Candy Corn and Halloween Costumes

Since Halloween is my favorite holiday, I thought I'd share something about one of my all-time favorite candies.

Candy corn!

Yeah, I know...most people think they're disgusting, but for some reason I can eat them until my stools look like a colorful swirl of white, orange and yellow.

Thinking about candy corn makes me remember a childhood memory about the time I decided to play a trick on my mother.

Let me preface this by saying that as a child, I was constantly making up heinous stories to freak out my parents.

I was a festive little storyteller who was a combination of Hans Christian Andersen and Freddy Krueger.

From the moment I was born I knew I was going to be an actor, so I used every second of my childhood to practice the art of LYING.

Like for instance, one time I told my mother I accidentally swallowed a domino while playing with it. I ran into the kitchen very dramatically, grabbing my throat; making choking sounds while my face turned from red to blue. She totally freaked and started slapping the back of my head in the hopes of dislodging it. Finally, I started laughing and said, "I'm only kidding!"

And one time around Halloween, I suddenly noticed that the white tip of a candy corn resemble the tip of a cuspid tooth. So, I cleverly broke off the tip and ran to my mother with one hand covering my mouth and the other hand holding the candy in an open palm; screeching, "Look...Look...I tripped and fell, hitting my mouth on the edge of the coffee table and it chipped off the end of my tooth!"

Let me just say….she was not the slightest bit amused.

I also enjoy Halloween because of getting dressed up in a costume and going to a party. Sadly, I hardly do it anymore, other than getting dress up at work. My greatest joy now, is watching all the little kids walking through the city streets and also the store I work in.

Here are a few photos of some past Halloween costumes….

The year I dressed up as the Greek mythology character - Pan.


The year Cats was popular on Broadway, I decided to be a cat. The cute bunny you see standing next to me grabbing my tail, was a girl I worked with.

*Right after this photo was taken….I scratched both her eyes out.

Me, as Norma Desmond from the movie Sunset Boulevard.

Aren’t I pretty.....ugly?

This years costume…..Ronnie, a child of the corn.

Happy Halloween everyone....Boo!

X

Just a Thank You.....

A few nights ago I was sitting at this computer and thinking about the awesome people who stop by here and how much I enjoy communicating with all of you.

I feel so freakin’ blessed sharing with the BEST of the BEST people.

And the thing I enjoy most of all, is that everyone who comes here is uniquely different.

I’ve never been someone who only enjoys surrounding myself with people who have the same interests. I would much rather be surrounded with a potpourri of people from all walks of life, occupations, talents, interests and beliefs, because it takes me outside of myself; viewing the world through someone else’s experiences.

Sure, it’s fun to be with like-minded people sometimes, but I find it much more interesting to be with unlike-minded people.

We as bloggers spend a great deal of time getting to know one another by sharing our lives through words and images on posts, and then responding to them through something called comments.

I’ve realized over these past four years, it’s not how many comments I receive on a post, but rather the quality of communication within the comment because this is where our relationships are formed.

And for this I want to thank you, because you all give of yourselves with a tremendous amount of quality when commenting.

And I’m not talking about the amount of words you use, but rather the amount of energy you place behind the words.

Because I can feel it.

And it feels great.

So, thank you everyone.

For being the coolest, nicest, open, sharing, and unique bunch of people in blogland.

You make my blogging experience….the BEST!

Goobye, Hello Kitty

I know after posting this all the Hello Kitty fans will come out of the woodwork, crucifying me in comments and most likely report my blog to the Hello Kitty Police Department.

Oh, well.

I thinks it’s odd that for someone who loves cats as much as I do, has an utter disdain for all things HELLO KITTY.

My anti-love affair with Hello Kitty all started when I had a job working in a gift shop and was assigned to the Hello Kitty section of the store.

You have no idea how insane it made me to have to stock and organize the plethora of Hello Kitty Shit...oh, pardon me fans....merchandise.

We sold Hello Kitty pens, pencils, erasers, notebooks, diaries, key chains, earrings, and necklaces. I’m surprised we didn’t have an adult section with Hello Kitty Condoms.

Anyway, since then I’ve noticed that the Kitty Empire has expanded it’s merchandise to an even bigger audience. Saturday afternoon I decided to surf the web by googling Hello Kitty, and almost DIED from Kitty overload.

Here are a few items I couldn’t resist sharing with you…..

Couldn’t you just see this item sitting amongst all your stainless steel William-Sonoma kitchen appliances?

I put this one on my Christmas Wish List, so if any of you would like to purchase this for me, please feel free to contact me via email and I will send you my mailing address. I’m thinking that perhaps this is a Kitty Mac?

And isn’t this item a must-have? I guess it’s for those fans who want to design a Hello Kitty Couture line.

I find cell phones painful to begin with, so this item made me feel as though someone had just grabbed my testicles and twisted them into a pretzel knot.

Now this one is interesting. A Hello Kitty tail pipe for your car. I think this one should come with a license plate that says, I-H8-KITTY

However, I did find one item that may change my opinion about “certain things” Hello Kitty….



HELLOOO…..kitty!

Meow!

If You Were a Fragrance

Being in the cosmetic industry, it amazes me how each year more and more celebrities are getting on the bandwagon; creating their own fragrances.

We have everyone from Jennifer Lopez to Paris Hilton, and David Beckham to Sean John, all promoting an aroma.

Now, it wouldn’t be fair for me to say which ones I like and which ones I think smell like a cows rectum, because when it comes to selecting a fragrance it’s all very personal.

What I might think smells wonderful, someone else may find repulsive.

And what someone else might think smells heavenly, I may find putrid.

But what I can say, is that some of these celebrity fragrances have been well thought-out, finely crafted, and smell unique. While others seem as though they were created with a childs chemisty set and are copycats of everything else that’s out on the market.

I remember the first time I picked up a bottle of a celebrity fragrance and inhaled it. And the first thing I thought was, “Is this what they smell like?” I often have a preconceived idea of what I think a particular celebrities fragrance would smell like, because of how I see them. But quite often, I find that the fragrance does not match my image of them.

One in particular was Christina Aguilera (who I happen to adore and worship). The second her fragrance hit retail stores, I immediately stopped in Bloomingdale's because I was dying to see what it smelled like. Well…I was totally blown away, because it smelled nothing like I thought it would. I can’t say that I didn’t like it, but it didn’t even come close to the image I have of her. It actually surprised the hell out of me.

So, this just goes to show that what I might image a celebrity would enjoy in the way of a fragrance, does not always match their celebrity persona.

Anyway, this got me thinking about the idea if I were a fragrance, what would I smell like and what would I call it.

Personally, I’m drawn to more earthy and spicy scents. I tend to like the aroma’s of amber, musk, cedar wood, and patchouli. I also enjoy the aroma’s of black tea, pipe tobacco, and fig.

Not only do they seem to work well with my body chemistry, but they also seem to be both calming and grounding for my hyper personality. I also tend to get a lot of compliments when I wear these types of fragrances.

So, if I were a fragrance I would be in the category of woody, spicy and more natural.

And if I were to name my fragrance, I would call it Elixir.

So, if you were a fragrance what would it smell like and what would you call it?

Philadelphia and Precipitaton

For the past four days it’s done nothing but rain here in Philadelphia.

Now grant it, it’s also been cold, but even if you extracted the cold the people here would still fear and complain about the rain, because they do even in the summer.

I’ve spent part of my life in Florida. So if I allowed rain to affect me, I’d never leave the house.

However, I think most people here believe they’re made of marzipan, therefore whenever it rains an overwhelming paralyzing fear descends upon them that they’ll somehow melt on the sidewalks; creating human puddles of sugar and almond paste.

The first year I moved back to Philly, a friend of mine phoned me in a tizzy on the morning we were getting together for lunch and said, “OMG Ron…we’ll have to cancel our plans for lunch today.”

And I said, “Why?

He said, “Because the weather forecast says it’s going to rain.”

I responded, “Yeah….so what?”

He responded, “Oh….but we’ll get WET”

And it wasn’t only him because I soon discovered that many people here put their lives on hold whenever it rains.

Quite frankly, I don’t get it. What’s the big deal about rain? What do you think an umbrella is for? And even if you do get a little wet, you‘re not going to die for god sake.

My life is certainly not going to be altered because of RAIN.

And I especially look forward to when winter arrives, because if you think rain bothers them, you should see what a little snowfall does.

The first sign of snow in the forecast, Philadelphia calls Russia in a state of panic; asking for emergency assistance in snow plows, Siberian huskies, and dog sleds. And mind you, for the past three years we’ve had virtually 3-4 days of snowfall all winter long.

For a city that is so full of machismo, it fears the weather forecast as if it were Nostradamus predicting the end of the world.

There is only one word I can say to describe Philadelphia when it comes to the fear of precipitation…

Welcome To Falsettoland

A few days ago my blogging buddy Barbara sent me an email which included a Youtube link to a musical I performed in, back in 1994 called Falsettos.

Thanks Barb!

Well...I was shock to shit because I had no idea this video even existed on the Internet. I'm assuming it was made by one of the cast members.

Throughout my years performing onstage, I've collected various video tapes of some of the shows I was in, however I never got a copy of this particular show.

Being a part of Falsettos was one of the most enjoyable and exciting highlights of my acting career. And not only because of the show, but more so because of the cast. Once in a great while a cast will come together that almost seems as though it was destiny - and that was the case with this show. Not only was I honored to be performing along side such great talents, but it was also the respect, support, and love we had for one another that made this experience extra special.

Falsettos was perhaps the most challenging musical I was ever in because it's basically sung like an opera with no spoken words. All the dialogue is expressed through music. And the challenging part for me is that I can't read music. Therefore, I had to learn a three hour complicated musical score by ear. The cast was incredibly patient and supportive, as most of them were musically trained. I can sing, but I've never had any formal training in music. To be perfectly honest, I felt very insecure being cast in this show but I knew it was something I needed to try.

Falsettos is a story about relationships....

The plot:

After years of being married, Marvin discovers that he can no longer suppress his homosexuality and leaves his wife Trina and son Jason. Eventually he finds a male partner, Whizzer, who he ends up living with, while Trina ends up marrying her ex-husbands psychiatrist, Mendel.

There are also two other characters, Charlotte and Cordelia, the lesbian couple who live next door (one is a doctor and the other is a stay-at-home-wife). The musical is a series of scenes depicting the challenges and struggles, as each couple adjusts to their newly formed relationships. Jason also struggles with his father being gay, but eventually finds acceptance.

Even though this musical is predominately a comedy the plot suddenly changes towards the end, as Whizzer is diagnosis with AIDS and dies.

The story ends as all the characters come together in a hospital room supporting one another, showing us that the one thing all relationships share in common...

...is Love.

The Youtube clip is the opening number in Act 2 - "Welcome to Falsettoland"

I apologize that it's so long (holy cow...over 8 mins). If you don't have time to watch it I totally understand. This post will be up all weekend, so if you wish to view it later, please do.

I portrayed Mendel, the psychiatrist. I'm the guy you'll see holding a flashlight at the opening of the number.

(other cast members include: Lucy Carney, Brad Howell Houghton, Ian Russell, Hilda Philips, Christine Robison, and John McColms, who has since then passed away)

Have a faaabulous weekend everyone!

An Italian Family Dinner

If you look up the word Italian in the dictionary, I’m sure you’ll find the word eating included in it’s definition.

Italians and eating are synonymous.

Italians, eating, and talking are even more synonymous.

The photo you see above is of my mothers side of the family sitting down for a traditional Italian family dinner.

Notice the man sitting in the middle holding the wine glass. That was my mothers father. And I can still remember to this day that until he filled his wine glass and took the first sip, NO ONE was permitted to eat a morsel of food. Everyone took their eating cue from my grandfather. I swear to god, it was like sitting at the table with Marlon Brando as the godfather.

I don’t know whether any of you have ever seen the movie Moonstruck, but if you haven’t please rent it because it epitomizes what being Italian is. And all of the scenes you’ll watch of the Castorini family sitting around the dinner table is exactly how an Italian family acts while eating.

They like to talk. They like to talk VERY LOUD. And they all like to talk at the same time while every sentence overlaps each other.

Food seems to bring out the passion in Italians to the point of having to SCREAM every single word they utter.

“RONNIE….PASS ME THE GRAVY!”

So, if you’re looking to have a nice quiet meal, please don’t eat with an Italian family because I guarantee you’ll require ear plugs and several glass of Chianti to calm your nerves.

I remember my stepmother saying that the first time she sat down with our entire family to eat dinner, she thought we were all going to kill one another. She comes from a German-English background where dinner was eaten almost in silence, so eating with Italians felt like being in a sanitarium cafeteria.

You see, Italians like to wait until they sit down to dinner in order to have family discussions. The dinner table is a place where everything is literally laid out on the table, which means it’s nothing for them to argue while food is flying out of their mouths; slamming dishes around, as they’re passing platefuls of stuffed peppers and eggplant.

Now, to an non-Italian this may seem like strange behavior. But to an Italian it’s perfectly normal.

Dinner wouldn’t be dinner unless one good, heated discussion (half in English, half in Italian) was completed by the time the cannolis and coffee were ingested.

But no matter what was said in the heat of the moment, ten seconds later an Italian family will be kissing and hugging one another; saying what a wonderful dinner it was.

The men will all resume into the living room; smoking Italian cigars. While the women will resume into the kitchen; doing dishes and preparing Italian doggie bags for everyone to take home with them.

All looking forward to their next family dinner….

Mangia!

Male Adjustment

Even as a male, I often wonder why many men feel it’s male protocol to adjust themselves in public.

And I’m not talking about the occasional adjustment, I’m talking about those men who habitually do it 24/7 and 365 days out of the year.

You know the ones I’m talking about….

You’ll often see them walking through the mall resembling an infomercial for terminal jock-itch.

I can honestly say in my 54 years, I have never reached down and grabbed my genitalia; readjusting it in public view.

And please don’t say “That’s because you probably don’t have much down there to adjust.”

Because I do…it’s just that I have it neatly tucked in my briefs; not flapping around like an elephant trunk in either boxer shorts, or worse….commando.

And if on the rare occasion I do need to adjust myself I will either go to the restroom, or if a restroom isn’t handy I’ll find a secluded corner somewhere and do it in private - not in front of someone’s grandmother at Starbucks.

Not too long ago while I was sitting in the bookstore, I noticed a gentleman walking down the main book isle adjusting himself.

No….let me take that back.

He wasn’t merely adjusting himself, he was GROPING himself like a horny little chimpanzee in a zoo cage. In the short time it took him to walk down the isle, I watched as he groped himself as least THREE times.

And that’s not the worse part.

After he selected a book off the shelf and began skimming through it, he kept reaching down every so often and patting his crotch. Patting it as if it were his pet dog, like to say “Good boy…good boy.”

I wanted to scream, “JESUS CHRIST…WHY DON’T YOU TELL IT TO ROLL OVER AND PLAY DEAD!”

I’ve often wondered if some men habitually touch themselves because they fear that one day it may fall off. And perhaps they’re just checking to see if it’s still attached.

Well….for whatever reason, I think it looks barbaric.

Look, I enjoy my boy toy just as much as the next guy, but for heaven sake dudes, STOP PLAYING WITH IT IN PUBLIC.

And go buy yourself a nice pair of supportive underwear that will keep it in place.

Like this well-hung gentleman…..

Blog Interview: Forks Off The Moment

I don’t know whether it’s because Dianne is originally from Brooklyn, New York and that I happen to love the frankness and directness of New Yorkers, or that I am in awe of her amazing gift for writing both real-life and fictional stories. But I love her. If I were to describe Dianne’s blog, I would have to say it’s a life blog. She shares everything from her strong opinions on politics, to hysterical pictorial stories of her cats Siren and Mia, Wordzzles, and most recently, the birth of her grandchild, Hope.

The thing I most admire about Dianne is that she’s diplomatic in sharing her opinions. She allows her readers to also share their own, without ever getting defensive or ugly. She has a razor-sharp mind and a hysterical sense of humor to go with it. She also has one of the most giving and compassionate hearts.

So, without further ado let’s meet the lady behind the blog, Fork Off The Moment.

Welcome Dianne…..

Why did you start blogging?

I was part of a forum devoted to discussing all things Craig Ferguson and my entries started to get, even in my own opinion, long winded and off topic. I enjoyed the reaction to what I had to say so I decided to start a blog where it was all mine.

This was also at the same time that my interest in writing and photography was renewed. I was feeling depressed and lost and wanted to feel more creative. The blog’s name came from something the shrink said about my needing to stay in the moment and my laughing about all the forks my mind takes – Hence ‘Forks Off The Moment’

Has your feelings about blogging changed over the years? And if so, in what way?

I’ve only been blogging for 2 years. 2 years this month so I’m still relatively new. I think the biggest change has been my adopting the ‘Blogging Without Obligation’ concept. I used to feel I had to respond to every comment, post every day, visit everyone. It’s not possible unless it’s all you do.

I have also become very anti awards and memes. More obligations. I participate in some photo and pet projects but I don’t accept being tagged for anything and I stopped passing on awards. I’d rather try and visit everyone who has posted a photo on Ruby Tuesday. Or try to visit and encourage a new blogger.

Do you write for you or your readers?

I always hope to make my readers laugh or feel or see something in a new way. When I read a comment that tells me I made their morning by making them laugh I feel great. So I guess the way I write has my readers in mind. Your reaction to my Pet Pride posts is a perfect example. It is a joy that you enjoy them so much.

My subjects are all me. My opinions are what they are. My cussing is what it is.

I have an eclectic readership so I do sometimes pause for a moment and think of who doesn’t like cursing or who feels strongly about something I’m about to mock but in the end I say what I feel and think.

I feel we all need to do that.

What are your feelings on organized religion?

It causes way too much trouble. It divides. It encourages judgments based on one and only one way of thinking. It was designed to control people. The Bible is a lovely piece of literature abused by people for their own agendas.

Right now the political ramifications of religion scare the hell out of me. To think that the Mormon church and the Knights of Columbus could cause Prop 8 in CA disgusts me.

Our founders guaranteed freedom from persecution based on religion and that is where any connection between church and state should end. I don’t think prayer belongs at a government function, I don’t think the President or judges or any official should be sworn in on a Bible.

They should be sworn in on the Constitution. And maybe a book about how to behave in public.

Do you think we'll ever see a female president in the White House?

If it’s going to be Sarah Palin or anyone like her then I hope NOT!!!

Good Lord that woman set female politicians back. And the fact that women supported her simply because she was a woman is pathetic. She and her ilk are so anti-woman.

I do hope a woman becomes President one day. And an atheist. And a gay person. And anyone qualified to lead and inspire based on brains and heart and soul.

At this moment I fear we’re headed back toward a time of miserable old white men with shit for brains and even less in their hearts and souls.

If you were elected President of the United States, what is the first thing you would like to change?

I’d like to stop how hard it is to get simple things done.

President Clinton and President Carter have both stated many times that they have made a more positive impact on people in the private sector than they ever did as President! And that’s absurd.

Right now we have the resources to feed everyone in the world. To stop malaria with a freaking $10 net. To stop AIDS. To build houses. And on and on.

Right now we have a President with a good heart and an open soul and an even more open mind. And he has to spend his days justifying and explaining common sense to assholes with TV shows. I would say screw it! I might be a one term President and I might piss off my own party but damn if I wouldn’t get stuff done.

What is the biggest misconception people have of you?

If you had asked that question a few years ago I would have said people thought I was stronger than I am. Today I have so many misconceptions of my own about me that I’m not sure. I do think I come off as tougher than I am but even that façade seems to be fading.

Tell us one thing you enjoy and do not enjoy about aging.

The absolute joy of getting older is that you don’t sweat small stuff. Things that might have seemed a drama at 30 are laughable at 50. And you care less about what other people think of you.

I think physical limitations are the worst of aging. That and the fact that our society doesn’t seem to respect experience the way it should.

Many people feel that having a child interracially places a life-long hardship on them. Please tell us how you feel about that.

I think anyone who is “different” has some hardship to carry. We need to see people in broader strokes. My son suffered terrible insults as a child. People would ask why his Mom was white. He was called names. He also became an exceptionally tolerant and open hearted person, much as Obama did. And that’s one way to turn a hardship around. We can’t and shouldn’t help who we love and who we have a family with. I think a lot of those who see being multi racial or gay or autistic or deaf or whatever as a “hardship” are really just voicing their own inability to accept people as they are.

How has Hope enriched your life?

There is a wonderful sense of circle of life! LOL

I hear my son say something to Hope that I used to say to him and the joy is huge. I hear my Nana coming through as well.

It’s our way of being immortal isn’t it? Having some of our heart and soul continue on …

Note: Dianne will be responding to all comments on this post, so please feel free to talk with her. Thank you!

Photos: Dianne and her son Jeff, her granddaughter Hope.

Meeting Your Fellow Blogger Peeps

Back when I first started blogging, the thought of actually meeting someone who I was blogging with never even occurred to me.

And yet, surprisingly, it has turned out to be one of the most enjoyable parts of having a blog.

We spend all this time communicating and sharing with one another through our words, yet never actually hear what our voices sound like.

And to finally be able to put a voice to a face and actually SEE and HEAR a blogger in flesh and blood has been so fascinating for me.

I believe that our words contain energy. Therefore, I’ve always been able to get a clear sense of the essence of who I’m blogging with.

Blogging friendships are the same as any friendship. We share and confide intimate details of our lives with one another. We laugh, we cry. We share our opinions and either agree or disagree. We share misunderstands and then clear the air; moving on. When you think about it, it’s exactly what we do with our offline friendships, with the exception of not actually SEEING one another. And yet, in a very strong energetic way, we FEEL one another.

But I’ve got to admit, meeting a fellow blogger for the first time made me a bit nervous. It sort of felt like I was going on a first date with someone and having butterflies in my stomach. And yet, as soon as I saw them it was like meeting someone I had known all my life - I instantly felt relaxed and at home. The energetic connection we had been sharing online, simply connected us in person.

The first blogger I met was Barbara @ Home in France. She was coming to Philadelphia for a family affair and had emailed me prior; asking if I felt like meeting she and her husband Didier, while they were visiting. I instantly said, “Yes!” And I’m so glad I did, because we had the most enjoyable time with one another. Barbara was even more wonderful to meet in person. Since then, even though she lives in France, our friendship has grown closer.

The second blogger I met was Lora @ Fever. Lora is actually the first Philadelphia blogger I’ve ever known. We just recently met through our blogs about three weeks ago and decided to meet in person last Monday for lunch. And again…I’m so glad we did because she was everything I knew she would be. We chatted for almost three hours and had a great time. Meeting one another allowed us to connect on an even deeper level.

So I guess the point of this post is to say that if you ever get the chance to meet up with one of your fellow bloggers…do it.

Because it’s the coolest experience.

It almost feels as though you’re meeting a celebrity…it’s very exciting.

And perhaps one of these days we’ll all get a chance to meet one another.

Thanks everyone….it’s so nice knowing all you peeps!

peep...peep!

Tie Tying 101

For my male readers, I know you will understand what I’m about to share on this post.

For my female readers, I sincerely know that you experience your own frustrations when it comes to dressing and having to put on pantyhose, a bra, styling your hair, and applying makeup. Not to mention having to select the coordinating shoes, handbag, and jewelry accessories.

So for you ladies, I ask that you simply read this and say, “ Oooooh…..you poor baby. I feel sooo sorry for you.”

Saturday morning while getting ready for work, I got to the point of total insanity while trying to tie my tie properly.

After thirty-something years of doing this, I can normally tie my ties blindfolded without ever having to concentrate on how to do it. However, on this particular morning I felt like a 54 year old virgin learning how to tie for the first time.

Perhaps it’s because I was in a hurry, or perhaps it was the cause of a full moon and that mercury was retrograding and shitting over my fourth house in Libra, but it took me FOUR attempts to tie the damn thing.

For some reason I couldn’t get the front and back of the tie to line up evenly.

The first time I tried, the front of the tie was hanging so low it was literally touching my crotch.

I looked like one of those Barnum and Bailey circus clowns.

Then the second time I tried, the back of the tie was hanging about 3 inches below the front of the tie.

Which looked as though someone had taken a pair of scissors and cut off 3 inches from the front.

I did this over again two more times until I thought I wanted to commit suicide by taking the tie and STRANGLING myself with it.

I ended up getting so frustrated, I started sweating like a pig and huffing and puffing like wild bull, while spitting and screaming horrible obscenities through the mirror at my tie.

One of which was…..

“YOU MOTHER FUCKING BASTARD!!!”

But after the fourth try, I finally got the thing tied properly.

And guess what?

It only took me twenty minutes and aged me ten more gray hairs and facial wrinkles to do something that should have taken me ONE minute.

In case this ever happens to me again, I’ve decided that I will buy myself a few emergency clip-on ties, like the one’s I use to wear in Catholic grammar school when I was a little boy.

So all I have to do is simply clip that sucker on…..and GO!

What do ya think?

Manifestation and The Secret

Last week my buddy Chrissy @ I Shoulda Been a Stripper shared a post, highlighting a very inspirational review she discovered on Amazon about the book, The Secret.

I would like to take this time to share my own personal views on the power of manifestation, because I do believe in it. However, somewhat differently than the simplistic way the book explains it.

Let me start by saying that I am open to all beliefs and philosophies; willing to understand them. However, I don't believe that any book in it’s totality is the be all and end all. As a reader, I will intuitively sift through the information and take what feels right for me.

No two lives are the same because everyone‘s life-experience is different. Therefore, any book that claims to contain a "special key” I immediately question.

When it comes to the power of manifestation, I’ve learned one very important thing…

Know thyself before attempting to manifest.

TRUE manifestation is only successful if I understand that there is a higher design going on in my life and am willing to manifest in conjunction with it.

As long as I am attempting to manifest with only my THOUGHTS, then all I’m really manifesting is what I THINK I want. So then manifestation becomes an endless cycle of chasing the fleeting desires of my EGO.

I also realize that it is impossible to manifest everything I want, just because I want it. Manifestation is not that simple, because there are other things involved than just conjuring up a desire and having it delivered - and I don’t care how much I believe and visualize it’s going to happen.

Let me give you an example.

There are two people applying for the same job. Each one of these people believes they hold The Secret to manifest whatever they want. But it just so happens they both want the same job. So tell me? Is it possible for these two people to get the same job? No. One of them will get it and the other won’t. So how does the person feel who doesn’t get the job?

Probably like they failed at manifesting, instead of understanding that maybe there is a higher design going on which is leading them to a job more suited for their talents, than what they THOUGHT.

The general message of this book sets people up for confusion and frustration because it doesn‘t go deep enough; leaving out many things. One being...

Fate. And the fate of others.

I know there are many people who don’t believe there is such a thing as fate, but I do.

Fate has a purpose.

There are certain things that will happen to me regardless of how much I think I can instantly change them through manifestation.

It may be my fate to experience an illness. It may be my fate to have financial struggles. It may be my fate to go through several marital divorces. Because in experiencing my fate, I am to learn something from it. And to believe that I hold The Secret to manifest something different, before I’ve actually learned from it….only makes me feel defeated by my circumstances when it doesn’t happen.

I would like to conclude this post by saying that the main reason why I’m not a fan of this book is because it presumes that I believe I lack in some sort of abundance.

The only way I know how to manifest abundance, is to never believe I LACK in it to begin with.

As far as my own life is concerned….I already know myself as abundant.

I went through financial bankruptcy six years ago, so it doesn’t get any less abundant than that. But do you know what? I never felt MORE abundant during that time, because I had nothing else to focus on except my abundance. And that’s what my fate with bankruptcy has taught me.

Yes, sometimes I may have the ability to direct the course of my life through manifestation.

And other times I may simply need to follow my fate and learn from it.

And it is during these times, I will use the power of manifestation to accept.

Know thyself first…by knowing the difference.

The Secret.

Have a great weekend everyone!

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