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Posts tagged ‘Art’

Nov 15

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Between Sunsets

“If I can put one touch of rosy sunset into the life of any man or woman, I shall feel that I have worked with God.” – Gilbert K. Chesterton

“If I can put one touch of rosy sunset into the life of any man or woman, I shall feel that I have worked with God.” – Gilbert K. Chesterton

“Know what you want to do, hold the thought firmly, and do every day what should be done, and every sunset will see you that much nearer to your goal.” – Elbert Hubbard

Carefully choose how you spend the hours between each sunset. When you have chosen the path made for you, carelessly give yourself to the journey.

“Service is the rent we pay for being. It is the very purpose of life, and not something you do in your spare time.” – Marian Wright Edelman

Nov 13

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Lost and Found Smile

“Let my soul smile through my heart and my heart smile through my eyes, that I may scatter rich smiles in sad hearts.” – Paramahansa Yogananda

“Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.” - Dr. Seuss

“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” – Dr. Seuss

THE Sole Sisters rode again for our annual “run a half marathon by the ocean” vacation. This year’s mini-escape – Malibu, California. The subtitle could be the “find your lost smile” excursion. Mission accomplished. Vacation breaks our daily patterns, whacking us in the head to wake up and enjoy this short life. The trick is to carry the vacation calm forward. It’s not about a permanent escape, but living each non-vacation day with that same joy and enthusiasm.

Carve out time each day, week, month to stay fresh and engaged, despite the odds. Laugh about silly things until your stomach hurts, taking yourself much less seriously. Eat food that looks like art with a sunset as your backdrop. Smile from your heart and soul, giving your mind a rest. See the good in all, even when not evident or rational. Go deeper, walk lighter.

Slow down and listen to your internal GPS, which like our GPS in our rental car told us several times to “recalculate.” Take the long cut and enjoy the journey, living to your fullest potential, giving your best. Smile like you mean it.

“Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.” – Mother Teresa

Sep 5

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Bear Fruit

“The entire fruit is already present in the seed.” – Tertullian

“Life stands before me like an eternal spring with new and brilliant clothes.” - Carl Friedrich Gauss

“Life stands before me like an eternal spring with new and brilliant clothes.” – Carl Friedrich Gauss

Early Fall brings the gift of Jeanne’s labor when she generously shares fresh tomatoes from her garden, sweeter than candy. Reminding me that our life’s purpose is to bear fruit by sharing our gifts, by adding bold flavor, by lighting up a room, by planting seeds of hope. To leave more behind than what we were given. To multiply our gifts by giving them away.

Our fruit – gentleness, compassion, patience, generosity, civility, peace. In a word, love. Bear fruit.

Aug 26

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Aim High

“In the long run, men hit only what they aim at. Therefore, they had better aim at something high.” - Henry David Thoreau

“In the long run, men hit only what they aim at. Therefore, they had better aim at something high.” – Henry David Thoreau

“We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature – trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence… We need silence to be able to touch souls.” – Mother Teresa

Aim high. Low, good enough, just getting by are already taken. By all means, aim. Rediscover your potential, don’t settle, shoot for the moon. Life is a one way trip. Live it well and with enthusiasm.

“The aim of life is to live, and to live means to be aware, joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware.” – Henry Miller

Jun 5

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Poetry in the Ordinary

“Breathe-in experience, breathe-out poetry.”  – Muriel Rukeyser

While running a different path in St. Paul, I found poetry stamped into the cement sidewalk. A wonderful way to share poetry in an unexpected and somewhat ordinary place.

The poetry and art of our life can be discovered in the ordinary if we look with new eyes. Found in people, places and our own hearts, all within reach.

Everyday Poem for City Sidewalks, St. Paul, MN

May 14

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Praise

“Praise is like sunlight to the human spirit: we cannot flower and grow without it.” –  Jess Lair

Be grateful for the many gifts that we don’t see because we are too busy chasing the next “thing.” See the wonderment in each day and express appreciation to those right in front of you. It’s so simple and often too rare. Start today and repeat again and again and see what it does to your world.

“Wonder is involuntary praise.” - Edward Young

“Wonder is involuntary praise.” – Edward Young

May 13

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Blank Canvas

“This world is but a canvas to our imagination.” – Henry David Thoreau

“Life is a blank canvas, and you need to throw all the paint on it you can.” - Danny Kaye

“Life is a blank canvas, and you need to throw all the paint on it you can.” – Danny Kaye

Ten hours and $5800 later, my sixty year old silver maple is gone. The backyard is stark. A blank canvas. I am not sure what I’ll put in its place. I’m still thinking about it and looking at garden and patio magazines for ideas. When it’s right, I’ll know it. I asked them to leave a chunk of the tree to make a bench out of it to carry a piece of the old into what will be new. Some things we get so used to that we don’t have a vision of what could be until the canvas is blank. So as I face a blank canvas in my backyard and other parts of my life, I go forward with confidence that the possibilities will be more exciting if I am open to them. Start painting and watch the colors fill the canvas. The beauty unfolds if we get out of the way.

Mar 23

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Be Color-Full

“The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts.” – Marcus Aurelius

Show your brightest colors today and make the same decision tomorrow, and the next day and the next and …

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