Sarahndipitous

Knotted

2009-07-26T02:32:00-04:00

A life well lived always manages to leave it's mark. What folks tend to forget is how those marks reveal themselves to onlookers one may or may not be aware of. I saw this fantastic tree and started thinking about how all the random knots and bends got there. My children sitting in the backseat of the car took notice as well. My son mentioned that it looked like a tree from Washington Irving's Sleepy Hollow rather than something that should be ever seen in the daylight.... to him it was indeed spooky. My other son wanted to know why only half of the tree had leaves. The story it told and the questions it begged were fascinating. This tree just by existing engaged the random onlookers (us) and had us asking questions that revealed more about ourselves that it in the process. The idea that creativity and inspiration is something that just happens isn't completely true, it starts by noticing the things in others, be them inanimate or not, and asking a question. For one to be truly engaged, it should be a question that is honest and reflective of your true thoughts, not necessarily a nicety. The kids asked genuine questions, they did not beat around the proverbial bush. Why is it scary? Why is it in daylight looking so deformed? Why is it half dead? The "surfacey" questions will get you shallow and superficial answers, the hard questions that are raw and blatant will get to the heart of the matter and in turn, show you something about yourself that will indeed challenge you to take your art to the next level.

Flush

2009-07-25T00:30:00-04:00

Toilets have got to be the one thing we never think of until we need one I suppose. I found this grouping particularly humorous considering they were outside of a Sorority along the brick wall and out of general sight. I had wished I would have had my camera out when we first drove by as there was a workman of some sort sitting on one reading a magazine and another eating his lunch- the whole thing was completely funny to me.

The interesting exchange afterwards though, was the most thought provoking and daresay interesting. My son mentioned that his absolute best thinking happens in the bathroom... he is 8 years old. Truth be told, I have to agree with him. The toilet, the shower, the bathroom in general, is somewhat of a sanctuary to almost every Mother I know who has young children around... it is the one place where you can go to have quiet. I have to admit too, I have sought solitude in the bathroom without having to use the facilities as simply an excuse and reason to escape.

In art, as well as life in general, every person needs a place where they can think unfettered. The reality is, we seldom slow down and just to allow those thoughts to matriculate and end up documented somewhere. Oftentimes, we think of something and before we can write it down, it has escaped us never to be heard of again. The thought is, where do you slow down enough to actually ponder and, is there a pen and paper handy nearby to jot it down?

Play

2009-07-24T01:37:00-04:00

I don't know when it is that adults forget how to play. Even the signs seems to warn us, "Watch Out, there are kids playing you better be careful..." I know that this is to raise awareness but truly, how often do we actually think about the other side of the equation... what other side you ask? I bet you thought those signs were for you to slow down and pay attention because children are little and unobservant and therefore, could be hurt if you were not warned to be aware right? Yes, I guess that is one way of thinking about it, probably the best one as well afterall, I don't want anyone to mistakenly run over my kids when they chase the rocket they just launched across the street I suppose... No, the other side is a warning as well but, for your benefit not theirs. You see, one should exercise Caution when watching children go about playing unfiltered and unfettered by adults forcing them to conform. They may, afterall, rub off on you and get you thinking grand impossible thoughts. They may dare you to be more serious about playing and tinkering, and daresay, oblivious to those around you while you dig deep into those wonderful unanswerables the universe just puts out there begging for folks to question and try to wrap their noodles around. Playing is serious business folks, and one who chooses that course of business must exercise extreme caution for the mere fact, one never knows when they will discover something that will change the world. Kids know this by the way, it's the adults that have to be shown signs to actually get it.

Libraries

2009-07-23T01:24:00-04:00

I adore old books. I love the way they feel, the way they smell, the almost sacred way the words dance on the page and reveal their secrets to only me while I read them. I have a secret sweet spot for old Children's books especially Mother Goose, Fairytales from around the world, and wise old Aesop. My collection has grown over the years and many of my books are the only ones in existence. My books however, do not sit collecting dust on the shelves, they are meant to be enjoyed. Even my rarest books are handled and read.

How many people in your world, simply sit on a shelf as a part of some preconceived collection... you know, they are sitting there in the "work" section, or the "church friends" section, or the "online friends" section... How many of them have you read cover to cover? How many have you marked in the margins and marinated on the amazing things they revealed to you long after the conversation ceased? How many are in different languages... languages you are trying to learn so you can read in their native tongue (this includes "teen speak", "text speak" and "abbreviated license plate language") ? How many are simply there so you can show others you have them there on *your* bookshelf as a lovely little specimen of what a wonderful collector you are? How many are there because of their cover and not because of the information within them? How many are resources books you constantly find yourself coming back to?

My point is, what good is a library/rolodex/Facebook Page/ Twitter following, if you never revisit it? If you never use it, glean from it, go back to it time and time again, add to it and make it a point to have it a living, breathing and active part of your world, why do you have it in the first place? Artists, Musicians, Writers, and even Chefs cannot live without new resources and information to inspire them at their fingertips to spur them on. Surround yourself with amazing new things and your work will expand and take you to new understandings within your artistic journey.

Clinging

2009-07-22T01:08:00-04:00

The times I struggle the most are the ones when I insist on doing things on my own I think. As an artist, the moments where a blank canvas stares at you daring you to pick up the paintbrush, can be some of the most intimidating times especially when you know darn well you have absolutely no desire to do so. I was in one of those, "not feeling inspired" moments, feeling completely sorry for myself and decided to go for a walk. I hadn't gotten to the end of the driveway before I decided in my head that not only was I uninspired, but that the deadlines on my desk were things I just could not get done as a result of my creativity drying up... funny how things jump like that from a small negative to a bigger one once we allow the little one to toggle around and wreck havoc in our noggin' like that. By the time I did reach the end of the driveway, I had convinced myself that I was a complete failure and in way over my head... Rather than clinging to the things I knew, the things I believed in, the things that made me want to chose art in the first place, they seemed to disappear and fade away and resemble that intimidating blank canvas that started this whole thing in the first place.

It got me thinking on the things we should condition ourselves to reflect on when those nasty little doubts creep up in the first place. I saw this amazing massive Oak tree and lo and behold, there was ivy clinging to the bark and climbing the trunk. The Ivy could not bask in the sunlight creeping there in the dirt, it needed to cling to something immovable and stronger than itself to reach the heights it needed to thrive. Are we not any different? What Oaks do we have in our lives that we can cling to and depend on to support us when we are groveling there in the shadows rather than reaching for the sunlight? I went back into my studio and looked at the things I had around me, the things that inspired me, the things that spurred me on and challenged me to take my art to the next level, the constants in my world that reminded me that the one blank canvas was something that was temporary rather than a defining moment. Although my paintbrush is not made from Oak, it was strong and wrapping my fingers around it gave me the courage to make that first mark that transformed a blank canvas into a work in progress.

The Wheel

2009-07-21T01:54:00-04:00

I think it is fascinating how many business folks I know who insist on wasting their time trying to think of a new wheel instead of implementing the things that work and getting on to working on other things that generate business. Let me explain... bookkeeping is a great example. I despise bookkeeping. I love looking for new ways that will completely eradicate it from the busy work I find myself doing day in and day out. Bookkeeping/Accounting at it's core is the same as it's always been... What comes in versus what goes out and may it be that one side shows a profit rather than a deficit. I understand that there are many wonderful creative accounting methods that promise all sorts of lovely things but truly, they are square wheels when you think about it. You won't be going anywhere, certainly nowhere of distance because they don't allow that sort of thing in jail I guess. Yet, every time I see a new computer program or fancy recording book, I stop and am drawn like a moth to a flame just wanting to burn it's wings off. I stand there, holding it in my hands, reading the back of the box, flipping through the pages and admiring the fancy lay-out promising me an easier accounting method. So, the reality here, let me explain why this is even worse than you think. One, I will never admit how much time I wasted, but be assured anything more than a minute is not a productive use of my time. Secondly, I am married to an accountant, it's his job and yet, I still ponder the whole thing trying to reinvent the wheel that as it turns out, he'd be the one riding on anyway. Sad. Very sad. Folks, business as a whole isn't that complex, how we use our time to generate business can be if we are not focusing on the things that matter. For me, thinking about new art, new distribution methods, new clients, trending, demographics, and technology are all things that need to be thought about and reinvented in order to stay in business. How we dedicate our time will indicate how well your business will do.

Ringing the Bells

2009-07-20T02:02:00-04:00

I love the way church bells ring. I loved the way they used to be more useful in terms of calling people to attention instead of being more like time markers nowadays. There is a romanticism about having a community come together when the bell tolls as a fellowship of folks who believed in the purpose they were being called to. Nowadays, the bells we set are more for individual commitments... the alarm clock, the buzzer so the brownies don't burn, the corporate time clock that tells us when we must arrive and when we can leave- all alarms we set ourselves in our heads and choose to adhere to I suppose. I know in our house, the alarm goes off really early for my Husband to go to work but I do my best to ignore it. Over the 10 years of marriage I have become rather desensitized to that early morning alarm methinks.

As a culture we have collectively forgotten the alarm bells, the calls to action and have become rather complacent in so many things. I think it is a selective hearing; we have lost that training, conditioning, for lack of a better term to the things that really should send red flags up in our psyche. We are so in tune to the personal time keepers and alarms that we have become almost unable to hear the the bells that toll for our own collective humanity. It is almost as if an evil plot is a foot to inundate us all with so many bells, so many alarms, that when something requires a call to action on our part we never hear it.

I wonder how many of you hear the bells now, the ones that are warning us of a government who thinks they can run your lives and businesses better than you can, who believe that the populous is too stupid to take care of themselves and are in need of protection from their own frail, flawed, and imperfect humanity. I wonder how many hear the bells that warn us of how people, our own neighbors, are in need and how we are doing nothing to serve them. I wonder how many hear the bells that our children are being dumbed down and fed gibberish and substandard fare out of concern for self esteem rather than enlightenment and true education; those children will never be able to discern the bells from an American Idol ring-tone I am afraid. I wonder how many hear the bells that toll, the ones that ring of freedom and liberty, the ones that remind you that you are insanely unique and needed for your individual talents at the town center, that call to action that your voice is needed? I wonder.

Building Nests

2009-07-18T02:05:00-04:00

Nests are easier to build when one has the proper materials to do so. Building a studio is no different. One must be discerning in the materials one invests in and exercise care when thinking about what they need to actually do their work in an effort to stem runaway costs. Birds search around for the things they need for the immediate task at hand, they use the items that fit the bill and get to work. I sincerely doubt they flit around price comparison shopping and hemming and hawing over color swatches especially when eggs have to be laid.

I met an interesting lady today who was flipping through a publication that highlighted workspaces for artsy types. She and I lusted over the put together happy places others create in. She was busily writing down all the things she needed to purchase in order to have a place to create in. Now, I have known this woman for many years and, because we have this kind of relationship, I asked her point blank whether having the perfect surroundings and materials were going to have any impact on whether or not she'd have the time to create anything in the first place. Her sheepish grin said it all. Here she was planning on spending tens of thousands of dollars on the perfect furniture and I can tell you, she still has the kiln and soldering tools still in their boxes from her last grand adventure.

The point is, buying things are not going to make you creative, the perfect work space isn't going to insure that you will actually use it, and thinking back on our bird, sometimes it is just the bare essentials we need to get started.

Orange Viceroy

2009-07-17T02:08:00-04:00

Orange is such a wonderful color; it is a notice me color that stands out in a crowd. I suppose because of it's bright and vibrant nature it was the logical choice for hunters who didn't want to be mistakenly shot during hunting season. Makes sense. In our house, it is my son's absolute favorite color. Every shirt the child owns is either solid orange or in a combination that has it as the dominate color. I attribute his fascination with orange as somehow connected with his incredible adoration for his aunt Nicole however, this has never been truly proven only theorized.

While out and about for a walk, my son and I noticed a patch of orange flowers. They seemed so out of place in the field of green. I mentioned to my son that Orange and Green were complimentary colors on the color wheel and that is why they are so striking together. We discussed the novelty of this tiny little patch of color and as we got closer, we discovered the hundreds of butterflies that surrounded the flowers. It was amazing to see so many butterflies, they were drawn to this little patch in droves and we both just stood there amazed.

I started thinking about life naturally, it always seems to happen while out on a walk. What is it that attracts people to one person over another in the field of humanity? There were other flowers in the field yet, this patch was so bright that it just stood out. The interesting thing too was the fact that these flowers were not planted there, there was no agenda or calculated market research regarding their location, they just grew where it was they happened to be. The question is, what can we learn from flowers in the field about how to conduct business? It starts by being set apart and complimentary to your surroundings.

Perfume Bottle

2009-07-16T02:12:00-04:00

Old Perfume bottles are things of wonder for me. Aroma of times gone by still lingering. I found an interesting collection of old perfume bottles in my studio. My Grandmother used to be an antique collector and many of her amazing treasures have ended up here just waiting to find a new purpose somewhere. I started thinking about aroma in general. There are somethings that never lose their smell and, as it turns out, years later, when one smells that familiar odor, memories will simply come flooding back into their minds as if it were just yesterday. I know, I have a set of towels still packed in a plastic bag that were from my Great-Grandmother in the linen closet. I can simply open the bag a crack and the smell of her comes rushing out. I love that smell and even now, I get emotional thinking about it. It is a smell I will never forget and want to hold onto for as long as I possibly can. So where am I going with this?

In life, we are given amazing opportunities to leave impressions on others. What is the aroma you leave in the minds of others as you conduct your business, as you create your art? I say aroma because, it is easy to think of sight, sound, touch, and for those in the cooking arts, taste but, smell, that is tough. Does your speech and disposition smell of sweetness or is it foul? Are your actions reminiscent of a summer breeze infused with blossoms or of a torrential storm that smells of a sewer drain? Does your work invoke the thoughts of things folks would want to dab on their pulse points and carry around with them all day or, perhaps the odor that needs a long hot shower to remove? Is the smell just enough or does it overwhelm and overpower? These are things we all need to think about. I will say, the quality perfumes, they are the ones that transcend time and age gracefully; their aroma never goes out of style nor is it ever forgotten; they are like the original Chanel no.5 from so long ago. Just a thought.

Unexpected Finds

2009-07-15T02:14:00-04:00

I am always amazed by the wonderful treasures I stumble upon while decluttering. It truly is like having a surprise party where all these gifts just show up that are perfectly suited to your tastes and style... namely because you were the loverlie that purchased them in the first place no doubt. Today I was removing a pile of wood chips my children had so thoughtfully snagged from one place and piled them elsewhere. For those unaware, a child's sole purpose in life is to redistribute things... removing items from where you believed they should be to new and innovative new places designed specifically to keep your mind active as you continually question and ask yourself "why would they do that?" Truly, it is a fun game, endless possibilities really. At any rate, I was removing the pile of wood chips when I discovered a small rabbit statue that I neither remembered nor knew where it came from. Perplexed, I asked my co-cohabitants if they knew anything about my discovery. Of course my son knew. "Mom, that is the rabbit I got you for Mother's Day. We buried him because rabbits do that in the Winter." Of course, I thought, yes, indeed, it needed to be buried, hibernation is very important.

Of course, as it often happens, the discussion led to another random discovery on how we perceive certain things and how perspective from one person to another can be so incredibly different. The whole process this afternoon started with me thinking the wood chips were not where they should have been when, in actuality, the kids believed not only were the chips supposed to be exactly where I found them but, served a very important function. The treasure unburied was the discussion that ensued afterward when we realized that our opinions did not agree. I think as humans, we automatically assume that folks will by proxy just see things as we ourselves do. That the forks in the silverware drawer will automatically be on the left side (what, they aren't, well, why not, it's how we do it here in our house....) That wood chips aren't supposed to be in the flower beds when Winter is coming and cement rabbits need to hibernate. The point is, every difference in opinion is indeed an opportunity to discover something interesting about someone else should we choose to initiate the conversation.

Word Pictures

2009-07-14T02:16:00-04:00

They say pictures speak a thousand words and some are just universal... I am a sucker for interesting signs and can't help myself when one turns up begging to be photographed. This sign brought my family and I a good 15 minutes of gut wrenching laughter. It started with my daughter asking why the paper towel was so far away from the sandbox on the playground if the sink to wash up was right there. Good question. Whomever thought that this sign would automatically invoke the thought of a restroom obviously did not think about an inquisitive 5 year old. It got me thinking about how many other people this sign confused.

I suppose in marketing, some things may indeed seem universal, that the meaning is just so basic that it really can't be left for interpretation like arrows pointing in a specific direction or a road sign clearly marked. However, as a creative, we do tend to try to think outside of the box and be a bit less obvious on purpose. The question is, are the signals you sending computing with the end consumer? Are they easy to interpret and do they convey the meaning you intended to begin with? When they read your signs are they compelled to look for a product (paper towel) as opposed to a service (the restrooms) or are they too busy laughing to know what it says and simply walk away to ask someone else where they can find what they are looking for?

Weaving a Story

2009-07-13T02:18:00-04:00

There is something about a good story that draws us in. I remember as a child sitting by the feet of my Great-Grandfather as he spun yarns about magical places and made up characters. I would sit there completely entranced hanging on every word that came from his mouth. In my eyes, the things he said were absolutely true. I think I believed him because he spoke with such authority on the subject, with such certainty and in such a way, with that wink and nod, that if one did not believe, it was because they were not in the know. There was nobody on the planet that could tell a tale like my Great-Grandfather and, if I close my eyes and concentrate hard enough, I can almost still hear his voice.

Art is about weaving a story, a story that resonates and sticks in one's mind long after the telling has ceased. A good artist knows that it isn't so much the picture or end piece but, the story around it that gives it life. There is the story behind what the artist thought, where the catalyst for the creation came from and then, there is the story about how it was acquired and what it meant to the owner. Each story, a separate thread, a part of the tapestry that is woven.

Snow in July

2009-07-11T00:44:00-04:00

Snowballs are prized in our household. Every year, after the first snowfall, the kids go out and make a series of snowballs that they put into deep freeze just to pull out in the Summer. It has become quite the tradition.

The Snowballs I love the most in the Summer though are not the ones the kids retrieve from the freezer, they are the ones that grow on the side of my Grandmother's house. The contrast between the dark verdant Green and the pure white of the flowers are just breathtaking. There is a simplicity in the dense blossoms and how they defy gravity almost by just existing.

The kids pull their snowballs from the freezer and wish for the Summer to end quickly yet, I am reminded how everything has a season and how precious my pilgrimage to see them in my Grandmother's Garden really is... every Summer is one less I will have with her, one less I will have to walk the grounds and see Snow in the middle of a hot July day. Never miss a moment because like a snowflake in your hand, they melt away before our eyes.

Woodgrain

2009-07-10T02:20:00-04:00

Wood is amazing when you think about how much it tells us about itself and how it lived simply by the rings and knots it leaves behind. When I was a child, my Father would point out how certain rings spoke of draught while others perhaps of a colder winter. He'd show me where the branches came forth from and even where they split. Each event in the Tree's existence was marked in it's grain, it was a part of the patterns housed in it's inner core. I have always told my students that they have a story to tell, a unique set of circumstances that leave their mark on their lives and make them like no other. I saw this beautiful display of various pieces of wood in my Grandmother's garden and it reminded me of any given classroom.... full of amazing specimens of the same elemental composition yet, completely different in texture, grain, size, and shape. Each piece with a story to tell and a lesson to learn from.

Target

2009-07-09T02:22:00-04:00

Sometimes, we really must be a bit more obvious to get what we want in life. I think for many folks, simply asking for what they want or need is a tough thing. For some, it may seem overbearing, presumptuous, forward, and daresay ballsy. I believe, it is more in the manner in which you ask that determines how your request will be received and bares directly on whether or not it will be fulfilled. Let me explain.

In order to know what it is you want or need, you have to be able to define it first and, this cannot be done by anyone other than yourself. You need a target in mind, a specific goal that has to be met. Assuming that if you state to your perspective client that you have an Etsy store, for example, is not asking for the sale but, merely pointing out that you have one. See where I am going with this? Your actions need to have a direction and your words need to have a command somewhere in them otherwise, they are just out there with nothing attached to them and no real motivation for the customer to act on them.

Today I noticed a wonderful example of how nature directs and asks for the sale sort to speak. In the corner of my garden are Black Eyed Susans, Daisies, Sunflowers and the like. They all need to be pollinated in order to proliferate. The target is right there in the center like a giant beacon to all flying insects. There is no fuzzy gray area, any questions as to where they must go or what they must do- it is obvious and, as a result, the deal is done. In your own business, how are you directing your customer to act? Are you initiating the sale or merely pointing out that you made something cool?

Growing

2009-07-08T02:24:00-04:00

Wildflowers need not be told where to grow, they just do. One of the many things I enjoy about living in the country is the fact that wildflowers abound and their bold colors just pop out of nowhere just because they can.

The truth is, we do not determine whom our parents will be, where we will be born, or what conditions we will be predisposed with, we just show up. The interesting thing is that the conditions around us indeed dictate certain things but, ultimately the choice to grow and thrive is purely our will to do so. In business, we are not all given the same things (start up capital, ideas, locations, customer bases, technology, etc....) and therefore, we cannot expect our business to be like anyone else's. We get the cards we are dealt and we make the choice to thrive in the place we were planted. How we grow determines whether or not we get another season like the hearty perennial or whether we will fade away whence the Summer goes like the annual.

Roadsigns and Warnings

2009-07-07T02:26:00-04:00

It seems now one can never be too careful, that it is a given that someone will blame you for their lot in life and that this can be almost guaranteed. If the coffee is too hot and you spill it, it's not your fault that you got burned, nevermind the fact you were talking on the cell phone while driving and did not pay attention to the lid right? Nonsense. Political Correctness and culture in general has gotten way out of hand. It seems that everything comes with a laundry list of warnings to protect folks from themselves; giving them really a list of excuses why it couldn't possibly be their fault. You'd think common sense would kick in and people would wake up and realize that they, not a government, not a financial cycle, not, well you can fill in the blank here, are at fault for whatever it is need that wasn't met or situation that occurred...

As business people we are not entitled to anything. It is why we are employers and not employees. There is a risk in working for oneself and there is also an ownership and accountability associated with it. I hear stories daily from small business owners complaining that their businesses aren't doing as well as they think they ought to and in the very same breath rattle off a number of reasons why it is someone else's fault. Truth be told, as hard as it is to swallow, the economy can be blamed for only so much, a solid business plan from the beginning, persuasive marketing campaigns and thoughtful product placement and service coupled with a strong prudent financial strategy are all things that can mitigate a recession. So many folks believe that if they have something to sell that they are automatically in business. This isn't the case. As a self employed creative, you need to be proactive and know the risks ahead of time, you aren't going to have a sign spelling all the pitfalls out for you and, when they occur, because they will you know, when they do, you must be prepared to take ownership of those too. The coffee is hot and you could get burned yes, however, there simply isn't a substitute for a good cup of coffee either.

Stained Glass

2009-07-06T02:28:00-04:00

I have always been drawn to old stained glass windows. I love the way that hidden in each pane is a story so lovingly told that is truly only appreciated and seen in all it's glory once the light shines through it. It's amazing that glass, with it's fragile nature, can be strong enough to weather storms and bring hope to those seeking refuge within the buildings they reside. How lamps, like the ones the famed Tiffany made, can bring a warm glow to even the coldest of rooms simply by being lit.

People are like those ancient panes of stained glass. We are fragile, broken pieces of colored glass as a result of a life lived and yet, our stories are somehow lovingly pieced together and joined with metal and solder in such a way that when the sun returns, the light shines through us and reflects a story of redemption and hope to those who gaze upon us. As an artist, one must remember that we are entrusted with the ability to tell a story in many facets but, in order to do so, we must allow that light to shine through us in the process so that our audience can be inspired by the bigger picture.

Freedom

2009-07-04T02:30:00-04:00

Freedom comes in many forms... the ability to believe in something, to travel somewhere, and even to just experience life. The common misconception is that "democracy" is what enables people to be free. The truth is, when we believe that each person is unique, has a voice that matters, and the right to use it, the bedrock of a democratic Republic is laid. Our Independence Day celebrates the birth of a nation set apart because of it's adherence to something larger than one person, larger than a legislative body, executive branch or judicial system. It is based on the premise that all men are created equal by their Creator in their uniqueness and, because of this, and this alone, we are entitled to life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Our Nation was founded by ordinary men who knew that a Democracy was nothing more than mob rule but, that a Democratic Republic for the people and by the people with a series of checks and balances insured that each person had a say. This is what so many died for, so many still fight for, and what we celebrate. Simple things like owning land and being able to provide for oneself are things we take for granted but are what makes this Country so special. Happy Birthday America, Land of the Brave and Home of the Free.

Trust

2009-06-29T21:34:00-04:00

You'd be amazed at what a little piece of bread can do to soothe the savage beast and establish trust. I think this statement rings more true lately than in any other time in my life.

Today's post is about goodwill offerings. I think during scary times folks tend to be more reserved. They shield their hands a bit closer, reveal less of their cards or tells at the poker table. In our industry, the culture of sharing tends to dry up a bit as everyone circles in the wagons and tries to hold onto the things they deem as advantages over the competition. The truth be told, less innovation, less development, and less creativity occur in situations such as these. The exchange of ideas and the transparency that can only come from revealing fears and challenges gets folks past those issues and on to being more productive. This can only happen if there is an established trust first though. There needs to be an element of discernment in choosing whom you will confide in and your focus group and confidants need to understand that there is a level of accountability to be expected.

Today I was sitting with the kids having a picnic and reading the adventures of Captain Nemo when a squirrel appeared within a stone's throw of us. Breaking off a piece of muffin I explained to the kids that I could get that squirrel close enough to see it's teeth. Of course they were enthralled, well at least the boys, the female child always seems to be a more practical and immediately mentioned rabies. As we continued to throw muffin pieces closer and closer to us, the squirrel progressed. We watched it try to discern whether or not the danger was worth the muffin. Once it was within 3 feet of us, we saw it's teeth and it sat next to us for the better part of 15 minutes. During that time, the kids had the closest view of a squirrel they had ever had- the most real and first hand look at something that they had only seen in books or from a distance up until this point. It was such an amazing learning experience that was facilitated by a goodwill offering and a mutual trust. I am thankful for the Bread that established that trust and taught me so much. Just a thought.

Footwear

2009-06-28T21:34:00-04:00

I learn so much from my kids. My daughter came bounding the stairs and struck a super hero pumped fisted pose and the base of the stairs. I wasn't privy to the conversation going on in her head at the moment but, her body language spoke of a dangerous foe needing to be vanquished somewhere in the living room and that somehow she was in between me, the innocent civilian, and mortal danger. I think it reality, the cat was the foe and had it realized this, it would have run and hid sooner than it did.

I asked my daughter where her cape was. She said she didn't need one because she was wearing her super hero socks and as long as her feet were covered that they would take her where she needed to go. Huh? Such complex truths from the mouths of babes. If the world truly understood the very basic truth in that statement, what an incredibly different place we would live in. Our feet, the very things that guide our steps need to be decked out in the kind of footwear that embody the characteristics we want in life I think. Can you imagine if you woke up and thought, yup, I am going to be someone's hero today... gotta make sure I am wearing the appropriate footwear so I don't take a misguided step? I think about all the times I am ill-prepared to help someone in need simply because I didn't have them in mind when I began my day. My daughter thought about it when she got dressed and well, she was my hero...saved me from conventional thinking and accepted social norms. She inspired me to be a better person.

Rust

2009-06-27T21:35:00-04:00

DaVinci said stagnant water petrifies and iron rusts from not being used... Think about that for a minute. The absolute degradation of something pure and strong from simply not being used and sitting unmoving. Makes one think about complacency in a whole different way.

I saw these posts laying down in a heap. At one time they cost money, took time to install, and had function somewhere. While they were standing, they didn't exhibit the kind of deterioration that they did when they laid together in the heap. I started thinking about that. It wasn't until they were piled together with other non-useful posts that the oxidation process was compounded and sped up. Fascinating. It made me think about the published studies about how unhealthy behaviors travel in social circles, how they appear to almost be contagious in nature. Could DaVinci indeed have stumbled on something more pivotal that merely a scientific observation of the natural world but rather, an axiom that was completely human nature when left to our devises?

In studying the characteristics of successful people and influential thinkers it is interesting that they chose to surround themselves with folks that challenge conventional thinking and spur them on to get outside of comfort zones and take their personal understanding to a higher level. Athletes who want to run faster or jump higher train with people who are faster than they are why, because they want to push themselves. It is a conscious decision, an action and a commitment to motion, doing something to get there... meaning they are not stagnant and allowing themselves to decay from disuse. They chose to be functional and refuse to be surrounded with toxic influences that are going nowhere.

Rows and Columns

2009-06-26T21:32:00-04:00

Bet you thought this was going to be another mind the spreadsheet post... seeing that I am making this up as I go along, it could very well have a bit of that hidden in here for good measure. Today I was thinking about housekeeping of all things. The order of things and how truly, organization can be a wonderful thing when you want to find something but, irritating when you want to be inspired by something around you, in front of you and everything is all tucked away hidden in it's rightful out of sight spot... Thankfully, I do not come across this problem too much as my studio is a complete pit. Seriously, I require folks to tie a rope around their waist and the other end to the door knob just to insure their safe return from my studio ;)

One of the places I do not dilly dally when it comes to everything having it's place is in our family garden. There must be some resemblance of order and what's more, plants will die if not put in the proper location optimal for their growth. Columns and rows and being surrounded by the right companions can make a garden thrive and produce.

So, where am I leading you on this happy bunny trail. Every person needs a place where there is some balance and order. I say this because all can not be chaotic and still be inspiring at the same time. Our heads need a place to reflect and have harmony in order to isolate a thought or an idea from the rest of the background noise. It's like the columns and rows in the garden. Each plant has it's proper spacing, a buffer zone if you will and a soil composition that gives it what it needs to not just survive but, thrive. Cultivate a spot where you can breath and your creativity will grow.

Sarah*n*dipitous