Author’s Retreat…Changing the World with Your Mind...And Faith

Last week I went on an author’s retreat at my friend’s cabin near Manning Park in British Columbia. Some of them were going skiing at the nearby ski hill and Anne thought I’d appreciate the rustic setting as an ideal place to write. I leapt at the chance. I had lots of writing to do and had set myself up for quite a work schedule: I’d promised ten articles and some excerpts to my publisher, three articles to the online magazine I write for, a review of my manuscript contract with my other publisher, and to write as much as possible on my prequel. I’d set myself up for quite a work schedule...Hey, didn't I say that already?...There was no internet access at the cabin. In fact, no cell phone coverage either. We were pretty isolated from the rest of the world—except for the bustling ski hill not far from us…

Then my computer refused to work…
The ski hill beckoned…
And the snowshoes came out…
And the sun blazed…
And the hoarfrost on the frozen lake sparkled like jewels in the snow…

Fearless Dreams—Friday Feature

Joel’s tag line is: Tools and inspiration to find and live the greatness within you. His blog and his fearless dreams are my Friday Feature today. The first thing you should do once you get on his site is have a look around. Check the tabs at the top and browse his “Life Questions”, “Mind Steps” “Links” and “Articles”.

You can find inspiration on a varied list of topics by clicking the top tab marked “Life Questions”. There you’ll find a concordance of sorts on topics like: abundance; action; busy; change; choices; death; evil; hiding; identity; learning; life dreams; little things; negativity; opposites; passion; play; the shadow; treasures; wishes.

One of my personal favorites of Joel’s topics is that of “play”. In an article entitled “Too Playful or Too Serious” Joel starts off with a simple personality test his daughter challenged him with: “If you had to be one of two animals, a dolphin [playful and perceived as childish and capricious] or a shark [serious and perceived as hard-working and purposeful], which would you be?” He ends his article with these words: “Playful and serious don’t seem to go together, do they? We put them in opposite corners of the ring, determined to see them battle to the death. And we usually put our money on the serious side, don’t we? One-on-one, a dolphin can take a shark any day of the week. Playful isn’t uncaring or cynical. Playful can be focused and relentless. When we’re playful as we pursue our goals, we take ourselves less seriously. We’re lighter, nimbler, and far more able to adapt to whatever challenges we meet. We can be at least as passionate about our dreams as the “serious” guy, but we find a lot more joy along the way.”

Joel writes humbly and from the heart in a lyrical, authoritative yet down-to-earth way that inspires confidence and is invitingly friendly. Just scrolling his home page alone reveals inspirational topics with compelling titles like: “Is Society Based on Fear?”; “Why Do People Use Fear to Influence You?”; “How Do You Live With Fear?”; “Who Tells You That You Are Powerless?” “What’s Your Secret?” “Are You Afraid to Change?”; and the most recent, “Who Are Your Enemies?” His post begins with the sentence: “In the wake of 9/11, the conversations of our leaders, our media, as well as our own private conversations, have become filled with the idea of the enemy, and often the word itself.” This compelling post speaks to us as individuals as well as a society: “Sometimes we make enemies of those who have different beliefs, languages, or skin color. In recent times, the bitterness that often colors the conversations between Democrats and Republicans has become a conversation of enemies, rather than a discussion of ideas.”

For me, it boils down to fear and ultimately to trust—well, the lack of it, that is. We live in a shrinking world of continually colliding cultures. It is a world driven by competition and cynicism and ironically of isolation. Our world is rife with suspicion, mistrust, lack of faith and often paranoia. We fear what we don’t understand; and unfortunately we often “hate” what we fear. And there is, sadly, much we don’t understand about each other: cultural behaviors and patterns; religious beliefs and philosophy; sexual orientation, just to name a few. Even as we, here in the blogosphere, communicate globally as a united community, our counterparts wage war and strikes against other cultures, countries, corporations or even other individuals. And, while there may often be some cause to walk the societal thicket with care and prudence, it is sad to see this happen at the expense of optimism, spontaneity, trust, faith, loyalty, playfulness and the expression of open joy. We fear we will be ridiculed. We fear we will lose an opportunity. We fear we will be left behind. We fear we will be shunned. We fear we will be hurt or lost… And we fear our life away. One of the casualties is our ability to help each other. When is the last time you stopped to help a stranger? Someone you absolutely didn’t know? I honestly can’t remember when I did. I do remember helping a friend recently who I didn’t know completely by going into service in a big way. I have to tell you that it scared me; I was taking a big risk. I had a lot to lose. But it also exhilarated me and made me feel so alive. It stunned me to realize that if it hadn’t involved risk it wouldn’t have meant the same thing to me. I’d reaffirmed my belief that only by making myself vulnerable in giving and being would I realize my place in the world and ultimately find peace (peace of mind and heart). Risk or no risk, it didn’t matter any longer. It was worth it.

So, thank you, Joel, for your words of positive inspiration and for selflessly providing us with the means to dream fearlessly. Blogs such as yours light up the blogosphere.

Kissing the Dogwood--Friday Feature

Today’s Friday Feature belongs to an inspirational woman, a selfless, kindhearted and incredibly insightful lady I am proud to call a friend as well as a fellow blogger. And her wonderful blog. The tag line to her impressive and popular blog reads: being the best you can be.

The quote she chose as her moniker is one by George Eliot: "Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person; having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but to pour them all out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, knowing that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then, with a breath of kindness, blow the rest away".

Yeah…you guessed it. I’m proudly featuring WalksFarWoman of Kissing the Dogwood.

Her posts flow like a rich brook, running from a prayer by Max Ehrmann to a touching personal story to her own inspirational photograph and tagline or poem or WalksFar’s own acrostic poetry. In all cases there is something to learn and contemplate and stir the heart. Delivered from a humble and caring heart, her lessons in moral integrity embrace the reader with such warmth one leaves with a lighter heart, a warm smile and the glow of having been touched by an angel. Which brings me to my personal favorite of her posts: Touched By Low Flying Angels. Here it is:

Many years ago my little son and I were sitting having breakfast and as was the norm we’d be trying to outdo one another with compliments, it was our booster session for the day ahead besides it also made us laugh.
“You’re a boy genius” I told him.
“You’re beautiful” he replied, his lovely smiling face pinned behind corrective specs which led to a hard time with bullies at school.
“Your cheeks are more delicious than rosy apples!” I scoffed - and then in all innocence he said …
“and you’re a low flying angel!”
It took my breath away because I couldn’t imagine why or how a 6 year old would think of this especially since it was a saying I’d never heard before and one I have never forgotten because it made me ponder that there really could be angels moving freely among us here on earth. So from pondering I went to believing, not only that I am claiming to have encountered many of them, here are just three.

After which she named three bloggers to whom she dedicated the post. WOW! Blew me away, WalksFar!

WalksFarWoman is an impeccable writer and teller of stories, parables and anecdotes. One thing you might not know about her (although it isn’t any stretch of the imagination from her blog) is that she is an accomplished and published writer of short stories. She recently published one in Karen Mason’s impeccable webzine, Nameless Grace. Here’s WalksFar’s post…quite revealing, don’t you think?

Hold the Front Page!

Okay, I admit the title is a bit over dramatic but I’m allowed to get carried away every now and then! If you like stories like “Careless Whispers” then you may enjoy my latest one “The Tapestry of Life” just published at Nameless Grace. It’s the tale of Dorothy and how a private dilemma became a personal triumph directly affecting complete strangers in the process. (Then, just like her, WalksFar does a plug for another writer…me!) While you’re there why not check out the exceptional talent of SF Girl, Nina Munteanu - you won’t be disappointed. Thanks to Editor Karen for her encouragement and support!

*****************************************

But who is this elegant incredible lady, WalksFarWoman? Who is she really? A woman who uses words like “gobsmacked”… A while ago, I tagged WalksFarWoman in a meme and here’s what she had to say:

“My friend Nina / SF Girl from The Alien Next Door tagged me with this enterprising meme originally started by Mel from Monday Morning Power. Everyone must realise by now I am hopeless at meme’s the intention is always there but the meme side burner becomes the back burner until they eventually fall down the behind the cooker! However since this meme is rather different and short AND also easy I ‘ve done it! Nina, you are not only encourageable but a gorgeous lady to boot!”

The intention of the meme was to answer the question: why do you blog? And I was so curious to find out why WalksFarWoman blogged (though I had a very good idea!). Here is her answer:

“My name is WalksFarWoman and I blog because…Kissing the Dogwood is my spiritual home. The idea evolved from an inspired moment as did the name and took me completely by surprise. It was like being given a map and a destination which I was compelled to follow - and in doing so have had the journey of a lifetime! Just like the elements of a successful life, blogging is all about good communication, learning through experience and also gathering hope, joy and a liberal dressing of laughter wherever we can. My favourite post is always my most recent so here it is - ‘Mermaids Cove’.”

Apparently I wasn’t the only one who wanted to see WalksFarWoman on this meme. Mel of Monday Morning Power, commented: “You finally gave into the pressure, and I am glad that you did. This list did not feel right without you on it.”

Go have a look at her favorite post. It is truly inspirational and says so much about our lady, WalksFarWoman. In her philosophy tab, she says: "Who am I? Just a traveller journeying with an open ticket between life and death, always learning, always smiling, always happy to greet a fellow traveller."

Thanks for travelling this way, WalksFarWoman...good friend...fellow traveller...

Altruism at the Heart of True Happiness

While on holiday on British Columbia's beautiful west coast I read an inspirational article in the Vancouver Sun that I'd like to share with you, given that it reflects my thoughts too. It also just so happens to keep with last week's Friday Feature, which showcased the excellent blog Climate of Our Future. Written by D. Todd, the Vancouver Sun article reflects our biological imperitive for altruism to achieve happiness.

The search for true happiness has been going on for millennia and remains the subject of discourse for philosophers. Yet, it continually seems to elude many of us the more we pursue it.