Capture the Moon

“Love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation.” ― Khalil Gibran

If I could capture the moon for you, I would. But to hold the moon captive would keep me from experiencing a sunrise or sunset. These are the things we wish to hold closely but can not be held firm.

They must come and go.
They must be free to fly and roam.

When we experience a birth or a death, our deepest expressions of love are exposed.

There is ecstatic joy of a new baby entering this world. A grand and glorious sunrise that holds expectation of possibility.

There is heart breaking pain of someone passing into another realm which is the sunset on the here and now, only to be revealed as a beautiful full moon.

The stars, the moon, and the sun.
Our lives, our family and our friends.

Yes, if I could capture the moon for you I would. But I know you will always be there just as the moon. You will be in the sunrise, you will be in the sunset, you will be inside my heart.

Stay inspired my friends.

Shoot For The Moon

“If you shoot for the stars and hit the moon, it's OK. But you've got to shoot for something. A lot of people don't even shoot.” - Confucious

When you dream.
When you develop a vision for your future.

Shoot for the moon.

Do not be limited by the everyday natural.
Be driven by your dreams and visions.

"Believe in your vision, act upon your vision and realize your vision."

Stay inspired my friends!

Do You Notice

Photo by Gary Brady

You may have noticed the Moon larger and just a bit brighter lately. What you are seeing is called a Super Moon, or also known as a "perigee Moon" in more technical terms. These terms are used to describe an event when a full moon travels closest to Earth on its elliptical orbit.

The closer orbit makes the Moon appear brighter and bigger.

The interesting thing according to Geoff Chester of the U.S. Naval Observatory, "... full moons occur near perigee every 13 months and 18 days, so it's not all that unusual. In fact, just last year, there were three perigee moons in a row, but only one was widely reported."

How does a perigee Moon (closest orbit to Earth) compare to an apogee (farthest orbit from Earth)?

As you can see, not a huge difference.

Your view, your perception are all relative to your own point of view. Very similar to our relationships with family, friends and even strangers. Just like the Moon, they are always there; your spouse, your children, friends and strangers on the street.

Do we always notice them in the same brilliant excitement of a Super Moon?

Or do we notice them only when they move slightly closer to us?

If we can fully notice and acknowledge others even when they are not sitting closest to us, relationships will improve, lives will improve, humanity will improve.

When you notice your loved ones more often strengthens the love between both of you.

When you notice a friend by letting them know you are thinking of them, you strengthen the friendship.

When you notice a stranger on the street, you strengthen the bond of humanity.

Whether a full moon at its closest point or furthest, it is always there. Just like those around us, they are always there. We just need to notice them more often and not once every 13 months and 18 days.

None of us are invisible.

Stay inspired my friends.

Reaching the Moon

"We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too." - John Fitzgerald Kennedy, September 12, 1962

Trying to achieve great things in life is not easy to do. It takes faith in oneself, hard work and the ability to adapt to the changing circumstances. There are those who win the lottery or a huge inheritance, but the vast majority have to work long and hard for it.

People such as Chris Gardner, going from nothing to having all he may ever want. Or others such as the actor Jim Carrey, software giant Larry Ellison, media personality Oprah Winfrey or famed chef Gordon Ramsay.

Even the famous Rockefeller family had to start somewhere as did John D. Rockefeller whose full salary for his first three months' work was $50. This is a very modest $1000 a month in terms of salary in the year 2009.

When you read stories of where these and other successful people started, you begin to realize each started with only a dream of 'achieving the moon' in their lives. Each found their own version of the moon as they achieved the goals set.

You can get to your own moon by starting with a belief in yourself. Reach for your dream by placing one foot in front of the other in movement. Eventually you will find the earth leaving quickly behind you as the moon begins to draw closer.

Stay inspired my friends!

Full Moon

"Light gives of itself freely, filling all available space. It does not seek anything in return; it asks not whether you are friend or foe. It gives of itself and is not thereby diminished." ~Michael Strassfeld

Every time it happens I'm simply amazed by the wonder of it. The beauty it casts upon the landscape can be breathtaking at times. I have yet to see a photograph that truly captures the view. While there are many excellent pictures and paintings, none captures it more then just seeing it for yourself.

What I'm talking about is a full Moon, shining upon the night and lighting up the dark half of the earth.

Moon light could be considered a harbinger of hope, that a new day is coming. It is something that is inside each of us. Some little light that others may call a burning ember. But it is that little light that grows and gives us the ability to see some greater.

You might feel that you are much too alone. That the light is too small for me because your problems are much too large. If so, then think about it from the perspective of the Moon.

Here a small object, orbiting around by itself in a cold and hostile space. Heck, only twelve people have actually visited the moon in the last 100 million years.

But during all of that time, a huge and beautiful Earth has been shining its light upon the Moon. So the light inside of you is not the small Moon but a huge light filled with people that care. The light comes from so many others that are a part of your life.

While the Moon lights the night darkness for us, from the perspective of the Moon, imagine how grand the light is coming from Earth.

Allow the light to grow inside and fill you with hope and greatness. The darkness will vanish and your eyes will see all that is in and around you.

Small Gifts

David Cramer Photography
Full moon shot taken the morning of January 1, 2010

"May no gift be too small to give, nor too simple to receive, which is wrapped in thoughtfulness, and tied with love." ~L. O. Baird

Its one of those mornings, driving into work a bit late going and stressing over all that needs to be done. On my particular drive as I curve around the cloverleaf to the freeway on-ramp it came into view. A view of the near perfect, dusty colored and huge Moon.

The color and view was very similar to the one shown above. It was a picture I would have loved to have gotten with my own camera. To pull over right there and stand in awe of this small early morning gift. But that may have started a chain reaction of others pulling over, a traffic jam may have begun, the police, etc.

So I kept moving, wondering if others were taking in this view. Wondering if they saw it as an early morning gift as well. And then the song "Mr E's Beautiful Blues" by The Eels came on and as the song goes (slightly altered), "gosh darn right, its a beautiful day."

This song talks about the pain and suffering that exists beneath the surface for many people. But it is a 'beautiful day' out there. If you can see and grab onto these small gifts, they can help you change your world just a little bit. To know that the stress of whatever is going on in your life can be brightened by seeimingly small things.

A beautiful morning full moon or a smile from someone can make all the difference. Whether you are receiving or giving of the small gift, the impact can be huge. So take advantage of it, grab hold of it and change your life.