Keeping a Marriage Intact

February 22, 2012

Marriage is a promise. Not just between the couple but to the community at large, to generations past and to those yet to be born. ~ Heritage.org 

Why do people decide to independently publish a book? Often times it is because they want to educate and inform. The author of Out of Focus …Again, Ann Kochenberger had exactly that motive in mind, when she decided to publish her book. 

Ann wanted to share, with others, her struggles with depression and how she has found personal success in living a fulfilling life despite having bi-polar disorder. This disease affects more than 17 million people, in the United States alone. 

Unabashedly, and with good humor too, Ann describes how her bouts of depression have affected her relationship with her husband of more than 30 years, her parenting and with her family, too. 

Finding My Way Back from Depression, Ann’s new e-book directly speaks to the coping strategies that saved her from debilitating symptoms of depression. 

Gary Kochenberger, PhD has much of value to say in his companion e-book Depression…A Guide for Caregivers from the role of being a protector and nurturer of a loved one with the disease. He shares his perspectives on how their marriage has survived, how the caregiver can be pro-active in learning about the disorder, some of the mistakes Gary has made, trigger points that a partner can watch for and help their loved one avoid.

If someone you know suffers the effects of bi-polar disorder, these companion books are great resources. The books are written from very personal and non-clinical points of view. The book in-print Out of Focus…Again as well as Ann and Gary’s e-books can be ordered on-line through www.outoffocusagain.com. The e-books are also sold through Amazon.

Both Ann and her husband Gary are dedicated to helping others who are trying to cope with a loved one with bipolar disease. As a couple, they frequently speak to groups and families about depression and bipolar disorder.

Check in on author Ann Kochenbergers’s blog on www.outoffocusagain.com. She  shares all kinds of information about living a fulfilling life with bi-polar disorder.

This blog brought to you www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.


Being Receptive to Messages

February 15, 2012

On Monday  I posted a blog called the Art of Listening. I promised to share more information on All Things Fulfilling about H.A.Levin’s book “A History of Horses Told by Horses: Horse Sense for Humans.” So here it is ~ 

This book is told from the perspective of a horse. Thoughts are communicated from horse to human (the author) telepathically.  Essentially – What would horses say about humans and their world if they could talk? 

Hal, the author, is a spiritual healer who communicates with animals. Through his telepathic capacities he points out from a horse’s point of view, that our society has grown too complex, leaving a detachment between people and the natural world. The reason women and horses form particularly close relationships is that women are more open to inspiration and enlightenment. Horses want women to gain self confidence through their relationships with equines, so they will feel the ability to change the course of the world. How about it women? Are you up to the task?

Author H.A. Levin (Hal) travels to many countries to learn about various species of horses and how man and animal have accomplished  things together  throughout civilization. There are chapters on the history of numerous kinds of equine species, such as: 

  • sporting horses
  • work horses
  • war horses
  • race horses
  • performance horses 

This author has planned a series of books about the history of animals and their place in our world, please visit  http://bit.ly/AuzEE3 Habitat for Humanity is a publishing partner in the The History of Horses Told by Horses

For non-animal lovers,  ”Letters to An Angel: How to Love Life and “ Quotations for Successful Living“  are more books from H.A. Levin. They share with the reader how Hal has “learned to look for a rich and fulfilling life despite obstacles or fear of failure.” 

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.


Life. Live it, Love it.

February 14, 2012

Valentines Greetings from me to you on this winter white February Day from Steamboat Springs, Colorado. 

Love comes in all kinds of forms and unexpected ways, meaning something different to each of us. Today, I simply wish to quote one the brightest stars in history on the business of living life and finding personal fulfillment ~Albert Einstein. He said it all.  “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”

“Make this day and every day about all things fulfilling in your life!

More independently published thoughts, words and views tomorrow from  www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com

 

 

 


The Art of Intuitive Listening

February 13, 2012

Horses leave hoof prints on your heart” ~ H.A. Levin 

Steamboat Springs, Colorado is an interesting town; a mix of ski resort and ranching communities all wrapped up in beautiful scenery and people who have chosen a way of life that may not be for everyone. Once I began poking around this place, I found out it is an amazing microcosm of people with diverse talents and interests. A very friendly community, too! 

I met H.A. Levin (Hal) a writer and independent publisher back in June, when I formed a meet-up group, called She Writes Steamboat. It is a networking group of independent publishers who gather monthly. The mission of the group is to foster independent publishing success. Part way through our first meeting, I noticed a sole male presence quietly sitting in the back. 

After we wrapped up our meeting, Hal  (H.A. Levin) came over to talk . I don’t recall exactly how our conversation went but he said something like “I hope you don’t mind that a male writer came today, I saw the notice in the Steamboat Pilot that this group was going to meet.” 

I told Hal that I was delighted to have him, and that the name of the group that I had chosen had nothing to do with excluding the male population of writers. I am a member of an on-line group called www.SheWrites.com .  I wanted to our group to have affiliation with a national group.  We have since slightly revised the name of our meet up group to SHe Writes Steamboat, to encourage male independent publishers to attend, and it has worked! 

Since meeting Hal, I have learned that he has some very interesting talents and his writing emerges from his gifts of intuitive thought and communication with animals. In fact, in his book A History of Horses Told by Horses, there is some fascinating conjecture about women, their place in the world at large and the relationships that they have with horses. 

Amelia Kincaide, www.ameliakincaide.com author of the books The Language of Miracles and Straight from the Horses Mouth has this to say this about Hal’s book “Bless you and thank you for devoting your life to speaking for those who ache to be heard.” 

On Wednesday on All Things Fulfilling we will be featuring H.A. Levin’s book. Don’t miss out tomorrow either, I would love to share  a few minutes of  February 14th with you.

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.


Independent Documentary Film of Stellar Proportions

February 10, 2012

The human spirit needs places where nature has not been rearranged by the hand of man.”  ~Author Unknown 

Juan Mandelbaum of Le Monde, has called the independent documentary film Nostalgia for the Light  a “work of cosmic serenity, of luminous intelligence, with a sensitivity that could melt stone. At such a level, the film becomes more than a film. An insane accolade to mankind, a stellar song for the dead, a life lesson. Silence and respect.”  

Sounds serious, doesn’t it? 

The setting for this documentary film, directed by Patricio Guzman, is the Atacama Desert, the most arid place on earth. The stars in the skies from this place, 10,000 feet above sea level, are more clearly visible than from most locations on the earth. 

The intense desert sun has kept Pre-Columbian mummies  and corpses of other explorers who perished in the Atacama  intact for hundreds of years. Portrayed in this film are women who travel with astronomers on very personal missions of their own, looking for the remains of their relatives, political prisoners who were left there.

 The stunning landscape along with the exploration of horizons known and unknown in this independently produced documentary, by Icarus Films, has brought very fulfilling, favorable reviews. It has been an official selection and won awards at the most prestigious film festivals in the world. For more information, please visit http://bit.ly/fSS6io

To order this film and to watch a trailer of this documentary, please visit IMDB http://imdb.to/ciOxVq.

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.


Shorts are in Fashion at the Luna Fest

February 3, 2012

Happy Film Friday! It has been a busy week for me, so today our blog will be brief. I am looking forward to a fun event tonight to culminate the week. 

The Lunafest at the Bud Werner Memorial Library http://www.steamboatlibrary.org/  in Steamboat Springs,Colorado is on the calendar for tonight. It kicks off at 7 pm. The Lunafest is a film festival of “shorts” by and for women. If  this year’s Luna Fest is anything like last year, I am in for a fulfilling night of independent film entertainment. 

The Luna Fest is paired with Yampa Valley Breast Cancer Awareness Project and the Bust of Steamboat.  Between 5pm –7pm, an exhibition of inspired art will be displayed and auctioned off to raise awareness and funds for treating women with breast cancer. An award will be given for the Bust of Steamboat. http://thebustofsteamboat.org/

The Yampa Valley Breast Cancer Awareness Project is just one of many, many non-profits in this county with valuable missions. The volunteer efforts in this town is beyond anything I have ever experienced before. It is impressive, to say the least. 

I will return on Monday with more independent thoughts, words and views brought to you on the company blogsite of www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com

Have a good weekend, everyone! I will let you know next Film Friday, which Luna Fest “short” film ranked the highest on my list.


Values, Talent and Paint Spot-On!

January 31, 2012

This is my third and final segment of my interview with artist Nancy Howe. It is more lengthy than Part One and Part Two, so hang in there because Nancy has so much of value to say about her life since making her mark on the art scene in 1990 and what it means to her to fulfill her life with what she loves to do. If you missed Part I and Part II of our interview scroll back to the blogs of January 19 and January 24.

 Sue: Nancy, you are a self taught artist who broke into the art scene in a big way, when you won the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Federal Duck Stamp Competition in 1990. You became the first woman artist selected since the contest began in 1934, for your painting of King Eiders that became the 1991-1992 conservation stamp. That was quite an honor. What words of advice would you have for other artists and art students who hope to win national acclaim for their art some day? 

Nancy: “Do not paint to win…anything.  It will be the kiss of death to your creativity and success as a painter.  Paint what you love and are most excited about….for the intrinsic reward painting that particular subject will bring….rather than thinking about trying to win an award/contest or get personal acclaim/recognition….for the extrinsic reward.  Awards and acclaim will come as the natural consequence of working in this way.  I have learned this the hard way from several sad experiences of producing some of my least successful paintings while trying to win an award.  A number of years ago I received a significant national honor, unaware while painting for the show that there was even a monetary award to be given for the winner.  In the case of the Duck Stamp I wanted desperately to win for more than a decade, only to be successful after giving up on the idea that I might someday win and decided to paint for MYSELF.” 

Sue: Nancy, I know you have two grown sons and one of the first paintings that I ever saw of yours was “Intimate Nature”. A painting of your son reading a book with his cockatiel. Did either of your sons inherit your passion for art and painting? 

Nancy: “My younger son, Tyler has a very keen artistic/design sense and appreciation for the visual beauty of things and of good art, but is not an artist.  He made some of the most wonderful drawings and sculptures as a child but lost interest in it over time.  He is my greatest fan though, and had prints of my artwork on the walls of his dorm rooms during his college days, and now as an adult proudly hangs them in his apartment.” 

“I never really felt any particular regret that neither of them became artists.  It’s probably better in a way because they have talents that are quite different from my own, which has allowed them the freedom from comparison with me.  Their personalities and interests, because they are quite different from mine, have enriched and added dimension to my life.   And I believe that their love for travel rubbed off on me and is probably partly responsible for my own fairly recent interest in exploring new places.”

Sue: Before we end this interview, what has it meant to you to be able to do what you love in life – paint?

Nancy: “I have always been artistic, and painted off and on from childhood through to adulthood, but without a singular focus on art.  I always had other interests….raising livestock, gardening, nature, skiing, hiking, rock collecting….and didn’t want only to paint or have art as a profession.  That came quite late in life when my first marriage ended and I needed a way to support myself and my sons.  I had always considered that doing art for a living would somehow spoil the fun of it for me, and was surprised to find that by educating myself and committing to it fully, the improvement that resulted became a great motivator.  Painting has been the vehicle for my personal growth and self-discovery, it has been MY gift.   It has helped me to connect with people… though my paintings and by extension, through my project…..and made me so much more observant of all aspects of life.  I once was quoted in a magazine interview as saying that at first I painted to be seen, to be acknowledged for doing something well, but now I paint to SEE. ”

Sue: When your inspiration wains, what do you do to pick yourself up and stir up creativity or is that never a problem?

Nancy: “I don’t think I am ever at a loss for painting ideas, it’s deciding which one I want to do most that can be a problem.  I feel as though I am playing catch-up because I didn’t begin my art career until I was 40.  Also because it takes me so long to produce a finished painting, it can be frustrating to know that most of my ideas will never come to life on canvas.  But I find that music, travel, and experiencing great art by historical or contemporary painters can be inspiring if I start to get sluggish in my work.”

Sue: I know you traveled to Ireland not too many years ago too. Will we see any paintings from your travels there and any other plans on the horizon besides the Bhutan series?

Nancy: “The material I have from Ireland relates mostly to landscape subjects.  I am planning to explore a more loosely rendered tonalist style of painting this coming year to balance the detailed cultural portraits for my project, and the lush, moody Irish landscapes would present perfect subjects for this.  The tonalist artists have long been among my favorites, and their paintings those to which I have felt most connected on an emotional level.” 

“I started to develop my interest in painting people around 2001 after a trip to Copper Canyon in Mexico and having experience with the Tarahumara Indians from this region.  I have painted a number of portraits of them and still have material remaining in my file to draw from if I decide to add this area to my project. ”

“In March I will be travelling to Panama’s San Blas Islands off the Caribbean coast for the purpose of having experience with the Kuna indigenous people for the project.  Next fall I am hoping to make a trip to New Zealand to create paintings of the Maori culture there. Other cultures on my wish list are the Inuit, the Sami people of northern Scandinavia, the people of Papua New Guinea, and the Aymara of the Andes.   In each country I will partner with an effective non-profit working in some area benefitting women that resonates with me.”  

Sue:  Ever since I met you and was introduced to your artwork,  I have become a real fan of your remarkable art. In yourKenya paintings, it is so evident that when you go into a country you fully absorb the human depth of emotions in the native people. You translate it so well onto the canvas. I am so impressed by how so far you see beyond the subject and the canvas in front of you. You see the big picture for what art can do for people in this world.  It is very inspiring to those of us who are not even painters. Drawing from what you see in your subject’s eyes, in their facial expressions or in their stance and getting that down on the canvas, is this the most difficult part of painting? 

Nancy: “All of painting is difficult to me.  I am slow, sometimes painfully slow, and often it’s a struggle…..I’m maybe more a Beethoven than a Mozart.  I never seem to get it right the first time, sometimes doing particular passages over and over until I’m happy with the result.  It just seems like so much trial and error…. a lot of error.  Unfortunately, and sometimes fortunately, I am a perfectionist, which in itself is painful.  I think it is that characteristic, along with my almost inhuman persistence, that makes the process so long, but also generally successful.  I know what it is I am trying to capture when I begin, but I don’t know how I get there sometimes…..seems like dumb luck when I do.  But I know enough to realize when I’ve nailed it and when it’s just not there yet.  That’s when my persistence comes in handy.  I never know what part of the painting is going to jump up and bite me.  Some part I think will be difficult comes easily and another that seems simple isn’t.  So I never know until I get into it what will be the most difficult aspect of a particular painting.  But I do know that there is a lesson to be learned from every problem and struggle encountered. ”

Sue: Nancy, I so appreciate the time you have given me today. I would like to say thank you for sharing your paintings with the world and it is a pleasure knowing you as an Artist. There is so much more we could talk about, but people will have to visit www.howeart.com to find out more about your work. You need to get back to the easel, I am sure!


Thumbs Up to an e-Book Author

January 27, 2012

“We never know how far reaching something we may think, say or do today will affect the lives of millions tomorrow.”  – B.J. Palmer 

Today, we are featuring first time author Darcie Chan. She will be the first of many to come authors who have found success as an independent publisher of an electronic book. Darcie Chan is an environmental lawyer who has entered into the contemporary publishing market with her novel The Mill River Recluse. 

 The story, set in Vermont, is about a wealthy occupant in mysterious marble house. The main character suffers from a social disorder, limiting her to communicate through her bedroom window with a few key characters in her town. Chan weaves a story of love and friendship that has landed this fictitious novel on the New York Times best seller e-book list.  Indie Reader touts the book  “as real page turner.” Excellent reviews have come from Kirkus and it also holds a place on the USA Today’s list of best selling books, too. 

More of 430,000 copies of Darcie Chan’s novel have been sold. It is downloadable from the leading on-line booksellers at a very affordable price of 99 cents. She has already made more than she in all likelihood would have been paid as an advance from a traditional publisher. 

Darcie Chan is just one example of an author who has decided to go the digital publishing route, and has found success as an unknown writer. She has been approached by film studios who want to produce an book to film adaptation of her story, too.  For more information on The Mill River Recluse, please visit www.darciechan.com

We will continue to feature other inspiring stories about e-book authors on All Things Fulfilling. Check back with this blog site.

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.


Taking it to Heart

January 25, 2012

Make it thy business to know thyself, which is the most difficult lesson in the world” ~~Miguel de Cervantes 

I came across this quote the other day, in a litttle gem of a book by H.A.Levin called Quotations for Successful Living. Cerventes’  quote completely speaks to my blog posting of January 3, 2012 entitled Instrument of My Thoughts. It contains the essence of what All Things Fulfilling is all about. 

In searching for ideas to write  about in each new blog, I have come to know my own thoughts on so many issues. Blog writing has allowed me to put voice to those ideas. What began as a blogsite about the business of providing fulfillment services for independent publishers has morphed and expanded into a blogsite about all kinds of personally fulfilling things, too. 

I have come to know my own thoughts about:

  • Art and it’s place in my world and in the world at large
  •  writing and the writing process
  • independently published books, films and music
  • My life as it was and how I see it now, as every aspect of living and business has meshed.
  • Parenting a child who has become, as an adult, a visual effects artist and filmmaker. How did that come about? Perhaps through the way he was raised? Don’t know. The jury is still out!
  • My relationships with others whose lives synchronize with mine through Art and the art of living.
  • Finding balance in life between work and all other fulfilling things. 

I have taken Miguel de Cervantes words to heart, and I am fully engaged in a project that will some day come to fruition in the form of a book. The book will contain more independent words, thoughts and views about all things fulfilling that have created the person  and the life I  live today. 

Have you learned lessons by making it a business to know yourself? If so, I would love to hear your comments on that train of thought. Post your comment on this site! 

Please do return to our company blogsite All Things Fulfilling. In the coming weeks, I will be sharing more with you about author H.A. Levin. He has some interesting perspectives in his books about living and relationships, too.

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.


Embracing Art and Humanity

January 24, 2012

Welcome back to Part II of my three part interview with artist Nancy Howe. Part 1 of this interview appeared in the blog Fulfillment and Art, the Humanitarian Way on January 19. Scroll down and find it, it is not to be missed.

Sue: What does it mean to you personally to be involved with a project that combines humanitarian efforts and art? 

Nancy: “I have found through this project an enormous opportunity for connection……..to extraordinary people, to special places on the planet, and to a way for me to give  that is personal, effective, and suited to my particular talent.  In a way the project perfectly dovetails my interests at this time of my life….painting, travel exploration, and philanthropy. In my own experience of being an artist I have found that it can be very isolating, and selfish in a way; it tends to direct my focus inward.  The project is enormously enriching in that it has become my doorway to connecting with the wider world, to focus outward, human being to human being, introducing me to some extraordinary people and places.  The experience of flexing my brain to wrap my head around a culture so wondrous and alien to our way of life does much to expand the capacity to grow artistically and as a human being. The travel, research, and creation of paintings that will ultimately generate funds to benefit women in distant places— such as Kenya, Bhutan, and Panama— makes it possible to forge a connection to others around the globe I could never have imagined without this project.  In South Africa there is a Zulu word, “ubuntu”, which means you are only human if you are connected to and helping other humans.  I love embracing the thought that my project allows me the opportunity for learning to be more “human”. 

Sue: Are there Artists in other countries involved in this project or just U.S. Artists?

Nancy: “This is solely my project.  I have had people suggest that I start a group to include other artists doing the same.  But it can become very cumbersome to involve other people, their personalities and agendas, and coordinating everyone.  I don’t want to give up painting time to construct an organization that might be unwieldy, and want to have the flexibility to go where this takes me.  Somehow it feels like a very personal journey. ”

Sue: I have been keeping an eye on your website www.nancyhowe.com  and you have an exquisite series of paintings of Kenyan women and children.  Is this series complete? Will there be a national exhibit of the work?

Nancy: “The series will be ongoing; even as I will be painting the people of other cultures my intention is to continue to add art to the Kenya series each year.  I am committed to forging an ONGOING relationship with all the projects and cultures I select to fund.  I would be very interested in assembling the artworks in the future, either as separate cultural exhibitions, or together as a combined series of paintings of different indigenous groups. But again, that would require a considerable time investment that would compromise the more important aspect of the project, which is to produce the artwork to sell to benefit the women’s programs.” 

Sue: I understand you recently traveled to Bhutan. How long were you there? Did you get to travel the country or stay in one concentrated area? 

Nancy: “We were in the country for 3 weeks and travelled the length of the country from the more visited tourist areas out to the remote eastern regions.  I was on a “mission” to visit with and photograph people from all walks of life so I would have enough material to create the paintings which would encompass aspects of home life, farming, weaving, the monasteries, and the landscape.  I probably have material enough for 5 or 6 years from this visit.” 

Sue: What did you absorb of the Bhutan culture that you want to bring to your Art? 

Nancy: “This is a culture so dominated by the Buddhist religion which permeates every aspect of their daily life and culture…..from their art, their dress, the design of their homes, their yearly calendar, when to plant, when to harvest, when to marry, their ceremonies, even the naming of their children.  Because of this there is a contrasting and seemingly incongruous characteristic that will be evident in the artwork inspired by the Bhutanese.  There is so much color in their life, in their art which adorns their homes and public buildings and their traditional clothing and jewelry.  The colorful and intricate patterning of their hand woven clothing and the Buddhist art that surrounds them will provide vibrant and complex elements to the paintings.  Yet their lives are spare and simple.  They don’t aspire to HAVE.  The interior of their homes, as well as the demeanor of the Bhutanese reflects this Spartan lifestyle and a visible lack of yearning for more of anything beyond what is necessary, a peace with themselves and how things are. There is a beautiful quiet in their faces, and confidence in their gestures that will be exquisite to capture in the portraits.  I have, it seems, been working the greater part of my artistic career to capture that stillness and sense of peace…in people, birds, animals, landscapes, and still life subjects……so this culture has a particularly strong pull on me.”

The final segment of this interview will appear on Tuesday, January 31. We will be discussing how Nancy Howe, a self taught artist from Vermont, broke into the art scene in a big way. I also look forward to sharing with our readers Nancy’s thoughts on the personal fulfillment a career in the Arts has brought to her life.

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.


Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 75 other followers