My Phenomenal Coach...

... can be yours, too.

I'm getting coaching by a phenomenal human being: Khotan Shahbazi-Harmon here in Austin, TX. We meet on Friday afternoons at a tea house in The Domain called The Sipping Room (I recommend this, too). 

If you are in need of getting clear; reorganizing your life; in the middle of a career change, or simply open and ready for a shift, spend some time with Khotan. She is insightful, intuitive, and has a knack for knowing just what you need. As she says whenever I just can't believe that she knows that: "It's my job to know". Khotan askes me compelling questions (more are coming, I know!) and my perspective on my life and what I am capable of have radically shifted. 

Listen to Khotan's podcasts on her website khotanharmon.com. On it are her interviews with some of the most amazing and innovative people, creatives and leaders of our time.

Enjoy!

Coincidences

I've been having them almost every day for the past several days.

For example, as I was driving the kids to school yesterday, Lesedi and Tumelo laughed at me for not knowing that Bat Man was not a "real super hero" because he relied on gadgets; mechanical, man-made things for his "powers".

On the other hand, The Green Lantern stumbled upon a ring, and that's where he got his (they are real) because the ring has mystical powers. We had a long conversation about the distinctions between gadgets and real powers that came from mystical objects, events, or inheritance.

Later in the day, I woke up from a nap wondering where was my coincidence for the day (yes, they had become that regular). I sat next to Michael at the dining table. He got up, stood behind me, and then put a necklace of mine around my neck: "Here, I give you your super powers." he said.

A few minutes later, he asked me if I could guess who had a baby girl: Green Tara (she's a musician from Canada Michael has played with). "Wow! Has it been that long since we saw her last? That's great. We ought to tell her 'Welcome to the Real World.'" I said. Michael gave me a strange look and said, "I already sent her an email saying "welcome to the real world".

I ask you: does this type of thing happen to you? If so - how often... and what?

I'm proud of my race, and I dare you to read this

I'm proud of my race

The human race

'Cause there's only one

And that means we're precious

so it only makes sense 

to protect one another

and love each other

and cherish each other

And even if

that weren't so

And there were many races

wouldn't the same apply?

Because each life is precious

However different it seems

to the human eye

In the Darkness...

In the darkness

Everything is black and white. 

Y'nowice that? (As my 4 year old says).

When my children were young(er), they called people so-called-black and so-called-white. I think that is most accurate, don't you? Because really, every one of us is a shade of brown - from very very light brown to very very dark brown. 

No one is black, no one is white

Except in the dark

Except without light

Our beauty veiled

From our sight

Until we remember

God is Love

God is our Light

This is where it gets tricky, though. The above poem is tricky, because some might interpret the darkness as a negative thing, and black as negative, too. How could they not? Our language is saturated with negative references to things black. So, I ask that you contemplate the poem with new "eyes". 

Good night. I'm going to close my eyes now, and be in the darkness behind my eyelids, and see my techincolor dreams. 

Sweet Breads Bake-off Challenge.

A few weeks ago, we visited my brother Khotso, and he had just finished baking a sweet bread. 

If I hadn't walked in just then and witnessed him pulling it out of the oven (not to mention the evidence on the counter), I would have sworn he had purchased it at a high-end bakery.  

Khotso's bread made me insanely jealous, and I vowed right then and there to best him. 'Cause who did he think he was, anyway - making such delicious bread? Breads are my specialty.  So, a couple of weeks later, I learned how to bake sweet breads. 

And now, I challenge Letsie James Khotso Khabele to a Sweet-Breads Bake-off!!! 

I am ready because I have 7 loaves under my belt and I think that's enough experience, don't you? Besides, I also have 21 years experience with yeast-rising breads. 

If you think this sounds like a plan, just holler!

inonge.com

Keeping it Simple

Keeping what simple?

Whatever the it is at the moment. 

For example, whenever I feel that the whole cooking for the family thing is too much for me, I bake. Yes, bake.

It's counterintuitive, I know. But it works. I am not above using reverse psychology on myself. 

Baking forces me to slow down... measure... pay attention. Visualize the finished product and the pleasure it will bring. I use my hands and connect with the ingredients. I am patient because there is no other option. I am taken back to my mother, and hers, and hers, and hers and hers... I participate in an ancient nurturing ritual. 

bread of life

bread is life

bread is simple

keep life simple

bake bread

break bread

eat

live

simple