Architecture as Provocateur

Oh, those stairs. Steep and straight with no exit left or right should the climb become too much. Up OR down. Or, not at all. Eyes and imagination alone taking the trip. And that diagonal line slicing the incline in half, the brilliant light above, so inviting, so enticing; the dark shadow below, providing respite from the day's heat. Or perhaps, a foreboding of what lies up there in the beyond. What is at the top, if indeed that is the top? Is whatever 'it' is, worth the climb?

Visiting Richard Meier's exquisite J. Paul Getty Museum recently, I was struck by 

the power of architecture + the play of light and shadow to evoke essential questions about the lives we create for ourselves. 

Questions such as:

Do I know where I'm headed and more importantly, why? 

Who can I, do I, want to be and what can I, do I, want to do? 

Am I willing to take risks, to challenge myself to the end despite the effort required, my fears of failure, naysayers and the unknown?  

When climbing, if I discover a compelling 'no', am I willing to stop, review and retreat?  

What will it cost me if I don't climb at all?

PLEASE SHARE: How about you? 
What or who inspires you to reflect?
What or who drives you to say 'yes' or 'no' to a climb?
How do you address challenges on your climb?
What is a climb worth taking?

                                           

You Can Do Well While Doing Good

Want to send a low-income East Bay woman to biz school? Join the Women's Initiative for Self Employment raffle and help bring one more woman closer to developing a business plan and becoming a confident leader of her own life and owner of a successful business! Raffle tickets are just $25 and may be purchased from me - call: 510.919.2944; email: dewhitaker@openingeyes.net; or stop me (I'll have them with me) if you'd like to support Women's Initiative in this way.  

                                      You can do well while doing good!

WIN! WIN! WIN!

4 blissful nights at a luxurious Lake Tahoe cabin

 iPad Mini

$300 cash

Dinner for 6 at B-Side BBQ 

Friends' spa day at 17 Jewels Salon

PLUS: Cocktails for a Cause (and say 'so long' to tax day!): The raffle drawing is on Monday, April 15th at Monaghan's Bar and Restaurant,  2820 Mountain Blvd., Oakland. Twenty-five percent of the proceeds from cocktails sold during the Women's Initiative evening are being generously donated by owner, Sharon Monaghan.

Please join me to raffle, share a sip and be merry! 

AMAZING OPPORTUNITY

Walk with me for peace on the Golden Gate Bridge, International Women's Day,

March 8, 11am

On International Women's Day, thousands of people will show their solidarity with the women of Afghanistan, Iraq, Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan and other war-torn countries. Women for Women International's Join me on the Bridge campaign started in 2010 when women from Congo and Rwanda joined together on the bridge connecting their two countries, showing that they could build the bridges of peace and hope for the future. This action sparked a massive global movement, and last year they were joined by thousands of people on 464 bridges worldwide in 70 countries. Women are peace builders and with equality at the peace negotiation tables and within governing bodies of their countries they will build a more peaceful world.

WHY: We will walk in solidarity to demand peace, an end to violence against women and children, and a place for women at the peace negotiation tables.

WHERE: Warming Hut on Crissy Field 11am

WHEN: Thursday, March 8, 11am, proceeding to GGBridge at 11:30

**Participants can walk part or all of the Golden Gate Bridge. Of course, children are welcome.

For more information and to RSVP, visit joinmeonthebridge.org or contact me at dewhitaker@openingeyes.net.

Hope you can Join me on the Bridge!

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JOLT a Wake-Up Call: Are you the person you want to be, doing what really matters to you? If not now, when?

Unfortunately, it too often takes a literal JOLT - like Thursday’s Bay Area earthquakes - that impels us to ask, “Is this all there is?”, “Am I content with my life?” and “What am I waiting for?” Fortunately, there was no damage or loss of life as a result of the October 20th, 3.9 magnitude tremblors, so we’re not in an ‘it’s too late’ state.

Since they did strike, how can we capitalize on this disconcerting wake-up call? How about deciding to live consciously with gratitude and wonder? How about looking at what’s unsettling or unsatisfactory in our lives and/or in the world around us, and deciding that enough’s enough. That we’re going to make a change, beginning with clarifying what’s not O.K., identifying a new goal, making a plan and then following through, step by baby step. Maybe it will require guidance and support. Get it. Maybe there will be failures along the way. Consider them learning opportunities. And as there is progress, celebrate!

It takes concerted practice to live consciously, plus courage and persistence to shift the status quo. But if you’re engaged in what matters to you and you’re committed to be(com)ing the person you want to be, you won’t need to ask, “If not now, when?” when the next JOLT happens. Why wait?

Workshop Series for Women: 7 Keys to Living a Passion-Fueled Life

Attend the informational telecall: Friday, Oct 14, 4:30-5:00 - 712.432.0075; Access Code:419355#

What does it take to move from mere surviving to thriving? Exhausted to energized?

Bored to excited? Anxious to calm? Unclear to focused? Sad to happy?

In essence what does it take to live a passion-fueled life,

moment by moment, day by day, year by year?

It takes: vision, action, self-care, learning, connecting, conscious attitudes and sharing.

Join Dana on a journey exploring and activating the

7 keys necessary to creating the personal and professional life YOU want to live.

For a full description of the workshop series go to: 7-Keys to Living a Passion-Fueled Life

Groups (of 8 maximum) are currently forming in San Francisco, Marin County, Oakland, CA and Bend, OR.

Attend the informational telecall: Friday, Oct 14, 4:30-5:00 - 712.432.0075; Access Code:419355#

Information/Sign Up: dewhitaker@openingeyes.net