In 2004 I hosted a group of children from Larger Than Life, an Israeli group that helped children with cancer (and their families) in Israel, regardless or faith, race, or gender – meaning when a group of us hosted 30 kids from Israel it was made up of Jews, Muslims, Arab Christians and Druze.  Put your politics aside for a minute and think about a 7 year old who is dying of leukemia (all he wanted from me was bubble gum, seriously).

A few years later shortly before I left New York City I was honored to photograph a series of events for Kids Kicking Cancer, which provides weekly classes for children with cancer in the martial arts.  Their mission: is “to ease the pain of very sick children while empowering them to heal physically, spiritually and emotionally.”  Truly a remarkable amount of strength in those kids.

Last year I met the love of my life Silvia Oppenheim.  We are getting married in February 2011 in Brazil and in the time we have known each other I have learned about her time in hospital wards with children who are suffering (at times in great pain) with cancer.  There are many stories I could put into this post about how a young lady said her only wish was to reach her 5th birthday and asked Silvia “will I get wings when I go to heaven?”

No child should ever have to wonder if they will reach their next birthday, be that from disease, hunger, violence or any other possible reason.  To do our part, with my life partner we are leading a team for Relay For Life – a 24 hour walk on August 21, 2010 here in San Francisco.  

We are raising money for children with cancer (you can give as little as $5!).  It means a great deal to both Silvia and I to know that talking to our friends, contacts on Facebook, LinkedIn and other social media can make a difference.  If you can visit my personal page here, make a donation or if you want, you are even welcome to join our team!  We are working on some great sponsors so that the night of the event we will have some great fun, prizes and food (including cupcakes from Silvia), so follow here: http://bit.ly/findlinghats.

This week’s updates include

• Relay for Life: http://bit.ly/findlinghats
• Laundry Locker: SF Laundry Service (http://www.laundrylocker.com)
• Urban Darling: Wardrobe Consultants and Stylists (http://www.urbandarling.com)
• New logo for Le Concierge SF, SF Concierge and San Francisco Professional Organizer   (http://www.LeConciergeSF.com)

If you are looking to gain back some freedom in you life contact Le Concierge SF.  The company can be your full service professional organizer in SF as well as event planner in SF.  You can clean out the kitchen or home office and then host a party!  Call them today, (415) 602-6652.

Today was the exception to the rule in that rain was not in the forecast for the first time in awhile.  I took advantage of that and just, well not like Forrest, but I went runnin’. There is no coincidence that I work for Embarcadero Technologies and I ran along the Embarcadero today.  In about 2.5 weeks from now I am going to the country of Brasil (yes that is how it is spelled!).  I am going with my girlfriend Silvia and I’ve never been more anxious or excited.  I thought a lot about my upcoming trip during the run and how life has changed a great deal in seven months. 

I came across the movie “A Beautiful Mind” again last week (because no I haven’t seen it so many times I can’t actually recite the movie) but there is one line in there that struck me again.  John Nash asks about going to teach and his old friend (and former nemesis) Martin Hansen asks if those “people still bother him.”  John says “well Martin, they’re my past, everyone is haunted by their past…”

As I reached the Ferry Building and ending my run today I thought of the next best line and I think I owe Silvia for helping me find that line: Everyone is haunted by their past, it’s whether you chose to be afraid of those ghosts.  We all have stories to tell around the campfire or over a beer.  I grew up in a home of divorced parents, survived September 11th, have some joint problems that you normally see in an 80 year old. 

Though I do try to wake up every morning and do what I can to take of me, do my best to love Silvia and my family and when all is said and done do my part to make this world a better place.  I read a lot sometimes when celebrities die (I think about this after the montage of “who died this year” at the Oscars).  What were they remembered for, what movie quote, what action – what mark on history.  I think in the end, those on the cover of People or Time magazine care about the same exact thing that someone who delivered their mail or did their dry cleaning would think: who loved me and will they miss me?  We expect, we hope, we deserve (all of us) to be loved, to be honored and cherished.  Now, look, I live in a part of the world where sometimes liberalism takes over and I have to fight that urge, if you stalk and kill a teenage girl in a park (like the guy in San Diego did 2 weeks ago), ….I beg the question, does he deserve love?  Or pity? Or…what?

The point I try to make is that for most of my life up until about a year ago my stubborn ways did not allow me to understand that everyone values love and appreciation of others the same.  I think as everyday folks we do our best to be good people, I have to believe that.

Which leads me to those things I just have plain ole’ fun putting together.  All this heavy talk, let’s have some fun.  I have had a blast working with Silvia to help launch Le Concierge SF (the premiere personal concierge in SF and professional organizer in SF).  Last week she organized and then cooked for a small intimate birthday party in Noe Valley (a really nice neighborhood in the more middle, yet southwestern area of SF).  The food was…well how do I say this: I was honored that the woman I love has the power to take food and create art.  I am so proud and so honored to be in her life…..man I can’t wait to get to Brasil.

And I think back to my life in New York City.  I was working with a great organization called the One Family Fund.  This organization helped victims of terrorism in Israel and I was honored to help create the Young Leadership in NYC.  I remember hearing from a young lady who survived the bombing of a pizza shop in Jerusalem….

We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give….

That one never gets old….cheers.

I started drawing and then I realized I had to work on some charts in Excel – next thing I know I was diving my life into 6 areas (you would think I needed a personal assistant in SF).  For now each slide has equal weight.  There are days where the percentages and pie slices might shift (hmmm, pizza for dinner?), but alas, this is where I have come to.  And because I am a PowerPoint/Excel dork, I made a chart and then a graphic and now a blog because this is what web marketing guys do, we blog….don’t we?

Now don’t get me wrong, I actually LOVE my day job.  I work at a database tools & developer software company called Embarcadero Technologies.   I get to be creative, I get have fun and I get to walk home sometimes through the gorgeous (and steep) hills of San Francisco – today feels like a Coit Tower day!  But when I get home, my darling Silvia (the most amazing professional organizer in SF) and I will have dinner. But I can’t forget, Sunday I am volunteering at a Jewish learning event at the JCC (as a photographer).  Then I would like to talk more with some non-profit groups about promoting local businesses and of course I have to make sure I count the calories (cause Weight Watchers wants my points!).

If you are reading this (ok for the 10 of you that are), give me your wheel, balanced at first.  I’m curious, where does your time lie, where do your passions lie?  The first time I went to Scotland in 2002 I was asked one great question that I have to ask myself everyday “….what are you passionate about?…”

Well…what are ya waiting for?

On New Year's Day I was recovering from what the doctors call "Walking Pneumonia."  From August through Thanksgiving I worked hard at trying to get in shape and shed some pounds, having the illness, I gained more than half of my weight back!   Now that brings me to the end of February and so much has happened.  

In the first two months of 2010 I learned a great deal about my own patterns and behaviors while working with my girlfriend Silvia.  We worked on getting her company Le Concierge SF started.  After the website is built and put the Facebook fan pages is up I started to realize I myself am not always aware of how so many things in life are connected to one's happiness.

Now imagine if only knew Silvia from a professional standpoint.   My life would be filled with a few major activities on a daily and weekly basis: work, gym, social, food and volunteering (the good deed thing).  I am a pretty clean person, there are certain routines I'm not the best at, like cooking fresh food and folding my clothes.  Imagine if you had the #1 Professional Organizer in SF on your team:

• The fridge and pantry was stocked with your favorite foods.
• Your fridge had meals prepared and labeled to take to work everyday (and oh yea the food is good for you!).
• The fruit you were looking for at Trader Joe's is washed, cut up and prepared into small containers.
• The cabinets in my kitchen are organized in such a way those dishes and glasses I use the most are front and center and the easiest to reach.  The same goes for the food, spices and snacks.
• All of the Tupperware (different size containers), lids (oh the lids) and more are all organized in one area.
• All of the arrangements for the trip I am leaving for in two weeks are done (hotel, car and theater tickets).
• The dinner party I want to have for friends of mine that are coming to town in March, the menu is planned.

Take all of this (and so much more) and then start to think: you work 60-70 hours a week, a good portion of your weekend is spent doing errands (or rushing after you leave the office). 

Imagine leaving your office on any given day and thinking "aahhhhh, I have time now to do…(fill in the blank)." Ask yourself some questions – because honestly, living with Silvia, I did and it led me to some answers that I did not expect.  I realized that it is OK to admit in busy and stressful times that it is OK to reach out for help, it is almost psychologically uplifting.  There is something to be said to be able to given a new sense of freedom.

• How can my life be improved?
• Where can I make changes in my life that allow me to explore new activities and opportunities?
• What do I need to do in order to eat healthier so that I lose weight and have more energy?
• What can I do to change the world?
• My home feels cluttered, I know there is more space here, how can I find that space???

If you ask yourself these questions and more, maybe you should talk with Silvia (seriously call her now, 415-602-6652).  I know that because I asked those questions and each were answered it allowed me to start projects like YelpSF.  I want to help local businesses and help the local SF community grow economicaly.  I spent over eight years of my life in New York helping the Jewish Community.  I see a need here in San Francisco, there is a growing movement of "buy local" and I do think I can help.

There is much more to say about the last two months.  There have been some really great experiences.  We went to Tahoe,  we had some great snow shoeing, we had a dinner party full of Brazilian food, I learned how to make a great detox soup (7 veggies in one soup, now that's detox).  Every month I try to write in my blog and I try to say I will keep this up.  Maybe I need to do a monthly review….but…

my next review will come from Sao Paulo, Brasil……!

It occurred to me, I am having so much fun coming up with new ideas for Silvia to go create awareness of the company I forgot that I personally have been living with the some of the great benefits on the company: personal organizing, event planning, personal assistant and a host of other amazing talents.   I see how her clients respond, you can see it in their faces – the stress level in their lives exponentially drop instantaneously. 

Now, I do have to mention the best part of Silvia working with her clients, not only to do I get to learn get to cook with my best friend and love – I get to learn Portuguese.  And lordy can Silvia cook, see this amazing quinoa tabbouleh she made me for the week – munito gostoso (very yummy in Portuguese).

I hope everyone is having a great week, I’m going to do my best to write in here – if anything I feel the need to share the amazing food that we cook every week!  I am also off to Brasil in April for 2 weeks, so I’m thinking I might even post some fun words to learn each week, like como se falla “nickname"?

One year later I can almost quantify the quality of my new life. I’ve found a wonderful home to volunteer with, not just in the Jewish Community, but the Environmental one. I am honored to sit on the Young Leadership Committee of Temple Emmanuel and be the main photographer for San Francisco Green Drinks. Each day I leave my home in beautiful Pacific Heights and within a short amount of commuting time I am right smack in the middle of my office here at Embarcadero Technologies.

Last October I was asked to be the Online Marketing Manager at Embarcadero. I work with amazingly smart, funny and compassionate people. I have the ability to be creative and at the same time am challenged to be better. And in the end, having your office 2 blocks from the San Francisco Ferry Building, your gym in basement and surrounded by natural beauty your mind wanders into a place that it may not have known before…a sort of calming ability to think clearly.

Moving forward into my 2nd year in San Francisco the Jewish New Year is here again. And I am feeling blessed that my life has a strong foundation now. I love my work, I savor the neighborhood I live in, I adore the friends and relationships I’ve built and….feel confident that I can accept the past, understand the good, the not so great – and starting to learn how to truly thinking clearly about the future.

The future is not just what we make of it, but how we harness the best possible scenarios that lie ahead. I am not writing this note to gloat, or to think that I need to prove my happiness. But I’ve seen many cross my path, new to SF, those leaving for new ventures and even those that have spent all their lives here, looking for a way to truly, oh what’s the expression: get busy livin…or get busy dyin…

I hope whether you are Jewish and celebrating the New Year, or perhaps another religion and this is just another day, that each day brings out the best in you and you find any solid foundation you may need. That you are at peace, your family, friends and loved ones know that your heart is pure and your compassion for life is great. And if you happen to stumble upon this, read this and know that you are in a good place in your life…my only request upon you…well, what Yoda asked: pass on what you have learned.

And to my Jews, my beloved Jewish Communities of NYC, SF, LA, Chicago, London, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Sydney, Melbourne, Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo(!), Toronto, Vancouver, Paris, …and wherever else the Jewish people may live and breathe…SHANA TOVA!!

Much love and peace….
Michael

If you could have the car ready by 7:30am tomorrow, that would be super. I’m coming home.

I left you on May 25th, 2008. It was a bright clear Sunday morning. You know I have to admit taking that big ole’ leap o’ faith wasn’t so hard, I knew with a whole heart and mind I had to explore the world outside of the island of Manhattan. Given my scientific and photographic mind, one year later, I’m coming back to report on my findings.

First of all, if you live, work and/or play in the San Francisco Bay Area, then you know it is a very unique city experience. This mix of urbanite and National Geographic Explorer mixed with the best freakin’ food and wine that I’ve ever had (hence my obsession with Thai and Burmese food). I am a business man I can almost look at each fiscal quarter as a different Chapter. Q1 saw there was a great deal of personal acclimation. Almost as if I was on vacation and I should be preparing to pack up and head back to New York City, Manhattan…the Upper West Side…alas…reality set in – and oh yea, the market tanked! The 2nd quarter brought on the realization that I, me, Findling…well,I just ain’t so perfect after all.

One of the most exhilarating and terrifying experiences a person can have is putting up a mirror to yourself. And when you don’t like what you see, having the courage to accept that is extremely …..well, Pinot Noir does come in handy at those times (not recommended though). To try to grasp why it is you do what you do, and how the past created those behaviors and patterns.

Choices – we all make choices – from whether or not we want coffee or tea, if we go up to the pretty girl (or boy) at the bar and ask them out, do we ask for a raise at work….so many choices. I chose to go to work on September 11, 2001, I chose to watch 3000 people be incinerated before my very eyes. I chose to move to New York City in June 2000. And up until May 25th 2008 I had to believe it was the right thing to do – was it? Of course it was, but it was also the right choice to leave.

I chose to leave and come here to San Francisco. By Christmas 2008 I realized something:

Michael Findling living in New York City made Michael Findling a miserable, neurotic, uptight,
angry, close minded, inpatient and unhappy grump.

Now, my dear Manhattan, please do not interpret that last statement up in the paragraph above to resemble that you did anything wrong, that the people of New York City did anything wrong. But the fact that I can get into a car and be in absolute tranquility in a Redwood forest within 20 minutes from my home has such an extraordinary effect on the psyche, there are no words of Shakespeare I can twist to help you envision the thought process. And sorry, but have you been to Tahoe?

I have learned it is possible to find peace with the past. To accept the wrongs I incurred, and to understand those of others.

Since then, during 2009, I’ve learned the laid back California way of living really does exist, and to be fair, it is good for the soul. As for you, my beloved 5 Borough and countless bridged city,I know a lot of your city residents have asked when I might return….as I have said in the past, you are what I can only imagine heroin would be like.

Now, don’t be fooled:  San Francisco is no utopia.  Cali and SF have it’s own issues and mirror to put up to itself (um ahhem…Prop 8?) and it has frustrations – like being broke.  San Francisco MUNI has amazingly disturbing bus drivers who FULLY test the breaks each time the bus comes to a designated stop.

However, if Mayor Bloomberg could find an economic incentive to send some of your NYC residents over here for a short time (weekend in Napa perhaps?),  I would be grateful, because otherwise, sadly, I don’t know when I’ll be back for more than a weekend.….as you can see, my new heroin is just being at peace.