“No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars, or sailed an uncharted land, or opened a new doorway for the human spirit.”

Today’s quote of the day comes from Helen Keller - an American author, political activist and lecturer. She was also the first deafblind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Very inspiring, yes.

The story of  how Helen’s teacher, Annie Sullivan, broke through the isolation imposed by a near complete lack of language, allowing the girl (Helen) to blossom as she learned to communicate, has become known worldwide through the dramatic depictions of the play and film The Miracle Worker.

Anyone else remember the film? Helen Keller inspires us to be optimists, no matter what the odds are, in any situation.

It’s been my practice lately and it has been rewarding. In gratitude.

Question: Is there something special that I should see when I open up my front door? A mirror or a flower vase or something else?

G.L. –Portland, Oregon

C.J.: Ah, I love this question. Thank-you for asking it.

Entryways serve as greeters each time we walk into our front door. It’s such an important area as it sets the tone for our experience inside.

If the area is cluttered and ugly…well you can imagine how that will affect how we feel and contribute to lower energy levels.

However, if the area is beautiful, for example set up with a beautiful vase of flowers on a special table or our favorite bold print is hanging on the wall, that will speak joy to our hearts, even on the most challenging of days.

For many of us, the entryway is an area where we leave our ’stuff’ like our purses, keys, umbrellas, etc. and can get cluttered. If this is the case, first get organized. Keep what you don’t need and get rid of the rest.

Think of this area as your personal welcoming station where you have that special bowl for your keys and a sweet mood light that draws you into the area.

Whatever you decide to place in your entryway, make it something you love, or a collection of things that bring peace and love into your heart. After all, our home is our sanctuary and is the one place where we can truly relax and be at peace.

Today’s quote comes from Margaret Mead, an American Cultural Anthropologist who lived from 1901 - 1978 and was a frequently featured writer and speaker in the mass media throughout the 1960s and 1970s.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

Profound words indeed. Thank-you Margaret. Your Spirit continues to live among us.

Question: I would like to paint my front door a new color. Are there any colors that are a “no-no” in Feng Shui? Is shiny black O.K?

LS - Portland, OR

Cheryl: Here’s my answer. Traditionally, in Feng Shui, the door is painted red. Since the house in feng shui is sometimes seen as the body, the door is considered the tongue and when it sticks out, it’s like the red carpet at the Oscars; hot and fiery and where a lot of positive energy can find you. However, it’s not always pleasing to the eye to use red since it might not compliment the exterior palette. The door is the point of entry and in my opinion, it should be bright and happy, something that lifts your heart to the sky. Since I’m not a traditionalist and always consider how the heart feels, I would advise you to consider how a black door might feel to you. And if it feels right, go for it.

Okay, so I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a sci-fi geek, but I actually think it’s kind of sexy and cool.

So here’s the news: Another film version of Frank Herbert’s classic “Dune” is being made with Peter Borg directing. Remember the 1984 film with Sting…(wasn’t he cute?)

There’s an interesting quote in the announcement as reported via Treehugger:

The filmmakers consider [Dune’s} theme of finite ecological resources particularly timely.” Indeed. Hard not to see the link between Arrakis’ spice Melange and the Earth’s oil, or even to consider the implications of a world where water is so scarce that drastic measures have to be taken.

Oh precious resources, we love you and Barack Obama.

There’s talk about getting Tom Cruise. I’m not so sure.