New Year's Feng Shui

What a joke!

The president of the Times Square Alliance said on television, "Tonight is a major advertisement for NYC.  It tells people what a great city we are, and how welcoming we are."  

Really?!  


Attendees (many come from far away) have to wait in line (in the cold) HOURS in advance, in fenced "pens" (like animals).  No food, no drinks, no backpacks, no umbrellas allowed.  No bathrooms.  If you leave the "cage" (even for a bathroom), you are not permitted to return.  The crappy eateries in the filthy Times Square area are charging exorbitant fees: Olive Garden $400; Gump Shrimp $700; Ruby Tuesday $1,700!  And for what?  To watch overpaid celebrities lip-synch and say the same annual quips of no meaning?  After the ball drops (a 10-second event), it's impossible to hail a cab, and the subways will be a wreck for hours.  It's inhospitable!

The smartest folks will STAY AWAY from this overpriced / underserved gimmick and enjoy the holiday cozily... with better feng shui.  

Some Life Lessons to End the Year

1. Pain is part of growing.

Sometimes life closes doors because it’s time to move forward. And that’s a good thing because we often won’t move unless circumstances force us to. When times are tough, remind yourself that no pain comes without a purpose. Move on from what hurt you, but never forget what it taught you. Just because you’re struggling doesn’t mean you’re failing. Good things take time. Everything is going to come together; maybe not immediately, but eventually.

When you roll with life, instead of resisting it, you grow.

2. Everything in life is temporary.

Every time it rains, it stops raining. Every time you get hurt, you heal. After darkness there is always light – you are reminded of this every morning, but still you often forget, and instead choose to believe that the night will last forever. It won’t. Nothing lasts forever.

So if things are good right now, enjoy it. If things are bad, don’t worry because it won’t last forever either. Just because life isn’t easy at the moment, doesn’t mean you can’t laugh. Every moment gives you a new beginning and a new ending. You get a second chance, every second. You just have to take it and make the best of it.

3. Worrying and complaining changes nothing.

Those who complain the most, accomplish the least. It’s always better to attempt to do something great and fail than to attempt to do nothing and succeed. It’s not over if you’ve lost; it’s over when you do nothing but complain about it. Don’t let the shadows of the past darken the doorstep of your future. Spending today complaining about yesterday won’t make tomorrow any brighter. Take action instead. True happiness arrives only when you stop complaining about your problems and you start being grateful for all the problems you don’t have.

4. Your scars are symbols of your strength.

Don’t ever be ashamed. A scar means the hurt is over and the wound is closed. It means you conquered the pain, learned a lesson, grew stronger, and moved forward. Don’t allow your scars to hold you hostage. Don’t allow them to make you live your life in fear. You can’t make the scars in your life disappear, but you can change the way you see them.

5. Every little struggle is a step forward.

In life, patience is not about waiting; it’s the ability to keep a good attitude while working hard on your dreams, knowing that the work is worth it. So if you’re going to try, put in the time and go all the way. Otherwise, there’s no point in starting. This could mean losing stability and comfort for awhile, and maybe even your mind on occasion. It could mean stretching your comfort zone. It could mean sacrificing all that’s familiar. It could mean accepting ridicule from your peers. It could mean lots of time alone. Solitude, though, gives you the space you need. Everything else is a test of your determination, of how much you really want it. If you want it, you’ll do it, despite failure and the odds. You will realize that the struggle is not found on the path, it is the path. There’s no better feeling than knowing what it means to be ALIVE.

6. Other people’s negativity is not your problem.

Be positive when negativity surrounds you. Smile when others try to bring you down. It’s an easy way to maintain your enthusiasm and focus. Keep being you. Don’t let someone else’s bitterness change who you are. You can’t take things too personally, even if it seems personal. Rarely do people do things because of you; they do things because of them. Above all, don’t change just to impress someone who says you’re not good enough. Change because it makes you a better person and leads you to a brighter future. People are going to talk regardless of what you do or how well you do it. You can’t please all of the people all of the time. If you believe strongly in something, don’t be afraid to fight for it. Great strength comes from overcoming what others think is impossible. Your life only comes around once. This is IT. So do what makes you happy and be with whoever makes you smile, often.

7. What’s meant to be will eventually BE.

True strength comes when you have so much to cry and complain about, but you prefer to smile and appreciate your life instead. There are blessings hidden in every struggle. You can’t force things to happen. You can only drive yourself crazy trying. At some point you have to let go and let what’s meant to be, BE. In the end, loving your life is about trusting your intuition, taking chances, losing and finding happiness, cherishing the memories, and learning through experience. It’s a long-term journey. You have to stop worrying, wondering, and doubting along the way. Laugh, live consciously in the moment, and enjoy your life as it unfolds. You might not end up exactly where you intended to go, but you will eventually arrive precisely where you need to be.

8. The best thing you can do is to keep going.

Don’t be afraid to get back up, try again, love again, live again, and dream again. Don’t let a hard lesson harden your heart. Life’s best lessons are often learned at the worst times and from the worst mistakes. There will be times when it seems like everything that could possibly go wrong is going wrong. You might feel like you will be stuck in this rut forever, but you won’t be. When you feel like quitting, remember that sometimes things have to go very wrong before they can be right. Yes, life is tough, but you are tougher. Find the strength to laugh every day. Find the courage to feel different and beautiful. Find it in your heart to make others smile. Don’t stress over things you can’t change. Love generously. Speak truthfully. Work diligently. Keep growing.

9. Follow this daily TO-DO list:

Think positively.

Eat healthy.

Exercise.

Worry less.

Laugh often.

Sleep well.

Home Escape Demo

     Every school has fire drills.  Every flight involves watching evacuation videos/demonstrations.  I think escape plans should be mandatory if you rent/buy an apartment or condo.  Many of my new neighbors have no idea how to use their metal fire escape.  Some don't know where the basement exits are.  On the news, a fire chief warned viewers that if they have a blazing emergency in their apartment building, they should leave but keep their doors closed.  (It helps contain fire/smoke).  The fire chief seemed to emphasize that few city dwellers know such safety tips.  

     In grade school, safety tips were taught to me.  Stop, drop and roll.  Don't overload electric sockets.  Don't over-connect extension cords.  Don't use light bulbs that aren't suitable to the fixture's wattage.  Unfortunately, our metropolis has been inundated with immigrants--not seen in such quantities since the turn-of-century's Ellis Island Immigration Center.  Nobody seems to tell them.  Also consider that the modern city schools are terribly deficient in any learning programs.  Add to the problem that the city allows slumlords to operate sub-standard housing while hundreds of safety violations are ignored.  

     Educating new tenants--just like we remind flight passengers--is a great idea!

America's Capital City Isn't Near the Capitol

     I pondered why New York City isn't America's capital.  London, Paris, Beijing, Prague, Berlin, Madrid are all big cities/tourist attractions and simultaneously the governing capitals of their countries.  Yet, in America, NYC is the trade capital and biggest tourist destination... but it's not the governing capital.  For America, NYC is the "capital" of Finance, Banking, Fashion, Publishing, Advertising, Insurance, and Museums.  It houses the global governance headquarters of the United Nations.  
     Our newest President wants to shuttle back-and-forth from between the Capitol in Washington D.C. and Manhattan (like Queen Elizabeth between Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle).  Many folks aren't thrilled about that costly idea.  Yet, some question why Manhattan didn't always stay the historic capital of the United States?
     Here's the scoop.  Apparently, Colonial-era statesman/founding father, Alexander Hamilton, helped moved America's capital from New York (where our first president took office) to Washington D.C..  It was a trade-off/bribe to get his banking infrastructure into implementation.  Hamilton wanted economic power in the hands of bankers and merchants.  So, he moved the capital to "the South", amidst the titans of agriculture... and away from the financial elite in "the North".  That deal was short-sighted for the plantation owners; it was like buying a melting iceberg, since the financiers would overpower government--and the farms--soon enough.
     200+ years later, another "ambassador" of capitalism--our latest unqualified President--wants to bring some of the "power seat of government" back to NYC.  Let's see how that plays out... because things that work splendidly in the rest of the world don't work effectively via America's infrastructure.  

P.S.  Isn't it funny that the word "capital" refers to both money and government?  A lobbyist's dream.

The Gods

     Some traditions don't die.  

     I've often wondered that despite their $upport to the papal Roman Catholic Church (under penalty of excommunication or death), Europe's monarchies and aristocracy never "let go" of their fascination with ancient Greek, Roman, Nordic, Egyptian and pagan gods.  They adorned their homes and gardens with statues of such goddesses and half man/creature mythical beings (meanwhile they wore crucifixes when they attended church mass).  Did you ever notice how European palaces and mansions are full of such images?  

     Something else that would qualify as heresy--which was apparently pardoned by the Church--was many kings considered themselves godlike.  Which is interesting, considering that kings were ordained by (got their power from) the pope, who was the self-proclaimed "spokesman" for God.  Such a paradox having all those lesser gods being crowned by God's pope.  

     Acting as if he had his own godly powers, King Henry VIII of England made public appearances, where he commanded illnesses to leave his serfs and vassals.  Later in his reign, he made England break away from the Catholic Church and form its own religion, where English monarchs were the supreme Heads of the Church.

     Throughout Europe, monarchs had their images painted to make them resemble gods.  

(Maybe they began to believe it?)

     At the risk of heresy trials, witch trials or religious treason, the nobility love to keep their pre-Christian gods around.  But, they still come back to the old quote:

Friends & Dating: Being Too Quick to Judge

I'm astounded when friends complain of not being able to find anyone to go on dates with.  When guys use phone apps for "dating/sex" but briskly scan through hundreds of profiles--dismissing all of them.  When professionals attend an event and can't mingle enough to make one new contact.  When friends huddle in their same small clique and hesitate to admit anyone new.
     When Lewis and I were in Japan (as well as China, Spain, France, and Italy), people were gracious to greet us.  Strolling through their hometown, if a group of locals spotted us, they went out of their way to greet us.  They were happy that we enjoyed their surroundings.  Some of them spontaneously offered us a cookie/treat, as a sign of welcome/gratitude.  It happened many times.  (Fearful Americans would say "Don't accept gifts from strangers" and "Hide within your own gated community").
     Maybe Americans (New Yorkers particularly) should be less snarky and choosey, when it comes to meeting new people.  Maybe they shouldn't say, "When I saw him at the grocery store, he was unshaven and his hair wasn't groomed, so I'm not interested."  Or "She did little things that disqualified herself from my checklist."  To me, it seems unwise and ungracious to behave like that, as if newcomers need to surpass your checklist... or that you don't need to get to know them before making a decision.  

     Latest example: A lonely (and superficially choosey) friend accepted my offer to be introduced to someone whom I thought was a "good match".  I set it up casually.  I invited my friend to visit me at home, while this guy was there helping me do some work.  I thought that seeing how helpful and handy he was would impress my friend.  My friend judged the guy based purely on his clothes and the dust on his hands (from helping me).  

     My friend rapidly asked what the guy did for a living.  When the guy replied that he was "between jobs", my friend misjudged him.  My friend chose to ignore everything else that made up the man.  It was my friend's loss.

     The guy is attractive.  

He's athletic.

He trains for marathons and runs them for charity!

A former model, he maintains his physique (and friendships).  

A former soldier, he's respectful, neat, and orderly.

Yet, he never lets it dampen his fun spirit.

He's curious, desires new experiences, and admires history and antiques.

He loves to travel, and he does so often.

Animals love him!

People appreciate that he can work with his hands.

He also has a great relationship with his loving (wealthy) family.

Don't judge a book by its cover.  A great person can be within the temporary situation that you see.  Discover more.  Take the time to get to know them.  Are you really that busy?  If you think you are, see where you waste most of your time.  Allocate time to discover great people that Life is dangling right in front of you.