ordinary creative

Profound Wordsmith Series : Viktor E. Frankl

To wrap up this series, I am sharing a few thoughts on the crown jewel: Viktor E. Frankl’s thought-provoking book, “Man’s Search for Meaning.”  Perhaps you are one of the 10 million* people who own it.  The book leaves a powerful imprint upon its readers – like a symphony with aching ballads and hopeful cadences.  The narrative on suffering is akin to a cello solo so raw that you have no choice…

Profound Wordsmith Series: John O’Donohue

The written word has coursed through history on a wave of influence.  Though today feels dominated by technology and visual stories, I still feel a strong connection to traditional print media.  Pages seems less ephemeral than gadgets.  In honor of a few beloved wordsmiths, I am launching a short series.  Perhaps you will fall in love with these authors and hold one of their books in your hands…

“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” –Socrates Hello and welcome to 2018!  I hope this new rotation around the sun feels full of possibility.  I selected my one little word that will serve as my beacon of inspiration this year.  You may have heard about my belief in the power of one tiny little word* and the practice of inviting…

66 Degrees North: 5 Reasons to Visit Iceland

Have you visited 66 degrees north of the Earth’s equatorial plane?  I believe Iceland is the epitome of enchantment. If you haven’t stepped foot on its lava rocks, black sand beaches or immersed yourself in the Blue Lagoon, now is the time to make your travel plans. Here are five reasons why I fell in love with Iceland in 2017.  This is the first in a series of posts on the topic because the…

Tuning into wonder is a lifelong journey that transforms our ordinary days into an extraordinary life. The soul’s lens is composed of genetics, history and perspective. With conscious intent, we can open our eyes to all the little miracles in our midst. As Wayne Dyer once said, “Give yourself a gift of five minutes of contemplation in awe of everything you see around you. Go outside and turn your…

Brave in the Frame and an Introduction to FotoJet

Let’s chat about facing the lens…I live behind the shutter and am unquestionably timid near the lens.  I wrote about my fear of facing the lens a couple of years ago.  Ask me to take a selfie?  My inner child emerges and eye contact becomes a struggle. Awkward is (and was) my modus operandi. Do you strike a pose on a whim?  Or, do you decline when asked to smile for the camera? I have collected…

Project Gratitude The purpose: To host a celebration of gratitude in my community officially thanking the biggest blessings in my life.  The goal was to create a magical atmosphere with an abundance of twinkle lights, candles and interactive activities to ignite connection. The backdrop was live music supplied by my friend and creative genius:  Keith Pulvermacher. The event was the culmination of…

Gratitude Warrior: 2016 Review

  “In the end, though, maybe we must all give up trying to pay back the people in this world who sustain our lives. In the end, maybe it’s wiser to surrender before the miraculous scope of human generosity and to just keep saying thank you, forever and sincerely, for as long as we have voices.” – Elizabeth Gilbert Oh hello, 2017. A blank calendar beckoning with new perspectives and wide open…

Comfort & Joy: DIY Lip Balm and Stress Away Play Dough

The countdown is on… you are likely in a flurry making everything merry and bright (and meaningful).  My Christmas wish for you?  Comfort and joy, of course. I also wish I could deliver to your doorstep my latest batch of peppermint lip balm.  I have been experimenting with a recipe and I just might have discovered a life-changing formula.  Literally.  If you switch from a lip balm that lists…

Tuning into wonder is a lifelong journey that transforms our ordinary days into an extraordinary life.   Perhaps it is a 3-step process: Observe. Wonder. Praise. Repeat.  Repeat. Repeat. What if we embraced an intentional practice where we train our eyes to see instead of glance? What if we observed daily blessings, amid our daily life? What if we accepted Wayne Dyer’s challenge and we…

Gratitude in an Etch a Sketch Life

My companion for 2016 is one little word: gratitude.  I don’t know how a simple word can manifest its way into one’s life; but I wholeheartedly believe in the power of this practice.  How is your year unfolding? In 77 days we will celebrate and usher in a new year (and a new word).  My 2016 labor of love is Project 77 – a gratitude practice that I will reveal soon.  Today I am simply sharing a…

5 Ways to Create with Tissue Paper

What do you collect and savor?  I officially collect heart rocks and I secretly collect something else.  This hobby feels vulnerable and silly.  Three deep breaths and let it be known that I have a strong fascination and affinity for…  Tissue Paper!  I adore it.  And, I save every scrap of it I can find. The Creative Virtues of Tissue Paper The creative lessons of tissue paper just might apply to…