Category Archives: help and healing through art

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.

Treasuring Art

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 “Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.”   ~ Chinese proverb 

At a thrift store recently I came across an art print of Thomas Moran – imagine my delight! It seemed like a God thing – the image was just sitting there waiting for someone who’d appreciate it to pick it up . I gave in to my desires and purchased it – a real deal. I am very grateful to have the Moran art print hanging on my wall. He was one of the greatest illustrator and colorists of all times.

Every evening the week before last, I had been watching Ken Burns’ documentary The National Parks: America’s Best Idea.  http://bit.ly/182xh1N. Moran’s name was mentioned as one of the top landscape painters of the 19th century who ventured west. I learned he traveled to YellowstoneNational Park from the Hudson RiverSchool in New York, in the summer of 1871, to document on canvas what others described as a place where “hell bubbled up.”

Many artists traveled westward in the early days of the founding of the U.S. National Parks and they continue to be favorite places for artists who are seeking inspiration. Artists still go to paint, photograph and write about the dramatic landscapes in these protected government lands which are far more unique than many other places across the United States. Ralph Waldo Emerson described the National Parks as places where “God is more easily found in nature than in the works of man.” 

Lots of people find personal fulfillment in poking around in thrift shops. You never know what treasures you might find. I scored!

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Do return to All Things Fulfilling tomorrow!

Film Friday: Romance

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Love never gives up, never loses faith, always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance ~ from the Bible

This Film Friday I thought we would focus on romantic comedies.

Here are a list of twenty of the most popular romance movies from 2012. http://www.movie-moron.com/?p=20914. I am pondering over which one my husband and I might enjoy seeing tonight the most. Will it be The Vow,Click for Info & Ordering Perfect Sense Click here for Info & Ordering, The Lucky One Click Here for Info & Ordering or What to Expect When You Are Expecting Click here for info & ordering or shall it be something else?

Indeed, to survive a long term marriage, humor is important as well as devotion that just doesn’t quit, even if the other person in the relationship might be driving you crazy. And believe me, that happens in holy  matrimony.

Heart-shaped-waffles-490x329Today my husband & I celebrate our 33rd wedding anniversary. I ‘m going to share this very short video with my husband, as we sit down to eat our “Eggos” for breakfast. He hasn’t seen it. It’s called My Waffle Wedded Wife.  It’s a good way to start the morning! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3E9U3GDrmI

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

Fair and Balanced Pets

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Scratch a dog and you’ll find a permanent job. ~ Franklin P. Jones

The other day kitties had their chance to be in the spotlight on All Things Fulfilling. So as not to be accused of being a dog hater, today we will cater to canine lovers everywhere by featuring a book about man’s relationship to dogs.

tibetan mastiff

Photo Above: Tibetan Mastiff

How can anyone not like a dog? After all, dog is God spelled backwards, and I have met plenty who rule the household kingdom. Unless a dog has a specific behavioral problem, they are usually fair and balanced when it comes to trying to understand their owners. They have dogcognition and even seem to have compassion when human beings are hurting. Cats, they can be a stand-offish, often paying little attention to the people who feed them.

If you are interested to know more about what dogs think, PBS has a great article based on their NOVA Series, with questions and answers, about a dog’s emotional intelligence. Visit this link. http://to.pbs.org/14vODVZ .

Dog ma the zen of slobberLooking for a good read about the canine species? Dog-Ma – The Zen of Slobber by Barbara Boswell Brunner is a book for you. The story is about a husband and wife who rescue dogs. When life gets complicated, and deals out some challenges, the tables are turned, and the canines they’ve rescued dish out what’s needed to help the couple through rough patches. The dog’s antics will make you smile, and confirm why a dog is said to be “man’s best friend.”

To read more about Dog-Ma: The Zen of Slobber, available through Smashwords, in digital format for a very reasonable price, please visit http://bit.ly/18MD6xo .

It really doesn’t matter what kind of pet you have as long as they fill your heart with happiness. Return tomorrow to more independent thoughts, words and views from CFS.
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Journey toward Enlightenment

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Words that enlighten the soul are more precious than jewels. ~ Hazrat Inayat Khan

“Okay…it’s 4:30 in the morning and any minute we’re off to the airport…Burlington VT to Newark, NJ then 14 hrs to Bejing, from there to Mongolia and the Gobi–the first leg of the journey has begun!” ~writes Clemma Dawsen from Sandgate, Vermont.

I doubt my friend Clemma has taken her feline. She’d be more likely to transport her horse. She’s an equestrian, and finds the same kind of fulfillment in owning an equine as the Dali Lama does in having a cat. If you missed the story about His Holiness and his feline, scroll down to yesterday’s blog.

clemma dawsen

Clemma is part of a group that is traveling from Vermont to Tibet to learn more about personal fulfillment. This group is made up of artists of all types. She will be journaling as she travels, she is the poet/writer of the group.

I am so proud of Clemma. She is deserving of this assignment. I met her when I worked as education coordinator at the VermontStateCraftCenter “Frog Hollow.” She is one of those kinds of people you feel as if you have known forever – warm, loving and friendly. We “clicked” immediately. Although we only worked together for a relatively short time, she has never left my heart. When we met, we had a lot in common – both of us had sons, who were only children. They attended the same high school and both boys have artistic spirits. We’d share notes on teen rearing a lot.

I encourage you to follow Clemma and her fellow adventurers on the blog Triptych Journey: The Alchemy of Stories, Art and Travel. http://triptychjourney.org/  .

The group is also comprised of a project advisor (a Buddist who has more than two dozen books on spirituality to his credit), a documentary cinematographer, a photographer, and a choreographer. Their mission “is to tell compelling world stories that speak to all of us. Using multimedia arts and expression, Triptych Journey connects audiences to vulnerable people, cultures and ecology, instilling values of conservation and preservation in a rapidly changing world.”

Happy Travels to All! I can’t wait to be enlightened about what is learned from this experience that will take  these artists to far off reaches of the world.

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

Curling Up with Cat Books

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In ancient times, cats were worshipped as Gods, they have not forgotten this. ~ Terry Pratchett

Ok cat lovers, wherever you are….today’s blog has been written with you in mind.

Have you ever wondered why people chose cats over dogs? Two of the top reasons cats are preferred over dogs by so many people is their independent spirit and their low decibel level. So it’s no wonder that the Dalai Lama has been smitten with a kitten. A feline fits much better into the serenity picture than a canine. After all, a fulfilling life for His Holiness is a peaceful co-existence with the world and a purring kitty indicates supreme contentment.

A canine just wouldn’t cut it with Buddhist traditions.  Interruptions in meditation would be too frequent having to let a dog in and out, whereas cats are self-sufficient. Furthermore, a yapping dog breaks the silence and concentration required to live the lifestyle revered by monks.

dali lamas catThere are two books that are hitting the top of the sales charts about the Dali Lama.  The Dali Lama’s Cat is written from the perspective of an animal describing what it is like to be the pet in residence. Greeting dignitaries and always having to be on guard and exhibit good behavior is of utmost importance.

Many readers are also curling up with a second book by David Michie called The Art of Purring. In this publication, His Holiness’ Cat enlightens the reader and shares wisdom about what makes for happiness and everlasting contentment. Both of these books are  good reads.

Anyone who is interested in learning more about the spiritual ways of the Tibetan people, and how the relationship between mankind and feline is harmonious and satisfying will enjoy these books.

art of purring

Do return to All Things Fulfilling tomorrow. I am going to share with you a blogsite that will be chronicling a journey of a group of people who have begun their travels to Tibet to gain insight from their first hand experiences on the meaning of personal fulfillment.

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Food Inspired Books

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“Ice cream is happiness condensed.” ~ Jessi Lane

There are books that nurture our mind, body and spirit. Many books are inspired by our relationships to food because for many people eating is considered a spiritual thing.

 Certain types of foods calm us down, add spice to our lives, and uplift our moods. To read more about serotonin and the effect it has on our brains, please visit this website. http://on-msn.com/15XKQhf.

Photo: BlessDesign.com blessdesign.com

Quirk Books “Seekers of All Things Awesome” has come up with some book titles inspired by ice cream flavors.

  • Berry Potter and the Container of Secrets
  • Whirled War
  • War & Peach
  • Oliver Twist : Please Sir, I Want Some More
  • Clockwork Orange Creamsicle
  • One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish: The perfect snack to share with Zax

Which flavor would fulfill your palette? For me, Clockwork Orange Creamsicle would do it – refreshing citrus combined with smooth, buttery-like texture.

janet maccaro bookChange Your Food, Change Your Mood, a book by Janet Maccaro, provides diet solutions which help elevate the mood, stabilize mood swings, stress and increase focus. Good health means happy body, mind and spirit. By eating the right foods we can achieve an improved lifestyle.Click for info & ordering

Remember to eat foods that feed your soul. Life is meant to be enjoyed, so give into your cravings sometimes. Eat what turns you inside out with happiness.

ice cream happinessz

See you tomorrow on All Things Fulfilling. com.

Labors of Today’s Innovators

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“Thou, O God, dost sell us all good things at the price of labor.” ~ Leonardo daVinci

Today, I am going to spare my labors and shift the spot light to an author who has a lot of good things to say in his books about how to think and work creatively. He has written a number of publications that contain fascinating thoughts and concepts.  For more information on Michael Gelb’s writings and workshops, please visit his website. http://michaelgelb.com/

Here are a few of Michael Gelb’s titles:

Work Like DaVinci: Gaining the Creative Advantage in Your Business and Career  Click for info & ordering

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 Mind Mapping: How to Liberate Your Natural Genius Click for info & ordering michael gelb4

 Innovate Like Edison: The Five-Step System for Breakthrough Business Success Click for info & ordering
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Body Learning: Regain your Natural Poise Click for info & ordering

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I’ll be back tomorrow with some information for parents about a contest that encourages children to use their creativity by writing a story. There are no entry fees, so every child can participate and use their God-given artistic abilities.

Happy Labor Day, everyone! Find something that fulfills your own sense of fun. I’m going for a bike ride!

This blog brought to you by Sue Batton Leonard, author of Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected. Click for info & ordering Return tomorrow for more independent thoughts, words and views from All Things Fulfilling.

Writing Conflict and Lessons

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Life is a circle. The end of one journey is the beginning of the next.”
― Joseph M. Marshall III, The Journey of Crazy Horse: A Lakota History

I read a marvelous article recently in Poets and Writers Magazine about character development in stories and it got me thinking about real life people. Is it not true that some of the most interesting individuals you have ever met have incredibly complex life journeys?

If every thing in life was smooth, easy and breezy, our personal stories would be boring and there would be little reason for memoir writing. Out of strife and struggle comes personal growth, and by reading tales written by others we meet some very interesting characters who inspire us to become better people.

art of perseveranceThere is a book I encountered on Goodreads called Keep Going: The Art of Perseverance.  This book may be a good resource for writers who are frustrated and disappointed in their progress or at a loss for direction. Sage advice on not giving up is incorporated into this book. Rather than the typical new age jargon, wisdom of the ages from the Lakota Indian is shared through the writings. Click for info & ordering

Author Joseph M Marshall III, a Native American writer, inspires others in his workshops on character and leadership and through his other publications. Please visit his website to learn more about Marshall as a writer and motivational speaker. http://www.josephmarshall.com .

This blog brought to you by Sue Batton Leonard, author of Gift of a Lifetime:Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected.Click for info and ordering See you tomorrow on http://www.AllThingsFulfilling.com. The space where independent thoughts, words and views are all part of the business.

Moonstruck

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“One grateful thought is a ray of sunshine.  A hundred such thoughts paint a sunrise.  A thousand will rival the glaring sky at noonday – for gratitude is light against the darkness.” ― Richelle E. Goodrich, author of Eena

The evening of August 20th was a full moon which always means a short night of sleep for me. Every month my circadian rhythm (biological clock) is always thrown off during a full moon from the light streaming in the bedroom window. As I tossed and turned from 2:30am until morning, it gave me plenty of time to reflect on how grateful I was for the kindness of others who helped me celebrate my birthday just hours before.

My We Write Steamboat networking group surprised me, as I walked into the conference room for our monthly meeting. A birthday cake with lit candles and other surprises to help me celebrate were waiting for my arrival. Thank you all, it meant so much!

IMAG0855Guess what else I received for my birthday? My twin sister took time out of her life to go by train from the ‘burbs of Maryland into Washington, D.C. to pick up some book-related things from the Library of Congress gift shop http://www.loc.gov/shop. She sent some book plates, a 2014 calendar, Library of Congress post-it-notes and a magnetic book marker that reads “I Can Not Live Without Books.” Wonderful present, Jan. It was so thoughtful of you, I greatly appreciate it!  Don’t I have a nice sister?

Speaking of the Library of Congress, there was a recent article in the Wall Street Journal about the explosion of the audio book publishing industry. Did you see it? Must be it will be necessary for The Library of Congress to expand their catalogs to accommodate for the growth of e-books and audio books. Here is a link to the article. http://on.wsj.com/13DcAKm

Again, thank you to everyone who sent birthday greetings on-line from all over the world, cards and phone calls. Who would have thought when I began this business in 1998 that  my list of independent publishing friends and acquaintances would grow  exponentially  – that’s the progression of an industry. I am feeling over the moon because my life is fulfilling and there is no darkness in my life except in the middle of the night, when the full moon is not bathing me in bright light.

books buy happiness

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