It is very important for us to remember we are spiritual beings. Dangling in front of us everyday are the temptations of our physical world. If you eat this, wear that, or drive the ultimate car you will find total happiness. Well, sad to say that kind of happiness is very short-lived, needing a constant supply of finances to maintain such a level of “bliss.” To have true equilibrium we must strive to stay “centered.” The further we divert from that center, the more confused and fragmented we become. As spiritual beings the core of who we are and what we represent here on earth is the essence of Heaven. Do we rise to the occasion, or abandon the gift we have been given? We have no shortage of reasons in this world to give up, but what we can never have enough of are the reminders to go on.

Our spirits need encouragement. Some find attending church, praying, meditating or taking a quiet walk as ways to stay spiritually focused and centered. Others feel replenished doing humanitarian work in their communities. The search is to find and maintain inner peace in a world of contradictions.

Throughout our lives, constantly we struggle with the balance between peace and turmoil. Seventy-five percent of one, and twenty-five percent of the other, looking for the magical formula that will make everything “right.” We crave to prolong our moments of well-being, only to see them disappear as the pendulum swings. Perhaps with enough reminders we can make that pendulum stay still a little longer each time. The center, where calm prevails. We decide what we choose to remember. Peace can survive through any storm if the maps we use return us to our center. Each one of us write our own blueprint of life, updating as we go along. Written between the lines are the reminders that we choose to repeat. A prayer, a commandment, a phrase….the words or memories that help us to carry on. In this world, we as spiritual beings need reminders to remember who we are.

Try to remember,

Jennifer Avalon
© 1998 Jennifer Avalon

I think many of us would agree that life is truly mysterious. One never knows what can happen on any given day. Perhaps a positive way to look at this situation is to see Life as a form of a mystery novel, where the Writer leaves clues to solve the puzzles along the way. Discovering each clue of the mystery gives us a greater understanding and control over our lives.

All around us are the clues….the trick is to allow yourself to see them. Observe how a plant grows. The seed must be planted in rich soil, cultivated with water, and drenched in sunlight. The supply of these ingredients have to be added frequently. If not, the plant suffers. Are we plants? No. But there is a significance to the working mechanism of a plant and how it shows us one of the clues of Life. We too need nurturing to grow, or we suffer.

It’s kind of baffling, this Game of Life. Constantly you are told how to think, how to feel, how to act, and how to live. What works for one person may not necessarily be right for someone else. Some parents would love their child to become a doctor or a lawyer, but not everyone is meant to be. How many of us torture ourselves into trying to become something we are not? The clue here is, what does your heart tell you to be? I don’t believe we are here to lead miserable lives, but it’s amazing that many of us end up doing just that. There are answers, solutions, and clues to solve our problems, but it’s up to us to find them.

All around us is air….we can’t see it, but we can feel it and breathe it. Air provides wind for energy, and can deliver one of the most destructive powers on this planet. Not bad for something we can’t truly see, but we know it’s there. Without air we die. Can the same be said for Hope, Love, and Compassion? There must be a reason why we have been given senses to take in information. Maybe to help us find the clues?

We may never totally solve this mystery called Life, while we are here. But each piece of the puzzle that we find strengthens us and empowers us to go forward. Are we meant to become good detectives? A group of Sherlock Holmes? “Elementary my dear Watson, Elementary.” Are the answers to the complexities of Life so simple that they elude us?

Share your clues,

Jennifer Avalon
© 1998 Jennifer Avalon

There is a little recipe that I use in my life that I have found to be helpful over and over again. I call it “The Seven Steps.” I use it as a blueprint for each new endeavor or project I am about to embark on. I have also found it useful in my personal life. I hope you can find it beneficial too.

1. FORGIVE YOURSELF. Many of our pasts are filled with bad choices and mistakes. We’re not perfect, and we have to admit to ourselves “That’s okay”. If you’ve hurt somebody, by all means, say you’re sorry. The important point here is to accept the mistake, correct it if possible, forgive yourself, and move on.

2. CLEAR THE DECKS. There are always reasons why things go wrong. It’s neccessary that we realize sometimes we do things and surround ourselves with negativity. It can come in the form of a bad habit, or bad relationships, but one thing is clear, if the level of negativity is not decreased it becomes very hard to continue a forward progression.

3. CHART A COURSE. Ask yourself, “What is it I want to do?” “Where do I see my life heading?” It’s very difficult to sail a ship without charts. You never know where you may end up….. perhaps in a port where you don’t belong.

4. LINK THE DAYS. Don’t look at your plan as a huge mountain to climb all at once. See the days as links in a chain, that when strung together become bold and strong.

5. POSITIVE INPUT. I cannot express enough how important it is to surround yourself with positive influences. They are the fuel for your dreams. Create a little library of books you can constantly go to for re- inforcement. Have a chat with a supportive friend…it can work wonders.

6. WORK HARD. Nothing truly good comes easy. Anybody who tells you it does….beware. Working hard on your goals gives you a tremendous sense of accomplishment, once they are realized. To move down a road, you need “drive”. Not too fast, or not too slow. I’m a big believer in “cruise control.”

7. CELEBRATE EACH STEP. Each milestone on your journey, have a celebration….you have earned it. It’s okay to pat yourself on the back. Every celebration on the ladder of success builds momentum, and you’ll discover there is alot to be said for momentum. It creates a wave to push you further forward.

These are my points of reference I try to follow in my life. Even when we fail, it’s so important to keep trying. The effort justifies our reasons for being.

Take the time to love,

Jennifer Avalon
© 1998 Jennifer Avalon

I believe each one of us wears a shield of armor. Hopefully, we choose to fight on the side of Good, not Evil. Whether we like it or not the decisions we make on a daily basis are projected outward, reflecting on ourselves and on others. These decisions paint a picture of how people see us on this planet. Yes we are human, and we all make mistakes, but it’s very important to learn from those mistakes so that the image we hold of ourselves is as close to the true image of ourselves as possible. The condition and strength of this shield of armor can be greatly affected by the choices we make.

It’s very interesting that as we age and grow older we begin to come to terms with what we haven’t accomplished and the mistakes we have made. Much of the time we spend punishing ourselves for our failures, and then we allow others to do the same. Why this focus on what we haven’t done? I don’t really know. If we look at it from another angle the glass is half-full, not half-empty. It’s important because the health of our shields depends on how we take care of them. If we abandon and neglect these shields of armor we become weaker and ultimately defenseless.

Life is a battle that in many cases is not fair, but we fight on. The enemy is the feeling of being alone. You are not alone. We are all soldiers of one kind or another, choosing sides as we go along. Alienation eventually leads to anger, withdrawal, depression and defeat. We fight together on many grounds, a human army searching for answers.

If we are truly God’s Children, there is meaning to these battles of life we fight. Much to overcome, much to rise above. How we get there is up to us. Free will prevails. We all get wounded, but if our shields are strong the wounds heal faster and we live to fight another day. Some people spend their lives inflicting wounds, taking no responsibility for the hurt they cause, while others choose love as their legacy. I believe Love makes a person grow stronger, while Hate robs a human of their strength.

How do we have strong shields of armor? Coat them with Love, Compassion, Awareness, and Faith. These are the true weapons against Evil. We are all tempted by Evil everyday….. hopefully we make the right choices. Armor that is stronger than steel, gleaming with Love, can be seen from many miles away, a beacon of Hope to show that all things are possible. Add a helmut of Faith, and no force can defeat you.

Take the time to Love,

Jennifer Avalon
© 1998 Jennifer Avalon

One of the great things about writing a weekly newsletter is that it gives me the opportunity to connect with a number of people whom I consider my friends. Each week I receive many E-Mails from around the globe, every one equally important, regardless of economics and/or social position. The Internet gives us all the ability to make the playing field equal. Many of us have started “Buddy-Lists” as a way to stay in contact with those we enjoy communicating with. Quite a number of people have also mentioned to me that for the first time in many years they get to chat with members of their families that they haven’t seen in ages. Used the right way, E-Mails and Websites can build stronger foundations and increase the Love between us all.

In the past, the way to get messages to people included pony express, trains, planes and boats, many of them having to cover vast distances to get their letters and packages to their destinations. Before, when you composed a letter, first you had to write it, seal it in an envelope and provide postage. Over the course of 3 to 7 days your thoughts and wishes would arrive at the doorstep of the intended. Those were the days of “delayed messages.” Today, with good access, that same message can almost instantaneously arrive in the mailbox of the same person through an E-Mail. Why is all this important? We are running out of excuses for why we don’t communicate more. It always takes the first person to make a bold step. We all have friends and family members that we would love to talk more to, but because of life’s interruptions time can just go by, and then one day we may receive a phone call that fills us with regret. Think to yourself, who in your life would you enjoy hearing from on a regular basis? Granted, that would take an E-Mail account, but with all the cyber-cafes popping up around the world and many at work having Internet access, all that may be needed is to make the initial connection. It’s already happening. Some families and pals get together weekly in chat-rooms. They learn about things that they never knew about each other. I guess sometimes the screen can provide an interesting alternative to a face to face meeting.

Alot of us have so much more Love to give if we only could find the time and the means. These “little” computers can do tremendously “big” work. Each day can be a new beginning…it’s never too late to build a circle of friends.

Take the time to love,

Jennifer Avalon
© 1998 Jennifer Avalon

How much do we know and really think about what affects us daily? Yes a good education is valuable indeed, but how many questions get left unanswered or perhaps not even asked in the halls of learning? Over 50% of what affects the quality of our lives depends pure and simply on finance and our understanding of it. The way we handle the money we make can become the difference between night and day. Balancing checkbooks, investing, paying bills, etc. are skills that we must have to be responsible for ourselves and our families. Without this insight we eventually can lose control over our destinies.

There are many illusions floating around out there. I being in the music business can use one as an example: Did you know that 97% of CD’s released each year never make any money? The bulk of the profit is based purely on that remaining 3%. Just because you’re on radio or television doesn’t mean you’re making money.
Most top money investors will tell you that over the long-term the best place to invest your savings is in the stock market. How many people out there have you met who are absolutely terrified of investing one dime in the stock market? Isn’t it interesting that some of those same people have no problem taking five dollars a week to buy lottery tickets?

Why is this important to mention? Because I don’t hear too many people talking about it. If you’re not rich, you’re considered “not smart enough.” That’s not true…you just didn’t get the chance to get your hands on the right tools. Well, it’s never too late. Each week set aside a little time to look over your finances…see where all your money is going. These days budgeting has become a necessity, but in some circles it’s looked upon as a dirty word. It’s not. It’s just smart. I think it’s also important to put aside a little time and or money to either give to charity, or do something good for someone. Believe me, it comes back tenfold.

I wish money didn’t matter, but unless we find another way to exchange finances on this planet, we’re stuck with it. Take the bull by the horns and learn as much about it as you can. That way, the ball is more in your court. What consoles me in this train of thought is knowing that someday we will return to a place where no money is needed….where only the goodness of our souls and the history of our hearts will matter. God doesn’t care if we make a million or not…I believe He cares if we were responsible towards the people we love, and ourselves. It’s what we do with our money on this earth that shows part of who we are on the inside.

Take the time to learn,

Jennifer Avalon
© 1998 Jennifer Avalon

Isn’t it interesting how, each time we decide to do something that we consider profound or productive with our lives, almost instantaneously this huge brick wall starts to rise right before our eyes. The wall has a voice that says “Where do you think you’re going?” ” What makes you think you’re so special?” and “Where do you get off trying something new?” This wall can officially be called The Wall of Fear and Failure. But with enough belief and determination one can walk right through the wall.

There is tremendous encouragement out there to not try anything with your life. Give up, and crawl back under your rock. Don’t dream, don’t hope….you’ll only get hurt. But I believe, in order to accomplish anything of worthiness with your life, you must be able to take the knocks backwards, because for every two steps forward, you will get knocked back one. If you surround yourself with the right people, and positive input, a force field will eventually develop to lessen the effects of the attacks. The pearl can only be made from the friction of the sand…..beauty will come from adversity, if you can weather the friction.
The wall can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. The wall that stands in front of us eventually, if not dealt with, becomes a larger wall in front of our children. The more we don’t accomplish, the more falls on the shoulders of the next generation. One incredible source for inspiration is to look into the eyes of a child. Those eyes contain much of the wisdom that makes it possible to see through walls. The child believes all things are possible. So must we.

Walk through the wall,

Jennifer Avalon
© 1998 Jennifer Avalon

You start to feel an aching in your arm, you unbutton your sleeve, and you notice a cut or an abrasion on your skin. Dealing with the shock you begin to ask yourself, how did this happen? What did I do or didn’t do? After the discovery of your wound the first thing you reach for is an antiseptic to cleanse it, to limit the chances of infection. The wound then must be periodically watched and cared for to help the body’s healing mechanism respond. Over the course of a week or two the wound starts to heal and the scar begins to fade. Then one day, lo and behold, you look at your arm and see nothing where the wound once was. Sometimes a scar does remain, perhaps to remind us of what happened so that the same thing doesn’t happen again.

Why is this important? Because whether we like it or not, the wounds of life need to be handled the same way. Unexpected things happen to us all the time…some can be avoided, others not so easily. It’s how we treat those problems that determines the level of healing that occurs. Someone once said that we are all basically “wounded children looking for ways to heal”. Yes, some of us do have wonderful childhoods…but why is it painful memories from that period echo throughout our lives, even in the happiest of childhoods?

In many cases, the lack of healing of the wounds in our lives brings about addictions, and other forms of abuse. Wounds on top of wounds. After awhile the original wound becomes invisible. Eventually the scab must be removed to see the foundation of the infection. From there the real process of healing can begin.

Blood, hair, flesh and bones…this is what physically we basically are. But, who is in control of this body of ours? The thoughts, the dreams, the hopes? That, I believe, is the Soul. To me the Soul provides the energy that flows through the body, and sometimes our Souls get wounded and need healing, too. The Soul needs the input of Faith, Love and Hope.

In life, it is important that we take care of our physical needs. We all need a roof over our heads, and food to eat. But without the caring of the Soul, we become nothing more than ships adrift on an endless ocean. No port or harbor to shield us from the storms.

Take the time to heal,

Jennifer Avalon
© 1998 Jennifer Avalon

All of our emotions and actions are interconnected. Our emotions bring about decisions that thrust energy and thought into action. At the other end of the spectrum the work that we partake in has a profound affect on our feelings. These two components, emotions and actions, greatly shape our quality of life.
When a problem arises many times we focus on the one specific area that needs adjusting at that moment. What becomes clear over time is that once one looks under the surface, the roots of a problem become more apparent. An example: If I have a toothache, I’m fully aware that my tooth is bothering me, but what I don’t focus on is how or why I got the toothache in the first place. If I like consuming a lot of sugar in my diet at some point there’s a good chance I will develop another toothache. So off we go to the dentist to fill the tooth that is infected…but the true origin of that infection can go untreated. Another example: Have you ever noticed you almost always start to come down with a cold or get sick when you are under severe amounts of stress? You take your medication, and after a few days you start to feel better. But if the stress levels are not reduced, how much longer will it be before you encounter another cold? We spend large amounts of money in society on medications of all kinds, some very much needed, others avoidable. What we have to ask ourselves is, how much of what happens to us is linked to our emotions and actions?

The same can be said about the people we surround ourselves with on a daily basis. We all probably know someone at work who has nothing nice to say about anything….after a couple of hours around such a person you start to feel like you want to scream. The information that we absorb affects our life and eventually has to be released. Our emotions can affect our health, but so too can the people around us, not to mention television, movies and music. I enjoy listening to certain types of music. It would be naive of me not to believe that music doesn’t affect the quality of my day. Anger needs fuel to increase. Be aware of what you take in.

I’m a firm believer in the importance of the link between the physical and spiritual world. I can’t express enough how vital the balance between the two is needed. So much of life is lived between the two. Right in the middle. The pendulum consistently swings to the physical and back to the spiritual. Percentages increasing and decreasing at will. There is no one entity unto itself. As the world becomes smaller, the links between us grow stronger. It is up to us to determine if those links should bloom like a rose, or strangle like a weed. We all live in the garden.

Take the time to love,

Jennifer Avalon
© 1998 Jennifer Avalon

We all own a factory. This factory of ours runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. There is very little room for “down time”. How this factory runs and what it produces is basically up to us. The upkeep, the maintenance and the production levels are ours to uphold. The buck stops with us. This human factory represents our body and soul.

Each morning we rev up our engines, turn on the conveyer belts and shift the gears of our machinery into action. Decisions are made on what it us we are to make today and what impact our product will have once it leaves the building. Mistakes will be made, but through re-evaluation the proper corrections will be put into place to improve upon the design. Some factories run better than others, but each one in its own way is connected to the marketplace. Yes some fail, but with the right funding it’s not impossible for a new factory to rise from the ruins of an old one. The funding and the growth of our factories are not based on money. It involves belief, convictions and the will to rise above the doubts and fears. You can throw enormous amounts of money at a problem, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that the trouble will subside. How we manage our factories is the key to continued success and long-term growth.

Why are these factories important? Because the products that they produce are consumed by the general public. What each one of us puts out does have an effect on the rest of us. Our factories are eventually held responsible for what they distribute to the masses. Over time, the positive and negative effects of the products return to the front door of our factories. What goes out in one form or another does come back. The world needs good factories. We can never have enough of them. Even after we are gone, what our factories manufactured will remain.

Take the time to love,

Jennifer Avalon
© 1998 Jennifer Avalon