My life has been touched by some strange events over the past couple of months…yet I believe they are all connected. I know somewhere within the center of these events is an underlying message. Let me share some of them with you:

I got a chance to rent the movie “Two for The Money,” this past week….an interesting film starring Al Pacino and Matthew McConaughey. The premise of the movie is that Matthew’s character has a knack for picking winning football teams on Sunday. His percentages are so good that it reaches the ears of a large bookmaker in New York, played by Al Pacino, who offers Matthew’s character a job with a large salary. What is revealed during the movie is what great lengths people will go to in order to bet money to win on games. It is shown that betting on sports is an over 200 billion dollar business a year. What we eventually see is how important money is to the general population. Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Monte Carlo, etc….the planes fly in daily for the chance to touch the golden nugget, despite the odds against them.

I also visited an Assisted Living facility, where an aged friend of mine who recently lost his wife, lives. As I entered the lobby and passed along the corridor, lining the walls were painting after painting done by some of the residents. I kid you not, the talent and the dedication were obvious. Underneath each painting was a price which someone could pay to purchase the artwork. Unfortunately, not many of the paintings appeared to be sold. One doesn’t have to stretch too far to come to the conclusion that there are more who are willing to spin the wheel for a dance with Lady Luck than to appreciate a one of a kind expression of the heart.

The streets of Hollywood are lined with actors, screenplay writers, and wanna-be directors, just hoping for the chance for their dreams to light up the Silver Screen. In Nashville, Tennessee, each day a bus lets someone off with a guitar in their hands, searching for the elusive Recording Contract. Does the “Starving Artist” always have to starve? or is there, or could there, be a way to put a little food on their table?

Writers, musicians, photographers, painters, filmmakers…..a system must be created to address and appreciate each one of their talents. I know…the cream rises to the top….there are grants for the asking….but seriously, if a system can be created to engulf sports betting and gambling, is it too far-fetched that some of that money could be directed to the Arts?

I’m sure you have your thoughts….here’s one of mine: I recently paid a visit to a local music store…what astounded me is the amount of musicians and singers who purchase equipment weekly from the store. I asked myself, what are they doing with all that equipment? So I mentioned to the manager, “I know this may sound crazy, but wouldn’t it be great if you put together a small selection of CD’s from local musicians who purchase equipment from your store? Can you imagine the buzz that it would send through the music community in your neighborhood?” The manager looked at me baffled but said, “You know, it’s not such a crazy thought…let me think about it.” If a store sells items, it’s not a bad thing to display the fruit that springs forth from those items.

Money is Power….and it does send a message. How we use it contributes not only to our environment, but also to our lives.

Place your bets,

Jennifer Avalon
© 2006 Jennifer Avalon

In our hands daily is a transistor radio that is attached to our minds. We move the dial back and forth to find the desired station to permeate through the speakers. From one end to the other we choose what information is eventually transmitted into our minds. The choices that we make can be influenced by our opinions, Faith, hobbies, drama, and humor. We have our finger on that dial and we move it constantly to search for what we want to listen to.

Though we have the radio in our hands, responsibility of how we use it comes with the turf. While we want freedom to choose whatever we want, those choices can greatly influence our lives. Across the radio dial are multiple stations that transmit 24 hours a day….and those stations are there to develop a following of like-minded people. We all have our favorite television shows, and radio shows, and those favorites do reflect who we are. No one knows this better than the advertising community…..the commercials on the stations cater to a certain demographic that they believe will purchase and embrace their product.

As we get older, we become more selective of our stations….and eventually we settle on one, two, or three personal favorites. In many cases, we settle into these choices and waver little. The young, on the other hand (kids and teenagers) are more open to suggestion, and in quite a few cases have been known to spin the dial like a wheel, just for the fun of it. The young are quite susceptible to influence…more so than the older demographics. As long as we hold the radio, what plays through the speakers is up to us. If we don’t like a station, we turn it off…if we enjoy it, we can play it 24 hours a day. With that in mind, any complaints must rest at our doorstep. Influence is everywhere….what is influential to us personally is up to us.

The Beatles influenced multiple generations…still, once in a while it is quite easy to run into someone who will tell you point blank that they never liked them, and never enjoyed their music. While many listened to all the Beatle records, some just changed the channel. Music programmers have said on numerous occasions that even a bad song, if it’s played enough, people will start to like it……hmmmmm……I wonder what that means.

So check out that radio…pick a station or two…the hills are alive with the sound of more than music.

Touch the dial,

Jennifer Avalon
© 2006 Jennifer Avalon

We tend to spend much time during the week examining why we make the choices we do, and where they lead us. There has to be a reason for why things go right, and why they go wrong. Choices, decisions, contemplations and dilemmas circle around us daily, until we all reach a point when we say we are either “Here, or There.”

What do I mean? Well here it goes: We either believe that there is a God, or we don’t….plain and simple. Yet, in many cases, that simple decision sends us off in a direction that will determine almost all the events that will engulf our lives. If we believe in God, then every single decision that we make must not only bring us in alignment with that belief, but also closer to God. If God exists, and is responsible for all that we see here and feel, then that belief must flow through every cell in our bodies. The alignment with that Divinity will solve most, if not all, of our problems. I am not talking about showing up for Church, or House of Worship, for lip-service on Sunday, I am talking about actually allowing the influence and alignment with God to be with you all week. True Believers know this.

If we don’t believe in God, then whether we know it or not, we develop our own alternative belief system. If we eliminate the presence of God, we then have to seek out and acknowledge that something else or someone else is in play. While believing that God does not exist, we are left more or less with one entity running the show…..Man. Mankind calls the shots.

Suppose you invite the truly religious leaders of the world to a party, and one by one you ask, “What does God mean to you?” Over and over again you would probably hear statements like, “God is my source for peace of mind,” “God wants us to progress as a human family,” and, “God is the Light and our Salvation.” Is the purpose for man to contemplate that there is something greater than himself? Or is man’s purpose to reach the answer that he or she is the center of their own universe?

For those who believe in God, it can sometimes be quite a hard road to hoe. Doubts, indecision, being criticized, being judged on your Faith. In the belief of God, and of its defense, this all comes with the turf. While at the same time, this belief can also bring peace of mind, tranquility, acceptance of Life after death, a reason and plan for one’s existence. For those who do not believe in God, they too have their road to hoe. The mysteries of life haunt all of us….how we solve them individually is up to us. For me, nature holds one of the most profound keys…..as long as the sun rises in the morning, and sets in the evening, someone has created a miracle.

Thanks be to God,
Jennifer Avalon

© 2006 Jennifer Avalon

Although I am a Christian, I always try to look inside, look around, to the future, and to the past, to understand why I am here, and what it is I am to learn. That involves being honest with myself, and passing along that which I have found baffling. I truly believe that each generation of mankind has to evolve and become better, in order for the world to move forward and survive. Over two thousand years ago Jesus Christ walked the earth, and left behind an incredible collection of thoughts, beliefs, and miracles. The Prophets of the Old Testament also left their wisdom for us to become better spiritual beings. Other religions, too, have contributed their share to the human library. Yet, isn’t it strange…with all this knowledge that has been recited, over and over again, we as a planet are still but a blink away from extinction. Have the Words of the Heavens fallen on generations of deaf ears? or are we the society that is supposed to wake up?

Through wars, natural catastrophes, scandals, and holocausts, man was supposed to learn from his mistakes and never repeat them. Yet today if one was to look around at the state of our planet, one would be hard-pressed to understand why the Holy Books that are close to our fingers, have been pushed so far away. The purpose of mankind was supposed to be to climb the spiritual staircase to bring us closer to God. Over time, the gap between Heaven and earth was supposed to close…yet today, it seems wider. We seem, as a society, to be obsessed with the physical….the latest gadget, or car, the so-called “flavor of the month,”….while our spirits seem to have been placed on the back-burner, hoping one day to find the time to get to them. Two thousand years on from Christ, we have placed a man on the moon, developed “wonder drugs,” scaled the walls of invention, and oh yes,….we have created enough nuclear warheads to destroy our planet many times over. A real Christ-like solution to our problems.

Every day I read about another wonderful person who contributes large sums of money to a worthy cause, or a good soul who does a good deed to change the life of someone in need. Through the ages, there are books filled with these types of individuals. Wonderful examples of humanity. Yet over the centuries, what has overall stopped us from climbing that spiritual staircase? There are always those that do….those that figure it out. Still, there are so many who starve the soul, for an ounce of gold. Saints and Sinners…all occupying the same space. I heard tonight on the evening news that 97% of Americans say they believe in God….interesting….
So folks, I think the mantel has been passed to us, every citizen of the world….it is all of our turn to try to turn the corner towards enlightenment. It can be done….but in the nuclear age, it MUST be done. If man was truly made in the image of God, it is time for man to hold up the mirror.
keep climbing the staircase,

love, Jennifer Avalon

© 2006 Jennifer Avalon

One of the popular shows on television right now is “Dancing With The Stars,” on the ABC network. For those who have not seen it, the series scenario is matching a professional dancer with a celebrity. They then compete against each other as couples. The dancing couples each cater to a different demographic…some for the young, some for the old. Three judges critique their performances, and the other half of the scoring is based upon the amount of people in the viewing audience who call in to vote for their favorite couple. Each week a different dance is assigned and each couple is judged on their performance. For me, the real unusual star of the show is a rapper who goes by the name of “Master P.”

Why “Master P.” you may ask? Because he has told everyone that he is going to participate in the competition on his own terms. Dancing shoes? not for Master P.! He has stubbornly said to the judges that he only dances in his lucky basketball shoes. He says he is there to represent the “hood,” his hometown posse, who seem to support him loyally. Master P. is no twinkle toes on the dance floor…in fact, he comes across as a lumbering jack, practically with two left feet….still, he appeared to give it his all, under his own terms. Of course, this infuriates the judges and perhaps even some of the viewing audience. Yet, for the past three weeks Master P. has surprised many by not being eliminated from the competition. This past week one judge even said to Master P. that he thought he and the show should, “Part ways.” This made Master P. furious, but ironically when audience voting tabulations were made, Master P. was still in the game.

For me, if Master P. had no idea how to dance, or didn’t have the talent or finesse to tackle the moves, I would admire his gusto and bravery to attempt the moves. That changed this week when a scene on the show revealed that Master P. is a wizard on the basketball court. The segment showed that not only can Master P. shoot hoops half a court away, he can also do it with his back turned. The man is an extraordinary athlete…then how come that finesse and talent is not being transferred to the dance floor? It begins to appear that Master P. is choosing not to see the connection between basketball and dancing…how many times have we seen basketball players dance with the ball around the court? Still, he is able to receive more than enough audience votes to keep him fully in the competition. It appeared that one of the judges was willing to look over Master P.’s shortcomings, in believing that he may not have been that talented….but when he saw him come alive on the basketball court, his sympathy went out the window.

I believe Master P. is still in the competition because he has a loyal fan base, the ingredients of hidden potential, a competitor who is competing on his own terms, and a person who shows a different angle to the intricacies of ballroom dancing. Tell me, when was the last time you got to see a rapper ballroom dancing on national television? We can say what we want about Master P., but one things for sure, he’s got spunk! Some are loving every move…while others…. he is driving them crazy! As long as Master P. stays in the competition, the element of surprise will always be in play.

All the world’s a stage,
Jennifer Avalon

© 2006 Jennifer Avalon

If life is truly one huge highway, then we can be sure that the highway will cover all kinds of terrain. Hopefully, a long road that will have it’s share of hills and valleys. As long as we’re moving, regardless of time and speed, we are heading somewhere…the problems arise when we get sidetracked, confused, or simply stuck in the mud.

Each year I’m always surprised at the amount of people that I run into who seem to have, sadly, given up their dreams and just pass time doing the mundane, and without realizing it, given up. For some reason along the road of life they have decided that their dream is over, and it’s senseless to continue to try to reach their goals. On the human highway, they have guided their car off the road and into the mud. Once there, rather than try to get back on the road, they have decided to turn off the engine, and wait. All of our lives have value…no dream or goal is too big, and when we decide to quit, we give notice to ourselves and to others that we are just going to sit around and mark the time, until we die….finito. Doom and gloom, but that is what happens.

I will share with you a story that I think I have mentioned before. Natalie Wood, before she passed away, went to Russia to film a documentary on the people of the Soviet Union. At the time, Communism was in full play. As she went about the country, what started to strike her was that she noticed the people under thirty years old seemed alert and energetic, while after thirty, year by year people got heavy, and developed addictions to different types of substances, mostly alcohol. She came to the conclusion that in Russia, at that time, dreams died at the age of thirty. When I was back in my teens, I used to often go over to a particular friend’s house, and one day I noticed that her father was very sad. I said to my friend’s mother, “What’s wrong with your husband?” She said, “Jennifer, today he turned forty years old, and he realized that there are many things he will not be able to accomplish.” My friend’s father, I kid you not, was devastated at turning forty, and realizing that many of his dreams had not been accomplished by that age…so, I guess he was deciding to just give up…not being aware that perhaps these dreams and goals could still be realized, at fifty, sixty, or well beyond. Unfortunately, as we drive along the human highway, there are quite a few vehicles stuck in the mud.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been stuck in the mud a couple of times. I just decided not to stay there….I got out of my car, found a couple of two by fours, stuck them under the back wheels, rocked the car back and forth, hit the gas, and never looked back! I refused to believe that there was no hope at getting back on the road. If one is stuck in the mud, someone can stop by to give you a hand….just make sure that their intentions are good. Each one of us is unique….and our goals and dreams are priceless. As long as we aim realistically, we can succeed. While there are those who never venture again out of the mud, there are far more who have learned to press onward. The mud can be a curse, or a blessing…how we handle it, we decide.

Onward and upward,

love, Jennifer Avalon
© 2006 Jennifer Avalon

This week we look forward to the start of a new year, untouched, like a slate that is unmarked and clean, just waiting for us to paint our thoughts and impressions onto it. Many of us will start to compile a list of New Year resolutions….setting goals for 2006. For a lot of us, by the end of January many of those goals start to unravel, and we become discouraged, wondering why we should continue on the course that looked so bright at the beginning.

I think if we approach the New Year with a different perspective and keep a symbol or image in our minds it may be easier to stay focused and navigate the road ahead. I approach the New Year as a builder, a person who sees a piece of land, and the possibilities that can come forth. I look at the formulation of my goals, hopes, and dreams as a house….a beautiful shining building that by the end of the year I can be proud of. A builder needs tools, not just hammers and nails but Faith, encouragement, conviction and the belief that when you put your mind to it, anything is possible.

In January we start the foundation….we make sure it is strong and has the potential to hold what we place upon it. We make sure there are no cracks. Each proceeding month we add to our house….floor by floor we put in the plumbing, the electrical wiring, the heating system, etc. Sometimes we make mistakes, one room may not be wired right, so we go back, repair the damage and continue on. By the Spring, we see that our house is off the ground and rising. The contributions we have made to our house are beginning to show. People pass by and are amazed how “fast” the house is starting to come together….but little do they see the problems that we encountered to get to our level. So on we go, each day building brick by brick with the sky above us…..and with each brick a feeling of accomplishment comes over us and a better understanding of the mistakes we have made so that we try not to make them again. God looks down and sees a person trying to push forward with a house of meaning and purpose. A badly built house with a weak foundation won’t stand very long….but a good house can last forever. God understands how hard it is to built good houses.

By the Fall, our floors are completed, and we are about to add our roof. We want a roof that will not leak, that can take the elements. If we have done all our work and done it well, by the end of the year we will be standing in front of a house amazed that we were able to accomplish this once monumental task. We look at each brick and floor and see a story. We see the set-backs and the over comings. It is possible to build a good house, God willing, with the right tools, and determination…….All things are
possible.

Good Luck with your house,

love, Jennifer Avalon
© 2005 Jennifer Avalon

This time of year many of us will be attending Christmas, Holiday, and New Year parties. On more than one occasion we may be running into people we only meet once or twice a year. Almost always the first question that’s asked is, “What have you been doing?” or, “How are things going?” When we look around the room there could be quite a few people in various stages of development…so too are we.

Some grow throughout their lives in a smooth, even keel, while others evolve in spurts. A year could go by and when we look back nothing great in particular happened….then before too long something extraordinary leaps forward and takes us to the next level. Growth has an uncanny way of coming along when we least expect it. Inside our minds could be a roomful of treasure, just waiting to be unlocked. That key could come in the form of an experience, or just somebody uttering the word “Hello.” Each one us are unique….with our own perceptions and opinions on any given subject. Development comes many times to those who are open and patient. If life is truly a miracle, then each one of us, within our hands, can hold the gifts of Heaven. The miracle that we are has to be spread far and wide, for the good of mankind. That is our true responsibility. For when we pass on, the money and houses may wither, but the miracles will shine on.

As the world spins through space, we spin with it. Each morning brings forth an evening, over and over again. As our planet evolves, so too do we, never forgetting, without miracles, neither the planet nor us could exist. So if you would like to give someone a far-out answer to the question, “How are you doing?” you could answer, “I’m continuing my journey through time and space, that one day will take me home.” You just may see a jaw drop, but that’s really what is happening. We’re all in various stages of development…..

Shine on,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2005 Jennifer Avalon

As we approach the Holiday Season this year the door opens on a cascade of advertising bombardment where multiple companies compete for our buying power resources. Every December brings with it the list of the “must have” toys, presents, and gadgets. This reached the ultimate frenzy a few years back with the Cabbage Patch Kids phenomenon. People would fly…I kid you not…to other countries to devour these rare dolls. This year it’s looking like Microsoft’s new “X-Box” is the “must have” present under the tree. Unfortunately, we have already been informed, surprise surprise, that there will be a severe shortage of X-Boxes to satisfy the hungry customer….can you say “up goes the price?” The X-Box truly is a wonderful, innovative addition to any home….but let’s all just keep it in perspective. Has the sound of Ho Ho Ho gradually turned into Buy Buy Buy?

This past year we have had more than enough struggles and disasters to handle on a worldwide scale. Have we found that the distraction of shopping is the ultimate diversion? Perhaps so….but we must never forget the joy of Love and Peace and it’s priceless qualities. The Christmas Season, we must not forget, is not only the celebration of the Birth of Christ, but also the embracing of Peace on Earth, and Brotherhood of Mankind. As much as our brains take in the glitz and glamour of the Holidays, the true treasure can only be experienced through our hearts. The family, our friends and loved ones…what more could we give them than a kiss, a hug, or a smile. No one wants to be called a Grinch….but the memories around the dinner table can last for many years. Each year at the table there are always additions and unfortunately, someone who is missing. As we pass the food and the beverages, in the back of our minds we always ask the question, “How many of us will still be here this time next year?”

The celebration of the season ultimately comes down to us. The trick is to find the balance between the presents and the heart, and, whenever possible, making the two meet. As time is fleeting, the mistake we can make is taking it all for granted. If the world is one great hotel that we all visit, let’s try as much as possible to have an insightful time, while not forgetting that one day it’s time to go back home. I often try to plan the weeks around the Holidays to get a better grip on what I need to do and where I want to go. As always, things don’t go according to plan every time, but overall things do pan out much more smoothly than having no plan at all. We are not perfect…we make mistakes…but the gist is to become better people. The wheel rolls ’round each year….still we try as best we can to not get caught in the spokes.

With all the hustle and bustle, take care of yourself out there. There is always something new to see, and somewhere familiar to go. Enjoy, embrace, and experience the life and the love around you.

Be of Good Cheer,
love, Jennifer Avalon

© 2005 Jennifer Avalon

It’s quite extraordinary how, when we repeat tasks, they become easier. What was once feared, over time can be looked back upon as simple and easy. Once one crosses the threshold of fear, a sense of peace and calm can take hold. When I was a kid in gym class I had a fear of doing a tumble toss…you know, where you place your hands on the ground and roll over forwards. Well, I had an extreme fear of performing this exercise, until one day the gym teacher said to me, “Jennifer, come here, let me show you how easy this is.” The teacher slowed the process down so that my mind could incorporate the task, without fear. I rolled over once, then twice, then three times. Afterwards, I laughed. I could not believe why I was so fearful of this exercise. I understood that my fear had convinced me that I couldn’t do it, when with a little encouragement and support it was performed quite easily.

The other side of repetition is a sad example. Down the street from where I live is a neighbor who has an extreme case of OCD (obsessive/compulsive disorder) I have observed at times the lady locking her front door and checking it for 15 minutes, to make sure it was locked. I ran into her at the local supermarket and the OCD also affected how she bought her groceries. She had to check each item she picked up numerous times before she purchased it. OCD is more common than we may think. I was once on line at a store and in front of me was a man who had to count his money ten times before he would give it to the cashier. It got so bad that the cashier finally said, “You can count it as many times as you want, but I’m also going to count it.” This kind of repetition, I believe, is fear that is not overcome.

We can never forget that we are all, in one form or another, creatures of habit. What we choose to enter into our lives can easily become tasks that are carried out over and over again. It could be work, play, food, or leisure….once the formula of repetition is applied, these tasks can mysteriously turn into friend or foe. Prayer and meditation are a wonderful form of self-examination to enhance what is good, and weed out what is false. Peace of mind can be attained when prayer, purpose, and silence take hold.

Many people around the world use prayer, chanting, and different forms of meditation as a way to still the mind, and center the consciousness. When we stop and take hold of the moment, it is much easier to choose the next step. Repetition is grand, when the tasks are beneficial and sound…but destructive if it disorients and confuses the mind. From the words of a George Harrison song, “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.”

Walk peacefully,
Jennifer Avalon
© 2005 Jennifer Avalon