Living on a hillside, in a bit of a valley, we get a primo seat when a weather front arrives. Looking out my window, I can usually see where the dark meets the light.

And often, when these two forces take a dance together, they give birth to a brilliant offspring — a rainbow!

Shucks, who doesn't like rainbows, right? I mean, I love me some rainbows, don't you? Hell, even the big burly guy with the massive diesel pick-up truck stopped right in the road in front of my house to snap off a few photos of this one the other day.

this rainbow landed right on that house. no gold found.

So, I've been thinking about rainbows and wanting to say something about them for a few days now. At the very least, I wanted to share a couple photos and get an update on the blog, y'know?

And today, I went to the gym to play some basketball. And today, playing basketball, I was a bit of an asshole. I argued some calls. I pushed a dude after I felt he pushed me. I rolled my eyes when a teammate made a mistake.

In the scheme of things, nothing too major. I've seen much worse and done much worse. But as I headed to the showers, I could not shake the feeling that I did not like that person, that man who was just on the court. I do not really know who he is, or where he came from, but he makes enough appearances that I am well-acquainted with him. Though I wish he would leave and never come back, sometimes he just shows up. Uninvited.

He shows up off the court as well. He can be highly critical, condescending, and will fight to be right. Again, I think this dude is a tool and when I focus on him, my thoughts cascade in a downward spiral and I play the same tape over and over in my head.

It ain't pretty.

But it ain't true, either. Not the greater truth, anyhow. I am not as "bad" as my worst thoughts about myself. Nor am I as "good" as my best thoughts or outcomes. In fact, I am not any of my thoughts or experiences.

Though those things certainly touch my life, but I am not them. I need not mistake myself for them.

My essential natures lies beyond the darkness or the light. And for me, in this moment anyhow, its comforting and helpful to think of myself as that brilliance that exists between the darkness and light.

In the meantime, I'll keep my eye toward the sky…

Here are some from the recent past…

a double! no gold found.

a rare January rainbow. perhaps this explains why there is no snow, either? no gold found.

ah, an oldie but a goodie… this shot came out well. kudos to my wife…

"THE CRE8VINU"

JUNE 2008

Drew Rozell, Ph.D. partners with a select number of dynamic individuals, groups, and progressive companies who understand the value of raising their level of awareness to deliberately create the coolest version of their lives and businesses.

"This stuff works!"

Posted this previously, but it's still the best shot I took this month. Good times for P-Nut the cat and Tasha the dog…

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JUNE 2008

Welcome, my friend…

"Hot town, summer in the city.

Back o' my neck getting dirty and gritty…"

(A little Lovin' Spoonful to open the June issue of The Drewsletter…)

It fits, because after a bona fide spring full of cool weather, we've hit the wall here in the Northeastern United States. I've been in full summer mode, pulling the shades and hiding underground until the waves pass.

Speaking of waves (note the segue), I'll be hitting them this weekend! Heading to Cape Cod for a little R & R. Will see if my boogie boarding skills, honed in Costa Rica, translate to the chilly Atlantic.

Thank you for reading this month's newsletter, THE CRE8VINU and you are most welcome to share your thoughts!

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THE CRE8VINU

If you were to visit my parent's house in the mid-1970's and sauntered over to the refrigerator to pull out a cold Tab, it's a good bet that you would have noticed the pencil-sketch of a dragon on full display, hanging by a magnet.

The artist was a curly-haired boy who wanted to offer his mom something for Mother's Day. Despite my dubious assumption that my mother was into dragons as much as I was, she appreciated my gift. In fact, she seemed to think that I had real talent, stating several times that she "could never draw like that in a million years…"

While I was proud of my work and pleased by her faith in my abilities, I knew better. My dragon reflected persistence and patience, but not artistic prowess or original thought. I had been flipping through one of my drawing books, spotted a cool picture, and simply copied what I saw on the page.

No, I was no artist. I was not creative. I was just clever enough to find good things to reproduce. Looking back, this way of thinking persisted into my adolescence and far into my adulthood. During high school as I pondered my future, I believed that the world was divided into two groups: Creative Types and Practical Types.

And where did I belong? There was little question…

I did not sing. I certainly did not dance. My favorite experience playing the cello was the day I quit. I could not draw. I could not paint. I was not a thespian. I preferred to spend my time thinking than working with my hands. No, while I appreciated the Creatives, clearly, I was not one of them.

Seeing myself as a Practical Type led me to set my sights on a respectable career in engineering. However, once entrenched in college-level chemistry and calculus, I quickly discovered that I was not necessarily the linear thinker I considered myself to be. Soon after, I found psychology and embraced my life-long fascination of people, relationships, and behavior.

However, even in the face of this new evidence, I still maintained the belief adopted in my youth - that one was either Creative or Practical; that creative was a synonym for artistic. Years later, having become aware of my faulty thinking and sharing my insight with many people, I discovered that it's common for us to forsake the Creative Nature that exists in all us.

The greater truth is that everyone is creative. Yes, this means you. You ARE creative.

In fact, if you're ever sitting on a barstool, contemplating the meaning of life with the person next to you, I'll save you the time and the cost of another round by giving you the answer: The purpose of your being here is to immerse yourself in the experience of creating and reveling in the delight of being a Creator.

The form of your creation matters little and will most likely evolve over time. Some people are creative in business, some in bull riding. Others in acting, building, writing, accounting, relationships, fishing, cooking, making people laugh, arguing, gardening, training dogs, surfing, fixing cars, computer programming, designing shoes, advertising… the list is as large as your imagination.

What really matters is that you begin to embrace, recognize, and respect your Creative Nature.

Not sure where it is? Look to that which fills your heart with inspiration, excitement, satisfaction, and joy. If you do not see it, chances are the people around you do. It's there, I promise you.

Look. Allow. Notice.

Why is this important?

Because there are consequences of brushing aside your Creative Nature. By ignoring your passions or failing to see yourself as the Creator of your experiences, you relinquish the true source of your power, you hand over the key that unlocks your well-being, and you allow the Circumstances of Life do the creating for you.

Again, the question is not whether you are creative or not. You are.

The real question is this: What are you creating today?

After writing this, I went to my basement and within two minutes (to my great surprise), I found the original, torn and stained. According to the left bottom corner, my Dad owed me a buck for something or other.

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Personal Coaching Services plug

I will show you more of who you really are.

Are you ready to hear it?

If so, the rewards are great.

(and it's really kind of a cool process, really…)

More here.

Schedule a session here.

Call 518.642.3111

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Learn the step-by-step way to create websites and blogs using Wordpress… In one hour! *

Lots of people ask me how to create a website or a blog. You used to have to be a technical whiz to do this stuff, but now it's easier than ever. So, if you're inclined to send a bigger signal out to the world, I want to help you get the basics down.

In less than one hour, you can have your website, blog (or your website with a blog, like this drewrozell.com) up and running with Wordpress. If you're not familiar with Wordpress, it's a state-of-the-art publishing platform with a focus on aesthetics, web standards, and usability. WordPress is free, open source (means it's always getting better) software. In my opinion, if you're going to have a website and/or blog, the future is Wordpress. (Note: Microsoft no longer makes or supports Front Page!)

In this course, I will show you step by step how to get your website at "yourdomainname.com" fully hosted, up and running with ease.

Again, your total time getting things up and running should be less than an hour. And your total cost for this course is $49.00.

Keep in mind, you can learn all of this is free online, but in my experience, it will take you much more time and you'll end up paying more than you have to — much more than 50 bucks.

In addition, through this course, I have a special offer with my hosting company that will give you $50 off your first year of hosting and a free domain name registration. Can't beat that!

So, to learn how to set up as many websites and blogs that you can think of on the most powerful, flexible web publishing software in less than one hour, with your domain name (yourname.com, NOT yourname.wordpress.org), and one year's worth of web hosting from the top company (with outstanding customer support) is $49 (for the course) + $67 for the domain name/ 1year hosting = $116.

Trust me, that's a pretty sweet deal. In truth, you're really only paying for the webhosting, because you will save $50 on your first year by using my preferred webhost (Dreamhost).

The course begins on June 26th.

Everything you need to know and do will arrive to you via e-mail in simple, step-by-step instructions. Of course you are free to ask me any questions as well.

What the hell, I'll even guarantee (full money back, no strings) that you'll have a good experience and a working site!

<< Register here now >>

Call or e-mail with questions.

But if you're ready to get out there, let's do it…

* May take way longer than one hour. Seriously, to get things set up should not take you more than one hour. But, like any software, you'll have to invest some time getting comfortable with the program.

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>>> BOOKS <<<

• Still reading Cormac McCarthy's The Road. After the first 25 pages, I put this book down and found myself reading lighter material before sleep (the book is set in dark, post-apocalyptic world). But I pushed through, and have gotten into the rhythm of the writing. I'm still not sure if I like it, but my appreciation grows. Need a book for the beach.

>>> MOVIES <<<

• Michael Clayton - As I was writing this review, my friend Paul sent me an e-mail saying the office scenes were filmed in his new workplace. He also said he and his wife did not much care for this movie. Gotta disagree with him, as I thoroughly enjoyed this film precisely because it was different. I found it engaging, mostly because I could not predict what was going to happen and thought Mr. Clooney did a fine acting job. A-

• The Wire (Season 2) - A police drama worth your time. A

• Planet Earth series - This National Geographic-style series of documentaries will restore your faith in just what a beautiful, magnificent place Planet Earth really is. (It ain't hard to forget that sometimes.) Outstanding, Fabulous. Magnificent. A+ Buy it now. I beseech you.

• Dan in Real Life - A couple people asked me if I had seen this movie. The funny thing was that when I answered that I had not, they just replied, "Oh." That was it. They did not recommend it or pan it, and the conversation moved on. After seeing the film, I think I understand why. The movie was quite enjoyable and furthered my notion that Steve Carrell is now taking all of Jim Carrey's best roles, but was not wildly remarkable. Just really pleasant. I'd say check it out. B+

• Into the Wild - Read this book years ago when it first came out, a compelling story by a gifted writer. On my trip to Alaska a decade ago, I even found myself at the access road to the bus where McCandless made his vision a reality. I read mixed things about this film — it was too long and uneven — and maybe it was. But, for me, Sean Penn tapped into that primal desire for freedom and beauty deeply enough to sell me on this film. There's a scene where Alex is alone (of course), just watching some caribou up close, in the wild, and tears well up in his eyes at the simple beauty of it. In that scene, I felt I understood what motivated this young man. I could relate even though I have no desire to live alone in an abandoned school bus. Finally, Hal Holbrook's character was a dead ringer for my Dad in looks and mannerisms. Wonderfully eerie. B+

For a better (and Alaskan insiders view), check out my brother's review here. Don't miss his friend Ed's link at the bottom of the post!

>>> RANDOM NEURAL FIRINGS <<<

• Cooking a steak on the grill? Make the okay sign with your thumb and index finger. Poke the base of your thumb. That’s what rare steak feels like. Using an okay sign with the middle finger will give you the feel of medium-rare, and so on. (lifted from Esquire)

• Ed McMahon is not the face of the U.S. mortgage crisis. I feel for the guy, but please…

• Seth Godin nailed it with this post regarding your finances.

Check this page for updates throughout the month…

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• Subscription Information :: To subscribe, just enter your information in the box to the right side of the page. To unsubscribe, just follow the link on ANY mailing to you.

• Archived Issues :: Find 'em here.

• Contact Drew :: To comment on this issue, just leave your thoughts in the COMMENTS section below. e-mail <drew at drewrozell.com> phone (518) 642-3111

ISSN: #1530-3101 Library Of Congress, Washington D.C., USA © Copyright 2008 by Drew Rozell, Ph.D. - All Rights Reserved

Took me 280 shots to get this one last night from the deck last night.

Even this one ain't that great… But it's the only one that produced the goods…

Thank God for digital cameras, "burst mode", and moving items to the Trash.

Two or three lightning strikes every second (by then it was too dark and raining too hard for photos).

Sunny and cool today.

in sepia

It's Thursday.

Done coaching for the week.

Wrote for a couple hours, now I'm toast.

Listening to the Yankees on the radio. They're losing again, but I maintain a sense of optimism.

Softball tonight if the rain holds off.

Maintaining that same sense of optimism.

Figured I could share these photos. Or not.

But what the hell…

I have no idea what flowering plant this is.

It's just growing at the base of our hill.

Could be a weed.

But still, it's kinda pretty.

Lotsa beauty in the world. Really. The place is full of it…

P-Nut on the deck…

One day about a year ago Karin walked through the door and said, "Guess what…"

She told me the story about finding this sick kitten in the middle of the road, I quickly did the math and voila!, we added a second cat to our brood.

P-Nut is a mama's boy. He'll sleep on my lap or occupy the space between my feet on the bed at night, but he doesn't tolerate me picking him up or other such nonsense. He's not mean about it, he's just clear in his desire and his preferences. His mama can carry him around cradled like a little baby and he happily plays along.

While I'll probably never have the bond with P-Nut that Karin does, I appreciate having him in my life. In fact, I find him to be a sort of role model.

Quite simply, this cat knows how to live. While I think this is true of most animals we love, P-Nut strikes me as being especially good at expressing his sense of well-being. He's a pro at meeting his own needs for food, comfort, fun, and love.

Sometimes other people fit into this plan. Sometimes they do not. He does not strike me as the least bit concerned about what anyone else thinks… He just manages his own vibration.

And that's just cool (and clean) energy to be around.

I saw him perched on the deck the other evening, eyes closed and peaceful… he appeared to be completely content with the world and his place in it.

I looked at him and I thought… ah, yes.

That's the way…

UPDATE: Was outside shooting some baskets this evening. Had the camera, thought this reflected P-Nut (and Tasha in background)…

UPDATE #2 Thanks to Christina for coming up with a better title to this post…