Ode To Earnest

What does one do when one wakes up nearly every morning to a partner of 17 years and the first thing out of his mouth and sounding like a little child is, "Where's my love?"

What is one to think about someone who as soon as he gets out of bed he is singing a new song? (The song usually being an old '70's song. And to this day, he has never repeated any of the songs to my recollection!)

What is one to do when their partner, while putting his clothes on for the day, is dancing? And it is usually to a drum cadence that he made up some 17 plus years ago as he marches around the room mimicking the Grambling Band Drum Majors!

What is one to believe about their partner when after he finishes his morning meditation, he pretends to fall off the meditation cushion and back into reality? And is so dramatic about it!

What is one to ponder when throughout the day, their partner has a child-like attitude towards life, not letting anything ruffle his feathers? And as he works on various projects, he literally changes his hats all day long! The funniest being a Saints helmet that is really a snack bowl, but it fits!

Answers: I haven't a clue!

All I know is that life with Earnest Harris is always an adventure. With him, all day long is play time, and yet he one of the busiest people I know!

I don't know how he does it because he finds time to be a remarkable father, a loving and doting husband, an inspiring writer, a wonderful film producer, and a talented director. And so much more, but that is another blog!

What I do know is that in his presence, he inspires me and everyone around him to be a better person and personally, I am better for having known him.

Thank you Earnest!

A Child's Innocence

Happy New Year Everyone!

Thought I would start out the year with a very light and cute family story.

As I was putting away Christmas decorations the other day in our storage, I somehow pulled a muscle in my lower back lifting a heavy box.

Later that evening, I asked my 12 year old daughter to please do me a favor and massage my lower back for me. (My daughter is our family resident nurse and loves to heal us if we so much as say something hurts us!)

As she was massaging my back, I commented and said, "Sweetie, you are such a great masseuse!"

My daughter asked innocently, "What's that?"

"Someone who does a full body massage for people," I responded.

After a brief silence, my daughter asked, "So is a person who massages people's feet called a footseuse?"

Final Thoughts For 2010

As another year comes to an end, this year, 2010 will go down as one of the most challenging years. And yet one of the most rewarding.

Challenging from a business perspective as we continue to grow our company in a not-so-friendly economic climate.

Equally challenging is being a parent of two young children transitioning into their teenage years and all that comes with that.

But if I am proud of anything that happened in 2010, it is that in spite of the crazy economy and the pressures of family and business, we kept it together no matter what.

And to be honest, there were times in 2010 it was not that easy.

I think of the many households and families who are struggling financially, or with health issues, or having problems with their kids, spouses, or dealing with taking care of their elderly family members, and it tears me up. I have never seen so many people hurting like I did in 2010. Or maybe I am just more aware than I have ever been.

All I do know is that I am so grateful for my health, both mentally and physically. I am so happy for all the people in my life and especially those who helped me, reached out to me when I needed them most, and even those who challenged me to step up my game and dared me to attain even higher goals.

I feel so loved, honored, and immensely joyous. I looking forward to 2011 with much hope, much expectation and the outlook is a good one. Come no matter what in 2011, I'm ready.

Thank you 2010!

I Got Pranked!

Yes, it's true. I GOT PRANKED! And in all honesty, deservedly so!

My husband and I have this running joke about one of my titles, La Reina, as he likes to jokingly call me with a heavy Mexican accent and rolling his R as if to impress others that he can speak Spanish well.

I usually respond back to him when he calls me this and say, "La Reina del Bano!" (Queen of the Bathroom! It's more like La Reina De La Cocina!)

Every morning we have a ritual where we meet to discuss the day's events.

Typically he will buzz me on the intercom (his office is on the first floor and mine is on the third floor) to see if I am ready for our meetings.

As of late, to cultivate my title and just mess with him, I have asked him to please 'play the trumpets' as I enter into his office area. I will yell down to him from the second floor landing when I am ready to make my big entrance. And yes, I ham it up!

And to really push the envelope, I get into full character, pretending to be quite the royal!

Usually, my husband will either mouth the sound of trumpets to the tune of the old Imperial butter/margarine commercial or he will attempt a rendition of USC's school song, 'Conquest'. Both of which crack us up because my husband cannot do this well!

So, yesterday, as usual, I am standing on the landing of the second floor with my coffee in one hand, my cell phone in the other, and I am ready to take on the WORLD! (I am feeling pretty full of myself!)

I yell down, "Okay, I'm ready! Play the trumpets!"

Out of nowhere, I hear blaring through our speakers, "Hail To The Chief," the Presidential theme song.

I take that first step and just lose it. I am laughing so hard that I spill my coffee, drop my cell phone, tears are rolling down my cheeks, my side is hurting, and I am pressing my knees together and squirming to keep from having an accident in my pants! All the while hoping someone will yell, "CUT!!" so that I can get out of this scene!

It was like one of those Harvey Korman/Tim Conway scenes where they are both laughing during their skit and can hardly contain themselves, but they continue on with their lines!

AND I am attempting to keep my composure like Carol Burnett did in the 'Gone With The Wind' spoof where she is wearing the curtain rod dress. I'm sure I look as ridiculous as she did!

My husband, all the while is hooting and howling.

To make matters even funnier, when I get down to the first floor, he is standing there at attention and saluting me!

Well, needless to say, it was just plain funny.

So my dear husband, you got me and you got me GOOD! Don't think I can top this one!

I concede.

Just Believe!

It amazes me when I come across someone who can see my potential and they share with me what they see. Because, to be quite honest, I have a tough time seeing it and believing it.

It's as if they believe in me more than I believe in myself!

Oh, I can see potential in others, but I am unable to see my own potential.

How strange, huh? Why is that?

A friend recently told me, how he can help everyone with their problems, concerns, and issues, but when it came to himself, he couldn't do so!

I wonder if it is by design.

Maybe, just maybe, God is behind it all. Maybe it is one of His ways that He gets us to share with each other with the hope that we will stop to listen to each other and extend a helping hand or remind each other of our many talents and gifts we possess.

Maybe it's God's way of working through us and showing just how proactive He is in our life without being invasive.

I hope so!

I hear so often from friends how God never speaks to them. That they get nothing from Him.

Hmmm?

Is it possible that God's way of speaking to us Is through others? Besides, I probably would pass out if I heard His audible voice anyway! And probably question it too!

Whatever is going on in the universe, I believe the message is clear. Hang in there. Don't give up. Our lives have purpose. And that there is a plan for each of us and God is speaking, if we will just open our hearts to each other and listen.

What is God saying?

He is saying that He won't let us fail! He is saying He will call on His people to accomplish His purpose for each of us. He is saying He has a plan that we are actively involved in it and that it's a wonderful and marvelous plan!

Just Believe! Believe in your potential even if you can't see it or your own gifts. Believe in yourself!

Pain - A Great Teacher

I am reading a book entitled "Nothing Special" and it has really challenged every area of my life particularly dealing with life and the many things that make up life. One of those things being pain.

In the book, the author defines the challenges in our lives as rocks or rather rock diamonds placed along our path to help us deal directly with what we need to either eliminate or correct in our lives.

I consider myself a student on the path to enlightenment and sometimes I miss opportunities to use life and everything that comes with life as a teacher.

Recently, I was ill and in great pain. The pain lasted for eighteen hours. Rather than using the pain as a teacher at the time, I focused more on woe is me. I kept wondering how much longer is this going to last. I paced up and downstairs all night and found myself pleading with God to PLEASE put me out of my misery.

I attempted to use my meditation practice but it was so difficult just to focus on my breath.

Needless to say, the longer the pain lasted, the angrier and more miserable I became.

At one point, I wasn't even sure who or what I was angry at but I was fully aware of my anger, frustration, and powerlessness.

After trying everything I could to ease the pain, I just gave up. I had to. What choice did I have but to just accept it? And there it was, my breakthrough.

Of course I was exhausted from not having any sleep, but I had become used to the pain. That was so foreign to me. I was okay with the pain and if this was the way it was going to be, so be it.

Now that I am feeling better, I feel really silly for having been so focused on self. My practice teaches its students to learn to chip away at the self by observing one's self honestly. I see clearly now, how much self I still need to let go of and I have my friend pain to thank for that.

I am not saying that I want to go through that type of pain again, but I am thankful that it didn't kill me. It only felt like it at the time. It did however, make me more aware. It taught me just how much pain I can tolerate. It also taught me that I cannot run from myself.

In life we can choose to run away from our problems be it financial, family, or work problems, but we cannot run away from our own bodies when dealing with uncontrollable pain. Pain won't let us.

Pain is a part of our lives. Pain is and can be a great teacher.

Vision For Our Children

Today I was having a conversation with my husband about our two young kids and preparing them for their future.

As we were discussing all the steps we have taken thus far to prepare them for college and what the next few years will require of us and them, it occurred to me that our vision for them SHOULD go beyond our own expectations!

Yes, that's right! Our vision for our kids should not be limited to what we envision for our kids in just their generation, but their children's generation as well!

Our goal should be to ensure that our children and their children, and even beyond, will have more opportunities than Earnest and I were presented. Or for that matter, could ever imagine!

A very dear mentor and friend of ours said once that the greatest gift we can pass on to our children is giving them the gift of having many options in their life. And Earnest and I have never forgotten this advice.

As my husband and I were talking, we discussed some of the things that we need to do to make sure they have options and choices. We both agreed that putting our kids in settings where they can a) meet people of all occupations (i.e. doctors, lawyers, teachers and so on), b) get to know people of various cultures, ethnicities, religious backgrounds, c) visit various college campuses and, d) be highly involved in their education and extracurricular activities, is just a beginning.

Quite honestly, nothing would bring me greater joy and satisfaction, even if I am not around to see it, than knowing that my husband and I raised good, well mannered, successful kids and that they will continue the legacy of ensuring that future generations follow in our footsteps and hopefully correct our mistakes.

Being a parent is one of the highest callings and it requires a lot of work, so much love and dedication, tons of patience, on-going planning and putting that plan into action, and finally it requires a truly long-term vision!