Dear Friends,

I love the lazy days of Summer. The slower pace always gives me time to step back and re-evaluate the past, so that I can better plan for the future. However, it seems that everything I'm drawn to reading these days talks about the importance of living in the moment.

You'd think after living in a small town for over a decade, I'd be much better at it.When I first moved to St. Francisville from Manhattan, it seemed that when I was literally "running" errands around town; people would constantly comment on how "busy" I must be. Now that I've come to enjoy my visits to the post office and hardware store, I'm proud to say I'm no longer one of the "busy people". When my city friends come to visit, one of the first things they comment on is how friendly everyone is. It's like being in a boat on a river. Everyone smiles and waves, whether they know each other or not. I don't ever recall seeing anyone else in a hurry here in St. Francisville.

I'm so fortunate; I sometimes have to pinch myself. I live in this idyllic, beautiful little town with friendly, incredibly accepting folks and get to meet all kinds of other interesting people via the internet. In my last two newsletters, I talked about a synchronistic lifestyle where life is like a living treasure map. The more I talk about it and focus on it, the more serendipitous life becomes.

Recently, I was contacted by the editor of Authentic Living Magazine who was looking for stories about people who were living "authentic lives". I immediately replied that the entire town of St. Francisville was full of authentic people! According to the magazine's website, authentic living is all about living a joyful life--one you love. This exciting new magazine debuts this January and will offer concrete techniques on how to live your fullest essence. Although it's a national magazine, you'll see how some of St. Francisville's folks really live. They will be taking subscriptions this Fall. You can find out more about the magazine by visiting their website:

I've read countless articles and books in my quest to learn how to live in the moment. I'm still far from being an expert, but I can save you some time by sharing my condensed version.To be in the moment, is to be fully present, fully aware. The now includes not just the chair you sit in, and the room you are in, but also everything that is happening in your life. As we sit in the moment, we are not leaking our energy into the past or the future. Our energy is fully contained in the moment. When you are living in the now, you are like a magnet, magically attracting all of the appropriate things to you.

Here are a couple of very easy, yet powerful tools for living in the now. The first is "breathing". Simply take the time to breathe deeply and fully. Shallow, rapid breathing creates anxiety. Deep breathing enables us to pause long enough for our body to come back into its natural alignment. Sitting in the moment, breathing, our emotions come back into balance. Then, it becomes easier to take the next step of "feeling".Feeling allows you to embrace life. Opening to your feelings allows you to enjoy the simple things . . humor. . . food. . . beauty. . . all of the gifts of life. Wisdom doesn't come from the brain. It comes from our feelings. Once we really get in touch with our feelings, then we discover what truly makes us happy. If you go into your feelings, into your heart, then your brain will handle the details of your day-to-day life.

Your emotions are the conduit between your higher self and your physical being, which is why we feel emotions every time we perceive beauty. True beauty can only be experienced in the moment of now, as it is the only part of linear time that is not illusion. Time spent in creating or appreciating beauty rejuvenates the spirit. When you take in beauty in any form, your emotions are activated and stirred, as true beauty cannot be seen; it can only be felt. When you feel the beauty in any situation, allow yourself to fully experience the passion of the expression of beauty as it flows through you. Then bask in the balance and the experience of the moment. Find the beauty in every moment and in all things that you experience, and all the unimportant things will fade from view.

I'll end this newsletter by encouraging you to enjoy the slow pace of this Summer season. Nature's beauty is at its fullest expression. Soak up her beauty and treat yourself well!

P.S. For over a year now, we have been successful at having the formulas for our Full Spectrum Paints faxed to our manufacturer's many store locations throughout the United States so that customers can pick up their paint locally. Now that we have manufacturing and distribution down, we are looking for furnishings stores, perhaps in your town, to showcase and sell our paints. If you know of any possibilities, we'd really appreciate your input. Thanks so much!

P.P.S. Have you visited our website lately? There are quite a few new changes: