As I See It...

Experiences, Life Lessons, Observations, Thoughts...
a little bit of this and that...as seen through the various tinted glasses I wear.


When There Are No Words

February 21, 2017

I say this every year.

Every year since that 2am stumble across words that changed everything.

Each year, words, no matter how carefully chosen and crafted, fall far short of what they are trying to explain.

There are some people who are vast in skill, generous in heart, infinite in genius. Their works are known, their kindness has affected many. They are, they do – SO much.

Still, there are people who are… more. So much more. Not to just one person, nor even to just a few, but to so many reached in an endless ripple effect.

They are this ‘so much’ not for a specific reason, nor by any means of measure, nor in any specific way. They just are.

It is not because they say a certain thing or do a certain thing or look a certain way. They just are.

Their very essence radiates, it encompasses, it reflects, and affects.

You can read or hear or see their work, their words, their skill, their ethic, and you can think you know.

Until you are in their presence.

That is when you realize that some souls transcend what we can describe or praise. Even for ourselves, even to ourselves, we may never be able to even inwardly articulate it, and surely not aloud, as if describing something separate, that did not affect and become part of us, change us.

It is why I am certain I cannot find the words. Perhaps I should just quote posts from years past, but even those, had they been fully accurate then, by now I know how inadequate they are. Now I know more. And still I cannot find the words.

Eoin Macken, I have seen how your work affects people. It is a reach, a touch, that surpasses the greatness of your novel and the characters that come to life in it. It is separate from how much you make people feel and see and understand through your portrayal of such a diverse range of characters on screens small and vast. It is beyond how your showed people their own vulnerabilities and strengths while sharing the stories of those in Mozambique. It is beyond your wit and charm, your clever candor, and bold brilliance, in interviews that makes you dear to people who read and hear your words and thoughts – not just by what those vehicles of process open their eyes and hearts to, but by your sincerity, your passion, your humility, and all the intangibles that I cannot find words for.

I have handed and sent your book to many people here in the States, and in countries quite far away. Young and old, affluent and homeless. The response always goes beyond how wonderful the story is, how vivid the characters, how much they could relate, or how much it made them remember and understand of their own youth, and finding their space, their home within their own skin. That is all said in many ways, by many people. The one thing everyone thus far has said to me is – it made them feel. Maybe not what the story was portraying. Somehow….just as in all you do.. by words scripted or personal, by film recorded or acted on, by photos taken or posed for…somehow… you made them feel. When people feel, they can be more, do more, reach more, feel more, and that flows forward in life to all they touch in their path. The ripple effect is endless.

Just by being who you are, in all you do… you make more and more people feel… and not be able ‘to find the words.’

Happy Birthday Eoin. May your day be as radiant as you are, and may your year to come be everything you desire it to be… and then some!

 


photo source Photo Journal on Twitter, February 2017

For anyone who has not yet read Eoin’s debut novel ‘Kingdom of Scars’, you can procure your copy here

If you have not yet watched ‘Leopard’ click here for purchase options.

 

Lessons in Loyalty

November 8, 2016


In recent weeks, the concept of loyalty has come up in several sectors of life, and more conversations than I can count. Ranging from loyalty to customers in business, friends even in divisive times, to family amid challenge and crisis, to partners of all kinds, to faith, to self.

One, of a 'mere' handful of things, I will admit to being unwavering and unrelenting in, is loyalty. Personally, I cannot love, support, partner in business nor in any capacity of life, dedicate my heart, my soul, ...


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Before The Flood

November 6, 2016
This video is a 'must watch' for every human being on the planet.

Put aside ego, preconceived notions, and political rhetoric, and open your mind. Allow yourself to see, before your very eyes what is happening to our world.

Consider the viewing of this video to be your rent for this day as a living being on this planet in this lifetime.

Think about it, YES, dwell on it all... and change, facilitate change, encourage, support, seek change... today and every today... so there is a tomorrow that is...
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The Gift that You Can Keep On Giving....

October 25, 2016

We all shop on Amazon… for ourselves, for our families, for necessities, for ‘wants’, and for gifts. These days you can even get your groceries via Amazon, though that one, I personally haven’t acclimated to.

Point being, we all spend money on the Amazon site. Regularly.

We really can get TRUE value for our money through ‘Amazon Smile’.

This is a program – all we have to do is sign up – through which a percentage of qualified purchases goes to the charity of our choice.



Ther...


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The Life of a Dead Man

November 7, 2015



The Life of a Dead Man

 

Charlie always said he was a dead man.

“I have no life to speak of. What was, was. What is now is nothing to anyone. Just like when you’re dead.”

Over our all too brief time together, I hope that he came to believe otherwise. Maybe that in itself is what makes this so sad, so avoidable, so typical.

 

Charlie was one of the gentlemen who resided in the local park. We became acquainted over cookies and coffee, sandwiches and orange juice. We bonded over ...


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Keys to the Kingdom

October 31, 2014
Creativity is such a gift.

It is a gift within the person who has the creative notions and embodies the muse, and whose actions and expressions are inspired by it.

It is a gift to all those who hear, watch, read... the creation.

Those who watch an entertaining film, listen to moving music, or read an engaging story, are then in turn inspired to create... even if only a tweet, or blog, or comment....but often, they are motivated and fueled to create even more.

Creativity is the gift that keeps on ...
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Outside the Comfort Zone

February 20, 2014

People walk. People talk. If they would just have the courage to do them at the same time. No, this is not a decades late Gerald Ford gum chewing joke, it’s a social calamity in my not so humble opinion. One that I wish more people would take a deep breath, exhale, and act with the courage of their convictions. Few do. Maybe they forget to exhale and stay full of hot air.

No, I’m not just snarking about society in a late night rant. Something that occurred today hurt my heart. It scared ...


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I've Ben Starr Struck!!

November 9, 2013
I must begin with two clarifications.... 1) No, this title is not misspelled, and  2) This blog is years late in the making! Life and my desperate desire to 'get it right' kept delaying me... I would re-edit this...try to improve on it.... and in the end I came back to my original blog about one of the most amazing peeople I have EVER had the privilege to know... at long last, here it is.

The end of 2010 and flowing into early 2011 was a rough patch for me. Ok to be fully honest I have accura...

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Rear View Mirror Reflections

November 8, 2013
As we travel the journey of life, we often get retrospective, sentimental, remorseful, or even regretful. As if we are looking in the rear view mirror as we drive forward on our path. It is human nature to look at the past to see what we have experienced - hopefully to learn from it, but unfortunately more often than not we see only past mistakes and pain. I always remind myself as well as my children and clients that keeping our eyes fixated on the past will bring the same result as looking ...
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Michael Jackson - Two Years Later

June 27, 2011
I first posted this piece on July 7, 2009 - the day of Michael Jackson's funeral. As June 25 marks the second anniversary of his passing, all of the feelings I bear about his life - and death - resurfaced today and I chose to share them again.


  




A local Hollywood Entertainment Industry Venue asked me to blog a social commentary as Michael Jackson's Memorial was aired. 

Here is what I wrote: 

I sit here bawling, heartbroken and bereft as I watch Michael Jackson’s memorial service. 
I was a teen ...

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