Creativity & Soul

1000 Ways To Do It Wrong

noreply@blogger.com (Cheryl Herrick) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 15:36:00 +0000

Years ago I was on the phone with one of my mentors. The topic of the conversation I do not recall. What I do remember, was that I was trying to figure out the “right” way to do something. In my narrow thinking at that time I thought there was only one right way and one wrong way. When I was explaining to my mentor that I just wanted to find the right way she stopped me dead in my tracks. “Honey” she said, “There are 1000 ways to do something. 1000 ways to do it right, and 1000 ways to do it wrong.” It is a concept I have embraced from that day forward. I have embraced the wrong way, as much as the right. Interestingly, the “wrong” way has been right, as often as the right way, and vice versa. Get out there and find your 1000 wrong ways…

Choosing With My Heart

noreply@blogger.com (Cheryl Herrick) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 02:55:00 +0000

My goal for a rare weekend off was what seemed like a fairly simple one… To have a quiet weekend of nothing, no commitments, no demands, nothing… Although I did end up with some commitments I also had 30 hours alone. At about hour 24 I accepted two truths in my life.

Number one: It is time for me to plan a vacation. Not a trip, not time with family, not time on anyone else’s schedule, a vacation of my own. I love my family, I love my friends, heck I even love my job… and because I love all of it so much I tend to over do it. This weekend off has shown me how much I need an extended time to relax and slow down. It takes me a good two days just to downshift because slowing down is so counter to my nature. It sometimes is precipitated by a life altering experience that causes me to do it but I would like to be more intentional in my life. I would like to create more breathing space for my heart…

This brings me to truth number two: The way I love is FULL OUT, whether it is family, friends or romance; I am not much of a half measures kind of gal. I have been wildly, illogically, irrationally in love with only two men in my life, one of them I married, the other I dated. And although neither relationship was a lifelong one, I would not have missed either of them. Even if I had known how heartbroken I would feel at the end of each of them, I would not have missed it on either account. Sometimes there are parts of ourselves we get to experience only when we are in the presence of the right people and at the right time. And with those two men this was true for me. Sometimes people on the outside looking in, cannot understand why I have made the decisions I have made about love. And even in the face judgment or disapproval or outright anger I have always chosen with my heart.

I have been contemplating a quote attributed to Steve Jobs:

“.. almost everything – all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.”

I agree with Mr. Jobs. There is no reason to not follow my heart. The level of heartbreak I felt over those two men was worth it. There is no love without heartbreak. I can be in a relationship (or friendship for that matter) with someone and feel heartbroken or a relationship can end and I can feel heartbroken. There is no immunity to pain. In either case the truly important part for me isn’t the heartbreak or pain, it is that I brought my heart to the party and played full out.

I will never look back and wish I hadn’t done it. As I write this I wonder if it sounds like I would do it again. If I had to do it over, I would choose them again, even knowing the heartbreak that was on the way. As I sit today would I reunite with either of them? No. The romantic part of our story together has been written already, and that loop is closed for me. I will forever love them for being woven into the tapestry of my life. Do I welcome them in my life? Yes, if they choose to be a part of it.

Will I choose with my heart again and love full out? ABSOLUTELY!

Freefalling

noreply@blogger.com (Cheryl Herrick) — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 22:00:00 +0000

Dropping at 120 mph for 45 seconds at 10,000 feet seemed like a good idea at the time...

It was 4th of July weekend. I had just gotten my heart broken and needed to do something to jolt myself out of the sadness and I knew my ordinary means of cajoling myself were not going to cut it. So what's a girl to do? Jump out of a perfectly good airplane... Why did I choose skydiving? Beats me! It is the one extreme sport I said I would never do, but at that moment I needed to scare myself a little so I could feel alive. There I was with one foot still inside the plane and the rest of me standing on the platform outside the plane with my instructor asking me "are you ready to skydive?" My answer "why not".

For the first 5 seconds of free-falling through the sky I could not catch my breath, much like the beginning of a break up. Everything seemed foreign and in slow motion. I felt paralyzed and scared. Then I opened my mouth and inhaled and my whole body relaxed. I had been holding my breath. For the next 40 seconds I could feel the wind on my body, I could hear the sound of the speed with which we were racing towards the ground, and I felt the complete freedom of dropping from the sky. If I could have continued to free-fall longer, I would have said yes.

As unnerving as it was in the beginning of the jump, throwing myself out of that airplane and embracing the free-fall set me free. Just as embracing the break up, has freed me to pursue other adventures.

My next free-fall? Hopping in my race car and competing in a road race around Nebraska this week. And yours?

Morning Pages

noreply@blogger.com (Cheryl Herrick) — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 23:22:00 +0000

In Julia Cameron’s seminal book, “The Artist’s Way”, she suggests some basic tools for creativity that are non-negotiable, one of which is the Morning Pages. Morning Pages are three pages of long-hand writing that could, as she states “… They could more ingloriously be called brain drain, since that is one of their main functions.” It is not necessary to be a writer to write Morning Pages. The point is not “to write”, the point is to empty your brain. If you have nothing to write then write: “I have nothing to write”- for three pages, but write.

I have been writing three pages in the morning on and off, (more on, than off) since roughly 1995 and I have learned a few things along the way. First, Julia is right, they are brain drain. They drain my brain of all the petty, ridiculous clutter that gets in the way of my effectiveness. I am more focused and balanced when I write them than when I don’t. For me, Morning Pages are more than a tool for creativity; They have become an important tool for life in general.

The single best thing about the pages is that they keep me moving forward. I cannot moan and complain on paper for too long before I get sick of myself. Whether it is a person in my life I need to deal with or a task I have been avoiding, the pages will force me into action. Conversely, it points the way to all the things in my life that I like and the goals I want to pursue. My recent foray into stand-up comedy is a result of working with Morning Pages. That is the very first place I admitted I wanted to try it.

My challenge to you: for 1 month, write three pages. Do not read them, just write them and put them away; someplace where others won’t be tempted to read them. After one month, read them and observe any changes. I know there will be some. Then write to me and let me know what you learned.

Stand-Up Boot Camp

noreply@blogger.com (Cheryl Herrick) — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 15:49:00 +0000

As I roll along my creative journey new pursuits come to the surface. I do my best to be responsive to them so when the idea of stand-up comedy came to the fore I thought ok. I’ll try it. I mentioned to my friends that I thought that was the next direction I was being nudged to head. Here is how it unfolded.

Me to my friends: “Wouldn’t it be fun to try stand-up comedy? To get up and see if you could make people laugh?

My friends: Ummm, NO!

Me: I think it would be a blast. Where do you go for that? Is there a stand-up school or something?

Fast forward to 2 months ago. I am in Hawaii watching a local morning show on TV and a comedian named Kyle Cease is on the show, he is just talking and laughing having a good time and then the host says “That’s all the time we have” which causes Kyle to spit out at the last second before the commercial break “check out our website Standupbootcamp.com”.

Really, there actually is a school for stand up! I know, it shocked me too! I thought the school was in Hawaii but when I went to the website I found out it travels to different places around the U.S. and the next camp they were hosting was going to be about 90 minutes from my house. Weird right?

As you might have guessed, I signed up and took the camp. It was so much more than what I expected. The instructors, Kyle Cease and Louie Anderson were amazing! The experience was great and the other comedians were so supportive of a neophyte like me.

If you have a chance to attend Stand-Up Boot Camp, DO IT!

I Double Dog Dare Ya

noreply@blogger.com (Cheryl Herrick) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 19:22:00 +0000

Go ahead and act childish. That's what I say, at least as it relates to your creativity. What did you love to do when you were a child: Bike ride, water ski, paint, sew, build forts, student council, experiments? What was your thing (or things)? Mine? I loved racing motorcross, playing softball, sewing, gardening, ice skating, downhill skiing, basketball, writing, running, dancing, water skiing and playing trumpet, just to name a few. I was passionate about all of them and more. Today, I still enjoy them.

My creativity is closely linked to how much I am willing to be childlike, creatively. I ask myself this question: Is there anything from my childhood that I used to like to do that I can reincorporate into my life now? Many of us leave our creativity behind because it's seems childish. We tell ourselves things like "I don't have time for that I'm an adult" or "I have responsibilites". Sound familiar? To be clear, I am not asking you to give up your responsibilites. I am only asking you to find 15 minutes to an hour once a week to play.

I have a dare for you! Pick one thing you LOVED as a child and do it this week. Make it something you no longer do and try it, just for fun. I would be amanzed if you could do it with the abandon of a child and not end up feeling enthusiastic and happy (even if only while in the act of doing it).

I double dog dare you to do two things! (If you are like me, you can't refuse a dare and that is why I am throwing down the gauntlet). Do you want to know what mine was? When no one was home I put on my "100% Funk" cd (yes I said cd) and danced all around the house to "Brick House" and "Play That Funky Music". Songs I remember hearing and loving as a kid. I got so inspired I have them on now as I write this.

This week, once again, I am accepting my own double dog dare to be childish and plan to go skipping down my road (who cares what the neighbors think!). And you? I dare ya!

Whew!

noreply@blogger.com (Cheryl Herrick) — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 18:51:00 +0000

I realize it has been more than a month since my last post and here is why. In order to have any credibility to facilitate other people on their creative path I must also continue to create and chase after my own creative dreams. If I don't I become a blocked artist myself.

For the the last month I was on the home stretch of accomplishing a longstanding dream of mine: to complete a full length book. I did it! WHEW! I would like to take this opportunity to celebrate that accomplishment before I begin the editing process and am up to my eyeballs in revisions and debates with my editor. Celebrate, celebrate, celebrate! Breathe...

The great thing about reaching a dream is that reminds us it is possible. It also fosters the possibility for other dreams, new dreams, bigger dreams, Finishing the book leaves me with a great sense of satisfaction. It is a great way to close out 2009 and enter 2010.

This week I will spend time completing my plan of action (or attack) for 2010. I saw a broadcast of an interview with Warren Buffett and Bill Gates on television the other day and Mr. Buffett was expressing his optimism for the future. That's how I feel. Optimistic about my future. Optimistic about the possibilities. Optimistic about dreaming big!

Day Dreaming Pays

noreply@blogger.com (Cheryl Herrick) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:07:00 +0000

Do you day dream? Did you get in trouble in school for day dreaming? Well do I have good news for you. Day dreaming is one of the tools necessary for a creative life. There are two accomplished artists I am familiar with, the writer Sue Monk Kidd and choreographer Twyla Tharp, who both suggest (and I am paraphrasing here) that day dreaming is essential to creativity and a creative life.

A couple of years ago I attended a workshop in South Carolina and Sue Monk Kidd was one of the speakers. She talked about going out on the dock in the morning and sitting quietly to let her mind wander. This is something she does before going into her office at home to write.

Twyla Tharp, in her book, "The Creative Habit", suggests that we develop a habit of "mental mindless wandering" and that daydreaming "is the exact opposite of meditation." She suggests that "you are trying to tease them [thoughts] forward until you can latch onto them."

This was such good news for me. I am a day dreamer by nature and many times when I would sit at my desk to write, the blank page staring back at me, I would immediately drift off into la-la land. Then I felt guilty thinking "geez I should be using every moment I set aside to be actively writing."

My daydreaming has produced the germ of the idea for a children's book and the idea for the plush toy named "Billy Bear" to go with it. That bear with its wire-rimmed glasses sits on the window sill above my writing desk as a totem to my creativity. He also serves as a reminder that daydreaming is serious creative work.

Shower Your Way to Creativity

noreply@blogger.com (Cheryl Herrick) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:13:00 +0000

OK, raise your hand if you have ever had a great idea while driving or taking a shower? Right! All of us. In Julia Cameron's great book, "The Artist's Way", she talks about how great ideas come when we are doing repetitive tasks or as I like to think of it, chores. It can be chores like scrubbing dishes, walking the dog or sweeping the floor.

My theory about why this happens is that our internal critic, our logic (left) brain is busy on a task so our artist, our creative (right) brain can sneak past it and come out to play without worrying about getting its head lopped off. Anyone relate?

All kinds of ideas may come: A melody for a song, a poem, a title for a piece of writing, dialogue for a movie, computer code, a marketing idea or the answer to a question. Often times the ideas that come to me are to solve a challenge I am currently working on or are related to my current project.

While I am doing these mundane tasks and inspiration here is my trick for catching those ideas as they fly by. I carry a notebook and pen in my car and jot down anything that bubbles up. When I go for a walk I carry a small pen and a bit of paper in my back pocket. If all else fails, I text it to myself.

What in the world do I do with all these ideas and tidbits that aren't used immediately?...Well, so glad you asked. I have an "ideas file" my computer and an "ideas page" in my notebook. When I am feeling blocked or unmotivated I refer to them. Of course, I can also go take a shower or do a chore to get the juices flowing.

So when our mother's said "go do your chores" little did we know that was good advice both for life and creativity. I am off to do my chores...

Creative Mistakes are Creative Fuel

noreply@blogger.com (Cheryl Herrick) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 20:25:00 +0000

Let me claim for the record that I am an amateur photographer, emphasis on the word amateur. As a matter of fact, the thought of taking photos used to overwhelm me. I didn't think I had the "photographer's eye" to take stunning photos but I would have settled for photos that just weren't...awful.

When I first gave myself permission to take photos, I was on a trip thru Europe. Who in the world could travel to Europe and not take pictures? Not even me. Paris was the first stop on our four-Country tour. Think Eiffel Tower, The Louvre, Notre Dame. OK got the image in your mind?...Great!

So, there I was at The Louvre wanting to take a picture of my two friends in front of the famous Glass Pyramid. I positioned them so I could capture them and the Pyramid. I took several photos. Since I was new to the photography thing I figured I should take some extras. Just in case. (Those were the days before digital).

For the remainder of the trip I took photos, bunches of photos. The beautiful architecture of Prague, the fetching Austrian mountaineer in the train station in Vienna, the ornate government buildings in Budapest. I was excited about the pictures and could not wait to have them developed once I got back to the US.

Much to my horror the pictures were awful. (Really, I'm not just saying that to be self deprecating) I had roll after roll of bad pictures. The lighting was off, the composition was non-existent and the focal points were confused.

Of course the friends I was travelling with wanted to see the photos. (Oh, did I mention one of them was a photographer?) I had no interest in showing them the photos because of my embarrassment but they encouraged me to bring them the next time we were together. So I did what anyone would have done. I went home and sorted through the least awful of the bunch to show.

As I looked at each photo I studied it to see what I could learn about how to do it better next time. For the most part I was clueless except for one photo. The one thing I could decipher was about composition. The photo of my friends in front of The Louvre. It could have been improved if I shot them close up with the Pyramid in the background. I was attempting to get a photo of them, the entire pyramid and some of the architecture of the rest of The Louvre as well. I had positioned them far away standing against the Pyramid. They were just little specs in the photo and blended in with all the other tourists.

Armed with that information about my creative mistake I once again gave myself permission to take more photos, even more"AWFUL" photos, to learn what made an interesting or a striking photo, or something that captures a scene or a moment.

Fast forward to today. I have snapped tons of photos since then. Some I really like and some are still bad. When I see the bad ones I wince a little and then chuckle to myself and think, oh, another Louvre picture, more creative fuel.

Fall

noreply@blogger.com (Cheryl Herrick) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:12:00 +0000

September is coming to a close and something sticks out in my mind. It is a feeling from childhood, a certain sadness that approached every fall that matched the changing of the season. It matched the trees losing all their leaves, left with only a trunk full of bare branches. It was an emptiness, a lonliness, missing the warmth and sunshine, the brightness of the blue sky. Missing the long days and the prickle of the sun's rays my skin. Missing the swimming and bike riding with my friends. Missing the beach parties and staying out all night. Maybe what I really miss is the long ago times of summer with its freedom, laughter and innocence...

If I were you

noreply@blogger.com (Cheryl Herrick) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:30:00 +0000

Have you ever heard someone say to you "If I were you I wouldn't do that?" Really? "Cause I think if you were me that is exactly what you would do because then you would be me and that is what I am doing.

I think what people mean is "If I were me I wouldn't do that." So why don't we say that? Isn't that what we really mean with that phrase? Well, if I were me I would be chuckling right now. If I were you I have no idea what I would be doing...

Motocross and maybe a little more

noreply@blogger.com (Cheryl Herrick) — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 23:49:00 +0000

I had an interesting conversation with my father the other day. I think we all admire our dads and respect their opinions. My dad is the smartest person. Really. I know, I know, it sounds like that thing we chanted on the play ground when we were kids right. "My dad is smarter than your dad." And no disrespect intended but in all candor he really is the smartest, not only guy, but person, I know.

OK let's throw back to when I was a little girl, maybe 8 years old, which would have been in the early 1970's. My dad was the person who told me at 8 that I could do anything I wanted to do. Anything. So I decided I would race motocross. Yes, at 8 and on a real motorcycle. My brother was racing and I thought if he could do it so could I. So began my career at motocross. No pomp, no circumstance just "OK sweetheart if that's what you want to do'" The only sticking point was there would be no powder puff for me. Since my brother was already racing it was incumbent upon me to race with the boys. Frankly that was fine with me I didn't really want to race with the girls anyways. I thought it would mean more if I could compete against the boys and hold my own.

My parents did what any responsible parents would do...OK now I can already hear some of you saying that a responsible parent would have said no!...I digress...As responsible parents they got me all geared up with helmet, riding pants, protective gear up the wazoo and off I went to practice with my brother.

During the time I was racing people did not necessarily have their names on their jersey's or helmets but in our family you did. Not only is my dad smart but he is also an incredibly gifted artist and on my red helmet he painted in beautiful, artful, feminine yellow lettering "Cheryl" in what seemed to me like huge letters. I am here to tell you at 8 I did not understand the psychological advantage of siking out your opponents ( now I do). I just wondered why my name was so doggone big on the back of my helmet. I was embarrassed by it. It seemed braggadocios to me. When I took my dad to task over it and asked him why it was so big and in such an easy to read color he just smiled at me and said "Sweetheart I want those boys to know it is a girl passing them out on that race track."

I didn't really get the point and when I asked why he explained it to me in this way. "Sweetheart (by the way he still calls me sweetheart to this day) I want those boys to know but more importantly I want you to know that you can do anything a boy can do and most of it you can probably do better." The notion I took away from that experience wasn't so much that I was physically stronger than the boys or even better but rather I was there equal.

I am sure you would like to hear that I was awesome at motocross right? Well I wasn't bad. I did something like 10th in the state in overall points for the seasons I raced. I did not set the track on fire with my abilities or anything like that but heck what girl gets to decide at 8 to hop on a motorcycle and take it to the dirt and have her parents say 'sure if that's what you want to do." How empowering of my parents to do that for both my brother and I.

How revolutionary of my father to send a clear message - you will race with the boys, because you can. Who knew I would learn about equality in the human race at 8? I think my father knew. And the other day when we spoke our conversation centered around him reminding me again of my equality. Only this time it wasn't about being equal to men. It was about being equal to other women. This time it stung a little but I needed to hear it and am grateful.

writing, or something like it.

noreply@blogger.com (Cheryl Herrick) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 04:10:00 +0000

It is a Wednesday evening and time for bed really and yet I find myself at the keyboard. Like any writer I will strike when the iron is hot. Funnily enough that is somewhat of a writing myth. Strike when the iron is hot, or I am on a roll or in the zone or whatever other phrase we want to use.

Of course there is something to be said for being in the zone and yet there is something to be said also for purely producing a piece of writing. Notice I did not say good writing, just writing. The blank page, the beginning is often hard so the trick for me is just to write. I can start on the second paragraph or the fifth and then go back and find the first. At least that is a technique that works for me. As I write these words I don't know for sure where they will land, only that they needed to be written. As a matter of fact I may be the only person to ever read them. which is fine. I write to work things out. To put pen to page and see what shows itself. Sometimes I like it sometimes not, yet it all moves out and through to make room for the next thing....what is my next thing? Good question. Survey says....

The Tour de France week 2

noreply@blogger.com (Cheryl Herrick) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 18:53:00 +0000

Today ended in a mountain climb up Verbier in the Tour de France. It was exciting to watch a great champion like Lance Armstrong finish the stage sitting 2nd overall in the GC (general classification), meaning second overall of all the best riders, after a 4 year hiatus from cycling. What a great spirit and wonderful achievement in the midst of all the controversey surrounging Team Astana. To top it off he gave a heartfelt congratulations to his teammate Alberto Contador for todays victory of the stage and now as the overall leader of the Tour and Team Astana. He said immediately after the stage ended today that Alberto is the stronger rider.

I think what makes a champion is how he handles all of life. I am an admirer of Lance's have been for years, ever since I read his book It's Not About the Bike. His return to cycling and his loyalty to Johan Bruyneel are commendable. He may have had a better chance to win with a team who was not divided in their support yet he chose Johan. I have been excited to see the Tour ever since Lance's announcement he was returning to competive cycling. I am still excited to see the Tour. Even more so after today's stage. It is compelling watching a champion ride. Whether in first place or not. To watch a champion ride is, well frankly inspirational. LIVESTRONG LANCE! There is still a week yet to go!

The Tour de France - 1st mountain stage

noreply@blogger.com (Cheryl Herrick) — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 02:58:00 +0000

Well anyone who knows me well knows I love The Tour de France. It is particularly exciting for me this year because Lance Armstrong is back in the peleton.

In the years Lance raced and reached his goal of 7 tour victories I jokingly (OK, only half jokingly) referred to the race as the Tour de Lance. Last summer when I was watching the race I turned to my husband and said "Lance will be back, mark my words...there is no petrone of the race, there is no dominant team, there is a gaping whole that can only be filled by the likes of Lance." And so it is. He is back.

I have enjoyed watching every moment of the Tour so far. I record it (old school on video tape) when I am not home and avoid all tickers on TV screens until I can come home and watch the whole stage. For some people it is baseball for some it is football, for me it is the Tour de France. Don't get me wrong I watched during the years of Lance's absence as any Tour fanatic would however there is a sweetness in the race this year now that Lance is back.

Team Astana has a full roster Lance Armstrong 7 time Tour Champion, Levi Leipheimer, Alberto Contador, Andreas Kloden, Yaroslav Popovych just to name a few of the great riders (well except for the exclusion of Chris Horner, bummer) and can you imagine 4 of the 9 team members are Tour contenders! The excitement is endless. I yell at the TV screen, jump up and down and just plain have a great time. Every July is like a little slice of heaven. The teams, the riders, the sprints, the time trials and the mountains. This year brings us back to Mount Ventoux, one of Lance's major regrets in his cycling career happened on that mountain. I believe he will create a new great memory this year. I can see it already a stage win (winner of that day) in the yellow jersey (leader of the race) on top of Mt. Ventoux. Yes!

Today was the first stage in the mountains. Many of the riders got dropped (left behind) as the climb up the mountain got longer and steeper. Lance however stayed in the pack with the other lead riders of the Tour. Amazing that he could be out of competition since his 7th victory in 2005 and come back and ride as one of the oldest riders in the tour and be at the top of the pack with all the other contenders! Simply amazing.

noreply@blogger.com (Cheryl Herrick) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 02:30:00 +0000

Synchronicity
Coincidence of events that seem to be meaningfully related.

In one of my favorite books The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron she talks about synchronicity. It was after taking the 12 week process outlined in the book that I understood exactly what synchronicity meant. It has been a dozen years since I did The Artist's Way for the first time and I have completed it probably a dozen times since then and I still experience synchronicity everyday. Possibly this is because I have a highly developed eye for such gifts.

I spent this past weekend in a state of perpetual synchronicity.I decided a few months ago that I wanted to facilitate another Artist's Way Group but that I wanted to do it in a different way. Within a few weeks of my decision an email popped into my inbox from a lovely woman with the Skagit Valley Camera Club. She heard I facilitated workshops and asked if I would do one for them. (Sychronicity).

The original idea for their workshop took some twists and turns and I ended up on a panel with 3 very talented artists and was able to sit in on all of the lectures throughout the weekend. (Synchronicity). I had such a good time I decided I would like to facilitate some more workshops. At lunch on the second day one of the artist's recommended me to a center that conducts all kinds of art workshops (synchronicity). I was thinking I would like to take a class on how to operate my camera. I decided to ask the camera club if they could recommend such a class. Before I had a chance to ask I received included in the thank you email from the camera club a one hour lesson on how to operate my camera (sychronicity).

I am ever so grateful I said yes when the original bit of synchronicity came my way. The whole design of the weekend and the outcomes were beyond my best imaginings. Synchronicity.