This is an exceptional article written by Tom Morris of The Huffington Post.  He has become one of the most active public philosophers in the world due to his unusual ability to bring the greatest wisdom of the past into the challenges of the present.

Someday, with a lot of luck, I might come within a smidgeon of this man’s insight and skill as a writer.   Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

                           The Gift of Uncertainty

Many people have told me recently that the most unsettling thing about the world right now is the amount and degree of uncertainty we all face in so many ways. A thick fog surrounds us and keeps us from having any clear view of what’s next.

Politics has become its own reality TV show, with unanticipated plot turns whose implications no one can guess. The economy is a wild roller coaster of unpredictable volatility. Unforeseen international problems seem to crop up now at an alarming rate, and with challenging consequences that catch us unprepared.

In the middle of all this confounding dynamism that’s undeniably swirling around us and keeping us all off balance, there is a powerfully calming and focusing perspective that many of the most successful people seem to have naturally. And it’s a point of view that anyone can cultivate effectively.

It starts with what may be a surprising insight: We need to consider the possibility that uncertainty is a gift.

If everything in life was laid out and known in advance, if everything was already understood and nailed down, static and immobile and sure, then there could be no novelty or pleasant surprises. There would be no room at all for creativity, originality, innovation, or adventure. There would be no place for genuine freedom. There could be no chance of attaining any new, unanticipated, unheard of, jaw dropping, astonishing, and deeply satisfying form of greatness as a true personal or organizational accomplishment. Plus, half the things that make us laugh could no longer do so. You’d see any punch line coming a mile away, or more. There are many things, it turns out, that we’re better off not knowing. And where there is anything unknown, there is uncertainty.

Uncertainty about big and important things in work and life can affect us in either of two opposite ways, and how we react to it is ultimately up to us. It can, of course, send us into a state of high anxiety and shut us down. Caution itself can come to dominate a business or a life and paradoxically become catastrophic as faith gives way to fear and brings us to a halt. This is all too often the impact that widespread uncertainty has. But there is nothing necessary about this unfortunate reaction. There is another option available. Uncertainty can stimulate us to explore and learn, to be curious and courageous and cultivate a realistic, robust faith, to join hands with others and partner up in new ways, and to use the ancient and fundamental motivating force of hope as a beacon in the mist.

There is a profound truth that should be the lens through which we view the world around us. It’s an insight that we all too often forget.

Each of us is a work of art in progress, and so is our journey together. Uncertainty is the canvas on which all our lives are painted. There are small immediacies, close by, of which we can be sure enough, and some larger universal truths that I think we can know, but for the most part, we play out our destinies and do our work against a backdrop of unknowns. And, throughout the entirety of the human journey, we always have.

The world has seen challenging times of heightened uncertainty before, and circumstances far worse than we face now. It’s worth using our imaginations for a moment to remember this.
Most of human history hasn’t been a walk in the park, or a picnic with champagne. More often than not, this world has been what the poet Keats once called “a vale of soul-making” — a place of great difficulty where we’re challenged to develop the hardiest and most valuable of our potential character traits. The fires of adversity that human beings have faced over the centuries have been the forces that alone could refine, expand, and strengthen their souls. Our ancestors made it through those times successfully enough to allow us to be here now. We have their genetic endowment, and all the wisdom that they had available, plus even more. We can make it through our times as well, and even in such a way as to flourish beyond our greatest longings.

Those who have come before us and done well in times of great uncertainty and challenge have typically found their proper success through concentrating, not on what they couldn’t control, but on what they might indeed be able to influence. And they have done seven simple things well.

The most successful people in all of history have known, sometimes intuitively, and sometimes more explicitly, that they should use in all the challenges they faced what I like to call “The 7 Cs of Success.” These are ideas that are especially crucial for times of great uncertainty.
In any difficult situation, new opportunity, or ongoing endeavor, we need:

(1) A clear CONCEPTION of what we want, a goal vividly imagined.
(2) A strong CONFIDENCE that we can attain the goal.
(3) A focused CONCENTRATION on what it takes to reach that goal.
(4) A stubborn CONSISTENCY in pursuing our vision.
(5) An emotional COMMITMENT to the value of what we’re doing.
(6) A good CHARACTER to guide us and keep us on course.
(7) A CAPACITY TO ENJOY the process along the way.

This is the age-old recipe for success in uncertain environments that has stood the test of time. It will work in our own lives and businesses to facilitate satisfying and sustainable achievement regardless of how the coming election plays out, despite the almost daily vicissitudes of the stock market, and come what may in faraway lands.

A good measure of uncertainty can actually be amazingly fertile soil for implementing this framework of ideas, for success in planting and harvesting the bounty of which we’re capable, and even beyond what we might have imagined. Outer uncertainty reminds us of the importance of all our inner resources and nudges us back to the basics of human achievement. We’re forced to work smarter and to refocus our energies in dynamic and collaborative ways. And then, great things can result.

It could be that the pervasive uncertainty around us makes the world look a bit dark right now precisely because you and I are here to shine our light into that darkness and help others to see the path forward a little better. Maybe we’re here to encourage others to let the uncertainties around them spur them on to new, inventive forms of success, attained with the courage and persistence and faith that have always led the best people to their best results, throughout the entirety of the human journey.

Without some darkness, we’d have no real work to do. Uncertainty allows for heroic effort, pioneering action, and distinctively human achievement. This condition that we tend to dislike, regret, bemoan, and even fear may ironically be the thing that allows us to do and become all that we most admire. And of that, I’m pretty certain.

For more by Tom Morris, click here.

Ten years before we bought La Bellota, Raul and I had worked in a partnership at another ranch, owned by Raul’s late uncle, Tio Kiki.

During those years, many of the people who visited the ranch  became our friends.  They not only watched our children grow up, they also watched Raul and I grow and develop as the guest ranch business became more than just a secondary income.  It became a way of life that we truly grew to love.

Now, ten years later, these people continue to visit us at our own ranch, Rancho La Bellota, which we bought in 2005.  When push came to shove and important decisions had to be made, they stuck by us and trusted our better judgement which motivated us even more, to fully pursue our dreams.

                                        The Goddesses

        “Our attitude toward life determines life’s attitude towards us.”
         - John N. Mitchell-

I remember the first time I  laid eyes on Mrs. B and Mrs. K.  It was October, 2001 when we were at a promotional event called, Vaquero Days, in Descanso, California.
The morning was icy cold.  I had been busy handing out brochures and talking to people when two lovely women approached our booth.  They said a friend had told them about the ranch and they wanted to ask about reserving a date for the following Spring.
Thrilled about the possibility of new business, I quickly launched into my well rehearsed speech on costs, and the various trail rides we offered.  I was sure I had covered all the important details, but the glazed expression in their eyes left me feeling uncertain.  Had I said something wrong?
Mrs. B leaned in close, her blue eyes peering into mine, while she politely informed me they were both experienced riders.  They wanted to RIDE, and did we have anything else more challenging?
It suddenly occurred to me, my lack of inexperience led me to assume, since Mrs. K was then in her early 70′s, they wanted easy rides.  Mrs. B obviously wanted to clear up any misconceptions on my part about their riding abilities.
Even though I felt my face grow hot with embarrassment, I proceeded to tell them about our most challenging ride, a 30 miler from the coast to the ranch.  Not even when I mentioned steep hillsides, narrow cow trails and rocky canyons did that derail Mrs. B and Mrs. K, in fact, it intrigued them more.
Mrs. K gently put her hand on my arm, smiled warmly, and reassured me they would love to do the ride from the coast.  Mrs. B agreed, and said they would contact us soon to schedule a date.
As promised, a few weeks later Mrs. B reserved a date for the following April, and that was the beginning……………

You don’t stop laughing because you grow old. You grow old because you stop laughing.
– Michael Pritchard

Mrs. K and Mrs. B have come to the ranch with their friends and family for ten years.  I’m always amazed at their energy and vitality for life.  These special women were the first to give themselves a group name.  They called themselves the Goddesses, and rightly so.
Many of us vision a Goddess in different ways.  The definition of a Goddess might also depends on who you’re asking.  When I think of a Goddess, I see a beautiful woman.  A bright light shines from her eyes, radiating strength and wisdom.  She is kind and gentle, but she is also fearless.  When the occasion arises, she is strong like any brave warrior, and in her heart lies magical wisdom.  I believe a Goddess lives inside the heart of every woman, and as I’ve seen with this group of women, the spirit of the Goddess resides in each one of them too.
The Goddesses and I have ridden together through cold, rain and fog.  We have ridden down rocky hillsides in the dark, with only the light of the full moon and the stars to guide our way.  We have ridden through places where the bushes and trees surrounding us, seem to come alive, as they rip and tear at our clothes, while our horses heavy bodies struggle past their claw like branches.
Ask a Goddess and she’ll tell you, this is all part of the thrill of adventure.  The scenic mountains and manzanita scented trails invigorate her spirit, her sense of freedom, and her sheer joy of life.

 
Raul and I will never forget the time we were about an hour from the ranch, it was getting dark and everyone was hungry.  I was lost in thought, thinking about what was for dinner that night, when suddenly, Mrs. K yelled out in an alarmed voice, “Raul, Raul!  My pants are falling down!”
Raul, who was always there to help in any given situation, whirled his horse around and was at her side in an instant.  He discovered that her pants, were her chaps, and they were definitely untied and falling down.  Mrs. K kept a tight grip on the reins, steadying her horse while Raul fumbled with her chaps, pulling them up for her and tying the leather string back in place.
Later that night, as we sat around the table after dinner, Raul asked everyone in the group what had been the highlight of their day.  When it was Mrs. K’s turn, a huge grin spread across her face and she said with a gleam in her eye, “My favorite part was when Raul pulled up my pants!”  We all burst out laughing and agreed, it was our favorite part of the ride too.

The Goddesses are an amazing group of women who come from all walks of life: doctors, lawyers, dental assistants, flight attendants, mothers and grandmothers.  Every year we look forward to their visit and we have had the pleasure of meeting some new Goddesses along the way.  One thing is for certain, their Goddess spirit always shines through and never ceases to touch our hearts.

I wanted to add here, at the risk of divulging too much, and in addition to my Goddess definition, let it be known that age is not an issue.  The eldest Goddess, Mrs. K, is still riding horses and doing what she loves.  Mrs. K and all the Goddesses are a true inspiration and I hope my Goddess traits will kick in soon, so I can follow in their footsteps.

This is a powerful, moving reminder of what has happened to the Earth and how irresponsible corporates, and mindless consumers are combining to destroy the Earth.

A young film maker by the name of Vivek Chauhan, together with naturalists working with the Sanctuary Asia Network, put the video together, and they did an outstanding job.

I’ve come across some quotes on Truth I wanted to share here with you.  I think Truth seems to hover over everyone these days.  Hidden Truths about relationships, society, ways of being and perceiving are surfacing, urging us to look towards the light of truth and the freedom it will bring us, if we chose to acknowledge them.  The enormity and significance of Truth astounds me, as it has reached far into the depths of our lives, world cultures and into societies which have existed for thousands of years.

Wars are fought in the name of Truth, depending on the perspective of who’s fighting and what they are fighting for.  Each side is fighting for their truth, for what they believe in and no matter how much the opposing side may want to alter that, or persuade the enemy to think differently, when a person is fully ensouled within the truth of their hearts, there is no cajoling them to think differently.  People will die for their truth because it is the essence of who they are.

Has anyone seen the movie, The Kingdom, with Jennifer Garner and Jamie Fox?  The movie takes place in the middle east and is a clear example of truth, depending on which side you’re fighting for.  In the beginning after a FBI agent is killed in a middle eastern bombing, Jamie Fox whispers into a sobbing Jennifer Garner’s ear “We’ll kill them all.”  This was his promise to divulge the truth and in a sense wreak vengeance on those who were responsible for the death of their fellow officer and hundreds of innocent people.  At the end after the last shoot out, the mastermind and terrorist leader who plotted the bombing, is left dying from multiple gun shot wounds, as he whispers into the ear of his 12-year-old grandson, “We’ll kill them all.”   He too, pledges to bring forth their truth, no matter how strange that may seem to the western world, it is still their truth.  I’m in no way justifying anything, but ones truth, no matter whose it is, is still their truth, and it is an extremely driving force in the name of good, or evil.

Yesterday, I posted a video called, She’s Alive, I don’t know if you’ve seen it yet.  At the end of the video there is a tribute to people who have persisted in living their truth, and who unfortunately,  lost their lives because of it.  They are commemorated for their work, having embraced their truth to the end.  Not many people have the courage to live their truth in all its entirety, in the face of all odds, even in the face danger and possible death.  The light of truth is not for the faint of heart.

Whatever your truth is, it takes courage to acknowledge that truth, embrace it and live it.  Sometimes, the truth is hard to swallow.  We know if we act on it, the Truth will set us free, but we also know, it may stir the waters of our comfort zones, causing heavy turmoil within our lives or in the life of someone else.  But what is the price for our freedom?  Are we willing to keep living the lies?  Are we willing to move out of our comfort zones and face the light of truth?  I’ll be the first to admit, this is a difficult decision.  This is why I say, Truth is not for the faint of heart.  It takes tremendous courage to fully embrace your truth.

I’ve rambled long enough.  This entire post was intended for the quotes I discovered, and instead, the minute I started typing, my thoughts lead me in a totally different direction.   Back to the quotes….and I hope you enjoy them.

                                Some Quotes on Truth

I am tired of talk that comes to nothing. It makes my heart-sick when I remember all the good words and all the broken promises. There has been too much talking by men who had no right to talk. It does not need many words to speak the TRUTH. ~ Chief Joseph

Speak your truth without altering it. There is no time left to mess around and tip toe around other people’s issues. We have to be who we are, and we have to say what we feel. There is no time to be overly gentle about it anymore. Because we are the ones that are going to crack open the egg . . . you know like Humpty Dumpty . . . we will break it open to let the light out. Once broken, we cannot put it back together again . . . No one can. We cannot unlearn light and truth. This doesn’t mean you go out and preach like a preacher, and push your truth on others. But when opportunities arise, and you feel the need to say something, DO! ~ Aluna Joy Yaxk

Truth and non-violence will never be destroyed. Truth is like a vast tree which yields more and more fruit the more you nurture it. Truth alone will endure, all the rest will be swept away before the tide of time. ~ Gandhi

Aren’t we supposed to tell the people we love how we feel about them everyday?  Maybe Valentine’s Day is looked upon as the day which reminds us to do just that.

It’s easy to forget this when we get caught up in the daily routine while rushing from here to there.  We forget to stop and give our loved ones a an extra hug in the mornings before rushing off to work or telling them how much we care about them at any given moment of the day.  Often enough, we assume they already know, and life goes on.  I have to admit, I’m guilty.

I don’t think much of Valentine’s Day for the consumerism aspect of it.  Seems like it’s just another excuse to go out and spend money.  But then again, it is fun to receive a bouquet of roses once in a while.

Tomorrow I plan on asking my husband out to dinner.  One of our anniversary gifts was a free romantic dinner for two at a very nice restaurant.  Now if I can just get him to slow down too, then we might make the dinner date!

What are your plans for Valentine’s Day?  Whatever they are I hope you enjoy it and after tomorrow has come and gone, let’s not forget to  tell, or show our loved ones how we feel everyday,  and not just on Valentine’s Day.

           HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY TO YOU AND YOURS!

Hope is a powerful word.   What is hope?  Hope is a belief that things which happen in the future, will have a positive outcome.

Hope is also another word for courage.  The determination to never allow yourself to be defeated is hope. It is a choice we must all make, especially when life has handed us a particularly difficult situation. What exists today will change in time. If we base our happiness on something outside ourselves, we will be sure to experience a feeling of hopelessness. The important thing is to build a strong self-identity and a strong self-esteem.

In our daily lives we have many experiences that seem impossible to get through. This is the time we must summon the courage to have hope. Without it, then we truly WILL be defeated. When our inner determination changes from one of pessimism to optimism, everything in our environment changes too. We can then be supported by the power of the universe which lies within our lives and even make something that seemed impossible into a reality. If we give up hope then our outer world gives up as well and we plunge ourselves into desperate unhappiness

Many of us hope for a better world:  A world of freedom and equality for future generations to come.  We hope world leaders will begin to lead their people, with the greater good of the people, their primary concern.  We hope for change, new direction, fresh ideas and we hope someone, if not ourselves, will take action in bringing all of this into being.

When do we relinquish all  hope?  Does the spirit of the human heart ever give up?  I think not.  If we give up hope then our outer world gives up as well and we plunge ourselves into desperate unhappiness.

There are times the downwards spiral sweeps us away, but more often than enough, we make a come back, with new hopes and dreams which inspire us to keep going, one step at a time.  Hope is the spark which fuels the human spirit.

I hope, we all have the courage for hope to become a natural state of life.  If we believe in the greatness of our own lives and the lives of others, this is the first step in creating a new society of peace and mutual respect.

Whenever I’m feeling a little out of sorts, not quite with it, or in need of an energy boost, I’ve found music does the trick every time.

Besides being a universal language, it carries us back to different times, places and events in our lives.   When I listen to a song I haven’t heard for 10 years or so, the moment I hear it again, I recognize it instantly.  I remember the words and every detail of the song.  Why is that?  It’s like a rhythmic déjà vu.

Benny and the Jets, by Elton John carries me back to the 70′s, when I was little girl.  I used to spend hours listening to music in my room on my Mickey Mouse record player.  Sorry, always makes me cry and Daniel leaves me feeling quite nostalgic, in a peaceful way.

While I’m on the topic of Elton John, I feel I should mention our birthdays are on the same day.  I’m very proud of that since Elton is one of my favorite artists: a master pianist.

I love the piano.  It’s one of my favorite musical instruments and I sincerely wish I took time to learn how to play better when I had the chance.  My heart sings when I hear piano music.  I guess that’s why Elton John’s music touches me so.  There are other artists I admire, who are also pianists, such as Billy Joel, Alicia Keys and Stevie Wonder.

Music is the language everyone understands.  There’s no need to conjugate verbs or to know the difference between a verb and an adverb.  With music, all you need to do is listen, open your heart and feel.  Everyone understands the rhythm of the heart.

Here is Elton John from 1970, singing Your Song, another one of my favorites.  What kind of music do you enjoy listening too?

Raul and Caroline, February 7, 1987

Today, twenty-five years ago, at the age of nineteen, I married my husband.   We were ready to begin our new lives together.   Little did I know then, what a roller coaster of a ride it would take me on, with all sorts of ups and downs along the way.  I still barely have enough time to come up for breath before the next adventure gets under way.

Some people have asked me, how did you manage all these years?  Well, I tell them, it’s like this…….”It’s been like 10 minutes………underwater, with no oxygen.”
Then I remind them, communication is number one, and, it’s vital that the two people, although together as a couple, do not lose sight of themselves as individual’s either.  Each person needs room for growth and personal development, each with different interests, while sharing much of the same interests as well.  No two people are exactly the same.

I think that is the best I can offer at the moment.  Allow room for growth, without smothering one another, communicate, speak your truth and never hold in resentment and hurt feelings.

Chains do not hold a marriage together.  It is threads, hundreds of tiny threads which sew people together through the years.  ~Simone Signoret

Animals sense the truth of our character.  Whether we’re sad, angry or both, it’s very difficult to hide how we’re feeling from an animal.  I personally believe, animals are guides in the development of our souls.  The great wisdom which lies beneath their fur, feathers and scales is extroardinary, and behind the softness of their eyes, resides a gentle spirit just waiting to befriend us, if only we allow them to do so.

I feel very fortunate to have had constant contact with many animals over my life time.  I once knew a horse who taught me about responsibility and courage.  A dog named Gypsy, who taught me about trust and forgiveness, and Tick, a little dog who taught me the joys of the heart has no boundaries.

                                           Simba

On our ranch we raise sheep.  Last November, two lambs were born but because of the cold weather, only one survived.  Unfortunately the mother rejected the surviving lamb and we brought the tiny creäture to my daughter to raise.  The idea, was to eventually return the lamb to the herd once it was able to eat on its own.

My daughter named the lamb Simba.  She bottle fed him, woke up at 3am for feedings, and bathed him every week, most of all, she loved him.
Time passed and Simba grew up strong and healthy.  We weaned him from the bottle, which was not an easy thing to do, and attempted to integrate him back into the flock.  Much to our dismay, the other sheep wanted nothing to do with Simba.  They pushed him into a corner with head butts and kicks, while Simba desperately cried for my daughter.  It was clear, Simba was going to have a hard time adjusting to life as a sheep.

Weeks passed, and we began to notice Simba preferred the company of our five Queensland Heelers more than his own kind.  Everywhere the dogs went, Simba went too.  Even more interesting, the dogs seemed to accept him into the pack.  Who would have thought, a sheep would integrate into a dog pack and not with his own kind?  We also noticed he had absolutely no interest in the flock, who often wandered nearby while grazing or resting in the sun.  It seems that nature took its course and Simba found his place.  He was a dog.  I wonder if he knows he’s really a sheep?  But then again, does it even matter?

Throughout history, and even today in many places of the world, human society has developed social class systems depending on how much money people make, what family lineage you hail from and so forth.  These social classes are also distinguished by the clothes you wear, the kind of car you drive and even by what neighborhood you might live in.

What I’ve seen with Simba and our dogs leads me to believe that in the animal world, color, size or shape doesn’t really matter.  Simba, a prey animal, has integrated among the predators, living with them as one of their own.  I often wonder if they discussed this first?  Was there an exchange between them that convinced the dogs, Simba was one of them?
I marvel at the dog’s friendliness towards Simba.  He head butts the dogs, runs next to them while kicking up his heels as he follows the pack around the ranch.  I do believe he thinks he’s a dog.

There is so much we can learn from our animals friends.   Each animal has its own unique qualities, just like humans do which are available to us if we take the time to notice.
Most, if not all indigenous cultures believed animals represented qualities of the spirit from which humans were to learn from while on their journey through life.   In the Native American tradition, the hawk, brought messages from the spirit world.  The bear, introspection and journey work.  While the horse, my personal favorite, is a symbol strength and freedom.  In the Celtic tradition, the horse, particularly a white one, was also a messenger who provided passage to the other world.

Here are a few of my favorite quotes about animals:

An animal’s eyes have the power to speak a great language.  ~Martin Buber

Animals are such agreeable friends – they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms.  ~George Eliot

Lots of people talk to animals…. Not very many listen, though…. That’s the problem.  ~Benjamin Hoff, The Tao of Pooh

By the way, today is my 25th wedding anniversary and this weekend we are celebrating at the ranch.  I hope Simba doesn’t find out lamb, will be the main course on the dinner menu.  My daughter and I gave him a good bath yesterday so he’ll be ready for the festivities next weekend.  Undoubtedly when people see him all dress up in his red bandana, chasing dogs and following my daughter around, he will be a highlight of the day.

Simba after his bath

Here’s a thought.  When we feel like there is no end in sight to the pressure, problems and negative energy around us, why not concentrate on what’s positive and good in our lives, by concentrating on everything which gives us peace and joy?  In other words, everything that makes us smile.

This is by no means a firm solution to what ails us, but it does give some relief from the pressure all of us face, on a day-to-day basis.  It’s a way of reminding ourselves to stay centered in our hearts, without getting caught up in the flurry of our daily activities.

In today’s society we have so much responsibility about work, family, paying the bills and life in general: pressure is a part of this whether we like it or not.  There is a way to find balance in our lives so “the pressures of life” don’t consume us completely.

Let’s remember how fortunate we are for the beauty and wonder that is always present in our lives, even though we become so busy sometimes, we don’t always see it.   This might be the people in your life, an animal,  your dreams, hopes and desires.   Whatever sparks the light in your heart and makes you smile.

Everyone has bad days and good days; and everyone is under pressure, whether it’s visibly noticeable, or not.  The next time we pass a stranger on the street, why not smile and say hello?  Who knows, your smile, or friendly gesture might be just what the person needs to help them get through the rest of their busy day.
So what makes you smile?

Here is what makes me smile.

My husband and my daughter

My son studying for vet school

Rancho La Bellota

How can you not smile with a face like this?

“A smile is the light in the window that tells people you’re at home.”