Speak Up! An Ode to the Throat

To speak or not to speak- that is the real question. 
I speak only the truth. Okay...maybe I slip up once in a while, but I can assure you, I always speak my truth. No, but really, this is the truth. 

There are truths which are not for all men, nor all times. - Voltaire

Good man, that Voltaire. Definitely would've been an American in our time; I mean, where else will someone "defend to the death" your right to speak up?? That quote, by the way, is sometimes attributed to Voltaire, though it was actually written by Evelyn Beatrice Hall, who created it to describe V's philosophy. But back to the point- in America, we have a law (freedom of speech, anyone?) defending our right to talk, and, more importantly for some, to talk shit! I mean, Fox News isn't news, that's just talking shit--and they know it. Pure entertainment. But we still have ABC, NBC and CNN to show us the opposing "news" and sometimes even real news, so it all works out. It's great to live in a country where we're allowed to speak up- even if most only use it to talk trash. 

.....right?

Maybe. But what if those of us who actually have something important to say, don't? 

What are you saying? 
Or not saying? 
Do you actually say anything? 
Or just talk trash about other  trash talkers? (i.e. bashing Fox news but never actually creating your own opinion and speaking up yourself. Newsflash: this doesn't make you any better than THEM).  

Everyone has a different reason excuse. Many, including myself, are/were bullied by our parents, peers, teachers, coaches, bosses, partners, etc. and learned from them to bully ourselves and/or others. Most often we never grow out of it. We learn to think we suck, our thoughts turn to beliefs, and our beliefs we become. No one grows up unscathed, and only a few grow through their wounds and prove their bullies wrong. It's much easier to prove our bullies right. Mediocrity is a breeze. This is our challenge. 

What do you have to say? Who is your bully? Sometimes your worst enemy is yourself (also the hardest to defeat). I know personally that whatever resistance I meet externally always pales in comparison to my astounding ability to stand in my own way. So, I say this, for both you and I, 

Speak Up!

I dare you. Even if it's just a whisper at first, or only to yourself. Baby steps. Make your voice heard. Bring the mantra "I speak" to your life. Chant it over and over again. Yell into your pillow. Sing out loud in the car. Write down your ideas. Express your truth. 
And remember,

the value of one's expression is directly proportional to one's level of fear in expressing it.

In other words, the more afraid you are to say it, the more it needs to be said. 

Speak up! 

Merry Christmas and Best Wishes,
Leslie

The Place Where Wings Unfurl

The place where wings unfurl
is Love.
has no name.
It is unspoken, but felt.
A most tangible swelling, clearly felt heart-swell
An overwhelming, beautiful caught breath
Regardless you look up--
you have to, you don't know where else to.
Thank you moon
thank you stars
Even if it's just a vision in my head
up, up!
and the widest, brightest smile you ever saw
you can't stop smiling
      your face just hurts
    Joy.  warmth
    warmth, even in the cold, that smile.
        like a radiator, the energy
    you could fuel a fridge on this love.
       -- and these which these days, in America,
           takes a latta WATTS.
    It's a place, unspoken
      Felt, but not seen.
      Even a photo, 10,000 words,
      Can't capture the feeling.
       that hope hope ho hopeful moment.

                    (After talking to Eric)
Bliss.
the place where 
wings unfurl ?
and hearts take wings 
                        flight.
impossibilities
              collapse
           up is down
     and left is right.
the place where 
    2 
  hearts
  take
       flight. 

Eric

&

I.

                                                                                                                                                                                             



























I find myself looking up a lot these days. LK

The Lesson is the Gift

Today my first post for The Inertia was published. Check it out here: The Lesson is the Gift

Aloha Ohana! Happy Saturday :)

Shapes Like Stars

Chrysanthemums, dahlias, daisies, carnations, _________
Shapes like stars.
     Raindrops dripping off splattering windshield
Snowflakes falling silent on window glass
Starfish sea anemone unfurling into
Sun sprawling sunshine
Shapes like Stars

Fireworks!! Kerouac's Roman Candles, bursting bright--CRACK--
ice crystals out of tree branches 
   sharp lobster shells, spiny
Christmas tree-topper
   gold glitter star
Shapes like stars

handprints in sand
river Eyelashes- Moulin Rouge
bright eyes "smile, girl!"
two-plus-one two a smallish family
GOD-light through clouds
music notes hitting - da-dee-da one-two-three
invisible stars they are to me
Shapes like stars...

branches on a tree
palm fronds they gleam
flickering lights
4th of July
starlight Flash
cosmic-bright
cookie-cutter-shapes
JELL-O mold
fuzzy jacket grey
ruffled dress skirt
sparkling champagne
girly pink tutu - have a ballet

powdered
      alpine peaks all
like Trois Vallees 
Shapes like stars
wind's waves wash away.

Channeling Your Little Weird

"The writer, perhaps more than any of his fellow artists, has access to the human subconscious. His words sink deep, shaping dreams, easing the pain of loneliness, banishing incantations and omens, keeping alive the memories of the race, providing intimations of immortality, nourishing great anticipations, sharpening the instinct for justice, and imparting respect for the fragility of life. These functions are essential for human evolution." - Norman Cousins

I know. You've never heard more beautiful words on the art of writing, have you? Glad to share the wealth.

Ryan Hanley wrote a blog post the other day on channeling your Little Weird- the unique, quirky, eccentric part we all have, but often tone down or hide, often subconsciously, because we were conditioned to do so by everyone from our parents to our teachers to our peers. After all, no one likes being the butt of a joke. But what if the same Little Weird that momentarily spurs sideways glances, snickering or even scorn from some, also sparks the most imaginative ideas, fostering innovative thinking and ultimately progressive creation? The amazing thing about the Little Weird is,     

We all have it.

BUT....

Few of us use it. 

As Ryan says, "When my little weird is running the show I'm an Artist." Being weird is perfectly OK, and the ability to harness your inner weirdness is nothing less than something to be celebrated. Besides, let's be honest with ourselves...artists and "artsy" people are already auto-added by the masses to the "Weird" box. We might as well embrace our perceived roles as Weirdos and use it to our advantage, channeling those off-the-wall thoughts and angled views into actual creativity with an end result no less than Art. 

I hope that, if you haven't already, this year you are able to not only recognize but embrace and love your Little Weird, and respect the Little Weird in everyone.  Definitely on my list. 

Repeating after Ryan,

Today I am an Artist. 

(Above) Macklemore clearly knows what I'm talking about. Cinderella too. (Below)

A blip about the Written Word

I love seeing the look on someone's face when they've just read something that makes them smile. It reminds me how valuable the written word is, how valuable my work is, and how important it is that I pursue it and share it with everyone I meet. Joy and love are meant to be shared. Happy weekend, everyone! 

Oliver Kurtz knows how to enjoy it in Ventura:

Surfing and Spirituality

My book on the human condition, Surfing and Spirituality, is in publishing and will be available for e-book purchase on Amazon.com tomorrow! It will also be available at BN.com and iBooks later this week. The print version comes out in a week or two, so hold out for that if you prefer paper! 
Please show support by buying a copy and spreading word! 
Thanks for all the love--you guys helped make this possible. 
Special thanks to Mitch Bloom (cover), David Pu'u and Justin Bastien (photography), Larry Ugale, Mary Osborne, Jaimal Yogis, Jordan Novander (photographed surfers) and the 14 surfers (who will be revealed, if you read the book!) who participated in interviews over email, the phone, martinis, and great surf. Mahalo and blessings everyone!!!!! ♥