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Making Sense of Shapes & Abstractions

Posted on July 30, 2018

I’d forgotten how much I enjoy TED Talks. In my never-ending quest for inspiration (and yes, as a way to not work on projects that have stalled), I look at a lot of pictures, always searching for that illusive ‘something’ that will help me when I blog. I’m a compulsive downloader of images from Pexels, Pixabay and Unsplash. Some pictures inspire me, some as simply beautiful and some are quite surprising for many reasons. Here is the description of a funny, thought-provoking talk about how we, as readers, develop unique skills – we can see a combination of lines and letters and ‘fill in the blanks’ to shape images and stories in our minds. Without realizing it, we’re fluent in the language of pictures,…

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Categories: Creativity

Labyrinths & Singing Bowls

Posted on July 23, 2018

Monday. The beginning of another week. Good grief. We’ve passed the Summer Solstice (did you dance naked under the moon?) and the days are growing shorter. It will be August soon. Meditation apps are all the rage. I’ve sampled a few but haven’t found ‘the one’ that works for me yet. We breathe without thinking, but we can think more when we breathe. Inhale for the count of three. Hold for a count of four. Exhale for a count of five. This is my August objective. Breathe more mindfully. Also, for inspiration – “I am solid as a mountain” – oh, yes. No joke. Last week, I joined my friend Diana Cranstoun for a walking meditation at a lovely indoor labyrinth in Calgary. Knox…

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Categories: Audio, What I'm Doing

Me-Makes and Out With the Old

Posted on July 18, 2018

I’ve been sewing like a machine this summer, partly because trying on garments in front of those three-way fun-house mirrors in store dressing rooms makes me want to weep or scream, but mainly because I wanted new stuff. I used to be able to always find something I liked at Winners, but for the last few years, the quality has cratered and the selections are boring – grey, black, dull blue and in patterns that no one I know would ever wear. It struck me as I was doing the seasonal clothing switch in the spare room closet that I’ve always had a huge stash of fabrics bought (and folded into plastic bins) over the years. Eureka – why not make those up? In…

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Categories: Modern life

The Enemy

Posted on July 3, 2018

I find it interesting that people get a sense of comfort from enumerating things – having them clustered for easy reference. We have the 10 Commandments, the 7 wonders of the world, the 7 deadly sins, the 3 little pigs, 50 ways to leave your lover. When I think of a concept like “the enemy”, I can’t confine it to one thing or a single person, but must join the wise ones and make a list. The Six Enemies (my version) 1. Apprehension 2. Cowardice 3. Regret and guilt 4. Wishing 5. Anger 6. Lack of passion Apprehension clouds the brain, paralyzes the limbs and prevents me from ‘doing’. No flight or flight for me, but rather a gut-dissolving acid-bath of indecision. This is…

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Categories: Argument, Emotions

Tagged: hope, hurt, karma, living, living large, passion, passionate, paying attention, risks