June 2003

I welcome June, busting out all over. The month of May brought great happiness. Peter and I flew out to see our favorite artist friend Roger Muhl and his wife Line in Provence What a magical time we had celebrating our anniversary, the art spirit, and friendship, in extraordinary beauty – the weather cool and sunny and the sky a stunning cobalt blue.

We ended the merry month of May with the annual Riot Relief Fund luncheon, an organization of twelve Trustees founded 140 years ago, July 17, 1863. Three people had lunch at Demonico’s on Fifth Avenue to discuss the devastating Civil War draft riots in New York City. These three men got up a purse that is still being used to help police officers' and fire fighters' families who die in the line of duty, giving money to the spouses and children. The Riot Relief Fund gives money for bulletproof vests, scholarships for interns at the Unites States Attorney’s office and the New York County District Attorney’s office. Supporters of the Fund, concerned citizens of New York City and friends, gathered on May 29th to honor the 31st Fire Commissioner, Nicholas Scoppetta, who received the Fund’s Medal of Honor for Outstanding Service.

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg recognized the beneficial role of the Trustees of the Riot Relief Fund in their long public private initiative to support the police and the fire fighters, the City’s “finest and bravest.” The event was memorable, enjoyable and powerful.

After a reception we went into a large dining room with a sea of white tablecloths decorated with red and [purple] blue anenomes – red for firefighters, blue for the police. Bagpipers of the Police Department’s Emerald Society stirred our souls with their haunting melodies. The leader dedicated a patriotic tune to our troops overseas.

The treasurer’s brief report reminded us that the Fund immediately distributed checks with a personal letter from Peter to the families of 343 people who tragically lost their loved one in one day, September 11, 2001. I’ve lived in New York City since 1959. Never have I been more proud to be a New Yorker, to feel the resilience and energy of this great city.

We all left on a high beam of radiant happiness. The sun was strong; the city was indeed shining brightly.

On the spur of the moment, we asked our out-of-town friends to come to our apartment for tea at 4 o’clock. We welcomed Tiffany Hess who came from Utah, Jayne and Larry D’Atri who came from Ohio and Carolyn and Doug Bell who came up from Florida, as well as family and close friends. Some days are as big as years. What a sweet way to end the month of May.

June promises to be a fun, productive month. I’m deeply into my book, Things I Want My Daughters to Know. I’m also writing Time Alive, the new title for my other book. Both books are exhilarating to me, stimulating my mind, nourishing my soul, enriching my days with challenging thoughts and big ideas to express simply and clearly.

I am happiest when I am writing, taking time to read, reflect, mediate and discover things I believe in passionately.

I hope June finds you thriving, not merely coping. I worked on a book in the late 80’s that was never published because I wanted it to be about living abundantly and the editorial direction seemed to wish it to be slant toward coping.

We’re all here, alive, with fresh opportunities to choose to create, express and make our lives meaningful. Rather than bare simplifying our lives, cutting back, doing less, I challenge myself and you to do more, to live more deeply and to take on more. There is a huge wealth of abundant positive energy waiting to be released. Well-being abounds. Our life force is crying out to be utilized and celebrated. These moments are precious.

Start something you’ve put off for years. There is no better time; there is only now time. In these three golden months of summer, where the living is “easy,” make them count. Be accountable for how you expend your energy, how you choose to use your most precious resource, time alive!

Thank you for your communications. You continue to inspire me as I write. I hope, in turn, I’m able to encourage you to deepen and grow more conscious of the depth of well being you possess.

Take chunks of time for yourself. I have a bright yellow postcard with one short two-letter work “My.” We need to remind ourself to be possessive of our time, not just our things. My treasury of time is sacred to me. I hope you too will feel the tremendous power of this precious commitment to your Self.

Happy June.

Love and Live Happy,

Book Sale
If you haven?t read Daring to Be Yourself, I have hard-cover copies on sale for $20.00. This book encourages you to express your unique self in all areas of your life. Good summer reading.

Dear Alexandra,Thank you for doing what you love so much ... writing beautiful books. I just love your thoughts, ideas and advice. Enclosed is one of my favorite moments -- in front of my Cape Cod fireplace with your book and Jake at my feet. You will never know how much your writing has helped me, but I wanted you to know that you have made a big difference in my life.
My thanks always, Carol McCracken

Many of you have expressed an interest in this great artist’s work. I’ve been collecting Muhl paintings for 42 years. If you are interested in becoming a proud owner, please let me know. The prices range from lithographs to oils. Fax me at (212) 996-4625. Tell me your price range (lithographs are $1,400 and oils are $6,000 to $36,000). This one artist has brought great joy to the lives of hundred of collectors.

Read any book by Dr. Wayne Dyer.