Event tales have not been told in too long, many apologies. I have been spending all of my time preparing for van life, defragging my Stuff, and traveling the United States - and Central America soon enough. The tales will come. And Mook's and my Documentary of All Things Beautiful (more officially names Vecinos) is coming, too. We just rendered a work-in-progress version, not to be shared yet. It makes my heart shine, and we'll be able to share it soon <3
I felt defeated when the only people to show up at the beginning of this workshop were people who lived in my hometown, and I thought, "Why did we waste all the gas and cause driving pollution to come all the way here? We could have done this in my backyard." Then, quickly, I told those thoughts to go away because they're useless. Something had felt Right all up until that moment. I paused- symbolically enough on the stairs, a Between space- to mentally sweep away the doubt. In doing so, feelings of love and support wooshed in to take the place of How Things Were Supposed To Go (and with the love and support came memories of gardening and feasting the last few days with a long-time friend, a most beautiful and strong soul). And so, overall, I was left filled with the word that was on the angel card I picked while the tea brewed: gratitude. Gratitude from the deepest parts of my heart and soul.
So we began the workshop. It turned out more as a conversation between people who have known each other many, many years, and who have a lot of love for each other. We talked about getting really present in our bodies, and did some exercises that facilitate being present. We did a body pendulum, where you stand comfortably and think true/false thoughts while your body sways one way for true and the opposite for false (the swaying directions forward/backward or side/side vary between people). Body pendulums are useful if you're trying to lie to yourself. You'll feel the tension. A woman wandered in near the end of the workshop at a moment we were discussing that the Universe (or whatever you want to call it) speaks to us all the time, and we just have to listen. We were talking about how you can sometimes feel someone enter the room silently, and that we have senses that maybe we don't always realize we have. That's one reason being present in our bodies is powerful, we can focus on those senses. It's the difference between listening and hearing (ok I often use those words interchangeably, but I mean the difference between letting words slip by your ears or picking them from the air and holding them in your mind). So, the woman who had an air of curiosity and wistfulness joined our conversation. A while later we moved to the guided meditation on page 145, which moved the woman who walked in to a point where it influenced me to figure out how to record that meditation (coming soon!). Different things happen when we read vs listen to a guided meditation. I feel the right book comes to us when we need it. So often I have been on the receiving end of books, or quotes, and I am grateful for those moments. I feel gratitude in a different way from being on the giving side, such as with Puddle. I went through a healing and empowering journey as I wrote this book. I wanted to write (and then read as needed) something to succor a soul in pain. Healing isn't a one stop shop. The wisdom in my mother's garden observation- that the group of marigolds holds up the tall sunflower, and that we all get to take turns being the sunflower- holds such beautiful truth. Puddle is a marigold. One more note, concerning the picture with fire. A ceremony I love (and call a ceremony because it works best when you put a lot of intention into it) is the Burn and Ignite, where you write on paper (and either read aloud or silently) something you want to burn from your life, and something you want to ignite into your life. It's powerful communication, physical and metaphysical, mind over matter, all-over useful. I just love book events. My heart soars with joy remembering this Saturday. Thank you, loved ones, for your support. Thank you, new friends, for your support. (Shout-out to the tacos, guitars, and laughter afterparty that I'm putting in here to remember years down the line when I look back for some Oh Yeahs) The day is wearing on and I keep retyping thoughts because none of them are coming out right. So, scratch it all and here's the gist: thank you, I love you. Please do not be offended if the thumbnail you're in is chopped strangely. Wish I could readjust them a bit. And, again, I wish I'd have taken more pictures. Much love, all. Also, a hint of the book stewing now. Sometimes the 'fortune' for the day comes from flipping through the nearest book and pointing. "Always speak the truth- think before you speak- and write it down afterwards." The new book coming up concerns ravens and sentience, and fiction that holds sometimes even more truth than non-fiction, strange as that may sound(:
The bane of putting a lot of time and effort into a post, then something going haywire, like somehow timing out of being signed in and losing the whole post makes all of my insides rar. So, I apologize for the short post to sum up my gratitude of the awesome people who work at Barnes & Noble, and the awesome story-lovers I met. Two people come to mind instantaneously, upon reflection, because of the enthusiasm they had for learning that Puddle exists in the world, and the passion they have for life, for art, for the natural world. Connecting with people who love art in whatever form (the art of story in this instance) and nature helped influence me to write and finish writing Puddle. Cheers, new friends.
Lisa and Davey Taylor are some of the most lovely people I know. They own Paperback Writer and Weirdsville Records in downtown Mount Clemens, MI, in front of which, several Michigan writers gathered this weekend for the Made in Michigan Show. I now have a stack of books I'm very excited to read.. ok, a bigger stack. Any day where people come to celebrate all things local is a good day. The delicious aroma of caramel kettle corn swam through the street, wafting among the crowds who investigated locals wares, such as bird houses and garden adornments, delicious varieties of honey, vintage delights, handmade jewelry, lavender chapstick that I'm currently enjoying, and much more.
MI Writers First photo (Friday): Joe Mazzara, Elena Bozzi, and Michael Kitchen This Photo (Saturday): Joe Mazzara, Vernie Dale, Kristine Kruppa, Elena Bozzi, and Andrew Lark I had the honor of joining Kristine Kruppa for her book release party at Nicola's Books in Ann Arbor, MI. Her steampunk YA novel, 27 Days to Midnight, is a tale of adventure where each person has a pocket-watch that foretells the exact time of their own death. I am attracted to this book because I think of death often, as inspiration to get the most out of every moment. Remembering that we have such a short time in these living bodies, relative to eternity, even in difficult times of depression or anger, and especially sauntering slowly through the forest with a deep love for everything, I try to Appreciate. I am pretty healthy, yet consistently reevaluate my decisions because death could come at any time (such as a drunk driver in the opposite direction). If it's true that your life flashes before your eyes at the moment of death, I want to look back and embrace all of it. Let the dishes pile up in the name of a deep conversation or a lighthearted hula-hoop session-or both simultaneously!
This past weekend was the first time I went out into the world to sell this book that took seven years to write (while taking time off here and there to do life things). I put my whole heart into this project, and it's quite scary to share your heart with the world. At the same time, I believe in the power of vulnerability to create rich experiences, and was rewarded beyond my expectations. It didn't stop me from waking up in the middle of the night before Day 1, panicking whether I prepared enough or not. Maya Angelou said she did what she did because she knew what she knew, and when she knew better, she did better. That always settles my mind, and Day 2 went smoother. Looking back, a few photos would have been nice in addition to hugs when people close to my heart visited. Those pictures get to stay in my mind. Here are some of new friends, though. Happy trails, all!
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MemoriesSharing stories is one of my components to happiness. Archives
September 2016
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