I thought that I could not put my finger on it. I did not think that I could articulate it. The reason for the palpable shift in cosmic energy that I have been feeling the past few weeks is not a mystery, however. It is change, it is growth, it is LIFE! And if there is one constant in life, it is change. The funky feeling that has been following me around the past couple of weeks was not a reaction to the cosmos changing as I originally thought. The cosmos has been doing that since the Big Bang and it will continue to do so long after I’m gone (LEARN ABOUT THE UNIVERSE EXPANDING HERE). The feeling was there because I was caught up in my career and hobbies and neglecting my gratefulness practices. I wasn’t basking in and appreciating my accomplishments. This is a problem that people with high levels of dopamine deal with. As explained in The Molecule of More, “some people have so much control dopamine that they become addicted to achievement, but are unable to experience H&N (Here & Now) fulfillment.1” I believe I’m in this category, so I have to actively PRACTICE enjoying the present moment.
This past weekend was therapeutic to the point of cathartic for me. It started with a performance at Pacific Kava Bar's Open Mic Night. I lip synced and danced to the Rolling Stones’ “Paint It, Black.” I showed up around an hour early to drink some kratom, get loose, and mingle with the patrons. There is a Hawaiian woman who comes to every mic night and brings her two daughters. The three of them were telling me before the show that they look forward to my performances every month. One of them told me, “You look so free when you’re up there doing your thing. I love it!” I believe that statement is what brought me back to the gratefulness state that I love being in. And it reminded me why I started Bay Flavor: to make people smile and empower them to follow their dreams. To give them the greatest gift of all: encouragement. Since Friday night, I have been ruminating about the subtle messages from the universe I’ve been receiving the past couple of weeks. Up until recently, I was good at appreciating those messages in the moment. This past weekend, I have taken time to really think about and appreciate them.
I have received the following messages from people acting as proxies for the universe:
“You save people.”
“Keep doing what you’re doing.”
“Your InstaGram video motivated me to work out.”
“Your performance moved me.”
“I wish you were my dad.”
That last comment came from one of my Pacific Kava Bar buddies on Friday night. She is one of the daughters of the Hawaiian woman I mentioned earlier in this piece. She cannot be more than 10-years-old, and we have forged a cool relationship these past six months. She is a fire sign Leo like me, and she absolutely loves the creative work that I do. I enjoy her creativity as well. She likes to sing and is incredibly good at it! I performed a couple of Elton John songs at May’s Open Mic Night, and she stole my costume after the show! You can check out the picture below. On Friday, she gave me a big hug and said, “I wish you were my dad.” She went on to explain how her father is in jail because he is a “bad man.” Witnessing this young girl tell me how her father is a violent person in an innocent, aloof way broke my heart. At the same time, it felt incredible hearing a child tell me that she wishes I were her father. It was a lot to take in and to be honest, I am still processing the experience.
“The best basking is basking in a job well done.” - From The Molecule of More
I found it poetic that my friend and I had a paternal conversation on the same day the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. I feel like when it comes to a polarizing, divisive issue like abortion, strong emotions tend to surface. One of the patrons at Pacific Kava Bar told me that she wanted to “burn the Supreme Court to the ground.” I assured her that violence was not the answer to this social dilemma. The only thing that can facilitate the change one wants to see in this world is love, not hate. For the people out there who have been hurt by a significant other, a family member, or anybody else: I can relate and I am here if you need a hug. I love you!
For the reductionist thinkers out there: I am in no way “sticking up” for the Supreme Court or any of its justices. I find talking about politics is a massive waste of time and energy. Especially in this “you’re either with us or against us” atmosphere we find ourselves in. When it comes to politics, I can sum it up like this: “Do you want to waste time & energy that could be used to enjoy life and pursue something you are truly passionate about? Talk politics. Works every time.” I am simply reporting on my observations. It is my hope that you have an incredible, fun, and love-filled week. Take some time to appreciate the things you have. Try not to worry about things outside of your control. I will be doing the same. I need the practice. Take a bite out of life and savor the Bay Flavor!!!
Long, Michael E. and Lieberman, MD, Daniel Z. The Molecule of More. Dallas, TX, BenBella Books, Inc, 2018.
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