Creative Kindling

Hark!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 17:15:00 +0000

Change your bookmarks, O faithful Readers!

Creative Kindling will now publish at flowcreativewellness.blogspot.com/ See you there!

New Focus

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:46:00 +0000

Since I began this blog, folks have asked me "what is it about?"

While that's a valid question, I have been in no hurry to make it "about" anything in particular, other than ideas I want to share, or put out into the world.

But I've been inspired to focus a bit. Maybe even more than a bit, we'll see how it works out. This is an experiment.

One of my Goals for 2009 is to create more flow in my life. To me, that means to embrace the wu-wei and create abundance and balance in my personal and professional life through creativity, intention and simplicty.

So, that's what I am going to focus on for a while in this blog ~ the quest for flow ~ and see where it takes me, and us (are you out there reader? send a smoke signal).

No te Quites, Don't Leave!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 16:54:00 +0000

The Red Dance, by Anne Sexton

There was a girl
who danced in the city that night,
that April 22nd,
all along the Charles River.
It was as if one hundred men were watching
or do I mean the one hundred eyes of God?
The yellow patches in the sycamores
glowed like miniature flashlights.
The shadows, the skin of them
were ice cubes that flashed
from the red dress to the roof.
Mile by mile along the Charles she danced
past the benches of lovers,
past the dogs pissing on the benches.
She had on a red, red dress
and there was a small rain
and she lifted her face to it
and thought it part of the river.
And cars and trucks went by
on Memorial Drive.
And the Harvard students in the brick
hallowed houses studied Sappho in cement rooms.
And this Sappho danced on the grass.
and danced and danced and danced.
It was a death dance.
The Larz Anderson bridge wore its lights
and many cars went by,
and a few students strolling under
their Coop umbrellas.
And a black man who asked this Sappho the time,
the time, as if her watch spoke.
Words were turning into grease,
and she said, "Why do you lie to me?"
And the waters of the Charles were beautiful,
sticking out in many colored tongues
and this strange Sappho knew she would enter the lights
and be lit by them and sink into them.
And how the end would come -
it had been foretold to her -
she would aspirate swallowing a fish,
going down with God's first creature
dancing all the way.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This poem made me think of those who have left us, intentionally, because the world was already too much for them. Chilling to think, as some of them may have, that death is more beautiful than life...Very sad.

Source:http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/anne_sexton/poems/18254

Giving Thanks

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 01:48:00 +0000

My mother taught me the importance of saying thank you to others. Not just to friends and family, but bus drivers and waiters and anyone else who deserves a little recognition as well. Don't we all?

Another of the many things I admire about Obama, is that it seems his mother must have taught him the importance and weight of a "thank you" as well. He says it often and with feeling. Have you noticed that?

I give thanks today and every day for how lucky I am to love and be loved by so many wonderful friends and family. "What a long strange trip it's been!"

Flamboyan Haiku

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 17:31:00 +0000

Burst of orange flame
combusts in a sea of green
Lei lo, Lei lo Lai

Thirsty Haiku

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 20:41:00 +0000

thirsty tree thirsty
droop of no water to drink
rain pours from the sky

Journey of a Million Trees

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 12:00:00 +0000

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
~Lao-tzu, The Way of Lao-tzu
Chinese philosopher (604 BC - 531 BC)

Yesterday I began a journey of a million trees with my friend C, and her husband, "El Flako."

In 3 hours, we potted 100 baby palms. Our first step!

Charter for Compassion

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:48:00 +0000

Let it Grow!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 18:08:00 +0000

Today I am cleaning off the front and back porches and re-potting plants. This is a pic of some of the new transplants in their new home. Getting excited to get a lot more green going around this house.

How Sweet it Is!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:37:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 08:52:00 +0000

Yes We Can! Go Barack!

Called to Rise

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 14:47:00 +0000

I watched the movie Seabiscuit last night, and can't seem to get the Emily Dickenson quote they used in the narration out of my head:

"We never know how high we are
Till we are called to rise;
And then, if we are true to plan,
Our statures touch the skies."

These words seem so fitting now with all the challenges and opportunities we face as Americans and global citizens.

How are you being called to rise? How will you answer the call?

Keep it Simple

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 22:57:00 +0000

I tend to complicate my life by thinking too much.

Today in the shower, while feeling kind of sorry for myself and my complicated thoughts, I remembered what Cesar Millan, "The Dog Whisperer," recommends in order to train a happy, healthy dog:

1. Exercise

2. Discipline

3. Love

In that order. I think humans would do well to incorporate these three simple steps in their own lives. In order. At least this human.

Go Cesar! You're a Rock Star!

A Brighter Day Will Come!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 20:02:00 +0000

A Defining Moment

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 02:43:00 +0000

"The World Needs Obama"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 02:42:00 +0000

I read those words just now in Spanish on a blog. Some young man writing his thoughts from somewhere else on this globe. Why does he care? Because the decisions we make in the U.S. effect the world more and more each day. Look at the economic crisis ~ a glaring example on a gargantuan scale.

My conservative friends think I've gone nuts for caring so much about this election. My liberal friends are probably sick of my manic article posting on Facebook. I just can't help myself. Perhaps it's the poet in me that feels it is my duty not just to my country, but to the global village to which I am responsible as well, to do something to stop this greedy dangerous ride we're on and move toward compassion and hope. Away from fear and war. Idealistic? Of course! Where would we be without the "audacity of hope"?

Vote Early!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 02:43:00 +0000

After casting my ballot today, I heard a woman exclaim excitedly to one of the election workers that she was voting for "the first time ever." She looked like she was in her thirties.

I walked out of that county courthouse a little taller, I think ~ my corny "I voted today!" sticker proudly displayed on my shirt.

More info. tomorrow on how and where you can vote early. Rock the vote!

"Verde Que Te Quiero Verde..."

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 03:20:00 +0000

I have been delving into the world of 'green' blogs, and am fired up about the real potential for "energy independence" and renewable wealth in the U.S. and in the global village.

Here are some of the blogs I've discovered so far:

.Green Chip Stocks
.Green Wombat
.Red, Green, and Blue
.Tree Hugger

Do you have any other suggestions?

I am also taking a closer look at my own energy use, my 'carbon footprint.'

One small step I've taken in the quest to live green is to bring my own coffee mug to the local coffee shop in the morning. Laura, the owner, smiles every time she fills it up and says I'm a smart woman and will be rich one day. Rica.

I reckon I already am!

And so, it's time to share the wealth, whatever one has to give. Not traditional socialism, not quite. I prefer the idea/philosophy behind Champagne Socialism. Everyone rich.

Find the Fun

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 04:19:00 +0000

"In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun, and - SNAP - the job’s a game!"

~Mary Poppins

Find the Fun!

Have More Fun!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 15:26:00 +0000

A friend of mine recently shared one of her past New Year's resolutions with me: "have more fun." A noble resolution, as far as I'm concerned.

While world peace, balanced budgets and professionalism are all important, what good is life without fun?

Like they say, on your deathbed, what are you going to look back and say? "I wish I'd spent more time at the office"?

I vote for more fun! It's good for the body, soul and productivity.

What are you going to do for fun today?

Think Globally, Act Locally

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 01:09:00 +0000

I think it was my 9th grade English teacher, Peggy Liu, who first introduced me to these words and the idea behind them. These days, as the world becomes smaller and more interconnected every minute, they are especially resonant.

I have felt so helpless lately in the face of the immense challenges and heartache we encounter in this new century. So I have decided to focus on what I can do, however small, to make a difference.

As I chip away at making positive change in my own little life, I realize that while it is so important to inform myself about what's happening around the globe, or even in U.S. politics (gulp), it is of utmost importance to do as Ghandi once suggested and "be the change you wish to see in the world."

So, I am starting to look more closely at my daily habits and routines. How can I be part of the solution instead of part of the problem? I guess it's time to find out. More on this to come.

Opportunity: The Silver Lining

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:38:00 +0000

The fear level in the United States is high right now. And fear indulged tends to illicit small thinking.

While I am able look at the market crisis objectively, due to my lack of assets, debt, children etc., the race for the white house has me biting my fingernails and focusing on worst case scenarios. Not very productive.

Luckily, I have a better self. My better self realizes that despite the bleakness of a situation, we always have two choices to make on how to see and act on the situation. We can choose to see our world through the lens of fear, or through the lens of opportunity.

Whenever I look through the opportunity lens, possibilities open up and hope shines through. When I choose the fear lens, opportunities are missed and my soul and body suffer.

Each day, I remind myself to choose opportunity instead of fear. Not easy to do when so many people are panicking, suffering, thinking and talking small, but still possible.

Despite the darkness that appears to enshroud us at the moment, the opportunities are breathtaking.

What do you choose, fear or opportunity?

We Shall Overcome

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 07:01:00 +0000

"La tirania corta la cabeza que canta, pero la voz
en el fondo del pozo vuelve a los manantiales
secretos de la tierra y desde la oscuridad
sube por la boca del pueblo."

~ Pablo Neruda

"Tyranny cuts off the singer's head,
but the voice from the bottom of the well
returns to the secret springs of the earth
and rises out of nowhere through the mouths of the people."

Poll Workers for Democracy

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 19:32:00 +0000

Today I signed up to be a poll worker on election day. I urge anyone who feels passionate about this election to do the same. We can not afford any more election day travesties of justice. Get involved! Become a Pollworker for Democracy.

P.S. It's a paid position!

Yes We Can ~ Si se Puede

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 22:23:00 +0000

"Nothing Can Stand in The Way of Millions of Voices Calling for Change." ~ Barack Obama