I wake up early this morning (as usual) up writing by 5:30am. I think about my life - reflection, introspection. I look at the year gone by, I think about the year approaching…what else do I want to do to finish this year of 2009? I remembered weighing myself before my shower this morning, 179 lbs. Ever since I finished writing HEALING my weight has stayed the same. The 15 lbs of creativity that had accumulated prior to the birth of that book feels so much better not on my body now. I think back to what else do I want to do this year, not what else do I have to do. I have accomplished most of what I set out to do. Yesterday HEALING was shipped off to the printers, it’s like I just dropped that baby off at her first day of pre-school. Of course when she comes back home there’s still more work to do. The book launch is set for January 1st, 2010. Many things I do the remainder of this year will be preparing for the launch. I am excited about that. And…what else do I want to do with my time?

I am not going to work so much in December. I am going to see more movies with my daughter. Play more and have more fun. There is some very familiar dog energy coming around and for those that know the story of my old friend Buffy - let’s just say she is showing up in a couple of different bodies now. I am looking inside to see if I am ready, I am looking outside to see if I am ready (I know this is a little vague, more to come, stay tuned). I may be agreeing to a new companion soon.

Speaking of companions, speaking of family, speaking of friendships and community - I feel them all growing. Stretching, reaching, and rumbling around. It’s all good! 2009 has been a good year and it’s not over yet. Thanksgiving provides me with an opportunity to check in, reflect, and introspect. I have a lot to be grateful for.

I am grateful to my father for all he provided and taught me. I send him love for all the difficulty we experienced in openly loving each other this lifetime. I am grateful for all of the inspiration he is sending me now. I am grateful for Tim Heath and the catalyst he was for me as I made this turn into remembering I am a healer. I am grateful for my mom and the strength she shows me everyday in her experience of life as a nurse and nurturer of others. I have learned how a person can live their life of service and be happy with little need for self-recognition. I am so grateful for the angel that my mom has been to me and so many people in her lifetime.

You know at the end of the day…I have a lot to be grateful for! I am grateful for you. And the sun is breaking through, I will go now and give my gratitude to the light. LIFE IS GOOD! Love, David

In HEALING I mention a couple of shortcuts to healing and self-love and quite simply they are the use of creativity and gratitude. I often encourage people not to look for shortcuts and to do the all the work instead, nevertheless these are two of the most direct ways to the spirit and I say, “Go for the shortcut with creativity and gratitude!” I guess if I had to say which was the shortest cut of the two I would say genuine gratitude from the heart. It can change your experience of life immediately. Creativity on the other hand is a process that can dredge beyond the depths of your awareness. It is such an amazing therapeutic and expansive process when a person lets go of the self and moves into the Universal flow of creative energy. Magical healing energy flows with the conscious vibration of spirit, which moves through the artist and the medium they are creating with.

…and then the really bright student says, “What happens if I combine gratitude and creativity?”

When a positive, healing flow of communication comes through the artist and lifts up others with a Universal insight, the world becomes a better place. This is why artists create, this is how human’s heal, and this is why I write. Sharing what I have learned about healing allows me to use my creativity in helping others. It gives me a break from actually doing healing work and it allows me to reach people that I may never come face to face with. I experience so much gratitude in my life from others that it is doubly important for me to have thanksgiving for my creativity, my work and my life.

So, in this circuitous route about shortcuts, I get to expressing what I am most grateful for, which has been my decision to write. I do not delude myself thinking I am meant to be the most eloquent writer, the smartest, or the most well-read. Rather, I will always remember one of the first book store events, I was anxious about whether anyone was going to show up and how it would go. I excused myself and visited the restroom to have a moment to myself. When I came out a lady met me just outside the door. She had a tear rolling down her cheek and said, “Oh, I am so happy to meet you! I have just finished reading your book and it has given me hope that I can heal and keep living this life.” As I watched this tear make it way to her chin I smiled and knew everything was going to be OK. I heard the voice that guides me say, “There, you wrote the book for her.” In some strange way I realized I was complete with The Reluctant Healer’s journey. It indeed would have a life of its own. All I needed to do then was continue on the tour, share, meet people, and get out of the way.

As I continued on and now about to release the second book, I know I am not writing for everybody. I know Healing will be a lot of work for those who take it on. I have written it for the people who want to do the work. I did not write it for those who are not ready. I am fine for those not ready to get ready one day. I am a patient man. When I say do the work I am primarily talking about doing the exercises, meditations and taking time with the book and your process. It is designed to bring stuff up.

…back to the circuitous route…(not much of a written shortcut!) what I have learned about me doing my work. I am doing my work for those who want it and are ready for it. I know some of those not ready will possibly react in negative ways to the work, the message, my writing, and the meditation CD’s. Here’s the big nugget - the work is not about me and it is definitely not about my ego. The Universe is my employer. I am guided by the Universe to do what I do. As much as I like to hear positive things I am not seduced by them and as much as I do not like to hear negative things I am not seduced by them. I do my work. I have gratitude for the Universe’s participation in my life. I share this with you with the hope that you persevere with your creativity. Put it out there and have gratitude for it and all of the angels who come along to assist you in the process. Create for those who are ready to receive the love from the Universe that flows through you, do not worry about critics - send them love like all the rest. And if you are loved by everybody, great! Choose the shortcuts - gratitude and creativity. LOVE, David

What is a writer? One who is well read, or one who is well written? Or is a writer simply one who writes because they have to? There is often a stumbling block about the writer needing to be intelligent. I think the writer is one who is willing to risk exposing their point of view. So, would a person who writes and never shares their stories and ideas actually be a writer? Or what about the writer who does share and is not well received? Does that have any relevance to them being a writer? Can a writer be a writer without an audience? It didn’t stop Van Gogh from painting, why should it stop a writer from writing?

My point to this is why let the idea of external approval stop your voice, creativity and expression? How much creativity is destroyed by the artist out of doubt and frustration. The key to freedom of expression is to do the craft. Do the craft until you become good at it. Have fun doing it. Express your heart to its content, and then express some more.

I do not think it is about intelligence as much as it’s about willingness to risk sharing yourself. It should be obvious that I am a fan of expression. I am a fan of creativity. I am a fan of the written word. I am way more interested in the story you have to tell than how well you think you have to tell it. Give me the story. Share the experience that is unique to you…let’s go!

One of the most simple ways for me to love and heal is to be grateful. Gratitude takes me beyond my mind and emotions. It puts me in the moment with the Universe and helps open my heart. Yesterday my daughter Ruby put her head on my shoulder and said, “Thank you for bringing me to New Mexico, Dad!” It put a smile on my face. We have been working on how abundant the Universe is. As a single child she has many opportunities and has to work at learning more about giving and sharing than children of larger families. She was asking for a new iPod touch the other day and I reminded her she had an iPod Nano that she hardly used. She said, “You have an iPhone an iPod and a computer…” I reminded her I use these in my work and that I am the one paying for them (I had lot’s of reasons and she was getting kind of big for her britches!) She replied, “I bet you had lot’s of things as a kid.” I said, “You got that wrong sister! I had one pair of shoes. No fancy gadgets like an iPod, and most of the toys I shared with my brother and sisters. I was lucky if I had one toy that was my own.” She has been mulling that over for days and has asked me several times about that one pair of shoes. She can’t imagine one pair of shoes. She keeps asking were they tennis shoes, boots, or dress shoes? I assure her she is a lucky girl and that there are many children today who are lucky having one pair of shoes. I am grateful she is actually processing this a bit at age 7 yrs 10.5 months. It’s never too early. I will never forget my father’s stories about how tough it was on him growing up and how much hardship he endured. It is all relative to our own experience and I remember thinking my Dad was stretching the truth a bit with his stories. I know now he wasn’t as I try to share the importance of gratitude with Ruby and even if she doesn’t get the full reality about it I am happy with what she grasps.

As I look back at my childhood I am grateful for the lessons. I learned so much about family, life, love and work. All that I learned as a child serves me so well in my life today. I have learned if I give energy to the Universe it will give it back to me multiplied. I never take anything for granted about this life. As a father I feel it is my responsibility to teach my daughter about gratitude. It is an abundant Universe!

I encourage you to think about all you have to be grateful for. How thankful are you in your giving and receiving? Are you exchanging love and consciousness with all you do? This is a good life. Love, David

That question was posed about 20 years ago to me by my friend Tim Heath. He said, “David are you having any fun yet?” I had to take a good hard look at that. The question bothered me for days and then weeks. Finally I decided I was too serious. As much as I loved acting I was too serious about it as well as my life. I wanted to lighten up? Somewhere about this time “the healing phase” kicked in. I thought it would pass. Nevertheless, the more I looked the more I realized I was missing a pretty good life. Things had always kind of magically happened for me. I can’t say it flourished with acting but who knows what would have happened if healing had not taken over? I had gotten just enough of a taste of acting to stay in Los Angeles. I paid close attention to the city, actors, artists, entertainers and business people. I paid a lot of attention to many things. I did not fail to notice that the Universe has a tremendous sense of humor. I learned to lighten up and go with the flow, and the “healer phase” never stopped flowing. Call it karma, or call it a calling. At least I can say, “I AM HAVING FUN!” If I weren’t I would do something else. I have never not felt supported by the Universe. I consider healing a profession, career, and great occupation! I do not whence when I say, “I am a healer.” I am fine with the smiles, looks and questions. It’s a good thing to be having fun and to be defining the way I live my life by the way the Universe guides and supports me. All I have to do is say, “Yes!” And remember to have fun. That seems to be the formula for longevity in anything really.

AND…I get to live my life as an artist. A healer is an artist, and an artist is a healer. I can heal, write, play, garden, travel, create, be a father, play some more and have fun. The absolute key to my life is my choice to love myself, my willingness to exchange this love with the Universe, and to have fun living this life. Those are the ingredients of a joyful happy life. Throw in a feeling of being on purpose with what I do and I do not know how life could be much better…so, I encourage you to have as much fun as possible in your endeavors. Celebrate your life. Love, David

The beauty of being an artist is the ever so powerful risk associated and confronted by expressing one’s creativity. There is no need for the artist to kill the ego - just love it by creating through it, over it and around it. “Outcreate” the safety of the ego by loving and expressing no matter how you feel. Amazingly the risk dissolves into excitement. The beauty of using creativity is it heals doubt, depression, and lack of self-love by opening the artist up to the Universe. It is an action oriented craft that spirit connects and flows through. I am continuously blown away by the artists on this planet who create and put it out there - because they have to! So, to the creators and lovers of life. SALUTE! Love, David

ps…yes, we can all think of some artistic messages that are “light-filled” and would not appear to be creating love. My answer to this is we live in a free-will Universe. It takes all types to make the world go round, or to effectively see ourselves as human. At the core level, with the power of the artist to communicate messages in the most spiritual of ways, I choose to be on the “light team” spreading peace and love throughout the land. Go team!

The ego is a control freak that does its best to shut down the artist. The ego does its best to make all of your creations about whether you are good enough. Therefore, many if not most artists/writers think their art is about them, their intelligence, and is their expression interesting or good enough. The ego is a master craftsman of negativity. It can control just about all experiences human and most do not realize they are being controlled at all. The ego makes everything about “it”. If you are a writer and you think the thought, “This isn’t any good!” “This writing is bad!” These are the thoughts of your ego, do not trust them. Endure to persevere through the doubt. Creativity heals as you choose to step through the ego and grow the roots of trust through your expression. The only way the Universe, Light, God, Spirit - creativity can flow through you is for you to open to it. The ego tries to clamp that down to suppress it with criticism and negativity. The artists job is to push through, to grow on the job, to risk, to persevere. CREATE, Create, create! It will set you free. Eventually the muscles of doing will become stronger than the muscles of doubting, and this is where the freedom and expansion lies. This is where the Universe represents itself through each and every artist who is willing to get out of the way with self doubt. This is where the Universe teaches the artist about self-love. The flow of energy that moves through the artist when they are creating becomes magical because it is so much bigger and more inclusive than the individual. When the Universe graces the artist with life force because of their willingness to create their message/art become alive and full of energy. It is something many can relate to because they can feel the energy, it moves them emotionally, intellectually, physically and most of all it moves them spiritually.

So, if you have something to express. Do it! Get out of the way. It will heal you. Love, David