IN HONOR OF SESAME STREET'S 40TH YEAR: REPRINT OF KEVIN CLASH INTERVIEW

Originally posted on Friday, July 27, 2007

During a recent family vacation in an island off the coast of Seattle, I spent a lot of time playing with my nephew, Tyler. Tyler is two years and 4 months old. He loves to greet every person who comes in the room, jump on his older brother, and look at picture books. He is full of passion for life. When I play with Tyler, I follow his lead as much as possible. One evening, I sat quietly with Tyler as he lined up crayons next to each other and drew circles of all colors and sizes. One morning at the beach, I held Tyler’s hand as he walked in and out of the water, looking at the waves, the light, the skim boarders at water’s edge. Once in a while, Tyler would let out a shriek of delight accompanied by a joyful leap. Mostly, though, he wanted just to walk and look. I stayed with him as he did that for about a half an hour.

I can think of few activities more rewarding or important than to follow a young person’s mind. It does take a conscious decision to not insert my idea of how things should go. There’s always a pull to worry about how a child is going to “turn out,” and direct him or her to activities that will (seemingly) ensure success in the future as a “productive” or “well adjusted” adult. But I have a hunch that if we adults spent more time following the creative minds and pursuits of young people, more humans would have lives that they are truly passionate about. Kevin Clash is the proof in the pudding.

Kevin Clash is the puppeteer behind Elmo, the lovable, furry red muppet who has won the hearts of millions on Sesame Street. I gathered information about Kevin by reading his book – My Life as a Furry Red Monster – and by meeting him in person at his Sesame Workshop office. Most inspiring was learning the details about a life of love and support from family, friends, neighbors, and mentors who backed Kevin’s passion for puppetry from the start. Kevin’s rich history as a producer and puppeteer shows that good things happen when adults pay close attention to and nurture the creative and artistic sensibilities of children.

Kevin’s Life in a Nutshell
Kevin grew up in a working class, African heritage suburb of Baltimore, Maryland with a mom, a dad, and three siblings. He spent countless childhood hours creating puppets and puppet shows, getting plenty of inspiration from television programs such as Captain Kangaroo, Good Times, and, of course, Sesame Street. During his younger years, Kevin performed shows for neighborhood folks, for audiences in the wider Baltimore area, then for local television programs.

Like other children who do something off the beaten path, Kevin got a dose of teasing and raised eyebrows. He also experienced the insidious messages of racism. Fortunately, the love and support he got from his family and community balanced out forces that may have otherwise swayed Kevin from his path. As Kevin says in his book, “Society was still sending a loud message that black children like us didn’t have much to aspire to, but that negative talk was drowned out by our parents, who taught us that our dreams were worthy simply because they were ours.”

Gladys and George Clash operated as a team to back their son’s passion. They kept Kevin well-stocked with art supplies and fabrics; took him to his first gigs as a performer; drove him to hobby shops; and connected Kevin to professionals who would help him along his career path. Kevin also has vivid memories of what each parent did individually to support him. George, a flash welder and neighborhood handyman, helped Kevin build puppet stages out of salvaged scrap wood. He also kept his cool when Kevin used his (George’s) furry church coat to fashion a puppet named Moandy, responding to the discovery of his cut-up coat with a firm yet kind: “Next time, ask.” Gladys, a home-based daycare worker, was a talented seamstress who taught Kevin to sew on her old Singer machine. She was also the one who helped Kevin land one of his first big breaks by connecting him with Kermit Love, a man who would become one of Kevin’s key mentors.

When Kevin was in high school, he saw Kermit Love featured on an episode of Call It Macaroni, a children’s television show. Kevin was blown away by the fact that an adult was making a successful living from his passion – designing costumes and puppets for everyone from George Balanchine’s dancers to Sesame Street’s Big Bird. Through perseverance, Gladys got in touch with Love who in turn invited Kevin to come to his workshop in New York City. Shortly after that visit, Kermit invited Kevin to be Cookie Monster’s puppeteer in the 1979 Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade.

In the 1980s, Kevin became a puppeteer for Sesame Street and also participated in a number of Jim Henson productions. In addition to winning the hearts of millions as Elmo on Sesame Street, Kevin has won multiple awards for his work as co-executive producer of Elmo’s World.

Kevin on Mentoring

In reflecting on the trajectory of his life, Kevin is clear that mentoring and other forms of support have been key to his success. He also recognizes that support can mean space and freedom and it can also mean the kind of tough-love guidance that keeps a person grounded. Kevin acknowledges that he has relied on others to keep him rooted in a life of integrity. Said Kevin during our chat at Sesame Workshop, “Stardom stinks if you don’t have people telling you the truth. You need people who teach you that there are rules to abide by if you want to keep being a success with family and with business.” Kevin fondly described several of the mentors who did help him grow as an artist through truth-telling; these folks include Stu Kerr, Kermit Love, and Jim Henson.

Stu Kerr, a television personality, was Kevin’s first mentor. When Stu saw Kevin’s puppetry at a local fair, he invited Kevin to perform in a television show called Caboose. Through Caboose, Kevin eventually landed a spot on Captain Kangaroo. Kevin credits Stu with teaching him about the importance of cooperation in working with other professionals, both from the creative and business aspect of things.

Speaking about costume and puppet designer Kermit Love, Kevin commented: “He took me under his wing like I was a grandson. He was so positive, guiding me in the right direction. When the time came to decide to go to college, he encouraged me to stay working with Jim Henson.”

And, finally, Kevin said of Jim Henson: “Jim was so approachable; there was no ego. Jim’s message was ‘Let’s have a good time and respect each other and give back.’ With Jim, you learned the craft by watching and by doing. It was intimidating to be the new kid on the set and Jim stuck with me.”

Kevin has been blessed with the sound guidance of these three and countless other guides. He also knows, particularly from his childhood days, that adults must step back enough to trust the rightness of what children love to do and want to pursue. On the topic of supporting young people in their journeys, Kevin says this in his book:

“You can teach your children all the basics and then some, and they will turn right around and use their knowledge in wonderful, powerful ways you can’t even imagine. That’s the beauty of learning. But it can be hard to resist pulling on the reins and, at some point, steering kids away from what they want to learn to what you think they need to know to be successful. […]

Dreams are fragile things, but when they’ve been bolstered by the support of parents and teachers, and reinforced with early success, they can withstand the skeptics and take flight. When I was a kid, my dad and I spent a lot of time together building things, and I can’t help but think of this metaphor: Kids are the architects of their own dreams. I know that I was.”

MINI GETAWAYS MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE

It used to be that whenever I needed a mini getaway, I would take the F train from Brooklyn to the 2nd Avenue stop in Manhattan. There, you can find the Chinatown YMCA as well as Whole Foods. My getaway consists of swimming at the Y (which has a fantastic pool and a really nice Director) and then going to the top floor of Whole Foods. It's a giant, quiet, light-filled loft space where you can sit with a snack and read, write, or hang out with friends.

With wedding planning and a new job, I forgot about my mini-getaway spot. But I remembered it last night when my body telling me it needed some rejuvenation.

By the time I got inspired to go swim, my local Y in Brooklyn was closing in less than an hour. So I decided to take the train up to my Manhattan stomping ground. What a lovely bonus that the Chinatown Y now has extended hours on Saturday night; they are open until 8:45 pm! It was quiet; I had a whole lane to myself and there was barely anyone in the locker room.

After a great swim, I went around the corner to Whole Foods, brought some soup upstairs, and enjoyed reading a celebrity magazine that another Whole Foods patron begifted to me.

I came home feeling so energized. Even though it was late, I spent an hour cleaning up the apartment and getting things organized for the next few days.

Before going to sleep, I read a bit in the NY Times about the 40th birthday of Sesame Street.
Did you know that Michelle Obama was on the show and promoting healthy eating. Go, Michelle!

MY NEW FAVORITE VIDEO

Mike and I continue to watch Sean the Sheep videos from NetFlix. He is one of the characters from the Wallace and Gromit movies. Sean and friends have some serious dance moves!

FROM DAILY OM: SAVOR EACH SHARED MOMENT

From Daily Om

October 30, 2009
Savor Each Shared Moment
Scorpio Daily Horoscope

You may be in high spirits and find satisfaction in being active today. Perhaps your good mood is the result of your deep sense of pleasure with life and your desire to absorb everything it has to offer you. Gathering together with friends or engaging in vigorous activities such as sports could further ignite your enthusiastic feelings. If you find some way to marry your passionate feelings today with your zeal for life, you may notice that your sense of time and place dissolve and that you become one with the energy of the universe. Sharing these feelings with others could create a space where everything you do together is beautiful, inspired, and filled with the delight of the present moment.

Savoring the feelings of pleasure and enjoyment we have with our loved ones cultivates a supportive, loving, and fun environment. When we relish the abundance in our lives and do something physical—such as social gatherings or exercise—we become fully open to the beauty of “now” since we are using every aspect of our being to engage completely in our lives. The more we are present in our lives, the more our negative thoughts and feelings fall by the wayside and instead are replaced by a shared sense of joy at being able to take pleasure in our present lives. By sharing your enjoyment of life today, you and your loved ones will begin to awaken to the full power and wonder of each moment.

THRILL OF THE NEW: A GOOD FORECAST FROM DAILY OM

From the website Daily Om.

October 23, 2009
Thrill of the New
Scorpio Daily Horoscope

You could hear news about something that piques your curiosity today and makes you feel thrilled. Perhaps things have been routine in your life recently, and the anticipation of engaging in something different animates you. Grabbing hold of the new ideas and opportunities that come your way might infuse your life with a sense that there is uncharted territory either in your work, personal, or spiritual life that awaits exploration. Remember that keeping your mind open to whatever you hear about can make you more receptive to the differing ideas and news that come your way today. As you let yourself relish the pleasure that comes from discovering something unusual you might notice that your take on life not only becomes more animated but that you also feel a greater sense of joy at the unexpected twists and turns that life brings your way.

Opening ourselves up to the things that surprise and thrill us makes us more ready to accept the unpredictable. For many of us it is easy to become comfortable with our habits and the ordinariness of our everyday existence. Allowing ourselves to seek the new and to be more responsive to the out-of-the-ordinary events that come along, however, better prepares us for the changes that life brings our way. There is really only one thing that is certain in life—things will always change. By embracing the new today, you will add greater excitement to your life that will nourish you and help you grow.

NEPHEW TYLER SNAPS PHOTOS OF PINK MONKEY AND SWEATER-CLAD RABBIT

Unbeknownst to my brother and his wife, their 4.5-year0ld son Tyler took their digital camera and did an entire photo shoot of his stuffed animals. Pictured left are Pink Monkey (a gift from me) and Sweater-Clad Bunny.

When I went to visit Tyler almost a year ago, he kept staging and then taking photos of people and of his toys - legos, etc.

I liked that he got how you "frame" a picture and then take it. Taking charge as an artist - something I full-heartedly support in a young person!

OPEN CALL FOR ART, MUSIC & WRITING SUBMISSIONS TO UNDERWATER NEW YORK

Underwater New York, an online anthology of stories inspired by objects found underwater around New York City, launched Wednesday with a party aboard the Lightship Frying Pan, which was once underwater itself. Underwater New York took over the rusty, barnacled boat with an evening of performances, including a reading by Ben Greenman, sketch comedy by Alex Scordelis and Chris Schell of the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, art by Mary Mattingly and Nura Qureshi, musical performances by Supergood! and Lawrence Kim & His Boss, and Michael Hearst Underwater: a Songs for (Underwater) Ice Cream Trucks installation. Nautical music was spun by DJ Dan Selzer, who also made an audio montage of authors reading excerpts from fiction written for the project, which was played into one of The Frying Pan’s creaky cabins. Underwater New York is looking for more stories inspired by their crazy, evocative list of underwater objects, from the whimsical (mysterious goo, runaway giraffe, a fleet of ice cream trucks) to the historical (Coney Island Dreamland, The Princess Anne Steamship) – visit the Underwater New York site to read the full list, sign up for notification of future events and excursions, see the amazing stories created so far for the project, and get inspired to create your own!

I HEART SHAUN

On Monday, I met my friend Melissa (a/k/a Hip Slope Mama) and her family at Cobble Hill Cinemas to see the one-hour movie Shaun the Sheep.

CH Cinemas did a great job of publicizing this event; there were fliers posted in all the newspaper self-serve boxes in the area.

Shaun is a character from Wallace and Gromit
movies, and you can't help but fall in love with the little guy.

Brilliant that they created a bunch of little short stories with Shaun and his sheep pals and formed them into this hour-long fiesta.

Shaun is "a lamb with a plan who never follows the flock. Curious, resourceful and fun-loving, Shaun's mix of enthusiasm and inexperience is often a recipe for trouble."

There were two scenes from the shorts that I particularly loved. One was when the sheep flock, to avoid getting sheared un-artistically by their owner, dug a hole that led out to a poodle-grooming store. They go into the store and come out with spectacular lamb-dos, including a blue mohawk and cornrows secured at the ends with rainbow-colored beads.

The second scene was when the lamb-watcher dude (think Otto from The Simpsons) turns his transistor radio to a rock station while minding the flock. The sheep break out into dance, form a mosh pit, and do body rolls.

I came home with rave reviews and Mike promptly ordered a bunch of Sean DVDs from Netflix.I also signed up for the Sean Newsletter.

Sean, can I be President of your Fan Club?

SQUISH ART MARKET IN BROOKLYN

CALLING ALL ARTISTS, DIY-ERS CREATORS!!

Visit our 'JOIN US' section to join our next event!!

SQUISH ART MARKET is a smaller, intimate, 'flea' market of local independent artists promoting creativity, artist to artist networking, & community recognition.

If you are an artist who is looking to join a community that will help you gain exposure, as well as network you with other artists - then please do not hesitate to join us. Simply register for space ['JOIN US' section] - and we will contact you as soon as possible with a confirmation. Cash payment will be due upon your arrival on the day of event.

OUR NEXT EVENT!
OCTOBER 24th
FREE ADMISSION & LIVE MUSIC!
1pm-7pm
85 N. 3rd St, #104, Brooklyn NY 11211

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MY PROPOSAL FOR A NEW SECTION FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES

Dear NY Times:

I am a devoted reader of The New York Times and would like to propose a new section that would appear once a week either in the Sunday Times or once during the work week.

The section would be called Pets. It sounds rather simple, but I think it would be a big hit. So many New Yorkers are dog owners and/or dog lovers. And the pet supply industry is one of the more recession-proof industries, so the section would likely be a big draw for advertisers.

People love stories about people and their pets. People love to learn about animals.

Thanks for considering the idea.

Sincerely,

Eleanor Traubman

HANGING FIVE AT NEW YORK SURF FILM FESTIVAL

I felt like a bad Jew on Sunday night. It was the beginning of Yom Kippur and I should have been starting to fast. Instead, I was downing Pepsi and popcorn as I settled into my seat at New York Surf Film Festival. Being a native Californian and a former boogie boarder, I was STOKED to be amongst other people who wanted to see films about surfing.

I was pleased with my movie choice - Hanging Five by Christopher Cutri. This was the East Coast premiere of the film, featuring Q&A with Chris as well as one of the artists featured. Here's the festival's synopsis:

"Hanging Five is a film that follows five artists who all happen to be surfers. The film documents their work and looks at different aspects of their lives and how those experiences have impacted their work. The film also looks at why the surf culture embraces and supports the arts. The artists include: Andy Davis, Tyler Warren, Julie Goldstein, Alex Knost, Wolfgang Bloc."

Most inspiring to me personally was footage of Julie Goldstein, who is reflective on her experiences and identity as a female artist and surfer. I also liked the bits where Tyler hauls out his childhood report card and drawings.

Two films I was sorry I missed were The Women and the Waves and Whitewash. Synopses takes from the festival's website:

"The Women and the Waves is a documentary surf film that explores the lives of female surfers who, through the decades, have chosen to paddle head first into the male dominated sport of surfing and found a place of their own. "

"Whitewash, the documentary, is a film exploring the complexity of race in America through the struggle and triumph of the history of black surfers."

Speaking of Whitewash, I did notice that most of the folks at the festival where white. Also noticed that everyone on the 2009 Screening Panel for the Festival was a guy.

Still, psyched that this festival is happening and hope to see more of the film selections next year.

P.S. - I was a better Jew on Monday night. Went to services at Ramaz and had a great time. Beautiful gym full of people praying together.

TIME TO GET ORGANIZED WITH ELEANOR!

Are you a Busy New York Woman?

Would you like to live life with less clutter and more room for the people and projects you love?

If so, then this service is for you!!!!

This is the perfect service for the woman who wants to.......................

* Sit down to a clear desk top

* Fnd any paper document in 30 seconds or less

* Clear out the clutter to start a new business or project

* Open a closet door to find the clothes you feel good in and love to wear

* Experience more serenity and focus in your daily live

To chat with Eleanor about your organizing goals, call: 917-499-7395

Julie Markes, PS 321 parent /chidlren's book author/photographer has this to say about Inspired Organizing:

Eleanor is a wonderful organizer and has inspired me. She helped me make order out of my very cluttered workspace and gave me great advice on how to move forward with my photography business. I highly recommend her to anyone who is feeling overwhelmed by clutter and needs to clear the decks.

INTRODUCING LYNN BOUND, HEAD CHEF AT MOMA'S CAFE 2

Heaven is a place on earth and it’s called Café 2. Located on the second floor of the New York Museum of Modern Art, its Executive Chef is Lynn Bound.

More on Lynn in a minute.

I have always felt a sense of elation while visiting Café 2. It has the right combination of all the things I love in a destination: lots of open space with tall ceilings, big communal tables, people from all around the world (as well as from the MOMA neighborhood) speaking all different languages; a super-friendly staff who seem genuinely pleased to be there. Another wonderful feature is a giant wall-sized menu where TEXT accompanies simple graphics which depict each of the food categories. And then, of course, there’s the food. Defying the stereotype of unremarkable museum fare, Café 2’s dishes are Italian-inspired, fresh, delicious, and a great way to start one’s journey through the rest of the museum.

After my first visit of the summer to Café 2 during Target-sponsored Free Fridays at MOMA, I discovered and was delighted by the fact that the Executive Chef was a woman. Most of the head chefs who gain media attention on television shows, especially reality TV shows, are men – and men with bad tempers. Lynn’s thoughtful style of leadership provided a nice contradiction to all that. So during trip #2 of the summer, I approached Lynn, told her that I was inspired by her work, and asked her if she would be willing to do an interview for Creative Times. She was happy to oblige.

I met Lynn at the Café shortly before she opened the space to the throngs of visitors who were chomping at the bit to partake in all the edible delights. Following the interview, Mike Sorgatz and I had a lunch fit for royalty. Dish after divine dish appeared before us, and all I could do afterwards was waddle down to the sculpture garden and gaze out under the spell of a serious food coma. Mike and I still talk about that experience to this day and feel truly blessed by the hospitality of of Lynn and her staff.

Here’s the result of my chat with Lynn.

Where and when did Lynn’s interest in cooking originate?

Given that Lynn’s mom was from Italy, it made sense that food and cooking was an important part of her life growing up. She says that her mom was a good cook and that her grandfather often sent Lynn’s family olive oil and cheeses from his home in Italy. Lynn’s experience in the kitchen also came from accompanying her mom, a waitress, on her work shifts.

Shortly after Lynn was out of high school, Lynn’s mom passed away from breast cancer. At that point, Lynn supported herself by going to work in a kitchen. Ultimately, she worked three jobs simultaneously to save the money she needed to attend culinary school.

What’s great about working as Exec. Chef at MOMA?

Lynn likes that it’s an open kitchen (you can see a lot of what’s going on from the diner’s section), that the feedback on the food is mostly positive, and that she gets to work in “one of the best museums in the world.” Lynn also enjoys meeting the many different people that come in each day, and especially takes pleasure in the fact that parents bring their children to the museum to learn not only about art, but also about healthy food!

What is Lynn’s philosophy when it comes to managing her staff?

I asked Lynn this question because I always notice how well she treats her staff and how, in turn, they treat the diners with genuine warmth and hospitality.

Lynn shares that it’s a relatively young staff, and that she takes on the role of teacher and mentor in relationship to them. She asks them to consider where they want to be in the future and what the opportunities are on this job for learning skills they can use in jobs down the road – e.g. cooking skills, time management and organizational skills. What will help them get that next job that they want?

Lynn notes an example of this philosophy in action: she once sent various employees who work in the salumi station to Manhattan’s famous Murray’s Cheese Shop to learn more about some of the delicacies that they serve.

What does Lynn want her customers to experience when they come into Café 2?

Lynn wants diners to see that there is a different food concept here, and wants to educate them through her offerings about regional produce. She wants diners to feel good when they are there, and to experience the Café as a welcoming place.

Judging by the compliments Lynn receives about her overall system, the staff, service, and food, she has been successful in her goal!

How does Lynn prepare mentally for the following day of work? How does she prepare mentally for the next ten minutes?

Although Lynn goes into each day with a base plan, she also must enter each day and moment with an “Anything can happen” mindset. She has to be fast on her feet in order to rebound from the unexpected. One of the foundational practices that help her deal with everything that comes her way are the regular meetings she has with her staff.

What does it mean to Lynn to be a female chef? What advice does she have to aspiring chefs or to those ladies who are considering the profession?

In Lynn’s experience, there were more challenges to being a female chef when she started working in a kitchen almost 25 years ago.

Lynn is frank about the challenges of the work. “It’s a hard job; I’m here a lot of the day; and it’s demanding of your time. If the day ends at 8, 9, or 10 at night, it’s difficult to connect with people whose workdays end earlier.”

Lynn, who is happy with the way she is treated by the company for which she works, also shares that who you work for impacts your professional life greatly. Lynn emphasizes how important it is to research your employer before committing to a job.

One way that Lynn unites with other female chefs is through an annual event which raises money for SHARE: Self Help for Women with Breast or Ovarian Cancer. This year, Lynn teamed up with more than 20 other accomplished women chefs to create their signature dishes for the SHARE’s Sixth Annual A Second Helping of Life. This year, the event drew around 700 people and raised close to $420,000.

What are Lynn’s interests and hobbies outside of her work life?

Lynn, who has three cocker spaniels at home, is interested in animals and their welfare. She participates in New York’s annual Dogswalk Against Cancer.

If you would like to visit Café 2, here’s the info you need straight from the MOMA website:

Located on the second floor, Cafe 2 offers an array of delicious and seasonal foods from Executive Chef Lynn Bound, including panini, handmade pastas, salumi, artisanal cheeses, salads, and soups, as well as sumptuous desserts. Orders are placed and paid for at the counter, and then plated and served to guests at communal tables. Italian wine selections are available by the glass, quartino, or bottle.

Cafe 2 is open to Museum visitors only. Reservations are not accepted. Guests are welcome on a first-come, first-served basis. All major credit cards are accepted.

Sat., Sun., Mon., Wed., Thu., 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Fri., 11:00 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
Closed Tuesdays

Museum admission is required for entry.

MY FAVORITE ARTICLE IN THE NY TIMES THIS WEEK

..........was in the Business Section, in the Frequent Flier column, and called When Good Manners Get Left at the Gate. It was told by Larry Winget to Joan Raymound. I love this part best, the part the describes what action Larry took when a woman on the plane, while waiting for take-off, was screaming into her cell-phone:

She told the person she was speaking with to call her back. And then, in a really loud voice, she gave her cellphone number to the person she was on the phone with. I committed that number to memory. And then I waited about 10 seconds and called her cell.

When she answered, I told her she was being too loud and everyone on board the plane could hear every word of her conversation. And it wasn’t that interesting.

She started screaming at me, demanding to know who I was. So I told her to look toward the front of the plane. I stood up and waved at her with a big smile on my face. She hung up, sat down and no one heard from her the rest of the flight.

I say, "Way to go, Larry!" It's not easy to handle those situations with humor and diplomacy.
Most people just sit there begrudgingly.

I was curious about Larry, so I looked him up on the web. He calls himself The Pitbull of Personal Development. I have a feeling I wouldn't agree with this guy's political views but I do like his take-charge attitude, creativity, and sense of humor.

SAY "YES!" TO THE CALL TO ADVENTURE

I’m pretty sure that when Joseph Campbell started talking about The Hero’s Journey, he wasn’t picturing someone who sat in front of the TV all day eating Dorritos, only stepping outside to get the mail or run to the corner store for another bag of chips.

When you get that Call to Adventure, you gotta be ready to leave comfort behind and leap into action. This is tough to do if your feet have become one with your fuzzy slippers and your tush has merged with the sofa. Know what I mean?

It's worth it to say “Yes!” to the Call to Adventure, even if it means forgoing comfort or facing a demon or two.

Please join me on The Journey!

STEP ONE IN THE HERO’S JOURNEY: SAY “YES!”

To get psyched for your initial leap into the abyss, I recommend listening to Liza Minnelli’s song “Yes!” from her album Liza with a ‘Z’.

It starts:

Yes
Say yes
Life keeps happenin' every day
Say yes

When opportunity comes your way
You can't start wonderin' what to say
You'll never win if you never play
Say yes

I got misty-eyed when I first heard it ‘cuz I knew it had to become my theme song for this next period in my life. Why? Because as adventuresome as I am in some respects (I’ll talk to just about anyone on the street or subway) I still run to my comfort zone (which is usually by the TV or literally under the comforter) when faced with challenges that present the unknown.

Admittedly, I’m one of those people who will circle ‘round and ‘round a new project or opportunity if I am not absolutely certain of the outcome. I call this kind of activity “window shopping ad nauseum” and I’m trying to break free of it. While it once served a useful function for me, it no longer has a rightful place in my life.

As Madonna says in her song, Jump:

There’s only so much you can learn in one place
The more that I wait, the more time that I waste

HERE’S SOME STUFF I SAID “YES!” TO EVEN THOUGH I WAS TERRIFIED:

Call to Adventure #1: After 12 years of living in the Upper West Side of Manhattan, where I was thoroughly entrenched, I was presented with an opportunity to make two changes at one time: move to a different borough AND move in with my boyfriend.

I had never lived with a “significant other” at that point and I was shaking in my boots while riding with the movers over the Brooklyn Bridge with all my belongings. The moving guys heard the trepidation in my voice and said “Call us if it doesn’t work out!”

The Outcome: The truth? I was pretty scared the first couple of years I lived with Mike. It was a huge adjustment on all different levels. Together, over the past 4 years, we’ve built a rich, interesting life in a beautiful neighborhood and formed a web of terrific friendships with people out here. And I still remain connected with my Manhattan peeps!

Call to Adventure #2: I had been writing an email newsletter, Creative Times, for two years, and had amassed a nice-sized readership. In 2005, Mike said “You know, there’s this thing called a blog that would be a great way to get your writing out there in the world!” All I could think of is “I don’t know what a blog is and I don’t know how it works.” And then when I found out how public you go by publishing a blog, I FREAKED OUT! Now I didn’t have control over who could see my writing.

The Outcome: After a pep talk from blogging queen Louise Crawford, I decided to launch Creative Times: A Blog for Artists & Entrepreneurs. With Mike’s help, I set up the blog and mastered the technical basics of blogging. The two weeks after going “live” I had the writer’s equivalent of stage fright: I barely slept or ate.

The good news: Creative Times (the blog) has been a passport to building a community of bloggers and to meeting all kinds of interesting people, from Elmo muppeteer Kevin Clash to Twentieth Century Design Great Eva Zeisel.

Call to Adventure #3 (Hint: It Involved a Ring): Mike and I have now been together for 7 years. During the last 3 or 4 of those years, we’d have an occasional but brief conversation about getting married. From the brevity of those chats, I concluded that we were both pretty much terrified of taking that next step.

The Outcome: At the end of last month, Mike floored me with a proposal on the beach on Block Island. I was looking for little rocks and shells in the sand and he said “Look! I found a pretty rock!” The rock was a ring and I said “Yes!” Am I still scared to take the plunge? Yes, I am! But I am still going to do it because I know it will make life rich and interesting and because I get to spend the next bunch of years with my best friend!

MORE ABOUT “YES!”

· Is there a Call to Adventure that’s been knocking on your door for a while now? What is it? Write it down! Share it with someone else or with a group of folks who also want to pursue a calling!

· Where do you need to say “YES!” to in order to move your life forward and grow as a person?

· Everyone’s Hero’s Journey looks different. Everyone’s “YES!” is going to be different. One person might need to say “YES!” to making new friends or dating again. Another may need to say “YES!” to exercising more or wearing brighter colors. Still another might get to say “YES!” to performing on stage or starting a new business.

· Sometimes you need to get quiet to hear what needs saying “YES!” to.

· You might have to start saying “NO” to people or commitments in order to follow the “YES!” (For example: a mom who does everything around the house might have to get the rest of her family to pitch in so she can follow her calling to write a book.)

· After saying “YES!” you should be prepared to experience mild to extreme discomfort, challenge old (and probably outdated) beliefs and assumptions, pull in the help of friends and strangers, and forge a path into new and unimagined territory.

· Have fun, feel the fear, and let us know how it goes!

DAILY OM: UNLEASE YOUR MUSE

This horoscope from Daily Om.

September 26, 2009
Unleash Your Muse
Scorpio Daily Horoscope

You may find that today you have ideas that you can’t wait to express. It may feel like these ideas are bubbling forth from out of nowhere and that you simply cannot contain them. You might feel highly energized and stimulated today as a result of your flashes of creativity. When you are feeling this much energy, it is important to find a way to express your thoughts in a way that is meaningful for you. You might consider a creative outlet such as poetry, painting, dance, or music. As you find what you are drawn to, allow your muse to reveal itself to you today. You could find that your inspiration and energy become boundless once you find a meaningful way to express yourself.

Finding an artistic way to channel our thoughts and ideas helps us express ourselves more easily. When we feel so animated that we are unable to keep our thoughts to ourselves, it can be easy to find outlets that have little or no meaning for us. If we take time to pursue creative endeavors, we find that our ability to express ourselves expands into new realms. We unleash a part of ourselves that we may not often exercise. We also develop different ways to get our ideas across—ways that we may never have thought possible before. Utilize your creative muse today, and you will manifest new and exciting ways to express yourself.

I START THE DAY BY WATCHING THIS VIDEO

To see these characters and all three of their short videos on myspace, go HERE.

LETTING GO OF EXPECTATIONS

September 18, 2009
Finding Joy in Life's Surprises
Releasing Your Expectations

The further you distance yourself from your expectations, the more exhilarating your life will become. Though a situation in which you find yourself may not correspond to your initial wants, needs, or goals, ask yourself how you can make the most of it and then do your best to adapt. Your life’s journey will likely take many unpredicted and astonishing twists because you are willing to release your expectations. - Daily Om

I love this excerpt from Daily Om. I realized I have a habit of getting my hopes waaaaaaay up about certain things, but in a way where I have a specific picture of how things will happen. And if it doesn't happen that way or happen at all, I am disappointed. It's not that I want to give up on wanting things or setting intentions, but letting go of the outcome does seem like a way to free up a lot of energy and bring a kind of lightness into the day. Having rigid expectations seems kind of like holding on to dear life to a tiny life raft while there is a big cruise ship not far in the distance that would be happy to pick up a new passenger.

BEAUTIFUL START TO THE NEW YEAR

This morning, I woke up to the kind of day I love - sunny and crisp without humidity. Mike and I got breakfast sammys and ate them on the front steps of our apartment. I cleaned the house while listening to the song "All Night Dancing" (by same group that did "Funkytown") to prepare for The New Year.

I then set out into the neighborhood, where I came upon some boxes of free albums set outside someone's brownstone, so I took a Jay-Z album from 1998 called The City is Mine (Featuring Blackstreet). By the way, did you know that J has outdone Elvis (but not The Beatles) as the solo artist with the most chart-toppers in US chart history?

I also found a couple of free books - Sharon Creech's Love that Dog and Stephen Steinberg's Turning Back: The Retreat from Racial Justice in American Thought and Policy - and I am looking forward to reading both of these works.

While walking back home, I came upon a block party. These folks went all out with a bouncy castle, a mini rocking Pirate-type of swinging back and forth boat ride, and a karaoke machine where two young women were belting out Madonna's "Material Girl" while a rowdy crowd cheered them on.

I love my neighborhood!

Came back home, showered and changed, and taxi'd over to my friend Carol's place for an incredible New Year dinner.

Happy New Year everyone!

RUN, DON'T WALK, TO GRAND OPENING WEEK AT MUSEUM OF CHINESE IN AMERICA!

I have walked by the new building that is housing the Museum of Chinese in America and cannot wait for next week's Grand Opening! I heard that they used to be housed in a hole in the wall, and now they are occupying a 14,000 square foot space on Centre Street.

Here is information about GRAND OPENING WEEK, taken straight from MOCA's website.

Grand Opening Week

Tue, Sep 22 from 1:30pm – 4pm

Wed, Sep 23 from 11am – 5pm

Thu, Sep 24 from 11am – 5pm

Fri, Sep 25 from 11am – 5pm

In celebration of MOCA's grand opening at 215 Centre Street, we are pleased to offer free admission to the Museum from Tuesday, September 22 to Saturday, September 26, 2009.

Designed by artist and designer Maya Lin, MOCA’s new home is a 14,000 square foot space in a former machine shop, renovated to feature multiple exhibition galleries, interactive display kiosks, a multipurpose auditorium/classroom, a research center, and a flexible space for multidisciplinary public programs. MOCA expects to achieve LEED SILVER certification through the incorporation of environmentally sustainable design solutions throughout the Museum. At the heart of the Museum is its historic skylit courtyard, left deliberately raw and untouched, that harkens back to the memory of a traditional Chinese courtyard house.

Exhibitions on view:

With a Single Step: Stories in the Making of America, MOCA's core exhibition on the history of the Chinese American experience.

Here & Now: Chinese Artists in New York, an art exhibition featuring contemporary artists of Chinese descent living in New York.

Chinatown Film Project, a film exhibition featuring ten original short films on Chinatown, New York.