I then dragged the bulky pullman and the additional bag back across the rough dirt road and began lugging it up a hill, pushing hard to make it on time. Just then, my bag burst open and all its contents spewed out. Breathing hard, certain I would miss my flight, I crawled on my hands and knees to gather up the random items - a can of oil for my car, a pair of cheap flip flops, shirts, shorts, panties rolling around in the town square dust. Hurry, hurry, get it done, get there on time. Suddenly, I found myself tossed into the air by a bull, a Brahmin bull. The rush and panic were replaced with stillness as I floated above the bull's back, light and weightless. The bull turned its huge head up and said to me, "It is when you stop struggling, that I can carry you."

I am reminded of that dream this morning. A dragonfly (my spirit animal) has flown into my house. He is large with a tattered wing. Perhaps a bit like me. He landed right by my knee for a moment, then flew off to circumnavigate the room. He has been busily buzzing the windows, struggling to get where he needs to go. I know there is no hope of catching him to help him out. Finally, he quieted on the windowsill. He stopped struggling. I walked over to him and ever so gently placed one hand over him. He didn't move. I placed the other hand under to scoop him up and he stepped onto my finger. I lifted and cradled him, in the pocket of my hands. He didn't struggle. I walked with him outside. His translucent wings quivered, but he stayed still. I lifted my upper hand and he sat still on my finger, turning only to look at me. I held him close to my face, so I could see the green speckles on his body, and the large, bulbous eyes. We looked at each other for a full thirty seconds. Then I said to him, "You can fly now," and he did. His wings lifted and he rose into the air. It was when he stopped struggling, that I was able to carry him.

Struggling. Trying to be, trying to get, trying to have. We all struggle. We struggle against emotions that we "shouldn't" have. We struggle against an unreasonable boss, or an unappreciative mate, or an uncooperative situation. We struggle against time and age. We struggle against perceived limits, and glass ceilings, and situations beyond our control. We think, "If I had more time, or money, or good looks, or luck, then I wouldn't have to struggle so much." We rush and hurry and beat our wings against the world.

Suppose we stopped struggling. Suppose we accepted the time and money, and looks we have. Suppose we accepted the people in our lives for who they are and who they aren't. Suppose we accepted where we are now, with love and gratitude.

I don't believe ceasing to struggle means being passive. I think of flying airplanes. In a stall, the aircraft will naturally right itself if we take our hands off the control (of course, adequate altitude for the recovery is necessary here). Most airplanes are designed to achieve stability if we don't struggle against them too much. In an emergency, struggle, or panic, is your worst enemy. The key is to understand and accept the current situation - "Ok, my alternator just went out, and I'm 11,000 feet over rural Oregon in the soup" (yes, this happened to me). "This is where I am. This is my plan of action for this situation."

This is where I am. This is my one, big, beautiful life. This is me, in all my perfect imperfections. This is okay and right and wonderful, just as it is.

And so, here I am, with lessons from bulls, and dragonflies, and airplanes. Learning not to struggle. It is a peaceful, powerful place to be.

xo, Cate

Frayed edges

noreply@blogger.com (Cate) — Sat, 19 Jul 2014 03:58:00 +0000

Where have I been? How did three months go by without a moment to sit down and write? Well...sold a business, moved out of one house and into another, went to Hawaii. Life seems to never slow down. And I guess it's just as well. Although I envisioned having the summer to chill and recover from the soul-suck of the last year behind a desk, I find that I am already seeking employment. The bills must be paid! Fortunately, some interesting opportunities are coming my way

Although I suppose we all, occasionally, wish for a life of luxury and ease, I do, in fact, like to work. I like the challenge of a new job, a new puzzle for me to solve. And I am grateful for my ability to be strong and quick and to connect well with people. I am, this week, grateful for so many things. Grateful that my little home on the river did not burn down in the raging wildfire only a few miles away; Grateful that the miniscus repair on my knee went so well and that the doctor says I "have the knee of a twenty year old;" Grateful that my three sons are, blessedly, alive and well.

At the doctor's office today, I read how the recently renewed attacks between Israel and Hamas (Gaza Strip) were inflamed by an attack on three Israeli teenagers, which provoked a reply attack on an innocent Gaza teenager. Four young people dead (plus so many more!) and grieving, loving communities determined to make sure their lives are avenged. I can only imagine the grief, and the desire to retaliate. But it never ends. Killing only begets more killing.

While waiting for the doctor, I jotted this down on my iphone, a sad ode to the conflict in the middle east:

Peace on Earth

You, with your murderous audacity, you who took the three sons we bow to bury, the teens we don't know, the teens we vow to avenge. You, we will kill, not directly, as you hide in the smoke and alleys. We will not cut your shadowed face or rip your well-fed limbs.

Instead, we will take the baby-faced 16 year old, on his way home from school, with dinner on his mind. Him we will drag off the sidewalk. Him we will smash on the gutter grate. Him we will burn while he gasps and cries and shakes.

Your teen shall join our teens, your wife shall join our wives, your babies shall join our babies, in the hot exhaust of our hate that knows no end, in the toxic fumes that trail our lives of anger and revenge.

Peace you shall not know, and peace we shall not know, until peace we find together, in the brotherhood of hell.

We are so blessed and protected here in the US. And yet, the world is fraying at the edges. Now we have a major airliner shot down with hundreds killed. What can we do? Foster compassion, peace, love. And spread the same wherever you can. And, please, don't bury your heads in the sense of isolation we have here in the US. We need to stay involved in our world to effect change.

With love and gratitude!

xo, Cate

Dog Days of Spring

noreply@blogger.com (Cate) — Sat, 12 Apr 2014 23:02:00 +0000

This dog, Britt, may look easy-going, but don't be deceived. I am watching her for a friend today and she is keeping me company as I pack up my stuff to move again. (ugh!) After moping around the box piles for a while, we decided to take a walk. Or rather, I decided it would be good for us to walk. She decided otherwise. She fought me every ten feet, digging her heels in, as if to say, "Nope, no thanks, don't wanna leave the last place I saw my owner." We finally turned around, but it is a shame because today is warm and sunny and I know she would have enjoyed the walk. . . .

They say that animals teach us lots of lessons, if we are willing to listen. Native Americans believe that animals are our link between the physical and spiritual worlds. Perhaps this is so.

It occurred to me, as Britt dragged her haunches behind the leash, that I am kinda doing the same thing to the Universe. The Universe is pulling me along, away from what I have known and am comfortable with, and I am feeling very resistant to that pull. I want to dig my heels in and say, "Nope, no thanks, don't wanna go into the unknown." And yet, historically, every time I've released the heel breaks of my life, I've been catapulted forward into an unanticipatedly wonderful new life adventure. You'd think I'd learn.

Well, maybe it was the fresh air or maybe it was the doggie lesson that brought me back to the house with a renewed energy for packing up and moving on. Change is hard and packing is a drag, yet the new horizons that await me, just around the corner, beckon like a park full of fire hydrants (in dog-speak).

Now, if I could just sell this dining room table set so I don't have to pay to move it again....

Happy dog dreams to you all!

xo, Cate

Imposters and Moons

noreply@blogger.com (Cate) — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 03:32:00 +0000

Today, a woman came up to me at the author's table at the WAI conference in Orlando and thanked me for my talk yesterday.

She said, "It was during your presentation that I had an epiphany, I realized 'I am an imposter.'" She went on to explain how she had held a whole string of illustrious jobs in the aviation world and she hated every one of them. She had only followed that path because of her father's nudging. What she really wanted to do was write. She said, "Thank you. You have given me the inspiration to pursue my own dream instead of following someone else's dream."

That is pretty powerful stuff.

Whether talking to grade schools, high schools (the toughest audience!) or adults, the commonality is that we all have dreams, some of which have been unrealized because of fears, or external pressures, or uncertainties about how to proceed. I don't pretend to be the queen of dream-makers. There are amazing women and men out there who have conquered the world in truly extraordinary ways. But it's not about conquering the world or making lots of money; It's about doing what you love and find rewarding, whether it be running a Fortune 500 company or quilting for homeless people. Despite what the world may try to convince us about success, the only true definer of your success is your own heart.

Whatever it is a person wants to do, I tell them "Shoot for the moon." I say, "Even if you miss, you'll land on a star."

Last week, I saw a card with that exact saying in a bookstore. Darn! I thought I had made that one up!

Happy dreams to you all!

xo, Cate

The Happiest Place on Earth

noreply@blogger.com (Cate) — Sat, 08 Mar 2014 02:13:00 +0000

Today marks my third day at Coronado Springs Hotel in Disneyworld, Orlando. I came for the Thursday-Saturday Women in Aviation International Annual Conference. And I came a day early to enjoy a little Florida sun, which has remained shy at showing its face. My sole regret, however, is that my baggage decided to take the long way here, only just arriving today, and leaving me for two days with yoga pants, a jean jacket, and no makeup. Lovely. But I try to look at the bright side - I was forced to obtain some new duds at the outlet mall yesterday, so as to be ready for today's presentation.

Speaking of the bright side, I asked the gift store attendant if everyone here got special training to be smiley and friendly. He said no, it was just expected. And isn't that a wonderful thing? Although I have
occasionally scoffed at Disney properties for their facade of life as a clean, happy, whistling-a-tune-as-I-go kind of place, I rather like the concept. For a while anyway. I am not suggesting that we all go around with foolish grins or Pollyanna attitudes, but imagine how we could alter our realities if we each made a little more effort to be friendly, attentive, kind, and considerate.I don't think it would take away the raw edge of life, but it might blunt it a little bit.

This picture is of me (in my baggage-lost-had-to-buy-it new dress) and new friend, Kathy, from Connecticut. Kathy is a flight instructor and aspiring writer. We talked about flying, airplanes, writing, dreaming, universal guidance, and life philosophy both before and after my speech. She is such a nice person, she almost puts Disney employees to shame. At 26, she's already conquered so much of the world, and with a smile.

Best part of my job, as author and speaker:
The awesome people I meet.

xo, Cate

Adventures here and there

noreply@blogger.com (Cate) — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 06:20:00 +0000

Ah, busy times.
I spent all of last weekend at the NW Aviation conference, speaking, and signing books, and chatting with friends, old and new. I met up with Ken Davies from the new flight school, Cascade Aviation, at Skagit airport. He is very excited about starting up some awesome programs that encourage women (Pink Squadron) and youth to fly. He has invited me to be involved with them. His energy and enthusiasm remind me of Out of the Blue Aviation.

Speaking of Out of the Blue, we had a little "reunion" a couple of weeks ago. It was so much fun, we've decided to make it a regular event. These are people I have a lot of great history with and to whom I owe all the success that was Out of the Blue. I definitely want to be a part of that type of flight school again - so I hope to be flying soon up at Skagit with Cascade. Skagit appears to be the happening airport right now, with the museum from Bellingham having just moved there and two restaurants and a lot of good energy. If anyone is interested in learning more about the flight school there, drop me an email.

In the meantime, I am finishing up my week here in Twisp, in beautiful Okanagon Couny, promoting women in aviation. I spoke today to the middle school and high school and alternative school. Tomorrow I speak to the grade school (fun!) then it is a book signing at Trail's End Bookstore and all day Saturday at the airport doing meet and greet. Plus I get to go fly tomorrow with my host, Bob, in his Cessna 170. I'll try to post some pics of the beautiful countryside here. Gorgeous rolling hills covered in snowy pines and a blue sky backdrop that seems to never end. All good stuff!

xo, Cate
cjmighell@gmail.com

Dancing the Wild Fandango

noreply@blogger.com (Cate) — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 04:52:00 +0000

Our dreams wait in the wings
for us to step into their arms
so they can dance away with us.

Those of you who know me, know I love to dance and I love to fly, so I like the imagery of the above saying. It's got wings (yeah, double entendre there), and dancing, and theater (the double). Okay, I'm not so big on theater and acting. Don't get me wrong; I'd like to give it a try if I had the time and the guts. But really, public speaking is not my favorite thing. Has anybody out there done Toastmasters? I keep thinking I should join a group. What about karaoke? I went out twice last week for karaoke and there were some pretty weak performances. But who cares? I admired them for getting up and belting out tunes.

In any case, I am getting a little more practice talking in front of people, with a whole bunch of speaking opportunities in the next two months. I am doing book readings and luncheons and dinners and school assemblies and conferences (if you're going to the NW Aviation Conference, I'll be speaking Saturday at 2:15 - come say hi!). I used to be quite susceptible to stage fright. Like anything, practice makes perfect, and I am finding that I enjoy the challenge of sharing my passions with groups of people.

What is it that scares you? What do you avoid? What do you secretly wish you had the guts to do? Sometimes, you just gotta step into whatever it is that scares you and suddenly you find you are dancing to new and exhilarating music.Or just doing something wild and crazy on the beach. Whatever works for you!

As always, I love to hear your thoughts via email at cjmighell@gmail.com

xo, Cate

A B-52 Year

noreply@blogger.com (Cate) — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 17:23:00 +0000

Greetings!

We are well into the New Year of 2014 and I have also begun my personal New Year, having celebrated my birthday on January 10th.

If last year was my P-51 year (Powerful 51), this year is my B-52 (Bountiful 52). A few years ago, the B-52 completed 50 years of continuous service (just like me) and is expected to continue to serve into the 2040s (absolutely! I intend to be running strong then too!). The B-52 has "superior performance at high subsonic speeds and relatively low operating costs" (ah, the similarities continue!) And its nickname is "BUFF" which also applies :-) (I won't tell you what the acronym stands for, because it definitely doesn't work in the search for commonalities!).

As you can see from the picture, the B-52 has gone through a number of evolutions and iterations, as have I.

And that, perhaps, is the key to surviving so long - the ability to adapt and improve, and the willingness to accept change. Change is one of the most difficult things for us to embrace. We often fight against the inevitable evolution of life. We hold tightly to people and places that no longer serve us simply because we fear the uncertainty that letting go would cause; We resist losing those we love, whether it be through diverging paths or as a result of death, because we dread the pain that loss would bring; We insist on continuing behavior or patterns that are destructive because they are comfortable. We are indeed creatures of habit.

It was not until I learned to accept change, embrace it even, as part of the beautiful evolution of being, that I really began to relax into my life. The tumultuousness of change is a bit like the churning of a washing machine. At the end of the cycle, everything comes out fresh and clean. All that tossing about can be a bit jarring, but it is a necessary process to keep us from getting stale and stagnant.

And so, I enter my B-52 year excited about all the changes the new year will bring. For starters, I am planning to create a new look for this blog. I have let it lapse a bit lately and would like to morph into a slightly new direction - some aviation, some adventure, some ad-libbing on various subjects. I hope you will all make that transition with me and invite others along for the ride. More details to follow on that....

In the meantime, go out there and shake it up a bit!

xo, Cate

Merry Christmas Wishes

noreply@blogger.com (Cate) — Wed, 25 Dec 2013 19:53:00 +0000

Lying in bed at 4am Christmas Morning with a 102.4 fever, I think of wishes . . . .

And so, here are some Christmas wishes for you, laced with only a little bit of feverish delirium.....

~May you find joy in every little thing and be generous in sharing it with others.

~May you throw the expectations of others aside and be wholly, unapologetically YOU.

~Like "The Dude" in "The Big Liebowski," may you simply ABIDE in the moment, not letting anything get you too wound up.

~May you embrace your own personal insanity as the fount of your creativity and uniqueness.

~May you embrace your physical body with gratitude, regardless of what it looks like - honor and care for the vessel that carries you through your days.

~May you find someone whose heart feels like home.

~May you never wallow in self-pity, but rather accept what is, and move on from there.

~May you learn to set fear aside and, instead, base all actions on the incredible abundance of the universe.

~May you be instrumental in killing the belief that it is a "Dog eat Dog" world - there Is plenty for all in our world, if we would only learn to manage our resources better.

~May you adopt the philosophy to "Do no harm" - just three simple words, but they could change the world.

~And finally, may you have a Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas.

Fondly, Cate

It's a boat, it's a plane, it's SuperReader!

noreply@blogger.com (Cate) — Wed, 13 Nov 2013 22:09:00 +0000

Although some people may get distracted by proximity to cool machines like Beavers and Gillnetters, this reader didn't let beautiful pieces of engineering keep him from finishing SILENT SKY. He did confide in me that he had hoped the mechanic in the book would have gotten a little more action. But hey, we gotta leave something for the sequels, right?

Another reader sent me a note saying that he finally wrenched the book he'd bought from his daughter-in-law so he could have a chance to read it. Apparently, his wife got a hold of it, then his daughter, then his son, then another friend . . . and they all loved it. None of these readers are pilots, so be assured that SILENT SKY is not just a book for pilots.

That said, Christmas is coming up. Wouldn't a fun book like SILENT SKY make a great gift? (Yes, that's a hint). My website, OneSkyPublishing.com is now set up with a paypal button so you can buy directly off the website. If you want to buy multiples, email me directly: cjmighell@gmail.com . I'll give you a discount, and custom sign them too.
And, of course, referrals are greatly appreciated as well!

xo, Cate

War zones

noreply@blogger.com (Cate) — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 16:03:00 +0000

I got my hair done today. It is an expensive endeavor but worth it, because bad hair can totally ruin a girl's day, in a way maybe men can't understand?

While I sat wrapped in foil and goo, a woman came up and chatted with my hairdresser, Jenifer. She asked if Jen would do a neighbor woman's hair who "hadn't had her hair done in over two years because her husband wouldn't allow it." She then went on to describe how this mother of a seven year old had been married for 20 years but finally sought shelter at the local Catholic church after her husband tried to choke her. The story was tragic and yet only slightly different than one I have heard way too many times.

And I wonder, how does one get to that place? It is like the story of the frog. If you threw a frog in boiling water, he would jump right out. If you place a frog in the pot and bring the water to a boil slowly, he doesn't notice the gradual change and just slowly dies. It is interesting what we learn to put up with. Whether we become inured to death in a war-torn town like Damascus, or we forget to notice our own mistreatment in a home filled with anger, the toll on our soul is severe.

I recently joined a group of writers who help kids, in homes and jails, leading lives of destruction. They help desperate teenagers heal their soul by writing out their hearts - in journals, poetry, stories, etc. I am new to the group, but am excited about the positive impact that writing can have on a young person who feels like a frog trapped in boiling water.

I like to think that the world is changing, because I have surrounded myself with people who are positive and supportive and functioning. But peel back that personal buffer, and underneath lies the woman who is not allowed to get her hair done and the kid whose mother ridicules him, and worse - rapes, shootings, wars. There is still a lot of healing that needs to be done in this world.

I love Joseph Campbell's writing about the hero's adventure. For those of us who have braved life's dark forests and raging rivers and come out the far side strong and capable, it is our duty to help the others who are still lost in the woods. Campbell says it is the hero's call to share his knowledge, to "bestow boons on his fellow man." So, go buy a woman a haircut, befriend a young man with autism, pound nails in a home for the homeless. Reach out with not just money, but with time. For most of us, this is the hardest thing to give.

I know a lot of you do these generous things, in quiet, and for that I applaud you. I would love to hear about them, as would others. As a writer, I treasure true tales of human good. You can post your stories here, or send me an email at cjmighell@gmail.com.

xo, Cate

Would you panic?

noreply@blogger.com (Cate) — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 20:08:00 +0000

A friend sent me a link to these pictures from a small airplane (an RV10) that suffered a bird strike. Apparently, the bird (unknown species) crashed through the windscreen and slammed into the back window, eventually landing in the baggage area. I don't know any more details, about the pilot or his proximity to an airport, etc, but I imagine it took some nerves of steel to continue on and land that aircraft safely.

I read another report some time ago about a plane that impacted a Canadian Goose (or vice versa). The bird ended up lodged in the back window. On its way there, it shattered the windscreen, blinded the pilot in one eye, and knocked off his headset. If you've ever been in a small aircraft without a headset, it's noisy. Without a headset and without a windscreen? It's gonna feel like a frickin' hurricane. Yet, somehow, the pilot, bleeding profusely from his damaged eye, deafened by noise, pummeled by wind, and probably in some level of shock, still managed to land his craft. Damn!

As a pilot, I imagine how I would deal with these situations. In fact, we are forced to deal with emergencies like simulated engine failures throughout our training. There is no doubt that pilot training teaches you to be calm in situations that might cause others to panic. It also increases your confidence and your situational awareness, making you a better driver (god knows we need more of those on the road). It is awesome training for young people in particular. So, yes, I encourage everyone to get some pilot training.

But beyond that, I tell this story because I hope everyone out there appreciates our Sky Warriors that fly us from point A to point B every day. A couple days ago a United pilot suffered a heart attack but the crew still managed to land the plane safely. 99.9999% of the time nothing goes wrong on those long, boring flights we all take for work, vacation, travel, etc. But know that the calm voice coming from the cockpit has worked his or her butt off staying current on the machinery and probably gone into significant debt accruing hours of expensive practice All just so he or she could take you to your destination safely.

Okay, I'll get off my soapbox. Just remember, go love yourself a pilot today.

xo, Cate

The Secret

noreply@blogger.com (Cate) — Sun, 29 Sep 2013 18:05:00 +0000

I received a surprise text from an acquaintance last night, a woman I don't know well, who read my book recently. She had asked me, a month or so ago, how the book was doing, and I lamented that I've done virtually nothing to market it. Her reply, "Badass doesn't expire!" made me laugh and encouraged me to keep taking those baby steps forward toward my goals.

Her text, last night, indicated that she is going through a surprise divorce and she added, "I keep telling myself that Badass doesn't expire!" And that's the truth, whether you're 15, 51 or 115

Badass (which is the now-ubiquitous term for anything that is cool, awesome, amazing, powerful) doesn't expire. It doesn't fade. It is not only given to certain people and it can't be stolen. We each have an inexhaustible supply of badass, but some of us choose to deny it. We convince ourselves we can't do something because we are too young, old, fat, ugly, poor, unskilled, etc. Countless people have told me they wish they could write a book, wish they could fly an airplane, wish they could afford to go to college, wish they could own their own business, wish they could find someone to love. The list goes on and on. I believe we can do anything that we believe we can do. That is the message from the popular book/movie "The Secret" and there is nothing really secret about it. Believe it, take baby steps toward it, and your goal will become a reality. We manifest our own destiny.

My beautiful niece Leah

Pictured to the right is my badass niece who, through sheer willpower, overcame a childhood of economic deprivation to become a successful attorney. (Yes, she practices in Seattle, and yes she consulted on the legal scenes in "Silent Sky," and yes there is a little bit of her in Reina).

There is no time like the present to start down the path toward your dreams. When the fears and doubts arise, shoo them out the door. Begin today to take baby steps toward eating more healthy, getting that education, learning to boldly live on your own , becoming a derby skater - whatever it is that calls to you. It is not always easy to forge forward, but when you do, the universe aligns with you to make your dreams come true.

XO,Cate

Weapons Training

noreply@blogger.com (Cate) — Mon, 16 Sep 2013 21:14:00 +0000

I've received great reviews from many of you on my new book, "Silent Sky." I also received some constructive criticism in the gentle offer of a couple male friends to take me shooting so I could learn something about firearms. As I intend for my heroine, Reina, to become gradually more badass in each subsequent book, I was anxious to accept this offer to learn about, handle, and shoot some guns.

Yesterday, I went to the local shooting range with friends Dave and Todd. Having never shot a pistol before, they provided full instruction in the safety etiquette of handling them: always treat a gun as if it is loaded, always check its status upon picking it up (check clip and chamber), always point away from people (all of which Reina completely disregards in the book, but hey, it's an action series, folks!)

My first attempt was with a Ruger 22, a sleek gun with minimal recoil. My target is pictured to the right in pink. At 25 feet, all ten shots went straight to the head. After removing the cartridge and laying the gun down on the table, I turned to high fives from Todd and Dave, both sporting big grins and comments like, "She's a natural."

After a couple rounds with the 22, I tried my hand at the Kimber 45. This gun has a much greater recoil, but still I managed to land the first shot smack on the x in the middle of the poor target's chest. I told myself that I was going to put the next one right through the first, and sure enough that's where it went. The third went south a bit, but the fourth drilled right through the first two. That sucker was dead, dead, dead. I turned around again to Dave and Todd laughing and shaking their heads.

After more rounds with the 22 and the 45, I tried a Smith and Wesson revolver and a sweet little Derringer Texas Defender with a hell of a kick. I think I could get hooked on this stuff. The guys at the neighboring table suggested that I try out the club's IPSC, which is a timed competition where you work your way through a course identifying and shooting appropriate targets as they pop up. Fun!

After gathering our targets and cleaning up our shells, we lugged the gear out and headed home. Later, over beers, Todd was telling a few friends about the day and warning the crowd at large "not to mess with dead-eye Oakley Annie."

Well, I figure, that's not a bad thing to have the world know about me . . . .

Hope your day is grand!

xo, Cate

Still True

noreply@blogger.com (Cate) — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 18:20:00 +0000

A New Way to Live

On this day in history, when airplanes were used as weapons and religion was used as justification to kill, I lift my eyes to the sky and continue to believe in the human spirit. I believe we can evolve past the need for weapons and past the desire to kill. I believe we can choose a new way to be human, a way that sees we are all connected as creatures of the universe, with no exclusions.

If you believe that one skin color is more desirable than another; if you believe that one religion is more right than another; if you believe that one style of life is more correct than another, I challenge you to shake up your beliefs. When societies and religions are governed by fear and hate, judgment and righteousness, exclusivity and superiority, they destroy the very fabric of our precious human existence.

Know that deep down we are all made of the same core atomic structure. When we rebuild our world in love and acceptance and inclusiveness, we will all be safe, and we will all be able to fly free, in whatever way we choose, without fear of attacks, military crises, or vengeful retaliations.

It starts one person at a time. It starts with you and it starts with me.

This is a repost of what I wrote last year on September 11. It hasn't changed. With so much strife and violence in our world right now, I felt it needed to be re-said.

Back in the Saddle

noreply@blogger.com (Cate) — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 05:14:00 +0000

The weather has turned on us already, here in the Northwest, and it seems as if summer has gone. As I look over my shoulder, I wonder, where did August go?

With my son, John

It feels as if I frittered it away - a spontaneous week-long trip to Canada, lazy afternoons by the lake, evenings of music and margaritas, maybe a few too many episodes of the inane-but-hilarious "Arrested Development."

But isn't that what August is for? Remember those childhood summers where the only thing you rushed to was the sound of the ice cream van before it faded into the distance? Remember charging the end of the dock and cannonballing into the lake? Remember lying
on your back at night looking for shooting stars? It is worth trying to recreate that carefree mentality for the sheer happiness it brings.

The well-laid table

Although I have a lot of stuff I didn't get done in August, I am easy on my failure to achieve. No guilt here. I know that a break from stress leads to greater productivity and creativity and produces a heightened sense of well-being. And what the hell, it's a lot of fun too!

So, if you haven't had enough relaxation this summer, get out there and enjoy the last holiday weekend. Work can wait a few days. And come September, we can all get back in our respective saddles. I'll be on track again, promoting book number one, writing book number two, and developing my new publishing company. See you then.

Be safe and be chill!

xo, Cate

Be Badass

noreply@blogger.com (Cate) — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 18:41:00 +0000

I had a great time signing books this weekend at the Arlington Fly-In. Books were flying off the table, so to speak, and I am excited that many new readers will meet my heroine, Reina. Several people have told me SILENT SKY should be made into an action flick and I agree. My protaganist is definitely just in the beginning stage of total badass . . . .

And somehow, that has morphed into a new motto for me. Be Badass. What a great way to live. It is just another way of saying, Live life all the way to the edge. Whatever you're doing, whether it be making pie crust, or dressing up to go out to dinner, or buying an extra sandwich to give to the guy with the cardboard sign on the corner, do it with all the mindfulness and attention you have.

And you don't stop until you're done. You keep living life right past the margins, all the way to the edges.

THAT is so badass.

xo, Cate

Clouds beneath your wings

noreply@blogger.com (Cate) — Fri, 05 Jul 2013 18:31:00 +0000

Wow. It has been a whole month since I last posted here. Well, it has been a bumpy ride, with my father taking sick suddenly and then passing away unexpectedly. Eulogies and out-of-town family and the emotions that go with the whole business - we've all rested in the sadness of that experience. And then we move on.

If there is one thing that the death of a loved one reminds us, it is that we must treasure the people in our lives. I have become aware of how easy it is to take others for granted. When someone is in our life regularly (child, friend, sibling, significant other, etc.) we forget to notice them as we did when they were new to our lives. We become accustomed to the way they walk, the depth of their eyecolor, the funny way they laugh, the shine on their hair in the sun. We are distracted by all the other things in life and forget to appreciate that exact moment that we are in, right now, with them. I consciously stop myself at times to be still and notice, to reopen my eyes and see/be love right then and there.
I like Susan Sontag's words: "Pay attention. It's all about paying attention. Attention is vitality. It connects you with others. It makes you eager. Stay eager."

The other reminder that death offers is that we must seize every opportunity to live life as fully as possible. I personally have been postponing some of my dreams, and I am now consciously moving forward to realize them. As Joseph Campbell said, "Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors for you where there were only walls."

So, I've flown through the weather of this last month and am at cruise now with the clouds below my wings (less turbulent up here, you know!) And what am I doing to move forward? I've committed to spending a couple days per week promoting my book. I've committed to working on the sequel (thank you all who have inquired about it). I'm contacting bookstores and pilot shops to carry my book. I'm creating book club questions for SILENT SKY. I'm doing book signings three days next week at the Arlington Fly-In and Airshow (looking for someone to wear a catsuit to draw people in to my table - any takers??)

How about you? Is there a dream you have been waiting to realize? Dream realization requires action. Go. Act. Do. Is there someone in your life with whom you may have become too comfortable? Love realization requires attention. Notice. Appreciate. Cherish.

Fondly, Cate