Our Deepest Fear
by Marianne Williamson
from A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
Whenever I approached the moment as an adventure rather than avoiding risk or looking for safety, almost always it yielded so much more.
One of the simplest and most profound lines I've ever read was the title of a book. It said, "Don't Stop at Green Lights." This has been a major theme of my life. My regrets have mostly not been my mistakes in action. My greatest regrets have been an opportunity I didn't appreciate or recognize or one I saw the value of and was too hesitant to act.
I've come to realize that in making a decision to act, I'm able to be surprised by resources or support for moving forward that I didn't see or expect arriving until I was in action. This has been one of my most important lessons. We think before taking on a challenge that we don't know how to do it, or we don't have what it takes, or enough to work with. So we don't give it or ourselves a chance. We don't ask for help. We don't improvise. We don't look at the upside.
Would you like to help me do
the most unique and creative real estate deal in America?
...and create a revolutionary business model in the process!
If you'd like to help me develop this plan you can reach me at my e-mail address dr.richard.talsky@gmail.com.
"Millions of men have lived to fight, build palaces and boundaries, shape destinies and societies; but the compelling force of all times has been the force of originality and creation
profoundly affecting the roots of human spirit."
--Ansel Adams (American Photographer, 1902-1984)
Once this model has been launched and developed, it can then be used to save a kind of building, of a supposedly extinct architecture, in locations all over North America.
This style of architecture is probably America's most endangered building style and probably also it's most gorgeous.
This type of building, a venue for entertainment, if redeveloped along the lines I propose, can serve to revitalize the downtowns. and small towns that they are centered in, that now remain un- or underutilized all over North America.
This plan actually involves two different kinds of properties, in different parts of the Chicago area. One is a building and the other is an open space, outdoor venue with an enclosed limited access perimeter allowing for admission fees.
They each share the characteristics allowing for the original and creative uses and redevelopment to yield many times the economic payoff from multiple revenue streams in a completely new way.
Both properties can be acquired for just a few per cent of what these properties will be worth once they're producing the revenue streams I've projected in my planned use. Such streams can be realized in each case
within a few months of acquisition.
The open venue has been overlooked by the press and Mayor Daley's advisors in the consideration of the possibilities for a venue for the opening and closing ceremonies for the aspired summer Olympic bid that has been much in the local news lately. This particular property is more than double the size necessary to accommodate the 80,000 or even 100,000 for the opening and closing ceremonies and other competitions.
This would eliminate the need for construction and would save a couple hundred million dollars in construction costs.
It is my intention to acquire, develop and operate both venues for a wide variety of uses.
The larger open venue could be operated by me until, during & after the Olympic Games.
I've developed a method of acquisition, operation and restoration finance for the venue, which is a theater, in a system of methods that's never been done. It's a complete operational and acquisition innovation.
The communities immediately surrounding and near the theater would be elated to see the theater developed and restored for this unprecedented variety of uses.
I've also developed a completely original financing method adapted uniquely to the outdoor venue, that could later be applied to large outdoor venues and stadiums.
Regular readers will often find two posts, one about looking for a center and the other about the theater repeated as if a new post. If you've read them already, please read on for additional NEW posts for that day.
A Third Place
What Ray Oldenburg calls "the third place" as so essential to human life. The first place is where we live; the second place is where we work. And Third places exist on neutral ground and serve to level their guests to a condition of social equality. Within these places, conversation is the primary activity and the major vehicle for the display and appreciation of human personality and individuality. Since the formal institutions of society make stronger claims upon the individual, third places are normally open in the off hours, as well as at other times. The character of a third place is determined most of all by its regular clientele and is marked by a playful mood, which contrasts with people's more serious involvement in other spheres. Though a radically different kind of setting for a home, the third place is remarkably similar to a good home in the psychological comfort and support that it extends.
You can help find a location in Chicago for a center for human potential: Healthy living, personal growth, healing, creativity, conversation, communication, relationships, an expo and The Life Center (See "The Life Center" section on this site) This will be a kind of "third place"--(Ray Oldenberg), a new kind of public place, a social leveler (egalitarian), were people of all walks of life can build community in an open, integrating manner, broadening horizons and perspectives as never before...a kind of cross-cultural, creatve pollination.
This will be a homey, fun, informal place to explore daring, bold, experimantal possibility and test your inborn gifts, and find and develop your purpose, calling, mission..ingniting new passion and freshness in every day life: creating a daily wow experience.
This blog is designed to develop and express my ideas for this new kind of center as a generator of possibility and a creative force for a thriving community and society.
This can produce unexpected answers for a world that works... in the face of prevelant crisis and conflict. You can share ideas and together we can build a community of innovation, creativity, even transformation, in America's finest tradition.
Welcome. Join me in this exciting collaboration
"The real magic is a 'childs' own mind"
or using that unfettered mind as an adult, creating fresh and original vision.
"Discover the magic of recognizing a person you see
as twice their present size (capability)"
"The great leaders are the best conductors--they reach beyond the notes to the magic of the players"--Bruce Lee
"The great leader who exercises power with honor will work from the inside-out...
starting with him[her]self."
This is my vision ... a vision of possibility greater than most of us let ourselves imagine.
Explore and discover a pathway to distinction...and differentiation with me,
unfolding the hidden genius and greatness within you.
"All your life you are told the things you cannot do. All your life they will say you're not good enough or strong enough or talented enough; they will say you're the wrong height or the wrong weight or the wrong type to play this or be this or achieve this. THEY WILL TELL YOU NO, a thousand times no, until all the no's become meaningless. All your life they will tell you no, quite firmly and very quickly.
AND YOU WILL TELL THEM YES." -, Nike ad
"Our lives are not determined by what happens to us but by how we react to what happens, not by what life brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life. A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes. It is a catalyst, a spark that creates extraordinary results." -Anon.
"Avoiding the phrase "I don't have time...", will soon help you to realize that you do have the time needed for just about anything you choose to accomplish in life." --Bo Bennett, "Year to Success"
"Any change, any loss, does not make us victims. Others can shake you, surprise you, disappoint you, but they can't prevent you from acting, from taking the situation you're presented with and moving on. No matter where you are in life, no matter what your situation, you can always do something. You always have a choice and the choice can be power." -Blaine Lee, The Power Principle
"The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his information and his recreation, his love and his religion. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. To him he's always doing both." -James A. Michener, attributed
Your life, this world can develop beyond your wildest imaginings---once you turn on your creativity. Join me in bringing a more creative outlook into the mainstream.
Beyond opening a center for human potential, I envision The Life Center with member-based programs in neighborhood centers throughout the Chicago and suburbs. Each will be self-contained and autonomous in each community, with resources and an environment for creating thriving humans and an optimal community, together moving toward an optimal world.
The Uptown Theater
As a componant of this vision, for sometime now I've engaged in developing and actualizing a plan to give the 81-year old Uptown Theater at Lawrence and Broadway, new life (on Chicago's North side). I envision a combination of old uses, (film, live shows, even radio broadcasting), rolled together with dozens of activities and attractions never done in a theater of any kind.
The Uptown, probably America's foremost remaining movie palace from the '20's, has been asleep, out of regular use since it closed in disrepair in 1981. It's had two ownerships since, and except for occasional private events has not been active. One ownership ended in sale for taxes in the early '90s and the most recent owner a real estate trust, embroiled in a two-year forced bankruptsy proceeding, is enroute to foreclosure. At that point I aim to acquire it.
To do this, according to my plan, would require community support, involving ordinary folks and some unconventional finance approaches. Using aggressive and creative approaches, existing stakeholders---those who would benefit from its comeback---will provide the resources both monetary and non-monetary.
To bring a new dynamic combination of cultural offerings to a georgeous architectural gem, large enough to accomodate multiple activities at one time and all day and all night, requires the collaborative, creative participation of many unconventional and adventurous and talented souls of all ages.
This plan could easily include a center for human potential, previously described, and a prototype of The Life Center.
Who are the stakeholders, that can make a difference in the creation of this delicious possibility?
Those who love...Culture, Uptown, architectural gems, old theaters, the Uptown Square Plaza (with The Riviera Theater, Greenmill Lounge from the pre-'20s, The Aragon Ballroom, The 12-story bank building, Border's in the newly restored former department store.)...those who love film, theater, live music, showbiz,the arts...and those who'd love to bring back the cultural leadership of Uptown from the '20s. Also, those who'd love a 24 hour place to hang out (see the Third Place), to have conversatioins, to snack, to do creative projects any time. And don't forget, a place to showcase any kind of talent.
I am ready, able, willing and eager to make this happen. I have an exciting plan, never done before, that can revolutionize culture, and serve as a model to save such theaters, hundreds of them all over the country.
I can do it. I can't of course do it alone. It will take the small, medium and large actions of 100s, 1000s of supporters. Are you with me or am I by myself? It won't take large amounts from a small number, instead varying amounts from very many. You can e-mail me at drtalsky@thewowcenter
This was taken from a website about the Uptown Theater: compassrose.org/uptowntheatre/history-intro html
It was in this north side neighborhood, in 1925, that the Uptown Theatre opened its doors for the first time.The Uptown holds a special place in the history of twentieth-century architecture. It is, perhaps, the largest freestanding movie palace ever constructed. Designed by famed architects Rapp & Rapp and built by the Balaban and Katz corporation, the Uptown was the crown jewel of Chicago entertainment venues.
While some of Uptown's historic architecture has been lost over the years, a surprising amount still stands. Three of the biggest venues remain--the Riviera Theatre, the Aragon Ballroom, and the Uptown Theatre. The Uptown is the only one not currently in use.
"(It was a time of) more and more ambitious movie palaces, their fronts streaming with flashing arches or traveling placards; their interior an awesome mixture of all the architectures; their stages set with spectacles enriched by new inventions of electricians; their orchestras playing amid color shading from sunrise golden to sunset purple and back again."-- Lloyd Lewis and Henry Justin Smith, Chicago: The History of Its Reputation, Harcourt Brace and Company, 1929
It is our hope that a philanthropist or an adventurous businessperson with the means and a solid business plan can one day restore this great movie palace. The Uptown neighborhood is gentrifying at a rapid rate, and other historic venues in the neighborhood are being preserved for future generations.