100 Books Project :: Adventure, Disappointment and Revelation
[Book #34 :: Deposited in Banff, Alberta, Canada November 16, 2009]
"So… I tried to give away the second book. I found the perfect location for it in Banff, Alberta… but things didn't turn out quite as I expected." ~Book Fairy Heather Plett, in an email to me about what happened with Book #34.
I knew immediately this was going to be a good story, and I wasn't disappointed. After Heather left the book on an old stone bridge in Banff, this is what happened:
"Fantasizing about the person who'd find it (and even imagining I might see her later walking through downtown with the book tucked under her arm), I crossed the river and killed some time in a Native arts centre. When I was sure I'd left enough time (quite a few people had crossed the bridge by then), I headed back into town.
The book was still there. Someone had torn open the tape on the paper packaging, peeked inside, and left it all behind. I was heartbroken. How could someone see such a beautiful book free for the taking and not whisk it away to a private little hideaway for some quality soul time?
I did my best to re-seal the package, propped the book back up, and walked away again.
About half an hour later, standing in a gallery staring at paintings and photographs that I was suddenly aware were no better than what I could produce, a thought flashed through my mind. Maybe I was meant to take the book. Maybe this was MY ordinary sparkling moment.
I didn't think the book would still be there, but I decided that if it were, it was meant to be mine. Pretending for a moment I was my nineteen-year-old self crossing the bridge to my forty-three-year-old self, I returned to where I'd left the book. It was still there, lying on its side again, like someone else had rejected it and assumed it was meant for someone else.
I took it, but not without HUGE reservations and a whole lot of arguing with myself. (Aren't you cheating? Maybe Christine will be angry. Shouldn't you fulfill your duties like you promised? You're failing again!)
Steeling my resolve, I marched back into town with the book tucked under my arm. The arguments didn't fully stop (I considered dropping the book on a bench, or giving it to a lovely woman in an art gallery or to one of the owners of the "Three Wild Women" boutique), but in the end, I chose to make it mine.
In a flash of inspiration, I walked into a jewelery store and bought myself a promissary ring. (I later learned that the blue chalcedony is meant to strengthen the body and mind and give the wearer a sense of clarity about what they like and don't like.)"
"In the Wild Flour café, I wrote myself a promise note.
I promise:
- I will take more chances.
- I will believe that I am an artist.
- I will trust my ability.
- I will look for opportunities to paint and make art as often as I can.
- I will sign up for another class or workshop that stretches me.
- I will honour the muse.
It's never too late to learn the things I should have known that summer I turned 19.
I drove back to Calgary wearing my new ring. I am rather fond of the way it looks on my weathered 43 year old hand.
On the flight home, I read my new book. Perhaps, on my next trip, I'll pass it on to someone else who needs it, but for now, it sits on a shelf in my lovely little studio reminding me that I AM AN ARTIST!"
I love this story for so many reasons, most of all because of the way Heather turned a disappointment into a an opportunity to follow her intuition and create, as she said, her own ordinary sparkling moment. I am so happy that Heather knew deep down that this project isn't about following a specific formula or adhering to rigid rules. This is a project about generosity – not only to strangers, but to ourselves.
Thank you Heather!
{The entire story is here, and all photos were taken by Heather.}
Five Things :: The Twelve Days of Christmas #10
Today's theme: Two Wheels
1. I love Basil's Bicycle Baskets & Accessories.
3. Vintage Bike Tees at JNewburyLLC on Etsy.
4. Total Radness has tees for the serious gearhead.
5. Because after a long bike ride, you want this.
Busy Bees
[Taken in Kauai this summer.]
There are a few busy bees out there at work on big projects meant to spread light and inspiration…I can't wait to see where they go in 2010. Here's a peek at a few things on my radar right now…
Spring Inspiration: A collaboration between four inspiring souls – Carolyn Rubenstein, author of Perseverance: True Stories of Cancer Survivors, Jess Constable of Jess LC Jewelry, Jess Gonacha Swift, visionary behind Treasuring and Pecannoot, and Michelle Ward, Ms. When I Grow Up Coach herself. Talk about a powerhouse of talent and energy! From their just-launched website:
"Spring is a collaborative project that has a single, overarching theme: inspiration. Through videos, blog posts, and the website itself, Spring is opening an insightful dialogue that focuses on helping you design a life you love."
Episode #1 is all about Gratitude, and then Caroyln follows up with a video introduction of her own.
Spring Inspiration is a site you'll want to bookmark for the year ahead.
And speaking of Carolyn, she has a Limited Edition Hardcover Giveaway for Ordinary Sparkling Moments going on right now! Entries accepted through Tuesday, December 14th.
Crescendoh: I had the honor of meeting Jenny Doh at the September 2009 Squam Art Workshops and the more I get to know her, the more I am blown away by her energy, talent, vision and creativity. Head this way to get the skinny on her newest venture – Crescendoh – a Big Project she'll be launching next year. From her website:
"CRESCENDOh.com [will be] an Online Media Center with a mission to inspire creative passion, authentic community, and focused compassion…A place to have fun, learn about inspiring projects, shop for unique gifts, check out what’s totally hot, and most importantly, to read and share stories about how art saves. With your support, I will continue to help facilitate the telling of your stories, shine light on your creations, and in the process, help raise awareness of the world around us."
Can I just say it? I want to pull out my high school cheerleading uniform and make some glittery pom poms so I can cheer her on all the way!
Creative Thursday: Um, this woman does not stop, people. I am fortunate enough to live fairly close to her, and every time I visit her studio I walk around sighing, marveling, and shaking my head in disbelief at Marisa's endless well of creative talent. She paints! She sews! She embroiders! She sculpts! And on top of all that she is a incredibly kind-hearted woman who lives with integrity and whose every action reflects her intention to live a meaningful, creatively-fueled life. In a word, I'm a fan. A big one.
Oh, one other thing, she also teaches, and has a brand new e-course coming up in January 2010 with her partner in life and living creatively, Sean Hogan, entitled together :: 2 perspectives :: on how to live a creatively fulfilling life. From their course description:
"Sean and I believe that real success is living a creatively fulfilling life accompanied by financial freedom. We share a passion for teaching, creativity, individuality and living by your own rules. And that's why we're excited to announce that we've teamed up to bring you this e-course."
The course begins Tuesday, January 12th, but enrollment is limited, so give yourself an early Christmas present and sign up today!
Jamie Ridler: Every time I go to Jamie's site, I can't help but visualize long rows of sparklers. Whether you dive into Creative Living with Jamie, Wishcasting, Your Creative Spark, or the upcoming Soul Reflections, being able to bask in Jamie's light is sure to feed your soul and get your creative dreams and juices flowing in the new year. From Jamie's website:
"Self-discovery is essential to our ability to tend to our lives, our spirits and our well-being. Knowing and appreciating ourselves is the first step towards authentic, fulfilling, creative living."
Know of another inspiring soul you think the world needs to know about? Share it with us in the comments!
Five Things :: The Twelve Days of Christmas #9
Today's theme: Etsy Favorites
1. Moxie and Oliver Leather Goods
2. Aggie Ray handbags, wristlets, & pillows
3. Madlight 13 velvet treasures
4. Rough Edges glass pendants
5. I love Jana Associates's Favorites List.
Five Things :: The Twelve Days of Christmas #8
Today's theme: HodgePodge
1. The Woolly Pocket Garden Company
2. Women's Book Reviews: For Women Who Like to Read
3. The Art House Co-op always has something fun going on.
4. Ice-Qube Preparedness Kits. If you saw The Road, you'd buy one today.
I So Easily Forget
In the midst of doing my best to mark off as many items possible on an ever-growing to do list within the shortest amount of time, I so easily forget to breathe deeply, and take time to cry.
In the moments when I get caught up in pining for something BIG – my name on Oprah’s roster, my byline on the cover of a newly-published book – I so easily forget that those moments are just as fleeting as the days when I do nothing more than a few loads of laundry and grocery shopping – that if I can’t find satisfaction and contentment in the latter, I certainly won’t find it in the former.
Many of the things I do will never make it on a list of Major Accomplishments, but in the end more of them will end up on a list of things that Made A Difference than I will ever realize. I so easily forget that.
A twelve-year old boy bought my Inspiration Deck this weekend, explaining that he always got very anxious when he had to take a test, and he was going to use these cards to help settle himself down. That’s not a sales pitch, that is a treasure I will keep in my heart for the rest of my life, pulling it out when I forget that what I choose to do and how I choose to express myself matters.
I so easily forget that while Big Events have their own kind of alluring gloss, it is the unique patina of the smaller moments that are usually more interesting, complex and meaningful.
When I get trapped by the myth that strength has to do with overcoming great odds and climbing magnificent mountains, I so easily forget that it is also about standing, socializing, hugging and mingling over the course of an entire afternoon even when surgery and chemotherapy have taken their toll, and it would be so much easier to simply go home and lie still.
I so easily forget about all the tiny cracks and crevices where grace can be found, where evidence of the divine is sitting in plain view all over this big weary world of ours.
I so easily forget.
I so easily forget.
Five Things :: The Twelve Days of Christmas #7
Today's theme: Fashionista
1. Online shopping is now available over at Charlotte Tarantola!
2. Pretty Plum Sugar: Makes you feel pretty.
3. Hey all you Squammers: The next time you're in New Hampshire for Squam Art Workshops, set aside time to visit Wholly Tara! A few of us took over her store after the 2009 September session and it was kind of like a slumber party, but with shopping. I won't lie, a few of us were wandering around the store in our underwear like we owned the place.
4. Christine Cy: Simple, comfortable, perfect
5. The opening video over at the Chanel website is romantic and dreamy.
Five Things :: The Twelve Days of Christmas #6
Today's theme: Gettin' Crafty
1. Debbie Stoller's Stitch & Bitch helped me learn how to knit, and I just bought The Happy Hooker so I can give crochet a try.
2. Craft for Health: I love this approach and all the inspiring stories.
3. Creative Therapy: I'm Catalyst #86, just one of many great projects.
4. I brought back a few rolls of Japanese Washi Paper Tape on my last trip, and thought I was so ahead of the curve, but am happy to report you can get it right here.
5. Lavender & Limes: I love this crafty gal.
Five Things :: The Twelve Days of Christmas #5
Today's theme: Anything Goes
1. Great vintage finds can be had at BlogBlogBlog.
2. The Art of Non-Conformity: Unconventional Strategies for Life, Work and Travel
3. I love Jay Kelly's collage creations
4. …and Jess L.C.'s SOC line of jewelry.
5. Girl Meets Business presents The Young Professional Rockstar.
I Am, In a Word, Totally Kewl
[Taken in Athens, Georgia the night of the 1995 Boybutante Ball. From left to right: Kitty Crack, yours truly and Coretta Scott Queen.]
I went to see Arias with a Twist last night at the Redcat Theater in downtown Los Angeles. When we first moved to Los Angeles five years ago, I tried to take advantage of all the cultural opportunities that abound here. After a few attempts at enjoying an event at Disney Hall – which usually resulted in more than an hour of creeping along the I-10 in traffic and then having to run to make it to the show on time – I gave up. I recently decided to give it a whirl again and – fingers crossed – so far, so good, even though last night we got sucked into the vortex that is downtown and got lost within one mile of exiting the freeway. But we made it, and the show was quite phantasmagorical. A wacky drag show / light show / puppet show amalgamation, it was right in line with the flavor of offerings at the Redcat, which are usually even too avant garde for me.
The most interesting thing about the experience had nothing to do with the costumes, the lighting effects or the scene where Joey Arias became a drag queen Godzilla stomping all over New York City. It had to do with one of the stranger revelations I had about myself. Throughout the entire show, although I was enjoying myself, I was also thinking about all the details of the event – a big production on a major Los Angeles stage, a crowd full of LA's hipsters, the singing, the high heels – and I found myself actually critiquing every bit of it, right down to a moment when Joey Arias stumbled a wee bit on her stilettos and I immediately thought to myself, "Well, that's an amateur mistake."
Before too long, I had to face the ugly truth: I am a drag show snob.
I did a little research on the star of the show, and Joey Arias has quite a resume, which did not surprise me as Joey's voice is a sound to behold and she has a powerful stage presence. I bet the stumble I scoffed at was a rarity, and it is the snob in me that took for granted the fact that it was likely a major coup to land a show like this in Disney Hall. Had I never seen a drag show before I probably would have been more impressed, but I saw performances like these on a regular basis in the clubs of Athens and Atlanta, Georgia when I was a grad student. I worked with and hung out with one of the organizers of what is now the Boybutante AIDS Foundation, so had the opportunity to see an array of talented, hilarious performers (even got to help some of them apply their mascara before they went on stage!) This was in the mid-90s, and – excuse me – but you're reading the blog of the bona-fide winner of the Cute Girl Contest at the 1995 Boy Ball. How hip and cool am I?
What? Don't pay any attention to those purple clogs I'm wearing (with white tube socks) or to the fact that I am now usually in bed by 9:00pm every night – I'm hip and cool, people, there's now no denying it.
I'm happy for Joey Arias. I can't imagine it has been easy to reach the level of success she's had following her particular passion. I think many of us who call ourselves Artists take pride in the fact that this label connotes a certain rebellious streak – a commitment to forging our own path, to being trailblazers, maybe even to being outcasts. There are so many ways we are required to put ourselves in boxes and attach labels to who we are and what we do. Anyone willing to walk away from as many of those categories as possible and create their own definition of who they are and what they are called to do in this world is a beacon of inspiration as far as I'm concerned. Even if she does slip on her stilettos now and then.
~
Head over to Pink Coyote today for a totally kewl guest entry by yours truly.
