tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43264150063897588282024-03-13T08:02:06.549-04:00BE CurrieCurrie Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16502798362838891569noreply@blogger.comBlogger266125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326415006389758828.post-41292407896418379732014-08-08T18:45:00.000-04:002014-08-08T18:45:23.753-04:002014 Summer Art Camp ~ things unfinished and left undone<br />
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<a href="http://www.carlasonheim.com/2014-summer-art-camp/"><img alt="Summercampblogbutton" src="http://www.carlasonheim.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Summercampblogbutton.jpg" height="400" width="227" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think it is important for me to leave things unfinished and undone. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This stretches my comfort zone. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It reminds me to breathe and live Life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It encourages me to embrace my way of learning and living and BEing in the World.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And then again...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sometimes I love to dive in and experience Life and chaos and see if I can't just find the pony in the poop.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Summer Art Camp is sparking up my Trust the Process bits.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is letting me <i>try</i>, <i>play</i>, <i>DO </i>whatever. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">NOT <i>complete</i>. NOT <i>get right</i>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just DO what I CAN Right Now. That's all...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When looked at like the gorgeous, decadent, and deLIGHTfully superlicious thing it is, each Summer Art Camp day feels like diving happily into the chill waters of <a href="http://www.campnorthway.com/" target="_blank">Cache Lake</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was a camper and counsellor there for a hefty slice of my teenager+ Time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I could roll with the chaos back Then. It's nice to remember that Me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was also quite without a rudder. Mostly I remember spinning with no feeling of traction, no sense of rootedness. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Camp was somewhere I learned what I could DO. If I wanted to try. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It gave me glimpses of what I might BE capable of in This World.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Glimpses. Encouragement. People taking their precious Time to help me grasp or experience something difficult, new, even a little scary.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I still find chaos on the menu, but I have discovered how JOYous a thing chaos can BE.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At 61.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.carlasonheim.com/" target="_blank">Carla Sonheim</a> has gathered artists who love to teach and encourage and who can cause water to BE laughed out my nose sometimes. I mean, they are so fun to watch in their videos. And they laugh. A LOT!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love that they come Right Here to ME.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I want them to.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And they don't care if I don't feel like playing Right Now either.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Or if I DO everything or share what I am DOing or finish or even understand what just happened, none of it matters one smidge.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Still... you might like to see some of my less finished and undone stuff. </span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gkMvP_f_KlU/U-VP3lsBtuI/AAAAAAAALM8/iENQyWRdJYU/s1600/cherry+creature+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gkMvP_f_KlU/U-VP3lsBtuI/AAAAAAAALM8/iENQyWRdJYU/s1600/cherry+creature+2.jpg" height="400" width="253" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cherry Creature I started then abandoned.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-45sbHRyDVKk/U-VRLTtF7JI/AAAAAAAALNI/BP8UXv7b3c8/s1600/cherries+day+2+week+one+edit+in+Picasa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-45sbHRyDVKk/U-VRLTtF7JI/AAAAAAAALNI/BP8UXv7b3c8/s1600/cherries+day+2+week+one+edit+in+Picasa.jpg" height="388" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Painting I did DO of cherries a la <a href="http://www.carlasonheim.com/spring-watercolors-with-fred-lisaius/" target="_blank">Fred Lisaius</a> with a bit of digital fiddling ;~D.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e8_HUK7o-Yk/U-VR0eo7MQI/AAAAAAAALNQ/9J_9CViEQHY/s1600/summer+postcard+day+3+week+one+edit+in+Picasa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e8_HUK7o-Yk/U-VR0eo7MQI/AAAAAAAALNQ/9J_9CViEQHY/s1600/summer+postcard+day+3+week+one+edit+in+Picasa.jpg" height="341" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Watercolour from Fred's last day... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Intended to BE a summer postie card.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A "memory" of Cache Lake.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All of this happily unfinished.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And happily, well, happily shared, too...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Currie Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16502798362838891569noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326415006389758828.post-66763023305993886202014-08-08T15:04:00.002-04:002014-08-08T15:05:28.696-04:002014 Summer Art Camp ~ continuing slowfully<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.carlasonheim.com/2014-summer-art-camp/"><img alt="Summercampblogbutton" src="http://www.carlasonheim.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Summercampblogbutton.jpg" height="320" width="181" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm still enJOYing and playing at <a href="http://www.carlasonheim.com/2014-summer-art-camp/" target="_blank">Summer Art Camp</a> each and every day. It has been a splendiferous gift as I go through chemo. Big Gratitude & Love for it!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had a rough go last end of week and weekend, so I saved Lynn Whipple's 3 days for sometime other than Now. It's the most fun, I BElieve, to play along in the "real time" days.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyhoozle...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.karineswenson.com/" target="_blank">Karine Swenson's</a> monster painting was great fun and a good challenge for me. I am NOT a "painter" the way I think a painter is a "painter" if that makes any sense [or nonsense].</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first go was to just use black and white and gray and focus on value.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IHHyDoTIyvY/U-USCTcHqSI/AAAAAAAALMU/cIH_PgUyFzA/s1600/Monster+Take+1+Value.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IHHyDoTIyvY/U-USCTcHqSI/AAAAAAAALMU/cIH_PgUyFzA/s1600/Monster+Take+1+Value.jpg" height="387" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A big part of this exercise/adventure is the shadow of the monster, but I gave up on that part pretty much from the start.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have been having head/brain aches and it's just too hard to BE in Light bright enough to create the shadow... so I improvised and worked around what was NOT okay for me Right Now. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I found a little monster image on Google and worked from that. I was working pretty small, too, on 4-inch square canvas boards, a gift from my dear friend, Jen, in FL.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This soothed me. I find such soothing important, even essential Right Now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the other things I loved about this particular camp experience was painting my monster 3 times, which gave me 3 opportunities to "see" and "show" my whatever it is critter!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That in itself was BEyond whipped cream and a cherry!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also loved how <a href="http://ponosmom.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Karine </a>called this an exercise and NOT a painting. I think this is why making art is so helpful to me as I travel through Life with cancer. I get to BEgin fresh all the time and just see what happens.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One quite HUGE-to-me piece is the digital fiddling I DO with paintings to share, here or on <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/weecottagewonders/" target="_blank">Flickr</a>. It's nice to own that and to realise it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love what happens digitally fiddling my art in Picasa and Pixlr. MayBE that is another plus for cancer. I can bring my art along, wherever I go, and fiddle happily with no "supplies" to carry!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I tried to learn Photoshop Essentials, but kept coming back to these 2 freebies. I play in them more intuitively, so I don't think of it as trying to learn to use software. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyway, here's my second take, adding one colour to the black-white-gray value only.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EPPGqPyAY-M/U-UW0_QTVxI/AAAAAAAALMg/6t0FnqE1hvI/s1600/Monster+Take+2+add+1+colour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EPPGqPyAY-M/U-UW0_QTVxI/AAAAAAAALMg/6t0FnqE1hvI/s1600/Monster+Take+2+add+1+colour.jpg" height="363" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I used raw umber which is reddish and goldish and warm gingery brownish. It was so helpful to see the value AND the colour dance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I noticed the eye on my first monster wasn't "BEhaving" itself. Coming back to the second go round I "saw" how to change this. Might seem like a small thing but it is a treasure in my book!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When it came time to paint Monster #3 I was to add "colour" to the painting. Well, this was a wee thing my brain overlooked in choosing my monster from Google's pickings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You see, my monster was GREEN. Like Elphaba in Wicked. All and only green. Of course, this was a good thing for the first go, focusing on value, but it got a little cornfuzzling at this point.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Which is largely why I decided to go with blue. I felt blue-ing was a good exercise for me with colour.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I appreciated Karine's suggesting that I NOT focus on details but get the paint on. I had done drawings first on all 3, and I noticed my perspective on the whole really shifted from the BEginning.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I learned so much from Karine. And from Carla's warm-up drawing. Such grand teachers and infinitely deLIGHTfull companions for this particular passage in my little Life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank YOU!!!</span></div>
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Currie Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16502798362838891569noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326415006389758828.post-61103547142316131692014-08-02T18:39:00.000-04:002014-08-02T18:39:46.604-04:002014 Summer Art Camp ~ continued<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.carlasonheim.com/2014-summer-art-camp/"><img alt="Summercampblogbutton" src="http://www.carlasonheim.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Summercampblogbutton.jpg" height="400" width="226" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These are my 5 scribble drawings from Day 2 of Summer Art Camp. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I did these in the waiting room and then while in the other room waiting for my radiation oncologist.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The radiation folks are always curious to see what I am drawing, so this little exercise let them "weigh in" on what they saw!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was fun just scribbling, looking and seeing something, even if it <b><i>really </i></b>isn't there!!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">BElow each of my scribbled "boids" [they all seemed bird-like to me] is a digitally fiddled version.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Although I wanted to partake of more watercolouring, I've had a difficult time sitting and painting the past few days. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Digital fiddling feels so much more "just right for Right Now" and it's really just another kind of "painting."</span></div>
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<br />Currie Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16502798362838891569noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326415006389758828.post-68243961874576236192014-07-28T22:21:00.000-04:002014-07-28T22:21:24.659-04:002014 Summer Art Camp ~ Day 1<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.carlasonheim.com/2014-summer-art-camp/"><img alt="Summercampblogbutton" src="http://www.carlasonheim.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Summercampblogbutton.jpg" height="400" width="227" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don't think chemo is supposed to BE this fun... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I couldn't have imagined what great distraction & inspiration were possible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today was Day 1 of 2014 Summer Art Camp with Carla Sonheim et al.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here are some wrong-handed crabs I drew to "warm up" or get loose.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And here is my final finished Beach Painting with Fred Lisaius.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kind of got carried away and made my "shells" into wee critters...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think I will call this one "Beach Blanket Brouhaha." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just the thought is enough for a good long laugh.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'll share more in the days to come.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Gives me a good reason to post back here...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Haven't done so in nearly 3 months!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">enJOY!!!</span></div>
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Currie Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16502798362838891569noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326415006389758828.post-88195929290100006372014-05-01T13:19:00.000-04:002014-05-01T13:19:40.388-04:00Using My Words ~ Photo Art Friday May 2014<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I write a LOT. Perhaps I even write too much. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wonder if there is a program for this?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I canNOT imagine how I did NOT always write like this, but realising that lets me understand some other stuff.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Writing is very healing. And clarifying.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And as much as I love it when my writing touches someone or resonates with others, I have to say that I don't DO it for that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">NOT at all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Although, I DO sometimes have one of my "regular" readers in my heart or mind when I write.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I suppose it is the connection piece [peace?!] of writing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Or something.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And so it is with that springboard that I approached this month's <a href="http://www.pixeldustphotoart.com/2014/05/photo-art-friday-may-2nd-3rd.html" target="_blank">Photo Art Friday</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am a collage artist, or at least that is what I used to think, and when I first tried my hand at Digital Fiddling, pretty much the coolest [and only] thing I understood was Picasa's collage feature.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I left this month's theme for "last minute," even though <a href="http://www.pixeldustphotoart.com/" target="_blank">Bonnie</a> was so encouraging about working on it <i>throughout </i>April.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">April kind of got swallowed whole for me. I was diagnosed with lung cancer and all I seemed to have got done was to keep "following the bouncing ball" of tests and procedures and doctor visits. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As May dawns I realise that the more Life changes the MORE Life changes. All I am EVER DOing is following the "bouncing ball."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Things look good Now. I had a long afternoon yesterday with a radiation oncologist. It is pretty awesome what he is able to DO with "digital fiddling" of another sort.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyway... the photo art. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Every morning I get up BEfore the sun and write for a few hours. I make a piece of digitally fiddled art. I share a small bit of my writing and my digital fiddling on my Gratitude blog, <a href="http://iloveyoucurrie.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">I Love You, Currie</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These little bits of art are made from photos, drawings, collages, mail art, paintings, and sometimes nothing more than words on a background or texture. Whatever they are in the World, they are my intention to give back what I have been so freely and generously given.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For a long long while Now I have been DOing one word and building my posts around that. It is fun. It is like a game. It is like eating M&M's. Even at that morning of the hour!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have always loved the encouragement, Use Your Words. It's probably something that I was NOT encouraged to DO so much, but... ;~D</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I was fiddling about earlier, wondering what to DO for Photo Art Friday, I considered digging up some of my old photo collages and tweaking them with the things I know to DO Now that I didn't know to DO BEfore.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But I got sidetracked DOing my April backup and started to get another idea from my April posts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I should USE MY WORDS!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And so, here, without fanfare, a selection of my words from April's Gratitude in a collage. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I tried it a few different ways. It was really fun. I could have gone on. [and I probably will, once the merry-go-round stops]</span><br />
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<br />Currie Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16502798362838891569noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326415006389758828.post-46360177713611120482014-04-03T15:05:00.000-04:002014-04-03T15:05:09.064-04:00Quirky Selfie for Photo Art Friday April 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Life's often a puzzler...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is a photo I took in San Jose in April of 2009.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was fun how it had my name + my last initial, so I played.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now, 5 years hence, I found it makes for an excellent "<a href="http://www.pixeldustphotoart.com/2014/04/photo-art-friday-april-4th-5th.html" target="_blank">selfie</a>" launch pad.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">[And it's "quirky" too.]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, after a week in hospital and Now one recuperating, this was right up my digital fiddling capabilities alley for this month's <a href="http://www.pixeldustphotoart.com/2014/04/photo-art-friday-april-4th-5th.html" target="_blank">Photo Art Friday</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I played with the photo one time:</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OeQy1BDUs8M/Uz2oBZoH-3I/AAAAAAAAKrc/ww13wjZ1ATg/s1600/Quirky+Selfie+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OeQy1BDUs8M/Uz2oBZoH-3I/AAAAAAAAKrc/ww13wjZ1ATg/s1600/Quirky+Selfie+1.jpg" height="292" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Having explored overlaying some of the quotes I found in a nearby folder in my photo stash:</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dDUERkDhYn4/Uz2og4-e0eI/AAAAAAAAKrk/jJtTLfEJar4/s1600/bestthingscrop1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dDUERkDhYn4/Uz2og4-e0eI/AAAAAAAAKrk/jJtTLfEJar4/s1600/bestthingscrop1.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vdgbexCnEAA/Uz2owzvzWlI/AAAAAAAAKrs/CwUIFFO5Vls/s1600/lifequotes1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vdgbexCnEAA/Uz2owzvzWlI/AAAAAAAAKrs/CwUIFFO5Vls/s1600/lifequotes1.jpg" height="368" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since both seemed to signify new ways I am <b><i><u>BE</u></i></b>ing Currie since 2009...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then I tried some digital fiddling with some different layering over:</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0hzieP98mD4/Uz2pNSnWTDI/AAAAAAAAKr0/6Q_uWburXlE/s1600/Quirky+Selfie+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0hzieP98mD4/Uz2pNSnWTDI/AAAAAAAAKr0/6Q_uWburXlE/s1600/Quirky+Selfie+2.jpg" height="491" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">BUT... it was NOT so "different" so I decided to crop the CURRIES bit to make it stand out just a bit more. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All the values seemed to BE running into each other and same with my brain making creative connections!!!</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CxvB0gvGdLI/Uz2muzropQI/AAAAAAAAKrU/RhoewbDNfN4/s1600/quirky+selfie+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CxvB0gvGdLI/Uz2muzropQI/AAAAAAAAKrU/RhoewbDNfN4/s1600/quirky+selfie+3.jpg" height="177" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uN29HVhY2Gs/Uz2q1TAHAiI/AAAAAAAAKsA/Hv0Z39ndCbY/s1600/Quirky+Selfie+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uN29HVhY2Gs/Uz2q1TAHAiI/AAAAAAAAKsA/Hv0Z39ndCbY/s1600/Quirky+Selfie+4.jpg" height="488" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">About this point I was wondering if this even makes any sense, so...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I stopped.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Looking forward to "meeting" others "quirky face-to-quirky face" tomorrow!!</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.pixeldustphotoart.com/" target="_blank" title="Pixel Dust Photo Art"><img alt="Pixel Dust Photo Art" src="http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y470/pixeldustphotoart/Blog%20Images/PAF150leaningredflowersbutton_zpse0def790.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
Currie Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16502798362838891569noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326415006389758828.post-55314161918088422722014-03-06T19:08:00.000-05:002014-03-06T19:08:13.644-05:00Photo Art Friday ~ Abstract Flower<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S5GqkHxpEdg/UxkIZocq84I/AAAAAAAAKmU/7g3eYZSTDpQ/s1600/PAF+3.7.14+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S5GqkHxpEdg/UxkIZocq84I/AAAAAAAAKmU/7g3eYZSTDpQ/s1600/PAF+3.7.14+.jpg" height="400" width="395" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It has been way too long a long time since I digitally fiddled with a photo straight out of my camera. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, this month's <span id="goog_2142094542"></span><a href="http://www.pixeldustphotoart.com/2014/03/photo-art-friday-march-7th-to-9th.html" target="_blank">Photo Art Friday</a><span id="goog_2142094543"></span> gave me a chance to See What Happened When I broke that way too long a long time record.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I got to visit the current <a href="http://dbg.org/events-exhibitions/chihuly" target="_blank">Chihuly</a> Exhibit at the <a href="http://dbg.org/" target="_blank">Desert Botanical Garden</a> last week with my mum. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had visited another exhibit when I lived here in 2009, and so I knew that I was in for a treat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are desert flowers and cactus of all sorts, but I was most enthralled with Chihuly's installations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I did NOT realise until I was there that this was all new and different, so it made the discovery all the more exciting.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This one was a particular favourite BEcause once again the garden itself was transformed by Chihuly's remarkable glass.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is pure JOY to let his colourful play take my imagination for a ride.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've added <a href="http://www.pixeldustphotoart.com/p/texture-sets-shoppe.html" target="_blank">Bonnie's Leafy Landscape texture</a> to this and then just carried on in Pixlr Express.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am REALLY </span><b><i><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">REALLY</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></u></i></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">looking forward to seeing what the other participants have shared in this month's digital showcase.</span><br />
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<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.pixeldustphotoart.com/" target="_blank" title="Pixel Dust Photo Art"><img alt="Pixel Dust Photo Art" src="http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y470/pixeldustphotoart/Blog%20Images/PAF150leaningredflowersbutton_zpse0def790.jpg" height="200" style="border: none;" width="200" /></a></div>
Currie Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16502798362838891569noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326415006389758828.post-33425651455800107552014-02-23T10:56:00.001-05:002014-02-23T10:56:08.211-05:00Putting One Foot In Front Of The Other<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lyrRfDIuU5U/UwoZQp4DoyI/AAAAAAAAKjE/UeLtEuFqehQ/s1600/2.23.14+one+foot+in+front+of+the+other.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lyrRfDIuU5U/UwoZQp4DoyI/AAAAAAAAKjE/UeLtEuFqehQ/s1600/2.23.14+one+foot+in+front+of+the+other.jpg" height="640" width="456" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lately Life has been teaching me about the things called "chopping wood, carrying water."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have had the extraordinary privilege of BEing able to live a quiet, ordinary, and really quite simple Life, one breath, one beat, one second at a time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No rushing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No hurrying.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No have-to's.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even, mostly, no want-to's!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is all good.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What I have had ingrained over my lifetime is rather stubborn.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like a stain from tea that just won't come out, no matter what trick I try.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And as a result, I have started to wonder if I am BEing lazy or even complacent.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">BEcause, I've always thought Life is supposed to BE hard.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One problem solved and then another to take its place.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Reaching for a carrot that always moves just BEyond my grasp.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, for me, this simple, quiet, and ordinary way of living Life seems suspect.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I wrote that, I realised that <i>I have changed</i>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fundamentally.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At my core.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">NO, all the things that have plagued me, all my regrets, and all of my sorrows have NOT magically been removed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am just okay with it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After all, it's MY Life. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No one can live it any better [or worse] or even any different.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">BEcause it is just made for ME.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hear people [or mayBE I should say I read people] who speak eloquently about the problems in living Life in 2014, about those who are "hardest hit" by the circumstances of Life in 2014, and I know I should probably BE moved in a "better" way than to say I am enJOYing the moments of Life as it is for Currie in 2014, or just Right Now.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But I am saying that I quite like things as they are.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And as they are NOT.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">NOT that I don't want Change.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">NOT that I don't want Challenge.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And NOT that I don't imagine there will BE rougher seas on my horizon again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's just that I am happy Now.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And content to keep putting one foot in front of the other and BEing Present for each footfall.</span>Currie Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16502798362838891569noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326415006389758828.post-9241460116682668402014-02-16T11:17:00.000-05:002014-02-16T11:17:32.285-05:00Amazed By the Ordinary<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XfG3IHh7fzc/UwDkTKbDO_I/AAAAAAAAKg8/UkO6Y9FnhnM/s1600/2.16.14+amazed+by+the+ordinary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XfG3IHh7fzc/UwDkTKbDO_I/AAAAAAAAKg8/UkO6Y9FnhnM/s1600/2.16.14+amazed+by+the+ordinary.jpg" height="347" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today is just an ordinary Sunday.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's remarkable though...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">BEcause on an ordinary Sunday my Life has been touched and my eyes open and my Spirit blessed, all by people who have no idea how much their choosing to share something matters to Me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am just one person.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am just someone who subscribes to <a href="http://3x3x365.blogspot.com/2014/02/21414.html" target="_blank">their blog</a> or <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxe3EBu5h4g&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">what have you</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am no one they set out to deLIGHT or even to inform.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is what I love about the Internet.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The way we are connected even as we all circle Life within our own little universes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is a funny thing, having a blog.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I never know who will read me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I rarely care <b><i><u>IF </u></i></b>anyone reads me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I used to feel different. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I used to care way too much.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And that, I see Now, is what got in the way of ordinary amazement.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What if...?!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What if every day I allow my amazement to run free?!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What if every little bit I read I enJOY just for itself and NOT for WHO wrote it or what that person or that whatever has accomplished that I see BEyond my own grasp?!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What if?!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">enJOY.</span>Currie Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16502798362838891569noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326415006389758828.post-61334152014131505242014-02-13T09:23:00.000-05:002014-02-13T09:23:24.347-05:00BEing My Own Valentine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1XKgxAKu2Yk/UvzVCcGtYoI/AAAAAAAAKf0/hlow1nf7UY4/s1600/2.13.14+BEing+My+Own+Valentine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1XKgxAKu2Yk/UvzVCcGtYoI/AAAAAAAAKf0/hlow1nf7UY4/s1600/2.13.14+BEing+My+Own+Valentine.jpg" height="373" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lots of years I have felt like one of those people standing 8-deep outside of a department store window watching a black-and-white television. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I mean, I have felt myself at that remove from BEing anyone's Valentine.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Felt on the outside looking in.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even felt sorry for myself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sheesh!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's the thing:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don't NEED someone else to "want me" to BE theirs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don't NEED candy, flowers, or pretty cards to know I matter.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That I am, indeed, the World to someone.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">MayBE I shouldn't BE saying this out loud, but I really am all that [and more] to myself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">NOW...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That's what I think and feel and BElieve.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Every. Single. Day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">[although there are days when I DO get on my last nerve!!!]</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So my mailbox won't BE brimming over.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No flowers will BE delivered to my door.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And I won't have to curb my eating of chocolates and other sweets.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But I will BE someone's Valentine.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will BE Mine.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Valentine's Day!!!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Currie Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16502798362838891569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326415006389758828.post-47440536626945725382014-02-09T10:21:00.000-05:002014-02-09T10:21:49.901-05:00Following Directions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0zY-pDxoik/Uvecylm2OFI/AAAAAAAAKek/Pj3ku8mVOGo/s1600/2.9.14+follow+directions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0zY-pDxoik/Uvecylm2OFI/AAAAAAAAKek/Pj3ku8mVOGo/s1600/2.9.14+follow+directions.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is NOT my best thing, NOT by a long shot, following directions.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I like making it up as I go along.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I like the spontaneity and magic that is BEing creative, DOing my own thing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">BUT...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">[and that BUT, by the way, is NOT meant to negate all I have said]</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sometimes the Very Best Next Right Thing is to follow those directions.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have been discovering this truth on pretty much a daily basis.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While I CAN and I DO often wing it, sometimes the directions just feel good.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They give a context and a container to the unwieldiness of Life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They let my busy brain rest and seek a peaceful stream to nap BEside.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'll probably always fight DOing Life by the instructions, BUT...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">[and that BUT is also NOT meant to negate all I have said]</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'll probably come to appreciate having the choice more than I have so far.</span>Currie Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16502798362838891569noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326415006389758828.post-33547543014102007852014-02-06T13:10:00.000-05:002014-02-06T13:10:07.025-05:00Looking At Things In New Ways<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cDKab0IYcuQ/UvPPRDibiII/AAAAAAAAKdk/1DDvsC5xKiE/s1600/2.6.14+PAF+graphic+geometric+angular.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cDKab0IYcuQ/UvPPRDibiII/AAAAAAAAKdk/1DDvsC5xKiE/s1600/2.6.14+PAF+graphic+geometric+angular.jpg" height="640" width="446" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.pixeldustphotoart.com/2014/02/photo-art-friday-february-7-9.html" target="_blank">Photo Art Friday</a> is a grand reason to celebrate Thursday. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bonnie gives us a theme, which suggests possibilities, and having participated in this JOYous undertaking for a couple of years Now, I'm finding that encouragement </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">daily</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">wiggling into my </span><a href="http://iloveyoucurrie.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Digital Fiddlings</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This month the theme is graphic/geometric/angular. A pretty glorious playground I'd say.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, what have I come up with?! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-awPxBFrqsSI/UvPENHX1aFI/AAAAAAAAKc8/vivuFcFMxJs/s1600/2.6.14+PAF+Look+Up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-awPxBFrqsSI/UvPENHX1aFI/AAAAAAAAKc8/vivuFcFMxJs/s1600/2.6.14+PAF+Look+Up.jpg" height="220" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don't know exactly what I did to get here, but I have a fairly good idea. I started with a photo from 2009, of a building in downtown Phoenix. I was fascinated with it then and my memory was jogged when I sat down to write this post.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I added <a href="http://www.pixeldustphotoart.com/p/texture-sets-shoppe.html" target="_blank">PDPA </a>Forest Texture, one of my favourites from Bonnie. And then I just had at it in Pixlr Express. I added the words BEcause I am a word person, what can I say?! It just seemed to beckon me to remember, always look up.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-usK369MyBGM/UvPKwsvQoGI/AAAAAAAAKdM/XJnLzcU5wMk/s1600/2.6.14+PAF+Step+Inside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-usK369MyBGM/UvPKwsvQoGI/AAAAAAAAKdM/XJnLzcU5wMk/s1600/2.6.14+PAF+Step+Inside.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once more I reached back into 2009 photos. I was a busy girl with my camera that year. This wall was so fascinating. It had crazy tiles going this way and that and the effect was mesmerising and daring. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Again, I added a couple of <a href="http://www.pixeldustphotoart.com/p/texture-sets-shoppe.html" target="_blank">PDPA</a> textures although exactly which ones I canNOT tell you as I had several I tried out BEfore settling on the 2 or 3 I ended up keeping. I could have looked at this wall for hours. Its colour and whimsy deLIGHTed me and still DO.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's funny, since moving back to Arizona, I've yet to go to downtown Phoenix. I suppose that's largely BEcause I am having such an adventure exploring my new neighbourhood and all the walks Gracie and I take. There is such a mix and change of scenery in the breadth of one block, sometimes even less.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will get myself back downtown one day though. It will BE good to see what has changed and mayBE find this building and that wall again. I have changed since last we met. I wonder if they have, too?!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.pixeldustphotoart.com/" target="_blank" title="Pixel Dust Photo Art"><img alt="Pixel Dust Photo Art" src="http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y470/pixeldustphotoart/Blog%20Images/PAF150leaningredflowersbutton_zpse0def790.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
Currie Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16502798362838891569noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326415006389758828.post-69537976018234904682014-02-04T11:40:00.000-05:002014-02-04T11:40:49.795-05:00BE Angry AND BE Respectful?!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AVX08S1qmMk/UvEW3wQxy0I/AAAAAAAAKcI/b2WjfhXbpyI/s1600/2.4.14+Respectful+Anger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AVX08S1qmMk/UvEW3wQxy0I/AAAAAAAAKcI/b2WjfhXbpyI/s1600/2.4.14+Respectful+Anger.jpg" height="640" width="442" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I read this in a daily email I receive:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Any feeling can be expressed in respectful or disrespectful ways.Anger is one of the most difficult to express respectfully. Everyone feels
frustrated and angry at times. The crucial thing to learn is how to be angry and
still be respectful - how to deal with our impatience without blame or
put-downs. </i>[</span><b>52 Weeks of Conscious Contact </b>© 2003 by Melody Beattie.]</blockquote>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was tempted to dismiss it as it seemed, initially, to BE aimed toward couples. But I know better than to DO that Now. I have been receiving this daily email for 8 years. I canNOT think of one time I did NOT learn from it.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, while I have titled this post as a question, a HUH?!</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">of sorts, I really DO think that one of the things I want most to expand in myself is HOW I go about disagreeing respectfully.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is NOT about BEing angry, although that is something I find creeping up on me more and more lately, but really about disagreeing, seeing things in a different way, seeing things differently and having another person try to sway me their way. This is what I grapple with. Oftentimes NOT so delicately...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is easy to blame and slough off responsibility onto others. It is also easy to judge someone for their perspective if it is NOT one I share.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the other hand, what is perhaps hardest of all is loving someone, dearly </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and deeply, and then discovering that they hold thoughts and opinions and ideals in ways I DO NOT.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Actually, what is more challenging is when I realise that my own thoughts and opinions and ideals are seen as inferior by someone I love. Someone who loves me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I grew up with people who used put-downs and sarcasm regulary. Daily I heard them ridicule me. And so I learned to keep myself hidden and apart. I learned to cover my anger with secrecy. And I learned that feeling and BEing ashamed was just the cost of DOing Life with some people.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even people I loved. People who loved me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will BE thinking on this for some time to come. I will pay attention to the times I slip into judging someone's different opinion and see, am I BEing respectful of this person or am I BEing disrespectful, even in my thoughts?!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is how I learn. How I grow. And how I change.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How about YOU?! Where does this notion meet you today?!</span>Currie Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16502798362838891569noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326415006389758828.post-37771067196523720672014-02-02T10:40:00.000-05:002014-02-02T10:43:03.549-05:00The Courage To Wonder<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8OXqHIZxcWE/Uu5mZdWXNsI/AAAAAAAAKbY/qi_LA59J4Rc/s1600/2.2.14+the+courage+to+wonder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8OXqHIZxcWE/Uu5mZdWXNsI/AAAAAAAAKbY/qi_LA59J4Rc/s1600/2.2.14+the+courage+to+wonder.jpg" height="640" width="576" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I may never have thought that wondering took courage. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I may have thought wondering is just a more polite term for saying my mind was elsewhere. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Or that it was more about BEing daydreamy instead of focused.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But that is changing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Slowly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By inches.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And it comes to me from the inspirations I have all round me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It comes from others' writing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It comes from reading things that I don't consider BEing sources of inspiration.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But here is what I know.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is a courageous thing to wonder what might BE wrong with my perspective.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It takes courage to back up and start again, without BEing sure of myself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It asks nothing less than courage to stand in my BEliefs which are NOT yours or theirs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Courage means daring to consider that I am the problem I am wanting to BE solved.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now, on the face of it, those things aren't really such Big Deals.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We're none of us "perfect" or always "right."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Life is a lot about re-starts and new BEginnings, often in humbling ways.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">People often don't agree about things, but they still get along, still manage to BE kind and pleasant.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And most of the time, if I am honest, my problems are self-inflicted and "all about ME."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Still, this Courage To Wonder is a remarkable gift of BEing Human.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like telling the truth, like BEing willing to hear the truth.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I might prefer the quieter ways of BEing a dog, for instance, but even that takes courage to wonder about, y'know what I mean?!</span>Currie Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16502798362838891569noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326415006389758828.post-85730884869883261822014-01-31T11:32:00.000-05:002014-01-31T11:32:13.725-05:00Life's Leanings #31 This Is A Simpler Way To Live<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RHAf124lhjk/UuvP1XiHSDI/AAAAAAAAKao/rgFdz3v6c60/s1600/1.31.14+a+simpler+way+to+live.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RHAf124lhjk/UuvP1XiHSDI/AAAAAAAAKao/rgFdz3v6c60/s1600/1.31.14+a+simpler+way+to+live.jpg" height="640" width="392" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can BE a very complicated mess.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sometimes.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But I am learning that when I AM I have chosen to BE.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">BEsides BEing humbling, this is a magic key.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If every day I remember that is all I ever have, I can BE very simple.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And so Life can BE simpler.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, my Life anyway...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So much energy is spent trying to repair my Past.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And yet more energy is spent trying to manage my Future.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But Right Here and Right Now, that's where everything meets.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And for me, knowing this, and living by it is A Simpler Way To Live.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mh90FOApZVQ/UuvLu7cNceI/AAAAAAAAKac/bFHSetHC3MY/s1600/Daring+Myself+Gently+January+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mh90FOApZVQ/UuvLu7cNceI/AAAAAAAAKac/bFHSetHC3MY/s1600/Daring+Myself+Gently+January+2014.jpg" height="252" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Currie Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16502798362838891569noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326415006389758828.post-81246205072331760392014-01-30T11:25:00.000-05:002014-01-30T11:25:27.230-05:00Life's Leanings #30 Don't BE Swept Away<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rRw7Q6Azl_A/Uup8g20QonI/AAAAAAAAKZ8/L6vXyPsOaEk/s1600/1.30.14+don't+BE+swept+away.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rRw7Q6Azl_A/Uup8g20QonI/AAAAAAAAKZ8/L6vXyPsOaEk/s1600/1.30.14+don't+BE+swept+away.jpg" height="640" width="462" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is all too easy for me to lose myself and BE swept away.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In reaction.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In "self-defense" which is more correctly ego-defense.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I want NOT to react but inside, where you can't <i>see </i>it on the outside, I DO.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am NOT very Zen sometimes.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am edgy and sharp and tender.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am so easily wounded though I canNOT "show" you How.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I am simply aiming to NOT BE swept away.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To make room and space and NOT confine Life to my "rules."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don't think this is going to BE graceful.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Still, it's going to BE.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CFaO0rrhRoM/Uup6XNfYRYI/AAAAAAAAKZw/7Od11iT8VKI/s1600/Daring+Myself+Gently+January+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CFaO0rrhRoM/Uup6XNfYRYI/AAAAAAAAKZw/7Od11iT8VKI/s1600/Daring+Myself+Gently+January+2014.jpg" height="252" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Currie Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16502798362838891569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326415006389758828.post-62300683936631718362014-01-29T10:31:00.001-05:002014-01-29T10:31:59.075-05:00Life's Leanings #29 Cherish Moments<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tsesFr0jqeg/UukerkDWEzI/AAAAAAAAKZQ/1DPrlrreosE/s1600/1.29.14+cherish+moments.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tsesFr0jqeg/UukerkDWEzI/AAAAAAAAKZQ/1DPrlrreosE/s1600/1.29.14+cherish+moments.jpg" height="317" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The World is a pretty fast-paced place.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So much happens in a blink, and it seems, well, normal.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I grew up in this sea of Changing Pace, and I adapted with and to it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Still, there are sometimes moments of just such sweetness.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These are NOT few and far BEtween moments either.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They are rather everyday and often even ordinary.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The person who answers your call after you have been on hold for awhile.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The cashier in the market who is curious about something you're buying.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is these small blinks that often are the moments I remember.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Long after they happened.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And the speedy hurry-hurry times fade like a blur.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Although to reflect on all of this month it may seem I am up to a LOT...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Really, I am simply savouring the moments.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That's definitely DO-able.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1KEyExHdI7E/UukcQFt94pI/AAAAAAAAKZI/N4CI--TaOms/s1600/Daring+Myself+Gently+January+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1KEyExHdI7E/UukcQFt94pI/AAAAAAAAKZI/N4CI--TaOms/s1600/Daring+Myself+Gently+January+2014.jpg" height="252" width="400" /></a></div>
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Currie Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16502798362838891569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326415006389758828.post-1121343750332360482014-01-28T09:24:00.000-05:002014-01-28T09:24:32.753-05:00Life's Leanings #28 DO The Right Thing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2tviCfEch7k/Uue9ZTCSQtI/AAAAAAAAKYo/WPQ4U7M_nIQ/s1600/1.28.14+DO+the+right+thing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2tviCfEch7k/Uue9ZTCSQtI/AAAAAAAAKYo/WPQ4U7M_nIQ/s1600/1.28.14+DO+the+right+thing.jpg" height="640" width="404" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sometimes I would say The NEXT Right Thing, but there I go digressing already!!!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've noticed myself holding back, what sometimes looks like holding out.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's silly, really, that I DO this.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am NOT fooling anyone, least of all myself.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So this year I am trying something new to me.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am DOing the Right Thing.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even if I would rather react and get snarky, I am DOing the Right Thing.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And interestingly enough, the Right Thing is often BEing Kind.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Or BEing Quiet.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Or BEing someone who listens without judging. [or commenting]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">DOing the Right Thing is an expression I am making tangible.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's often NOT a big deal.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And that's fine.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No BIG DEALS required when DOing the Right Thing.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yQqsxY1NupY/Uue7E1nkWlI/AAAAAAAAKYc/h3zaFs1vEwY/s1600/Daring+Myself+Gently+January+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yQqsxY1NupY/Uue7E1nkWlI/AAAAAAAAKYc/h3zaFs1vEwY/s1600/Daring+Myself+Gently+January+2014.jpg" height="252" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Currie Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16502798362838891569noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326415006389758828.post-45170201006132598662014-01-27T12:29:00.000-05:002014-01-27T12:29:08.769-05:00Life's Leanings #27 Follow Through<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NhDGbzhMfTw/UuaXE_NpZEI/AAAAAAAAKX8/PSMW3odG1IE/s1600/1.27.14+follow+through.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NhDGbzhMfTw/UuaXE_NpZEI/AAAAAAAAKX8/PSMW3odG1IE/s1600/1.27.14+follow+through.jpg" height="640" width="476" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've been a master at starting.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And at volunteering to DO this, that, or the other.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What I haven't really delved into so much is finishing.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Following through.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Commitments are good things.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Following through feels amazing.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just showing up where I said I would and when dazzles me.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That is really NOT a huge thing I am discovering.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Following through.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And it is way better than all the excuses I ever made.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'll BE leaning into my follow-through this year.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A LOT more.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_1nmsnEZHSk/UuaVGzZZnSI/AAAAAAAAKXw/4UQeBBa40gk/s1600/Daring+Myself+Gently+January+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_1nmsnEZHSk/UuaVGzZZnSI/AAAAAAAAKXw/4UQeBBa40gk/s1600/Daring+Myself+Gently+January+2014.jpg" height="252" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Currie Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16502798362838891569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326415006389758828.post-64242632276333476712014-01-26T09:27:00.000-05:002014-01-26T09:27:16.153-05:00Life's Leanings #26 Look For Similarities <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0njBv5IQfYI/UuUa_XFparI/AAAAAAAAKXQ/xs6MMXbTZVM/s1600/1.26.14+look+for+similarities.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0njBv5IQfYI/UuUa_XFparI/AAAAAAAAKXQ/xs6MMXbTZVM/s1600/1.26.14+look+for+similarities.jpg" height="640" width="418" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are many things that are difficult.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Times come for everyone that feel too enormous and heavy.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When something comes easily, it's often dismissed.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The challenges we rise to are more attention-grabbing.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But there is a problem in this logic and sequence.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The problem is that we think we alone are walking through things.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And we are.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But we also are NOT.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Every morning when I read others' sharing I am reminded of this.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Over and over and over again.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>We are NOT so different, You & I,</i> I think.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>WOW!!! </i>I often say in reply, conveying my Gratitude and utter amazement.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It can BE a habit to see our uniquenesses.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our differentness.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let it also BEcome a habit, I say, to Look For Similarities.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For the <i>"me, too" </i>moments that bind us BEautimously to one another.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am leaning into this idea this year.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yYjNzHx23TI/UuUXXH_E9dI/AAAAAAAAKXE/fGEiyLzFGXU/s1600/Daring+Myself+Gently+January+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yYjNzHx23TI/UuUXXH_E9dI/AAAAAAAAKXE/fGEiyLzFGXU/s1600/Daring+Myself+Gently+January+2014.jpg" height="252" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Currie Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16502798362838891569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326415006389758828.post-66224330392574915022014-01-25T09:59:00.000-05:002014-01-25T09:59:48.836-05:00Life's Leanings #25 Understand<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g5qTkzaRHsg/UuPRDpT-ZvI/AAAAAAAAKWk/rL5vFzjCrHc/s1600/1.25.14+understand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g5qTkzaRHsg/UuPRDpT-ZvI/AAAAAAAAKWk/rL5vFzjCrHc/s1600/1.25.14+understand.jpg" height="640" width="468" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How hard is that, really?!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Understand.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whether there is an explanation or any reason given.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Understand.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just try that today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Understand.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And even tomorrow, and the days after that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Understand.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xhl0aZ7nuLE/UuPPHPHrC3I/AAAAAAAAKWc/XAVvNIRkP4c/s1600/Daring+Myself+Gently+January+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xhl0aZ7nuLE/UuPPHPHrC3I/AAAAAAAAKWc/XAVvNIRkP4c/s1600/Daring+Myself+Gently+January+2014.jpg" height="252" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Currie Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16502798362838891569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326415006389758828.post-84788268950857994932014-01-24T09:32:00.000-05:002014-01-24T09:32:18.083-05:00Life's Leanings #24 Respect Is To Give NOT Get<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ph9dM_bEZ8A/UuJ5AIdiXLI/AAAAAAAAKV4/R6uaNF9chB8/s1600/1.24.14+respect.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ph9dM_bEZ8A/UuJ5AIdiXLI/AAAAAAAAKV4/R6uaNF9chB8/s1600/1.24.14+respect.jpg" height="640" width="482" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'll BE honest, I did NOT always understand what Respect is. I mean I could define it. I suppose I could pay it, but it really flew under my radar undetected. For the most part.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I still understand it only a little. There is far more I don't know about it than what I DO know. But there is one thing I am sure of:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Respect is something I Give; it is NOT something I Get.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think this is why I have misunderstood it so much. I was told someone or something <b style="font-style: italic;">deserved </b>my respect, but that really didn't make much sense. I could say the right words and act the part of BEing respectful, but until I discovered what respect really feels like, deep in my bones, I couldn't wholly give it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I canNOT BEgin to explain when and where and how I learned about respect BEcause, like my dreams, when I try to colour and paint it with words it all sort of disappears and turns to dust. Dust that doesn't stick. Like snow that has melted BEfore it touches the ground.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Recently I felt deeply disrespected. [I felt an inner urge to point it out and wag my finger in someone's face about it, too; understand my dilemma with this one?!]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The thing that "saved" me was realising that the respect I felt was lacking was my own. Respecting myself, giving myself respect, THAT was the missing link to this puzzler.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I near the end of my annual two-month reflect and project process, I am leaning harder into the things that encourage, strengthen, and lift me. Life can BE a challenge. I need all the encouragement, strength, and lifting up I can find.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am glad I am NOT afraid to shine some light in the darker places of myself. I am relieved, too, that sometimes just that willingness to shine my light there can make all the difference.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FzqFspMJtLE/UuJ1lLdUUMI/AAAAAAAAKVw/TMAmZXA0Vu8/s1600/Daring+Myself+Gently+January+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FzqFspMJtLE/UuJ1lLdUUMI/AAAAAAAAKVw/TMAmZXA0Vu8/s1600/Daring+Myself+Gently+January+2014.jpg" height="252" width="400" /></a></div>
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Currie Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16502798362838891569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326415006389758828.post-31355469898783072272014-01-23T10:40:00.000-05:002014-01-23T10:40:27.363-05:00Life's Leanings #23 Focus on Solutions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gk_SKEbI0X8/UuE3sDN2AyI/AAAAAAAAKVQ/PIyZiMUlnuM/s1600/1.23.14+focus+on+solutions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gk_SKEbI0X8/UuE3sDN2AyI/AAAAAAAAKVQ/PIyZiMUlnuM/s1600/1.23.14+focus+on+solutions.jpg" height="640" width="422" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am changing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Little bit by slow bit and one day at a time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sometimes it is deliberate. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Others NOT so much.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And then there are the like swimming up a waterfall changes.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ever since moving into the Wee Casa, I have been seeing the half-empty.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have judged and critiqued and, well, judged and critiqued...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The other day, quite by "accident," I drew a line in the sand for myself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Instead of seeing the problems I am looking for solutions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not THE solutions, just solutions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is having a remarkable trickle-down effect on my entire outlook.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While if may have been nice to know this BEfore, I'm glad I DO Now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It sure makes it a whole lot easier walking round in my own skin...</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GeI_FsL5OUk/UuE1UTOH8yI/AAAAAAAAKVE/UAsRgGfD0GQ/s1600/Daring+Myself+Gently+January+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GeI_FsL5OUk/UuE1UTOH8yI/AAAAAAAAKVE/UAsRgGfD0GQ/s1600/Daring+Myself+Gently+January+2014.jpg" height="252" width="400" /></a></div>
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Currie Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16502798362838891569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326415006389758828.post-53623309201126799872014-01-22T10:33:00.002-05:002014-01-22T10:33:36.999-05:00Life's Leanings #22 Crisis or Opportunity?!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L3nEyOvXbkw/Ut_kOB_InAI/AAAAAAAAKUk/AfECPdUuY0w/s1600/1.22.14+crisis+or+opportunity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L3nEyOvXbkw/Ut_kOB_InAI/AAAAAAAAKUk/AfECPdUuY0w/s1600/1.22.14+crisis+or+opportunity.jpg" height="400" width="391" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I realise that Life has two sides [and likely more] to everything. What I don't often remember is that I am the one choosing which side I'll take.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are things in the every single dayness of my Life and in my World that somehow I always react to with judgment and criticism. I'd rather NOT say that out loud, but there it is for all the World anyway.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It isn't an easy thing to acknowledge that I prefer BEing in the critic's corner and passing judgment willy-nilly, but I canNOT deny it. There I am, yes, Right There, and don't I look silly?!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well... let me just say that sometimes the other people in our lives are definitely meant to BE our teachers. And I have been taught this lesson well, lately:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">IF YOU WANT TO COMPLAIN, GO AHEAD, BUT I AM STICKING MY FINGERS IN MY EARS AND SAYING LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Is dog poop on the sidewalk an opportunity or is it a crisis?!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How about cigarette butts and crushed up packs overflowing?!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A flosser thing in the driveway?! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A crumpled up bag on the rocks?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is just small stuff, I will grant you, but it can make a BIG difference if I am asleep at the switch of my brain.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am going to find OPPORTUNITY in things and use CRISES as launching pads.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just saying...</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2iY0DYUmhKQ/Ut_g6Ufq_9I/AAAAAAAAKUY/a42Ajg424ac/s1600/Daring+Myself+Gently+January+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2iY0DYUmhKQ/Ut_g6Ufq_9I/AAAAAAAAKUY/a42Ajg424ac/s1600/Daring+Myself+Gently+January+2014.jpg" height="252" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Currie Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16502798362838891569noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4326415006389758828.post-31952709467927292042014-01-21T12:17:00.000-05:002014-01-21T12:17:36.508-05:00Life's Leanings #21 Listen to Your Heart<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FmJJxXGg-zY/Ut6replydnI/AAAAAAAAKT4/jkHAlUboh6E/s1600/1.21.14+listen+to+your+heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FmJJxXGg-zY/Ut6replydnI/AAAAAAAAKT4/jkHAlUboh6E/s1600/1.21.14+listen+to+your+heart.jpg" height="390" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Moments ago, making a cup of tea, I had a thought zing through my birdbrain:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ask Yourself This When You Feel That...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cryptic or NOT, it was clearly an indication that my confusion has been heard.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My heart, or whatever I choose to label it, had spoken.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since moving, I have found myself in confusion pretty much daily.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, while I can understand it, the dailiness is NOT what I want for myself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So Now I have a way to Help Myself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know it was Always and Already There BEfore.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's just that Now I am listening intentionally.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZJxR0puhaRg/Ut6oQXfUNeI/AAAAAAAAKTs/hfIs2U0I7FA/s1600/Daring+Myself+Gently+January+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZJxR0puhaRg/Ut6oQXfUNeI/AAAAAAAAKTs/hfIs2U0I7FA/s1600/Daring+Myself+Gently+January+2014.jpg" height="252" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Currie Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16502798362838891569noreply@blogger.com0