have you ever written a MANIFESTO? I haven't. But I am thinking that i should. Or that I want to. I am not so keen on shoulds.
I was reading up about them as part of my job. And I read that of course (why did I not see this before?) its Italian for to manifest. I love manifesting. Its why I spend time dreaming so that i can work my way towards making dreams come true. Its why I write wish lists rather than new years resolutions.....
So if I were to write a manifesto. am just playing here. nothing too serious or political.
a manifesto for living well
make your own fun
use your creativity to makes life better
infuse life with beauty and soul
live your values
get into the arena
eat in good company as often as life permits
nourish your soul
shine
magic happens when you do what you love
be engaged, curious, vibrant and brave
go on adventures
go to the edge
dance
play more
do things you have never done before
get messy
appreciate being alive
be kind
Is this a manifesto? or a list? I don't know. But I like it.
Tuesday, 29 May 2012
Sunday, 27 May 2012
criminal art?
I have always been rather fascinated by the notion of plagiarism. and am kind of delighted that (of course) my student idea of writing an essay made up entirely of stolen quotes is not new! And in the 80's I loved the whole sampling plagiarising debate in music. So here is someone who has put it all together in a book. I like it. How to Steal Like and Artist.
http://www.austinkleon.com/2012/05/04/authors-at-google-talk-steal-like-an-artist/
http://www.austinkleon.com/2012/05/04/authors-at-google-talk-steal-like-an-artist/
Little things to do that make a difference
Make things pretty.
tidy and clean up, especially clean bedlinen.
look at my scrap books
listen to some interesting, fabulous or well loved music
take a trip to somewhere you haven't ever been to before
go to a great cafe and buy yourself lunch, or brunch or some such
make something out of nothing. maybe a meal, or some art from things you have lying around. storecupboard creativity
smile at folk in the street and say good morning etc in a cheery way.
look at stuff really well, and spot interesting looking things. find pleasure in seeing shapes, or colours or compositions. seek and find that beauty
a big chat with an old friend. ideally with wine but not at all necessarily.
create a plan for something really exciting. maybe an adventure. or an elaborate escape
do something with your hands. knit, or bake, or garden.
go to the garden centre and buy some new plants
change the colour of your hair
jump up and down. yes on the spot. for no reason. until you laugh.
go to an art gallery
Make things pretty.
tidy and clean up, especially clean bedlinen.
look at my scrap books
listen to some interesting, fabulous or well loved music
take a trip to somewhere you haven't ever been to before
go to a great cafe and buy yourself lunch, or brunch or some such
make something out of nothing. maybe a meal, or some art from things you have lying around. storecupboard creativity
smile at folk in the street and say good morning etc in a cheery way.
look at stuff really well, and spot interesting looking things. find pleasure in seeing shapes, or colours or compositions. seek and find that beauty
a big chat with an old friend. ideally with wine but not at all necessarily.
create a plan for something really exciting. maybe an adventure. or an elaborate escape
do something with your hands. knit, or bake, or garden.
go to the garden centre and buy some new plants
change the colour of your hair
jump up and down. yes on the spot. for no reason. until you laugh.
go to an art gallery
In the gallery. Wow it's a lovely beautiful hot day here in Brighton. There are lots of folk about but it is quiet in here.
I was thinking also of how this blog was my list of things to get done. Every week it is the same for me at the moment. I really must be doing more yoga. We did Navasana in class on Friday. This is a killer of a pose and I can't imaging ever being able to do it. It will require an awful lot of practice to get my thighs strong enough. Thought at the same time I am acutely aware that I have as an ambition, written long ago and yet many times, that one day I will be able to do Navasana. Full boat pose. So the time is here. I need to practice often. I think a spate of 6am starts is going to be on the cards. I need the quiet time and the seriously early morning seems to be my option.
So let me be telling. You on Friday that's did do it. All week!
Another thing will be the painting. Need to do more painting. Hve got a couple of portraits to do. Not as commissions as such, but for a birthday gift, and a gift for a new born (different kind of birthday)
I have found a partner for the Brighton Likemind. Am meeting her on Monday.
Now to see what can be done re the pop up summer salad supper club.
Friday, 25 May 2012
When you were TEN
Am revisiting the Mondo Beyondo class. And so am thinking today about what simple, grand or silly thing I wanted to do when I was ten.
Let me think. I was living in Suffolk, and I was probably bestest friends with Zog (as she was called at the time) I think I actually had diaries. Mainly I documented what sweets I bought and bizarrely, how much they cost. Hmm, I was a budgeteer even then! HA!. I am recalling stuff like wanting to live in a gypsy caravan or some sort of hobbit like burrow dwelling. Or a thatched cottage called Bumble Bee cottage. It definately had patchwork quilts and deep pillows and bunks, whatever it was. It was small and wooden and very cosy. Not sure if I was beyond the Flower Fairies or not at 10. Maybe not. I think i was building fairy villages out of big leaves in the garden. Probably deep into Laura Ingalls Wilder and notions of pioneer life. Did I make radio shows when I was 10? I think I did. Some still exist on cassettes. My little squeaky voice introducing songs and reading plays or staging some heist of hte recording studio. I don't remember ever thinking about what I would be when I was grown up. Oh, hang on I think I wanted to have written the Wombles and have my book made into a TV show. I dreamt of seeing ABBA live in concert. I wanted to own Snoopy paraphanalia and yellow things (I recall seeing a yellow transistor radio that was particularly awesome at the time. It might even have been shaped like a banana. So essentially I wanted to live a pioneer life with lots of patchwork, with sweets, snoopy stuff and bright yellow plastic gadgets. And I would write childrens books that got made into TV shows.
What about you?
Let me think. I was living in Suffolk, and I was probably bestest friends with Zog (as she was called at the time) I think I actually had diaries. Mainly I documented what sweets I bought and bizarrely, how much they cost. Hmm, I was a budgeteer even then! HA!. I am recalling stuff like wanting to live in a gypsy caravan or some sort of hobbit like burrow dwelling. Or a thatched cottage called Bumble Bee cottage. It definately had patchwork quilts and deep pillows and bunks, whatever it was. It was small and wooden and very cosy. Not sure if I was beyond the Flower Fairies or not at 10. Maybe not. I think i was building fairy villages out of big leaves in the garden. Probably deep into Laura Ingalls Wilder and notions of pioneer life. Did I make radio shows when I was 10? I think I did. Some still exist on cassettes. My little squeaky voice introducing songs and reading plays or staging some heist of hte recording studio. I don't remember ever thinking about what I would be when I was grown up. Oh, hang on I think I wanted to have written the Wombles and have my book made into a TV show. I dreamt of seeing ABBA live in concert. I wanted to own Snoopy paraphanalia and yellow things (I recall seeing a yellow transistor radio that was particularly awesome at the time. It might even have been shaped like a banana. So essentially I wanted to live a pioneer life with lots of patchwork, with sweets, snoopy stuff and bright yellow plastic gadgets. And I would write childrens books that got made into TV shows.
What about you?
Friday, 18 May 2012
Yoga Assessment
Phew. Just had my term 4 Yoga assessment. The assessment is run like a class, with each of us taking it in turns to
teach poses allocated to us by our tutor. Because we are all learning
to teach, the poses go much more slowly, which makes it much harder
work. I feel exhausted! It was all standing poses so my legs kind of
feel quite jelly like.
But hey, I get my sticker tomorrow.
As a form of integration of all aspects of my life (very yogic) I created sticker reward charts for the whole family. We all have goals to achieve; Bub has to go to bed without fuss, Hub has to stick to his diet and I have to do some Yoga every day. I have to admit, that getting a sticker is bizarrely very motivating! Or perhaps it is having a child pay close attention to how well you are doing. I don't know. Either way its working!
Todays assessment definately counts.
But hey, I get my sticker tomorrow.
As a form of integration of all aspects of my life (very yogic) I created sticker reward charts for the whole family. We all have goals to achieve; Bub has to go to bed without fuss, Hub has to stick to his diet and I have to do some Yoga every day. I have to admit, that getting a sticker is bizarrely very motivating! Or perhaps it is having a child pay close attention to how well you are doing. I don't know. Either way its working!
Todays assessment definately counts.
Thursday, 17 May 2012
getting into the arena
I might chose a new word. I think I might try shine. Because its generally a favourite word of mine meaning all sorts of stuff I like. Or maybe I will keep it till next year. I did nearly choose flourish, or was it bloom. Ah, so many good words.
Either way, one thing is definately happening. I am getting into arena. And I am feeling pretty shiny. Get me, blooming.
Get into the Arena. It's a Theodore Rooseveldt quote. And he (along with Eleanor) does some damn fine quotage. I can't quite remember the context, but its basically about putting yourself out there, to take the applause / or flak that it brings. And not playing safe, or living in that ole comfort zone. I definately dream of doing so much more than I do. And the only way to live the way I want to live is via ACTION. Talking about it, thinking about it, dreaming about it and so on - all very well. But nada NADA happens until you bring ACTION to the table.
I do actually believe that opportunities can land in your lap, but you know, you gotta get up and go meet em half way, go out and look for them, or just get out there and see what happens.
Another thing spurring this on is the idea that 'Magic Happens When You Do What You Love" (which I picked up off Beth's website, and was catlystic in me deciding to just pay the deposit on the DWYL retreat and wing it from there - btw I earnt that money in 1 week)
I kind feel like I have been out of action for a while and I am like some sort of sprung coil that has been held back.
Anyway, there are a few things I am taking on as a consequence to this.
1. This is my last year of my Yoga Teacher Training. I am going to take this seriously. I am practicing every day. I am studying some every day.
I do need to up my class attendance too. That is a mission. And next week I am on it.
2. I have decided to have a crack at hosting the Brighton Likemind. I met Curtis from People Who Do there and generaly every time I have gone I have met someone interesting, with an interesting tale to tell. Curtis, Emily, Mat and Jenny are stepping down has hosts after having run it for a few years and I thought I'd like to give it a go. I need a partner to do it though, so I am on the look out.
3. I am going to host some form of Supper Club. Another idea that has always utterly taken my fancy. Just Do It ms Moyra. Not often, but every now and again. As some sort of pop up. Again I need collaborators. Cool.
4. I am going to lose a bit of weight. Hopefully my increased Yoga activity will have some affect on this. But I put on a few kg this year, on top of being a few kg over my ideal. And I kind of hate the rolls. I have been doing a low carb diet for a while and it is slowly working. It would work better if I was a) willing to eat more meat and b) able to not crack and something carby every few days. But I am down 1.5kg and that is heading in the right direction.
Well that's the start of it. Lets see what happens next.
Either way, one thing is definately happening. I am getting into arena. And I am feeling pretty shiny. Get me, blooming.
Get into the Arena. It's a Theodore Rooseveldt quote. And he (along with Eleanor) does some damn fine quotage. I can't quite remember the context, but its basically about putting yourself out there, to take the applause / or flak that it brings. And not playing safe, or living in that ole comfort zone. I definately dream of doing so much more than I do. And the only way to live the way I want to live is via ACTION. Talking about it, thinking about it, dreaming about it and so on - all very well. But nada NADA happens until you bring ACTION to the table.
I do actually believe that opportunities can land in your lap, but you know, you gotta get up and go meet em half way, go out and look for them, or just get out there and see what happens.
Another thing spurring this on is the idea that 'Magic Happens When You Do What You Love" (which I picked up off Beth's website, and was catlystic in me deciding to just pay the deposit on the DWYL retreat and wing it from there - btw I earnt that money in 1 week)
I kind feel like I have been out of action for a while and I am like some sort of sprung coil that has been held back.
Anyway, there are a few things I am taking on as a consequence to this.
1. This is my last year of my Yoga Teacher Training. I am going to take this seriously. I am practicing every day. I am studying some every day.
I do need to up my class attendance too. That is a mission. And next week I am on it.
2. I have decided to have a crack at hosting the Brighton Likemind. I met Curtis from People Who Do there and generaly every time I have gone I have met someone interesting, with an interesting tale to tell. Curtis, Emily, Mat and Jenny are stepping down has hosts after having run it for a few years and I thought I'd like to give it a go. I need a partner to do it though, so I am on the look out.
3. I am going to host some form of Supper Club. Another idea that has always utterly taken my fancy. Just Do It ms Moyra. Not often, but every now and again. As some sort of pop up. Again I need collaborators. Cool.
4. I am going to lose a bit of weight. Hopefully my increased Yoga activity will have some affect on this. But I put on a few kg this year, on top of being a few kg over my ideal. And I kind of hate the rolls. I have been doing a low carb diet for a while and it is slowly working. It would work better if I was a) willing to eat more meat and b) able to not crack and something carby every few days. But I am down 1.5kg and that is heading in the right direction.
Well that's the start of it. Lets see what happens next.
Monday, 14 May 2012
Amazing, Atlantic and a Drama (last week!)
Last Thursday I went up to London with People Who Do to work with a one floor and one section of a massive international corporation. They have lots of separate businesses that have been through some major 'restructuring' (yup) and their new People and Culture Director wants to find out what the issues are, and get folk engaged to help sort it out and get them back on a good track. And we have been employed to help them. And last week, no hang on, the week before, we went in to deliver some Working Experiments with 'DO LAB'
We had already gathered some stories from the staff, via some unexpected means (encouraging graffiti in the loos for one!) and we got groups of their folk to theme stories (and photos) from that 'listening day' and to invent better ones (of course via unexpected or visual means!)
It all ended up with getting them to invent solutions and then build them out of cardboard and sticky tape. It was just brilliant. There is something about giving people a bunch of cardboard, sticky tape and scissors and not enough time to worry about being perfect. It was fun, creative and right brain. My kind of fun.
Which made for one tired me on Friday.
So Friday night, instead of a relaxing early night, I got home after my Yoga teacher training class to Bub having fallen, banged his head and seemingly suffering from symptons of concussion. I called NHS direct and told them what was going on, and they sent an ambulance and paramedics immediately. And as they were with us, Bub sort of collapsed with a temperature of 103! It was straight into the ambulance and off to A&E poor wee fellow! Bub collapsed completely. They adminstered some Calpol, then by the time we had reached the children's A&E he had recovered and was running about. The doctor tested him and declared him fine, but with a virus and gave instructions on monitoring him through the night. It turns out that poor wee Bub had chicken pox and is all spotty now, thought totally fine and recovered. Phew.
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