My Verdict - Definitely Friendly

(Written December, 2005)

And I opened my heart to the whole universe,
And I found it was loving

~ The Byrds

Someone once asked Albert Einstein, “What is the most important question we should ask?" Einstein replied, “Ask yourself, ‘Is the universe a friendly place...or not?’”

I took my beach walk tonight after work, feeling pretty full up with love from my recent visit home to Ohio, and from something wonderful a client told me at work. My proverbial cup was pretty much overflowing.

The winter sun angles were shooting across Shoreline park, making everyone's faces appear rosy and their eyes sparkling...and casting long palm tree shadows across the emerald green grass. As if it wasn't enchanting enough, everyone—I'm not kidding you—everyone I met up with on my path looked me in the eye and gave me a warm smile. Even the damn dogs on their leashes.

Eastern spirituality teaches us that we attract what we send out. That other people we encounter are our mirrors, reflecting back at us who we are. Some people say Californians (well, and especially Santa Barbarians) are just plain laid-back kinda folk. Or maybe it's the promise of a shiny new year in everyone's life this week, in which to start fresh, bring dreams to fruition, right the wrongs, try again, etc... etc...

I don't think I want to analyze it. I just want to believe that YES, the universe is definitely a friendly place.

Namaste.