The time of life between birth and death is simply known as “The Struggle.” The space of time where we make our contributions to the Book of Life. Joy and pain, ups and downs, successes and failures……these are terms we get to know all too well through The Struggle.

I truly believe that Life is a learning process….the more we learn the better we become at handling the next steps ahead. If we don’t take time to look at our mistakes, we are destined to repeat them over and over again. As each year rolls by we become more and more responsible for what the future may deliver. A ten year old child cannot be expected to have the same insight and life experience of a fifty year old. Life should be looked upon as a fine wine…..with age, the taste gets better.

In a society that caters too much to the first twenty-five years of life, far too little is focused upon the experience gained through age. Hopefully, through The Struggle, we acquire the knowledge that is needed to make sense and give purpose to our own individual lives. Many of us feel alone in The Struggle, while really we journey through it together. A human family that shares life daily….far too many times seeing the differences while ignoring the bonds that we have in common.

The baker, the homemaker, the craftsman, the teacher, etc……all are roles that we assume to provide the means that are necessary on the stage of life. The newborn child and the dying person can see the purpose to life. During The Struggle we must fight to hold on to the purpose of our existence. When we forget, is when we run into trouble and veer off course. Hopefully, we can reestablish the direction we were originally heading toward. I don’t believe we are accidents……The Struggle provides the evidence to prove that we are not.

Struggle On,

Jennifer Avalon
© 2001 Jennifer Avalon

Near where I live is a family that runs a farm. Jack and Laurie have two children and together they maintain a five acre spread of land. I recently had dinner at their house and was greatly surprised to learn what they do during their day. Many times when I drive past their place I have often wondered how they keep a farm going and never seem short of anything.

During dinner Jack mentioned that they rise at about 5:30 each morning and right away the coffee is turned on and the television satellite is activated to find out how the stock market is behaving that morning. “The stock market?” I asked Jack. “Yes indeed,” he replied, “I never took any courses in learning about the stock market, only my own readings and a little common sense.” Jack and Laurie used to live in New York City…..it was their dream to one day surround themselves with nature. Their house is beautiful and a nicer family you could not meet. Throughout the day they milk cows, and make cheese, which they sell to local markets. The most important aspect of their lives is the time that they donate to helping others. It is not uncommon to see Jack and Laurie at a local hospital or senior citizen center, on a Friday evening. Why do they do this? Laurie mentioned that the money they have made in the stock market over the past twenty years, they look upon as a blessing, and an opportunity to give back to those less fortunate.

So why is this a Renaissance Family? In a 24 hour period it is not unusual to find these people wearing many hats that include stockbroker, farmer, parent, mechanic, volunteer, and teacher. They believe that in order to have a healthy and successful life, one must learn many trades and foster many talents. To them, the days of just having to do one or two things in life are past.

So has your family also become a Renaissance Family? Many today are, without realizing it. Do you find yourself wearing many hats also, to accomplish the tasks of the day? We always seem to be so busy at looking at our shortcomings, while not acknowledging the gifts we offer to ourselves and our families. Within a Renaissance Family, everybody chips in. There is always somebody who knows something different. It could be screwing in a light bulb, painting a wall, or even knowing how to activate and use the VCR!!! In the Renaissance Family there is room for all to express their talents. Let’s dedicate the year 2001 to the Renaissance Family, and may it prosper and grow for many many years to come……………..

Live long and prosper,
love, Jennifer Avalon
© 2001 Jennifer Avalon

Many of us out there are feeling the affects of a malaise. A ship that is just adrift in the water, not quite knowing what tomorrow will bring. We search for the leadership that will bring us to the next level in the evolution of humanity. It’s very easy to point out what is wrong with life on planet earth…….what we need are those who can suggest answers to the problems.
In the United States this Holiday shopping season is coming out flat, at best. Who can blame people for not being in the mood to buy gifts? A lot of us feel that over the past month we have been mentally whipped with information from both sides. Never in our lifetimes have we seen such a spectacle that has taken place over voting. It is easy to understand why so many are just plain exhausted.

Around the world other countries too are dealing with issues such as bombings, bad weather, disease and hunger. This is the time of the year we look to for celebration. Hopefully, we don’t forget what it is we are celebrating. We have our families, our friends, our hopes and our dreams to embrace. It is these things that give us the strength to carry on.

It is important to remember that when a ship is adrift it can wander into the wrong port…….a port that may appear to give shelter, but may really be a pirate’s den. How do we know the safe harbor from the dangerous one? This is where leadership comes in…..a true leader is like a lighthouse that beckons to those who wander in the darkness. A true leader believes in a Higher Power………and knows that he or she must answer to God in all that they do. A true leader understands the responsibility of their position……that what they do ethically and morally will affect future generations. To hurt the children is to do damage to an entire society, from the rich to the poor. A true leader doesn’t just promise the dessert…..they give the main dish too, for true nourishment. It is hard to be a true leader, because not everyone will like you. Not everyone wants to eat their vegetables.

A true leader is a healer……….not a divider of souls. Compassionate, but not a Fool. A true leader believes in Law. A true leader knows that not “everything and everyone” is okay. A true leader is aware that Evil exists, but that the power of Love and Goodness can overcome it. A true leader does the best they can to love their fellow man. Sometimes when it seems that things are at their darkest, suddenly in the distance a light appears that grows stronger with time.

Shine a Light,

love, Jennifer Avalon
© 2000 Jennifer Avalon

In all walks of life, each person has his or her mountain to climb, and set of circumstances to overcome. For some it can be financial, others health, and for many, seeking answers to the mysteries of Life itself.

Financially we all want to be able to afford the best things in life, while at the same time setting aside enough so we can retire in comfort. Health is wealth…..we hope that each day our quality of life is maintained and that we are humble and wise to continue to take care of ourselves and our loved ones. It is common, at some point in life, for a person to hit what I call “the wall,” the point where many of us realize we are mortal and there has to be a reason for living.

I recently took a walk with a friend of mine, where we were discussing some of these points. It’s always interesting having a conversation with somebody where both of you ask questions and give answers, and lo and behold, arrive at a place in a conversation where you never expected to go. We discussed how everyone has to deal with the frailties of life. Each person, having their own distinctive set of circumstances to deal with. There is always something that we have to deal with….all problems are equal…financial, health, …whatever problems arise, the level of intensity is equal. What we do as human beings is set them on different levels of importance, when they really are all on the same level, because they are all interconnected. Many wise people go through their whole lives and never understand this, until moments before their death. Everything is interconnected. We deny the importance of certain situations, and therefore aren’t always able to take care of them because we have put them on different levels. Stress is stress, period…no matter where it comes from.

Each life is equal……..mankind assigns the value of one life over another……when really we come into this world naked, and leave the same way. As we tackle and deal with our human frailties, hopefully we never lose sight that between birth and death only the Love we share with others will give us the strength to fight on and be remembered when the battle of life is over.

Be strong,

Jennifer Avalon
© 2000 Jennifer Avalon

Here we are, over three weeks past Election Day, and still there is a debate over who will be the next President of the United States. The frustration of this dilemma is starting to build. It has affected the Thanksgiving Day holiday, it is affecting the Christmas shopping season, the stock market is still in decline because of the uncertainty, and you can’t turn on a television set, look at a newspaper, or go into a coffee shop without hearing the latest updated newsflash.

Believe it or not, this will all pass. One way or another, within the next two weeks a new President will be declared……absolutely. This all started in the hands of Governor Bush and Vice-president Gore. Now, I’m afraid, it is in the hands of lawyers and spin-doctors, who really don’t care about anybody else but themselves. They don’t care about you, they don’t care about me. Inside their puny little minds they are contemplating how much mileage they can get out of this, and how much the advance will be for the book that they plan to write over the next year. It will be left to the common man and woman to pick up the pieces, put them back together, and unite a divided country. Young and old, rich and poor, black and white…..we all live here. It may not be perfect, and sometimes not the fairest, but I, like many, love America, and what it can become. It’s about time we cast aside the points of view of those that pit us against each other, and look inside our hearts, to what we have in common.
What we have learned from this mess is that for the next election, the winner should not be decided by the courts or somebody with a magnifying glass, looking for dimpled marks on a ballot. A uniform system would be a refreshing alternative! The question that lingers in my mind about the election is this: What has happened in America since the last election that has divided us so deeply?

Whomever the next President is, boy oh boy does he have his work cut out for him. No honeymoon administration, he will be expected to hit the ground running! I am looking to hear a statement such as, “Let’s heal America, and try as much as we can, to leave no one behind.” That would be a nice beginning…..don’t you think?

God Bless America,

Jennifer Avalon
© 2000 Jennifer Avalon

Through each stage of Life there are triumphant surprises, and stormy days. Things can unexpectedly come at us from out of the blue. The more we buy into the scenarios that Life throws at us, the less in control we begin to feel.

Inside each one of us is a comfort zone, a place where peace exists, where calm prevails and the soul can flourish. This center is not influenced by the fluctuations of Life……this part of ourselves sees the Greater Picture and Purpose of why we are here. The place where the past, the present, and future are totally understood. It is where we understand that the Purpose of our living is not based upon how many cars or houses we own….how much money we have in the bank, or where the hot restaurant in town is. The center is where true value reigns.

Peace of mind is a strange concept. We can’t buy our way there, but so many until their dying breath, reach for it. Without it we walk around feeling that something is missing. While we walk around on the ground, we fall prey to the rules that circle us. Once we enter the center of ourselves, everything makes sense. The center helps us rise above the clouds and see the Total Picture. Above the clouds is where the air is fresh, the sky is blue…..it is where we can spread our wings. One with Earth, one with the Universe, one with God.

How do we get there? Well, if you’re there, you don’t need for me to tell you. If not, find a quiet place, and ask yourself, “Why am I here?” and “How can I leave this world better than when I came?” Because at the end of our days, it’s the Love we gave that we will be remembered for.

Keep a bird’s eye view,

love, Jennifer Avalon
© 2000 Jennifer Avalon

We all come into this world wanting to feel safe. We cling to our mothers as babies, and, as toddlers, tug at our father’s trousers to steady ourselves. As we continue to grow we begin to realize that people can hurt us with words and deeds, others can think, behave, and believe differently than us, and we have little control over things like the weather and wars. So we invent little things to make our minds think that yes, we are safe.

Routines become a way of creating a sense of safety. Surrounding ourselves with a network of friends and relatives also provides us with a feeling of safety. For some, isolation makes them feel safe. The reality is, none of this is “real” safety. Our loved ones can pass on, earth changes can happen without a moment’s notice, a fanatic can decide it’s their turn to become famous. So where does this leave us? For some, with a deep down sense that they are “not really safe.”

For me, a sense of safety comes from the fact that I believe there is a God, and that there is a world beyond this one. Some people see that as a weakness…..I feel it is a strength. I am aware of the fact that I will be “held accountable” for my actions and my thoughts (yes, thoughts do have power)…..this makes me feel safe. Why? Because I know that the human being is a struggling soul throughout his or her entire lifetime, but that in the end, all that we do and feel is held up before the “real court of justice,” and we have a chance to see how we really behaved on earth. I know there will be things that I wish I could have corrected while on earth, about myself. Things I will probably be upset that I said or did…… and there will be other things that I will be proud of.

I believe that feeling Love is far more “safe” for the human soul than feeling Hate. Love is like a shield because it comes from a different place than Hate. Hate is earth created, I believe. I don’t think there is one bit of Hate in Heaven, because Heaven is made of God’s Love….entirely. So how do bad deeds get punished, one could ask, if Heaven is made of pure Love? The worst punishment of all is to have to look at ourselves and our behavior and to have to feel the pain we may have inflicted upon others, if we did so. God knows this. But we can only allow ourselves, our egos, to do this in a place of safety…..in a place of Love.

As I watch the goings on in this world I continue to hope and pray that mankind sees the consequences of his behavior towards others……..that it really does matter what we do and say to each other. We all are human……we all get angry and sad and bitter at times, but we can balance that with our incredible capacity for Love and Compassion. The more we practice the latter, the “safer” we will become.

Love,
Jennifer Avalon
© 2000 Jennifer Avalon

On Tuesday, November 7th, 2000, an extraordinary thing happened in the election to vote for the next President of the United States. A country sits at a stalemate, as votes are being recounted in the state of Florida, to decide our next leader for four years. The voter turnout has confirmed in one way or another that we are a country split down the middle. A few thousand votes will determine who occupies the White House next.

Yes, I know Democracy has spoken, which is a wonderful thing, but once we peel back the covers some disturbing situations are starting to reveal themselves. We as a society have splintered ourselves into so many subgroups that we are finding it harder and harder to see ourselves as a whole. It falls upon the next President to bring us all together. The divisions have grown too great between us all. The “Us” against ”Them” philosophy must stop. We are a country made up of many different religions, races, etc. There is strength in our differences, but this strength can only solidify when we pool our resources together.

Financially America is pretty sound…..there is always more work to be done for those who have been left behind. Morally we are at a crossroads. There are good Democrats, and there are good Republicans, and yes, good Green Party members, etc. All with their own points of view on what is best for America. At some point common ground must prevail. If one looks back over the course of the past few years it is no surprise that we have arrived at this point in time. The polarizations of the citizens of the United States has been sad to watch.

Tonight I paid a visit to my local mall, made up of all different kinds of people. The look in the eyes said it all. Many of us are exhausted, and disgusted that we have allowed ourselves to believe that we are all that much different. An American is an American….period. We have the best form of government in the world, but underneath the radar much is going unobserved. Last night as the election results came in the news networks first said that they had called the state of Florida for Al Gore. Then, about an hour later, they retracted that statement and put the state back in the “undecided” column.

At around 2 in the morning they announced that George W. Bush had won. Then, an hour later they retracted that statement and said the election is “too close to call.” These are the people that give us our information daily. The people we trust to tell us the truth. What are they telling us today? SORRY. Well, sorry is just not good enough. A number of analysts were horrified that the media had projected so early the outcome of Florida. As one guest on Larry King Live said “This is outrageous. We are talking about Democracy here.”

Whoever the next President is, he’s got some very serious and hard work ahead of him. The most important job of his term will not be to take polls, check the stock market, go to as many fundraisers as he can, etc. It will be to unite the United States.

I love America……it’s differences, and it’s similarities. I am just so tired of so many groups with their own agenda working to keep us all apart. The days of fear must be over. God Bless America, and God Bless the next President.
love,

Jennifer Avalon
© 2000 Jennifer Avalon

The airwaves are full these days with funny and humorous statements about how to improve the quality of life. There is always one financial advisor who says something to scare the daylights out of you. One thing is for sure…..knowledge is power.

The average American retires with four thousand dollars in a savings account. If that person is lucky they have either a pension or a 401K plan. Many do not. Until I see a serious motivation by our officials to encourage people to save or invest more, I cannot believe that the system that is in place now really cares to raise people up the economic ladder.

Each day we make choices….do I buy this? or do I save. After a while for many of us, saving starts to resemble a form of punishment….a denial of immediate enjoyment. Hey everybody wants to have a little fun, and have nice things. But a little has to be put away for the future.

Investing……it could be property, or stocks, etc. For many buying more than one home seems like a monumental task, but quite a few people have profited over time in this endeavor. It’s a little tricky and complicated, but it can work. The stock market….oh yes…..the fearful stock market. In the right companies, many have profited handsomely over the past few decades. It goes up, it goes down, but over time you are well ahead. The fear of the stock market stops many from climbing that elusive economic ladder. What some do is set aside some money each month to purchase stocks that they believe will increase over time. Stocks should be looked upon as a form of partnership…..example: If you own stock in Microsoft, you are, in essence, a partner with others who own the same stock, including Bill Gates. Yes, Bill Gates!! You may like pharmaceuticals, like Merck, or perhaps your favorite may be General Electric. Whatever it is, these types of companies are the engines that will power America forward into the future. A train comes into the station, and it’s up to each one of us to decide whether we board it, or watch it leave without us. The choice of stock is up to each individual to decide, with the help of a financial planner or money manager, or even by themselves. What’s important is that whatever one does, they progress themselves up the ladder.

I really care about people. I get heart-wrenching letters from many who are hurting for all different kinds of reasons. We can’t erase the mistakes we have made in the past, but we can learn from them, and take control of our lives. The tools are out there….we just have to use them. Money has a profound effect over our lives….like it or not, it is so. A lot of people believe that their “dream” will provide them all the financial support that they need. Very few businesses or endeavors start making a profit from their inception. If you really really want your dream to succeed, you must take away the fear factor, and make sure that you can stay financially afloat while you build your success. We can accomplish our goals if we stay grounded.

From the ground up, may your dreams take flight……

love, Jennifer Avalon
© 2000 Jennifer Avalon

We love because without Love there is nothing….no purpose, no center, no destination. Think for a second….if we were to eliminate Love from our lives, the giving and the taking, what would we have left? There are all kinds of Love. Love of the Self, Love of Others, Love of the Arts, Love of God. From the day we are born until the day we die, many signposts on the road of life are marked by Love. A friend of mine recently shared with me his thoughts on Love. He said, “Jennifer, I have no Love. I’m not married, I have no children, I have few friends.” I turned to him and I said, “Why?” His answer, “I guess I’m afraid to Love.” I asked him, “What are your passions? How do you spend your days, when you can?” He replied, “Ah…I make model airplanes that I fly in the park every Saturday.” I asked him, “Do people enjoy you flying your planes?” He replied, “Funny you mention that. There is a little boy named Jack who comes each Saturday with his father to see how I’ve improved my planes. Recently I gave the boy one of my handmade airplanes.” I then responded, “Well you gave him Love, whether you’re aware of it or not. That little boy will remember the gift many years from now.” My friend, without realizing it, gave a gift of Love.

Love is a seed that once planted, one never knows how high and how far it can grow. Our job as people is to plant as many seeds as we can during our lifetimes. To Hate is easy……..it takes no discipline, no caring, no effort. To Love is sometimes difficult….but once we leave this planet, it is not the money, the fame, the possessions that we take with us……it will be the Love we contributed.

So why should we Love? Because no matter how much money, whatever country you live in, whoever you “are”….the gift of Love is equal. Perhaps what we are all to learn is that the greatest commodity that we can exchange on this earth is Love. I have hope that one day we will. True intelligence equals Love. All the diplomas, the certificates, the prizes, are reduced to pieces of paper when they don’t include Love. The day we are born we come into this world with just one thing….the Love that God has instilled in us…and the day we die we go back to God with, hopefully, more Love inside of us then when we arrived as newborns. It is our job to hold onto the Love inside of us, and to give it away……..

Take the time to Love,

Jennifer Avalon
© 2000 Jennifer Avalon