Dear Wild Souls,

"What life choice feels the most alive or ‘Juicy’ for me right now?”

I often ask myself this question. It is particularly useful for breaking out of ruts or stale routines.

On this particular evening, I was driving to the beach to exercise, as I often do at that time. As I drove the familiar route, I suddenly realized that I felt chilled and hungry, and bored with my usual routine. But, I had no idea what the most alive choice would be. In fact, I felt like just going home and eating soup (which is sometimes the most alive choice!)

But, I felt restless, so I just drove my car until I felt like stopping. I stopped in front of a favorite restaurant, and the little table in the window was available, so I went in. As I sat and ate the delicious food, I read the paper and saw that two of my favorite authors were speaking together that night. Pema Chodron (author of “When Things Fall Apart”) and Jack Kornfield (author of “After the Ecstasy, the Laundry”) were hosting a benefit for the Spirit Rock Meditation Center, and I’d forgotten to get tickets.

I felt resigned to missing the event, as it had already started, so I went to a neighborhood bookstore. As I walked down the aisle, I noticed a book on the floor, and bent down to pick it up. It was one of Pema Chodron’s!

Now my most alive choice felt clear. I needed to go to this event.

As soon as I had this thought, the “practical” part of me began speaking. This “practical” part of me loves to find reasons why things won’t work and to state them emphatically:

“Oh, it’s too late now, the event has already started.”

“It’s probably sold out anyway.”

“You’ll never find parking.”

I’ve learned to ignore those messages and proceed anyway. This ignoring is a crucial part of finding my alive choices and having serendipitous adventures.

I’ve learned that the “practical” part of me doesn’t “know” how things will be. In fact, most of its messages are based on the past, fear, or someone else’s experience.

It’s so tempting to listen to why it won’t work and just do something safe and familiar. Often, the most alive choice feels a bit risky in some way.

As I drove to the event, I began to feel quite elated and very alive at the prospect of a fresh adventure. This was what I needed. It was exercise of a different kind.

Twenty minutes later, I was still searching for parking and feeling frustrated. So I decided that if a parking spot didn’t open up in the next five minutes I would do something else. Four minutes later, a car pulled out.

As I went into the center where the event was being held, I was over an hour late so the only person in the large lobby was a kind-looking man sitting at the table with books and tapes. I asked him where I could buy a ticket, and he replied smiling:

“Oh, here, just use mine.”

I thanked him profusely and went in to find my seat. I told the woman next to me that I knew it would be over soon, and she said:

“Don’t worry, you haven’t missed much at all. There was some kind of computer glitch, and we all waited over an hour for it to even start.”

(Take that, you “practical” voice!)

I heard such wise, tender funny words that night. I heard exactly what I needed to fill my soul.

As I exited the event, I stopped by the book table to buy books and tapes and to make a donation to Spirit Rock. The kind man who had given me his ticket told me I looked familiar. I explained that he’d given me his ticket to get in. He grinned and said, “Are you … SARK?”

I said rather shyly that I was, and he exclaimed: “Oh, I just love it! Isn’t this just like something that would happen in your books?”

We laughed together about serendipity and how it works. (His name is Colin –- thank you dear Colin.)

Then, I walked over to the labyrinth at Grace Cathedral and walked beneath the moonlight, which led me to swing on the swings at the park across the street, which led me to have tea at the Fairmont Hotel while listening to violin music …

My most alive choice had been made, and it led me to other alive choices. I felt refreshed, renewed, and reminded that serendipitous adventures can occur anytime. We just need to choose them.

Are you making the most alive choices? Why, or why not?

Yours in splendor,
Susan (aka SARK)

www.afghansforAfghans.org
If you knit or crochet –- or can alert someone who does –- please make a wool garment for an Afghan child. The goal is to clothe 5,000 Afghan girls and boys by September 16, in time for the warm, color-full gifts to be delivered to Kabul before the cold. Visit this websight for details on how to get involved.

www.herondance.org
Here is where you can “pause for beauty.” It’s art, words, and good company for the seeker’s journey.

“The Happiness Makeover: How to Teach Yourself to be Happy and Enjoy Every Day”
By M.J. Ryan
This book is like happy electricity –- connecting us all to our joy, which we continually forget how to access.
Look inside this book

“The Sound of Paper: Starting from Scratch”
By Julia Cameron
Another brilliant, insightful book by Julia to inform your soul.
Look inside this book

“The Purse-Driven Life: It Really Is All About Me”
By Anita Renfroe
“Have you ever gone to bed with a Crest Whitestrip on your teeth and accidentally fallen asleep with it in your mouth? And then woken up the next morning and thought, ‘I wonder where that thing went,’ and actually been relieved when you found it on your sock?” This woman and this book are hilarious.
Look inside this book

“I am thrilled to share with you that I will be presenting at the marvelous Artella's WildChild Wisdom Weekend in October at Wisdom House in Litchfield, CT. I joyously invite you to be with us at this beauty-full pastoral location -- we can watch the leaves change colors while we play with our creativity and change together! We will explore wisdom and joy and celebrate the uninhibited child in each of us." -- SARK

Learn more about the WildChild Wisdom Weekend with SARK.

SARK’s 2005 Events and Book Tour Schedule:

• Sept 29 – Pilgrims Way Bookstore, Carmel, CA
• Oct 6-9 – WildChild Wisdom Weekend, Litchfield, CT
• Oct 15– Shakti Foundation, San Francisco, CA
• Oct 20 – Copperfield’s Books, Napa, CA
• Oct 28 – East West Bookstore, Sacramento, CA
• Nov 11-14 – Celebrate Your Life, Scottsdale, AZ
• Feb 10-12 2006 - SARK's Succulent Pajama Party, Scottsdale, AZ
• Mar 3-5, 2006 - The Crossings, Austin, TX

Find out more about SARK’s Ecstatic Events on PlanetSARK.com.

SARK's 2006 Pure Relaxation wall calendar is available now!

The new year's theme is all about napping deeply, being cradled, finding calm …all conditions that we can welcome into our lives everyday. Enjoy having SARK's color-full art and encouraging words on your wall to inspire you.

SPECIAL OFFER! Free shipping available on orders over $20.

Purchase SARK's 2006 Pure Relaxation Calendar in PlanetSARK.com's eShop:

Thank YOU for supporting PlanetSARK.com! Purchasing books and products through the eShop directly supports the creation of new SARK products and the development of the freebies offered through our website.

See all the latest products under New Arrivals in the PlanetSARK.com eShop.

Check out all the Free Stuff.

"Society of SARK: a loosely formed society of independent,
creative, succulent people." -- SARK

Have you tried blogging among the kindred spirits on PlanetSARK.com? Your Society of SARK membership features a Journal where you can record diary entries with images, and generate comments and links. Since blog is not SARK’s favorite word, we use the word Journal to mean the same thing. The wondrous world can visit your juicy Journal writings anytime, so remember to make lots of luscious links.Intrigued?

Explore Society of SARK Journal spaces.

Learn more about becoming a Society of SARK member, and subscribe.

SARK’s eLetter subscribers can now choose to also receive “What’s News At Planet SARK”. These color-full emails are bursting with tidbits to keep you informed about the latest SARK books, products, events, and adventures. Simply update your preferences.

The author’s look inside SARK's New Creative Companion: Ways to Free Your Creative Spirit is now available for you! SARK shares why she wrote this book and some other delightful surprises. Take a peak for yourself!

Purchase SARK's New Creative Companion in our eShop on PlanetSARK.com.

For the latest company news go to the Planet SARK Announcements forum on the Marvelous Message Board

SARK invites you to take pleasure and inspiration from her FREE five-minute recorded message. Call 415-546-EPIC (3742) or listen online (MP3 download).

Copyright (c) 2005 SARK. All rights reserved.
Permission is granted to reproduce, copy or distribute this eLetter, so long as this copyright notice and full information attributing SARK are attached.