I could spend hours playing with Maya Angelou quotes… such a wise and beautiful soul! But I have many chores today, so have picked just two quotes and three posters to share with you, in honor of this lovely, inspirational woman on her 85th birthday. We are blessed to have her in our midst!
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
I can dream with the best of them. Big dreams. The fanciful, full-on, reach-for-the-stars kind. Maybe crazy, maybe not… but some have come true, and that’s enough for me to keep dreaming (even if I could stop.) And so it follows, not surprisingly, that I believe dreams are important, valuable, and potentially powerful. And everyone’s got a few ~ so I say, nurture them.
There are some pretty big guns who agree with all that, and so, well, I went a little “poster crazy” recently showing off the whole notion. Here they are. ~ Dream on. Dream big. Dream well. : )
“Beware the emptiness of a busy life.”
Oh boy, I think we can all relate to this video’s message about time… Beautifully done ~ and a beautiful horse, too! Thanks Chris, for this wonderful reminder.
(If you missed my introduction about Chris Staley, master potter, educator and Penn State Laureate 2012-2013, you can read that here.) Enjoy!
“To give pleasure to a single heart by a single act is better than a thousand heads bowing in prayer.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi
“May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art – write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.” ~ Neil Gaiman
Ah yes, the start of a new year. A clean slate, a start-over, a re-assess, an uncharted map. It’s a brand new day. It’s a blank canvas ~ your canvas ~ just waiting for some general direction, a lot of spirit and a splash of color.
Happy New Year ~ paint it well!
What are your dreams? What do you really yearn for? What makes your heart smile, your toes tingle, your eyes sparkle, just imagining it were real? What thoughts bring light to your spirit and peace to your mind?
It starts with a single, shiny thought. Maybe just the whisper of an idea; maybe a booming revelation ~ maybe you overhear something on a crowded bus that sparks you to action, maybe it’s a piece of music, a taste of something delicious; maybe it’s a child’s tears or the launch of a rocket; maybe it’s the grace of a winding river or the steady power of a mountain or the freedom of a bird in flight; maybe it’s a flower growing through a crack in the sidewalk. Who knows where the stuff of dreams comes from, but we all have them. Sometimes I think our job is to find the key, unlock the door and venture out towards a path we’ve always known we belonged on but didn’t know was there ~ or didn’t recognize through the bramble of life’s distractions ~ or, yes, even, with a million variations of reasoning, talked ourselves away from.
So maybe this is the year we listen more, with eyes and hearts more open; maybe this is the year we hear the rumblings in our soul with renewed anticipation, renewed interest, renewed commitment to step closer to that stuff of our dreams.
Wishing us all the brightest of dreams, the courage to honor them, and much love, laughter, health, harmony and happiness along the way. Bring it on.
Progress! … Well, it’s probably the busiest time of year to have started this little (big?) project, but we’re getting more and more pictures of your beautiful selves sharing peace, so I thought I’d share some with you. Every single one a happy shot. Lovely! Many thanks to those who’ve sent their images ~ and those who haven’t, we’re hoping you’ll join in and send yours! (Details below.)
All you need is a camera, a 52 Weeks of Peace product*, and a smile!
Take “waist-up” shots of people holding (or wearing) something “52 Weeks of Peace” (the book, a favorite postcard from the book, a bag, button or mug*…). All ages, shapes and sizes welcome. The only requirement is that it’s a clean, clear shot that shows off one or more people ~ and that it is freely given for public use (no names please) ~ and the picture should be happy.
There’s no prize, no “special offer” ~ this isn’t a big business deal, just one artist/writer looking to round up some friends and friends-of-friends who like the idea. That’s it. Grass-roots, “just because”. If you’d like to be part of this project, you can post a picture to the 52 Weeks of Peace facebook page, or send them to 52weeksofpeace@gmail.com.
Peace starts right here, right now, with you, with me ~ let’s inspire, let’s do this!
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“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment to improve the world.” ~ Anne Frank
We hold the world in our hands. Let’s celebrate the good. Let’s ease another’s suffering, large or small, harm none, and share our love. That’s what we can do in a moment; in this moment, in our own small corner of the world. ~ ♥ Patricia
As W.T. Ellis said, “It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air.” But some bells help too. : ) Enjoy the season!
The holidays are kicking into gear, and our shop is always open! Please feel free to share with friends interested in something special, good for mind and soul, priced under $25 and created from the heart. ♥
