Painting is good for the Soul...

Here is a little video I created about my awesome creative experience in the studio yesterday!

I think it actually took me longer to create the video with Windows Movie Maker than it did to create the piece of art featured here !

But that's okay.

I learned a lot

and I am pretty proud of the whole damn thing !

Enjoy !

(Music by Neil Young - The Painter, from Prairie Wind, 2005)

Happy Wednesday !

Oh, The Stuff This Chick Gets Me to Do !!!

So this incredible book was published one year ago yesterday.

Since hearing about it on many of my friends' blogs, and going out and purchasing the book myself, I have to say that it has changed my life in many ways. Not only does this book inspire me to live my life in the now, to be thankful everyday for the wonders in this life, and to connect with others in my world, but it seems to have this odd power over me.

Since this book has come into my life, I have done a few crazy things such as

- talking a good friend into driving with me into the middle of now where (Deerfield, NH) to a cafe to hear an author she had never heard of speak...

- telling a perfect stranger that I was proud of her because she had bravely taken a chance to invite an author, a woman who had inspired her but who was still really a stranger, to come and stay with her and to read from her book in a cozy cafe filled with her family and friends (Yay, DEB! - she's no longer a stranger ! ;))

- handing out rocks to an entire room full of strangers, with the intention of spreading a little love, and letting myself shine...

- writing my own obituary though I am alive and well, and then posting it on Patti's website for everyone to read

But now, this book, (or is it the incredible author herself, Miss Patti, ?) has brought me to this...

I have made a video of myself, wishing her book a happy birthday ! A Video !!!

I hate myself on video !!!!!

Really, really HATE !

I remember having to videotape myself in university reading stories to my kindergarten class, and I was totally traumatized by how I sounded, how I looked and how awkward I seemed.

I have now watched this video in disgust about six times, trying to decide whether or not to post it or to send it to Patti.

I could settle for this nice photo of me in the studio, looking not too bad, holding my bowl of cereal and bananas with birthday candles...

Or I could let go...say screw it, what's the big deal, and leave this video here for all of Blogland and the world really, to see...

Okay, please ignore the bed head, the "ems and ers", and the odd way my lips seem to be pursing as I speak, and watch me facing my fears...

(I know you will be kinder than me !)

ACKKKK! Well, at least that is over, right ?

"Life is a verb" is now my gift of choice for all my friends and family. I think everyone should read it. You should read it ! Before you know it, you will be inspired to live mindfully, reach out and connect with others, and to live this life as fully as you can in the time you are given. And who knows, maybe you will face some fears and jump out of that box too.

Congratulations, Beautiful Patti, for this great work.

Happy Birthday, LIAV !

(Oh, and Patti is having a juicy giveaway in celebration of the book's bd - send her out some birthday wishes here and you could be randomly picked for some sweet prizes !)