Seeing

A few weeks back I met a really interesting lady who suggested I investigate the magazine Seeing the Everyday. I talk a lot about living life in "full attention," the words Seeing the Everyday just rephrases that idea. Some of the concepts suggested on the site are "finding the poetry in the prosaic." Meaning that there is beauty and wisdom found in the "ordinary."
While looking over the site I found the following words. The text is rather small so I can't credit the author, but lately, I have talked a lot about effort, spiritual wholeness, and about living life as a work in progress that will never be fully completed. The author in concise language summed it all up,
"Whatever wholeness we achieve requires enormous work, which is the effort of life; and that work is never complete."

William Isaacs in his book Dialogue and the Art of Thinking Together says "the act of respect invites us to see others as legitimate." Seeing = Respect Isaacs's also says the Zulu word Sawa translates as "I see you" which at it's essence means "I sustain you in the world." I was struk when I read the passage because I made the connection "I see you" to ICU.
When I respect and give full attention, to you or anything in life, I am making an intensive care unit in my heart.

Movie Reviews

I LOVE the Kung Fu Chefs. The acting and stunts are reminiscent of older kung fu films. The translations used for subtitles are awkward at times, but this adds to the humor and charm of the film. Themes are: loyalty, perfecting one's art (food prep is serious business in Asia), justice, and the sensuality of food. Four****

Red Cliff parts I & II are marvelous! Themes include: ambition, loyalty, honor, envy, wisdom, and justice. The interesting story references Sun Tzu's historic text The Art of War. ****

Military leaders and businessmen have read The Art of War to better understand and implement strategy. While physical logistics is a key element of the guide, concepts like wisdom, intuition, and morality are also essential elements for ensuring success in combat.

The Station Agent is a surprising movie. It was a little slow in parts, but its underlying message about acceptance, and social support will warm the heart of anyone who feels like an outsider.

The main female character in The Station Agent is clumsy and out of balance, like Rosalba in Bread and Tulips. I have had moments when I am "out of balance" and seem to drop everything. These movies remind me that it's not exactly me who is out of balance, but the world can be shaky or my perception skewed like I'm walking through a (not so) fun house.

Paris, Je T'aime is a wonderful collection of five minute short films about love in Paris. I marvel at any artist's ability to convey a poignant message in a short about of time, words, and imagery. I think a lot about "economy of language" and "less words, more meaning," so this DVD was very satisfying to me.

The Visitor is yet another good movie. It reminds us how music can make us whole, and bring us together.

And finally any of you who like "quirky" must see Paper Heart. LOVE IT! Is it a real documentary or a mockumentary? I'm not sure and it doesn't matter. A good dose of creative cuteness will be discovered.

Don't forget the popcorn (made in the pan with extra butter)!

Time for an Un-controlled Joy

My thoughts are often about control, self-mastery, and results. Over the course of my life I have thought if I followed a certain "code" I could guarantee my ambitions and secure my joy. Of course that line of thinking is silly. We really can't control outcomes, so phrases like "it's the journey that matters" takes on more meaning. While I operate with a goal in mind, I really do try to take time to absorb and appreciate the experiences and lessons learned along the way.

Here's the thing . . . I have noticed that the things that give me the most joy I couldn't anticipate, I couldn't predict, I couldn't foresee.

I am enchanted by this hydrangea bush in my yard. Just a year ago I was so disgusted with the bush that I was ready to dig it up and give it to Jacob, but then the most surprising and unexpected thing happened . . . it blossomed ABUNDANTLY.

I did very little. I'd given up hope that it would produce for me so I had a plan to give it a better opportunity for achieving it's beautiful potential.

Timing is delicate. Time should be respected and handled gingerly. Time is mysterious. How do we KNOW when the TIME is "right?" We can't control time, but we if we try to live in full attention we might discover the significance of the present moment.

I can't control anything, not even myself, but I will do my best, leave the results to God, and hold a little hope that I might bloom, abundantly, at some unexpected time.

How Love Blooms

This a button tree. Strands of buttons hang off the branches.



Click on the image to enlarge and read the name of the garden.

There once was a man and woman who wanted a daughter. The couple had many bright and beautiful sons whom they loved greatly, but their hearts felt that there was a special love inside them to give to a daughter. You see, the couple didn't merely hope for a daughter, they were certain they were supposed to have one. The couple was confused, until one day they realized that the girl was not to be born out of their flesh, but out of their souls. The husband and wife decided that they would adopt their daughter, rescue her from the probability of an unhappy life in China.
But there was another obstacles for the man and woman, they didn't have much money. However, the couple had a small parcel of land which they could sell.

Now there were many people who thought the couple should be happy with the children they have, and they thought it was God's will that they should have boys only, and that they shouldn't be greedy for more children. These thoughts made the couple sad. They weren't being greedy, they were very grateful and overflowing with blessings and love they knew God wanted them to share with a girl.

Selling off the small parcel of land was their only option. They asked the neighbor if she was interested, but she had all that she needed. But as time went on and no buyer came forward the neighbor began to think about the proposition.

The neighbor did more than purchase the garden; she named it after the little girl and gave her a secret gate into the garden so she could play there when ever she wanted.

PRAY!

Pray for God to give the gift of wisdom and knowledge to stop the flow of oil in the Gulf of Mexico.

Here, Hear

I haven't fallin off the face of the earth. I just fell. I am busy conceptualizing a new look for my life. Not exactly sure what that is . . . but change has come my way, and it is not exactly what I envisioned for my self . . . but I like the idea of change and I am busy cleaning-up and clearing-out parts of my life. I am eager to start some new art, but I have to take care of the physical distractions and current health concerns.
I have lost hearing in my right ear. Not sure exactly why. I have suffered nerve damage. I may have caught a virus. I grind my teeth out of stress, or I nash my teeth all day long out of stress.

Exciting things still present themselves, by I am also passing through fogs of confusion. Some days the train seems slow moving, but I think I am in a good place. Just need to be done with the yard sale. Once this is over I will inform you about the interesting things I have been doing -besides clearing out my house.

May Day

Valorie and I have been giving each other May baskets for ten or more years. This year she gave me the cutest little honey pot.
I like to make something (if time allows) so this year I made her a little diorama of a Chinese child, a blossoming peach tree (petals falling on the ground, and a crane flying over head. I bought her some Sun, Moon and Stars tea from the British Pantry. The clerk said it was one of their best selling teas (no surprise it is a soothing and tasty tea) that is a combination of Oolong, Jasmine, and Green teas.

Born an Artist

So I saw one of my students at Walmart. I consider her creatively gifted. I met her mom for the first time and expressed how much I enjoy having her in my class. I asked my student if she was making art over the break. She was! The conversation went to technology and I said, "You know Movie Maker is a free program on every computer." The girl's mom said that's what she is using! She is making little movies and came to Walmart to find PEEPS!!! I told my student that I was in the process of assembling props to make my own movies.
I am so impressed by this little artist. Mom says she doesn't know anything about moviemaker.
My student said she is inspired by Youtube.