ART THERAPY

ART THERAPY.

Art soothes the soul.

Living a creative life is quite the challenge. Although I would have it no other way.

My life up to this point has been filled with many obstacles to overcome.

I can sit here today and say that I am grateful for every single bump in the road.

I sometimes think to myself, what would my life look like if I never left Troy New York.
Not saying anything is wrong with being from and growing up in Troy.

I just knew for me to continue on my journey I had to go on the road.

 That is what I did almost 28 YEARS AGO.

There have been many sacrifices that I have had to make in order to live my life they way I have been living.

Some people throughout the years have said to me WHAT ARE YOU RUNNING FROM?
A friend of mine when I was living back east at The Shore, he said to me I do not see you running from, I seeing you RUNNING TO.

Art has been a part of my life my whole life........I have always been interested in the arts and expressing myself creatively.

IT IS THE ONLY THING THAT KEEPS ME GOING.

I look at many people and the way they exist in the world and I say there is no way I could do that or would want to do that........My observation of many people is they are not really living. NOT FULLY. NOT TRULY, NOT REALLY.

So many people are STUCK......I say that because I was one of those people at one point.

My life has been over the past number of years all about learning and challenging myself to grow.

GROWING PAINS ARE NOT ALWAYS EASY.......BUT THEY ARE NECESSARY IN LIFE.

I am back in Los Angeles and getting ready to open my first SOLO ART SHOW THIS WEEK.
Very excited for the opportunity tto show my work and have people see the world through my eyes and  get a chance to see my process as I try to CREATE BEAUTY IN THE WORLD.

Thank you for coming on the journey. Often times we are on our JOURNEY ALONE. THAT IS OK.

I WISH ALL OF YOU THE JOURNEY OF YOUR DREAMS.
REMEMBER IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THAT YOU FIRST HAVE TO HAVE A DREAM FOR YOUR LIFE.

Peace and Blessings.

Reading this month:  THE MAGIC by RHONDA BYRNE

SAVING SUE

SAVING SUE.

A CALL TO ACTION.

This past week has been an emotionally challenging one.

A hometown /high school girlfriend was just diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer which has moved to her lymph nodes as well.

I HATE CANCER. FUCK YOU CANCER.

In case you did not hear me, I said FUCK YOU CANCER.

Two wonderful woman jumped into action and have begun a fundraising campaign to fly our dear friend Suzanne Morris Ferrara to Atlanta for a intense 15 day treatment at The Living Food Institute Clinic.


The first three days of the campaign were AMAZING almost $9000 raised.
We are now up over $12000. Things have slowed down. We need to keep the moment going.
THERE IS AN URGENCY HERE. Please & Thank you.

MOVING MOUNTAINS.

A huge outpouring of LOVE & SUPPORT.

Everyone doing what they can to save our friend. Reaching out and pleading for donations.

I have reached out to all of my face book friends. A few have generously donated who have never met Sue. They have showed compassion towards a mother and her children.

Some have donated anonymously.

To you silent supports. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

I wish none of you out there ever need to call on your friends or even strangers to help save either yours or a family members life.

But if you do. I hope that people whether they know you and your family have compassion and reach out. REMEMBER THIS COULD BE YOUR MOTHER,SISTER,WIFE OR LOVED ONE.

WE ARE ALL CONNECTED.
PLEASE HELP & BE A PART OF SAVING THIS BEAUTIFUL WOMAN'S LIFE.

I want to thank the two amazing woman who have been the motivation behind saving Sue's life.
Maria Millington & Rosemarie Zack.

Thank you ladies.

As we are working to save Sue. AND WE ARE GOING TO AND WILL SAVE SUE.

Sue it is spring time where flowers bloom.......THESE ARE FOR YOU TO STAY POSITIVE AND BELIEVE. LOVE YOU MY FRIEND.

I say goodbye to an acquaintance from my time living at the Jersey Shore.
RIP Jackie.

LIFE IS FRAGILE AND FLEETING.

I say goodbye to an acquaintance from my time living at the Jersey Shore.

RIP Jackie.

Today I received the news of the passing of an amazing man. Los Angeles longest running homicide detective who I had the great pleasure of knowing and calling a friend.

RIP FRANK BOLAND. YOU WERE TRULY ONE OF A KIND AND A LEGEND.

Thank you my friend for your company and your wisdom over the years. It was an honor and a pleasure to know you. THIS BUDS FOR YOU. CHEERS.

STORMY WEATHER

STORMY WEATHER.

I sit here on the last day of February 2014. We are under STORM WATCH here in LA.

It is always so funny to me how the weather is reported here.

It has been raining for the past 24 hours on and off.

I  LOVE THE RAIN. I always have. As a child I would love to sit on my front porch to enjoy a good rain storm. Over the past two years I have had the good fortune to live two houses off the ocean.
I love a storm at the ocean.......Got to experience and live through both HURRICANE IRENE & SANDY.

I have weathered my fair share of storms. Both PERSONALLY AND WEATHER WISE.

Some storms have been more intense than others. I am sure in my life there will be more STORMS to be had.

I am learning to just enjoy the journey.......That includes the storms, Without them there is no growth.

We need to EMBRACE whatever we may be going through in life. WHY? Because we are exactly we we are suppose to be at any given moment.

MOTHER NATURE IS AMAZING.
IT IS FASCINATING TO WATCH MOTHER NATURE AT WORK.

Last night and most of the day today I have had the pleasure of working from home and using the rain as the SOUND TRACK for my day.

The sound of rain is very SOOTHING to me.

To me listening and being caught in the rain and feeling it on my body is a form of cleansing.
It has the power to wash away all of the ugliness and dirt of the world. After the rain everything seems a little BRIGHTER.

Los Angeles fr example has been in the middle of a long dry spell and experiencing a draught.

Without the rain this city and our lives build up TOXINS that can stop us dead in our tracks and can actually kill us physically, emotionally, spiritually and figuratively.

Without the rain we become malnourished. The RAIN BRINGS US THE NOURISHMENT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO GROW IN TO THE BEST WE CAN BE.

Many of us walk through life MALNOURISHED and severely DEHYDRATED.

We need to learn to dance in the rain and understand that hardships are a part of what makes us into the wonderful human beings that we are, as we move along the HIGHWAY OF LIFE ON OUR JOURNEY.

Wishing everyone a journey full of growth and love.

REMEMBER THERE IS ALWAYS BEAUTY AFTER A STORM.

The reading this month was

Forgiveness - Iyanla Vanzant

Warrior of the Light -Paulo Coelho

DIS EASE

DIS   EASE

Another light dimmed this week do to his disease.

When I heard the news of the tragisc loss of Philip Seymour Hoffman. I was deeply saddened for his friends , family and for everyone  who are out there stuggling and suffering  EVERYDAY.

What my first thought was upon hearing the news, is here is a man SEEMINGLY at the top of his game who had pretty much gained the status of being able to write his own ticket.

A brilliant career and future ahead of him, one would think.  NOT THE CASE.

White, Black,Rich, Poor, Man ,Woman.

DIS  EASE  DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE.

We never know what BATTLES someone is fighting or DEMONS they are struggling with.

I was speaking with a friend last night and we were discussing the tragedy of it all.
She said, she did not think that only sad and depressed people become addicts.

I said that I totally agree with you, but by the time someone is battling a full fledged adiction, Happy and Carefree are taken out of the equation.

Becoming an addict depletes the person of the simple joys in life. Everything becomes a challenge.

We really need to be kind to one another. We have no idea what sort of private hell another person is living.

Life is challenging on the best of days.  WE NEED TO BE MORE COMPASSIONATE.

Putting this into practice one/we should start immediately and our first subject should be OURSELVES.

SELF LOVE, SELF ACCEPTANCE is really difficult for many.

It is a practice that one/we really should learn to master which would allow us to serve ourselves and the world better.

It seems like every six months to one year we are losing some high profile celebrity to the addiction of his/her DIS  EASE.

This month marks the 2 year anniversary of the loss of Whitney Houston.  
Daily the world loses countless beautiful people who get lost in some sort of ADDICTION. They wind up struggling. Some for a very short period of time and some for a lifetime. Eventually if they do not seek help the outcome winds up be the same........DEATH.

I persoanlly know of 5 people last year lost to their ADDICTIONS.

ALL VERY SCARY.

To all those lost to their DIS  EASE. May you finally be resting easy and at peace.

To everyone still struggling. I wish you all a successful road back to a drug/alcohol/sex/food/gambling/shopping or whatever other  DIS   EASE you may be suffering from FREE LIFE.

Remeber in life's darkest moments one can still find light......You just need to be will to look for it. WISHING LIGHT AND LOVE TO ALL.......MAY THE LIGHT SHINE BRIGHT.


R.I.P Philip Seymour Hofffman
Thank you for sharing your gifts with all of us. May you be bathed in light as you have embarked on a new journey.

SEARCHING FOR THE ANSWERS

SEARCHING SEARCHING SEARCHING.

I am an avid reader always in search of ways for me to continue to live freely and joyfully.

Let me tell you the journey is WORTH IT.  Although there are moments where I wish I were able to live in the confines of THE BOX.

I JUST CAN'T. NOR DO I WANT TO.

Trust me, I wish I could. Life would be so different if I could.

This year I set a goal of reading at least two books a month.

The book that I am currently reading is called The Energy of Money.

ENERGY OF MONEY.

Money for some comes effortlessly and for others with many obstacles and not very easily.

WHY????????????????

I am one of those where I always manage to just get by with much struggle.
It has never flowed easily.

2014 I am going to find out the reason and CHANGE IT.

I need to get my financial house in order as well as every other area of my life.

I am tired of the STRUGGLE.

It has been a rocky few weeks since the new year has begun.

I have had much anxiety and have been allowing FEAR to occupy my mind.

I have been questioning my decision about being back here in Los Angeles and not sure that I am up to the challenge of what one needs to go through in Los Angeles to just get by.

If I am going to reamain here, I need to change my way of thinking and stop buying into the story that it has to be all about struggle and lack.

I know that I am a SURVIVOR.

I have what it takes to CREATE THE LIFE I WANT TO LIVE. I NEED TO JUST BELIEVE IN MY ABILITIES.

My mom always says we are given in life nothing more than we can handle. I NEED TO TRUST THAT.

I wish each and everyone of you who is out there searching and questioning to CONTINUE.
Know that as difficult and hopeless as it may seem at times. IT IS WORK THE WORK AND EFFORT.

TRUST THAT THE LIGHT WILL ALWAYS LEAD YOU.

So the two books that I have read this month are as follows.

1. What would you do if you could not fail? How to transform Fear into Courage
Nina Lesowitz & Mary Beth Sammons
2. The Energy of Money  A spiritual guide to financial and personal fulfiillment.
Maria Nemeth.

BACK TO ONE

January 1, 2014

HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Today is a new beginning, allowing us to go BACK TO ONE and a chance to start over.
An opportunity to create the life that we want to live rather than the life we have been living.

We get to determine how we are going to tell our story.

Everyone has different ways of preparing for the new year.

My roommate for example spent the whole day cleaning and purging. Very important to make room for what we are seeking. The only way to really do that, is to let go of things and people that are holding us back and not allowing us to live our dreams by their negativity or non-support.

Others like to party the old year out and the new year in.

At different times in my life I have done both.

The way that I like to prepare for the new year is to be by myself and reflect on the year ending and set my intentions for the new year.
Usually I like to be near the water(ocean) I do this hoping I have the courage, determination, discipline, focus and strength to follow through on what ever I decide I need to do to make the new year different than the year that is ending.

It all comes down to making the RIGHT CHOICES, STAYING FOCUSED AND NOT GETTING SIDETRACKED.

Life comes with hurdles and obstacles. That is just the way life works.

I know for me personally the beginning of a new year is so exciting and filled with promise of there really being the opportunity to CREATE THE LIFE I REALLY WANT.

At the same time self-doubt creeps in and I wonder, will the new year be any DIFFERENT, BETTER, EASIER or is it going to be the same struggle of years past.

My friend who I went hiking with wished me a peaceful night and a gentle transitioin into the new year.  I thought what a beautiful way to enter the new year.

My attempt at this was somewhat succcessful. I jumped into bed at 9PM to read. I was fast asleep before entering the new year. I woke up a little less than excited as I got in my HEAD. AVERY DANGEROUS PLACE TO LIVE. Because I got into my head I was dealing with a bit of anxiety and some dread as I pushed though the day.

I am feeling better now as I make this entry.
 I hope that each and everyone of you is able to CREATE the WONDERFUL life that you all DESIRE.

Some of you may be asking yourself if this is possible.

I am telling you that YES IT IS. Why? BECAUSE YOU ARE WORTHY.

LEARN TO LOVE YOURSELF AND TRUST THAT YOU ARE WORTHY OF WHATEVER RICHES YOU DESIRE

PEACE AND BLESSING FOR AN AWE INSPIRING 2014

BELIEVE, FAITH, HOPE, TRUST.

ONE MORE TIME

JUST ONE MORE TIME.

Here we are during the holiday season, a time when people come together with friends and family and loved ones to celebrate holiday traditions.

For many people this a very difficult time of the year.

Many people are estranged from family and friends by their own choice or for countless other reasons.

DEPRESSION THIS TIME OF YEAR IS STATISTICALLY ON THE RISE AS IS SUICIDE AND CRIME.

A friend of mine that I am connected with on FACEBOOK posted a very sad and disturbing post.

The post was of a young man leaving a sober living facility in the desert to go home and see his family for the holiday and to enjoy all of the festivities. On his way to see his family he had come through Los Angeles where he fell off the wagon the first day.

Unfortunately he never made it to see his family. He  was found DEAD & ALONE in a hotel room in Los Angeles.

My friend also said as an addict you are always looking for ONE MORE TIME. ONE MORE PARTY.

My friend said that ONE MORE TIME often leads to DEATH.

So yes you do get to have one more time.

That ONE MORE TIME where you get to be the center of attention. It is called your FUNERAL.

VERY TRAGIC. SO MANY LIVES BEING CUT SHORT.

My wish for all those suffering and trying to find their way lost in a world of drugs.

LEARN TO LOVE YOURSELVES.
KNOW THAT YOU ARE WORTHY OF A BEAUTIFUL AND JOYOUS LIFE.

THAT LIFE IS OUT THERE WAITING FOR YOU TO JUST SAY YES TO LIFE.

I am posting this on 12/31/13 NEW YEARS EVE. What a great day to decided to create a more enriching life for YOU.

WISHING 2014 IS BRIGHT AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR.

SIGNALS

Signals of Life.

All around, every day we are given SIGNAL OF LIFE.

How fleeting it is. How precious it is.

This past few weeks I was reminded yet again by having my health compromised by be knocked down by a nasty cold/flu which had me cooped up and in my house for 96 plus hours.

All I was able to do was sleep. I guess it was exactly what my body needed to restore itself.

I decided not to fight what was going on which I normally do. I just allowed my body to do what it needed to do.

I am always amazed by the healing powers of the body and my body. Our bodies are MAGICAL.

During this time that my health had been compromised, I was made aware of the passing of a former client and friend DANIEL ESCOBAR who made his transition.

Daniel was a diabetic and his body for whatever reason stopped functioning and he was taken from this earthly place at a very young age and with so much more life to live.

Daniels life was cut short.

We must pay attentionto the signal that we are given. If we pay attention and are made aware we may prolong our short amount of time that we are actually give on this physical plain.

Why I say short. I mean short as in 22, 49,100 years, it all goes by in the blink ogf an eye. My grandmother on her death bed at 89, said it all goes by so quickly.

Knowing that we are here for a limited amout of time. We nee to LIVE OUR BEST LIVES.

If we are really living and not just really just going through the motions of existing. It does not matter if we are 22,49, or 100 it will all be OK.

THE KEY IS LIVE REALLY LIVE.

R.I.P Daniel Escobar

I know you have them all laughing already. Thank you for you and for sharing your gift.

PASSION! WHAT IS YOUR PASSION?

WHAT IS PASSION?

To me passion is doing what one LOVES.
 It is that thing that drives a person to continue on their journey no matter what. Even when things seem impossible they find the energy and strength to CARRY ON.

For me I have found Passion with my Photography.

One of the nicest compliments I have ever received based on my work is. People have said to me that when I look at your work I SEE your HEART & SOUL.

To me that is a very high compliment and tells me that viewers of my work are allowed in to my world and get to see a very vulnerable side of who I am as a person and an artist.

Please take a look at what excites me as I try to live passionately as I continue traveling on my journey.

THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL OF YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT.

It means THE WORLD 2 ME.

Here is to ALLOWING ME TO TAKE YOU ALONG ON MY JOURNEY WHILE YOU SEE THE WORLD THROUGH MY EYES.

http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/joeburnsimages.html.

MUCH LOVE TO ALL OF YOU.

MAKE IT YOUR LIFES COMMITMENT TO LIVE WITH PASSION.
P.S Also remember often time beauty comes with thorns,obstacles and pain that we must work through. IN THE END IT IS WORTH WHAT EVER WE GO THROUGH....THE KEY BE PRESENT FOR THE JOURNEY.       WAKE UP NOW. THIS IS YOUR LIFE. LIVE IT.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS WISHING EVERYONE A HOLIDAY SEASON FULL OF JOY AND PROMISE FOR WHERE YOU ARE NOW AND THE PROMISE OF A BETTER TOMORROW. ALL THE BEST FOR 2014.

LESSONS IN LIFE

I BELIEVE THAT EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON.

People change so that we can learn to LET GO.

Things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they go RIGHT.

You believe lies so you eventually learn to TRUST NO ONE BUT YOURSELF.

Sometimes good things fall apart and people go away so BETTER things come together and the right people SHOW UP.

Every situation we go through we are meant to go through. Every person who crosses our path serves a purpose in our lives and was meant to show up for whatever time they are present.

Part of loving is LETTING GO. Not always the easiest thing to do.  We often want to know WHY?

I do not know the answer. What I believe may be part of the answer is to allow us to become the people that we are meant to become.

Because of these people we are allowed to evolve. THAT IS A GOOD THING.

The sad part of that is that many of these wonderful beings do not continue on our journey with us.

We can only say thank you for the lessons learned and wish them well as they continue on their on journey.

Some people are with us, and than leave us, and than later in life rejoin us. When that happens that is special. FACEBOOK has allowed many of us to reconnect and share with each other wonderful moments and memories. When that happens that is SPECIAL.

Some relationships are not meant to be revisted. THAT IS OK.

I want to thank everyone that has touched my life and has passed through.

I wish you all the best as you continue on your JOURNEY.

Those of you that I have the good fortune to still have in my life, I am blessed to have each and everyone of you along for the ride for however long that you decide to travel with me.

Those of you who for whatever reason decide to get off or go in a different direction. Hoping you have a life filled with wonderful and exciting connections.

As I reflect. I came across this quote.
NOTHING EVER GOES AWAY UNTIL IT TEACHES US WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW.

So those who have left us have taught us a thing or two and have served their purpose in our lives.

LIFE IS ABOUT LESSONS. BE OPEN TO LEARN.

THANK YOU FOR ALL OF LIFES LESSONS.

ALSO REMEMBER YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND LIGHT IN EVERY LESSON. SOMETIMES IT MIGHT BE DIM AND OTHER TIMES BRIGHT. ALWAYS CHERISH THE LIGHT.

ONE YEAR LATER

One year ago today I was living at the Jersey Shore and was given notice to evacuate my home in preparation for HURRICANE SANDY.

Well the storm arrived packing a punch. I just one year later am seeing some of the images for the very first time. WHEN YOU ARE IN THE EYE OF THE STORM YOU ARE DISCONNECTED.

HOLY SHIT. I HAD NO IDEA.

Once I was able to reconnect I did not go in search of the disturbing images.

I was out of my home for 5or 6 days and with out power for like 15-16 days.

IT WAS INCONVENIENT YES.

IT WAS ALSO REFRESHING BECAUSE YOU WERE ACTUALLY ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE WITHOUT THEM BEING DISTRACTED BY THEIR PHONE,COMPUTER OR TEXT.

It brought things back to the basics.

I personally was very fortunate. I was prepared and OJ with losing everything. I LOST NOTHING.

My neighbors not so lucky.

Over the course of the year. I have had many changes in my life. I decided to leave the Shore at the beginning of the season. I decided to take a road trip cross country with the plan of settling in Vegas. Instead I wound up back in Los Angeles and have now been here for four months.

Trying to make it work. Not sure how long I will remain. Trying to build my business out here and work survival jobs to keep my head above water.

I am just trying to say YES. It is important to say YES.

I am willing to be open to the journey that I am on.......I  AM TRUSTING THAT I AM BEING LEAD TO WHERE AND WHAT I AM SUPPOSE TO BE DOING.

I AM GRATEFUL. IT IS ALL ABOUT GRATITUDE.

SO I SAY YES AND THANK YOU.

I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO DO THE SAME.

P.S Wishing all my friends at the Shore nothing but health and restoration and success moving forward.

The Shore allowed me to recharge and tap into my creative spirit. It allowed me to live and create and to be an ARTIST.  THANK YOU.

REMEMBER AS YOU CONTINUE ON YOUR JOURNEY.......THERE IS ALWAYS LIGHT TO LOOK FORWARD TO AS YOU PASS THROUGH THE DARKNESS.  YOU JUST HAVE TO KEEP WALKING.....TRUST. THE LIGHT WILL ALWAYS SHINE THROUGH.