Category Archives: social and emotional learning

Fulfilling Potential

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“The choices you make now, the people you surround yourself with, they all have the potential to affect your life, even who you are, forever.”   ―     Sarah Dessen, The Truth About Forever  

Do you feel like this Weimaraner puppy – up a tree without a paddle? Knowing you are not living up to your full potential?

up a treeYou are not alone. There are many people feeling the same way you are in this economy. It may not be a good time to quit the full time job or change careers, but that does not mean you are stuck forever. Above all, maintain the faith that better things are in store for you, believe it and work toward it.

Next, recognize that change begins within ourselves There are always little things you can do to make your life more fulfilling. For instance -perhaps you’ve always wanted to be a hiking guide but are stuck in corporate America. It may not be a good time to let go of that full time job – but maybe you can get outside everyday to take a jog, a walk or a hike around the block before or after work. On weekends or on days off, take to the hills – no excuses!

Here is an article from Shake off the Grind about finding something positive in every situation. http://bit.ly/1cmCuq1. The tips might help you.

Remember, change begins with little things. What is it that makes your heart zing?  What ever that is find a way to do it!

weimariner

This blog is brought to you by  www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com. Come on back tomorrow, and we will see what else we can get into that leads to All Things Fulfilling.

Lessons Add Up to Nitty Gritty of Story

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tissueflower1There are always flowers for those who want to see them  ~ Henri Matisse

I love those words from Henri Matisse, and in them there is a lot of wisdom. We can almost always find the positive in any situation if we look deep enough. Sometimes it takes a retrospective perspective to find out what difficult moments in life are supposed to teach us. But there are morals to be learned in everything we do, even if it is nothing more than teaching us we are stronger than we think we are or that we have survival skills and have made it through what many thought we couldn’t.

Last night I shared Matisse’s words at my public speaking class as I slipped back into my childhood for a few moments and demonstrated how to make tissue paper flowers – an art project I learned at age eleven as a junior Girl Scout.

There is a personal anecdotal story with life lessons that go along with making the paper flowers. Things I learned at age 11 that helped me blossom and grow into the person I am today. If I shared more of the story with you now it would be a spoiler for my upcoming publication.

But, if you understand the essence of Matisse’s adage, you will comprehend a wee part of what my memoir is about. I’ll keep you posted on its progress. The lion’s share of the work is already done. Now we are getting down to the nitty gritty.

Reliving an art project from Junior Girl Scouts

flower 2

flower 3

Look forward to seeing you tomorrow on All Things Fulfilling. The blog of www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Thoughtful Thursdays

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“…be fair simply because you’re doing the right thing.” ~ Dr. Robin Smith

Along with our change of logo it’s a good time to switch up some other things on this site. In my opinion, we are living in a world with too much focus on disturbing news. We need more outlets for life affirming stories – tales that help us to remember all the honorable people in the world who make every attempt to “do the right thing.” After all, it’s up to each and every one of us to do our part to create the kind of world we want to live in.

happy-kids-world-10980590I am going to do my very best, to do my part, every Thursday by recognizing and bringing light to a hopeful story about someone’s kindness and thoughtfulness. I am going to ask our subscribers and readers to help me out by sending me tales that you think ought to be recognized and featured on this website. You can share it by way of a link to something you read about on the internet, in the form of a quote or the title of a book or film or beautiful music that you think will help others to have faith in humanity, and also the talents of our country’s people.

Today as a prelude to the start of  Thoughtful Thursdays on All Things Fulfilling, I’d like to share with you what Dr. Robin Smith says about happiness. Please follow the link to her article http://bit.ly/HfZbxt.  

See you right back here tomorrow! This blog brought to you by http://www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

 

Important First Steps to Publishing

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“It is not in the pursuit of happiness that we find fulfillment, it is in happiness of pursuit.” ~ Denis Waitley

The e-Book Extravaganza on Saturday sponsored by the Colorado Independent Publishers Association (CIPA) was well-worth attending. During one of the breaks, the President of CIPA, Dr. Patricia Ross came over to me and said “Sue, I’d like you to meet one of our new members.” Of course, the usual niceties followed.

I asked the new member if she was enjoying the morning, and she said “Yes, but I feel so uninformed! There is so little I know about independent publishing.” Dr. Ross told her not to be discouraged, and off the President went doing her job of hob-knobbing about the room.

CIPA 9 13 #1As the new member and I stood talking, I said to her, “You know, each and every person in this room started where you began today, knowing nothing. That is the reason you have joined this group -to get help, to learn, to network and become informed about your options.” There is a lot to learn and you have taken a very important first step. You have joined this group!”

“Yes,” the new member replied. “There seems to be plenty of knowledge to learn from in this group.”

Before the break was over and we went to sit in our respective seats, across the room from one another, I had one more thing I had to say. “In your free time, read anything you can get your hands on about the industry, and keep coming to this group. It’s the best thing you can do for yourself.”

To learn more about the Colorado Independent Publishers Association, please visit this link. http://www.cipacatalog.com/join-cipa/. Please note the organization also offers downloadable webinars if you are too far to travel to their meetings.

http://www.cipacatalog.com/categories/CIPA-College-Downloads/

As I drove home, I began to ponder how many first steps I have taken since 1998, when the independent industry was in its infancy. They’ve all been in a quest to learn all I could about the industry and it led to becoming a business.  And the wonders and development of the independent publishing universe never cease to amaze me. I find it fascinating.

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com. The space where independent thoughts, words and views are all part of the business. See you tomorrow on All Things Fulfilling.

e-Book Extravaganza

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Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family. ~ Kofi Annan

cipa logoOn Saturday I made the very worthwhile three hour trek into Denver from Steamboat Springs, Colorado to attend Colorado Independent Publishers Association (CIPA) monthly meeting. The September agenda was an e-Book Extravaganza. Here are just a few things that were discussed throughout the day:

  • The e-book industry now represents 33% of book sales. How about that?
  • People like having a choice of formats, so offering books in print, as well as an e-book version is wise marketing.
  • There is still a viable market for books-in-print but there is a certain part of the reading population who are clamoring for e-books due to their convenience.
  • Surprisingly, people who are 55 years of age and over ARE BUYING e-books, contrary to what was expected. It is not just the young generation that are interested in the digital format.
  • We discussed pricing of e-books and how you can leverage your intellectual property.
  • E-books make it easy to offer samples, providing potential book buyers the  opportunity to see if they like an author they’ve never read before.
  • A big advantage to e-books – there is no printing involved, thus it removes the need for physical space of inventory.

If you are a writer who wants to get on The Fast Track to Independent Publishing, here is a short webinar that will introduce you to the basics. http://bit.ly/10cCp1Y. 

Do return tomorrow to All Things Fulfilling, we will be discussing the next best step if you are a person who is considering independent publishing and you are in need of knowledge. I will tell you a quick but valuable story from this weekend.

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

 

Timely Messages

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Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” – Joshua J. Marine 

On September 6th, National Read a Book Day I mentioned that reading one spark of an idea from a book can change us for a lifetime. I recently saw a sentence that motivated me big time! I took seriously the words: “the person whose life is full of faith is on the offense; he or she is taking charge of life, making decisions and making things happen.”

morning-roosterHow’s that for a call to action? For weeks I had been indecisive about whether or not to sign up for a public speaking class. I knew it was something that I needed to do for myself if I am to pursue my dreams for my publication. As soon as I read the inspirational thought, I acted immediately and enrolled in the course, before I could “chicken out.”

The course is in the early weeks but it is going well. When it’s time, I will be better prepared to “strut my stuff,” and I will be one more step closer to what I dream of doing.

As I have said before on All Things Fulfilling, I try at all costs to hold myself accountable to any ideas that I broadcast on this website. Otherwise, I am full of phony-baloney. That is not one of my lifetime aspirations I can assure you of that!

The inspiring thought came from THE book I’ve hinted about previously that I will be revealing in due course. Before it appears on this site, I will give you the heads up!

This blog is brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com. Please return to All Things Fulfilling tomorrow.

Gatsby Groupies

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 “Show me a hero, and I’ll write you a tragedy.” ~ F. Scott Fitzgerald

gatsbyI feel as if I am becoming a Gatsby groupie! Today I walked into the Bud Werner Library, and saw a display case announcing the next One Book Steamboat (a community read). It is The Great Gatsby. “I’m in,” I thought, as I proceeded to the DVDs and took out the 2000 production of The Great Gatsby movie by A & E Television Networks. Then I wandered over the computer and put in a reserve for a copy of the book by the same title.

I guess I haven’t had enough of the Fitzgeralds, the Jazz Age and the Long Island social elite even though last summer on my vacation, I took in the movie The Great Gatsby with my sister and I also hawked my mother’s copy of  Zelda and read it.

Truthfully, I was disappointed in the latest rendition of the movie, with Leonardo DiCaprio. The visual effects, I felt, were so over the top and frantic that it distracted me from being able to absorb the tragic tale of wealth and entitlement. The telling essence of Jay Gatsby’s character weaknesses were lost in the visual chaos of the movie, rather being told by the dialogue of the story.

The book Zelda, for me, provided much better insight into the psyche of an artist who “never wanted to give in or give up” despite failure and rejection. The narrative told an up-close and personal story of the relationship between wife and husband, Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald and it gave historical perspective into their friendships with other contemporaries (filmmakers, writers and artists) from the era.

As a lead-up to the community discussion of the novel, on October 10th, the latest Leo Dicaprio version of “Gatsby” will be aired at the Bud Werner Library. I’ll probably skip it. But then again, perhaps with a second look I might have a different opinion. But I hope not to miss what will probably be a very fulfilling discussion on Monday, October 21st.  It will be led by the English teachers of SteamboatHigh School. I hope students are required to join in and read this classic novel.  For more information, please follow this link. http://www.steamboatlibrary.org/events/one-book-steamboat

Come on back tomorrow to All Things Fulfilling. This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Film Friday: Teaching Emerging Filmmakers

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new day films “One of the privileges of being a filmmaker is the opportunity to remain a kind of perpetual student.”  – Edward Zwick

Are you an educator who teaches emerging young filmmakers? The other day I came across a film distribution company that may not be known to visitors who frequent All Things Fulfilling for news about independent filmmaking.

New Day Films is a filmmaker-run distribution company providing award-winning films to educators since 1971. This on-line site “delivers over 230 titles that illuminate, challenge and inspire.”  Many of the films can be digitally streamed directly from the website or delivered in DVD or VHS format.

willard van dykeSince the genre of documentary film is particularly interesting to me, I was drawn to a film called Conversations with Willard Van Dyke. http://www.newday.com/films/Conversations_with_WVD.html. In this film, Van Dyke discusses his belief that “films have the power of film to change the world.”  The man behind his films, Willard Van Dyke, “became synonymous with social documentary in the U.S.”

During his lifetime (1906 – 1986), Van Dyke painted portraitures of Americans, through the medium of film, who made their living through hard labor everyday such as steelworkers, cottonpickers and machinists. The Depression, he said, made an everlasting impression on him.Click for info & ordering Willard Van Dyke’s film

Van Dyke was director of the Department of Film at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) from 1965 to 1974. He also began the film department at the State University of New York in Purchase.  In 1978, he received the prestigious George Eastman Award, given by George Eastman House for distinguished contribution to the art of film. 

New Day Films distributes films on many social issue topics, among them:

  • Aging & Gerontology
  • Media, Art & Culture
  • Religion & Theology
  • African-American
  • Multi-Cultural
  • Children & Family issues
  • Sociology
  • Native American Studies

Film educators and film historians may find the perfect film they are looking for to use in the classroom on the website http://www.newday.com.  Check it out.

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

Author Spotlight: Lindsay Eland

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“You must write for children in the same way
as you do for adults, only better.”    Maxim Gorky

A year ago I participated in an authors workshop at the Bookworm in Edwards, Colorado with the delightful author Lindsay Eland. She writes books for middle grade students.

Eland’s first book “Scones and Sensibility” has done very well.  Even reading the book as an adult, I enjoyed it and the storyline kept me completely engaged.  I was charmed by the voice used for the main character Polly Madassa. Click for info & order on Lindsay Elands publications

On September 24th, The Bookworm in Edwards, Colorado (an Indie Bound Bookstore) http://www.bookwormofedwards.com/ will be having a book signing for Eland’s second and newly released publication “A Summer of Sundays.”

SummerSundays_FINALcvr

The premise of the story is about a little girl, Sunday Fowler, who feels she is always looked over since she’s a member of a large family of six children. When she discovers a treasure in the basement of a library that her parents are renovating, the limelight suddenly turns in her direction. That is when things become a little different. With the discovery comes some decisions about whether fame is more important than other values.

Lindsay’s book has gotten an excellent review from the Teen Librarian’s Toolbox, to read more about it, please follow this link.  http://bit.ly/1aoGEJp 

Congratulations, Lindsay! I so enjoyed meeting you a year ago. Best Wishes for your second publication.

authors workshop

Left to right: Sue Leonard, founder of Cornerstone Fulfillment Service, LLC, author Lindsay Eland, The Bookworm of Edwards store co-owner, Nicole Magistro

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

Creativity Back Into the Classroom

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“Sometimes you have to create what you want to be part of.” ~ Geri Weitzman

How many of our readers have listened to TED talks? If you get television broadcasts through Roku streaming channels, you can tune in and listen to a large variety of TED talks on all different subjects. Fascinating “ideas worth spreading” are introduced through these presentations.

The other day I listened to an interesting TEDx talk through my computer about the way students learn. Many parents and some educators feel the basic skills-oriented educational subjects of reading, writing and arithmetic (the traditional 3Rs) is failing students, and should be done away with or at least, modified. A good argument for changing traditional educational curriculum in schools is offered on the TEDx presentation called That Immovable Mountain.

Integrating art in classThe presenter of That Immovable Mountain, Charles W. Scranton poses a thought-worthy question. What if we retooled the way children are learning and the three R’s became “rigor, relevance and relationships?” Learning then becomes an interwoven concept between disciplines “bringing creativity and imaginations back into schools.” Would education become more fulfilling for students? This is the premise of the TEDx talk I listened to.

The Big Picture Movement is an alternative style of learning which is designed to reach the needs of disconnected students. According to www.bigpicture.org, “every 12 seconds a student drops out of school in the United States.” A sad but realistic image of how traditional learning is failing students.

To learn more about how art and creativity is being incorporated into select classrooms, you can listen to a sixteen minute presentation called That Immovable Mountain through this link. http://bit.ly/1a0BySQ. It is not too time consuming, it is approximately 15-16 minutes long.

Join us tomorrow on All Things Fulfilling, where independent thoughts, words and views are all part of the business. This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.