I’m not sure when I first spotted them but when I did, I couldn’t think of anything else. This wasn’t like my desire for the red clogs. No, this was different. These clogs, the leopard print ones, were the embodiment of adventure, excitement and confidence. I pictured myself wearing them down the street, a self-assured woman who did not want to simply seek out adventure but who wanted to create it. Yet, I could not buy them. 

First of all, what would they go with?  “They’re so cool you could wear them with jeans and a T-shirt and you would look terrific,” said a little voice inside me. 

Ok, but they are too expensive? “Look again, they are on sale.” 

I’m a practical woman and those shoes are completely impractical in my life.  That little voice had nothing to say, so I reluctantly erased the thought of them from my mind. I couldn’t risk feeling like a fool for wasting money on something I would never wear because these shoes were wildy outside of my creative fashion norm.

A month or two went by and it seemed that ‘leopard’ was everywhere. My husband turned on a Discovery Channel show that featured “big cats” including the leopard. A woman on line in front of me at the grocery store dropped her giant, leopard print bag and I helped her to refill it. A friend randomly confided that she’d always wanted a leopard tattoo on her shoulder. It reached a point that I could not ignore the signs; I began to wrestle with it again. 

The practical side of me still had a strong hold. I couldn’t find my way around it until I thought - what if they were a gift? Surely, I would wear them. Of course, I would wear them. I would never want to insult the gift giver. If they were a gift I would have no choice but to create new outfits that would go with those shoes. And so, I asked Santa for leopard print clogs and he delivered. Well, my brother delivered and I love them. The moment I placed them on my feet, I felt it. That wild, electric energy; I’m a woman who is creating an inspired adventure for herself. I wear them everywhere, even with outfits that are all wrong. It’s fabulous. 

Taking risks, especially creative risks, can be scary. The logical part of the brain will often create a million reasons why you should stick with what you know and not embrace certain possibilities. However, risks are essential to creative growth. You don’t have to do it on your own. You can always ask someone you trust for help. 

What is that one thing you want but you keep denying yourself? If you enlisted one person to help you, do you think you would be able to acquire it or do it?    

Things that annoy me:
-when you are sitting in a movie theatre, you have just watched all the previews and are settling in to watch the movie when suddenly someone appears asking you and the entire row to “scoot” down so that she and her friend can sit together (If it was that important to you, you should have arrived on time).
-when the movie theatre runs out of popcorn (how is that possible in 2008?)

-people who don’t say “Thank you” when you hold the door open for them (so I say “You’re Welcome” in a slightly snotty, “sugar would melt in your mouth” tone as they pass).

-people who step out into the street to hail a cab a few feet in front of you KNOWING that you have been standing there trying to flag one down (I always want to perform some crazy football tackle when that happens).

-the fact that I cannot find the Cash Cab in NYC (I thought I saw it the other day and it took everything in me not to run after it, baby stroller and all).

-people who treat waiters/waitresses or others in the service industry as though they are stupid (you don’t need to spell out what you want when you are ordering by number, they get it).

-waiters/waitresses or others in the service industry who act as though you have ruined their day when you ask them to do their job (when I step into the grocery store and lay my groceries down on your conveyer belt, I am not trying to make your life difficult, I am not trying to ruin your day, I’m simply trying to feed myself).

-walking into a store and having to wait for a salesperson to help you because they are on the phone talking to their girlfriend or boyfriend, reliving the events of the night before (all I want are a couple of color copies, do you think you could relive your night of shots and dancing later?)

-walking around a pharmacy and having the security guard follow you as though you are only there to rob the store (times aren’t that tough buddy, I think I can pay for the deodorant.)

-people who treat new Moms as though when they gave birth, they lost their ability to comprehend single life or married life without children (We had a baby not a lobotomy!)

- married people who say things like, “The clock is ticking. When are you going to find someone?” to single folks. (Who have you become?)

-when I continually forget to buy toothpaste and only remember in the morning and at night when I decide to brush my chompers (Uh, can I squeeze a little more out?)

-people who have no idea how to pick up their dog’s poop so they leave the big, steaming pile in the middle of the sidewalk (are your fingers broken?)

-head colds (when your head is 1,000 pounds)

-writing an email and losing the whole thing (No words….no words…)

-when the media tries to turn a sad story into a scandal, i.e. Heath Ledger’s unfortunate passing. (Some reporters suggested he was on illegal drugs in an effort to spice up the story. Hey media hounds, he was a just a regular guy who had anxieties, trouble sleeping and was nervous being the center of attention like the rest of us. Leave it alone.)

-movies that try too hard to be “cute” by making the women weak, love starved characters, i.e. Because I Said So. (Those female actresses are SO much stronger than that!)

-forgetting that I need to buy toilet paper until that crucial moment (AGH!)

-people who clear their throat and then spit on the street (GROSS!)

-people who don’t cover their mouth when they sneeze (Double gross)

-too much SuperBowl XLII hype (Brady will play and Manning will win. Enough said).

-when I say I will eat healthy and then a cupcake accidentally falls into my mouth (Man, I hate when that happens.)

-when people yawn as they are about to share a cool bit of news as though they are trying to appear bored in sharing it or like they don’t care that much about it (Just be excited, it’s ok!)

-when all I am craving is some bad entertainment and there is nothing good playing on any radio station or TV station for that matter - 57 Channels (And Nothin’ On)

-when I’m dying for a piece of chocolate and there is not a crumb left in the house (Did I eat it all?)

-when I want to work on a creative project but my head is so filled with thoughts that I have to sweep it clean.

Now, I can get to work. What annoys you?
P.S.  See Juno. That’s it. No hype. Just check it out.

The first time it happened there was no warning. I was about five or six years old innocently walking through the supermarket with my Mom. I remember we were in the frozen food section and I was opening all the glass doors as we strolled along enjoying the way the cool, refrigerated air tickled my skin for a moment before the door snapped shut behind me. Midway through the aisle, it hit me. Laughter started somewhere in the tips of my toes and rose up, up through my body like lava until it exploded all over the place. I bent over unable to stop; my Mom was oblivious at first. Wave upon wave washed over me as I clutched the box of dinner napkins I’d been holding and let the tears of laughter slip down my cheeks. Those who were not stopped to watch the spectacle were slowly walking past, a mixture of fascination and confusion registering on their faces. My Mom, trying to conceal her amusement, urged me to follow her. When the hysteria finally released its paralyzing grip, I was able to move forward while wiping the tears from my red face. I worked so hard to control the small tremors of laughter that followed, each one threatening to be another massive eruption that I walked out of the store without paying for the box of napkins.

There would be more episodes, each arriving at the most inopportune times, such as in the middle of a funeral Mass, and in the worst places, like public restrooms. I am sure it could be interpreted as explosions of repressed emotion or an abundance of nervousness in need of a release. Or it could be that I am a person who tends to find most things to be quite funny and perhaps my unconscious brain is thinking about those things when I am least aware of it. Whatever the reason, my mind and body feel so good after one of these sessions. It feels like I did this crazy cardio workout and meditated at the same time.  I look forward to those moments when all that flows out of me are these hilarious chunks of uninhibited joy. After each time, I am struck by an almost immediate, powerful urge to write and draw. Maybe the laughter is a creative sandstorm that clears out space and, once it’s passed, allows new types of joyful, creative thought to settle in for a spell.  

Recently I’d been feeling like a piece of stale bread; it had been some time since I’d had one of those moments. All of that changed yesterday. I was sitting on my couch watching my daughter drink her bottle when she suddenly coughed a little as though she’d taken in too much. She removed the bottle from her mouth and burst into laughter. For a few moments, she just sat there releasing one of the greatest little kid laughs I’d ever heard. I can tell you that she’s not repressing any emotions – the girl lets me know how she feels about everything the moment she feels it and she’s not nervous, she’s a daredevil who would “skydive” off my couch if I’d let her. I think she was just releasing a little joy and in turn, she made me laugh, a big, long roaring laugh. A moment later, she jumped down onto the floor and began to make her dolls dance around. It’s good to know the insanity will be passed down.

When is the last time you let yourself feel completely uninhibited and filled with joy or good, silly fun, if only for a moment or two?

JUST SAY NO

What is your #1 quirk?

I cannot stand the feel of wet wood. Let me explain. Most people recommend using wooden spoons when cooking. My response is always, no way! I absolutely cannot stand how it feels in my hand. Therefore, I do not cook for my family. Actually, I kind of like them so, I feed them from time to time. My husband likes to thank the heavens for those microwavable bags of steam fresh vegetables. With no wood required, I can happily share in the business of making meals. 

Find a way to use your quirk within your creative project. I’ve taken mine, exaggerated it and given it to a character in a story I am working on. Taking those bizarre ticks and finding a way to laugh at them and share them allows us to entertain while connecting with others. We all have quirks. Draw it, paint it, sculpt it, write it, or weave it – just let it out.   

In 2007, Jon Jensen made a move from the United States to Cairo, a city that sits “on the crossroads of history”, to pursue his creative dream.  This young documentary filmmaker and journalist’s fine listening skills, willingness to take risks and love of adventure and people will no doubt make him a recognized leader in his field. On his popular blog, The Camera and I: freelance journalism and other misadventures in Egypt, Jon chronicles some of his experiences. Here he talks about how he became interested in this field, made the move from the United States to Egypt and offers some advice on how to live without regret.
 

CN: Tell us a little about your background. How did you become interested in documentary filmmaking?
Jon: A few years ago, a friend and I made a documentary film that followed a group of medical students providing aid to villagers in the Andes Mountains of Ecuador.  We hiked to a small village at 4000 meters in the middle of nowhere, carrying cameras, tripod, and bottled water – the village had no running water or electricity.  There were about 100 people living on that mountaintop, many of which had never seen Westerners.  Certainly most of them had never seen video cameras.  I remember taking some photos of children on my digital camera, showing them the pics on the viewfinder and watching in amazement as they saw their electronic images for the first time.  What a feeling!  Nothing happened with our film, but after Ecuador I knew that I wanted to explore the ends of the earth with my camera. 
 

CN: Is your focus journalism or documentary filmmaking? Or do these two things fall into one category?
Jon: I’m a documentary filmmaker but I still consider myself a journalist.  I don’t think the two are mutually exclusive at all. Some people might disagree with that, but there’s a reason that most documentary schools are in housed in journalism colleges.  Ultimately, filmmakers and broadcast journalists are seeking to uncover the same thing: the truth.  I think journalists would say that news stories are more “objective,” whereas documentary film provides more room for directorial manipulation and control over the subject matter.  And documentary purists would probably argue that news is too short, doesn’t tell the full story, and is also subject to editorializing. 
But with more outlets on the internet combined with generally shorter attention spans, I think there is plenty of room to combine long-format current affairs with observational techniques.  Maybe we could call it documentary news?  What ever you call it, I’m more interested in using a camera to explore, record, and reveal.  It’s less about promoting or persuading. I’m pretty certain people are smart enough to make their own decisions.

CN: Where have you lived in the world?
Jon: I grew up as a “diplo-brat” and lived in Saudi Arabia, Algeria and Egypt when I was younger.  We would take weekend trips to the deserts of Yemen, Crusader castles in Syria, and the snow-top peaks of the Atlas Mountains.  Since then I’ve gone bungee jumping in Bali, SCUBA diving in Belize, and drank tea with Bedouins in Morocco.  I was very fortunate to see so much of the world growing up.
 

CN: What languages do you speak?
Jon: I speak French and Arabic, but only enough of each to know when I’m in trouble.
 

CN: You are currently in Egypt. What made you decide to live there?
Jon: I lived here when I was younger and fell in love with the people in the Middle East.  No matter how chaotic it gets here, the people still smile.  And for a Westerner, Cairo is an easy city to live in.  It’s the largest city in the Middle East and the entire continent of Africa, and sits virtually on the crossroads of history.  I live on an island in the Nile River, about 10 miles from the Pyramids, 250 miles from Jerusalem, and a couple hours from Athens or Rome by flight.  That’s pretty damn cool. 
 

CN: How was it possible for you to make the move from the US to Egypt?
Jon: I came up with the idea, bought a ticket and got on the plane.  It was that easy.  But I assume you’re talking finances.  All it took was a little planning.  I saved enough money to buy all the equipment (cameras, computer, etc.) and other stuff I would need here in Egypt.  Then I bought some travel insurance in case I fall off a cliff and need to get flown to a hospital in Germany. Living at home for a few months before coming helped a lot - financially, not socially.  I brought about $10,000, figuring that would let me live in Egypt for about 6 months to a year with no additional income since the cost of living here is much cheaper than the US.  I also invested several thousand dollars before leaving so I’d have money to float on when I get back.  But really, the key is not having any bills here.  I’m not sure I could do this if I had debt.
 

CN: Did you have a place lined up or was it easy to find a place to live when you arrived?
Jon: No, I lived in a hotel for about a month-and-a-half before settling on a flat.  I think I paid about $17 per night in a tiny 1-star hotel with no A/C.  It was the dead of summer and there were many a sleepless night.  But the expat community in Cairo is pretty large, so it was easy to find a good apartment to live.  It’s relatively cheap, too. 
 

CN: What personal concerns did you have before coming?
Jon: Leaving a well-paying job and friends and family wasn’t easy.  I knew coming here would be a risk, but I had to at least try.  And I’m not getting any younger either.  For me, it was important to move to Egypt while I was still twenty-eight.  That sounds silly maybe, but I actually flew here three days before my 29th birthday for that reason.
 

CN: What concerns do you have now?
Jon: Now that I’m in Egypt, I suppose the biggest concern is that life is too good.  Sometimes I think to myself, “Whoa!  I’m having too much fun out here!  This can’t be right.”  Then I snap out of it.  That’s crazy.

CN: How do you support yourself while living in Egypt?
Jon: I work as a freelancer, which means I’m always looking for new outlets for my work.  Got any?
 

CN: What is the hardest part of freelancing?
Jon: The best thing about freelancing is that you work for yourself.  It’s also the worst thing.  Time management is tough.  You really have to force yourself to work on a schedule.  Otherwise you won’t get out of bed till 1pm.  And without other people in an office to bounce ideas off, I’ve gotten caught in little creative droughts.  Ever heard that song “Brian Wilson” by Barenaked Ladies?  Sometimes I find myself staring at the ceiling, wondering what to think about.  Maybe I should build a sandbox in my living room.
 

CN: What is the biggest challenge you face in interviewing people?
Jon: Well, as you know, asking people to share their experiences and personal stories is never easy.  It’s obviously harder in Egypt where I’m a foreigner.  Throw a video camera into the equation and you’ve got a real task.  But if there’s a good story worth sharing to others, people are generally willing to help. 
 

CN: What is your ultimate creative goal?
Jon: Wow, best question yet.  I’m not really well thought on that, but short term, I’d kinda like to see the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.  Long term, I’d like to keep learning about new places and continue meeting new people.  Having the ability to share those experiences through film is so rewarding.
 

CN: If you could be any super hero, who would it be? Or would you create your own and if so what powers would you have?
Jon: I always liked Donatello from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  It’d be pretty cool to fight bad guys and eat pizza all day long.  Only bad thing would be living in a sewer.  But at least April O’Neil would be there…
 

CN: What advice would you give to people who are currently working jobs to pay the bills and/or raising a family who want to step into this field?
Jon: Go for it.  There is nothing cliché about the saying, “you never know until you try.” I may hightail it back to the US in a few weeks -completely broke - but I’ll never regret coming out here.  I would have regretted not trying.

I used to have a terrible addiction. It ruled my life. Three, four, and five times a day, without fail, I gave in to the allure of Internet job searching. Despite the fact that I had a job and was making a decent living, I searched. ‘This is not a problem. I’m just making sure my skill set is up to par in case I ever need to jump ship,’ I told myself.  All the while knowing it was so much more than that.

My hunt for the ideal job had nothing to do with employment and everything to do with a desire for someone else to tell me what to do. In school, there was always someone defining your goals and setting very clear parameters. You were told what length your project should be and what format was acceptable. You knew what your audience was seeking so you didn’t need to make that many crucial decisions outside of picking your topic and even then, you usually chose from a few suggested ones.

When I stepped out into the real world, I believed that someone was out there who would do the same thing. They were holding the ultimate position for me. All I had to do was find the written job description they had posted somewhere and as soon as I did, harp music would play and a voice from the heavens would sing Alleluia signifying that I had found exactly what I was meant to do. Several times I thought I found it, I thought I heard that harp and that song, but it might have just been music pumping out of a car beyond my apartment window. I would go on interviews with the intention of falling in love, ready to ignore the pieces that I knew were not the right fit. For awhile, I would be devoted to the position and then over time I would either outgrow it or become wildly disillusioned (although a couple of times that disillusionment had more to do with insane managers than the job but that’s a whole different story). I just didn’t understand why I couldn’t find my passion, settle in and find a place to grow like all the other overworked Americans out there.

Slowly, things began to change. I found myself actually saying, “No” to jobs that did not feel right. I worked harder to find ways to stay engaged with whatever my position was at the time. This was all a result of the fact that I had grown slightly depressed by the thought that what I wanted might not be out there. And if what I wanted wasn’t out there, I had no idea where it might be. There was a chance that it just didn’t exist.

Was it possible that what I was looking for was within me? It had occurred to me that I might have to create my own living but truthfully, I didn’t want to because that would mean that I would have to accept responsibility for my own life and that seemed like way too much pressure. What if I failed??  If everything went wrong, it would not be because the company was cutting costs thereby eliminating my position, it would be because of me and that terrified me.

Yet, I could not squash that creative fire in my belly. How the hell would I do this? One afternoon, when my daughter had somehow convinced me to pull the string on her toy for the 450th time and dance around with her, a thought occurred to me. When we are kids, we come up with games and try to get everyone else excited enough to want to play them with us. Now, when we are in meetings or out at bars, don’t we do the same thing? Well, launching your dream is just like that. It takes an idea, some self-belief, knowledge of the people around you and an invitation to play.

We live in a culture that does not always pride itself on taking responsibility for our actions, as illustrated in court cases where people sue fast food joints for making them gain weight. Yet, as I start to shape my dream and create a business plan, I believe that there is something satisfying about taking ownership of your life, your work and your dreams.  

Don’t get me wrong, I’m scared and, most of the time, I feel a little like I want to puke on my shoes. However, when I start to think about giving up, when I feel that itch to start searching the classifieds again, I ask myself these questions. When I get to the end of my life, who will have been the author? Who will have written my story? I want it to be me.

Late one night, I sat in front of the television eating Mallowmars and surfing infomercials when a commercial caught my eye. The words “Open Call” flashed across the screen while a voiceover beckoned women of all shapes and sizes who were interested in becoming a model to attend a two-day model search. Reputable modeling agency names were listed under an address in Crystal City, Virginia. Becoming a model had never even been a thought but I was an unemployed woman in my early twenties, who had just relocated from New York to D.C.; I was open to possibility.

There were hundreds of women in the hotel ballroom when I arrived. Some where putting on their makeup, others were adjusting the straps on their heels and smoothing their skin tight skirts. We were led up the stairs of a makeshift stage and onto a long runway; I felt nothing like a model. Models always seem to have that strong, inner wolf thing going on. All I could summon was an inner Chihuahua. At the end of the runway stood a guy who sounded like he’d swallowed a bullhorn; he was responsible for breaking us into groups, the “Yes” group and the “No”. When it was my turn, I stood before him smiling a closed-mouth smile.

He said, “Smile wide.” I did so making the muscles in my face ache.

 “Let’s see some teeth,” he sighed. Unable to hide the space between my front teeth any longer, I gave a wide-mouthed grin.

 “No, you belong on TV. Next.”

So, I wasn’t one of those tall, skinny people born with a flawless rack of teeth. That was ok with me. But who was this person with a sudden, fleeting interest in modeling. What was this about? Did I secretly want to be “seen” and if so, by who? The ex-boyfriend that I hoped would see me and think – “Man, she’s gorgeous. I really lost out on that one.” The friend who had stepped out of my life who I hoped would miss me terribly. The family members, who had treated me as though I was invisible, that I hoped would think – “Wow, she’s really kind of amazing.” Sure, that was all a part of it. However, when I dug deeper I found it was a need, a deep desire to express myself. Perhaps I thought being seen would allow me to meet the right people who would want to know more about me, see my work, my writing, my art and give me a contract to create something. This was a huge realization that I would use as motivation to create. However, I did have regret. I wished I had walked down that runway with more confidence.

Flash forward to the present. I am watching a morning talk show fashion segment and a woman reporting from behind the scenes at New York’s Fashion Week is suddenly excited by signs.

There, on the walls, were signs posted for the models to view before they took to the runway that read: “Who are you? You are Strong, You are Confident. You are Bold.” My jaw hit the floor. I never thought that these women in need of a burger might also be in need of a confidence boost. Had those signs been present when I walked down that runway, I would have remembered to be confident.

How fabulous would it be to have signs all over the place encouraging you to take the world by storm? Picture it, you walk into a meeting knowing you have to have that much needed but uncomfortable conversation and there on the door before you walk in is a sign. “You are fabulous. You are confident. You can do this.”

As you try to say no to that chocolate cake after dinner, the waiter is wearing a sign on his/her chest that reads: “You don’t need that. You are delicious just as you are.”

Naked, you stand before the mirror obsessing about all those problem areas and suddenly signs drop from the ceiling that read: “You look gorgeous. Everyone wants your body.”

Although I didn’t go for the modeling/television commercial career, I did decide to put a sign on my bathroom door so that each day I feel great, fierce and ready to take on the world. What would your sign read?  

One Saturday morning, a couple of months after my daughter was born I woke with excitement. I was going to get her ready for an adventure; we were going to a birthday luncheon for a friend. Although I was excited about the celebration, the main reason for my enthusiasm was that up until this point I had always had my husband or a family member present to help me but on this particular day I was on my own. Being the sole person responsible for getting us ready and out of the apartment was a huge feat for a new Mom; I was about to graduate to Super Mom.

When I was fully clad, I dressed her in weather appropriate clothes. Then I raced against the clock trying to soothe her while simultaneously wrapping a present and assembling diapers, wipes, bottles, bibs, and all other essential pieces of baby equipment. As I strapped her to my sweaty body, she whimpered slightly. I wondered if she needed a diaper change although I had already given her one or a bottle, even though she had just eaten. It never occurred to me that she might have simply needed a calm Mama; one whose heart was not pounding loud enough to keep her awake. After checking to make sure the oven was off for the fourth and final time, we were ready. With a great sense of accomplishment, I stepped out into the hallway of my building and just as the door closed behind me, one thought came to mind. “I’m not wearing any shoes.”

Slow down. No matter what profession you are in, regardless of whether you are a parent or not, we have all had moments like this – like giant, flashing stop signs - that indicate that we need to pace ourselves. Although we live in a society where patience is not valued half as much as immediate satisfaction, we must slow down. It is essential to our survival. Before becoming a panic stricken mess, try these steps that will allow you to manage your time and, in the end, enjoy whatever professional or personal endeavor you are looking to undertake, no matter how big or small.

1. Take a visual tour – Allow yourself some time before the commencement of your project to see it through from start to finish. Depending upon the size of the job, you may want to do this the night before or a week or more before you begin.

2. Prioritize – Write down the steps you need to take in order to complete your project. Then create a list prioritizing the steps from most important or largest to tackle to least.

3. The Big Picture – Assign a number to the steps in the order in which you would like to handle each one. Estimate how much time you think each step will take. Then create an overall project timeline.

4. Expect the unexpected - No matter what, we never leave ourselves enough time when we start a new project. So, for each task you need to accomplish, add additional time. For example, for tasks that you think will take a half an hour, tack on an additional fifteen minutes.

5. Have fun – A majority of the stress associated with project completion is a result of time mismanagement. There is never enough time to complete a task or get to that important meeting; rarely is there a surplus of time. When we develop a personal plan, with the understanding that life is messy, and allow ourselves more time, we can actually have fun on this creative journey.

Although allotting more time is something we all say we need to do, it is a lot easier said than done. Keep trying! Remember, allowing ourselves more time will help us decrease our stress levels which will keep us healthier and thereby able to enjoy more time in the long run.

Finally, don’t strive to be “Super”. You already are super for undertaking any project at all; most people only ever think about doing things. Enjoy your creative time; don’t rush or you’re bound to forget an essential piece – you.   

Corporate America is famous for many things. It is known for leaders of industry, ground-breaking ideas that lead to innovative products and money. However, there is one, underground secret in Corporate America. That hush-hush piece of information revolves around the inventive creations of Theresa Tropin and Peter Holmes. They are like Super Heroes battling the mundane with their hilarious, creative superpowers. 

Everyday they do their jobs and they do them well but behind their serious concentration in meetings and the professionalism with which they carry out projects are two people who can transform everyday things into art.

Take breakfast, for example. Have you ever stopped to rejoice in the beauty of that first morning gift? Well, Theresa and Peter have as illustrated in the following lyrical poems that celebrate the joy that breakfast can bring – even in the corporate world.

Ode to my Coffee

by Theresa Tropin

You warm my soul.

You wake my being.

You are alertness incarnate.

From your smooth, rich bouquet

To your luxurious, milky current,

You make my morning complete.

Ode to my Low-Fat Mixed Berry Muffin

By Peter Holmes

You are big and brown

But deceptively berryish inside

When I pull off your wrapper,

You spill crumbs all over

But that’s ok because

It keeps the mouse in residence

Happy.

Imaginative, hilarious beings are all around … are you one? If so, what did your breakfast do for you this morning?

Once upon a time I had a job with perks that included hobnobbing with big wigs of industry, wearing a respectable title like a tiara, travel and a more than decent salary. Despite it all, I was miserable. For the longest time I couldn’t figure out why. Then, the answer came to light in the middle of a funeral.