Coco the parrot was born in the wild and fell out of his tree during hurricane Wilma four years ago. Surviving his siblings, Coco was adopted by a homeless man who hand raised him in his car.  When the car was towed away and the man lost his refuge, Coco was given to my neighbor Bird, short for Big Bird…no relation. Bird, a talented Jamaican farmer used to help me in my garden and brought this baby parrot over to hang out from time to time. One year later while in the garden, my husband and I saw this green parrot virtually camouflaged in our tree.  When we gave it a nut he took it.  Not thinking that he was Bird’s bird, I asked around, made calls, signs, and checked with my neighbors but no one claimed him. Slowly bonding with Coco, we were flying him in a flight harness in the front yard when Bird says, I think that’s my bird. Of course we offered Coco back to his rightful owner but Bird declined. He said it looks like a different parrot.  He’s happy and clearly loves his new home.  It turns out that Coco escaped from the dark garage dungeon he was banned to by the mistress of the house, who hated this creature intensely.  So Coco is as happy as a lark, loves his digs and chose his destiny.  I would say he’s a pretty smart parrot. Coco talks a lot. Most of his patter is indistinguishable however, his tone and conviction comes clearly through in his intent. I find myself receiving some great advice from my fine feathered friend and we dialogue often.  After all, birds of a feather…

I don’t often ask for help and that is probably why I’m in this situation. I am now open to receive any support available at this moment in my life.  I have a beautiful retail location in a premier Mall in SE Florida with space available for positive metaphysically related merchants.  If there are any creative and successful business people that are reading my blog, I invite you to contact me and let’s talk about possibilities.  We are a mom and pop establishment that always enjoyed great success until the economy changed. People do dumb things when they’re afraid and now we get to clean it up and move forward.  If you are out there in cyberspace, send me a nibble or a byte.

Dinner last night with an old friend and business associate created a whole new way of looking at the current situation.  Sometimes it’s nice to have another perspective on a hazardous situation.   Beginning with the phrase “Knock It Off”, our friend proceeded in reminding us of the wonderful things we have done for so many people for so many years.  She directly acknowledged our creativity and the powerful relationship I share with my husband/partner/soul mate, and how precious all that is and how that can never be taken for granted. Her infinite wisdom reminded us of the more important and meaningful qualities people desire in their lives and how we possess them and it comes easy because we love and cherish each other. Our friend said, she had to tell us this and felt it was a divine message from God she had to delivered to us.  We slept well last night.  It appears we decided to “Knock It Off”!

I am very aware that throughout my life there were those who didn’t get me at all.  I guess the concept of moths to a flame might be an adequate expression here.  People will drift in and out of my life.  I am not ashamed to be a powerful woman.  In fact I like it yet, there have been times that it wouldn’t matter what I said or did, I would be placed in a box metaphorically, never to get out.  When you’re a boss in a business, you make decisions.  Some of these choices, although difficult to make, are the only choice to make at the time.  Sometimes these choices are interpreted in a bad way and there is nothing you can say to change the interpretations.  I have built businesses from scratch with nothing but fearlessness and an iron will.  I have always kept my integrity in tact and for this I’m proud.  Making a difference in the lives of people who are closest to you is not always an easy task.  Perhaps I’ll do better in my next incarnation.  Karma is a bitch!

If there is one thing that I truly am, it’s creative.  My creativity has lead me to some amazing places in my life. I have invented a variety of businesses with out of the box ideas, had a lot of fun, met lots of people and kept my integrity in tact.  I really know how to create from absolutely nothing.  I am an artist, a promoter, a salesman and love to take risks.  I am currently engaged in the biggest creation of my career.  Out of nothing I am reinventing my store into an emporium of all things metaphysical where like minded store owners can share a space, sell related products and supportively make money.  As a spiritual person I think making a difference in peoples lives is a priority, yet the art of making money today has changed.  At a time I thought I might be slowing down, I’m speeding up.  I will not blog about my age but I will tell you I’ve lived long enough to have wisdom. Having had a lot of experiences I know it’s time to reinvent.  I am very happy to acknowledge that I have the energy to start anew and not be stopped by the fear of the unknown. In creating a store concept that includes others in the same field at a time when it’s hard to survive financially alone and the government and banks aren’t assisting the mom and pops, I like the idea that small businesses can help each other.  After all, “we all can be” is a concept I aspire to create and this is a good place to begin.  Wish me luck in drawing the people to me!

Part of life is making mistakes.  I do lots of business dealings and I’m always taking risks.  Some are appropriate, make money and propel me forward and some not so much.  I had this story made up in my head that the mistakes I’ve made in business were bad judgements and dumb choices that I should have known better before committing to.  I realize tonight that they were simply choices to learn and grow from and I no longer need to beat myself up, thank you very much! There are many stories about successful people who have made it and lost it a number of times.  Perhaps one day I will be one of those stories.  That would make me very proud!

For the past 6 weeks George and I have been Vegans.  This is when you eat nothing with a face.  The only exception made for my husband is ice cream.  We have both lost weight, look trim and it was easy and effortless.  The only thing I miss is eel and tuna sushi.  But this is not a craving yet so I’m still vegan.  It’s amazing how creative you can be with vegetables, and if you’re looking for more texture as in meat, there are fabulous vegan meat products.  Try  vegan barbeque pork sandwich or a tempeh strip burrito.   I’ ve  been filling my plate metaphorically too.  Lots of new and creative ventures have been presented to me lately.  Lots of new choices.  It’s nice having a full plate and not gain weight.  My next venture may be the vegan weight loss diet cookbook, who knows?

One of the most important elements of friendship to me is loyalty. One of the most important relationships with partners, associates and staff in my business is loyalty.  Loyalty means a lot to me and you can tell a lot about someone who possesses this quality and a lot about someone who does not.  During difficult times, you never know where support is going to come from.  Some relationships will provide verbal comfort, some will be doers, some will provide new ideas and thoughts, some will provide new contacts to create possibility and some will write a check.  I am grateful to the loyalty that surrounds me. It is a blessing I do not take for granted!  Thank you all for your commitment to me your loyal friend.

Everyday I wake up with a new concept, idea, strategy with the goal in mind to make something happen.  I’m not really certain where it will all lead but I am in a definite, unadulterated motion.  Is that a good thing?  Who can tell.  All I know is I’m meeting lots of new people, networking, sharing thoughts, and praying for a miracle. There is no comfort for me on this journey.  Just trying to take control.

I remember when I felt so protected and safe and didn’t have to make any big decisions on my own.  I remember when life was much easier and the tough choices were not life changing.  How did the choices get so big?  Why has it been so easy to make the wrong decisions? How could I have prepared for a kinder more gentle existence?  As a parent I’m supposed to have the answers so I can teach my kids how to survive and prosper in the harsh reality of the present world. But I don’t have a clue.  I am lost in the fantasy of my creation and there’s got to be a luck dragon around here somewhere.  I was my daddy’s little girl once and then he died.  I was seventeen and had to find the safety and strength within.  It was so nice to be daddy’s little girl! Can I rent a daddy?