Category Archives: Artists

A Real Peach of a Community

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We can never get a re-creation of community and heal our society without giving our citizens a sense of belonging.— Patch Adams

What makes a great community? As an outsider, I’ve noticed things the 2014 Winner of the Coolest Small Town in America, Berlin, Maryland has in common with Steamboat Springs, Colorado, the town I’ve called home for the past seven years.These elements are what, in my opinion, helps a community to thrive.

  • Cohesion between a strong Main Street Association and the local Council on the Arts
  • People who are forward-thinkers, not afraid of change but respect the past.
  • A strong volunteer base who want to contribute to building a town that others will envy.
  • Leaders who understand the history behind the community and what makes it unique.

Berlin, Maryland “Historically Charming & Artistically Alive & Eternally Young” has been the location site of two movies, which no doubt has helped bring notariety to the community. Runaway Bride with Julia Roberts and Richard Gere was filmed there in 1998 and contributed 27.5 million dollars to the local economy. In 2001 Berlin was transformed into a town at the turn of the century with dirt roads, period costumes and horses and carriages for the film Tuck Everlasting. Actors Sissy Spacek, Ben Kingsley and William Hurt starred in the fictional film.

Movie producers as well as the audiences were captivated by the Victorian town center, the tree-lined streets and historic homes and museums in this small town in “Chesapeake Country.”

Want to know more about what makes a great community? Read this article,  and visit the Berlin, Maryland website. Also scroll back to the two previous day’s blogs to see more pictures. Every business in Berlin is worthy of mention on All Things Fulfilling. Due to lack of space, only a small number are featured. Each makes this community a fulfilling destination that reminds us of what it was like to live in charming small town America.

If you are a baby boomer, you’ll appreciate the lyrics of this 1972 song which you’ll probably remember from the crossroads of your life. Listen in as you scroll through these images!

 

Berlin Peach grocery signed

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storefront signed

Berlin house with fan window signed

berlin grey house withflowers signed

Atlantic hotel dining room signed

store door in Berlin autogr

Street &Trees in Berlin signed

old delivery van signed

20150808_112127 Yarn shop 2 Jans signed

 Thanks to my twin sister Jan for the photo contributions to this blog. It was wonderful to have an early celebration of our birthday by painting the town together.

Yarn shop looking out Jans signed

 

Yarn shop 3 inside Jan signed

 

 

Globe Theatre signed

Join me tomorrow as I celebrate a special segment of local artists in the place I’ve resided for the past seven years. They make up in part what is unique about the town of Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

This blog is brought to you by the award-winning author of Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected and short stories Lessons of Heart & Soul.

Nurturing the Spirit

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Life is just a chance to grow a soul. ~ A.Powell Davies

Building a life for oneself that includes all things fulfilling means different things to different people.

Some people have big life ambitions, some small and some none at all. Personality, culture, family and societal environments, values and education are just a few factors that play into how we design our lives or not.

We’ve all heard the expressions “life is what you make it or make the best of your life or you only have one life to live so make it a good one.” Self-reflection and self-growth is needed if you want to follow these adages because we need to know what makes us happy and then make a life in sync with our interests and passions.

4b6503d1c532e6edca80afe32abcf64d (3)For some, growing a soul is a very foreign concept! Here is an article that outlines seven steps to grow a soul that I wish to share with our readers.

Summertime is the best time of year to grow anything. It’s the high time. The sun is shining, we are feeling optimitic and spending more time outdoors in nature. What are you doing today nuture your spirit?

This blog is brought to you by the author of the three time award-winning book Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected and short stories Lessons of Heart & Soul.

Film Friday: Pursue Your Passion

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Since this week’s blog theme has been about finding fulfillment in work and career, today I’d like to suggest some movies that will inspire you to pursue your passion. 

My personal favorite out of the movies listed is Jiro Dreams of Sushi, which I featured in a blog posting some time back.

come alive leadership

Have a fun weekend. The summer is slowly getting away from us, so enjoy every moment.

See you on Monday on All Things Fulfilling. I hope you found something meaningful that related to the context of your life in this week’s blogs postings.

This blog is brought to you by Sue Batton Leonard. Click here for information on her publications Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected and short stories Lessons of Heart & Soul.

Cowboy Ethics

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  • Real courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway. ~ John Wayne

I doubt I would have ever become acquainted with the term “cowboy ethics” unless I had moved West. Sure, I believe and practice what it is about but I’d never attached such a term to it.

In fact, when I began this blog All Things Fulfilling, before I even knew what cowboy ethics were, I had decided I’d use all the principles associated with the term as I went about my mission of inspiring, informing and educating people about independent publishing. The fact that I found personal fulfillment in my writing was a bonus and a God-send.

In an interview on Living a Richer Life talk radio some months ago, the host, Earl Cobb,  mentioned that many people say they are going to write a book but never accomplish their mission. “How is it that you were successful?” he asked.  When I set out to prove to myself that I could publish a book independently as an inexperienced writer, I took to heart the inspirational words I’d heard someone say “I wanted it more than I was afraid of it.” I also changed my vocabulary from I was going to try to write a book to AM writing and publishing a book. I eliminated the word try out of my vocabulary completely. What a difference it made in the outcome and I even became an award-winning author, to boot!

If you want to accomplish your goals and if you can’t eliminate the word try completely, this video featuring Jim Owen of Cowboy Ethics points out another way of looking at the word TRY. You will find it interesting!

Last week in the blog post A Shepard’s Tea, I mentioned having a celebration after the New Year. Perhaps a Hoe Down might be more appropriate since I found fulfillment using Cowboy Ethics in Colorado. Want to learn more about the principles behind the term Cowboy Ethics, visit this website. 

cowboy ethics

This blog is brought to you by award-winning author Sue Batton Leonard. For information about her publications Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected and short stories Lessons of Heart & Soul.

 

 

Your Soul at Work

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Never work just for money or power. They won’t save your soul or help you sleep at night.” ~ Marion Wright Edelman

If you read my blog on Monday called A Shepard’s Tea, I mentioned how combining business with spiritual-centered idea has brought personal fulfillment to me. It is a growing concept in this country that I hope we hear more about in the future. Because working an entire lifetime at something that is not personally satisfying seems to be a waste of a life and not what life is intended to be.

labor of love

The other day I came across an article from McKinsey and Company. The good news is our country needs more leaders in all aspects of industry.  At the center of leadership there needs to be certain conditions for successful outcomes. They are as follows:

  • Meaning
  • Managing Energy
  • Positive Framing
  • Connecting
  • Engaging

If you wish to know more about the principles that are the cornerstone of centered leadership, I suggest you read this article. 

If you are unhappy in your current work environment or career, take time out to read and consider how you might be able to make changes in your life which will lead to greater levels of personal fulfillment. Even baby steps toward a greater goal will make a difference.

This blog is brought to you by award-winning author Sue Batton Leonard. For more information on her publications.

Life Colors Thought

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How long has it been since the biggest decision in your day was which hue to use out of a box of  sixty-four colors of crayons? If only life was that elementary.

Have you ever considered this thought?

simple-philosophy 6

No doubt about it, there is truth in that statement.

Unfortunately life is complex. Things aren’t always reduced to black and white.

Next time you’re agonizing over decisions or find life challenging – simplify your thought process by remembering this –

attitude isThis blog is brought to you by the author of short stories Lessons of Heart & Soul and Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected.

 

A Shepard’s Tea Party

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If a man loves the labor of his trade, apart from any question of success or fame, the gods have called him. – Robert Louis Stevenson

Cup Runneth OverAn exciting landmark is coming to All Things Fulfilling. Soon, one hundred-thousand readers will have hit this website which is amazing because when I began writing about what was an obscure concept to many people I had no idea how many would be interested. What I’ve concluded is that incorporating business with a thoughtful mission makes work more meaningful.  It puts the emphasis on conducting business for a reason beyond financial gain. It’s fulfilling way to live and work.

Shepard’s Garden, a Montana company is another company that has taken this idea and incorporated it into their products. They sell tea that has a verse attached to every tea bag which has been chosen “with the blessing, encouragement, and comfort of the customer in mind.” 

What a great way to reinforce the contemplative moments that come with the restorative ritual of having tea. If you are like me, the time I most appreciate a cup of tea is in the quiet of the morning. What better way to start the day than by reading a meaningful passage.

Check out this blog which gives thirty-one ideas for hosting a Shepard’s Tea Party. Most likely you will find something to inspire you, I have!

Stay tuned in the coming months. I am developing some ideas for the New Year that includes gifts for a few lucky recipients.

Tomorrow we will highlight another company of interest that puts a heart & soul centered mission at the core of their business.

This blog is brought to you by the author of Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected and short stories Lessons of Heart & Soul by Sue Batton Leonard.

Simply a Ray of Sunshine

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“A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows.” ~ Francis of Assisi

On my husband’s side of the family there has been some illness and a life was close to ending. However, things have taken a dramatic turn. I believe part of the reason that there is good news to report is because the person who stepped into the picture to deal with the situation, my husband’s first cousin, is a natural caretaker. In my mind, she’s a healing artist.  It’s what she has done all her life.  The situation could not have been handled more capably by anyone else in the family.

I’m so sorry that the task was so large that it meant uprooting her life for five months and tending to an enormous number of details.  She closed out one phase of her loved one’s life and lined up everything for new beginnings. Thankfully my husband’s cousin is detail oriented, and made sure every loose string was tied up. Thank you, Mary, for being the sunbeam. You, indeed, are God-sent.

sunshine and heartsThe course of events has made me think about how we forget to pay attention to simple everyday acts of kindness until disaster strikes. This article mentions things we can do to brighten the lives of others that perhaps many of us have never even thought of.  Check it out  because as it has been said before “life is not all about us.”

This blog is brought to you by the author of Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected and short stories Lessons of Heart & Soul.

Pounds of Love

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Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for a kindness. ~Seneca

This is one of the best good news stories I have read in a long time about the power of women who band together to make the world a little bit better.

The heartwarming ingredients in the story include:

  • Nine compassionate women
  • A wonderful mission
  • Pounds of sweet beginnings and endings
  • 35 years of  secrecy and dedication
  • Southern soul, charm and kindness
  • Love for others and community

The end result: “Happiness Happens!”

Pound Cake with love

Do not miss this article.  Click here and read the full story.  Check in on us tomorrow on All Things Fulfilling.

This blog is brought to you by award-winning author Sue Batton Leonard.

Art for the Gain of Self

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“Effort is not measured by what you get for it, but by what you become because of it.” ~ Julie Leidel, The Bungalow Craft

There has been an increasing awareness of how creating art benefits the heart and soul. Don’t believe me? Psychology Today magazine has a series of articles that speak to this issue.  Check out their article on the rising popularity of adult coloring books. Why? Because people remember how fulfilling an activity it was as a child to create a picture with something as simple as paper and crayons, incorporating whatever colors struck their heart strings.

Many people say they don’t have an artistic bone in their body, but, you might surprise yourself if you allow yourself to participate in the creative experience without judgement – purely for the fun of it. Not everyone is slated to be the world’s next greatest artist, we all have our unique talents which run the gamut. Following our passions and our God-given abilities leads us down a path to personal fulfillment.

Seek, determine and shape your life from the depths of your heart ~ Sue Batton Leonard

 And remember:

Art Light signed
Above: This print and others are available from the Motto Series @

www.TheBungalowCraft.com

This blog is brought to you by Sue Batton Leonard, author of Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected and short stories Lessons of Heart & Soul. See you tomorrow on All Things Fulfilling.