Foto Friday! Happy 11-11-11

In the spirit of Simply Celebrate's mission to help people turn ordinary days into an extraordinary life, I decided to add some color and delight to Fridays by seeking out images that elevate the ordinary.

This week's photo is by Maya Stein. I had a lot of mind-talk about how amazingly unique and wonderful the photo had to be for 11-11-11. I mean, really, isn't 11:11 when the portal opens into the other world? Isn't it a chance to ask for help from whatever help is out there? "Please, 11:11 magic, help me go where I need to go and be who I need to be and do it all with grace and ease."

11-11-11 is a lot of pressure. Especially considering that I am setting this to publish at 11:11:11 on 11-11-11.

So here's what I know about that kind of pressure: it just aint worth it. Nothing's worth it.

What I really want for 11-11-11 at 11:11:11 is what I want every other amazing millisecond of life: I want to be present and connected to life. I want to be turning my attention toward people and things I love. I want to be experiencing the ordinary for what it truly is: absolutely extraordinary.

And that's why this photo by my friend and talented poet, Maya Stein, is perfect for today. Nothing more than a few eggs in a pan, right? Wrong! What I love about this photo is that it illustrates perfectly what Simply Celebrate is all about. We can have eggs, right? Nothing special. Or, we can have happy-face-smiley-eggs. The latter takes about 60 seconds more and its impact on our lives is profound.

I happen to know Maya and I know that she sees life around her everwhere she goes. She coaxes the poetry out of the smallest, most simple moments. That's what I want for myself and us all.

What do you choose for yourself, moment by moment? It is 11:11:11; make a wish — or a conscious choice.

Maya still has a copy of the first poem she ever wrote, called "Papa Tree and the Seasons." She facilitates writing workshops, makes excellent crepes, and flirts with the idea of becoming a bartender or a hair stylist at least once a week. She can be found at www.mayastein.com.

Photo copyright Maya Stein.