BEST OF 2005

In continuation of some of my favorite experiences of 2005, following are the top films and person of the year that have impacted me and had deep, positive influence on me this year. Enjoy:

FILM OF THE YEAR

CRASH

Earlier in the year I purposely went to see this movie from reading a review of it. Not knowing much about it, except that it was, "racially charged," I found myself in tears for most of the movie. Gripping, compelling and a clear mirror of the storylines we so-often run in our heads in an attempt to convince ourselves that we are right about what is wrong with the other person. Especially if they are different from us. Which, is kind of insane when you consider that we are all different.

"Crash," was instantly my favorite movie of all time. I could not help but encourage people to see it. And, it seemed like this film struck a chord among almost everyone I know that saw it. My daughter blessed me with the DVD of, "Crash" on Christmas, and it is just as striking as it was in the theatre.

The redeeming factor of this film is simply that, although we are all different, we are all the same. As I have put it often this year, "We are all in the same boat." So, the next time you use words like nigger, spic, whitey, cracker, bigot, hypocrite, or whatever else around me, just please understand that I realize that it is totally about you and that I don't take it personally. Whatever sick comedy you are running in your head is a lie, and the suffering will only stop when you wake up and realize that no one is laughing except the liar in your head.

RUNNER UP:

MAD HOT BALLROOM

My Daughter Sophia, and her mother Alicia raved about this movie earlier in the year. A documentary about New York Public School students who are in ballroom dancing classes preparing for citywide competition. The beauty and wisdom of children is paramount in this film. To see these youngsters from all different cultures embrace something as cool as dance, and really have the opportunity to grow mature through embracing the innocence of youth is absolutely soul enlightening. In all the cliche' sounds and words of the typical movie reviewer, I yell and scream, "THIS IS THE FEEL GOOD MOVIE OF THE YEAR!"

PERSON OF THE YEAR

RICKY WILLIAMS

"He’s played a great role for this team all year. He’s been unselfish, he’s been a really good team guy, and he’s been very helpful with a lot of other players in terms of what he’s done. I can’t tell you how much we appreciate it as an organization based on what he’s done and how he’s played and how he’s overcome a lot. We’re real proud of him."-Nick Saban, Head Coach, Miami Dolphins.

Hated, judged, laughed at, mocked. Ricky Williams is the former Heisman trophy winner, former 2000 plus yard rusher, of the Miami Dolphins. He is also the player that walked away from football just days prior to training camp for the 2004 NFL season.

Ricky went away to find himself. Guess what? He did. While all the critics, armchair fans, and general people who don't know anything about Ricky except what they perceive from the papers were crucifying him as a "dope smoking weirdo," Ricky was getting to know himself and put to rest the tormenting program that was institutionalized in his head since he was a kid. And, despite what the, once again unkowing critics, say about the $8 million Ricky "Might" have owed the Dolphins, Ricky came back. He had guts to come back and say, "I'm healthy."

He came back physically, mentally and spiritually HEALTHY. Not many NFL players can say that.

What do his teammates think of Ricky? I watched the TN Titans all year. In particular, the Titan's star rookie, Pacman Jones. I watched Pacman Jones pick quarrels with countless people almost after every play he was even remotely involved with. Last Sunday after Ricky tore Pacman apart for the final time of the game, sealing death for the Titan's, Pacman did the typical. In all those countless quarrels, I had never seen a group of players put a wall up as they did between Pacman and Ricky Williams. I never saw Pacman walk away like that.

Ricky Williams, hands down, is my PERSON OF THE YEAR!

Holiday Gallery 2006

2006 HOLIDAY GALLERY

With the stars of Christmas night hidden by the black clouds of Tennessee rain, the holiday comes to a close with Sophia and I enjoying the evening at home in the hills of Cool Springs, TN. After a short drive from Exit 108 we got home to a Christmas tree filled with presents underneath.

Everyone of us is different, yet we are all in the same boat. If I had one wish right now, it would be that people would find the peace that comes from embracing our diversity and lessening our suffering by not having to make opposing viewpoints wrong.

Here is a gallery of photos from this holiday season of my life.

captions:

1) Sophia showing off her Green Day blanket that is sure to keep her warm throughout many frigid Tennessee nights.

2) Sophia and I at the Titans/Seahawks game. It was Sohia's first time at an NFL game, and we had a blast.

3) A couple of Titan Cheerleaders stopped by our suite during the game. Sophia and them spent a few minutes chatting about their white boots and dancing.

4) After a tiring Christmas, Sophia settles in by the tree and fire with her new horse barn during Christmas night.

5) Black, Chuck Taylor All-Stars. I never imagined that the same shoes I loved as a young person would be embraced by my own daughter.

6) Sophia's amazing cat, Lani. Sophia has taken up photography as a new hobby, and this photo is a good example of her work.

7) Sophia's holiday concert at school.

8) Photo with grandma and grandpa at The Nut Remix, earlier in the month in Memphis.

Top O' 2005

(Glenlevit: Winner of 'Drink of the Year")

It seems every publication and outlet has their "Best Of" list each year. In the spirit of this consciousness, I present: "2005, The Top O'The World".

Album of The Year: "The People's Champ" Paul Wall-Paul Wall is the equivalent to hip-hop to what Nirvana was to rock. The anticipation and build up to this album paid off, and has parlayed Paul into the hip-hop and mainstream format. Without one bad song on the album, "The People's Champ," takes this illustrious category in my book.

Drink of the Year: Glenlevit-During a year when I didn't drink at all for several months, then went on some pretty wild rides through booze-land, Glenlevit was the steady; a wonderful Irish scotch that is too good to be mixed with Coke.

Disaster of the Year: Katrina. Runner up-Tsunami and California mudslides.

Disappointment of the year: George W. Bush (wait, recount, I knew he was a disappointment from the start, that's why I didn't vote for him. Therefore he is DISQUALIFIED due to the fact he acted exactly like I thought he would).

REAL WINNER OF DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE YEAR: The collective consciousness of america's evangelical ecumencial community.

Book of the Year: "A New Earth" by Eckhart Tolle-A wonderful, positive, life changing experience. If the category above could open their mind a bit, perhaps they wouldn't have swept that category. Here's to hope for the future.

Bender of the Year: My friend Adam's going away party from work. Approximately $500 tab, predominately various liquors, $100 lap dance (I though I could save her and she would marry me), survival, run in with the law, almost evicted.

Good Feeling of the year: The experience of my daughter continuing to grow up. The experience of seeing my career continue to grow as well. The experience of realizing I'm not going to hell, despite what some of you say.

Bad Feeling of the year: Katrina, Iraq War.

Well, there you go. Perhaps I will have more to add, but 2005 has been one wild ride regarding god, country, health, spirit and commerce. Somedays I wished would last forever, others I would have given my left arm to make go away. Such is life.

Adios!

Scott

Guru, ADD, Texas, Relationships, AND keeping up

Hi All,

Some items I thought I would share:

1) Some of the positives that adults with ADD report are:
Endless Energy
Hyperfocus
Energy and hyperfocus combined
Great Imagination
Creativity
Humor
Ahead of "establishment" thinking
Creative thinking, problem solving
Spontaneity
Great passion for interests
For some adults with ADD, understanding ADD is enough. This helps them to find ways to cope and to modify their lives to find productive and creative outlets. For others, coaching or therapy helps, others find support groups useful. Yet others find medication to be the most effective way to treat ADD.

2) Quote from the Daily Guru: "We find both our own power and happiness when we begin to set our own standards around what has heart and meaning for us. "

3) It is no surprise that I don't like the holidays. That isn't a judgement on anyone, nor on God. It is poetic breath and commentary on a situation. The risk of art and life is critique. So, remember, it's nothing personal, AND it's not about you. Jesus isn't sending me to hell, and honestly I'm not sending myself there either (for you theology people). Like the quote above, millions of people find their power and happiness through what has heart and meaning to them. For some that is a church of a multitude of variations and denominations. For some it is nature and others sports, family or even craft and vocation. Most every psychotic mindset revolves around the need to make another's viewpoint wrong. This is not opinion with a bias, it is a mindset and ideaology. When I compare the consciousness of alot of churches to that of what exists at a football stadium on Sunday, I am merely commentating a opinion with a bias. Although neither is any saner than the other, in my opinion, it doesn't keep me from going to the football game. If what has heart for you is an institution I don't go to, it is o.k. No one will die from differing perspectives. But, people will die from differing ideologies and the need to make others wrong. Look at Iraq.

You can believe everything you want to believe. I can as well. I have never said you were wrong for believing those things, even if I don't agree with them. Yes, I may be critical of those things, but so what!? It's not about you and it's not personal. I find it amazing that so many people who make God out to be some kind of american GI soldier who's going to kick some ass, are the same one's who can't stand it when their institutions (which may or may not have anything to do with God) are criticized. Does God need you to defend him? And, plus, I don't think He minds the criticism.

A similar example of this is being able to love America and our country, while having the freedom to express a differing opinion about our foreign affairs. I don't hate you for disagreeing with me, and my opinions aren't going to change the world. So, we move with no judgement and a spirit that lessens suffering.

O.k. I'm going to bed.

Happy Festivus.

Asking the Eternal of a Mere Mortal

Happy December 12th. I trust life finds you in a wonderful place.

For the past several years Shakira has been bubbling under the magnifying glass of super stardom, undeniably going to breakout at any time. Already the argentinian superstar has gained amazing artistic status throughout the world, but that "next level" has yet to be in season for her.

Thank God that the universe doesn't stand still. With the release of the highly popular "La Tortura" this summer, and the subsequent release of "Fijacion Oral", Shakira brought us a Spanish album that translates to the world, with or without knowledge of that language.

I fell in love with "Fijacion Oral" from the first note," and it is the first album to knock Paul Wall's people's Champ out of the most listened to category in my CD collection.

Now, with the English version of her album, "Oral Fixation" offers new songs, some english remakes and just another beautiful landscape of audio delight.

Shakira is a beautiful lady. She is also an amazing writer, producer, vocalist, performer, overachiever and simply awesome. If you enjoy art, music, spirit and life; do yourself a wonderful favor and purchase one of these albums.

Gracias!

Scott

Loss, failure, fear

LOSS, FAILURE AND FEAR
(OF NOT GETTING THE GIRL)

The biggest disappointment for myself over the past several days is that I just may not get the girl after building my hopes up that I would. Really; if I'm honest with myself, that's it.

And, the fear of what others will think is excruciating. Fortunately, I have solid friends who know me well enough to help me realize what I already know: Everything is alright. If the biggest problem I have is that a relationship (which wasn't even in highly progressive stages in the first place) doesn't work out, then I am in good shape. This morningI sat in my counselor's office (inwhich I highly recommend a therapist or counselor to everyone. It's inexpensive compared to 10% of your income, and the advice isn't fogged by a collective consciousness of insanity) and opened up about the embarrasment, disappointment, sick feelings and just utter defeat I have been feeling regarding a risk well taken that didn't pan out the way I had hoped it would.

The simple fact is that I set myself up in the first place, by pronouncing in my mind that a certain result would equal success and that anything else would equal failure. Failure then would do nothing but support all the crazy bad things that the ego wants to keep in motion in order to keep me anywhere but in the present.

Over the past several days, I have tried to anchor my current circumstance with a comparative situation from the past to no avail. I don't have anything to compare this to. I have never felt this way. Sure, there are elements of emotions that are common, but the crazy stew that this particular circumstance has boiled is very very different than any experience of my life.

Could it be that this is simply because I am a different person? Could it be that this time I do have a heart that is open, and I am willing to put it out there? Could it be that a less cold, less rigid soul will also feel the sting of things differently?

I typically don't copy things verbatim, but I really think today's "Daily Guru" has alot to say to anyone who will listen. I hope you enjoy these words and quotes. Thank You.

"Being Genuine"

"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make yousomething else is the greatest accomplishment." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

When we don't know who we are -- or if we are afraid to be who we are --we betray ourselves. We pretend to be who we think we are. Our selfimage is made up of our experiences, desires and other people's ideasand expectations of us. Maintaining this false self is a betrayal of ourselves. In all deepspiritual journeys, there is the experience of betrayal. Betrayal alwaystells us to adjust our life to be more authentic. What we identify withis all important. There are large betrayals (e.g., your partner leaving you) and smallbetrayals (e.g., disappointments). They are all experiences of beingwounded for the purpose of breaking down the defenses of thepersonality. When we allow the wounding and accept the betrayals asdivine gifts, we greatly benefit.

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don'tmatter and those who matter don't mind." -- Dr. Seuss (via Elena)

"What you must dare is to be yourself." -- Dag Hammarskjold

My Favorite Books of 2005

As I take a day off in the hills of Tennessee, the brisk December wind crackles through the tree limbs, and I am working on my home computer.

In the past 24 months, I have read more books than in all of the years of my life combined. Although that's not really a number to brag about, it does point to the idea that getting to know who we are (physically, mentally & spiritually) can happen at any point in life. A person can claim to be growing, while all the while just rambling through life like a domesticated dog, just embracing everything they've ever been told without ever considering why?

With that, several books have crossed my path this year that have left indelible marks.
MY FAVORITE 3 BOOKS OF 2005:

1) "The Mastery of Love," Don Miguel Ruiz.
- From the author of "The Four Agreements," this book was written several years ago and did not have the impact that "The Four Agreements," did on the market place. "The Mastery of Love" is the best book on the subject of relationships that I have ever read. It is blunt, hard to accept, but lovingly redeeming. There is not, nor will be another relationship in my life that is not affected by some of the material in this book.

2) "A New Earth," Eckhart Tolle.
-Eckhart's previous book, "The Power of Now," was one of those hugely popular books that is kinda freaky. Eckhart Tolle is a spiritual writer. No matter what your faith or belief system is, "A New Earth," provides a great perspective and solid advice on how to accept who we are and live abundantly.

3) "Z.E.N." (The Art of Zen in Business Administration). Marc Lesser.

-Marc Lesser is a Zen Buddhist Priest and a business person. This book gives a look at how implementing the practice of Zen into your workplace and life can bring more peace, harmony and happiness.

My Favoirte magazines of 2005:

1) "Worthwhile"
2) "Utne"
3) "Shambala Sun"

-All great reads that will help with life, family, business and just getting into reality.

Life Remix

Every once in a while I will read my horoscope (And, yes, I do understand that most people just had their Pavlov's Dog instinct rung and are heading to their prayer closet for me. Isn't it great to be a domesticated human?) For the last several months, it seemed that whenever I would randomly read this bit of advice about how to best balance myself with the world, it was quite boring. Things like, oh well, there is nothing happening, so just be yourself.

Well, last week the horoscope told me that I would soon find out that I am capable of embracing more change than I had ever imagined. Hmmmmmm.

Although I do not subscribe to the belief that horoscopes hold the truth, I can agree that this outlook does play out. It is general enough to playout in most people's lifes, but for me it is definitely playing out.

The past week and a half has been like the Rocky Mountains. I have been at the highest highs, and lowest lows. I can't remember a time when literally, on the drop of a dime, everything changes. I have had to sit on a holiday morning and be shocked by a lightning bolt to the skull that I had agreed to two trips on the same weekend, and that I would have to tell my daughter that I would not be able to attend her first ballet. I had everything planned and anticipated for a trip that literally blew up at the airport and didn't happen; allowing me to do the former that I had to back out of. In those two small incidents, the magnification of other areas of my life have been profound, excentuating every emotion, fear, ego based mentality and dream.

The name of my daughter's ballet was the "Nut Remix." It is a modern remaking, set in Memphis of the famous original.

The name of my circumstance these days is "Life Remix." It is a current destruction of the ego that happens only in the present moment. All the screenplays in my head, all the assumptions of my mind based on what I have been taught and what I believe should be. All of them being blended by the one thing we so often don't pay attention to: NOW!