Peace. Love. Joy. Gratitude.

We send along our best wishes that you enjoy all the beauty the holiday season brings to your neck of the woods. Here's what it looks like around here these days:

The colorful sunsets are are mixed with smoke from the ongoing fires. We are so grateful for the fire fighters who have worked so hard to protect everyone in this area. Our hearts go out to all those who lost their homes.

The Getty Center was kept safe during the fires but the shrubby hills in the area are burned black. The buildings are made of stone and glass and the whole site is designed to be fire-safe, with a sophisticated air filtration system, plants with the highest water content nearest the buildings, and a one million gallon water reserve tank. The garden still resonates a clear calm.

The succulents are showing off their blooms.

And the sky puts on a show daily.

How to Be Unhappy

"Buy things you can’t afford or don’t want. Either choice is a sure fit for unhappiness. When you buy things you can’t afford, you go into debt, which limits the other choices available to you. When you buy things you don’t want, you lie to yourself about the real source of your unhappiness.

"Compare yourself to others. The love of comparison is the root of much misery. Therefore, judge your success or worth based on other people, especially those with a different background from you. Do this on a continual basis, always looking for a new idol or competitor in which your ideal unhappiness lies.

"Take no joy in the journey. Focus only on the destination without appreciating the ride. Fail to celebrate small successes, and neglect to pause for reflection on how far you’ve come."  ~ Chris Gullebeau.

He's got more ways to be unahappy on his blog (and a lot of other good stuff too).

Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation)...

"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise would have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor, all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no person could have dreamt would come their way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now!"  Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832)