What Speaks to You? : )
I love this commercial for Pier 1 Imports. In which the products in the store speak to the customers.
This clever sales concept is actually so true!
I posted this today because (as Oprah would say) I had an "Ah-hah" moment that I would like to share.
Today I substituted for an elementary school librarian.
I walked into the library and it was as if the room said,
"Welcome! I couldn't wait for you to come in for a visit!"
I looked around warmly at all of the children's books on display and on the shelves.
I noticed, on a pile of books to be returned, a well worn book,
illustrated by a favorite author and illustrator of mine, Peter Reynolds.
(Who also wrote and illustrated one of my favorite children's books, "The Dot"
A must read if you have not read it already! : )
Peter H. Reynolds
The teacher's chair was at the front of the large rug. The rug was soon to be filled with first grade students with legs crossed and hands on their laps listening to me read aloud to them the book the librarian had left behind...with a note that said, I could use a "Robot" voice for one of the characters
(a robot : )
if I chose to.
I thought about my favorite movie with Meg Ryan who plays Kathleen Kelly who owns, "The Shop Around the Corner", a children's bookshop. She would wear a hat and become, "The Story Lady". The kids were enthralled as she read, "Boy: Tales of Childhood", an autobiographical children's novel written by Roald Dahl. (from Imdb.com)
(From: You've Got Mail)
On the librarian's desk was a bell and a stamp pad with a stamp to put the due dates into the books.
I was wishing she had left a stack of books to stamp while waiting for the students to arrive.
Just then, a teacher stepped into the room and asked if while I waited, I could help her prepare some materials for an upcoming health event.
I happily accepted....I love to be busy.
As I was preparing the materials, I recalled this event from my past teaching experience. I had been very involved in this particular health activity, but always felt I was not the best person to promote it. My heart had not been in it, and therefore I felt bad about it, and about myself. Afterall, I was teaching this subject...I should be really good at it.
All of a sudden...I had my "Ah-hah" moment.
I thought, "It didn't speak to me!" or maybe it did speak to me, but it was saying, "This subject matter is not your thing."
Some things are obvious, I know for example that I do not want to be a clown at the circus. But sometimes our career choices can lead us to places where we don't feel like we fit, places we didn't anticipate....we feel unconnected as if we were a clown in the circus.
(Nothing against clowns in the circus-if that is your passion : )
Sometimes, though, we are so invested, and we are not brave enough to say, "This does not speak to me", or "This no longer speaks to me", or "This is speaking to me, but I don't like what it is saying."
Today, as I looked around, I felt so blessed to be in a place in my life where I am finding what speaks to me.
I am getting the courage to say, "Sorry, I wouldn't be good for that job....project....commitment...It just doesn't speak to me."
I now choose to really pay attention to places and situations, like this morning, in a children's library filled with books with curious students full of questions
that make me say to myself...
"Now we're talking!"
I am listening. I am really listening.
(Who also wrote and illustrated one of my favorite children's books, "The Dot"
A must read if you have not read it already! : )
Peter H. Reynolds
The teacher's chair was at the front of the large rug. The rug was soon to be filled with first grade students with legs crossed and hands on their laps listening to me read aloud to them the book the librarian had left behind...with a note that said, I could use a "Robot" voice for one of the characters
(a robot : )
if I chose to.
I thought about my favorite movie with Meg Ryan who plays Kathleen Kelly who owns, "The Shop Around the Corner", a children's bookshop. She would wear a hat and become, "The Story Lady". The kids were enthralled as she read, "Boy: Tales of Childhood", an autobiographical children's novel written by Roald Dahl. (from Imdb.com)
On the librarian's desk was a bell and a stamp pad with a stamp to put the due dates into the books.
I was wishing she had left a stack of books to stamp while waiting for the students to arrive.
Just then, a teacher stepped into the room and asked if while I waited, I could help her prepare some materials for an upcoming health event.
I happily accepted....I love to be busy.
As I was preparing the materials, I recalled this event from my past teaching experience. I had been very involved in this particular health activity, but always felt I was not the best person to promote it. My heart had not been in it, and therefore I felt bad about it, and about myself. Afterall, I was teaching this subject...I should be really good at it.
All of a sudden...I had my "Ah-hah" moment.
I thought, "It didn't speak to me!" or maybe it did speak to me, but it was saying, "This subject matter is not your thing."
Some things are obvious, I know for example that I do not want to be a clown at the circus. But sometimes our career choices can lead us to places where we don't feel like we fit, places we didn't anticipate....we feel unconnected as if we were a clown in the circus.
(Nothing against clowns in the circus-if that is your passion : )
Sometimes, though, we are so invested, and we are not brave enough to say, "This does not speak to me", or "This no longer speaks to me", or "This is speaking to me, but I don't like what it is saying."
Today, as I looked around, I felt so blessed to be in a place in my life where I am finding what speaks to me.
I am getting the courage to say, "Sorry, I wouldn't be good for that job....project....commitment...It just doesn't speak to me."
I now choose to really pay attention to places and situations, like this morning, in a children's library filled with books with curious students full of questions
that make me say to myself...
"Now we're talking!"
I am listening. I am really listening.
Catch the Blessings!
My new Header and business card's Logo was inspired by a student I had in a Kindergarten class
the other day while substituting.
the other day while substituting.
I was manning the letter review table during Learning Center Time,
as the students rolled the die to see what letter it would land on and then pick out their favorite color crayons to fill in the matching letter on their worksheet.
as the students rolled the die to see what letter it would land on and then pick out their favorite color crayons to fill in the matching letter on their worksheet.
As I watched, I was sketching on the side of my paper
her socks, striped stockings and purple felt shoes with flowers.
The scuffing of snow pants and clomping of boots down the hallway
for recess with gloves and mittens tucked up inside colorful hats.
Smiles, and cheese sticks and feeding the class turtle...
So many inspirational blessing around....
when I pay attention
to catch them!
: )
Artist's Date : )
The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron
is currently keeping me company these past couple of weeks.
I believe I mentioned this book in an earlier post.
It is "A (12 week) Course in Discovering and Recovering Your Creative Self"
Before Chapter One, Julia writes about The Basic Tools that you need as you make your way through this course, and one of the tools is an "Artist Date."
She writes, "Spending time in solitude with your artist child is essential to self-nurturing."
This is where I took my artist child this week for an Artist's Date.
I thought you might enjoy seeing where I went, so grab a cup of tea and let me show you around!
: )
A GREAT place to spend an afternoon : )
Can't wait......
Yeah! : )
So excited!!
Where to start?! : )
Where to start?! : )
I loved this booth!
: )
and this desk....
and this Champagne Decanter.... : )
Something for everyone!
Loved this spot....
There were some cute shops tucked up in the back of the store house : )
Can't we all use some Antique Therapy! : )
I hope you enjoyed this date as much as I did and these great links inspire your artist child!
: )
I hope you enjoyed this date as much as I did and these great links inspire your artist child!
: )
Happy Inspiration : )
If you are in need of inspiration BIG or small....run right over to Kelly Rae Roberts Blog!!!!!!!
She is full of sunny creativity!
You will LOVE her!
: )
Artist's Date: Winter Farmer's Market : )
Today was a wonderful day for a ride down RT 20 to Russell's Garden Center and their Farmer's Market.
I forgot how large Russell's is and how many wonderful gift ideas they offer in addition to the wonderful Farmer's Market!
I was very excited to see on the sign as I drove in that there was a baby sheep.
These 2 were quite the hit! : )
A great way to warm things up with an outdoor pizza oven!
It was such a great atmosphere for the market. It was nice and warm inside with so many beautiful plants to look at in between booths!
Winterberry Farm is located in Leverett MA.
I found out today that there are many towns in Massachusetts that I have never heard of!
I absolutely loved the colors of all the yarn at Winterberry Farms booth...(I love that name too!)
It looks like a crayon box : )
It looks like a crayon box : )
She had adorable angora bunnies whose fur she used for spinning as well.
Moonshine design has the most beautiful colors as well.
They are from Colrain MA
another town I have never heard of!
There were baskets of beautiful mohair socks!
Another great booth was
Good Karma Farm
They sell wonderful felt covered soaps that you can find here:
This is what I purchase from the booth of E and T Farms.
The man who sold this to me explained how it is processed to make it creamed (like peanut butter) but I could not repeat the process to you if my life depended on it.
I love honey, so I thought this might be
a fun way to eat it! : )
This is a great way to spend a Saturday during the winter months...
Here is the link and you can sign up for their newsletter here as well!
http://www.russellsgardencenter.com/wayland_winter_mkt.html
and here is their facebook page....
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wayland-Winter-Farmers-Market/161090303930270
and a video they posted of the market!
http://www.russellsgardencenter.com/wayland_winter_mkt.html
and here is their facebook page....
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wayland-Winter-Farmers-Market/161090303930270
and a video they posted of the market!
Happy Weekend!
Happy Valentine's Day
Along my travels, I bought a little collection of old Valentines.
Printed ever so small on the back of this one....where I needed my glasses and magnifying glass to see it, are the printed words: Whitney Made Worcester Mass. Made in USA
I googled it and found this:
I love this illustration with the cozy hats, mittens, scarfs, and the smoke coming out of the chimney in the background.
I can just imagine them going home for hot chocolate after a day of skating! : )
I hope you too,
are having a cozy
Valentine's Day
too! : )
Excavation of Self : )
Photo from Photobucket: mattgdin
So far, 2013 has been an inspired year of exploration.
A type of archeological dig of my brain, heart and spirit of sorts.
Inspiration has serendipitously brought about resources to put in my tool bag as I dig.
The process of digging brings about so many emotions...
joy, enlightenment, discovery, creativity,
but also discomfort
as I recognize things about myself
that are hard to look at,
joy, enlightenment, discovery, creativity,
but also discomfort
as I recognize things about myself
that are hard to look at,
but must be looked at, sifted, brushed off
and
brought into the light.
For the most part, I feel joy for what I am finding along the way...
what interests me, what am I good at, what motivates me
what interests me, what am I good at, what motivates me
But with all of this information the
one question that has risen to the surface over and over is,
"How can I be of service?"
A wonderful website that has crossed my path is:
and here you can find places to volunteer even if you only have a few hours.
Also, there is a link to 52 ways to make 2013 a year to volunteer.
http://createthegood.org/52-Ways-to-Volunteer?campaign=Year%20to%20Volunteer
Here, they give ideas every week in case you may feel stuck on how you can make a difference.
http://createthegood.org/52-Ways-to-Volunteer?campaign=Year%20to%20Volunteer
Here, they give ideas every week in case you may feel stuck on how you can make a difference.
From: CMDS
In the times that I have felt the most unmotivated during this life transition, I have found that volunteering has given me such a good feeling.
A feeling of purpose.
I highly recommend it.
A feeling of purpose.
I highly recommend it.
Some books that I loved in 2012 : )
P.S. l loved Silver Linings Playbook as well, but that was a library book (as are some of these and they are majorly overdue! )
One of my resolutions or goals of 2013....return library books : )
Christmas Stroll Yarmouth Port
Putting the finishing touches on my
homemade candy canes and sugar frosted doughnuts with tea dyed Christmas tree tags
and one frosted snowball!
Happy Cozy Sunday to you!! : )
"It's the MOST Wonderful Time of the YEAR!"
Need a little help getting in the Christmas Spirit?...
The Yarmouth Port Christmas Stroll is sure to do the trick!!
My friend Sue's shop-My Creative Heart is "chock a block full" (as my mother would say)
of wonderful one of a kind, homemade gifts for all the people on your list!!
Beautiful one of a kind stocking stuffers too!!
Hope to see you there!!!
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