Category Archives: Inspiration

Teaching and Inspiring, No Matter What!

I want to honor my friend Amy in my blog today. She inspires me to no end and our friendship has been unwavering for more than 30 years. She has been fighting the fight of breast cancer for alot of years now.

What amazes me is her ability to accept things as they are, move ahead and enjoy life anyway. She has always had this ability but, it has never been more evident than it is today. 

She has been the one to take care of us, her friends, when news of her cancer has been disappointing. She has been the one more interested in our lives than her trials and tribulations. She has been the one to teach us that our troubles pale compared to someone elses. Amy is a natural born teacher. In her 25 year teaching career, she was awarded Vermont teacher of the year, not once but twice!

Cancer is a heavy cross to bear. To Amy and to all those others stricken with cancer, thank you for the lessons that you teach us and for the dignity with which you live your lives. You are “angels” in my book!

Angel with a Cross

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Take Time Out

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“Sometimes it is the smallest decisions that can change  your life forever”      ~Keri Russell

I am usually one who eats lunch at my desk.  Keeping my nose to the grind and trying to get the most accomplished in a work day as possible.  On Thursday, it was a picture perfect Colorado day. I decided to take an hour out, wander down to the Yampa River Botanic Park and listen to the Steamboat Woodwind Trio. The mountain backdrop, the splendor in the gardens and the fabulous music left me renewed, refreshed and ready to get back to the business at hand.

We all get stuck in ruts, doing the same thing day after day.  By just making little changes throughout our daily lives, we see life through new eyes.  Next time, you go about business as usual, put a little “bent” into your day:

  • If it is usually orange juice in the am, try apple!
  • If you usually use a black pen, try red!
  • Leave a little early and take the scenic route!
  • Pick something off a menu that is outside of your usual choices!

We have all heard these words of advice time and time again. Nothing new is being revealed here, yet we all tend to fall back into our patterns of business as usual. Must be that is why we need to hear these words time and time again.

My most delightful lunch hour on Thursday was my reminder to take time out of my day and smell the roses. Actually, any kind of flower will do it for me!

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In my Book – The Winner Is!

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This weekend I went to Arts in the Park in Steamboat Springs, CO.  I love going to Arts and Crafts events in communities that have a real appreciation for the Arts. You never know what you are going to find.

There were artists of every medium displaying their wares – potters, painters, birdhouse builders, fiber artists, jewelers and more. Each one interesting, unique and serious about their craft. I enjoyed it all!

The artist that really inspired me the most was a photographer, pictured above, Kenny Tong. His magnificent photographs of China were anything but ordinary. He came all the way from Chino, California to share his photography with Steamboat Springs, CO.  His photography is better than a day at the Spa. The images were pure serenity and tranquility. They captured places and scenes in China that few of us have seen before in books or from other photographs of China. For more information on his art, please visit www.kennytong.com.  And by the way,  you have to see his images first hand to really appreciate what I am talking about.

Kenny, you won my prize for artist of the day! Thanks for sharing your work with Steamboat Springs, Colorado and come back again! I am glad to know your images can be ordered on-line at www.kennytong.com.  Any plans for a coffee table book with your magnificent images?

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 Enjoy the glorious summertime!

 

 

 

 

 

A New Day Rising!

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There is a group 1,600 filmmakers that have come together to produce “films that matter.” This group of filmmakers, Nomads Land Network www.NomadsLand.com partner with non-profits, ecotourism and volunteerism groups to produce social issue media and documentary films. I am so excited about this network of filmmakers. This is the stuff we at Cornerstone Fulfillment Service, LLC get all excited about and want to shout “Hurray!”

I told you there is alot of good stuff on the horizon in independent filmmaking!

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Angels and Such

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“Many hands make light work” ~ John Heywood

One of my favorite movies of all time is “Lilies of the Field” starring Sidney Poitier. The basic story line is that an unemployed construction worker ends up at a remote plot of land when his car breaks down, while traveling through. The land, located in the west, is being worked by some nuns with a vision to build a chapel and a school. The long and short of it is – Homer Smith (played by Poitier) ends up being the “angel” in the story, convincing the community to join hands. They labor together and contribute materials to build the beautiful, yet simple chapel.

The lessons of this film prevail as strongly today as they did back in 1963 when the film was produced. Anything can be accomplished in  strong communities with lots of willing hands to help.

Writers, USA – Unite!

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I don’t mean to sound like a broken record on this blog subject. But, I think it is worth repeating!

Writers, let’s unite on Saturday mornings and all be on the same web page! Tune in to www.wnzf.com  “Cover to Cover” with Frank Gromling.   Broadcast times across America –

  • Eastern Standard Time       11:30 am
  • Central Standard Time       10:30 am
  • Mountain Standard Time    9:30 am
  • Pacific Standard Time          8:30 am

Every Saturday morning, that is right! Every Saturday morning! Frank promises to make each show well worth listening to!

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The Arts – Enriching Lives!

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Over the weekend, I attended two cultural events – both musical in nature. One was a concert in “plein air” – out of doors on a beautiful Colorado evening in Steamboat Springs. It had been a long time since I had been to a concert of that kind – a stand up and dance kind of an affair! I enjoyed it because it was family friendly! Grandparents to toddlers could join in the fun, and they did!

The next evening, the setting was entirely different. I am a volunteer usher at Strings in the Mountains this summer. The new Strings Music Pavilion is gorgeous and even while inside, you can still see the great out-of-doors. The Strings Music Festival is host to Grammy award winning artists all summer long. Last night, I laughed till I cried at  “Four Bitchin’ Babes! ” Don’t let the name of the group offend you. There was nothing offensive about it – just pure fun and reflection on my own gender – women! The group gave a fun-lovin’  musical review of women’s quirks, frustrations and lives.

Even the men in the audience seemed to enjoy every moment.

I think more fun is in store for me this summer at Strings in the Mountains.

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Three Candles

 

Three CandlesI just read the sad news about Farrah Fawcett loosing her battle with cancer. She was an inspiration to us all, battling a devastating disease with such grace and determination. Makes me grateful for my own wonderful health and sad for  all those stricken with cancer. For Farrah,  for my friends Amy and Brian , and all the others that are so courageous in their battle, I light three candles.

Grandma’s Hat

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Creating a “buzz” about your book is what it is all about. Independent publishers or self publishing authors play a critical role in book sales. Authors need to make a connection with their readers as well as sell themselves. 

 A few years ago, I attended a publishers “college.” I met a woman that I will never forget, nor her book! Her book was called “Grandma’s Magic Scissors.” First of all, the author was a grandmotherly type, through and through. She dressed unlike grandmothers of today, but like grandmothers of days gone bye.  Best way I can describe it was “matronly.” In short, she played the part to the hilt, and was as nice as can be – you know, “grandmotherly.” To top it all off, she wore a fabulous hat. Her book was about paper cutting. How to fold paper and cut it into fabulous designs like snowflakes, castles, birds, chess peices. All I wanted to do was buy a copy of the book and sit down, scissors in hand, with this fabulous woman and learn the craft of paper cutting!

She sold her book well, her craft well, and her brand was recognizable!

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Publishing for Non-Profits

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With the decline of grants and other funding sources, many non-profits and other industries are suffering. In today’s world, there are an assortment of industries independently publishing books, films, cds and journals as a means of generating a much needed income stream.  Could your non-profit benefit by sharing it’s mission through the power of a book or film? It may even have the added benefit of attracting other companies or communities that wish to build a business partnership with your non-profit.

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