Tag Archives: nature

Our Stories

We make sense of life through our stories. Life is mysterious, scary, wonderful, big – replete with challenges, stumbling blocks, triumphs, sorrow and joy – and we feel a deep need to put it into words. As Maya Angelou said, “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you”.

When another person listening to our own story looks into our eyes and nods, we feel that we are coming home, the challenges are surmountable, and it will all be alright. We feel understood in our journey.

Look at the story that is currently being written for humanity. (Yes, with the amount of control being wielded on this planet right now, it is someone else’s idea of what our lives should be.) Is it a story that makes you feel happy? If not, what needs to change in order to make it a better story? How can we each contribute to that better story?

It’s time to start imagining the future WE want.

Inspirational Quotes:

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” ~ Maya Angelou

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” ~ Anne Frank

“Stories of imagination tend to upset those without one.” ~ Terry Pratchett

“After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world.” ~ Philip Pullman

“If you ever find yourself in the wrong story, leave.” ~ Mo Willems

“If you don’t like someone’s story, write your own.” ~ Chinua Achebe

“Stories can conquer fear, you know. They can make the heart bigger.” ~ Ben Okri

Wisdom of Gandhi

Not a Blue Monday

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No Monday blues here. I’m bringing you some of Nature’s signature green to start your week feeling uplifted and rejuvenated. Think of it as a building block, a foundation for your day (and I hope) for your week. Build on it.

Pen onto your calendar, right now, something that will uplift you each and every day. Commit to those goals. They can be small, and they don’t have to cost money. Perhaps just a little extra time daily to take a walk, ride your bike, pick up that book you’ve been meaning to get to, or more time spent talking with members of your family, face-to-face. Make your well-being and happiness the most important item on your calendar this week.

You know the things that bring you personal happiness, that lift your heart. It is the focus upon and gratitude for all the seemingly small things that give life much of its delight.

“The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.” ~ John Muir

“When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.” ~ John Muir

“In every walk with Nature one receives far more than he seeks.” ~ John Muir

“If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden.”
~ Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden

Photos courtesy Luis del Río Pexels, HoliHo Pexels, KANENORI Pixabay, Pixel2013 Pixabay, SplitShire Pexels, denizhosbas_, PIxabay

We are the Glue

For the Love of Creating

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This morning I stumbled upon a wonderfully creative, insightful, and funny narrative about creativity. What made this a great journey down “creativity lane” for me is that Matthew Inman (of The Oatmeal) is a VERY funny guy, and his cartooning skills are considerable. For me there were many smiles (and yes, even guffaws!) here. Not only was it inspiring, it was uplifting. What could be better than wisdom honed with wit?

Eight Marvelous & Melancholy Things I’ve Learned about Creativity

One my favorite toys as a kid was Spirograph, which led to free-hand doodling, which led to making and selling art professionally as an adult, which led to teaching art, and going forward I plan to write more books with illustrations. Some of my favorite books as a child featured beautiful ink etchings. I’d like to bring that back into style, because even as adults, we tend to enjoy some pictorial enrichment of words.

However you express your creativity, have fun with it! Play. Smile. It’s time to get our smiles back…