And they sniff..

A dogs path to enlightenment

Dogs are really pretty simple creatures, I should know, I live with two of them.  As a matter of fact, dogs have been in my life since the day I was born.  I've learned much from observing them.

In my opinion they ARE the enlightened ones. The meaning of life is simply "to sniff" more often. Here's what I mean:

They wake up, they sniff.
They stretch, they sniff.
They wake me up, they sniff.
They wait for me, they wag their tail, they sniff.
They go out, they sniff the air.
They walk down the stairs, they sniff the steps.
They pee, they sniff the ground.
They look around, they sniff the rose bush.
(Ok...that really gets me...they stop to smell the roses!)
They come in, they sniff their food.
They see their bones, they sniff (and chew).
They go back out, they sniff the ground.
They poop, they sniff the air.
They see Leo (their boyfriend next door), they sniff his face.
They come back in, they sniff their beds.
They lay down, they sniff the air.
They wake up, they sniff.....
And they sniff, and they sniff, and they sniff!

Yes, that's right, "the sniff" says it all.  With everything dogs do, they stop to sniff.  Sounds so simple - sniffing is the way to enlightenment.

There's still one bud left on my bush.  I'm off to sniff the roses!

When did you stop thinking you were beautiful? 

That is a question the makers of Dove posed in a recent video that my friend and colleague, Birgit Keil, shared just this morning.  I KNOW when I started realizing, again, how beautiful I am -


From a distance many of you would never suspect that I was quite camera shy.  Yes, I was one of those women who would run from the camera.  What I saw in my pictures were flaws, lines, pimples, the hidden scars from listening to callous, insensitive, abusive people; from a society who suffers greatly; from believing I was not "good enough".

Well....Enough is ENOUGH.  I, like all of  you, am more than enough.  There is nothing wrong with me or YOU! We all have a spark, a shine, that when nurtured can light up even the darkest of moments.

My moment came when I shot my first video, with ME in the scene.  While reviewing the piece, I began critiquing it, cutting and cutting until there was nothing left.  My production partner, Judy Davids, gave me sound advice.  She said, "Stop watching yourself with judgement and simply let it be. The world sees only your beauty and hears only your words of love and encouragement, because THAT'S who you are!"

Wow!  Really, that's who I am?  Well, sisters (and brothers) if that's who I am then that's who YOU are - because I am you and you are me.

"I'm ready for my close up, Mr. DeMille!" Gloria Swanson, Sunset Boulevard, 1950

Are you ready?

When will you start thinking you are beautiful? How about right now? Just say, "yes I am" - it's that simple!