close your eyes

Today.

Technically, it's all we have.

This one moment right now.

But if you had one wish that could expand beyond this one moment and last a lifetime - what would it be? An exciting yet overwhelming thought, huh?

This past week I talked to two important people in my life (one of which was my GF, Nancy). The two separate conversations were about other people that were and are in their life. We talked about these two separate people (one young and one old) and how the two of these individuals felt about the last days of life. Both had a fear of being alone in the end.

Today, I'm surrounded by so much love. I'm very lucky that way. And, at the risk of sounding a bit morbid, if it were to end today - thankfully, I'd hardly be alone in the process. But if I live to be 102, my wish is that my friends, their families and my own family is always there by my side. More importantly, I hope my lovelies think exactly the same way my friend Nancy does about her nan. She is in the process of moving her nan into a old-folks home and when I told her she was a good woman for doing so, she replied, "That woman has done so much for my life, that I plan on making sure hers ends with the same love, joy and dignity that she's given me".

May I be as lucky in the end as both Nancy and her nan.

For you? I'd say, just close your eyes and make a wish...

heaven on earth

“Dead Woman’s Pass” is the highest point on the Inca Trail. It's peak is just hovering above 14,000 feet. As you might be able to see in this picture, the pass is named for the shape of the mountain, which looks like the silhouette of a reclining woman. C'mon, see the nipple? I sat on that nipple!

The peak of Mount Everest is 29,000 feet. So the highest point that I've reached on this planet, was half that of what George Mallory and Andy Irvine reached (by all accounts) in 1924.

Did you hear me? 1924. They did this 86 years ago, so you can imagine that they didn't have gortex, dry-fit or MEC. They did have one key piece of apparel - an oxygen tank. And as someone that has experienced 14,000 feet above sea level - it took many baby steps, several breaks leaning on a walking stick and many, many coca leaves. So an oxygen tank was key to their success.

Last night, I finished reading Paths of Glory by Jeffery Archer. Dad bought me the book for Christmas. It's a tale about the life of George Mallory and his passion to be the first person to reach the top of Mount Everest. I will say this, the first 75% of the book was a bit of a bore. The 25% that I was interested in was at the end, and I'm sure it was the reason dad bought me the book in the first place - the part where you hear the tales about Mallory's attempts to reach the peak of the tallest mountain in the world. Simply humbling.

The thing about a place in time is that at the core, we're all the same. Over time not much changes when it comes to personal passion, wants, desires, needs and dreams. The one thing that does change over time are the tools and technology to enhance our path to glory (if we so choose glory as our destination). And while climbers of Everest today still have the same incredible challenge as Mallory did in 1924. It's leaders like Mallory that are most admirable - they achieve what we can today with so much less to aid them along the way. I realized when closing the book for the final time last night that when it comes to pushing our mental and physical boundaries (hiking, running, climbing, biking, etc) no amount of technology or new-age thinking changes our path. We still have to climb on our own.

judge judy

I had to take the subway about 5 days ago. Something I haven't done in a long time. And while I appreciate all that public transit brings to a big city, I don't miss it. The crowded standing-room-only space, grasping on to germ-infested handles that dangle from the ceiling. We sway back and forth to the motion of rocket on the tracks and we have no choice but to all stare directly at each other. We assume each others life story and we judge.

I work really hard not to judge people, it's been a conscious effort ever since I read one of Deepak Chopra's books about 8 years ago (before he ever became the zen-guru that he is today). We all do it. We look and in an instant, we judge.

When I got off at my stop, just outside the turn stalls, standing in the narrow, tiled hallway there was a young man. He was (I assumed) homeless, playing his harmonica for big bucks. And next to him: his dog. In an instant it pissed me off. I felt angry at him; empathic for the dog. I thought, Christ if you struggle to feed yourself how the hell are you going to feed that poor dog. I was pissed and it effected me in a very real way. As I made my way out on to the street I realized that I judged his situation in a instant. But something made me think about what Dawson brings to my life. And I was sure it was the exact same thing that dog brings to his owner. And I can only hope that the young man gives the same thing back to his dog. Real, pure love and companionship. Then I thought, while it may not be fair to Daws, if I lost everything in my life - I know one thing for sure, I would want her by my side.

Unconditional love is priceless. It beats all things material.

I'd like to thank that broken man and his shaggy best friend for reminding me of that this week.

making my way to revolutionary road

I have a lot of amazing women in my life. And I'm convinced that you do too.

They've given birth, some of them even multiple times, and this alone deserves applause in my mind. In addition to that, they're working hard at a career, being fit, youthful and beautiful. They try so hard to be a good wife and more importantly, a good mother. And if their family is lucky, they're master chefs too.

But do you know what I heard this week in research conducted at my office? There is no proof that women today are happier than those miserable housewives of the 1950s. Jesus Christ - all that effort for self improvement, and for what?

Ladies, the more I think about it, the bitches of the 50s got it right. Afternoon cocktails, cigarillos and lounging around watching the tube with a delightful buzz, while Ward is at the office and the Beav is in school.

I say we start a revolution - let's get back to our roots.

y'all come back now, ya hear?

Yikes, you know it's been a long time since you've blogged when you can't remember your login name. And no, that's not the excuse why I haven't been here in ooohhhhhh... almost 2 weeks. That said, you're not really beating down my blog-door for more riveting snippets about my life. Which leads me to my next point: my blog is reaching the one-year mark and www.cherylmunroe.com has been about ME and my point of view on the simple preciousness of life. It was created as an adventure to learn more about the online space and the topic I chose was one that hopefully would make you all stop and appreciate time and tiny moments (via my lens on life). And luckily for me, you've come a few times (or many) to join in that conversation.

Lately I've been thinking that when I hit the one year mark on here that I call it quits. On the flip side, I've also had some pretty crafty ideas how I turn this experience from ME to WE in a very charitable-pay-it-forward kind of way. I think the Olympics was proof positive of the importance of unity, peace and togetherness. So how can we as mere peons keep that momentum going?

I don't claim this is new thinking on my part. In fact, I just heard this past week that there are only 6 ideas in the world? And, as someone that has spent the majority of their career in advertising, I also am familiar with the ole expression, "no idea is a new idea". But what is important is being an active participant to keep those big ideas moving along. That's where we come in.

I'm sure Facebook (since it's inception) has proven to you that your own friend network can expand globally in minutes. And, if you're like me, you've also had moments thinking, "heeeey, I didn't know she knew him and he knew her!" So, I think it's time I use my little selfish experiment for something good. Taking my desire to learn about the online space as a self-promoting tool and combining it with my long desire to find a charity very close to my heart.

Tonight, I did a little old school networking - meeting a friend of a friend live and in person. This persons positive and passionate energy re-ignited this fire within me. Our conversation lead us to re-enacting a quick history and timeline of our careers, which only makes you realize just how fast it goes by when you can explain 13 years in 13 minutes. It made me realize that there is no reason the next 13 years can't be just as exciting, fun and full of ideas. The hard part is making them come to life.

I've been humbled by your comments and flattered by your words. One year in and it's time for a change. One that I hope you'll take part in. Stay tuned.