My personal favorite out of the movies listed is Jiro Dreams of Sushi, which I featured in a blog posting some time back.
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.
“Take note of all the good and beautiful. It is there. Sometimes in the smallest crevices and sometimes boldly standing there.” ~ Lisa Desatnik http://www.GoodThingsGoingAround.com.
Last week my husband and I were granted what I considered to be a great priviledge. We were given permission to look in on the daily operations of a business that reaps the beauteous bounty of the sea. Nothing goes to waste from the harvest. What does not get processed to feed people, goes toward’s growing crops. The crustacean shells are used for fertilizer.
Lindy’s Seafood, a Mary Ellen Brand, in Woolford, Maryland allowed us to see their business first hand and take photos and video. What an eye-opening and educational experience. We arrived in the wee hours of the morning because the work day takes place from 1am to 9 am on Hooper’s Island a remote place on the eastern shore of the Chesapeake.
Grace, the plant supervisor, described to me what this line of very tedious work means to her 36 crab pickers, who come to the U.S.A. to find a job to support their families in Mexico. Typically women are crab pickers but for the first time ever, this harvest season, there were approximately four or five men among the workers at Lindy’s.
It was evident from my observations, these employees mean business! Picking crabs is treated like an art and the craft is taught to the younger generation when they bring their family members into the fold of working in the seafood industry. Crab picking is very tedious and detail-oriented labor and not for everyone. Grace mentioned the Mexican’s wonderful work ethic and the fact that they are as reliable as the change of seasons. She said they WILL NOT go home until the catch of the day is processed and will work as many hours as need be. She said she nearly has to herd them out the door to take a lunch break, which comes at 6:oo in the morning! They don’t want to stop what they are doing. From I what I gathered from our conversation, finding that kind of dedication and attention to detail from American workers is very difficult.
As they labored, not a word was uttered but Spanish music played in the background, and the fast paced rhythm kept their hands briskly moving.
From my observation, economy of movement in the workers and efficiency of the operation allows the plant to process many bushel baskets of seafood daily. It was a very fulfilling morning observing this group of people who depend on the fruit of the sea for their fulfilling livelihood.
More photos:
My husband and I would like to personally thank Terry Vincent, President of Lindy’s Seafood and his sidekick, his daughter Aubrey for allowing us to see the business operations first hand. And thank you to Grace for providing us with answers to our questions.
This blog is brought to you by Sue Batton Leonard. For information on her books Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected and short stories Lessons of Heart and Soul.
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.
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.
I like the concept of taking old things that some people might consider to be passe´and bringing them back through the process of “upcycling.” The artistic ingenuity that goes into reusing and redesigning found old items into something unique strikes my interest. Not to even mention that fewer items are now being sent to landfills.
In my own home, I like the juxtaposition between old and new. Over the years I’ve incorporated some antiques into my home décor. It allows for variety and one’s own personality and unique preferences to really shine through. Each person’s interpretation of what makes a home comfortable and attractive is different. And I find it fulfilling to see how people artistically embellish their living environments, rather than using “cookie cutter” interior decorating style.
A few artists at Art in the Park in Steamboat Springs exhibited “upcycled” work that I particularly enjoyed. Chelles Painted Décor by Michelle Welch was one artist whose work struck a chord within me for her book night lights and other home accessories which had colorful glass plates incorporated into their design. Her booth space was particularly attractive and showcased her crafts well. There was a lot of thought put into her set-up. Here are a few images.Visit her Facebook page!
Up-Cycled Antiques had a great assortment of wind chimes made with old kitchen utensils. Their whimsical approach to art made me smile. After all, life shouldn’t be taken too serious. It spoils all the fun! Here are a few images I captured and you can visit their Facebook Page or their etsy.com site to see more of their creations.
That’s all for today, folks. We will be here again tomorrow and I hope you’ll check in on us!
No matter what happens, travel gives you a story to tell. ~ Jewish Proverb
Are you ready for the 7th remake of National Lampoon’s 1983 movie Vacation? The release date is July 29, 2015. Besides Chevy Chase, Christina Applegate and Ed Helms also star in this comedy about a family who encounters many misadventures on while on their trip to Wally World and their white water rafting adventure. Scenes were filmed at the U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte, North Carolina as well as in Atlanta, Georgia.
The father, Rusty Griswold, sets out to spend quality time with his wife and kids and recreate his own theme park vacations from his childhood but things get more complicated than that when it doesn’t go very well. The movie is in typical National Lampoon style that keep audiences in stitches.
The movie is rated R, so it is not fit for families with young children. To read more about the plot and to watch a trailer, visit this link. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1524930/.
Have a good weekend everyone. See you on All Things Fulfilling on Monday when we will be sharing about Art in the Park. The author of this blog is award-winning author Sue Batton Leonard.
When life is sweet, say thank you and celebrate. And when life is bitter, say thank you and grow. ~ unknown
If it’s been a challenging year, and we all have times when it rains on our parade, there is even more to praise for having gotten through it. Sometimes it’s hard to beat our own drum and we need a little help. In this article there are ten good suggestions, in case you are at a loss.
One of the best ways to celebrate self is to tap into your inner child. Walk in the rain, deck yourself out in colors of the rainbow, run in a gunnysack race just for the pure fun of it. Toast up some marshmallows and don’t worry about your waistline, find a swing set in the park and find glory in the feelings of freedom as you soar clear up to the sky.
If the family were a boat, it would be a canoe that makes no progress unless everyone paddles.~ Letty Cottin Pogrebin
This week we celebrate Independence Day, so I’ve been thinking about how when I was growing up holiday traditions were a big deal. My mother made each one very special. Even on those days that were of lesser importance she often made memories by the little things she did to commemorate and celebrate life. Thank you Mom, you will always be very fondly remembered for that, not only by your children but also by your eight grandchildren.
I recently came across an article on a website called The Art of Manliness that describes why traditions are valuable to the family unit. I was happy to see such an article on a blog for men because the male population can get in on the action of helping to establish traditions too!
Dads, perhaps you can become remembered for being the “grill master”, or the one who takes the children out for Sunday drives in the country, or the one who says “Grace” at the table before meals. Perhaps you are the guy who makes pancakes on Saturday mornings so Mother can sleep in.
These little things are what children remember from their childhood and they make deep, lasting impressions. The bonds of family are established through traditions. They give us a connectedness and a sense that it’s the small things in life that are important. What can you do to show your loved ones that family ties matter?
This blog is brought to you by Sue Batton Leonard, award-winning author of Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected and short stories Lessons of Heart & Soul.
Movie-making is telling a story with the best technology at your disposal. ~ Tom Hanks
On this Film Friday, we will be looking at some of the best movies that have been adapted from memoirs.
According to an article written by Emily Temple on Flavorwire.com, it’s a delicate thing turning a memoir into a successful movie. Since film is another form of storytelling, you’d think it’d be easy but something is often lost in the translation when you move away from the first person prose of a narrative to a third person medium.
The following movies are some of the best memoir to movie adaptations. If you feel like watching a movie this weekend, perhaps watching a few of these films will give you a little insight into what a good memoir to movie adaptation looks like:
Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do… but how much love we put in that action. ~ Mother Teresa
Once upon a time all it took was a quick glance from the sidewalk and the heart and soul of this place could be felt in an instant. An American flag flew proud and tall on a big pole in the yard. A couple of rocking chairs sat on the small front porch and small pots of flowers crowded the ledge around it. The voices of neighborhood children walking by cheerily yelled out “Hi Baba!” It was a daily occurrence. The woman who lived there was a grandmother of everyone’s dreams.
A huge tall oak tree once grew on the left side. It canopied the property as if it embraced the residents living within the bungalow-style house. Both front and backyard were carefully and lovingly tended by a bald, kind-hearted man who was called Pop by his grandchildren. He was as equally fine and gentile as his wife.
In the backyard grew lilacs, wisteria and the hugest magnolia tree I’d ever witnessed. So tall that as a young child, I couldn’t even see up to the tippy top. The tree went on forever – all the way on up to heaven. An outdoor brick fireplace in the gorgeously landscaped backyard cooked many a hotdog! Goldfish circled the waters of a four foot cement pond.The sounds of fun and laughter could be heard frequently of a wonderful couple who especially adored the days when their four grandchildren came to visit.
Smells of fresh peach cake, “smoked neck” with potatoes and green beans, yeast rolls and other lovingly cooked food and baked goods wafted outside through the screen door of the tiny galley kitchen. The aromas settled on pots of colorful pansies and petunias and on rows of dinner plate dahlias and gladiolas that lined the perimeter of the yard.
The house still stands, but when I look at this picture, I don’t see any evidence of the life that once graced the place. The tender loving care put into the house and the children and grandchildren who visited remains only in my memories. This place once made my heartbeat warmly every time I entered in the door.
So what’s the good news on this Thirsty Thursday? I can still hear the voice of my Grandmother….”Susie Annie, is that you, hon? Want a nice tall glass of ice cold sweet tea? I just loaded up the candy dishes on the buffet in the dining room. Help yourself. There are nonpareils, jelly candies, butter mints, anything you want. The Chiclets are in the top drawer of the buffet on the left.”
All Things Fulfilling 