Pots & Pans, Hands & Soul

If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.

~Henry David Thoreau

Growing up with my brothers and sisters in Virginia we “made” our fun.

One of the ways we made our fun was to get out the pots and pans.

We’d have a jam session all-night-long with those pots and pans.  We’d just go to town and make music together.

 

Hang Drum

Last night I went to a mini-concert and listened to a Hang  Instrument being “played”. It took me back to” playing” those pots and pans with my siblings.

It doesn’t matter what the external “instrument”  is

It doesn’t matter what it looks like

It doesn’t matter what is cost

It doesn’t matter what others think about it

It only matters that YOU “play” it

It matters that you  look for it

It matters that when you do find it, you are true to it

It  matters that you allow your soul to come forth through it

It matters that you get out of your own way, so you can “play” it like no one else plays it

It matters that you let go of  being someone else – just be yourself

It only matters that you let come the you that is deep inside…wanting to be born…wanting to come forth…wanting to finally dance your dance…to sing your song…to hit your pots or your pans.  

It’s all about YOUR contribution to the family of the world

Below is what a hang instrument sounds like when played.  Yes, it looks like a flying saucer, but I guess that’s what makes it unique. I’m sure it’s more expensive than the pots and pans in your kitchen cabinet…BUT the principle is the same…

Let go and let your soul come forth to create…your uniqueness…your gift…your passion…only YOU can give YOU to the world – no one else can do that for you.

What is your gift to the family of the world?

Why Are You Walking In Circles?

“People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don’t even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child — our own two eyes. All is a miracle.”
― Thich Nhat Hanh

A young girl at the playground asked me that the other day: “Why are you walking in circles?”

I told her I was exercising. She seemed to be okay with that answer, but I knew it was much more than ‘exercising’ to me.

It was the easiest answer to give her, because exercise is one of the benefits of walking.

I certainly couldn’t tell this young girl:

• I’m meditating.
• I’m contemplating.
• I’m doing a number of breathing techniques, but no one can tell.
• I’m sensing my recently deceased mother in everything – she seems to be everywhere now – in the sky, in the trees, in the birds – everywhere – not just in a room in a nursing home anymore – she’s everywhere.  Her voice is constantly in my head with her life lessons, her wisdom, and this ‘knowingness’ that everything is fine. I just need to trust that, stay humble and get ready for whatever is coming my way.
• I’m seeing something new at every turn around the school building – the geese that fly in formation; the trees that are starting to turn colors; the beautiful purple wild flower; the airplanes in the sky; the tall young guy who should be good at basketball but he isn’t; the dad that’s trying to make his son into a basketball player – even though the kid doesn’t seem to have the natural aptitude for the sport; the soccer field; the ladies who walk around in skimpy and tight outfits looking here and there and pretending to “exercise” but they’re really trying to catch the eye of one of the men playing basketball with their kids; the little girls playing on the monkey bars and talking like their mother’s; on and on I see something new every day and at every turn when I walk on that school yard.

How could I explain to that little girl that:

• “walking in circles” was one of the very best parts of my day.
• television has long ago lost its hold on me.
• when I didn’t walk I felt like I’d cheated myself out of some joy that’s readily available.
• I wonder every day what I’ll do when the weather gets cold – will I still be able to wear my comfortable crock flip-flops? – will it be too dark to walk? – will I adjust my hours at work? – will I walk during lunch? – exactly what will I do?  I must have a plan because ‘walking in circles’ has proven to be the best most consistent form of both physical and mental “exercise” that I’ve done in many years.

How could I explain to her that yes, my answer about exercise was accurate, but it was not all there is to her question.

How could I explain that one day she’d probably find herself in middle age “walking in circles” too.

How could I explain that in life she should keep asking those type of questions…and question the answers…most people never question the answers.  Answers are taken at face value, but there’s usually more to the answer than the answer itself.

I saw her again the other day as she twirled an incredible flip on the monkey bars.  I smiled, and just thought as strongly as I could that I was looking at a future Olympian   I wanted her to believe that too, just from my eyes and my smile.  She caught me looking at her and her eyes got really big.   She looked so proud that I had “noticed” her …or maybe she caught the message I was sending with my eyes and smile –  that she could be anything she wanted to be in life.

I wonder if that young girl will remember that lady in the green and yellow crocks that she asked the question: “Why are you walking in circles?” I won’t soon forget her, or her question to me, or the fact that one day she might just be in the Olympics twirling on the uneven bars.

We never know when we are making a memory.

The Power Of '3'

I went to a workshop last week about social marketing.

Even though I learned a lot, there was one thing that stuck with me  – The Power of ‘3’.

The presenter gave an example of how both campaigns in the current U.S. Presidential race are using the Power of ‘3’.

I went looking for recent articles about this (there aren’t that many???) and found the below (of course I had to find ‘3’ articles):

http://www.psychotactics.com/harness-the-psychological-power-of-3-to-improve-communication

http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/rule-of-three-speeches-public-speaking/

http://theunchainedentrepreneur.com/the-power-of-the-rule-of-three-in-marketing-your-small-business

Based on the above I’ll look at my blogs, business cards, flyers, workshop and training designs and follow the Power of 3.

I wonder if this could work with life in general?

• Have ‘3’ main goals at any given time
• Work on ‘3’ things daily towards one of those goals
• Do ‘3’ things everyday to better your life

Actually when I give this a little more thought.  It might just work to let go of trying to do EVERYTHING (sort of willy-nilly) and focus on just three things in each of life’s categories.  Maybe use a week as the time period of  measurement.

Physical

Do ‘3’ things to stay healthy; 1. drink water 2. walk 3. cook

Social

Do ‘3’ things that I enjoy doing each week: 1. craft shows/make crafts 2. walk  3. new stuff with new people

Emotional

Write down in my Gratitude Journal ‘3’ emotions that I felt (and what triggered them) during the day

Spiritual

Grow Spiritually by 1. Meditating 2. Encouraging Others 3. Noticing Nature

Financial

Only spend money ‘3’ days out of the week…this one sounds very promising and like a very good idea…maybe only spend on Friday’s, Monday’s and Wednesday’s

Vocational

Focus on only ‘3’ networking sites to update, find colleagues or comment on 1. Linked-In 2. Etsy 3. The Presencing Institute

Good Grief…

What if Organizing Your Life is as Simple as Using the Power of 3?

Who Knows It Just Might Be!

 (I’m going to test this little theory for the month of October and see if this technique works…just to see…)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the Tunnel of Change

You don’t know how long you’re going to be in this tunnel before you see the light.

When you have to let go of something, someone, some place, some dream, your plans, who you were, who you were with, or where you were — You feel lost at first.

You have to find a new normal.

Your days and nights feel so “different”.

It’s scary at first. It’s dark.  It’s feels cold and unfamiliar.

You have no idea what’s around the next corner or what the next day will bring. 

Depending on how long you’ve been practicing letting go will depend on how you navigate your way through this tunnel.

Will you keep busy? Will you truly experience the feelings that you are having?  Will you just push through?  Will you keep going and pretend like nothing has changed?  Will you break?  Will you fall down? Will you get back up? Will you stop? Will you cry? Will you stay in the bed? Will you long for what you let go of? Will you look back? Will you keep going, not afraid, but looking forward to what’s to come?

There is this “sweet spot” in the tunnel of change.

It’s a place where you know you are closer to “letting come” something or someone new  – than you are from what you’ve had to let go of.

It’s a place where you know if you just keep going that you’re going to get through this too.

It’s a place where you know that what you let go of  — you can NEVER really get back the same way again — it’s gone…it’s in the past…your past…part of your story…

When you get to the sweet spot it’s a place where you don’t WANT to go back. It’s a place where you don’t even WANT to look back. It’s a place where you know as long as you keep putting one foot in front of the other – take one day then the next  – that you will get through the tunnel.

In this “sweet spot”  you’re not quite at the point where you can see the light. You’re not at the point where you know what’s coming or what’s on the other side.

You’re at the point where all you know is that what’s ahead is not what you left behind – it will be different – that’s all you know, is that it will be something or someone different. You’re at the point when you are happy that you “finally” let go of it or them.

There is a sweet spot in the dark dank tunnel of change that you MUST go through to “let come” what is trying to emerge in you, in your life, into the world through you. 

Just know that it is scary at first when you embark into the Letting Go to Let Come Tunnel of Change, but there is a sweet spot that you hit and then it just feels like you’ve grown.  You are proud of yourself for letting go and moving on…again…

 

 

Don't Limit Yourself

That was the advice from a 75-year-old woman who looked 50 and had the energy of a 20-year-old.

She was a volunteer helping out at the agency where I currently work. What she volunteered for included physical labor that a 75-year-old could not “normally” be expected to do.

She not only did it,  but did it with so much spirit and spunk that it was uncanny.

Before she left the site I told her I hoped the question I was going to ask would not offend her, but I wanted to know how old she was.  She told me that she doesn’t tell her age, but that she WOULD tell me.

I told her I’d like to hear her story one day.  I’d like to know how she has managed to take care of herself – her body – her mind – and her spirit – for all these years.

She was the picture of health.

If we could see more people like her we wouldn’t be “afraid” of aging. We wouldn’t be dying our hair every week, getting face lifts, and basically fighting the aging process like it was the enemy.  We would be-friend it and work with it, instead of against it.

The body is dying.  We know this.

It is decaying. It is losing it’s energy.

We don’t have to fight against that.

We can embrace it and look and act like this lady.

We can amaze people at our physical age, by the life that we live.

The next day of this project, the 75-year-old woman came back to the site just to drop-off something.  She came over towards me and I said…”Wait a minute…look who’s here…it’s Foxy”  She just started laughing as she walked over to me and whispered in my ear and said: “Don’t Limit Yourself”.  That was her secret, she didn’t limit herself.  She didn’t allow life, her circumstances or her age to limit her – never had and I could tell that she never would.

Are You Limiting Yourself?

Are you telling yourself that you can’t do it?

Are you telling yourself that you are too old?

Too Fat

The “Wrong” Skin Color

Too Young

The “Wrong” Sex

Not Physically Capable

Don’t Have Enough Money

Staying in a Job You Hate Because You’re Afraid to Quit

Staying in a Relationship That Died Long Ago, but You’re Afraid to Leave

Can’t  Possibly Do This or That Because You Don’t Have a College Degree

Can’t Start Your Own Business

Can’t Go Back to School

Can’t Finish School

Can’t Afford School

Can’t Make Friends

Can’t Get Good Grades

Haven’t Been Able To Find A Job in Over a Year and Think You Never Will

Can’t Sell Your House

Can’t Relocate

Not Pretty Enough

Not Smart Enough

Not Loveable

Take The Advice of the 75-Year-Old Woman –

Just Quit Limiting Yourself…

Just for Today Pretend Those Limits Aren’t  Really There…

Just Pretend…

How Would You Think?

What Would You Do?

Where Would You Go?

What Would You Say?

Who Would You Call?

What Would You Search For On-line?

Who Would You Get Back In Touch With?

Who Would You Call To Set-up A Meeting With?

Now….Do Some of Those Things…

Just See What Happens…Why Not?…Just For Today

(Who knows maybe there really aren’t many limits.  

How will our lives unfold if we just quit limiting ourselves?)

 

The Web Of Life - You Have to Let Go to Understand It

The Circular Spider Web

The above is a picture of a circular spider web that was created outside my kitchen window.  This picture does not do this creation the justice that it deserves. It is TRULY a work of art. A very intricate web, just like the web of life.

How the web of life worked in my “letting go to let come” life today

Reconnecting the Past to the Present

Emailing back a friend that I hadn’t talk to in over 10 years…and I can’t remember exactly why it has been so long…but kind of like the above web, we had ventured away from the center of the web and had to find our way back…updating people who are a part of our past on what matters – friends & family.

Input to Theory U Survey

Completing a survey email link from Otto Scharmer to help select the title for his next book about Theory U.  Using the world-wide-web and network of folks who understand and believe in Theory U to help come up with the best book title and subtitle that will resonate with those who want and need to read his next book – what matters – community.

Madrid

Emailing back a reader of one of the posts on this site who works in Madrid in a job they know they need to resign from.  Taking the time to look up exactly where Madrid was online and just quickly scanned some of the information about it.

For some reason I wanted to turn on the television.  I can’t remember the last time I actually watched TV and had no idea really why I felt the need to turn it on. The only channel that is worth watching to me is CREATE TV.  So, I just turned on the TV and went and sat down at the craft table to start working on a piece.

Inside of 30 minutes  I heard this travel show come on called  “Smart Travels” and they started talking about going to Madrid – Goya Art Galleries, the night life, Hotel Ritz, Royal Tapestry Factory, Retiro Park and From Madrid to Heaven being a slogan you’ll hear when you go there.   What are the chances of that just happening?

Letting Go to Let Come

These things are not coincidences,  it’s called synchronicity…the web…

Just being where you’re suppose to be.

Being in Alignment.

Being in Sync.

Doing what matters.

Doing what you’re suppose to be doing – even if it makes no sense to you at the time.

Just let things happen.

Let come what needs to happen.

It will make sense when you look back and see all the connections of the web.

Every single day confirms, that letting go and just going with the flow,

is so much better than holding on to the past

or how you THINK things are supposed to go.

Let Come what the web of life wants to weave into your life.  

It’s not only in my life or your life that this web weaves, but in all living sentient beings.  

Look at the intricate web of life and know that everything is connected.  

What you think and do impacts everyone and everything else.  

Just be aware and conscious of that…

and smile no matter what is going in your life right now…

just smile because you have the opportunity to be a part of the web of life.

Just Quit Thinking Your Ideas Won't Work

Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.

~ Eleanor Roosevelt

I’ve been drawn to focusing on “ideas” and dreams that people tell me about.  As we go through this recession I realize that it’s so important for people to believe in their ideas.

The Creative Class

When I look at the stats for this blog, there are about 20 people EVERYDAY that do a google search “quit my job without another one”, or some variation of that search term, and end up on this blog.  Even at a time when so many people are looking for jobs, many more are miserable in the ones that they have.

I’m beginning to really think that it’s not about the lower class, middle class and upper class – it’s all about the Creative Class –  that is wanting to emerge and is tired of being stifled in a boxed-in type of “job”.  I’m thinking that people are going to have to discover their passions, pursue their ideas in order to survive in the new world economy.

You might have to “create” your own job.  Create a service or product people need and want that you produce…from consumer to producer.

I’ve been thinking of what I can do to help people believe in their ideas, do something towards making them a reality and decided I wanted to make something – a product.

IDEA Jar ™

My crafts are typically all very unique quotations or encouraging words burned onto wood, but I went looking for something I could make that would be one product about ideas.

I ran across light bulb bottles.  I brought a couple of them to play with.  I just looked at them for a couple of days, just wondering what I would do with them.  The below is my latest design, still working on it, but I’m close to something that might actually be practical and artistic:

 

We all have ideas

We need to encourage ourselves &

each other to pursue them.

Today while still focused on ideas I ran across the below video.

It’s  Mr. Rogers re-mix: “You can Grow Ideas in the Garden of Your Mind”…the Lyrics are below

[Intro – spoken]

Hey Neighbor, welcome again to this neighborhood. I’d like to show you something. Do you know what this is? Well, maybe if I push this button. This is a cassette player with a little cassette in here. And there’s nothing written on it so we’ll have to play it to see what’s on it

[Verse 1]
Did you ever imagine things?
Are they scary things?
Did you ever imagine things
Things you’d like to have?
Did you ever see a cat’s eyes in the dark
And wonder what they are?
Did you ever pretend about things like that before?

[Hook]
Did ever grow anything in the Garden of your Mind?
You can grow ideas
In the Garden of your mind

It’s good to be curious about many things
You can think about things and make believe
All you have to do is think
And they’ll grow

[Verse 2]
Imagine every person that you see
Is someone different
From every other person in the world
Some can do things
Some can do others
Did you ever think about the many things you’ve learned to do?

[Hook]
Did ever grow anything in the Garden of your Mind?
You can grow ideas
In the Garden of your mind

It’s good to be curious about many things
You can think about things and make believe
All you have to do is think
And they’ll grow

[Bridge]
Did you feel like going like that? (hand snap)
Let’s give the fish some food
Mr McFeely, I didn’t order any whistles
(music break)
That’s what they call these slide things
Did you feel like going like that? (hand snap)
There are so many things to learn about in this world
And so many people who can help us learn

[Hook]
Did ever grow anything in the Garden of your mind?
You can grow ideas
In the Garden of your mind

It’s good to be curious about many things
You can think about things and make believe
All you have to do is think

You can think about things and make believe
All you have to do is think

And they’ll grow
Do you ever imagine