Last month I relayed the story of my car being wrecked as a lesson in impermanence. The loss of my car was personal and an issue only to me. I hadn't planned to add on to the story, but the upcoming anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attack and the Hurricane Katrina catastrophe now unfolding have compelled me to experience and write more about the subject of impermanence.

Impermanence is core to our worldly or material existence. Everything we see and experience in our daily lives is changing and therefore impermanent. Every breath we take changes our body. Thousands if not millions of our body cells die and are created every second. Literally the body we have right now will be different by the time you read this sentence.

One of the things that causes us the most stress and unhappiness is our lack of understanding of and belief in this basic characteristic (fact) of our universe. We believe that the people we love will always be here. We believe that because we love someone that they will stay with us. We believe that because we are loyal to our companies or do a good job, that we will always have a job. We think that because we live in a strong home and take care of it, that we are safe and it will always be here. We believe that our bodies will stay healthy and will always support our needs.

In fact we cling tenaciously to this belief. Even when all evidence is to the contrary and we experience constant change every minute of every day, we choose to ignore this very basic law of our existence. We close our eyes, we tell ourselves that it's not true. We tell ourselves that we are safe and no loss or change will occur.

Then something happens; we lose our jobs, our spouses leave or die, a tsunami, hurricane, earthquake or fire destroys our homes or our cities, we get sick or become infirm. It can happen to us or to our community. Today, the world is our community. We cannot help but be affected by the tragedies and disasters happening throughout the world. But much of our reaction and sorrow over these events are because of our attachment to the belief that things will stay the same. It is the very nature of our world that things will change. Natural disasters have occurred in our past and will occur in our future.

The 9/11 terrorist attack and how it affected our lives has come up in several conversations with clients and friends recently. I quit my corporate job, where I was quite miserable, in October 2001 right after the disaster. Others changed their lives due to this tragedy; left unhappy relationships, got married, changed careers, started a business, moved or simplified their lives to jump off the fast track. Neither I nor these people were directly affected by the tragedy; that is, we did not lose jobs, lives of family or friends nor did we live near the site. I recently watched the National Geographic special on the 9/11 terrorist attack. It made me realize the profound effect this event had on all of us.

The Hurricane Katrina disaster has affected millions in half a dozen states in the US. And it is not over yet. People have lost their lives, lost loved ones, are displaced from their homes and community, and have lost all of their material possessions. Those who remained behind are living in life threatening conditions. You may not know anyone who was affected; you may not have lost anyone or anything, yet nature has provided another lesson in impermanence for all of us.

These events are a call to action . None of the people caught in these tragedies thought today would be their last day on earth. All thought they would still have plenty of time to have the life they desired and dreamed of. How long will you live without joy and love in your life? How long will you ignore the longings in your heart? How long will you stifle your creativity and lust for life? How long will you stay in a situation that is "killing" you, either figuratively or literally? How long will you have that dream on the back burner? How long will you tell yourself that it's too late or too difficult to change? How long?

This is a call to action for you to take that first step today. Act today as if it were your last day on earth. Tell people you love and appreciate them. Be kind. You can live in joy. You can be healthy. You can have love and abundance. You can live out your dreams. Throw off the shackles of your belief that change will not happen to you or will only happen when you can control the outcome. All evidence is to the contrary. Impermanence is. Act now.

I have discovered the most wonderful creativity coach and artist here in Houston. Kay Kemp is the owner of Wild Heart Art. Not only is she an incredibly talented artist, but she leads art workshops where art is not the product, but a personal growth process. Here's a quote from her website: "You are invited to explore your creativity fully, listen to your authentic inner voice and watch while the magic of your own unique style unfolds. Every program is designed to explore and access the wildness of your creative spirit." I am so impressed by her wisdom and creativity, I signed up for her Introductory Class in September.

She teaches and leads a variety of workshops, classes and retreats throughout the year. If you are interested in learning more about Kay and her awesome workshops and coaching, check out her website at www.WildHeartArt.com. I know she has a couple of openings in her September introductory class and in the Monday night classes she is starting in October. Kay is having a painting retreat in Wimberley, Texas in March that sounds wonderful. She is leaving this week for a trip to Peru with her students. They will participate in one of her art workshops as well as tours of Peru. So if she doesn't answer an email right away, that's why!

Now for the creativity exercise for this month: Here are the five words and the emotion. Use them in a poem, story, word art, wherever your creativity takes you.

• crucial
• mellow
• tiny
• road
• jump
• And the emotion is: thrill

I've created a yahoo group where your stories or responses can be posted. If you are participating, but not posting, ask yourself why? Is your inner critic getting the best of you? This is a safe environment, so be brave...step out...enjoy!

The July Attraction Circle Workshop was so much fun and very successful. Read what students said about it: "Thanks, Mary Anne for taking the time to share the Attraction info with all of us. It is truly having an effect on my life and the lives of those closest to me." "Your energy is so empowering and exciting. I feel I can do anything after taking your class." "I thought I knew all about how to attract good into my life, but you showed me new ways that have really helped me expand my ability." "Fun and exciting each week. Couldn't wait to get there." "I've found money every day since the class started! Wow!!" The next workshop starts September 6th. This workshop is all about having fun together, discovering and creating what we desire most in our lives.

THE ATTRACTION CIRCLE: PRACTICING THE LAWS OF ATTRACTION AND LEARNING TO MANIFEST YOUR DESIRES

• Weekly fun-filled experiential exercises designed to uncover your ability to allow and attract desires with ease.
• Learn tangible, pleasurable ways to remain in a state of receptivity and vibrational harmony with your desires.
• The exercises allow your deepest desires to surface.
• Recognize the power and joy in achieving all that you desire in life.
• Yes, you really can!

Embark upon your journey toward conscious co- creation today by joining our Attraction Circle now. We're going to help you amp up your energy around your desires and give you lots of practice.

Call Mary Anne at (713) 528-5971 or email maf@lifeunfolds.com for more information and to register. Also see http://www.lifeunfolds.com/attraction.htm for more information.

• Starts September 6th.
• Day class is Tuesdays from 1 to 2:30 pm, four weeks.
• Evening class is Tuesdays from 7 to 8:30 pm, four weeks.
• Held in Heights area in Houston, Texas.
• Fee is only $89.

SPECIAL NOTE: If you register with a friend for the Attraction Circle Workshop, you each receive a 10% discount off the tuition. If you register with TWO friends, you each receive 20% off the tuition.

Related reading:

"Even the smallest person can change the course of the future." --- Galadriel to Frodo

“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” --- Aesop

“We must overcome the notion that we must be regular. It robs us of the chance to be extraordinary and leads us to the mediocre.” --- Unknown

“There is nothing either good or bad, only thinking makes it so.” --- Shakespeare

"Time is Too slow for those who wait, Too swift for those who fear, Too long for those who grieve, Too short for those who rejoice. But for those who love, time is not." ---Henry van Dyke

"I could tell you my adventures - beginning from this morning," said Alice, "but it's no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then." --- Adventures of Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

"Carefree this moment. Immerse yourself in its particulars. Respond To this person, this challenge, this deed. Quit the evasions. Stop giving yourself needless trouble. It is time to really live; to fully inhabit the situation You happen to be in now." --- Epictetus

I have two new mini-workshops in October. These will be held through Leisure Learning in Houston, Texas. Check them out and join me! I promise you'll learn something new and have fun at the same time.

I Create My Day Workshop. This workshop is to help create a perfect start-of-day environment and routine, developed just for you. This helps you to be energized and productive and to have more ease in your life. We also will develop a statement (or meditation) of what you intend to create that day (based on the I Create My Day talk from the movie, What the Bleep?). Powerful and fun class. $25 fee, Thursday, 7:15 to 9:15 pm, October 6th, 2005.

It's Not Just About Money -- A Personal Prosperity Map. Create your own personal prosperity map...a big poster describing what you want to do, have or become. The sky's the limit! This map supports your big dreams, offers you a visual reminder, and gives your goals and desires a focus. Seeing the images every day helps concentrate your thoughts, emotions and actions to attract more of what you want and less of what you don't want. This is a fun class with serious results. $35 fee, Thursday, 7:15 to 9:15 pm, October 6th, 2005.