What’s left of summer

by | Aug 15, 2009 | summer

In some respects it’s been an amazing summer (creating my studio, launching my website, going on a road trip with my family), but in other ways it’s been sadly disappointing (not enough beach days, way too much crappy weather). Either way, it is slipping away WAY too quickly.

There are still a few things I want to get out of this summer:
1. Visit my dad’s grave again. (It’s a 2 hour drive – not exactly something I can do on a whim.)
2. Sit around a campfire with people I enjoy at least one more time.
3. Go on a few more bike rides with my family.
4. Have more drinks on a patio with some interesting friends who make me laugh.
5. Wandering. Lots more wandering. Preferably with a camera in my hands.

That’s about it. I think it’s a pretty good sign that I’m feeling quite content if my list is that short. Now if only it would stop raining so I could do all of these things!

What doors do you wish to open?

by | Aug 12, 2009 | Uncategorized

I’m feeling a little vulnerable today – a little over-tired from tossing and turning (and not enough sleeping) last night, and a little discouraged about not being able to move into the next phase of my life as quickly as I’d like to (yes, I’m back at work and the stack of papers in my in-box just doesn’t have the same ability to excite my passions that it once did) – so when I first saw Jamie Ridler’s question for wishcasting Wednesday, I closed the link and tried to ignore it. “I’m just going to have to be satisfied with closed doors for now,” I thought.

But the truth is, I’m not satisfied. True to my nature, I want to rush headlong into the next adventure and I don’t want to WAIT. ANY. MORE! The door that flung itself open when the idea for my new site plopped into my lap is calling me to run through it with wild abandon… but I’m still stuck at the doorway. I can only go part way through the door until… well, until various things align and the timing is right for me to take the next big bold step.

I am not a patient person. I want stuff and I want it NOW! I know, I know… I have preached the value of waiting and being still and surrendering to the timing of the “god of my understanding”, BUT… (stomps her foot on the floor like a 3 year old) I don’t WANNA wait!

Sigh. Deep breath. Here I am, though, trying to make the best of it. In the meantime, while I only have a minimal amount of time to work on my big dream, I’m going to keep hoping, and dreaming, and planning, and throwing little fish hooks into the big blue ocean hoping to score a keeper. (Mixing metaphors again – I know, I KNOW!)

And when it comes to open doors, I’ve got a whole “mondo beyondo” list of things I’d like to see happen in the coming year (or so):
– Talk on the radio some more. Loved it! And maybe TV too.
– Speak at some conferences, retreats, etc. about “What are you giving away”
– Start doing “Giveaway parties” and have the idea catch fire
– Host a workshop and/or retreat (or two or three…)
– Write regular articles for a magazine – maybe a column?

And a couple of REALLY big ones:
– Get a book contract and an agent and some time to write the book version of “What are you giving away”
– Go to Africa again and gather some stories of people epitomizing the philosophy of “What are you giving away”

I could go on, but that’s definitely enough honesty for now. It feels a little scary to admit these things, but – what the heck? If you don’t put stuff out there, how can people support your dreams?

Note: It’s been a little quiet in here lately. Ever since I launched the new site, comments have all but dried up. I appreciate all the support over at the new space, but (for now anyway) this will continue to be where I do more personal blogging, so please continue to leave some comment love here too!

End of the week – a wrap up

by | Aug 10, 2009 | Uncategorized


Just a few random things as the week draws to a close (or the next week opens, depending on where you place Sunday).

– It’s been a lovely, happy week, full of excitement over the new site, partying with friends, and relaxing vacation time with the family.
– I go back to work tomorrow. Vacation is over too soon. Sigh.
– Marcel and I just got back from a brief time away. We celebrated our 16th anniversary at a lakeside hotel with a glorious view of Lake of the Woods (in Kenora). The weather was disappointing (and resulted in the cancellation of our planned dinner cruise), but it was still SO nice to get away with my best friend and lover for a couple of days.
– I really enjoyed being on the radio yesterday. It may sound narcissistic, but the truth is, I really get energy from public speaking, media interviews, etc. I hope to do more of that in connection with my new site.
– I feel very blessed by the encouragement I’ve received this week. I think the new site is touching people in the right way, and that makes me very, very happy.
– Just now, Maddy was working on a craft project on the floor by my feet, and she said “Why don’t they make scissors for the feet so the hands don’t have to do all the work?”
– My mom comes home from Europe this week. I haven’t seen her in over 3 months.
– The girls and I went to see Julie and Julia and I LOVED IT! There was so much good about it – great character development, great portrayal of the struggles of 2 women trying to believe in themselves, and one of my favourite things – two really lovely supportive marriages that seem altogether too rare in Hollywood’s depiction of marriage.
– I’m going to really, really miss my mornings in my studio.
– I have to go to bed now. Good night.

Sharing stories

by | Aug 7, 2009 | Uncategorized

Yesterday was incredible. It was just what I dreamed of for the launch of my new site and more. In the morning I wrote a list of things I wanted to get out of the day, and when I checked the list, I realized that every one of those wishes had been fulfilled. And some of them were pretty big wishes – like wanting to be invited to write or speak about my site somewhere soon (I’ll be on the radio in Minneapolis on Saturday morning!). It’s all so exciting and humbling.

The launch party was truly amazing. Not as many people showed up as I’d hoped (a number of people canceled at the last minute), but in the end I think it was probably just the right number for what ended up transpiring.

During part of the evening, we had a sharing circle in which I passed around a talking stick (which is actually the leadership stick I picked up in Kenya) and people were asked to share something about their emerging gifts, their struggles with sharing those gifts, or whatever was on their minds. Well, I was really blown away with what emerged. I didn’t know how it would go, because most of the women in the room were strangers to each other, but each woman approached the conversation with openness, honesty, and vulnerability and every one of them shared some piece of wisdom that I will carry with me and reflect on again and again.

This morning, I wrote some notes about the conversation because I want to remember it for a long, long time (and, as a result, I will be writing something about story-sharing for the new site). After writing down a bit of what each person shared, I sat back in my chair feeling rather tingly with excitement. I am SO honoured that these incredible women trusted the rest of us enough to share the gift of their personal story.

Then I opened my email and found my first submission for the “reflect” section of the new site (thanks Andrea!) and once again, I was blown away by the honesty and vulnerability that was shared.

I’m feeling so lucky that, in the hosting of my new site, I will be the recipient of many personal stories. What incredible gifts they are!

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