January 12, 2012 In appreciation, communication, inspiration, intelligence, life and the universe, philosophy, presentation, work and play By Patricia Saxton

The Great Gift of Curiosity

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”
~ Albert Einstein

I love this! The following is an inspiring lesson on the enormous value of curiosity and wonder, shared through a truly worthwhile video from a community-based online education group called Skillshare. Many thanks to the Skillshare folks for putting this out there!

If you have kids or young adults in your life, share it with them too. Share it with anyone who appreciates learning, life and the human potential, anyone who thinks they’ve “done it all”, and those who may have temporarily misplaced a passion for what makes things tick.

Above all, keep asking questions. Keep wonder alive!

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January 10, 2012 In art, business, communication, photography By Patricia Saxton

MacNaughton Peace

Because sometimes you feel peace in your roots. Sometimes honor. Sometimes you just like ’em.

saxton.peace_macnaughton

Week #58 / 52 Weeks of Peace (squared) / © Patricia Saxton

And on this day ~ just an ordinary day ~ I wish you peace, and offer a few favorite ancestral words to the wise:

“Love of our neighbor is the only door out of the dungeon of self.”  /   “One good turn deserves another.”  /  “Fair words won’t make the pot boil.”  /  “Twelve highlanders and a bagpipe make a rebellion.”  /  “Be happy while you’re living, for you’re a long time dead.”  /   “He was a bold man who first ate a Haggis.”

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January 1, 2012 In art, communication, creativity, design, illustration, imagination, inspiration, life and the universe, poetry, words and language By Patricia Saxton

Peace Prayer

Week #57 / 52 Weeks of Peace (squared) / © Patricia Saxton

Under one sky
Our blood runs red
Our eyes see, our feet walk
Our hearts beat.

We love, we laugh
We grieve.

We hope.

Red, white, black, yellow
We circle and dance,
Fight and rejoice,
Dream and breathe
And raise our voice

For peace.

~ P. Saxton

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December 31, 2011 In appreciation, art, communication, creativity, design, drawing, inspiration By Patricia Saxton

Cheers! ~ A New Year’s Guest “Plethora of P’s P” / Prosecco

proactively punctuating life with the plausible, powerful possibilities of positive thought presented through a plethora of “P’s”.

– ♥ –

Raise a glass to the New Year. Raise a glass to all the good yet to be realized. Raise a glass to hope and dreams, and the passion, stamina and grace to carry them through.

And with my warm thanks to Diane Ioas Householder for this wonderful image and her cheerful handwritten text, I also raise a glass to friendships near and far. Because friends, like kindness, can lift us up and smooth out life’s frictions. And like Prosecco, no special reason is needed – every day is a good day to appreciate their sparkle.      ~ Cheers!

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December 27, 2011 In appreciation, art, communication, creativity, design, inspiration By Patricia Saxton

A Plethora of P’s / #52: Peace

proactively punctuating life with the plausible, powerful possibilities of positive thought presented through a plethora of “P’s”.

– ♥ –

I’m not holding my breath for the whole world to catch on just yet, but hope springs eternal. So maybe we can help it along; give it some attitude…

Maybe we can hang out our shingles with peaceful intent, toss some into our breakfast, wrap it up in our clothing, walk it into our stride, put the idea in our hearts ~ and practice peace, a little bit, every day.

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December 19, 2011 In appreciation, art, communication, creativity, design, inspiration By Patricia Saxton

A Plethora of P’s / #51: Party

proactively punctuating life with the plausible, powerful possibilities of positive thought presented through a plethora of “P’s”.

– ♥ –

Tis the season to be jolly! Right?

I know, sometimes you don’t feel so much jolly as tired or overwhelmed. We question the materialism, or we’re frustrated by the mountain of to-do’s tossed like tinsel on already burdened days. We may welcome the idea of a big holiday, but secretly feel ornery instead of joyful. Tempers can flare. Emotions grate.

Maybe it’s time to put on your party hat. Literally. Not a hat person? Wear one on your attitude. Shift your state of mind. Get silly. Be festive. Cut yourself some slack. Sprinkle some love around out there. (Oh, and that shopper that just cut in front of you? Wish them the best of the best! Really!)

Put celebration back into the season. Have a get-together, even if you don’t have time for one. Let go even just a little ~ loosen the grip of the daily grind, even if you have to use some extra elbow grease to break that hold. Wrap your gifts with crazy bows. Write notes from the heart. Share some goodness and light. Even if the weather outside is frightful.

Raise a glass, share a toast. Be merry. Bring some cookies to a neighbor. And don’t forget to have a few yourself … while wearing your hat … and singing your favorite holiday song, loudly.

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December 15, 2011 In communication, inspiration By Patricia Saxton

Operation Spread Joy / Update

Last night I read 300 postcards. Some made me laugh, some made me tear up. All of them made me feel proud of the whole bunch of high school students who wrote them.

If you’ve been following along, you’ll know that these cards were written to our Special Forces stationed somewhere in the remote regions of Afghanistan. I know that I personally feel an immense gratitude for the courage and skills of these men and women, and feel privileged to be able to reach out to them at Christmastime, to share some of that gratitude and spread a little cheer.

Reading the heartfelt words last night told me that the kids feel that way too.

Packages are also piling up, for both the soldiers and the local Afghan children, to be shipped out via military aircraft next week. What a thrill to have made this happen with the enthusiastic support of the high school, and the military transport thanks to the fantastic work of the  Silent Warrior Fund.

Most of all, I hope everyone’s efforts will make a difference overseas … so that while families gather here at home, and food is shared and gifts are unwrapped and lights are lit, these special heroes will know they’re not forgotten, know we care, and know we honor them.

Specially selected cards from Saxton's "52 Weeks of Peace" used for Operation Spread Joy


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December 12, 2011 In appreciation, art, communication, creativity, design, drawing, illustration, inspiration By Patricia Saxton

A Plethora of P’s / #50: Presents

proactively punctuating life with the plausible, powerful possibilities of positive thought presented through a plethora of “P’s”.

– ♥ –

It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked, through understanding; And to the open-handed the search for one who shall receive is joy greater than giving.  ~ Khalil Gibran

♦

Everyone likes presents. They feel good to get, they feel good to give. Large or small, maybe wrapped with shiny paper and a big fat bow, maybe not wrapped at all. Presents say “I’m thinking of you”.

And then, of course, are the presents which no packaging can hold ~ your talents, your thoughts, your care. Gifts of inspiration or hope or wonderment.

Children are gifts. Friends are gifts. You, who make people laugh and smile – you are a gift. You, who ease another’s load, are a gift. You who openly delight in another’s good fortune, are a gift.

There’s no doubt that thoughtful things are worthy ~ and tying them with fancy ribbons adds a joyful spirit. But the gifts you cannot wrap are those that often mean the most. So maybe we should all try sprinkling more of the unwrappable around this holiday season, and remember to top our presents with bows of kindness.

♦

And you receivers… and you are all receivers… assume no weight of gratitude, lest you lay a yoke upon yourself and upon him who gives.

Rather rise together with the giver on his gifts as on wings; For to be overmindful of your debt, is to doubt his generosity who has the freehearted earth for mother, and God for father. ~ Khalil Gibran

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December 5, 2011 In appreciation, art, communication, creativity, design, drawing, illustration, inspiration By Patricia Saxton

A Plethora of P’s / #49: Peppermint

proactively punctuating life with the plausible, powerful possibilities of positive thought presented through a plethora of “P’s”.

– ♥ –

A refreshing herb that grows with wild abandon in almost any garden, peppermint cleanses the palette, soothes digestion, eases headaches and can help keep your memory nearly as sharp as an elephant’s.

Popular for providing a perky punch to the taste buds, it’s also packed with nutrients, making it one of nature’s “wonder herbs”. I like to toss a few fresh leaves in my tea, along with a pinch of parsley and chamomile. Yum!

For all of peppermint’s natural goodness, I have a sneaky suspicion that the nutritional value is lost in its processed, sugary form (alright, more than a suspicion), but I figure there’s still some sweet emotional value watching a young face light up when offered a candy cane. :  )

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December 1, 2011 In art, communication, design, inspiration, leadership By Patricia Saxton

Mission: Holiday Cards to Soldiers in Afghanistan

Once in a while things just come together. The pieces fit. Maybe it’s because this is such a great cause, but whatever the reason, I’m feeling real good about this little project. And it has a name: Operation Spread Joy.

It started as an idea over breakfast with a friend. “52 Weeks of Peace” cards to our troops at holiday time. We were pumped about it.

Then months went by, life got hectic and the idea was all but passed over…. until another dear friend had a similar idea all on her own, which was just enough to spark that seed from a few months back and I thought, let’s just do it ourselves.

A couple of calls later, we have the public high school involved, and the card writing has been incorporated into a care package program run by the Silent Warrior Fund non-profit organization.

The whole effort will be delivered to our elite Special Forces men and women serving in the most remote regions of Afghanistan who normally don’t receive civilian packages from home. More icing on the cake? ~ care packages will also be provided to the local Afghan children.

With the help of my daughter (yet more icing on cake), the Silent Warrior Fund, the school administrators, the students and a few of my most supportive friends, we’re making Operation Spread Joy a reality.

Next year, we’ll plan farther ahead. But even in this time crunch, I couldn’t feel more pleased about sharing something from the heart with those who risk everything to keep us safe and free.

Bless them all.

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