Chicago weather has taken me from my writing in favor of shovelling but in the meantime, I have some great reads for you to check out:
This post by Luanne Udell on Silent Evidence offers much food for thought. Reminds me of Margaret Wheatley's comment that she can't worry about the future. The only question that interests her is "Is this the right work?" I join her in that. We can't attach to the outcome of our actions, only their integrity. There is simply too much we cannot control, but the quality of our character is always within our power to determine.
I was recently talking with a client who was bemoaning his lack of camera time about his Artist's Way practices and suggested he trade his morning pages for morning shoots. This article on The Artist's Way and the Piano by Edward Weiss is reminiscent of that discussion and may get some of you creative folks thinking about ways to play with the theme.
This article at DailyGood has food for thought for those of you wondering is sustainable happiness is just a mythic ideal. "Authentic happiness is a way of being and a skill to be cultivated. When we first begin, the mind is vulnerable and untamed, like that of a monkey or a restless child. It takes practice to gain inner peace, inner strength, altruistic love, forbearance, and other qualities that lead to authentic happiness." What kind of practice? Meditation. Very nice article.
Very nice e-book by Leo Babauta on The Power of Less with tips on how to manage well in a tough economy. I keep coming back again and again to how these tips are about living well in general. The economy is forcing us to really evaluate our lives and clarify our values. It may not be fun or easy and certainly some people are suffering significantly but I can't help but think that hitting this giant reset button has some very positive aspects to it. It takes discipline and a sincere desire (there's that word again) to change one's life in the face of an economic crisis but if you can bring a steadfast resolve to the table and really do what Leo is suggesting, the process could be transformative on levels far surpassing the economic.
Gorgeous post from the Daily Om, for all you list makers and woulda coulda shoulda folks out there. I have, more than once, tossed out ALL my to do lists (without even re-readng them first). It's terrifying at first but try it (don't make me double dog dare you). There is something to be said for standing naked in front of your life. (Why do I still make lists if I sometimes shred them all? Writing helps me organize my thoughts, so the exercise helps. But when I start confusing my life with my list, it's time for the list to go.)
Erin, my Irish lass, you may like this blog: Restoring Mayberry. This post just charmed the heck out of me. Reminds me of Kaleigh.
A resource for parents in "alternative lifestyles", Mountain Meadow a great place for kids of LGBTQ parents, located in Philadelphia. There is a ton of info on the site about all the programs & their summer camp.
To balance the temptation toward passive, it’s-all-in-your-head bliss that I find in the articles from The Daily Good and The Daily Om, I would add this article from the same issue of The Daily Good:
Having a Voice Makes People Happy by Frances Moore Lappé, which states,
“I’m happy we’re talking about happiness, but disturbed, too, because I’ve noticed that most happiness gurus fail to mention power.”
Posted by: Peter | January 13, 2009 at 02:45 PM
OOh, I think I will love restoring Mayberry, if that post is any indication. Bookmarked it, thanks. And yeh,it does ring of Miss rock howling Kaleigh. Thanks for passing it along.
Peter I do love your comments, always.
Posted by: Erin | January 14, 2009 at 08:29 PM