Love Lifts Us Up Where We Belong

In honor of Valentine's Day I'm opening up my creative heart to this vast virtual universe and sharing some of my love poems. The first poem was first read this past year at Da Poetry Lounge during one of their Tuesday Spoken Word nights. Wo-man, do I love that place! I need to get my butt back up on that stage and to that mic because there is nothing quite like the rush of sharing your own words with strangers.

I’m not sharing this particular work to indulge in the love cliches and corniness that is marketed and shoved down everyone’s throats on this very holiday. Nor as a reminder to all the single ladies, correction, people out there or to people in relationships where they may feel have become too “bland” or have gotten too “comfortable” for romance.

If anything I hope me sharing reminds everyone out there, single or in a relationship to never settle. And that love, is always worth opening your heart for again.

No matter how scary those uncharted waters may seem.

And I'm not just talking about romantic love either. Opening your heart to anyone or anything is scary.

True vulnerability is terrifying. Yet allowing yourself to be vulnerable is the only path to experiencing anything worth experiencing in life; love, heartbreak, joy, sadness, success, failure - beautiful complex emotions. Neither bad nor good but worth living. Worth feeling.

Check out this AMAZING Ted Talks video about "The Power Of Vulnerability" if you still don't get what I mean. It will change your perspective completely. Change your life if you let it.

Indulge in the cliche of this holiday if you want, I know I have and did a little today, but now I’d rather invite all of you openly share your praises, affection and appreciation for the ones you love in your life, randomly, heck, why not all the time? Not just on a particular day where it’s traditional to do so.

So enjoy. Feel free to share with loved ones. Feel free to be inspired to write your own personal love poem by reading one of mine. I’d feel honored if my work evoked such inspiration.


I Want To Make Love To Your Mind

I want you so badly I can barely stand it

Lip to lip

Mouth to mouth

The very body part that helps us to speak and breath also helps us to connect with another human being

To taste their thoughts and smell their worry

But how can I let you inside me when I haven’t let you inside my heart yet?

We seem to do that a lot

Open our legs more easily than our hearts

Why open our legs but not our mouths?

Kiss, touch, lick, breath - no problem

You can’t stop the flow - the loudness of it all

But to speak truth, our mind, our past – silence

We can literally become part of another person, even if just for a moment, but when it comes to communicating we are detached, distant - literally speechless

That’s stopping - now

I want to make love to your mind.

I want your words to be my foreplay until my appetite is so wet and ready for the piercing of your thoughts

Your ideas planted - seeded in my mind

I want to get pregnant with your passion

I want to conceive and carry your vulnerability in my womb until we are both ready to birth a stronger and wiser person

I want you to tantalize my neck with your whispers of dreams and hopes, desires and fears until I climax into an ecstasy of passionate enlightenment of my entire body, mind and spirit

I want you to penetrate my mind

Shake things up

Make me question, think and burn for more of your words and thoughts until I’m begging you to stop from the convulsions of my brain because I can’t take the intensity any longer

Can our minds make love where our ideas build and we raise our voices higher and higher until we are both shouting at the top of our lungs in one huge orgasmic breath because we can barely get the thoughts out fast enough?

Until our words and thoughts ignite and explode because of the electricity of sparks bouncing back and forth from your mind to mine

With each word I’m turned on. I want to go. Right then and there. I’m ready.

To debate. To discuss. To argue and disagree, to challenge and question, to understand and relate in a fit of fiery passionate until we are finishing each other’s sentences

Until I can taste your words on top of mine and with each swallow your love, your ideas, your beliefs, your thoughts, slide within me to rest here safely in my heart

I want each facet of my mind to be stimulated and awakened by your unique ideas, your humor and kindness

I want to comeeeeeeeee forth and make myself known through my words to you

I want to make love to your mind. Are you ready to make love to mine?

Is your mind ready?


Opposing Magnets

If opposites attract
Then I am so attracted to you
Like two magnets
Pushing and pulling at each other every which way
Bodies
Lips
Tongues
Back and forth
Up and down
Go –- Stop
Slow –- Fast
More –- Less
Just confess that you love this little game of hot and cold as much as I do
It’s exciting
Simple
And real
Where we can both just be

My loudness fills your silence
My friendly bounce brings your shyness into focus
My crazy head swirling with paranoid, preposterous thoughts is brought back from orbit by your logic and balance
I nurture your awkwardness as I feel a grounded sense of being next to your
Stillness
Present moment oh so clear
How can you be the only person - thing in the world that brings me back to earth?
Brings me back to NOW
Here
This place
With you

Contemplating My One Year LA & Disney Anniversary While Sitting At A Table At The Gratitude Cafe

Today marks the one year anniversary of when I started with Disney as the writer and project manager of the Blue Sky Think Tank. A year ago on this very day is when I began working at DCP (Disney Consumer Products) and a few days before that was when I moved to Los Angeles. And by "moved" I mean officially started crashing on couches 'til I found a place of my own. So technically it's also my one year anniversary of living in Los Angeles - crazy! I want to take a moment to reflect on all the change that's happened in the past year and the most importantly focus on - GRATITUDE!


So much has changed in a year. It's flown by but I also feel like I've been here forever. DCP has changed - I'm no longer working there. Still in the Disney family but working at their Children's Center. And though I love working with kids it's not my main passion. I still currently seek a position in a more creative field that aligns with my true passions.


Don't get me wrong I'm extremely grateful to have a job - period. I guess I'm just supposed to type the symbol for period instead of writing the word "period." Period - HA! I'm grateful that I get to play with wonderful children as I watch them learn and grow. When I truly allow myself to be in the moment with them, in their games and their laughter - those are the perfectly blissful and cherished moments. That's what reminds me of why I'm doing what I'm doing and why it's important. It makes me think of the Mac McAnally song "It's My Job." I thought of it and hummed along while I swept on and off stage as an ASM for the Old Globe/USD, while I helped rally kids to perform a play of "Where The Wild Things Are" in an after school program in San Diego, I sang it at DCP during my late, late work nights in the Tank and I have here at the center. A song that reminds me no matter your job you must take pride in the work you do and do your absolute best because it is your job. How can I allow myself
to do anything less than my best? Cause...

"It's my job to be cleaning up this mess
And that's enough reason to go for me
It's my job to be better than the rest
And that makes the day for me."

 But the song also seeks to remind us that your job does not define you. It isn't who you are but merely what you do. That was something I definitely had to come to terms with during my few months of painful unemployment after DCP before the center. If I don't have a "job" than what am I? Who am I? An artist. A nurturer. A dreamer. Countless things I could continue to list that make up the essence of who I am but has nothing to do with my current "job" and sometimes even my passions.


I'm thankful for all of the fantastic, spirited children I've been lucky enough to teach and play with. Thankful to the phenomenal teachers, subs and faculty who work at the center. They inspire me with their level of professionalism and passion for what they do. It gives me hope that teachers and centers like this exist in the world that truly seek to nurture, teach and help children develop into independent, creative and mature adults.


And of course I'm thankful to the Disney employees (former and current) who started it all - my DCP family. The Think Tank. Global Creative. Publishing. The UGA's. Numerous other departments and individuals who helped to truly bless and create my intern experience at DCP. The list goes on and on.

I feel truly blessed to have ever been given the opportunity in the first place. The position I held in the Tank helped reawaken my first true love and passion - writing. It also teased me with the abundance that the Universe has to offer. You can be paid to do something that you love. The work you do can be fun, inspiring and creative and your work environment can be the same, along with nurturing, flexible and unique compared to the typical 9 - 5 "desk"/"office" job we are told and encouraged by society is a "normal" job to have. Staring across the street at DCP I wonder if the Universe is testing me to see if I can still find time and energy to create my art and follow my passions when I work full time at a job that doesn't involve my art. I was spoiled by Think Tank but it surely set the bar high and gave me a standard to aim for. To never settle for a job that doesn't inspire, infect, nurture and intrigue every once of my creative, emotional, intellectual and social being.

My superiors. My peers. All the people, mentors and friends. You are my Disney family. I remember Andy Mooney's last day at DCP. I will never forget his words as he addressed us all. The very words that made me burst into tears, "You're my Disney family. I see you more than I see my real family." Oh how we all can relate to that statement about the people we work and collaborate with.


Time for All Star Shout Outs - (There's a lot so some readers may want to skim to the end. If I forgot to name someone my deepest apologies. There's too many to name and its overwhelming trying to remember all of you who touched and impacted my DCP experience)

First and foremost, the man who started it all, bringing the concept of a Think Tank to DIMG and then transitioning it to DCP, the most wonderful boss this newbie artist could have ever asked for, Chris Takami. His vision, creativity and leadership skills were an inspiration to me everyday. Him nurturing and being one of the main foundation layers behind the concept of a group of recently graduated college students from various backgrounds and disciplines coming together to brainstorm ideas was genius and something every company should learn from. How many people can say that they once held a job in their lives where they were PAID to brainstorm constantly and simply be creative?


My fellow Tankers; my "Erynifying" copy editor ADD social butterfly, Eryne Lagman, one of the fastest, hardest workers I've ever had the pleasure of working with, Brett Long, the eclectic, karmically sound, whirlwind of talent, one of our artist/animators, Jesse Soto, the chic designer illustrator, Jason Shorr, the unbelievably talented, artist/animator who holds himself to incredibly high standards, Ricardo De Los Angeles and last but certainly not least, the incredibly creative and bold, Aleks Mats, whose outside the box thinking, pushed the boundaries and limits of every brainstorm, idea or project the Tank ever had. "Uncle" George McClements, one of the funniest, most spontaneously creative people I've ever had the pleasure of working with. Tricia "Mama/Auntie Goose" Pierce, the hippest, most fun, truly funny,witty and yet efficient project managers that lives. Our "big sis" for momentarily, the social media/communications Goddess, Annjanette Isorda. My mentors, Vickie Saxon and Kim Levario, two of the most amazingly creative, talented and good hearted professional women who bestowed upon me light-years of wisdom. The fun and inspiring fellow tankers mentors; Ron Velasco, Stephane Kardos, Jeff Shelly, John Quinn, Pedro Fernandez, Kevin Gralewski and Nick Jeong.

Honorary Tankers & Tank Allies; Dan Owen, Charysse Jennings, Heather Laing - Obstbaum, Ann Buckingham, Colleen O'Neil, Leah Fonnette, Jen Marie Del Carpio, Tony Colon, Wing Shum, Tiffany Quon, Eric Tan, Hutch, Danny Tong, Hope Goldstein, Rich Tuzon, Kevin Earl, Maryam Urumieh, Dave Zaslov, Kim Ebeling, Marie Garofalo, Regan Forman, Ryan Astamendi, Stephanie Shapiro. THe COI Dream Team; Libby Spatz, Robin Nelson and Cathy Biermann.

Some of the inspiring movers and shakers of Disney; John Gong, Pam Lifford, Andy Mooney, Gary Foster, Marilyn Magness, Sarah Tilley, Christopher Stefanidis, Dave Dickman, Drew Hayashida and of course our spectacular, insanely creative, one of a kind SVP, Luis Fernandez.
My extended Disney family members; Stuart Smith, Gerald Turpin, Magda Loczi, Erica Yu, Graham Barnard and last but not least, the wonderful friendly faces of the front desk & HR reception who brightened my day, Forest Guider, Josh Stoddard and Michael Boyd.

To all of my many helpful and inspiring meet and greeters during and after my DCP time; Stacy Pyles, Tim McNeal, Michael Duncan, Laura Hitchcock, Heather Knowles, Cathryn McHugh, Karen Painter, David Fisher, Jeff Boodie, Ileana Montano, Brett Eliott, Trent Schneidewind, Ileana Montano, Melinda Thompson and Laura Uyeda. 


My intern UGA famillia; Alyssa Munoz, Louie Alvarez, Alex Yee, Alex Horn, Corbin Pickett, Dan Vigorito, David Navar, Atoosa Ryanne, Edward Kong, Elana Altmann, DeCarlis Wilson, Maxwell Ernst, FredEric Pratt, Ruby Chen, the many James's - James Min and James Yoon, Jason Wong, Jeanette Saris, Jessica Lopez, Julia Li, Justin Yu, Katie Sacchi, Lydia Han, Kevin Portillo, Kim Chang, Marques Dawson, Mayumi Miyasato, Mike Tang, Neenet Hairapetian, Peter Seng, Phil Tan, Resham Parikh, Robert Daligdig, Ryan Damodaran, Shawn Orgel-Olson, Tatiana Guerrero, Tiffany Fang, Uchenna Obiora, Vinu Natarajan and Zulema Uriarte.

And last but not least, Spencer Stuard and Siobhan Vanaman, former tankers, dear friends and fellow Chapman Alumni who recommended me for the position in the first place.

To all of you, words cannot express the gratitude that I feel for having met and gotten the opportunity to work with each and everyone you. You positively influenced, guided, mentored and/or helped create my wonderful Disney experience far beyond anything I could have imagined


Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I'd be working for a company that I respect so highly. A company that helped to shape my childhood. Working to help continue to flourish this iconic, legendary notion of "the happiest place on earth" where "dreams really do come true" that encouraged me to dream and believe that anything was and is indeed possible.


I completely rejected the concept of moving to LA right after graduation. But once I was offered the position with Disney there was no way I was gonna pass it up no matter the location. But beneath the traffic and the smog. The bits of trash and superficiality. I have been lucky enough to find friends, mentors, people I think of as my second family and places that make me feel like this is my home away from home.

So thank you Universe. Thank you to everyone for helping make my Disney and LA experience worth wild.

I'm beyond grateful.