Flo

Frank Warren, the creator of the PostSecret series of books and the postsecret.com website, is speaking tonight in Fort Collins.

I read the first book when it came out in 2005. Entitled ”PostSecret“, Warren begins his introduction “In November 2004, I printed 3,000 postcards inviting people to share a secret with me: something that was true, something they had never told anyone.”  He left the postcards in art galleries and library books, and the preaddressed postcards started arriving in his mailbox.

The books are full of secrets.  The response has been and continues to be overwhelming.  Checkout the website and I’ll be back after the presentation to tell more.

Flo

I recently had the pleasure of meeting with local Art Therapist/Yoga Instructor Andrea Atherton-Nollet and four other creative souls for a few hours of treasure mapping.

Andrea presented insights from Lynn Siprelle  who discusses the art of treasure mapping and her treasure mapping process.  She writes of its role in her life in creating visual pictures of things she wanted and how after 15 years, it all has come true.

Although we were a small group, we intently focused on the task at Andrea’s art table.  Tearing magazines, drawing with pastels, and cutting with scissors, we searched for pictures of the Eiffel Tower, discussed the recent talk we heard by Caroline Myss and created our 2008 Treasure Maps.

I hung mine up immediately in my office when I got home.  Never one to declare myself an artist, the circular shape is unusual for me, with the outside representing my outer self and the inner part representing my quiet, secret inner self.  Parts of it continue to roll around my head.  Each day I see it inviting me to move, step, even jump in the direction where the pictures and words beckon. I’m sometimes slow to approach things. Maybe that will change this year.

Namaste’

[If you're interested in pursuing this creative method for manifesting, many suggestions are available online.]

I talked with an artist named Leo this week, who paints and sells her pictures at Pike Place Public Market, in Seattle.  Her art work is reminiscent of Van Gogh and she sells other art she has created as well.  I discovered two 8 x 10 prints which state “I love you” in red ink with red hearts decorating the pieces.  All each page, she has written personal statements to the person she created this gift for.  Here are examples of the statements:

“You are loving”

“I love you because you love a slow boat to china”

“You sing”

“I love you because you pretend you are a kitty-cat”

“Because you give and give”

“Because you say the moon is made of cheese.”

“I love you because you dig in the dirt”

“I love you because you secretly know how to fly”

“I love you because you fuss over your hair as if it were the crown for the Queen of England” (this is my favorite)

 These are amazing and personal gifts Leo made for others and is sharing.  I bought both prints.  They make me think about the things I love about others in my life, things that probably should be said, yet never are. 

Think of all the people you know who would appreciate being told they are loved by you and why.  Tell them!

Earlier this week, I had a “day off”.  The problem is, I worked all day long.  Phone calls, reports, consultation - it didn’t stop and I became pretty discouraged.

In her book “Inspiration Sandwich”, SARK makes suggestions about increasing creativity, getting unstuck.

“I think it is about little things. Altering your routine as much as possible:

Buy purple flowers and put them on a hat.

Rake leaves and quit in the middle.

Don’t check your mail for 3 days.

Read the newspaper in the opposite order.

Break a dish you never liked.

Wear hideously colored socks.

If you’re in a hurry, do things slowly.

These “little things” will lead you into a new mood.

A new mood will lead you into new creativity.

Then immediately take a nap and let it all soak in.”

SARK’s books are filled with inspiration and creativity.  It is entirely impossible to read them without smiling, without laughing aloud.  Apparently, I should have followed SARK’s advice and altered my routine, even slightly. What is your creative idea for altering your routine today?

I read that May 15th was “Freedom from Self-improvement Day”.  Jennifer Louden “the contemporary voice of women’s comfort — a best-selling author, life coach and social commentator who provides women with the information, inspiration, and tools to create lives they love” chose this date to create a day to just take a break from self-improvment for just a moment, an hour, a day.  That sounds like such an inviting thing to do, and although it’s no longer May 15, I find it something worth thinking about.

Of course, this leads me to SARK again and her concept of “radical self-acceptance”.  In  her book “Succulent Wild Woman” (men can read it too, by the way), she tells a story of a phone message she received that stated “SARK, I send you waking naps, where for brief periods of time you can stop working on yourself, and simply luxuriate in where you are right now, just as you are.”  It was as if someone gave her permission to take a break from the constant “work” she was doing on herself. 

This is a good goal for the day (sounds like I’m trying to improve on taking a break from improving!?)

In her book “Eat Mangoes Naked”, SARK tells many stories about pleasure.  The one I am enjoying this morning is about a place in Portland, Oregon called Rimsky-Korsa Koffee.  (I’m paraphrasing here) - SARK recalls many humourous oddities about the cafe including:

No signage except one by the door: “Usually open til midnight although our hours are flexible…are you?”

She noticed they weren’t getting service and was told by her friend “that’s what the ping-pong balls are for!”  A little bucket on the table was filled with ping-pong balls, which you fling at the walls or door of the kitchen for service!

She noticed the design on the table top was morphing and that her teapot had moved…because the table was microscopically revolving.  Some tables move higher, some lower and some start disappearing into the wall!

As SARK tells us “Live your life in full color”, and I hope you encounter one fun and unusual thing in your day.

In her book “Prosperity Pie”, SARK quotes her friend Zoe age 5 “Oh Susan, why don’t you just BE how you ACTUALLY are?” SARK continues with ”I thought about how often I’m NOT how I actually am, or more important WHO I actually am…I’m often pretending, hiding, in disguise or wearing a mask of some kind.”

Isn’t this true of all of us at one time or another and maybe at more times than we’d like? Saturday night I watched a little boy who gleefully yelled out “I want a present!” during an awards ceremony (with gift wrapped awards).  I laughed at his unabashed enthusiasm and his ability to state what he was honestly feeling - in the moment.  He did not care what anyone felt or thought and he wanted us to know what he wanted.

We go along in life, trying to building strong, self-fulfilling relationships - ones that are empowering, increase our self confidence and make us feel great about ourselves.  I’m not sure we can do that without revealing our honest selves.  It seems like we have to figure out who we our, to ourselves, before we can share it with any one else.

So, I’m challenging me to reveal a little more about who I am to someone I trust in my life.   I encourage you do to the same.

Namaste’

Flo

impossible
means
I’m possible
- SARK

It was in the 1990’s that I discovered SARK.  I madly started collecting her zany, creative  and inspirational books with titles like “Prosperity Pie”, “Succulent Wild Woman” and “Living Juicy”.  A visit to her website will give you a brief glimpse of her style and brightness.

I can remember receiving a newletter subscription and anticipated my monthly installment of inspiration and wisdom.  Reading treasures included stories about her travels, her cat, speaking engagements and friends. Her website now offers an e letter that seems to serve the same purpose, in a more technologically savvy way, while remaining highly creative and appealing (who else writes in crayon?!)

This month I’ll be sharing snippets of her wisdom.  I hope you get a chance to check out this wild woman’s approach to life.  It’s amazing.

Last summer, while reading the Fort Collins Weekly, I was introduced to a poet, Gloria g. Murray.  I googled her name, emailed her and purchased four of her self-published books of poetry.  She has a wonderful ability to transform daily life into poetry.  This poem is what I’m sharing today:

FIVE AM ANXIETY

at five am
to ease my anxiety
I make tea
sit in the velour recliner
turn on cable TV
catch the weather
the ads for flat abs
and wrinkle free skin
at seventy
and the evangelists
who offer us Jesus
before we’ve even had
breakfast

then scribble out
a poem
on the back
of a grocery list
try to remember
my dream
for my next therapy
appointment

and by now
the sun and the world
are up
the world
I grab on to
like a train I almost miss
until a caring commuter
sees me waving
frantically
and holds open
the door because
dammit
I still need
to get
on

–Gloria g. Murray

Happy weekend, Flo