i am love

while scrolling through my news feed on FB, i noticed a post from the Jason Mraz page that read, "And Now Back To Being In Love". of course, that got my attention.

i read the post and it introduced me to a book by Cafe Gratitude (the owners or something like that) about being love. not being in love, but being love itself. the book is called "Kindred Spirit: Fulfilling Love's Promise." it is a book-version of a relationship seminar that they offer at the cafe. their premise is that instead of waiting for love to come to us, that we should just be love itself. i was intrigued.

i read the page-excerpt from the book that was posted and, honestly, it sounded like a bunch of hippie mumbo jumbo. but i think that between all of the airy-fairy sentiments, there is something there.

and, like Mraz says on his post, the idea of it comes from many major religions so it's not something that's new. but as i always say, the reminder is nice to have. "Be the change you want to see in the world" is one of my favorite quotes. perhaps the idea of being love is something that i need to integrate into my life. still waters run very deep with me, but maybe it wouldn't be so bad to let a ripple or two cut the smooth surface every now and then.

i went onto the Cafe Gratitude website and was poised to buy the book, but then saw a tote bag with the cafe's logo, "What are you grateful for?" printed on it, and i decided to buy that too. except i didn't know how big the bag was, so i emailed the store to see what the dimensions were. no point in buying it if it's too small to carry anything in, yes? so, my Cafe Gratitude shopping cart is sitting, waiting to hear back from the administrative office. ah, red tape.

anyway, the thought of the book inspired me (again) to start my 10 commandments for 2011. and during my annual viewing of "The Holiday", i had another inspired thought for a new project for the year (and possibly down the road, my book): "365 Day Hi". the play on words refers to the "high" you get from getting a smile or hello response from a stranger. i've decided that, come january 1, 2011, i am going to say hi or smile genuinely at a stranger everyday, and see what comes of it. lord knows i can expound on any experience i have, ad nauseum, so it shouldn't be hard to do a 1 or 2 page chapter on each day. i don't expect to be able to do it on all days next year, but i'm certainly going to try. it'll give me something to focus on, other than things that i focus on that i shouldn't focus on. ahem.