Walking on Lilypads - SARK's eLetter

SARK's eLetter (e stands for energy)

Issue 2005-06-06

To be fully alive is to feel that everything is possible.” -- Eric Hoffer

Dear Joy-full Soul,

The other day, I was feeling trapped by my voluminous “to do” list, and also rather discouraged about the subject of dating.
I think I want to date and then become puzzled by “how to date.”

I think it’s easy to get caught or lost in what we think about, more than who we actually are. My mind gets so very busy with “how things might not work out,” or how they’re hard, or I’m stuck, or a seemingly endless variety of lack of possibilities.

So I went to do my laundry, which usually eases my mind. At the laundromat I noticed a young man with bright eyes, smiling at me. He said with a lilting accent: “A lovely laundry day to you!”

I breathed in the joy in his comment and asked him where he was from. He said he was from Bulgaria, traveling the world, and stopped in San Francisco to “admire the light.” He was carrying a thick book by Gurdjieff (one of my spiritual mentors), and we promptly engaged in a lively, serendipitous conversation about traveling through difficult places, the mysteries of love, how fear can entangle us, and even how large lilypads can support a person standing or walking on them!

His twinkling energy and this conversation stayed with me all day and reminded me of all the possibilities there are in the world. His energy reminded me about the qualities of expansion, and how when I practice expansive thinking it feels like it clears out the walls and takes off the roof.
I had once again gotten stuck in tedium, snared by overwhelm, and with regard to the subject of dating, repeating old patterns of thinking small. When this happens, it’s like my thinking gets really narrow, and then I get afraid. It feels like my fear narrows the corridors and makes me think there are no other routes or possibilities. In that narrow-thinking state, I then use whatever happens as “proof” that it’s true!

I will reluctantly admit that it feels like there’s a certain kind of safety in the narrowness. The narrowness feels stiflingly familiar and kind of snug in its safety.

Of course, it’s not safe at all.
We are meant to stretch, move, grow, and change.
We are made to continually expand.

Expansive thinking can feel scary in its very spacious qualities. If “anything can happen,” what if I’m overwhelmed by what DOES happen?

Here I go again, narrowing down!

The truth is, I feel joyfull at the expansion of possibilities. I love the unexpected and the places of change. I also forget that I love these things.

I think that the curious truth is, if we can recognize when and where we’re not expanding our possibilities and WHY we might be choosing a smaller or more narrow view, we can then turn to embrace and allow the possibilities. Allowing all the possibilities is my reNEWed practice.

-- Where are you in need of expansive thinking?
-- What possibilities are you forgetting about?
-- How might you be looking with narrow vision?
-- Why do you want to expand your possibilities?

And speaking of dating, if you know of a man in San Francisco who would like to date me, send him along. He needs to be 40 or older and willing to walk on lilypads.

Sweetly,
Susan
(AKA SARK)

PS: After I wrote this, I realized that it may seem that the guy in the laundromat was someone for me to date -- he was just too young. However, he inspired me to think expansively about the whole subject of meeting people. Since my encounter with him, I'm now starting to date! Dating is the operative word, since I'm interested in exploring and experiencing the dating realm. So do still send along any interesting, available, adventurous men who would enjoy a dating adventure with me.

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RADIANT RESOURCES


BOOKS
Space Between the Stars: My Journey to an Open Heart
By Deborah Santana
Deborah’s book is a beautifully written memoir of her life,
loves, and lessons.
To look inside this book go to:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0345471253/campsark-20/104-8671732-3715109

It’s My Pleasure: A Revolutionary Plan to Free Yourself from
Guilt and Create the Life You Want
By Maria Rodale and Maya Rodale
“Pleasure revolutionaries” are gorgeously portrayed in this
book, acting as inspiring examples for ALL of us to drench
ourselves with pleasure and expansive thinking, too.
To look inside this book go to:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0743270819/campsark-20/104-8671732-3715109

I Need Your Love – Is that True? How to Stop Seeking Love,
Approval, and Appreciation and Start Finding Them Instead
By Byron Katie with Michael Katz
If you know Byron Katie’s “The Work,” you’ll be glad she
created this book. I’m loving her expansive thinking about
relationships.
To look inside this book go to:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/140005107X/campsark-20/104-8671732-3715109


WEBSIGHTS
http://www.radiohumanity.com
My beloved friend Joshua creates music from his expansive
soul, direct to your soul. This is his glorious new website.

http://www.wildparrotsfilm.com
There’s a flock of wild parrots in San Francisco, and this is
a fabulous love story about a man who fed them and how
his life was transformed. I highly recommend this movie!

http://www.artellawordsandart.com/?planetSARK
Marney Makridakis is a creative fountain, and her Artella
site just vibrates with joyfull creative expression. She
recently interviewed me, and I am so inspired by her
and what she creates!


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A VERY SPECIAL INVITATION

SARK’s New Creative Companion: Ways to Free Your Creative
Spirit is now out in bookstores, and that means SARK will be
on tour celebrating her new book. Summertime is just ripe for
nourishing and reveling in our creativity with kindred spirits.
SARK wants to share gifts, games, inspirations, and surprises
-- in person, with YOU. Be sure to check out the dates and
mark your calendars!

SARK’s 2005 Events and Book Tour Schedule:

June 10-12 -- Omega Institute, Rhinebeck, NY
July 11 -- Capitola Book Cafe, Capitola, CA
July 25 -- East West Bookstore, Mountain View, CA
July 30 -- Shakti Foundation, Aspen, CO
Oct 15 -- Shakti Foundation, San Francisco, CA
Nov 11-14 -- Celebrate Your Life, Scottsdale, AZ

Find out more about SARK’s Ecstatic Events on
PlanetSARK.com:
http://www.planetsark.com/events_home.htm


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SARK CREATIONS

Is your own Traveling Dream Chair ready for summer
vacation? Need a soft, gentle reminder? Rest your head,
shoulders, and neck on SARK’s new Traveling Dream
Chair Pillow. Bypass the travel agent and airport security
altogether, and still get where you need to go.

A PlanetSARK.com Exclusive, SARK’s Traveling Dream
Chair Pillow is available for purchase in our eSHOP:
http://www.planetsark.com/eshop_products_webexclusive_feat_02.htm

Check out all the latest products under New Arrivals in the
PlanetSARK.com eShop:
http://www.planetsark.com/eshop_new_products_home.htm

Thank YOU for supporting PlanetSARK.com! Purchasing
books and products through the eShop directly supports
the creation of new SARK products and the development
of the freebies offered through our website.

Check out all the Free Stuff here:
http://www.planetsark.com/eshop_freebies_home.htm


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HAPPENINGS ON PLANETSARK.COM

PlanetSARK.com is now a bouncing, radiant, beautifull
one-year old!

It's been a scrumptious year! To celebrate the first
anniversary of the launch of PlanetSARK.com, SARK
presents you with a gift of art and inspiration: FREE
downloadable SARK wallpaper for your computer desktop.
We honor YOU for supporting and participating in our
creative community built from the heart.

Rip off the birthday bow, and select from the four juicy
choices of FREE SARK Wallpaper here:
http://www.planetsark.com/one_year_anniversary.htm


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SARK PUBLICATIONS

Artella Magazine’s May Issue, “The Dreamworld: Night Sees
The Day” includes a brand new multimedia CD featuring a
succulent interview with SARK.

Check out Inner Views in SARK's Studio on PlanetSARK.com
to hear an MP3 clip of the Artella interview and explore the
links to more publications featuring SARK:
http://www.planetsark.com/studio_inner_views.htm

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COMPANY INFORMATION

Planet SARK
415-397-SARK (7275) General Info
http://www.PlanetSARK.com

For the latest company news go to the Planet SARK
Announcements forum on the Marvelous Message Board:
http://www.planetsark.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=7

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INTERACT WITH SARK

SARK's INSPIRATION LINE
SARK invites you to take pleasure and inspiration from her
FREE five-minute recorded message. Call 415-546-EPIC (3742)
or listen online at:
http://www.planetsark.com/resources_inspiration.htm

GLORIOUS GUESTBOOK
SARK enjoys reading your messages in her Glorious
Guestbook and invites you to share your thoughts and
wishes "when the spirit moves you." The Guestbook is
in SARK’s Studio on PlanetSARK.com:
http://www.planetsark.com/guestbook/guestbook.php

“ASK SARK” ON THE MMB
You can post questions, which SARK answers randomly as
time permits, in the "Ask SARK" forum on the Marvelous
Message Board:
http://www.planetsark.com/community_msb.htm

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SUCCULENT SUBSCRIPTION INFO
To subscribe:
http://www.planetsark.com/eLetter/index.php?action=signup


Thank You!
Copyright (c) 2005 SARK
All rights reserved.

Permission is granted to reproduce, copy, or distribute this
eLetter, so long as this copyright notice and full information
attributing SARK are attached.