Category Archives: fulfillment in the Arts

2014 Colorado Citizen of the Arts

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The strength of every democracy is measured by its commitment to the arts.” ~Charles Segars, CEO of Ovation

Today, I would like to acknowledge someone in our community! Photographer Jim Steinberg was recently named 2014 Colorado Citizen of the Arts. What a wonderful honor! http://bit.ly/1ky7g2V.

According to Steinberg’s website “he has traveled more than two million miles around the globe pursuing his passion for photography.” He and his mustard color 1980 Volvo station wagon have traveled many of these miles together. His car has been the subject of an article in the Steamboat Pilot. To read the full story, follow this link. http://bit.ly/1cSbImv .

His last book, Colorado Scenic Byways, Taking the Other Road won the 2008 Colorado Book Award in the pictorial category, as well as Forward Magazine’s 2009 National Book of the Year in the travel category. His stunning calendars featuring Colorado landscapes are also award-winners.

But, that is not all about Jim as an artist. He has proven himself to be a top-notch mentor and teacher for photography students. His workshops provide opportunities for students to travel with him in hot pursuit of captivating great scenes as well as intimate landscapes.

Chances are you have may seen some of Steinberg’s photographs in National Geographic, Backpacker, Audubon and Nature Conservancy magazines or other outdoors magazines.

Colorado Less TraveledSteinberg’s books provide treasured gifts for those who love Colorado as a place to ski, hike, live or travel. The outstanding panoramas that Colorado is known for are skillfully and exquisitely captured in all Portfolio Publications, including his calendars A Year in Colorado, the #1 Winner of the National Calendar Awards for 10 years running.

For more information on Steinberg’s award-winning publications, photo tours, photographic prints and calendars, please visit his website. Jimsteinbergphotography.com.

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Do return to All things Fulfilling tomorrow!

You’ve Got to Love It

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Humor is the great thing, the saving thing.  The minute it crops up, all our irritation and resentments slip away, and a sunny spirit takes their place.  ~Mark Twain

Why is it that people think that those who practice a little faith have no room for humor?

In my opinion, I think it would help all religions to “lighten up.” After all, those who walk through the doors of a church, synagogue, temple or other place of worship on Sunday mornings are looking for insight and understanding into their lives – and sometimes if we look at things from a more light-hearted perspective it helps us to unload our burdens.

Every week  our minister manages to incorporate  humor into his sermons, and still does a fine job of getting a very meaningful message across. I got the biggest kick out of him during the Christmas season. As the congregation stood to sing  “We Three Kings,” he said “I want you all to listen up. We are going to sing verse #1 and #5 with the chorus part and verses #2, #3 & #4 without. Otherwise, the three kings will arrive with the gifts and go on back home, and we will still be singing this song.”

Reverend Tim, thank you for bringing your good-natured humor into the church. God gave us the gift of laughter and you, a good sense of humor. I am glad that you use it! It makes going to the United Methodist Church on Sunday mornings that much more inspiring and fulfilling.

Just sayin’… from underneath more than 225 inches of white fluff this season in  Steamboat Springs, Colorado….

advice & snow

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

Fulfilling Reading for 2014

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Over the past four or five days, I have mentioned some hefty goals for myself in the New Year. According to the article I posted a week or so ago about how our morning routine helps us to accomplish our goals, please note there is a much better success rate of achieving our aspirations if we write down our plans. The commitment to making them happen is much greater.

So, I’m going to state right now I want to read more non-fiction in 2014. I prefer non-fiction over fiction, and get sidetracked by fictional stories too often. It’s too easy to be drawn into stories of other people and go on journeys with people I don’t even know. There’s an article in the Huffington Post called Why We Care about Fictional Characters,http://huff.to/JBZ5Bl by Blakey Vermeule, who writes that “people need to know what other people are like.” That explains why I get pulled into others tales.

Here is my short list of non-fiction I want to read in 2014:

  • Give and Take
  • David & Goliath
  • Contagious
  • The Examined Life
  • Lean In: Women, Work & the Will to Lead
  • Master Mind
  • Decisive
  • Faith Powered Profession

live fulfilledPersonal insights into what makes a person “tick” can be gained through reading non-fiction: memoirs and autobiographies. One of my goals as I have gone through the writing process of recording my own personal story, has been to give the reader some insight into why I find living ones life with purpose, faith and personal fulfillment is so very important. It matters.

Hmmm….each one of these books on my list looks terrific. Where do I start?

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Energized by Challenge

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“Stop focusing on what could go wrong and focus on what could go right.”  I like that adage. I am not sure who said it first.  I try to remember it along with having a little faith whenever I find myself looking at things from a negative perspective. With practice, it can change a person’s entire mindset.

Years ago, one of my business mentors said “there are no problems, only solutions.” To this day, this has given me invaluable confidence to press ahead whenever I feel dubious. In fact, I enjoy trying to find that “solution” that gives way to a different approach and perspective because then I am acting positively to solve the challenge, rather than bemoaning a “problem.”

be open to whatever comes nextIn the New Year I’ll have some interesting projects. I am energized by it! I look forward to seeing what I can do to run with it. As I approach these new tasks, I will keep in mind what Win Borden once said “If you wait to do everything until you’re sure it’s right, you’ll probably never do much of anything.” 

I can’t think of a better adage to bring about  motivation for positive action and along with it a fulfilling life.

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Film Friday: That Awkward Moment

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Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” ~ Dr. Seuss

We’ve all encountered moments in our lives where we just want to dig a hole and bury ourselves. Those times often occur as a result of misconstrued friendships, communications and relationships.

That awkward momentThat Awkward Moment, a film coming to the silver screen from Treehouse Pictures, is scheduled to be released in theatres on January 31, 2014. A romantic comedy about three best friends, played by Zac Efron, Miles Teller and Michael B Jordan, who find the dating scene confusing because first impressions sometimes change as a relationship deepens. What one says and how one acts can be two different things which can lead to hilarity leaving the involved parties scratching their heads.

This might be a particularly fulfilling movie for those who enjoy romantic comedies and stories about friendships.
Put this upcoming film on your calendar!Click for info and ordering That Awkward Moment

Have a great weekend. See you on Monday on All Things Fulfilling. This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Relationships and the Journey

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“Work is holy, sacred, and uplifting when it springs from who we are, when it bears a relationship to our unfolding journey.” — Wayne Teasdale

Teasdale’s concept of work is interesting. I suppose he would say I have been doing some “holy work” since what I write about “springs from who I am” and what interests me as I have journeyed along with this industry of independent publishing. And I find my work extremely fulfilling – every day is an uplifting opportunity to share what I am doing through my writing.

Fortunately, there are others who are on the same path as I am, writing their own stories for film, books or through music in hopes of publishing it.  We share commonalities. I like the synchronicity of energy.

Marketing a publication (or product or service) successfully through the web takes skill in knowing how to identify your audience and how to reach out to prospective buyers. Have you been building the right relationships along your journey to independent publishing?

come_alive_quote-Howard_Thurman-FB

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Fulfilling Content and Issues

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“What do I write about?” I asked myself several years ago when I began this blog. It was a risky and uncertain day when my first writing went public. As time went on, I gradually formed and honed my vision for what I wanted to share – issues that were near and dear to my heart such as independent publishing (books, film, music), education, business, career, parenting, faith and all kinds of fulfilling things. Fortunately, I do not have a one track mind. And as you may have noticed, my mind flits from subject to subject. You never know from day to day what you will find. The more I have written, the more my passion has grown for what I am doing.

On Friday, I received my year end blog reports. I am very content, the issues I write about have interest. Here is what the report stated.

  • All Things Fulfilling had enough readers to fill all the majestic spaces and seats in the Sydney Opera House nine times over.
  • There was an increase of 7,000 readers over the previous year.
  • All Things Fulfilling reached 141 countries
  • The busiest day was February 25, 2013 with 3,097 readers – it was also my son’s 25th birthday – that’s pretty neat!
  • The subject I blogged about that day – a book written by Kenneth W Merrill & Barbara Gueldner called Social & Emotional Learning: Promoting Mental Health & Academic Success.  Here is the link to the 2/25/13 blog:

http://bit.ly/1i3zb5X.

I need to work hard to continue to provide fulfilling content!  I have faith that with the continued growth of independent publishing (and now with the popularity of e-books), fulfilling subjects to write about this year will be plentiful.

fulfillment

What else does this report mean to me?  Dear Readers:

Thank you bottom ofheart

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Things in Store for 2014

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And now we welcome the new year, full of things that have never been” ― Rainer Maria Rilke

It’s 2014! Time marches forward! Today, in keeping with Rainer Maria Rilke’s adage about a New Year that is full of things that have never been, I wanted to share a story of a Christmas present that Santa brought to my husband and me that I am very grateful for.

“Nancy in Sherwood Forest,” a beautiful lithograph by artist Richard Schmid has been in my possession for many years now, but it had never been framed.  I loved it too much to put it in a closet. So, since it was mounted on foam board and shrink-wrapped to protect it I’ve displayed it frameless. It has given me great pleasure.

Several weeks before Christmas when I was wandering around in a consignment shop and I spied a beautiful frame, with an old distorted mirror in it. “Looks like just the right size for Nancy in Sherwood Forest,” I thought. “I think I’ll take a chance and buy it and hope for a good fit.”

I took the lithograph to Hayden Mat and Frame in Hayden, Colorado, and Jim, the proprietor measured it up. I lucked out! Sure enough, the frame was a perfect fit! Despite my concern that getting it framed before Christmas might not be possible, Jim said “I can have it ready for you for Christmas.”

“Oh, joy,” I thought! Thank you Jim Folley, for being our Santa this year! You delivered what you promised and your customer service was outstanding. I’m very grateful and the frame was well worth the wait.

I wonder what things the year 2014 has in store? 364 more days to find out!

http://www.richardschmid.com/Lithographs.idc

Nancy Sherwood2

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Seasons Greetings from CFS

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globe-www_naturalcollection_com_

Wishing You a

Merry Christmas

and Blessings for

A New Year Full of Joy

 From All Things Fulfilling!

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www.cornerstonefulfillmentservice.com.

A Company Specializing in e-commerce & e-marketing for Independent Publishers.

Literary Benevolence

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More than cleverness, we need kindness and gentleness.~ Charlie Chaplin (1889-1977) Comedic Actor, Filmmaker, Writer

Happy Thoughtful Thursday. Today I am thinking about seasonal opportunities for sharing literacy. If you are a library patron or a book lover, these ideas might appeal to you – acts that you can do for others that will mean a lot.

  • Write a literary letter from a beloved literary character about the true meaning of Christmas.
  • Leave post-it notes in random places with uplifting quotes from inspirational writers.
  • Pay off someone’s late fees at the library
  • Drop-off free, pass along books on buses, at a table in a restaurant, on a park bench, in a senior citizen center.
  • Pick-up an extra newspaper at the newsstand and give it to the person behind you in line.
  • Arrange a book swap in a public place and invite anyone walking by to join in, even if they come empty handed. Make sure you have a good supply of  pass-alongs.
  • Put a pass-along book in someone’s mailbox, gift wrapped. What a nice surprise!
  • Create a gift for a loved one – a Shutterfly book of memories. www.shutterfly.com
  • Check out an extra book from the library and take it to a shut-in.
  • Set up a Book Angels program in your community to give new or gently used children books at Christmas time.

book angels

Photo: Book Angels from www.deviantart.com

These random acts of literary kindness can be given at anytime of the year but will especially be appreciated during the holidays.

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