Collage Diva

AEDM #20 - Joy Diet #9 - Connection

This week's topic is "connections" in the "The Next Chapter" blog book group's exploration of "The Joy Diet" by Martha Beck. I found the short chapter to be a bit heavy, tiresome, and simply prescribing more work than I desired. I love the idea of connections and I believe the most important key to connecting with others is to be present. This week I set out to be more present and mindful in my interactions with others.

The start of my week included a fabulous getaway with a dear friend. We were treated like queens during a stay at The Liberty Hotel in Boston. Impressed so much by how I felt by the service at this hotel, my take away is to treat others with this same attention to detail and care. The theme of hospitality was echoed in Wayne Dyer's talk that I attended on Monday night at the Back Bay Event Center. Wayne shared the story of a cab driver who didn't want to be a duck and quack (and complain) like all of the other cabbies. He wanted to set himself apart and soar like an eagle. He took steps and over time transformed the level of care and service he offered from a dirty cab and crabby attitude to a meticulously clean cab with limo quality service. The result was not only a happy and joyful cab driver but guests who became regular, well-paying clientele. The morale of the story is it isn't what you do but how you do it that counts.

Tuesday I had a wonderful day in the city sharing coffee, taking photos, and enjoying chats with my dear friend. We share a friendship where we are really present with one another. We have known each other so long that the history we share adds a layer of comfort -- we know each other and ourselves so well that we can easily BE PRESENT. What a treat!

Returning to the office this week, I found myself bumping into the hall with one co-worker who I really admire and don't see often. As we chatted, I was again 100% present and I left the connection feeling grounded and energized and happy!

Wednesday night I stopped by the opening of a photography exhibit of Gary Sampson, department chair for photography at NH Institute of Art. His photographs are breathtaking. While his landscapes are stunning, I am moved even more by the portraits. Gary has a way of capturing the spirit of a person in his photography. A good friend of mine joined me and we connected with each other as we connected with Gary's photography. Wow!

I tend to be very present with my teenage son but this week, I've been ever more so. I sat back and watched him as he chatted about his day at school. I observed how he is growing up. Savoring the present with a person you love really does bring you closer to them.

I have many more stories from this week of connecting with people and in each case I found that active listening and having an open heart makes the experiences truly transformative.

What connections have you made this week?

The digital collage above was made using various images I photographed while in Boston earlier in the week. The photo was taken at one of our favorite haunts on Charles Street. The name of the cafe when we lived in the back bay was, "il dolce momento." We will always remember this cafe as the place of special moments. Do you see the heart in the photo?

Check out these links for more information and inspiration:

Jamie Ridler's The Next Chapter Blog Book Group: The Joy Diet

Creative Every Day - Art Every Day Month

AEDM #13 - Joy Diet #8 - Laughter

Laughter is definitely a part of my daily life. In fact, each morning I put on the rings (pictured above). The first one is a reminder that I want to begin and end my day with laughter. "Quantum Leap" is my watchword for 2009 - I believe that I will make strides in this year, strides so big, quantum leap big. I top the ring set with love. It is important to approach all situations with love in our hearts. This is so hard to do when we feel tired, scared, or angry. 

I have this photo at the office to remind me of my essential, happy, silly, fun self. Here I am as a wee one. I remember loving to laugh and having a spark. Look at that little face and how softened my grandfather's face was as he looked at me. I'm sitting on my dad's lap - my hero. I have fond memories of those times. I started to shut down around the time my parents divorced at age 9. For many years I was filled with lots of fear and worry. Fortunately I've had so many experiences since then to bring back that spark.

When I was in my twenties, I was so serious! It has taken parenting, a mismatched marriage, and life experiences for me to realize that I can be light and deep without being heavy. Oh how I love to laugh!

When it comes to smiling, I think of Thich Naht Hahn, but when it comes to laughing I think of HH Dalai Lama -- I love his giggle. I can't help but laugh every time I hear him chuckle.

At work I have the *BEST* coworker, we start every day with lots of laughs. She is the best storyteller and has so, so many funny stories. With Celia, I can be myself and my silly side comes out. I tend to do a lot of impersonations of people we know but mostly we make fun of ourselves. The YouTube video above is one that Celia shared with me. It is from the Ellen Degeneres' show where Ellen had Dennis Quaid go into a Starbuck's with an ear piece and he had to repeat anything she said. If you haven't seen it be prepared to laugh. Ellen is so, so funny!

My favorite TV show is ABC's "The Modern Family." It airs on Wednesday nights. If you haven't seen it you must tune in. It is brilliant and sure to get you laughing. CLICK HERE to watch previous episodes.

What gets you laughing? Who are your favorite comedians?

Check out these links for more information and inspiration:

Jamie Ridler's The Next Chapter Blog Book Group: The Joy Diet

Creative Every Day

AEDM #6 - Joy Diet #7 - Play

What a week! This week started the Art Every Day Month challenge and I've been having a blast. The journal page above was created digitally by scanning painted papers, a notebook, and an image. Photoshop is the best tool for layering. Meanwhile, the blog book group hosted by Jamie Ridler is on chapter 7, "Play" by Martha Beck. Once again I found myself unimpressed with the writing style but pulled out key ideas for further exploration. The idea of finding your "real" career by noting your reaction to a major tragedy is not really an indication of where to pursue your career as much as it is an indicator of where your core values lie. Understanding your core values is important as it underscores your happiness. For example, I'm service oriented so my desire to teach is in alignment with this core value. Pursuing a career in say selling products that I think have no value would make me miserable as it doesn't serve my customers well. I offer a great exercise in exploring your core values in my vision journal online workshop. While you may know what your core values are from your reactions to a tragedy, it doesn't tell you which career to pursue. This takes some more work and I share an exercise further down in this post that can help you if you are feeling stuck.

When I read about Beck's attempt at Tai Chi Chu'an I imagined a very awkward nervous, spastic woman trying to go with the flow. Her explanation of the Hungarian- American professor Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's work was lacking. She doesn't really explain the work and goes off on a tangent. It was a matter of synchronicity when I was blog surfing not 24 hours after reading the chapter when I came upon an article by Owen Waters republished on Teesha Moore's blog about this very topic. As I read the article I kept saying, "Aha! This guy gets it and explains it better than I or Beck can." If you are intrigued by the topic of FLOW, creativity, synchronicity, and the like, I highly recommend reading the following blog post, CLICK HERE. You'll also see how to pronounce Csikszentmihalyi's name.

And while you are on Teesha's blog poke around to her recent posts as she offers some fabulous new videos demonstrating her unique journal style. I'm looking forward to playing some with her techniques this weekend.

I agree whole-heartedly with Beck on making play a priority in our lives. This week I started working through the book, "The Creative Entrepreneur" by Lisa Sonora Beam and you can see my first journal page HERE where I look at what has HEART + MEANING and the second page HERE is where I look at FLOW + PROFITABILITY. 

One exercise that has served me well over the last 20 years is to write down three accomplishments in the last year. Write each one down on a separate piece of paper. These do not have to be work related accomplishments (i.e., buying a house, organizing a bake sale, setting up a new blog, etc.). Select accomplishments where you felt really jazzed. For each accomplishment answer the following:

What did I do?

What skills did I use? (Include hard skills like using Adobe Photoshop and soft skills like organization)

What did I like doing?

What did I dislike doing?

What was I commended on by others?

Now put your papers side-by-side and circle any repeating items. Notice your reaction as you compare and contrast your answers. You'll find some really good clues as to what you enjoy and where you will want to spend more of your time. All the while really notice what brings you joy, that heart beating, internal fireworks feeling.

A fellow Joy Dieter (I'm sorry I can't find the original comment!) left me a great suggestion. Whenever you feel joy, stand up, and spread out your arms and exclaim "Joy!" I loved this idea as it reminds me of my favorite character from the NBC show Heroes. Pictured above is Hiro a character who does just that only he exclaims, "Yata!" Which I believe translates as "I did it." I've been doing this only I haven't been as brave as Hiro, I've restrained myself a bit. I think I'm going to try it this week, be brave that is, in freely expressing myself and feeling the joy throughout my entire body. 

I hope this week brings you many occasions to spread your arms and exclaim!

{soul hugs}

Kathryn Antyr, Collage Diva

Check out these links for more information and inspiration:

Jamie Ridler's The Next Chapter Blog Book Group: The Joy Diet

Creative Every Day

Joy Diet #5 - Risk

Risk seems like a logical next step in this process after realizing our dreams, and creatively brainstorming the next steps. I wasn't too eager jumping into this chapter in Martha Beck's book, "The Joy Diet" but once in it, I was ready to say, "Yes! Let's do it!" I have a lot of success with taking risks and have discovered the more I face my fears and meet challenges, the smaller new risks appear. When I tackle something, it always seems easier than I had anticipated. I returned to Gail McMeekin's book, "The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women" and turned to chapter three on risks. I really enjoy Gail's writing style and this chapter is packed with so many great thoughts and ideas and stories that inspire me to really take risks in my life. I'm so charged up and ready to move onward!

To help my confidence I made the journal page above and listed some of my recent accomplishments. These are only a sampling of the many things I have accomplished that seemed daunting in one way or another. I took risks and faced my inner critics to make each of them happen. 

I've climbed mountains and I've moved mountains. I also know I will always have mountains to climb. I guess that makes me a mountaineer!

I added some of my desires onto the mountains including having my very own charming home, a retreat house and creativity studio, and a loving relationship.

Here is one quote from many in Gail's book that I know will help me on my journey.

"So I've never seen my choices as being so much about taking risks as honoring what will keep me a healthy human being. I suppose that's just listening to one's inner voice in a way that, for me truly, is about survival more than courage. Many times when I have made choices and decisions, I'm scared silly. And yet I'm able to move forward or make changes because the alternative is too painful." (p. 45)

I end this post with my affirmation for risk taking:

I am courageous. I have a willingess to try new things.

I hope this week inspires you to take steps toward fulfilling your heart's desire.

{soul hugs}

Kathryn Antyr, Collage Diva

Check out these links for more information and inspiration:

Jamie Ridler's The Next Chapter Blog Book Group: The Joy Diet

Creative Every Day

Joy Diet #4 - Creativity and GPP #34 - The Dark Side

Warning: I took creative liberties with how I responded to the material in this chapter. Children should not attempt to do this with their school textbooks. The author of this blog will not take responsibility for the wonton destruction of other people's property.

I found a couple of golden nuggets in this chapter on creativity in Martha Beck's book, "The Joy Diet." The first nugget is Martha Beck's suggestion to conceptualize and write down at least one new, concrete idea that will help you obtain something your heart desires. This is a great idea for if you don't take any steps, how can you make things happen?

The second nugget is a truth I discovered on my own around six years ago when my ex-husband and I separated. We really weren't a good match and to make matters worse, he had some serious anger management issues. What I take away from all of it was how much of what "I took" -- you see I permitted it. In some way, I created the situation. Now this doesn't take him off the hook for his behavior but I now see how I didn't have to live with it as long as I did, nor will I *EVER* give up my peaceful life to such behavior.

I have a confession, I really can't stand Martha Beck's writing style. I'm particularly peeved any time she makes a list and it never fails the last item on the list is something random. It appears that the random item is selected to be far out, cute, funny. Her awkward sense of humor doesn't work for me.

Now I'm a highly creative person, one who regularly taps into this infinite well of creative ideas. As I read through Beck's suggestions, I grew so irritable that I decided to name her writing style (and some of her ideas) as the enemy.

I pulled out my black gesso, white gesso, scissors, and glitter. You know I felt so much better as I was defacing the pages that had ideas that I hated. I'm laughing so hard right now thinking about the irony -- how this book on finding *JOY* illicit such a dark response from me. Oh this is too much.

I'm not likely to look at these pages again, unless I did something about it.

This is just it, Beck's list of activities are only suggestions. They may work for you and I'd love to hear if they did. For me pulling out some paint and getting messy is a great way to work out my ideas and feelings.

Ironically, I didn't participate in the "Wreck this Journal" blog book group this summer. I bought the book and was all set but I didn't feel moved. I'm laughing as I write this because you know it felt so great to wreck the pages of this chapter.

I feel a bit justified too, for you see there is evidence...

...that this is a workbook. Who said that we had to stay within the lines?

I hope I didn't offend any of my fellow Joy Seekers who are participating in Jamie Ridler's blog book group. I do think there are great ideas throughout the book. I hope if you don't like an idea that you take the good parts and then get creative with how you want to adopt it. I can't wait to hear your reaction.

If you are looking to get your creative juices flowing one place I *HIGHLY* recommend is Michelle Ward's GPP Street Team Challenge Blog. Just looking at Michelle's suggestions and how each participant plays with the idea is sure to get your creative bones dancing. This month's challenge is to work with black journal pages. My headstone page started off pretty black but lightened with all of the layers of white gesso that I stamped on. CLICK HERE to visit the GPP Crusade #34.

Check out these links for more information and inspiration:

Jamie Ridler's The Next Chapter Blog Book Group: The Joy Diet

Creative Every Day

Joy Diet #3 Desire

"Pick a pebble, any pebble."

Oh this one is a beauty, isn't it?

Now hold it in your hand. Feel the smooth edges. Rub it gently. 

Think about what you desire most.

Martha Beck in her book "The Joy Diet" recommends that "each day, identify, articulate, and explore at least one of your heart's desires." What is one thing you really want? Each day you may think of something new. Beck encourages us to collect these desires as you would collect pebbles or in my case river rocks.

This week I explored my desires - I enjoyed sinking into the idea, filling my heart with lots of details. When it came to asking "then what?" I found myself exploring if I really wanted the dreams to happen. Was I ready? What am I afraid of? Oh the water works began one day as I thought about what I feared. 

Then I recalled Dr. Wayne Dyer's question, "Is it 100% true?" Now of course, the answer is no, nothing is ever 100% for certain. It wasn't until later in the week when I saw a movie that I randomly selected from Netflix that I "saw" the possibilities. It was amazing how the themes and the people in the movie, mirrored what I was fearing the day before. The movie thankfully ended with the possibility of my dream. It wasn't a romantic life where all is easy and wonderful type of ending but truly an honest and realistic yet beautiful ending.

Today I was talking with a friend about another one of my *BIG* dreams and she said, "Do you have any money set aside to invest?" All of a sudden the thought of actually doing what I wanted sacred me. In the face of fear, I smiled knowing that I had some work to do. I'm eager to get to my journal to write my list of "what ifs and then what" statements. In between the scary spurts have been amazing joy-filled moments. This week I am REALLY seeing what I want. For the last couple of years, I've been working on my visions with boards and cards, and journal entries. The themes from the last year are coming up again and again, but now they are crystalizing. I'm so excited! I love my dreams for they are uniquely mine and they can be *ANYTHING* I want them to be!

The turtle keeps showing up in my collages. One day this week among a *VERY* messy creative room, a little turtle poked his head out with a gentle smile. I picked him up and said, "You'd like to hang out with me don't you."

I googled, "turtle meaning" and found the following:

The turtle naturally withdraws and goes within when in turmoil. It does not need to learn the importance of this, it naturally knows. The turtle's whole life is one of steadfastness of effort and patience. Slow and steady: A life of 'non-doing'. There is a saying "home is where the heart is." The turtle is always at home within itself. (source: Life Balance Institute)

A-ha! And so I am reminded by my steadfast companion of where I feel most at home -- within me. Like the turtle I will practice patience as I explore and refine my dreams. I know I have the stuff to make them happen -- I just need to give them time.

Check out these links for more information and inspiration:

Jamie Ridler's The Next Chapter Blog Book Group: The Joy Diet

Creative Every Day

Joy Diet #2 - Truth

When I read the second chapter and assignment in Martha Beck's book, "The Joy Diet" a heavy, "ugh" came out. Last week's task of "doing nothing" for 15 minutes a day was a pleasure. This week the idea of stirring up my inner "truths" and specifically those things that may be getting in my way was not appealing. Who has time to pull up this stuff on a daily basis? Can you feel my resistance? You see I've done a lot of work in the last year and I'm getting to the point where I am ready to out grow my old stories. But one day this week I noticed in my morning pages, that some mild feelings of jealousy showed up. Ah ha! an opportunity to visit Martha Beck's battery of questions. And so I gave it a go and found that it was a good exercise for visiting my feelings. I was relieved too that the jealousy was on the mild side and no tears or anger or heavy emotions took over -- I did after all have to get to work.

Serendipity knocked on my door as it does so often. I publish art journaling prompts and online workshops on my blog, TrueNorthArts.com. I have been planning a new prompt for October, titled, "What's Bottled Up Inside?" Pictured above and below are some of the photos showing altered bottles with custom labels. Don't they make delightful and safe vessels for tucking in journal pages? I love the metaphor! Now when I visit those tender emotions and pull out the "truth" I have just the place to put them! To get a closer look at the project, visit: www.TrueNorthArts.com.

Check out these links for more information and inspiration:

Jamie Ridler's The Next Chapter Blog Book Group: The Joy Diet

True North Arts

Creative Every Day

Joy Diet #1 - Do Nothing

"To begin the joy diet, you must do nothing for fifteen minutes each day." Martha Beck prescribes a daily dose of meditation as a means of quieting our minds and taping in to our inner wisdom. My first experience with meditation was over twenty years ago when I learned Transcendental Meditation (TM). I met with a small group of people all of whom were 15 - 20 years older than me to quietly gather to meditate. It was a powerful experience that I'll never forget. Over the years I've experienced various forms of relaxation including yoga, tai chi ch'uan, and walking meditation. This week I've enjoyed returning to a practice of sitting meditation. I am all too familiar with the chattering mind and a body that wants to stay busy. To move through the chatter I found myself shifting from a focus on my breath to a mantra to labeling each passing thought. As I stuck with my practice I found my body relax and sink into a peaceful solitude leaving me feeling grounded.

There are many ways to achieve this connection with our self that I explore in my new online workshop on "personal retreats." To retreat is not to run away from but to unplug from our busy lives and to tune in to our selves. In the online workshop we look at retreat moments and try out various practices that we can incorporate into our daily lives.

Pictured above is my son taken many years ago (he is now 13). His father and I taught him how to meditate, a skill we felt would help him throughout his life. Isn't he adorable? Now if this little guy can sit still for 15 minutes, I think any adult can too!

Check out these links for more information and inspiration:

Jamie Ridler's The Next Chapter Blog Book Group: The Joy Diet

True North Arts Online Workshop: Personal Retreats

Creative Every Day

The Joy Diet Begins

Now this is my kind of diet! Jamie Ridler is hosting a blog book group and our next book is "The Joy Diet" by Martha Beck. The timing and the book choice couldn't be more perfect! This week at work we kicked off an 8-week wellness program where the focus is on getting moving. Check out the darling "passports" that I designed for tracking activity POINTS.  I'm excited about this book as it feeds the soul. My projects are all about soul food so this diet is really my cup of tea. 

I took a peek at chapter 1 and it is about doing nothing. The challenge is to do nothing for 15 minutes each day. I'm looking forward to reading this chapter and sinking into some solitude each day. I'm gearing up for my new online workshop on creating personal retreats and this first chapter ties in beautifully. 

I hope you can join along in the fun. Each week we work through another chapter and blog about it.

Check out these links for more information and inspiration:

Jamie Ridler's The Next Chapter Book Group: The Joy Diet

True North Arts Online Workshop: Personal Retreats

Creative Everyday

But wait before you go you have to take a closer look at this flower arrangement.

I never thought of combining mums and roses. Setting a pretty table is one thing that brings me so much joy. 

Have a joy filled autumn!

{soul hugs}

Kathryn, Collage Diva