Searching my engine
Got a kick out of News Hounds’ dissection of my latest Game Plan column on FoxBusiness.com. Thanks for the shout-out, folks!
Crossing over
In today’s Game Plan, emotional intelligence is front and center because I believe we need to pay more heed to it. Check out Our Call to Grow Up and you’ll get a little bit of me bragging about a quiz on iVillage.com, some Corinthians about childishness from President Obama’s inaugural speech, a bit of the inimitable Blago, the high school basketball coach who ran up a 100-0 score, and the support group for women in relationships with bankers.
How’s that for a potpourri?
Sad for Ted
Just watched Alexandra Pelosi’s HBO film on Ted Haggard and came away sad. Sad that this man has every opportunity to be a passionate voice to temper the demonization of homosexuality and that he has chosen instead to hide behind his Bible. Sad that instead of pointing out that a homosexual can be spiritual and advise a President of the United States in his spirituality, he has chosen to cower, deny who he really is, and call himself a sinner.
I cannot imagine how it must feel to be gay and watch this man squander a chance to speak to the issues of differences and diversity that still divide our nation. He was beloved and respected by his congregation. He founded that church. He was listened to. He had an audience. How very sad that he chose not to trust any of those congregants to understand or empathize. Instead, he let the powers that be run him out.
So, so sad for what could have been.
Misogyny on parade
Am I crazy or did I just hear former House Majority Leader Dick Armey tell Salon.com editor Joan Walsh that he wouldn’t want to be married to her and listen to her “prattling” when they were supposed to be debating politics on Chris Matthews’ Hardball?
Yeah, Dick, I’m sure you’re on top of her fantasy list.
Money matters
With everyone talking about money everywhere we go, it seems, I have been thinking about how my own money outlook has shifted in recent years. Today’s Game Plan is about Examining Our Attitudes About Money.
The write way
Decided to beef up the writing selections on my Shelfari.com bookshelf (displayed to the right). I love this feature and the fact that you can mouse over a book cover for details and use the arrows on the bottom to scroll through the full array of recommendations.
Some of my favorite writing “bibles” — courtesy of Anne Lamott, Natalie Goldberg and Brenda Ueland — are now shown there. Also, I added an anthology of writing by Italian-American women called The Dream Book – reading that was like turning on a light in my head.
Rock on. Or should I say, write on.
Crystal ball
If January is to set the tone for the rest of my year, I have a creative, soulful and bold 2009 ahead.
Bring it.
The strong, sturdy Ox
So today begins the Year of the Ox. Yeah, baby. I’m an Ox, born in 1961 (as is President Obama!).
A Web search yielded this pretty accurate description (at least from my standpoint) of what to expect from a person born in the Year of the Ox (1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009):
The Ox of Chinese Astrology is no bull in a china shop. Steadfast and solid, this powerful Sign is a born leader, being quite dependable and possessing an innate ability to achieve great things. Oxen tend to be plodding and methodical; they approach projects in the step-by-step manner that serves them best, and they never lose sight of their goal. They are tireless workers who are detail-oriented and believe in doing things right the first time.
The world may perceive Oxen as being far too serious or incapable of loosening up. This sturdy sort is less than social by nature and tends to become introverted in a crowd. To make things worse, they can’t be bothered with what other people think and prefer to do what makes them feel best. Behind that calm facade, though, lives an Ox who can feel hurt, lonely and unable to connect with others. Friends and family are a great source of comfort to this beast, even if they don’t always understand what makes the Ox tick. As a lover, friend, family member or housemate, the Ox makes a wonderfully strong, tender and affectionate companion who is protective and always reliable.
Out in the world, though, Oxen tend to be stubborn, dogmatic, my-way-or-the-highway kind of people who have no concept of when to back down. Oxen don’t care to be pushed, especially since they think they’re the good guys of the Chinese Zodiac. There is some truth to that theory, since the Ox is smart, trustworthy, caring and honorable. If you need honest, steady and unbiased advice, call on the Ox.
A good lesson for mighty Oxen is to strive to overcome a judgmental nature that keeps them from getting close to others. If they can learn to value their own good qualities, they’ll have more room in their hearts to invite others in.
Wives, wives, everywhere are wives
So the Big Love season has begun again and I am rapt. Deception. Sex. Gambling. Polygamy in all its glory.
What a little slice of indulgence it is.
Universal spirit
Just finished reading Deepak Chopra’s, Jesus, A Story of Enlightenment and found it illuminating. Chopra imagines the details we don’t know about Jesus’ journey, his path to enlightenment, and gives rich context to the deeper, not-so-literal, universal messages in that journey.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the Reader’s Guide in the back, which stands on its own as a spiritual essay for our time. A favorite passage on Optimism:
Be positive in your expectations. This doesn’t have to be merely a mood, and it shouldn’t lapse into fantasy. Just be aware that at the soul level the seeds of fruition exist in infinite number. Bad seeds, on the other hand, come from the past, engendered by memory. We remember being hurt and disappointed, and by remaining attached to those bad memories, we keep repeating them. The past plants bad seeds; the mind feeds them with fear and anger.
Optimism focuses on the good seeds. Thus they given encouragement to sprout. Strictly speaking, I’m not referring to positive thinking. In positive thinking all negative outcomes must be wrenched around until something good comes out of them. In actuality, bad seeds yield bad fruit. But once you face a result that is painful or disappointing, step away from it and focus on the seed of the next situation, which can be a good one. Nobody is perfect at this. We all sprout bad seeds along with the good. However, with an attitude of optimism, you remind yourself to favor the good, and that shift in attention has a powerful influence.
