I had not paid much attention to the World Cup until last week when I happened to catch the second half of the US-Algeria game. The best part was that I was watching it on Univision, so when the US won, the emotional factor went off the charts with the Latin announcers scream-singing “GOOOOAAAALLLL” accompanied by the unbridled enthusiasm that only they can express about the how and why of the win, especially after the bad calls against them in previous games. “La esperanza! La fe! El corazon sobre la forma! La lucha y el espiritu de este equipo que triunfo, que es justo!…”

If you don’t speak Spanish, the gist is this: it was all about the spirit,determination, fight and heart of the team, not necessarily anything technical that got them the win.  After that experience, I watched with excitement their dramatic game with Ghana on Saturday. Although they did not advance further, Team USA surely did not lose.

The flamboyant, gender-bending US Olympic figure skater Johnny Weirhas had ups and downs throughout his career and his share of unfair marks by international judges.  All along he refused to be anything but who he is and always excelled when he put the “Johnny” back in the performance along with his love of the sport, and his costumes.

Although he did not bring home a medal from Vancouver, he skated his personal best and received incredible press, speaking engagements, his own reality show and a bright future ahead.  Because he worked extremely hard, remained genuine and let his spirit shine through, Johnny surely did not lose.

What both our soccer team and Weir have in common with their world competitions is that they represented the USA with passion and perseverance, and in true American style embraced who they are, carried on in spite of all obstacles and were victorious in their own ways.

In honor of our upcoming Independence Day, let your Unique Spirit and Authenticity overtake whatever you do and see what happens! If you’re having a little trouble, then give me a buzz so I can find the moxie in your mojo and help you accomplish whatever it takes to make your country proud!

One of my favorite songs this (or any!) time of year – is Will Smith/DJ Jazzy Jeff’s  Summertime. Nearly two decades old, it still has a timeless, classic vibe and sweet groove that embodies the flava of the season.

With the solstice now behind us, summer has officially started. We’re in the midst of many endings and beginnings – school finishes, camp commences; text books begone, trashy novels devoured; serious films scaled back, popcorn vampire explosion movies released in full force; beach and barbeque gatherings abound.  For a couple of months we allow ourselves to take more time than usual to enjoy outdoor, fun, social and recreational activities without much of the guilt/low priority often assigned to them the rest of the year.

We’re also halfway through 2010 – a good time to check in with yourself and see if you need to rev up your engines, shift gears or just cruise along with your roof down taking in the scenery listening to some fly tunes. For many you can simply let all the hard work you put in the first six months of the year marinate a bit more before putting it on the grill …

But if you’re far away from where you set out to be in January, feeling restless instead of relaxed, or not even sure what your focus should be with these long hot days ahead, give me a buzz. I’m here to help you make the most of your energy and time… so just sit back and unwind.

This past weekend I attended a double-feature of documentaries at the Explorer’s Club, and was particularly moved by the film Man on a Mission, which follows the lifelong journey of multi-millionaire video game celebrity/genius Richard Garriott and his dream to become the first second-generation American astronaut.

Now, I’m not a ‘space cadet’ (as I learned such enthusiasts are called) but I did become enraptured by this extraordinary man’s quest, despite several obstacles, millions of dollars, and intense physical and mental training, to manifest his desire to follow in his father’s footsteps. Like any other person with their eye on the prize, he just did whatever he needed to make things happen, and it’s a truly inspiring real-life, albeit super-sized, tale.

But besides making ground-breaking history and removing barriers to space travel, Garriott described his experience as transformational – as many who return from orbit do – because of what is called the ‘overview effect‘ – seeing the Earth from outer space and the internal shift and revelations that transpire as a result.

Yet you don’t have to endure zero gravity or eat freeze-dried goop to get a similar perspective if you just take a step back from time to time and simply imagine what your life would look like if observed from the International Space Station, and how it fits into the rest of the Big Blue Marble we inhabit.

If you can’t quite get there on your own, then give me a buzz so I can reflect a little moonlight on you and have our session be the launch pad to a life that any Earthling or extraterrestrial would envy!

When I was a kid, we used go around teasing each other as if this was some embarrassing declaration. Of course the joke was that it’s almost always showing, especially in the summer!

Our physical body is our face to the world, but it’s not all of us.  If we consider that our skin is the clothing for who we really are, then what do you look like naked? Does your inner self reflect what’s on the outside and vice-versa?

Well, if you are a cast member of Jersey Shore, I would say the answer might be yes…but then there is the question of when is exposing too much epidermis making up for a lack of something underneath? And what about what you wear on your body? This, too, is an extension and expression of your true self and has nothing to do with looking like you stepped out of the latest issue of Vogue.

The goal is to be so in harmony with your thoughts, words and deeds that it shows in your personality, clothes and interactions with others; save the masks and uniforms for Halloween or a tv reality show.  The irony is that most of the time transparency happens whether you like it or not – what’s going on the inside will automatically be seen on the outside.

So if you are not quite feeling like your magnificence is reflected in your Manolo’s  (or your substance in your Snooki-bump or spray-tan),   give me a buzz.  I can be your outer mirror and inner stylist to help every part of you shine!

The unofficial start of summer is traditionally accompanied by a more relaxed, go-with-the-flow kind of attitude.  Years ago there were only re-runs on a very limited number of TV channels and no internet to entice/distract/constrain us from being outside enjoying the warmer weather and longer days.

With our 21st century 24/7 lifestyle, this means that we have to consciously take time to disconnect with technology and re-connect with Nature, and ourselves.

Like that cool special effect in big blockbuster movies of our recent past and present,  we need to pause midair and get a full 360 degree view of what is going on around us so that we can take the precise action to defend and/or advance who we are and what we want.

So while in the park or at the beach, be sure to take a moment to reflect on where you really want to be going and why, rather than just moving unconsciously from one activity to the next, day after day.  If you’ve been feeling too anxious or not in control, give me a buzz – I’ll take the remote out of your hand, put it on slo-mo, and guarantee you’ll be feelin’ groovy in no time!

I never watched an episode of this much beloved recently departed TV series, but learned that a lot of you out there have dedicated the past six years to figuring out what it all means, and wondering what you are going to do now that it’s over?

Instead of trying to sort out what happened to the passengers of Oceanic Flight 815, why not spend as much time and energy making sense of the who, what, when, where and why of your own life, work and relationships, or perhaps even the world, since as they say, fact is often stranger (or more interesting!) than fiction.

I’m always recommending that you spend more quality time with yourself, but a lack of hours in the day is often the excuse. Using at least half the time you were watching, chatting about and/or analyzing what was happening on the show – plus a little grace – will, like the famous hymn says, make it so that if you once were lost, you can now be found.

But if you are feeling a little less than amazing or even blind, then give me a buzz so I can help you see how everything and everyone connects in your life, and what you can do to make your own personal season and series finale one to be proud of!

Actors, when interviewed about their craft, often talk about finding out what the ‘truth’ of the situation is for their part; Shakespeare tells us “all the world’s a stage; all the men and women merely players.”

We are all characters in our own play or movie acting out daily scenes, but it’s easy to forget that we’re also the producers, writers and directors, especially when it comes to our relationships.  We can cast to a certain extent who is in our life, assign them certain roles and create all the drama, comedy and tragedy that we want.  We can even re-write the script when we have the courage to do so.

The best way to do this is to be honest with yourself so that you can communicate from the heart exactly what it is that you want and need. Most of us do not walk around with ESP, so it’s really up to you to say what you mean and mean what you say (in an appropriate way, of course!) and let the chips fall where they may, knowing that you honored what is real and true for you.

If it’s not a common practice, speaking your truth can feel uncomfortable and even messy, and can make you or the other person feel like a deer in headlights- but at least you’ll get to the bottom of things and set the stage to make the next scene better.

You can run but you can’t hide from the truth, and telling it to yourself is the first step.  If you’re too scared or unable to see it, I can be the spotlight that illuminates what’s really going on so that you can then create the starring role with a happy ending that you so deserve!

What’s going on? Whether socially or sensually – many have gottin’ it on to Marvin Gaye’s tunes, being enlightened and healed in a variety of ways as a result. You say you want a revolution? The Beatles told us it’s gonna be alright.  And the Rolling Stones declared we can’t always get what we want, but if we try sometimes, we get what we need.

The turmoil taking place both here and across the pond (that would be an oil spill, flooding, volcanic ash clouds, tornadoes, bankrupt governments, elections up in the air, stock market plunging, foiled terrorist plot, political protests and strikes to name a few) can make you a little on edge if you really take a minute to consider all these upheavals happening simultaneously. If you are feeling directly affected or anxious about it, there are ways to keep you in the groove.

Think about what crisis is bubbling up or spinning out of control in your world physically, emotionally or otherwise? Since we are all connected on one level or another, each of us can create peace in our own piece of the pie. If we take responsibility to put out, learn from and even prevent massive fires from happening in our individual lives, we’ll be doing our part to keep things as collectively calm as possible.

So if you find yourself in a bit of stormy seas, give me a buzz.  I’ll help you see what might be stirring things up and offer solutions to get you back on course. Like Simon & Garfunkel, I can be that bridge over troubled water that eases your mind!

In the best-selling book Eat, Pray, Love, Liz Gilbert visits a holy man in Bali who gives her a meditation to ‘smile in every part of your body, even in your liver’. This is a great way to activate the feelings of joy within…even just reading that makes you feel a little lighter and more relaxed doesn’t it?

Well, if that doesn’t do it, then what will? Whatever the thought or image is, make sure you get a daily dose in order to keep yourself young, happy and at peace. Doing so has numerous health benefits and when identified and used properly, is cheaper and better than any diet pill, drug or food out there!

Whether savoring a scoop of gelato, relishing in a job well-done, experiencing a romantic moment, or watching an episode of Glee, recognize and cherish those moments you feel joyful. Try to sustain and bathe in the sensation for as long as you can and be able to recall it when you need it the most.

I recently attended a friend’s musical that had me smiling from ear to ear, and from my heart, gut and, yes, even my liver for an hour and a half.  If he had not followed his calling to create, I would not have enjoyed the positive mental, physical and emotional benefits that came along with it.

Everyone has the capacity to bring joy to the world, or at least to someone else. If you don’t believe me or are not quite sure how, gimme a buzz -because my work gives me such joy, it would be my pleasure, literally, to help you figure it out!

Every day we find ourselves inundated with email, blogs, texts, status updates, tweets galore and more.  We are more connected yet disconnected than ever.  What kind of quality control do you have over interaction with the people who matter to you most?

Technology can keep us up to date with the latest photos of your vacation or what interesting article you just read, and more mundane things like how bored you are at work or what you ate for breakfast. But how much of that is really filling up your need to share and bond with others? Meeting with a friend over coffee or a glass of wine simply can’t be replaced by a Facebook ‘like’.

All these tools have their pros and cons when it comes to connecting with someone online versus in-person. They are like apples and oranges – and I suppose it’s better to have some fruit than none at all – but hopefully you have enough variety to add up to a tasty fruit salad.

Diana Ross sings, “Reach out and touch somebody’s hand, make this world a better place, if you can.”  At the end of the day we are humans, and humans need to feel ‘touched’ by other humans, not computers.

So make the effort to have a meaningful interaction with someone in your life on a weekly basis, and if you’re not sure who that should be or ‘don’t have the time’  I can help you see which relationships would be a nutritious snack, and which are just a bunch of artificial flavors.