by Heather Plett | Jul 17, 2009 | rant
I’m not a big fan of huge indoor shopping malls (like the one we’ll visit in a few days, if the girls have their way), BUT…
These massive outdoor malls, where someone decided it was a good idea to take all the shops out of the same building, spread them over thousands of acres (of what is probably good farmland, but pfft – who cares?), wrap them around a maze of confusing streets and parking lots so that you have no choice but to use your car to get to them and through them and you end up spending an hour cursing your way to the grocery store at the very far end of the maze just to pick up some snacks for the hotel room? Ummm… seriously… WHO thought these were a good idea?
In a world where we could quite possibly run out of both arable farmland and fossil fuels in the not too distant future, could there possibly be anything LESS forward thinking?
I’m just sayin’.
by Heather Plett | Jul 15, 2009 | calling, Creativity
I’ve been thinking about calling lately. A lot of things have been happening to influence this thought process, like reading amazing books, being inspired by the thoughts of others, coming to a growing realization that it may be time for a shift in my own calling, and being gifted with a powerful idea for energizing people in their personal calling.
I’ll be doing more writing about this as I prepare posts for my new website, but for now, I thought I’d write a few random thoughts that are on my mind. (And yes, I know I’m mixing metaphors all the way through, but that’s why I’m calling them “random” as opposed to “polished”.)
Here are some of the things I’ve learned about following your calling and honouring your giftedness.
1. A calling is not a clear or straight path. Sometimes you have to take surprising detours along the way, stumble through a lot of undergrowth, and climb over major obstacles. The remarkable thing about all those obstacles and detours, though, is that once you’ve struggled past them, you can usually look back and recognize the value in them.
2. There may not be any “ultimate destination” in the path to your calling. More often than not, the real calling is to the journey, not the destination. Be faithful in the journey and you’re being faithful to your calling. Don’t beat yourself up if you haven’t mastered “who you were meant to be”.
3. Sometimes, just when you think you’ve found exactly the path you’re meant to be on and you believe that you’re doing just what you’ve been placed on this earth to do, the path will begin to fade or lose its interest. It may be time to shift direction again, or stumble in the dark for awhile until a new path emerges. Open yourself up to new learning, even if it seems scary.
4. On the other hand, there will be some moments when, like Moses, you will see your “burning bush” and know undeniably that you are standing on holy ground. It may be a moment when you accomplish something so remarkable that you know it comes from a higher power than just your own (like Moses parting the Red Sea). It may be a moment when you feel a tingling sensation because you know that something you have been inspired to create is truly good.
5. If you find and follow the wrong path for awhile, your body and soul will begin to tell you it doesn’t feel right. Pay attention to the signs. Are you exhausted? Losing your creative edge? Irritable with your children? Stop and listen.
6. Sometimes waiting patiently is the most important thing you can do. When you’ve discovered you may be on the wrong path (or even if you’ve been on the right path but recognize it’s time to change), it’s important to cut yourself some slack and find time for rest, quiet meditation and prayer before you seek a new direction. Chances are the “wrong path” will end up being the “right path” for that period of time because of the things it was able to teach you.
7. Good people will show up along the path to support you. Trust them and be open to them. When you feel that you lack the capacity and strength to fully accomplish your task, perhaps it means that you’re meant to invite someone else onto the path with you – someone who will bring their own giftedness to make the completed task even more beautiful.
8. Sometimes though, the people who show up won’t believe you’re meant to be on that particular path. They may have your best interests at heart and just don’t want to see you (or those around you) get hurt, or they may feel anger or jealousy toward you because you’ve found something they haven’t. Listen to them, if they have something valuable to say, but don’t let yourself be too swayed by their opinions. Remember that they’re just human – these people do not have greater access to truth than you do.
9. You may need to be willing to give up and let go for the path to become clear again. Sometimes rock bottom is the best place to start a new journey. It will be really hard to reach that place and to truly let go of all of your ambitions and dreams, but when you are willing to open your hand and heart and release whatever you’re hanging onto, a brand new beautiful gift may be placed into your open and empty hand.
10. There may be long stretches of time when life feels more like drudgery and just “getting things done” than following some kind of higher calling. That’s okay. Just be. Don’t stretch too much or try too hard. Maybe it’s just your time to live, to support other people in their calling, to hibernate, or to germinate new seeds that will see growth come Springtime.
by Heather Plett | Jul 14, 2009 | Uncategorized
I was going to write something about disappointment today. Something about how disappointing it was to miss a day of my beloved Folk Festival because I was busy vomiting and passing out. Something about how I never felt like I fully engaged in the rest of the Folk Festival because I was weary and still queezy and didn’t ever have one of those “lost fully in the beauty of it” moments. Something about how disappointing it was to wake up Monday morning (on my “take an extra day off work just to rest” day) only to rush to the toilet for round 2 of this knock-out illness, whatever it is.
But that’s not what came flowing from me when I sat down to write. What did come, instead, was gratitude. Gratitude for the man who looked after me all weekend and so patiently wrapped his arms around me so that I wouldn’t injure myself when I fell. Gratitude for his understanding of how important this festival is to me. Sometimes one has to live with disappointment to recognize the beauty in the things you might have missed otherwise. This is for you, Marcel.
His arms
He’s given me so much
So much affection
So many meals
So many affirmations
But today
What I marvel at the most
Are the times he’s given me
His arms
It’s his arms that have held me
When I’ve cried about mean bosses
Or difficult choices
It’s his arms that kept me from falling
When the news of my dad’s death came
And my legs betrayed me
It’s his arms that have caressed me
And made me feel loved
When I wasn’t sure I could love myself
It’s his arms that have wrapped around me
And kept my face from hitting the floor
When sickness stole my consciousness
There is so much of him to love
But today I thank God most for
His arms
by Heather Plett | Jul 11, 2009 | Uncategorized
I feel like I’ve been raised from the dead. Okay, so maybe that’s a little over-dramatic, but at least I’ve returned from that “hanging-over-the-toilet-seat” sickness that feels a little like death. And, trust me, I know how to do that sickness well – complete with fainting spells almost every time I throw up. It’s not a pretty sight. (Or so they tell me – I don’t remember the part where my body goes limp, my eyes roll back in my head, and I start to twitch and make clicking sounds.)
What a disappointment – to get sick on the first full day of Folk Festival! Julie was sick too, and her and I spent the day in bed together trying not to hate all of the lucky people we know who were enjoying the day at the Festival.
But today I feel human again! Not perfect, but at least human, and I get to go to the Folk Festival! Oh, it’s a happy, happy day! The sun is shining, my Mad Nomad chair is waiting, and I might actually be able to muster the appetite for a whale’s tail!
It’s my 26th year for this pilgrimage – yes, it’s just that good!
by Heather Plett | Jul 9, 2009 | Creativity
It all started with an ugly little storage room tucked behind the stairs. Like the ugly duckling though, that little room was destined to transform into a swan. All it took was some hand-me-down carpet, some “leftover from the seventies” fake wood paneling, a little cheap unbleached cotton, an old particle-board desk (from the first year of our marriage), a nearly-broken chair, and some magical shimmery gauzy fabric.
It might not seem like much, but it’s a dream come true! I finally have a space of my own where I can create, write, paint, sew, meditate, dream, read, pray, do yoga, and just stare at the ceiling when I feel like it. Want to come for a tour?
Let’s start right where I’m sitting right now. It’s the “writing/painting/thinking” corner.
Right beside that is the art supply and yoga mat corner.
Above the desk is the “surround myself with creative inspiration from other writers” corner. On the shelf above the books is the Kenyan leadership stick that reminds me to be a bold and courageous leader.
Opposite that is the “dreaming of new possibilities and creating new art” wall.
Above all of that is the best part – the magical, dreamy ceiling! (Yes, I’m sure I’ll manage to kill a little time just lying on the floor staring at it.)
One of the things I’m really excited about is that I’ve also been able to bring in some mementos that remind me of the people who have supported me and helped shape me in this creative journey.
There’s the director’s chair that my beloved, supportive husband had made for me (back before he was my husband) when I was busy producing one of my first plays at the Fringe Festival. He believed in me then and he still believes in me now.
And there are the two cameras owned by my parents back when they were young and hopeful and looking forward to many long years together. Neither of them would have called themselves artists, and yet they managed to raise four creative children (count them – one, two, three, and four) by teaching us to see beauty in dandelions, frogs, freshly baked bread, sheep, and friendships.
And there’s some space set aside for the artwork of my children, who remind me to find joy in dancing in the rain and swimming with your clothes on.
What’s missing? Well YOU are, of course! After adding all of those pieces that inspire me, it occurred to me that I’m missing an important section of people who’ve inspired, encouraged, and cheered me on. Yes, I’m talking about YOU!
Here’s the thing… I’ve saved a space for you…
I’ve got a bunch of cool swirly clips on a string and I would LOVE to fill that wall with the artwork and little blessings of all of the friends (in person and online) and family who’ve supported me in this journey. What do you think? Are you in? Would you like to send me a little blessing of some sort? It doesn’t need to be much – just a postcard or a card, if that’s all you can muster (but I would LOVE some original, creative things meant just for this little space).
If you’re in (and EVERYONE is welcome – even the lurkers who don’t admit to reading, even the people who’ve just stumbled on this blog for the first time), let me know in the comments or drop me an email at heatherpl at mts dot net and I’ll let you know how you can get it to me. (If you’d rather just send me something electronic that I can print out, that’s fine too.) Whatever you create should be approximately 4″ x 6″ and not too heavy to hang on a string.
What’s in it for you? Well, the joy of knowing you’ve made me happy, of course! But there’s more – I’ll send you a little something in exchange (that you can hang in your space, or even your bathroom if you prefer). AND I’ll give you a chance to be a contributor when I open my new site at www.whatareyougivingaway.com.
Last night, after settling in, I couldn’t resist going for a walk to the river just to stare at the full moon. The moonlight reflected on the water, the flickering fireflies in the tall grass, the jumping fish – it all seemed like a special magical blessing from the great creator for all of the things I dream of creating in this lovely space. I hope that you will consider adding your own blessings too!
