I think about what is going on in the world ‘outside’ of me. It seems very surreal out there. I grew up in a more peaceful world, or so it seemed. I have learned that the world ‘inside’ of me is the most important place for me to live, move and have my being-ness. It is also the best way I can contribute to the outer world. By remaining in peace and in my joy as much as possible, which can sometimes be challenging, I am making a difference. We are energy. What we give out, we get back. I refuse to live in fear, motivated by what the ‘outer world’ dictates. One by one, as we collectively take our power back, this world will shift. As you live from the ‘inside out’ from a place of peace and love, your personal world will shift, as well as your perspective on the world you live in.

I love my life.  I am grateful for the joys and challenges that have made me who I am today.  Although I have always wanted to help ‘fix’ things for certain people in my life, I now realize that is their responsibility. We each have our own path to travel, yet we can show up for others with loving support.  My best contribution to the world is by being a living example of love, peace, joy, integrity, courage, really just by being my best ‘me.’  As we each hold a space of love for ourselves, each other and our world, we can be the change we want to see in the world. Think back to when you were very young. Remember the simple joy of just being you, the innocence, and wonder with which you viewed life.

It all starts with you!

Debra Oakland

As I sat at the beach recently contemplating life, growth and the New Year, a tree seemed to whisper my name. This beautiful tree that I sat before was sharing it’s wisdom about remaining rooted to the center of our core, as it remains rooted to the earth, connected to Mother Earth, to source, just as we are.

The branches that are rising up from the earth are bare, twisted and gnarled.  There is a feeling of this intense journey that it has been through, as we have been through in our lives.  Rising above are these beautiful branches, full of growth.  Leaves and flowers reach out north, east, west and south to the light, enjoying the sun, moon and stars. . Swaying with the wind and breeze, withstanding any challenge with dignity, grace and peace.  This tree just continues to flourish, growing in different directions following the natural path of it’s life, direction and source.

I feel this is a wise illustration of how we can live our lives in courage and joy, in a most natural organic way.  After all Mother Nature is our “Master Tutor!”  Freely providing her gifts and secrets for anyone seeking her wisdom and love.  I am grateful, very grateful for all Mother Earth has to offer.

I live in beautiful Laguna Beach, California.  A true resort and artist community, home of the “hippies” from the 60′s to current day.  All walks of life enjoy living here.  Surfers and sunbathers crowd the beaches. We have activists, sports enthusiasts, tourists buzz through town all year long.  We are home to the Pageant of the Masters. I could go on, but you get the picture.  Laguna Beach is a magical town.

Now Laguna Beach has Transition Laguna, which is the 10th official Transition Town Community in the United States.  The 129th in the world.  This is exciting to me.  Let me explain.  The Transition Initiative can be a town, village, or any community.  They ask the question “For all those aspects of life that this community needs in order to sustain itself and thrive, how do we significantly rebuild resilience (to mitigate the effects of Peak Oil and economic contraction) and drastically reduce carbon emissions (to mitigate the effects of Climate Change)?”   Each community forms it’s own Transition Group, creating a sustainable future for the residents.

Check out the The Transition Handbook

If you would like to know more about this, visit one of the websites above.  May 14th 2010 Transition Laguna Beach will host a party called “The Great Unleashing” from 6 to 10 p.m. May 14 at the Sawdust Art Festival, 935 Laguna Canyon Road. Sponsored by Hurley. Awesome party: Free. Brew, Food, Bands, Eco-Exhibits, Silent Auction. Motivate for Community Action Breakfast the next morning, Saturday, May 15th, 9:00 am to Noon.

May 15th come to Tivoli Terrace at Festival of the Arts Grounds for the Community Action Group Breakfast. Enjoy great food, a motivating celeb key note speaker, and a chance to form action groups. This “Open Space”, is a creative, playful, yet focused opportunity to make a difference. Don’t miss this event!  Are you interested in sustainable living, clean water, organic food, safe lighting for your home?  This is a venue that will provide you with education, while you are meeting great people, and having fun.  Life is supposed to be fun right? I hope to see you there!

Debra Oakland @ Living in Courage Online

There is an ancient story of a wild pink Rose of incomparable beauty and perfection.  The Rose knew it had only a short life in bloom.  So time was precious, magical really.

The very essence of the Rose entered into each passerby who touched the beautiful petals.  The Rose held a soft pink with streaks of silver running from its base to the exquisitely curled edges of perfection.  This Rose held secrets, as all roses do.  This secret was different.  This single Rose held the secrets of Freedom through Love.

Standing tall and gracefully regal in the light of the sun, Freedom’s Love Rose whispered to everyone passing by.  For those who heard the call and came forward, each found a different secret, unique to their needs.  For some it was forgiveness, for others it was healing, prosperity, health, kindness, peace and joy.  Freedom from all that is not love.  All day the little pink Rose touched the lives of unsuspecting passers by.

The real magic occurred when a person stopped to touch and take in the fragrance of this special pink Rose.  By the power of attention to the Rose, each person was given the gift of recognizing their own love, light, abundance, beauty, freedom, courage, strength and perfection.  This made space for the miracle of their life to unfold by growing deep inside their heart.  Recognition of this Rose burst open the Flame of Love’s Freedom for those wise enough to see what others had missed.  Sometimes the best things in life are hidden in plain view.

I like to think that for some it is a Rose, for others perhaps someone who is cold and hungry on the street, a butterfly fluttering close, the smile of a stranger or a song the breeze carries to you.  Love can be everywhere when we let it in.  There are many ways to unlock the heart and all of its amazing secrets.  All in plain sight.  Like the beautiful Rose who wilts and moves on, leaving seeds behind for more roses to bloom.  Everything changes, morphs and shifts holding secrets waiting to be discovered and shared.

Debra Oakland @ Living in Courage Online

In cleaning out my storage unit, which took enormous courage by the way! I found these words by an unknown author.  I find the “unknown” writings are some of the most powerful.

“If, as Herod, we fill our lives with things, and again with things; if we consider ourselves so unimportant that we must fill very moment of our lives with action, when will we have the time to make the long, slow journey across the desert as did the Magi? Or sit and watch the stars as did the shepherds?  Or contemplate the coming of the child as did Mary?  For each one of us, there is a desert to travel.  A star to discover.  And a being within ourselves to bring to life.”

It takes courage to be still – to listen.  The moments our wisdom whispers to us are when we become still enough to listen to the secrets of the breeze between heart and mind.  This life is a journey for each and every one of us.  Where will your journey take you?  Where will you take your journey?

I send you love and a very light path to guide you on your life’s journey.

Debra Oakland @ Living in Courage Online

“Have the Courage to love your humanity free as it seeks to balance the mind and heart.  In this balance you will find your freedom.” ~~Debra Oakland

A few days ago I decided to take my camera and walk into Laguna Beach, which is less than a mile from my home.  There have been many changes in Laguna lately.  Businesses closing, new ones opening or buildings left empty for the time being.  For some reason I wanted to document some of my favorite spots and old haunts on my camera.  I walked around willing myself to see Laguna as if I was visiting for the first time.

In the 20 years I have lived in Laguna Beach, I have missed many little details.  How very refreshing to see everything with a renewed sense of enthusiasm.  I think a great deal about courage. It lifts our souls and carries us forward.  Change may be feared at times but no change will transpire in time and space that happens before we are fully able to use it for our own growth and glory.  We are all true champions of courage when we lead our best life and share it with others.

Back to my walk about with the camera.  As I walked down an alley taking photos, I approached a corner and a small woman in her 70′s walked up to me and asked me if I thought it would be okay for her to pick one of the chrysanthemum buds growing next to us.  I said of course you can pick them.  We walked to the wall and she carefully chose the one she wanted and broke off the piece.  I noticed the care she took to hold it, as if it was the greatest gift.  A smile spread across her face as she looked at the little flower and ran her hand over it delicately.  We talked for 25 or 30 minutes as I asked about her life.  This little woman was dressed very simply.  I learned she was born in Brooklyn, left her career to care for her sick mother and now lives with her daughter in Laguna.  I also learned she loves to paint and sculpt roses.  There was an angelic quality about her and a deep inner strength that comes from living a courageous life.  I felt very blessed to have been walking down that alley to meet this wonderful woman.  I felt such a sense of peace about her.  That was my miracle of the day.  They happen to us every day.  I was very in tune with being in the moment that day, so for me the experience was magical.  If I had been in a hurry rushing right passed her, I would have missed sharing a very special experience I will never forget.

Debra Oakland @ Living In Courage Online

I was laying in bed this morning in a state of stillness and peace.  I noticed sounds all around me.  I could hear cars on Pacific Coast Highway whizzing by. Von’s Pavilion is just below my house, which means I hear car doors opening and closing, cars coming and going, shopping carts being moved around, and people talking.  I heard the crows outside in the tree squawking . I was really wishing for silence. And then it happened.

The most beautiful song from a bird outside my window caught my attention.  I listened very intently.  Do you know what happened?  All the other sounds drowned out and I heard only this one bird.  It was as if all the other sounds dissappeared.

They call that power of attention.  It is simple really.  I lay there thinking about the the sounds I did not want to hear at that moment and the one that I wanted to hear.  What we place our attention on becomes predominant in our lives.  We can drown out the things in our lives we don’t want.  We get to choose.  I know we are all powerful creators, but daily life can drag many people down.  Many changes are occuring in the world. They must occur for the shifts this planet needs.  How do we get throught them?  We hear the bird singing, we stay focused on what is important in our lives and we come back to Love.  That is where all things heal.  I send you love in your life’s journey – please take the time to pay it forward.  You will find that what you give out will return to you.  Where is your attention?  Keep it on the good things.  Be kind and loving to others and it will be returned to you.

Debra Oakland @ Living In Courage Online

The wind tasted like sweet wine as I walked through the vineyard.  I noticed a feeling of excitement as I moved forward. The courage to accept something new. My body tingling with anticipation.  Each step into the vineyard spoke volumes about my life. Years of crazy adventures moved behind me.  A sense of purpose even I did not understand pushed at me.  My path was set.

I started laughing at the absurdity of it all.  Life is full of surprises, twists and turns.  I exited the vineyard, along with my deep thoughts. I began to laugh, rolling my eyes upwards in full agreement with this turn of events.  I surrendered to the inevitable conclusion that had been before me my entire life, yet somehow set aside.  I stepped out of the vineyard into my new life as a writer.

Debra Oakland @ Living In Courage Online

I am reading “The Voice Of The Muse” by Mark David Gerson. For anyone who wants to write, I highly recommend this book.  It is not your average book on writing.  This teaches you to write from the inside out, not the outside in. You learn to answer the call, give your words a voice.

I chose a word as directed in the book, which came to me.  The word was “Feathers.”  I was then encouraged to pick a word randomly in one of four ways.  My word was “purple.” I felt the need to combine the two.  Here is the result of trusting my inner Muse.  I hope you like it.  I would like to thank Mark David Gerson for trusting his inner Muse in writing this wonderful book.

Debra Oakland @ Living In Courage Online

Feather – Purple Feather

Feather, purple feather.  Have you ever seen one?  I hadn’t until now.  It was my first exquisite sighting of such perfection. As it floated to the ground beneath my feet, I heard it’s song.  The softest of all melodies played just for me. My heart began to beat faster, my senses alive.

I felt an opening in my mind like a blinding light.  Sharp clarity holding me in its grasp.  I waited, not knowing what to do next.  My body began a dance unknown to me.  A rhythm stirred within me that felt familiar, yet ancient.  A smile crossed my lips as I surrendered to the moment.  Each movement became a celebration of Life.  I began to see beyond the veil.  Time was of no consequence, mattering not in the least.

Only the rhythmic music stirred my soul.  The movements of my body slowed as I felt myself wrapped in feathers. Feathers of purple flames caressing my body softly.  Such a deep contentment floated around me as I began to pluck the feathers from the space surrounding me, where they teased my senses.

I gathered them all up into a bouquet.  The beauty stole my breath.  I knew I would never be ordinary again.

~~ Debra Oakland

Imagine children doing genius activities.  Where does this come from? Some come in gifted, others work hard for what they achieve in life.  If we could only be so open to trying new things or break out of the boxes we place around ourselves.  Children are courageous, unafraid.  They explore by touching everything in site.  Looking at the world for the first time has to be such a wonderful experience that most of us soon forget as we grow up.  Children are great teachers of Living in Courage.  Sadly, far too often we conform to the experiences and advice of those we grow up with.  Tear down the walls of mediocrity.  Live your life of courage, not someone else’s.  You are as unique as your fingerprint.  There are no two alike.  When you make it a point to achieve greatness, you will be unstoppable.

Debra Oakland @ Living in Courage Online