Our greatest gift is the thunder of Silence. ~Joel Goldsmith
It’s the end of the week, and the wisdom of the wordsmith in me says “that’s enough!”
Do return on Monday to All Things Fulfilling. You’ll be Looking at Lucky and I will tell you how that relates to my life. Some details of my journey weren’t included in the memoir Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected, so I’ll share more on this site. Sue’s memoir
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 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.
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Your visions will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. ~ C.G. Jung
I hope you’ll excuse me this morning. I am rather excited. I received a wonderful comment on “Wheels of Change,” the blog posted on August 8, 2013.The reader commented “You need to be a part of a contest for one of the highest quality blogs on the internet. I will recommend this site!”
Also, another positive affirmation came from Salley, from the You Are Never Alone Foundation http://youareneveralonefoundation.org/ . She said “Your blog blows me away….How do you come up with something every day?” She was commenting on yesterday’s blog on All Things Fulfilling called “Social Entrepreneurs.”
Thank you, readers. I’ll take those comments as big compliments, and Salley, I think I have ADD – attention daily disorder. Daily, I look for stories that might be of interest our readers. My attention to All Things Fulfilling is rarely at a deficit.
The first comment came from a psychology internet site which, in part, is what All Things Fulfilling is about. My goal is to inspire positive change as it relates to self-improvement, career and business or building a more positive world to live in. All Things Fulfilling means different things to different people. Exploring and discovering how our content might relate to the reader, is their own challenge, as they look into their own hearts.
My inspiration for writing comes from observing the world at large. Finding creative ways of bringing personal happiness to myself and others, is what this site is all about. Sometimes contentment means simply reading a book, seeing images in an art gallery or movie or listening to sounds that educate, inspire, inform or entertain.
If you are interested in expanding your horizons, there is a book by Martin E.P. Seligman, Ph.D. called Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life. Click for information and ordering
This blog brought to you by Sue Batton Leonard, author of Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected and www.allthingsfulfilling.com. Click for info & ordering on Sue’s memoir
It ain’t the clothes that make the cowgirl, it’s the attitude and the heart. ~Unknown
Yesterday’s blog writing was about a cowgirl artist. If you didn’t read the article, scroll down and check it out. Donna Howell-Sickles’ brand of art is fun, and it captures an active way of life, along with a unique fashion style which is popular around many Western states. For gals who have roots in the Wild West, most would probably say they love Western living and find contentment in it.
I came across a blog the other day with interesting reading. Mind ~Body~ Spirit of a Cowgirl: Where Western Meets Wellness is a good resource for women who take living “authentically” seriously; where mind, body and spirit are balanced. Mind you, women living in concert with their souls can be found anywhere, not just west of the Mississippi. We carry our hearts with us wherever we go, and it is up to us to nurture our whole beings with all things fulfilling.
There is something for everyone to explore on freelance writer, Genevieve’s website,http://bit.ly/15KK5YO including fashion and beauty products and tips for finding inner peace. I particularly like the traditional recipes which focus on healthier ways of fixing them with more wholesome ingredients, which support active lifestyles.
Image above: Artist Unknown
Do return tomorrow to All Things Fulfilling, the space where independent thoughts, words and views are all part of the business. This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com .
“Too often students are given answers to remember rather than given problems to solve.” ~ Roger Lewin
“He’s a circuit rider,” my mother declared a few weeks ago when we discussed the pastor who married my niece two years ago.
“What’s that?” I asked.
“Good Lord, you don’t know what a circuit rider is?”
“A cowboy who rides bucking bronchos in the rodeo circuit?” I guessed, shrugging my shoulders and feeling rather stupid.
My mother laughed. Oh, she laughed.
“We have one of those on this tiny island. We don’t have a large enough population of people in this community to support a full timer.”
“Well, you still haven’t told me what it is.” I said.
“Go see for yourself, he’ll be up at the white church with red doors on the island on Sunday. People say he’s really good at fulfilling his duties.”
“Which one?” I asked, trying to clarify which church had the red doors and the “circuit rider.” Honestly, I didn’t know any of the three churches on TaylorsIsland on the Chesapeake were still functioning.
“Just go to the church with the open doors at a quarter to twelve, the others may be locked up.” She said quickly, like she was brushing me off. She ran out of the house to do her shopping.
“Or maybe I will just Google to see what a circuit rider is.” I thought. My mother still hadn’t given me a definition.
“Nah, what fun is that? I’ll just go see for myself,” I thought. My mother had piqued my interest.
“I’ll go in with an open mind.” I thought. But, a circuit rider at a church? I questioned, as images of rodeo riders came to the forefront.
“Why don’t you go with me?” I asked my mother when she returned from her food shopping.
“Where?” my mother asked.
Our mother-daughter communications were obviously not working well that day.
“To see the circuit rider.” I said yelling to her from the dining room into the kitchen.
“I might, but I see him all the time about the island.” My mother replied.
“Hmmmm……A circuit rider?”
Come on back tomorrow. I will tell you what I found that warmed my heart and how fulfilling was to learn what a circuit rider is.
This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com. A company specializing in e-commerce and e-marketing for independent publishers.
There is a blog that I encountered over the weekend that I feel deserves very special attention. I hope you will take the time to visit it because it is filled with beautiful images and a beautiful story. It is written by a mom, who was given a gift from God, and out of her realization of what that gift has meant to her, she has created an inspiring and peaceful space on the world-wide-web. It is a place where people can perhaps come to terms with the challenges that they face in their lives and maybe put things in perspective about finding personal fulfillment.
Laughing with Angels is about finding loveliness in the home and family. Artful living. ‘Nuff said. I hope you will take the time to visit the site, and please read what inspired the name of the blog, Laughing with Angels. http://bit.ly/13Fc0JI.
This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com. Have a great day, everybody. Please return tomorrow for more of All Things Fulfilling!
“We can throw stones, complain about them, stumble on them or build with them.” ~ William Arthur Ward
Beautiful stone creations with historical value – things to preserve rather than destroy. Building with stone goes back centuries. Along with our culture’s growing passion for geneology, there has been an increasing interest in the art of preserving stone monuments and markers in America. Even the finest historical markers and structures made of rock, like cathedrals, churches, castles, bridges and roads need attention because their integrity becomes compromised due to land development, weather, neglect, acid rain and vandalism.
Jonathan Appel, is a stone conservator who has been working in graveyards to preserve monuments and markers in Civil War areas, such as in Frederick, Maryland. http://bit.ly/18ApKGI. Finding fulfillment in preserving our country’s history on holy grounds, he trains others to become monument conservators through workshops.
Last weeks blog about the building of rock sculptures for a unique, personal reason left me feeling uplifted, because one man’s efforts became an community building event. 
Out of all the statues, obelisks, monoliths, pillars and plaques that have been created to memorialize the spirit of beings, all over the world, I hope an overwhelming number of them have been placed to remember positive spirits who have existed on earth.
If you did not read the blog or watch the video about community efforts to support a grieving man and his art, visit this link. It’s an interesting story. Let me know what you think. http://bit.ly/145b3xc
Please return to All Things Fulfilling tomorrow for more independent thoughts, words and views from www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com . Our blog tomorrow is about a special angel and how that angel has inspired a blog that I believe deserves special mention for it’s beauty.
If you would not be forgotten …either write things worth reading or do things worth the writing.” Benjamin Franklin (1706 – 1790)
There is interesting reading material on the world-wide-web these days. Besides the arrival of electronic publications (e-books) there are lots of folks around the globe with creative ideas who like to share them – in the form of a blog (web log). Blogs allow us the opportunity to zero-in and read news we are really interested in, free of charge.
How do you find blogs on the internet? Use your favorite search engine to discover articles about your topic of interest. For instance, say you are interested in what is going on in the art world. Search for art blogs.
If you are interested in all things musical, popular blogs about music industry trends are listed. Read and enjoy! It’s as easy as that.
Wondering who is doing what in the film industry? There is bound to be interesting content on these sites from top influencers in the cinema world.
Join in with all the other subscribers who find All Things Fulfilling interesting for various different reasons. Along with articles about personal fulfillment, helpful information is available about an industry that is making news daily – independent publishing of books, films and music.
Interested? See the fourth box, E-Mail Subscription, on the right hand side of this page. Click on Sign Me Up!
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The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance. ~Aristotle
As a teen, the WaltersArtGallery (now known as the WaltersArt Museum) in BaltimoreCity was one of my favorite spots to visit on rainy afternoons. It was interesting to return, decades later, to the museum as an adult. As a young person, I was not fully aware of the breadth and depth of the collections, ranging from pre-dynastic Egyptian to medieval to baroque and Italian. Flemish and Dutch, and art from far Eastern parts of the world (Asian art) is also among the more than 35,000 artifacts, paintings, ceramics, sculpture on display at “the Walters.”
Many of the naturally illuminated galleries, exquisitely showcase the artwork from around the world in the best light. The architecture is as interesting, and inspiring as the art itself. To read more about the treasures within the WaltersArt Museum, please visit this link. http://thewalters.org/about/history/. Follow me as I explore the interior spaces through this photographic tour. I did seek permission before taking these photos inside the museum.
It was a memorable Memorial Day weekend, spent in Baltimore. Time spent with my twin sister is always fulfilling!
The exterior of the building is far different than the interior. Don’t let it fool you!
Dramatic and exquisite entry into the “Walters”
Above & Below: Baroque & Flemish paintings inside this gallery space
Above & Below Images: Architectural Embellishments
The Leo in me couldn’t resist the Lion on the doors to one of the galleries
Images Above & Below: Italian Art
Above Image: Exhibit about book binding
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“Exploration is really the essence of the human spirit.” ~ Frank Borman
My travelogue of Newport, Rhode Island continues today. I had the opportunity to tour the Marble House, one of the mansions. High up on the Cliff Walk, overlooking Rhode Island sound and the Atlantic Ocean, it was home to the Vanderbilts who made their fortune as venture capitalists in the NY Central Railroad and steamships. Their investments and other wealthy families foresight in our country’s future, brought more prosperity through expanding commerce.
The opulent stone palace, now a National Historic Landmark, was designed by Richard Morris Hunt and was constructed during the years 1888-1892. Once complete, it was a 39th birthday present to William K Vanderbilt’s wife, Alva. How do you wrap a present like that? In gold, of course, inside, rather than out. She loved to entertain and saw the Marble House as “her temple to the Arts in America.”
Husband and wife, had separate private reading rooms filled with books, on opposite sides of the mid-level landing of the enormous, two story marble stair case. It is where they went to get away, relax from all their social entertaining. They also built a Chinese teahouse on the property with a magnificent view where guests could go for peace and solitude away from the hustle and bustle of the Marble House activities.
Alva and William K Vanderbilt had three children. Their son, William K, Jr. was a pioneer in auto racing. Their son, Harold pursued his passion of yachting and sailed in the America’s Cup three times. Their daughter Consuelo became the 9th Duchess of Marlborough.
Photos are not allowed to be taken inside the mansion. To read more about the Marble House and to see a photo of the gold room in the Marble House, please visit this link. http://www.newportmansions.org/explore/marble-house.
It was a fulfilling weekend in New England, exploring art, history and architecture.
Return on Monday to www.AllThingsFulfilling.com where independent thoughts, words and views are all part of the business. This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.
Another “summer cottage” along Belleview Road
Above: Marble House, the Vanderbilt’s Summer Cottage by the Sea.
Chinese Teahouse on the property of Marble House
The Backside of Marble House – facing the sea
Above: Me with the Babcocks, my niece Kara & Her husband Joe – two architects!
Above: Gates of Salve Regina Univ in Newport, RI – it was graduation day!
Above & Below Images: Stopped by the International Tennis Hall of Fame – it was neat!
Newport Harbor
Goodbye, Newport! Can’t believe we saw all these sites in Newport in one day. Well worth the stop!
Signed, Grateful, that I returned to this area once again. Loved every minute!
All Things Fulfilling 