| I received New Year's message from my beloved | | | | visionary" - a man who didn't merely dream, but |
| teacher, Arthur Samuel Joseph yesterday. His | | | | strived to make the dream come true - to show |
| message is so beautiful and so powerful that it | | | | others how to fulfill their dreams - to make them |
| already empowers me to keep walking forward | | | | "real." To help others take their journey as |
| toward my dream. I believe that it will assist some of | | | | empoweringly as possible - I first had to try and do |
| you, and it is with great joy that I share it with you. | | | | this for my Self. |
| The other day I was thinking about crafting a | | | | With the recognition of what was/is required - I |
| message for the New Year, and what I might say. | | | | began. |
| First I had to consider its purpose. Was it merely to | | | | One of my favorite books- for myriad reasons - is |
| be part of a new tradition based on the warm | | | | Cervantes' Don Quixote. One of my favorite musicals |
| response to last year's message? No, of course not. | | | | is the "Man of La Mancha", loosely based both on |
| If I were to do another the reason would have to | | | | Miguel de Cervantes extraordinary life/ journey, as |
| be more compelling than that. So, I thought quite long | | | | well as on his profound novel. One of my favorite |
| and hard, and following this period of rich reflection, | | | | songs to sing is from "Man of La Mancha"- "The |
| the answer emerged - the reason would be that I | | | | Impossible Dream," by Joe Darion and Mitch Leigh. |
| am a teacher. And as I begin my 45th year of | | | | Earlier this week, when I was in solitude- in |
| teaching, I recognize that one of the reasons I have | | | | conversation with my Deeper Self, I thought about |
| always found teaching so rewarding is the | | | | this song. I have literally sung it hundreds of times, |
| opportunity to make a difference in another person's | | | | but until this week, I never quite recognized there |
| life. | | | | really are no "Impossible Dreams." For, if we can |
| Fortunately, somewhere quite early in my journey, I | | | | imagine it, dream it, envision it, we can make it come |
| realized that if there was even the slightest chance | | | | true. |
| for such a presumptuous possibility manifesting- to | | | | So, my wish as we embark upon our journey this |
| truly have the honor of becoming the teacher I | | | | January 2009, is that we all "Dream the Possible |
| envisioned- one that created opportunity for | | | | Dream!" Dream and know that it is possible to: have |
| transformative, depthful and authentic learning and | | | | world peace, economic stability, eradicate all disease, |
| the requisite changes commensurate with this level | | | | rid our planet of poverty, be happy, be wealthy - in |
| of learning to take place - I would first have to | | | | all ways and always, be a best friend, have a best |
| develop the skills - technical/philosophical/intellectual | | | | friend, be healthy, be happy, sing, dance, finger paint, |
| spiritual, within myself to be even marginally qualified | | | | cook really well, care for others and to be cared for |
| for such a noble undertaking. I recognized that for | | | | as well, to give - boundlessly and to receive |
| me to teach I would first have to be willing to learn. | | | | abundantly as well, serve God and your Deeper Self |
| To learn how to: communicate/listen/see/ know/risk/ | | | | in synchronistic bliss each and every day! |
| trust/act/ be patient/reveal/claim/accept - but not | | | | As I begin my 45th year of teaching and learning and |
| settle/discover the questions you want to ask and | | | | my 63rd year this January 23rd, I lovingly offer my |
| the unceasing passion to need the answers/let go | | | | New Year's message to listen deeply, hear keenly |
| persevere/surrender/comfort/nurture/stand for | | | | and believe - unflinchingly, unequivocably in the |
| something/how to work/how to play/be with my | | | | possibility of our dream/s coming true, and to do all in |
| Self/how to be with others how to - just be! | | | | your power to make this happen. |
| I also realized I would have to learn how to dream | | | | How you take the journey and who you are matters. |
| and to turn the dream into a vision to be fulfilled. For | | | | Act accordingly. |
| that to happen, I had to learn to be a "pragmatic | | | | |