The Simple Life

“It’s simple. Life is messy. Your dreams are real. Only you have to believe it. Excuses are non. You’re always taken care of. Your thoughts create your life. What’s happening to others has nothing to do with you. The future is not the past. Fear is an illusion. True love comes from within. The time is now. What are you waiting for?” – Jackson Kiddard

The Four Agreements

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

1. Be Impeccable With Your Word: Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth & love.

2. Don’t Take Anything Personally: Nothing others do is because of you. What others say & do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions & actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.

3. Don’t Make Assumptions: Find the courage to ask questions & to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness & drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

4. Always Do Your Best: Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best & you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse & regret.

DREAM ON

Last night, I had a dream I met Florence Welch from Florence + The Machine. She was so friendly, and tall. Then again, I’m a shorty. On the bus ride back from the place I met her, I was telling my friends about it and I turned around and she was sitting on the bus. I said, “Oh, I was just telling my friends about you” and she just smiled.

2 nights ago, I dreamt I saw Kathy Griffin on the dance floor of a wedding I was attending. In all my dreams these people are always my good friends and I approach them like I’ve known them for years. We were taking pictures together and just hanging out. I realize there are lots of celebs that we’ll never meet in real life, and honestly, I’m not star struck so if I did see her in real life (or anyone for that matter), I’d just walk right by and or treat them like anyone else.

I remember actually seeing Britney Spears @ a club in NYC years ago. She was just starting out and dancing with her friends. I walked by with all my friends and she just looked, we made eye contact but it wasn’t like I wanted to get her autograph. A few years ago, I dreamt I was taking pictures of her while she was coming off her tour bus and she pulled me to the side and began to make out with me, and her breath stank of cigarettes. Lol

About a year or 2 ago, I dreamt I was hanging out with Whitney Houston once on a cruise ship and we were singing “You’re My Baby Tonight” together. I said, “Whitney, watch… I can do that part where you sing all fast… “Now it’s like I’m fatal, It’s all on the table…And baby you hold the cards…”  and she loved it. Bobby was there too, but he didn’t sing along, thank goodness.

Less than a year ago, I dreamt that I saw Beyonce walking down Washington Avenue in South Beach, Miami. It was raining, and she was carrying bags. I said, “B, what you doing walking in the rain, get in this car girl.” So she got in and we hit the club where we danced all night long.

I love dreaming, I’m literally in another world, always meeting new people, and taking pictures of landscapes & sceneries I’ve never seen in person. That wasn’t always the case, I used to dream I was trapped in a house or building of some sort and it was like a maze trying to get out. Or, I’d be an an investigator trying to figure out a crime, or some beating some evil entity. Those dreams would continue over several night in chapters and I’d always make it out the house while helping others out who were always trapped, or I’d solve the crime. They were always dark dreams, but I’m happy that has changed.

Last night, I also dreamt I saw 3 rainbows, which I’ve never seen in person, it was so beautiful. I swear I took a pic… and like always, I get up and it’s all gone.

Alas, I continue to dream on!

I AM ME

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m not the car that I drive
I’m not the shoes on my feet
I’m not the phone that I speak on
Nor the jeans on my seat

I am flesh and blood
Spirit and dreams
I am light and love
I am me

-CJ

EVOLUTION

I wrote this over 10 years ago on a bus ride home from work. I was having a moment of oneness, imagining past, present and future lives, the way we all function & work together while passing time, how we’re all looking for meaning and imagining other planes and dimensions. This one of my favorite pieces that has come back around over the years and means more and more to me each time I read it. I hope you all enjoy it!


EVOLUTION
 by CJM

Beyond dreams is what I see
I live my life uncertainly
Since no one knows the reasons why
We’re born, we live and then we die
Answers hide as questions arise
And meanings fail to compromise

We breathe this air but still despair
We know we are here but not everyone cares
Big question marks above our heads
Some exclamations
Others walk dead

While I ask
Where is the past life I know that I lived?
What was I like when I was that other kid?

Visions of worlds unknown to us
A language of silence
Mental
Hush

Our world of water
Life of love
What’s really going on in the sky up above?

The human mind
We use such a small percent
Imagine the rest that we never spend

Where did it go?
I have to ask
But I can only live present through a distant past

I see those in life that don’t have a path
Their vision is foggy so they repeat the past
I’m glad that I chose the road that I have
For I try to live life with a full tank of gas

I see all the people and know that they try
I can’t stand to see anyone break down and cry
I see all of those that are right at the top
I know some are good
And others a crock

I try to see life and study its ways
I always play fair and work to get paid
I do what I can and I always give my best
Still I know they’ll be days when I may feel depressed

So I believe in my vision of a better place
I’ll do all I can to help speed the race
But it can’t be alone for all it takes
We must help one another and do it with grace
We can learn from each other, I know this is true
Should we want to succeed
Both me and you
Love and believe and some day you’ll see
This is what really helps us achieve

So come with me
And please don’t delay
Let us evolve
On a higher plane

EVOLUTION

I wrote EVOLUTION on a bus ride home after leaving work @ UMD back in the late 90s. It has always been one of my favorite poems.

Beyond dreams is what I see

We live our lives uncertainly

Since no one knows the reasons why

We’re born, we live and then we die

Answers hide as questions arise

And meanings fail to compromise

We breathe this air but still despair

We know we ‘re here but not everyone cares

Big question marks above our heads

Some exclamations

Others walk dead

Where’s my past life I know I once lived?

What was I like when I was that kid?

I have visions of worlds unknown to us

A language of silence, no need to hush

 A world of water

Life of love

What’s really going on in the sky up above?

Our minds are used at such a small %

Imagine the rest that we never spent

Where did it go I have to ask?

But I can only live present through a distant past

I see those in life that don’t have a path

Their vision is foggy so they repeat the past

I’m glad that I chose the road that I have

For I try to live my life with a full tank of gas

I see people struggle and I know that they try

I can’t stand to see them break down and cry

I see all of those that are right at the top

I know some are good and others a crock

I try to see life and study its ways

I always play fair and look to get paid

I work for my money and give my best

And I know there may be days when I may feel depressed

So I believe in my vision of a better place

And I’ll do all I can to help speed up the race

But I can’t do it alone for all it takes

We must help one another and do it with grace

We can learn from each other, I know this is true

Should we want to succeed, both me and you

Love and believe and some day you’ll see

This is what really helps us to achieve

So come with me and please don’t delay

And let us evolve on a higher plane!

One Love,

~CJ~