In life, can you be all and everything to everyone? Perhaps not….but what is possible is to find the place and corner of the world where you can be accomplished and make a difference. Marketers call this “finding your niche.”

For me, that niche is essays and music. In the essay department I try to focus on uplifting topics and subject matter that hopefully can help people along in their daily lives. With music, that involves a definition that I call, “Spiritual-Acoustic.” I have received a few e-mails asking me if I will ever do a heavy metal hard rock song….as much as I enjoy some of the music, I don’t believe it is my “niche.” When people hear the name Jennifer Avalon, I think it’s important that they know what to expect, even though from time to time I do try to push the envelope a little.

Whatever your endeavor is in life, there are always those who will voice their opinion and try to send you off in multiple directions. Like any journey, it’s very easy to get lost, and those critical voices never seem to be around to help you find your way back. So whatever you want to do with your life, try to keep it on one course…and simple….for example, “This is what I want to do, and this is where I want to go.” For that one decision that you make along the way, you will encounter those who will tell you you’re wrong. The “niche,” is the little piece of the pie that can be exquisite. The “niche,” can be your own special place on a Main Street, that people know where to go to get what you offer. We all have the specialty stores in our neighborhoods that have that one item that no one else seems to carry….their “niche.”

The “niche” can be expanded, but it is always the core starting point. Once we decide what it is we want to do, the “niche” becomes the cake that is available at every party and every function. I recently read an article about a company that only makes Christmas items. All year long they manufacture numerous products centered on that one holiday. Their focus is totally on their product and market. If you want Valentine’s Day, Halloween, or Thanksgiving products, that is not their forte. And they would tell you, “our line, or niche” is specifically Christmas items.” They stay focused and busy all year long. The day after Christmas, they begin centering on next year. Believe it or not, Christmas items sell all year long!

So it’s okay to “scratch your niche,”…it shows that you’re focused, centered, and in control of the direction you’re heading in. It is the acceptance that you fully understand that you can’t be all and everything to everyone. As they say, who wants to be a “Jack of all Trades, and a Master of None?”

Keep scratching!
love, Jennifer Avalon
© 2005 Jennifer Avalon

In one form or another, overall, personal taste is acquired through influence and choice. It truly is amazing as the years go by how we develop our own personal favorite items and subjects. As we well know, taste can greatly differ from person to person…yet, realistically, is it an accident how we arrive at the things we want to see, hear, and do?

Fashion, hobbies, electronics, the arts, and even our occupations are affected by what we choose on a day to day basis. Just about everything is open to the voice of opinion. Personal taste is supposed to be freedom of thought…we freely choose what it is that we want and need. The scenario looks wonderful on paper, until mankind gets a hold of it and starts to mold and sculpt to a given person’s viewpoint. For example, can you believe that an individual could enjoy both the music of Led Zeppelin and the Partridge Family? I kid you not….I remember waiting on line in a record store growing up and seeing this long-haired hip looking guy go up to the counter and buy both albums. The clerk behind the counter did a double take, and this is where influence started to have its affect. Because it was not cool to like the Partridge Family, but totally cool, ultra-cool, to enjoy Led Zeppelin, the guy buying the records, when seeing the reaction on the clerk’s face, replied, “Hey man, don’t you know I’m only getting the Partridge Family for my kid sister?” Years later, when I went back to my old neighborhood, I ran into the guy who still lived down the block from my house…I reminded him of the incident, and he said to me, “Jennifer, in all honesty, I loved the Partridge Family, but I couldn’t, to save my life, tell anyone!” Same rules apply across the board…movies, cars, vacation spots…it matters what people think about our choices and personal tastes. Unfortunately what’s “cool” matters.

Let’s raise the bar a little. Three ladies go into a showroom to see the latest model Jaguar. One likes it in blue…one prefers red…while the other likes green. They all agree that it is a great car, so each one purchases the automobile, with the color of choice. Over coffee a week later, they start to have a full blown discussion of whose color is the best. They all have the same car, but the color now has become the new standard of excellence. As the weeks roll past, everything on the car is scrutinized inside and out…and each lady starts to incorporate into their car their own personal tastes…new radios, new radial tires…..hey, one even applies a clever bumper sticker…each person trying to make their car stand out as the best, while all along they’re driving the same car. Personal taste totally changed their perception.

Is it any wonder why this world is so hard to figure out sometimes? Why so many have such a hard time getting along? My house is better than your house, my kids are smarter than your kids, and why not throw in, my religion is better than your religion? At this point we have hit the motherlode of the world’s problems. You see, if I am willing to die for my religion, and you are willing to die for yours, and we have a disagreement, guess what? we both die!!

Personal taste is a wonderful form of individuality…as long as we keep it within reason, and respect someone else whose taste may differ. What are the chances of two people agreeing on everything? Practically zero. Multiply that by a few billion, and you get one confusing square dance. If everyone at the dance makes up their own steps without any regard to a basic standard, then chaos reigns, and everyone gets stepped on.

We don’t always have to agree….but we do have to respect our differences. There is Life and there is Law. It’s what’s in-between where we can get lost. Passion isn’t perfect…and neither are we.

Dosey-doe,
love, Jennifer Avalon
© 2005 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 2005. 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
2004 Jennifer Avalon

“Wrong” is when God is not factored into the equation:

The day may be right, but the week will turn out wrong

The week may be right, but the month will turn out wrong

The month may be right, but the year will turn out wrong

The year may be right, but the life will turn out wrong…

Keep trying to get it right,

with blessings and love,
Jennifer Avalon
© 2004 Jennifer Avalon

I’ve touched on this topic a little in the past, yet, this Holiday Season it could not be more important. We so easily assume that people we meet absorb, retain, and maintain a full and true perception of us. Unfortunately, this observation couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s so easy to expect that Uncle Harry or Aunt Ellen will totally remember all that we have said from past get-togethers, and then, out of the blue, they say something to us that may draw a blank stare from our faces. Somewhere along the distance of time and space something got lost or misunderstood….the interaction between two or more people can become a language unto itself, where, at times, the translation can get lost.

So this Holiday Season, how can we go about solving or correcting the dilemmas that engulf the conversation? First, we have to assume that placed on top of our heads are antennas that transmit and receive information and like a long-distance telephone line there can easily be a delay factor. When we sit down to dinner, to diminish this problem, speak slow, simple and short sentences….take a breath, and continue on. It allows the mind of the other person to take in and digest your thoughts much easier. When the response comes from the other party, you may be surprised after a couple of minutes that they too may start to speak slower and simpler. Before too long, you begin to notice that the volume in the room starts to decrease, and listening and talking become unison in volume. Misunderstandings are drastically reduced. We are led to believe that there are general languages on planet Earth…English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Russian, etc.,….but what’s not reported is that within these languages are multiple other nuances that can probably be missed or misunderstood. Of course, there is always somebody who speaks a language unto themselves with a booming voice, while taking no time to hear responses……that’s life!

Many of us only get the opportunity to meet some people once a year…that exchange can be a pleasant experience, or a sheer horror. Taking into account some changes that can be made, perhaps we can all tip the scales in our favor. Between the lines of “pass the stuffing and mash potatoes,” it’s perfectly fine to whisper, “you’re great,” or, “I love you,” or even a simple smile. It can sometimes come across better than a thousand words.

Happy Holidays,

love, Jennifer Avalon
© 2004 Jennifer Avalon

This week the website and newsletter begins it’s eighth year. Little did I know back at the end of 1996 how long and how far this journey would take me. Little by little the website started building momentum and I can happily say the most hits I’ve ever had was last month. The average hit count is now 95,000 a month. There are now 2 websites that offer the essays and music… AviatorRecords.com, and the new site, JenniferAvalon.net. This journey has not been easy, but each step forward has brought a smile to my face. The newsletter is sent out every two weeks to over 65 countries around the world.

Like any endeavor, there are those who offer help and support, and those, unfortunately, who will do anything in their power to try to stop one. I believe I am an open-minded person, and like many, feel many topics are open for discussion and compromise, but before me I do see a line drawn in the sand that I will not step over. In this age of “political correctness” having a strong point of view could be considered a statement from the stone age….but I am a firm believer that not everything that comes into one’s mind is right. Like a kid in a candy store, when a child eats a certain amount, they get sick. Just because we can, doesn’t always mean we should.

The essays and music are free to all. This model I will do everything in my power to continue. Yes, the website does not run for free, and I wholeheartedly appreciate those who have donated over the past year, towards it’s upkeep. Recently I opened a CD store on the website, where those who want finished copies of the albums can purchase them, for a price of $6.95, total. If you think this is a way to get rich, you’re wrong…the purpose of the store is in answer to those who do not have weekly Internet access and wanted to have copies of the music for their homes, work, and transportation. The music and essays are still free to be downloaded. Nothing has changed. If you would like to donate, that’s fine. If not, that’s fine too.

In the coming year I plan to add many more essays, and a new album in the Fall of 2005, where each month, starting in January, a new song will be premiered from that forthcoming CD. I have also accumulated many songs over the years which will also see the light of day, under the banner of “Early Avalon.” Many who have heard my earlier songs have asked me if I will ever release songs like, “I Still Care,” and “You Can Count on Me.” Rest assured, they are forthcoming. They were staples of my earlier performances.

Once again, I would like to thank you for your continued support. Love has many ways of expressing itself, and this, I know, is one of them. Each year, for us all, there are moments of joy, and tears of sadness, but this week being Thanksgiving, it’s important to count our blessings.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours,

love, Jennifer Avalon
© 2004 Jennifer Avalon

The pollsters said that this week’s Presidential election was decided by “Moral Values,”…. how we see our day to day lives and what kind of changes to it we are willing to accept. Yet, underneath the surface I see a more revealing question….what is the value of human life? That answer will surely be determined over the next few years.

Valuation, you may ask? what do I mean by that? Well, some people look upon age as a devaluing apparatus…others look at it as an ongoing accumulation of knowledge, where the value of a person is increased with time. Still, some see all of life as sacred, and of equal value. In the eyes of God, I do believe we are all of equal value….but unfortunately, as we will learn moving forward, mankind has a totally different scale.

Slowly disseminating through the culture is the question of what we are willing to accept regarding the subject of cloning. The line between mankind and machine is radically blurring. How many people do you know who already have plastic kneecaps, and reconstructed hips? Already many have man-made components within their bodies, and as you may know, these replacements do not come cheap. Over 50 years ago Henry Ford had an assembly plant where he manufactured cars at will, for the average member of the public, at affordable prices. Dare I say, could it be possible that one day the Henry Ford model could be turned to include manufactured embryos where body parts could be grown and disregarded at will? At that point does the body become nothing more than another component? There are those out there who would like for this to become a reality. Will we see a world where a piece of human flesh will be looked upon as nothing more than another semiconductor chip? There are so many raging questions on both sides of the issue. For example, what if I needed a new heart, and a doctor presented me with a solution to my problem, which would be the manufacturing of an identical replication, or clone, of myself, where the heart would be removed and the rest of the body used for research? At that point, would I forfeit something that I once considered immoral, for a longer life? or, would I want to replicate a lost loved one and see them grow up in front of my eyes? To quote a line from the movie Jurassic Park, “Just because you can, should you do it?”

As you can see my friends, going forward we are going to have a lot more choices to contemplate on our plates. Rest assured, at some point “valuation” of the human being will come into play. The human clone will become the next frontier…the question will be, should we enter it? Is space the final frontier, or are we?

Value the space you occupy,

love, Jennifer Avalon
© 2004 Jennifer Avalon

This week in the United States it was revealed that there is going to be a severe shortage of flu vaccinations this coming winter. It seems the factory in Liverpool that manufactures the vials was shut down because of some form of contamination. That leaves the United States with only half the amount that is needed, and the expectation is that many may succumb to the flu this season because of the lack of resistance to fight it off. Health care officials are quite worried how the lack of vaccinations may impact the general public, so they are asking for voluntary rationing of flu vaccine. Much worry, and rightfully so….but there is something else that infects the population at a greater rate, that not only affects a person physically but also spiritually….that virus is Sin.

As we search for physical tools to combat infections, much is not said about the affects that spiritual illness has upon the general population. Sin is an energy that can be transferred from one person to another in a split second. The damage that Sin can inflict upon us has brought about limitless physical and mental disorders. Sin is the ultimate virus against the Soul. As easy as the touch of a hand, or a physical embrace, Sin can wreak havoc through families, friends and the casual stranger. It can take control, manipulate, and absorb all of one’s energy, to make its presence known.

Sin, as defined by the dictionary, is a “transgression of Divine Law.” Man, over time, has tried to change this definition. The act of Sin’s only purpose is to create some form of turmoil on another. It’s so easy to run to the doctor when we have a cough, yet we may not think twice when we Sin, yet, there is a vaccine out there to rid this world of the scourge of Sin. That vaccine is there, just for the asking, where the amount of it is bountiful. The vaccine against Sin is Love. As long as one’s heart is filled with Love, there is no room for Sin. Yes, indeed, we may falter or miss a step, but overall a shadow cannot exist where there is light.

Sin is contagious…but so is Love. The choice lays in our hands. Each day we ask ourselves, should we Sin, or should we Love? We’ve seen it before…when we walk into a room feeling positive, full of hope, and a smile upon our faces, each person we come into contact with is influenced by our state of mind. A heart full of Love can move a mountain. Sin may fight back, but with each shot of Love, Sin is forced to cower and hide.

The gift of Love is a package that awaits us each day…all we have to do is open it.
Spread the loving gift,

Jennifer Avalon
© 2004 Jennifer Avalon

Many wise men, through the ages, have expressed the belief that our bodies are representations of Temples of God, each one containing a Soul that is connected to the Divine. Comments made through time hold the thought that we do not own our bodies….but rent them from God. Yes, indeed, we may be held responsible for what we do with our bodies here on earth, but overall the Universal Landlord expects us to respect and appreciate that which we live in temporarily.

The reason I am writing this essay is to take a few steps back and examine not just spiritual aspects of the relationship between the body and soul, but also the physical one. We look in the mirror, yet once we look past the eyes that is where we truly live. The fears, the joys, the tears and smiles live inside…just waiting for us to express them. We are all renters here on planet Earth. Where ever we live, our homes may look different, so too our bodies…but, our Souls all come from the same place. As I’ve mentioned before, once we accept the world around us as temporary, and that death is not a punishment, just a stage of life….personal ownership of this existence is not possible. The aging process through life is not an accident….it is God’s way of saying nothing stays the same….until one day the body is cast off and we return home, ageless.

The day we come into the world, we sign a lease with God. Certain expectations are contained within that lease. Hopefully, we leave the neighborhood a little better for having lived on the block. Some are given a spanky shiny new body right from the start….others have much to overcome….yet I am sure what we are given and what we leave behind is taken into consideration. We are not made to be perfect. We all have flaws, yet, each one of us has been made in God’s image. While our bodies may have flaws, we must never forget that inside each one of us is a little piece of Heaven. I am reminded of a scene from the movie, “Birdman From Alcatraz,” starring Burt Lancaster. His character was sentenced to life without parole, yet while incarcerated he did research on why the birds in his cell were dying….what disease were they succumbing to? His findings were embraced by the medical community. His reward was to have more free time to spend outside in the courtyard. A reporter said to Burt Lancaster’s character, “I’m sorry we couldn’t get you out of jail.” Lancaster replied, looking up to the Heavens, “Don’t feel bad, I’m free. I’m outside.” Before his discoveries, Lancaster’s character looked forward to a life of limited freedom, yet now to him, just the ability to feel the air and see the sky was a reward in itself. Life may come down to how we perceive it to be….and though we may live in different parts of the world, and under all kinds of different circumstances, still, we are all renters under the dome of Heaven. We may own or rent much real estate through the course of our lives, yet the most valuable property we hold is the body we rent from God. The house that holds the Soul.

Take good care of Yourself
love, Jennifer Avalon
© 2004 Jennifer Avalon

The last two weeks and for that matter, the past month, has been, for lack of a better word, bizarre. Hurricanes, floods, terror alerts, terrorism, and last, but not least, Batman scaling the walls of Buckingham Palace! Even Wall Street has gotten into the action, where brokers are stating “All we need now are locusts!”

Have you ever had a dream that you think is so real that when you wake up it takes a few minutes to convince yourself that it WAS only a dream? The year 2004 is looking kind of like that…but, unfortunately, it is quite real. Seeing children being murdered in Russia was very chilling…I don’t care what your grievances are, but when man stoops to the level of shooting children in the back, it must never be acceptable. The hurricanes that are hitting Florida and Gulf Coast in the United States are starting to look like a group of airplanes circling, waiting for permission to land. The experts keep telling us that much of what’s going on is quite normal and expected….the talking heads will give us fifty reasons to defend their positions…yet, the normal folks are beginning to have a hard time distinguishing science fiction from real life…the fine line between both is starting to fade. Trouble always seems like “someone else’s problem” until it arrives at our own front door.

It is so easy through any period of turmoil or severe weather conditions, to believe that it will never end, and that the storm will not pass. Well, it does, and it will. Awareness and safety are key. When storm clouds gather on the horizon, it’s not foolish to batten down the hatches, and prepare. Life is a sea of changes, and each one of us are sailors riding the waves. Like life, the sea may not be fair, but when damaged by the storm we can rebuild and heal. If we see fellow sailors in distress, we must reach out and cast a line…you never know when you may need the same. We may all sail our own individual ships, still, we are all part of the Armada of Souls, searching for a safe port.

Through stormy weather, just when we feel lost, out of the dark cuts the beams of light from the lighthouse…..Rays of Hope, that can bring us to shore. No matter how dark the day, rest assured, there is always the Light. The shining Truth that says we are never alone.
Weather the storm,

love, Jennifer Avalon
آ© 2004 Jennifer Avalon