The Tire Iron and the Tamale

Posted on 25. Mar, 2011 by in The Goo Blog

By JUSTIN HORNER  - Justin Horner is a graphic designer living in Portland, Ore. This essay was adapted from a message-board posting on reddit.com.

Published: March 4, 2011

During this past year I’ve had three instances of car trouble: a blowout on a freeway, a bunch of blown fuses and an out-of-gas situation. They all happened while I was driving other people’s cars, which for some reason makes it worse on an emotional level. And on a practical level as well, what with the fact that I carry things like a jack and extra fuses in my own car, and know enough not to park on a steep incline with less than a gallon of fuel.

Each time, when these things happened, I was disgusted with the way people didn’t bother to help. I was stuck on the side of the freeway hoping my friend’s roadside service would show, just watching tow trucks cruise past me. The people at the gas stations where I asked for a gas can told me that they couldn’t lend them out “for safety reasons,” but that I could buy a really crappy one-gallon can, with no cap, for $15. It was enough to make me say stuff like “this country is going to hell in a handbasket,” which I actually said.

But you know who came to my rescue all three times? Immigrants. Mexican immigrants. None of them spoke any English. (more…)

You Can’t Give What You Don’t Have

Posted on 02. Jun, 2010 by in The Goo Blog

Being yourself and sharing your gifts can be like turning on a light in poorly lit room full of people.  As the daylight fades and the light in the room diminishes, some people do not care that there is less light, some people are happy the light is fading and others are disappointed that it is getting darker and harder to see.  When you walk in, radiating your brilliance it is like turning on the lights.

To those who did not care that the light was going away, this additional light does not matter.  They are fine either way.  To those who were excited about the diminishing light they are annoyed.  They moan and complain. (more…)

Listen for one minute a day

Posted on 12. May, 2010 by in The Goo Blog

What if you gave yourself one minute a day to listen.  Not read or write or think or improve or exercise.  Just listen.

When I stop for even a minute and listen I am reminded of what is important.  Right now I stopped to listen and the sound of birds singing outside my window came forward and the sound of road construction a block away, that had been dominating my awareness all morning, fell into the background.

Also the chatter in my head goes away when I just listen and my intuitive guidance comes forward and is heard.

What if you had a mentor who knew everything. saw everything and had done everything?  Would that be worth listening to? That is intuitive guidance. (more…)

The Greatest Gift Ever!

Posted on 03. Apr, 2010 by in The Goo Blog

When you see a butterfly do you see the caterpillar that it was?  When you see a caterpillar, do you see the butterfly it will be?

Whether you do or not really makes no difference.  Because the butterfly and the caterpillar are what they are, no matter what you think.

The way you can most honor the butterfly, the caterpillar or anything else is to see it for what it is in present time.  Recognize the greatness that it is right now.  Not what it was in the past or what it has the potential to be in the future. (more…)

Hello Misery, let me see when I can fit you in my schedule

Posted on 20. Mar, 2010 by in The Goo Blog

I was just talking with a friend of mine who was having a hard time due to an old boyfriend who was back in town.

She was going through the standard mental gyrations of :  What if I run into him?  What will I say?  I don’t want to get involved with him again.? Etc.  She was miserable.

As the conversation continued, she said something that I found profound.  She said, “ I am really busy right now with work, I don’t have time for this.” (more…)