365 Days, Day 364

The experiences you draw to you, through the opening in the doorway of your soul... stay open... only as long as you do... (Marlise Karlin)

You must not for one instant give up the effort to build new lives for yourselves. Creativity means to push open the heavy, groaning doorway to life. This is not an easy struggle. Indeed, it may be the most difficult task in the world, for opening the door to your own life is, in the end, more difficult than opening the doors to the mysteries of the universe (Daisaku Ikeda)

Just over a year of my life is represented in these blogs. I think it will be interesting to look back: perhaps in the form of a book. But I also look forward to new doorways that have yet to be opened.

I would really love some feedback from you to add to the blog/book on what you have thought of this blog. Every creative person needs positive encouragement: so many of us never quite believe we are good enough – ever in pursuit of perfection. At my advanced age I am still finding myself, or re-discovering myself in my Autumn Years.

My journey continues. One more blog to go on this 365 Day challenge…

365 Days, Day 363

One must have the adventurous daring to accept oneself as a bundle of possibilities and undertake the most interesting game in the world - making the most of one's best (Harry Fosdick)

Everyone is doing the best they can according to THEIR map of the world! (Author unknown)

Success is being the best you can be where you are right now (Yancey Grantham)

I can only do what I can do.

I have to accept that. Getting myself anxious because I can’t do everything I planned to do in a day, is no longer an option. I will do my very best at what I undertake, and do (try to) it with love. My map of the world at the moment has many navigational routes. I am doing the best according to this map. I am making the most of my best.

I read this today: As you think, so you are. Think the very best, and you will draw the very best to you.

Acceptance is very humbling at times. Accepting were we are, and that where we are, is exactly where we are meant to be. Navigating my map in my little ship, weathering the storms, relishing the calm and smooth. So my journey continues…

[P.S. no-one responded to my blog request yesterday – for Words. I am beginning to doubt the existence of my readers, of my reality.]

365 Days, Day 362

Young.

Old.

Just words.

(George Burns)

Better than a meaningless story of a thousand words is a single word of deep meaning which, when heard, produces peace (Buddha)

Languages are fluffy big pillows stuffed between nations - what others say is muffled and nearly lost in them, and when we speak their grammar we get feathers in our mouth. It's worth it. What pleasure to phrase an idea, even in child's words, slowly, and sail it across the gulf in another language to a different-speaking human being! (Richard Bach)

We have Words with which to communicate. Movements, gestures, looks. Our deeds speak volumes.

It’s not so much what we say, but how we say it.

It has been difficult for me to present a very public side of me with my words. I am essentially a private person. I have over the past year let you into my private life, some layers deeper than others. I have only a few days left. I would like some words from you, my readers: so I know you exist.

365 Days, Day 361

No one day is like another, each moment has its special miracle, its magic moment in which old universes are destroyed and new stars created (Paulo Coelho)

When we are present in each moment, the past gently rolls up behind us and the future slowly unravels before us (Richard Levy)

Things to do while waiting on the side of the highway in the pouring rain

You know how when driving on a highway, you often see these poor souls standing in the pouring rain next to their broken-down car – and you think, thank goodness that’s not me! Well this time it was us. Driving back from Birmingham – the journey should have taken 2 ½ hours; it took us 5 ½. When your car breaks down, you have to leave the vehicle and stand well away from the highway. It happened to be pouring with rain yesterday and the wind was howling. So there we were, having scarpered up the embankment, pressed against the wall under the bridge on the side of a noisy, busy highway, in the rain and the wind and the cold. It is actually very noisy – I hadn’t quite realised just how noisy – almost like being in a nightclub, with traffic noise instead of music though. And no alcohol. Actually Ada did mention that a hot toddy right then would be a good idea, or at least have one waiting for us when we got home.

Things to do while waiting on the side of the highway in the pouring rain:

• Collect debris and create an instant mosaic art work. I collected shells! rusty metal, pebbles, stones, a broken Fanta cap, and something that looked like a metal jigsaw puzzle piece; And laid them out carefully, mosaic-ed together. Tom accidently stood on my artwork and destroyed it!

• Count all the yellow cars (only two!) not counting all the AA vehicles, of which there were many!

• Count all the horse boxes (two).

• Have a competition between the cars that Ariél likes (Fiat 500) [right pocket] and the one I like (MG) [left pocket] – which featured the most. Right pocket won (5), with left pocket having only 3. At one stage it was neck-and-neck.

• Ice-cream trucks (only 1, thank goodness we couldn’t hear it – I have a ‘thing’ about ice-cream trucks).

• Examine all the foliage – hence the little poppy in the picture. I also decided to use Nature’s facilities, and slid down the embankment in the bushes whilst trying to do this – not that any one noticed this.

• Keep warm.

We were eventually rescued and after a bit of tinkering the AA man sent us on our way. Next time I think I will take the train.

365 Days, Day 360

Children will draw pictures with everything in them...houses and trees and people and animals...and the sun AND the moon. Grown-up says, "That's a nice picture, Honey, but you put the moon and the sun in the sky at the same time and that isn't right." But the child is right! The sun and moon are in the sky at the same time (R. Buckminster Fuller)

Gather up your telegrams

Your faded pictures, best laid plans

Books and postcards, 45's

Every sunset in the sky

Carry with you maps and string, flashlights

Friends who make you sing

And stars to help you find your place

Music, hope and amazing grace

Maybe what we leave

Is nothing but a tangled little mystery

Maybe what we take

Is nothing that has ever had a name

(Mary Chapin Carpenter)

Ariél decided to rinse out/use the dishwasher recently. She could not find the proper detergent for the dishwasher, so she used some Fairy (our local version of Sunlight liquid). She started the dishwasher, came back a few minutes later to see volumes of bubbling pouring out of the dishwasher! Keep Calm and Carry On. What to do! Then she recalled how, when one has a bubble bath and one uses soap to wash, the bubbles disappear. So she went and got some Dove soap (this is starting to sound like washing powder advert!) and applied it to the bubbles!

Clever girl.

Disclaimer: In reality this did not take place; it was a very vivid dream of mine.

An extra day

[Architecture] is music in space, as it were a frozen music (Friedrich von Schelling)

The Japanese garden is a very important tool in Japanese architectural design because, not only is a garden traditionally included in any house design, the garden itself also reflects a deeper set of cultural meanings and traditions. Whereas the English garden seeks to make only an aesthetic impression, the Japanese garden is both aesthetic and reflective. The most basic element of any Japanese garden design comes from the realization that every detail has a significant value (Elizabeth Barber)

Architecture is music in space. I become quite excited by the lines, from, curves, reflections, angles that are used in buildings, both ancient and modern.

London is a melange of architectural music, with toppling glass building cascading in front of medieval landmarks. The creativity in the modern buildings delights me. The environment plays a role in their aesthetics, where reflection carry on an organic line, create a new landscape.

I like the idea of nature being included in architecture. Diarmuid Gavin creates the most wonderful landscapes juxtaposing nature with man-made structures. I really used to enjoy the TV programmes he did with Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, called Inside Out.

Aesthetic and reflective – both call out to me…

365 Days, Day 359

The real skill is to raise the sails and to catch the power of the wind as it passes by (Thomas Berry)

If you're like many of us, you've spent years trying to feel comfortable in your own skin and to figure out what to do with your life. This is your most important purpose: to fully move into the power of your authentic self and to discover how to put that power to work in the world. There's a reason why you are here and a special way to accomplish your role in the world. But so much of us feel a lack of clarity around all this. We feel out of touch with our true nature and aren't sure why (Jean Haner)

Ariél and I have been throwing out ideas for what sort of business we could start together. She surprised me by saying we should start a catering business. She said, “You have to admit we are a-maz-ing cooks.” Hmm hadn’t quite thought of that as one of my strengths [powers]. My interest is piqued. Tick-tock, tick-tock.

A movement is needed, into the power of my authentic self. What are my powers [strengths]? Tick-tock, tick-tock.

My friend Gill sent me a text today telling me why I am ‘perfect’:

“[You’re] a fab wife, mother and friend. Actress, artist and [you’re] inspiring too. You have great clothes sense and lovely hair. [You’re] terribly brave with the move and travelling. You have more talent in your little finger than most people have in their whole bodies”. Aw bless! This really made my day. Thank you Gill!

So what to do with all my powers [strengths]? How can I harness them to start a business? Tick-tock, tick-tock.

At the moment I am trying very hard to work with love, as I sew the costumes (volunteer work). I, being me, insist on them being perfect and lined. Tick-tock, tick-tock.