Things are mixed up at our house at the moment, though I have to say, thank goodness, things are definitely erring on the side of good. I have a new client for Get Stuff Done whom I am working with tomorrow and the day after. I am looking forward to it, because I really think it will help him.
My art journaling course starts up again on Friday, and I need a few more people for that so I am promoting that right now. Hub is doing really well with lots of new clients which makes us a happy family financially.
I met up with Lisa Wright of the Wright Stuff today. We had a very productive meeting plotting our next moves towards our Artists At Work idea. We are pretty certain now that we are going to call it Startism. And that there will be a star in the logo. I love stars.
I had a really good meeting with one of my ex bosses. I was previously nervous as I had felt the last time we had met up, it wasn't that good a vibe. But it was really good, to chat, talk about the future and all of what we were up to. All those bees in our bonnets. He is (starting) to be involved in an idea - which I LOVE - about getting grown ups to talk to kids about their work, and how they got to where they are. We are both bees in bonnets about education, how its all funnelling towards academia, and the stress and the pressure of that, when, well, quite frankly it doesn't have to be like that, and there are many paths to follow. And hearing stories of how people got to where they are might help some kids.
I also met up with a chap called Mark Sears who is going to be heading up a charity called Project Wild Thing. Its a film I haven't seen yet (which i really want to) about how little kids play, and how little they roam free. I feel quite strongly about that too. Given that when I was 6 I used to play out ALL day. My son gets supervised visits to the park. I feel sorry for his lack of independence, and yet I don't trust the traffic. There were definitely fewer cars in the 70's......
I liked Marks notion or mission of re-wilding. I think, not just in terms of getting out into nature more, but re-wilding our approach to art and life.
I like that my art journaling is called WILD art journaling. We all need to access our wild mind more often. It feels good and free and roaming.
Lastly I organised a Hanover Baby & Kids Stuff sale. Which as a rip roaring success. SO PACKED. it made me feel really good. The whole thing makes me feel really good. Local parents sellling their kids old stuff to other local parents. Sticky money, recycling, bringing people together. Its ALL GOOD.
So what, might you ask is bad? Well, its not much in comparison. And I am not going to write about it here. Sorry, but am not going to disclose everything! hopefully its short lived and good stuff can crowd it out and make it smaller and smaller.
Monday, 22 September 2014
Thursday, 18 September 2014
Scotland
TOday the Scottish are voting. Its amazing that so many people are engaged in this, are voting, some for the first time. It is fascinating to hear what people think on both sides. For me personally I am leaning towards the underdogs winning. I believe the scaremongering of the NO campaign to be just that. Each side is committed to working together whatever the decision for the best of all concerned. If I were Scottish I would vote YES. Because I am an optimist and a believer that change can be a good thing. But the main thing is that this is politics for the PEOPLE. Not a whole bunch of sameys who really are just on the side of Capitalism. I am inspired by places like Iceland who sacked their government and instigated something better for themselves. Democracy has to be for the people. I am excited and hopeful that this can influence our whole United Kingdom - which will still be United if we want it, just in a different way, and for it to be a positive inspiring thing for us all.
We can have a better democracy. It is up to us.
We can have a better democracy. It is up to us.
Saturday, 13 September 2014
Brighton & Hove Social Enterprise Network
Went along to a meeting with workshops and speakers at the Wagner Hall in Brighton on Friday. What a bunch of inspiring lovely folk doing enterprising and beautiful things to make the world a better place. I found it really inspiring. I went mainly because, I do want my businesses to help make the world a better place, but I wasn't entirely sure if I 'qualified' as a social business or not. Turns out the definition is pretty loose, and fundamentally encompasses any business that seeks to place equal emphasis on people / planet / profit. And doesn't shove all its profits to shareholders for their short term gain at the expense of the community or people the business serves.
A few things really stuck with me. One was the idea of sicky money. Of keeping the money circulating in the community rather than big private profit making businesses just taking it away and giving it out to shareholders in another country, or part of the country.
Politics is living large in our house at the moment too, with the imminemt Scottish independence vote. The chance that there may be a change, that the establishment may or may not be thwarted but either way, a huge number of the population are actually engaged with voting.
It seems that the rest of us (in England) are sleepwalking into some very bad deals for the country as a whole.
I feel all compelled to be involved in making the world a better place. More than I am already. I also struggle with my various businessess. I do so many things I can't quite decide which to focus on. Or what to say I am or do. I teach yoga, I teach art, I teach productivity. They are, in my mind at least, all linked, but out in the world that is a right mess of things to express succinctly in any networking scenario. I feel a bit Jill of all trades, rather than - well, you know, a master of one. Or mistress of one. And yet I really don't want to just do one thing. I am sure I will work it out one day. Maybe!!
I am doing my first trial workshop for productivity on Monday. I have 5 people coming which is rather good. I am pleased. I very much hope they all gain a lot from the experience. I may have one on going client from it. If indeed I do help him a little. A gardener who has too much work to handle himself and needs to do something, so that his customer service does not suffer. I am looking forward to working with him.
At that morning spent with Social Entrepreneurs, I realised that I really wanted to work with these people. I want Brighton & Hove to be a beacon for Social Enterprise too.
A few things really stuck with me. One was the idea of sicky money. Of keeping the money circulating in the community rather than big private profit making businesses just taking it away and giving it out to shareholders in another country, or part of the country.
Politics is living large in our house at the moment too, with the imminemt Scottish independence vote. The chance that there may be a change, that the establishment may or may not be thwarted but either way, a huge number of the population are actually engaged with voting.
It seems that the rest of us (in England) are sleepwalking into some very bad deals for the country as a whole.
I feel all compelled to be involved in making the world a better place. More than I am already. I also struggle with my various businessess. I do so many things I can't quite decide which to focus on. Or what to say I am or do. I teach yoga, I teach art, I teach productivity. They are, in my mind at least, all linked, but out in the world that is a right mess of things to express succinctly in any networking scenario. I feel a bit Jill of all trades, rather than - well, you know, a master of one. Or mistress of one. And yet I really don't want to just do one thing. I am sure I will work it out one day. Maybe!!
I am doing my first trial workshop for productivity on Monday. I have 5 people coming which is rather good. I am pleased. I very much hope they all gain a lot from the experience. I may have one on going client from it. If indeed I do help him a little. A gardener who has too much work to handle himself and needs to do something, so that his customer service does not suffer. I am looking forward to working with him.
At that morning spent with Social Entrepreneurs, I realised that I really wanted to work with these people. I want Brighton & Hove to be a beacon for Social Enterprise too.
Saturday, 23 August 2014
another good question
Be the Change You wAnt to See in the World.
WHat change do you want to see? How can you be that.
I have thought about this today. And mainly I want the world to be kinder and forgive more. So that is what I have to be.
Hub is about to watch Dr Who. He is too excited about it. Bub is being very very contrary. Me? I'm outta here in 4 minutes as I am going baby sitting.
I hope for everyone's sake that Bub stays in his room and plays lego while I am gone.
WHat change do you want to see? How can you be that.
I have thought about this today. And mainly I want the world to be kinder and forgive more. So that is what I have to be.
Hub is about to watch Dr Who. He is too excited about it. Bub is being very very contrary. Me? I'm outta here in 4 minutes as I am going baby sitting.
I hope for everyone's sake that Bub stays in his room and plays lego while I am gone.
Saturday, 9 August 2014
Good questions
One of my favourite bloggers is 101 birdtales. Her experimental art e course was one of the first I ever did and I really enjoyed it. I am also a big fan of her stance on being an artist / getting an education (see this post here about DIY art school)
I just read her recent post about collaboration. Or maybe she is just asking for help. Is that the same thing? Maybe it is the same thing, but it made me realise that collaboration is something I really enjoy.
I am currently collaborating with The Wright Stuff and we have a rather marvellous and very exciting idea, which involves taking art and creativity into the world of business. Its such a joy to be working with someone who totally gets it and can add to what I know and what I can do. I am sure you will hear more about it as it progresses. Its early stages and we have yet to name ourselves. Naming it seems is a thing.
I digress again. Collaboration. At my last job my title was 'Principle Collaborator' which my friend thought sounded rather like something baddies did during the war. But despite that, I liked it. I like the idea of collaboration. In fact.
I think that life is about finding the right folk to collaborate with.
Anyway, I rather liked the way Amelia's post ended up. With a few questions.
OH and QUESTIONS. in general. I am really into questions at the moment. As in, How life is also all about knowing what questions to ask.
Sorry, I digress (again) . Amelia's questions, they are
I just read her recent post about collaboration. Or maybe she is just asking for help. Is that the same thing? Maybe it is the same thing, but it made me realise that collaboration is something I really enjoy.
I am currently collaborating with The Wright Stuff and we have a rather marvellous and very exciting idea, which involves taking art and creativity into the world of business. Its such a joy to be working with someone who totally gets it and can add to what I know and what I can do. I am sure you will hear more about it as it progresses. Its early stages and we have yet to name ourselves. Naming it seems is a thing.
I digress again. Collaboration. At my last job my title was 'Principle Collaborator' which my friend thought sounded rather like something baddies did during the war. But despite that, I liked it. I like the idea of collaboration. In fact.
I think that life is about finding the right folk to collaborate with.
Anyway, I rather liked the way Amelia's post ended up. With a few questions.
OH and QUESTIONS. in general. I am really into questions at the moment. As in, How life is also all about knowing what questions to ask.
Sorry, I digress (again) . Amelia's questions, they are
Who can you go visit for inspiration?
What can you do to build your vision of expansion?
How can you ask for assistance/inspiration/guidance [and who] from?
What is your joy and are you doing it?
They are good questions.
Friday, 1 August 2014
the wildlings
the wildlings are a bringing art back to life
from pocket sized to larger than life
at home
in schools
in the community
in businesses
in cities
all over the world
get immersed
get started
make your mark
your story matters
art is you is life is joy is wild free connected real human needed
from pocket sized to larger than life
at home
in schools
in the community
in businesses
in cities
all over the world
get immersed
get started
make your mark
your story matters
art is you is life is joy is wild free connected real human needed
The Flipside (The Story of Potter)
I just wrote a whole piece on fear and rejection and a nasty niggly feeling that mixes up these two for me. And was too afraid to publish it. I was too afraid.
I felt it made me too vulnerable (just learnt how to spell vulnerable too)
Then I read this piece.
And I guess I need to name my niggly feeling. and I need to carry on regardless of it.
Its stepping out into the arena. I need to keep going.
An attempt to describe and name it
There is the niggly icky sticky tape feeling that amounts to a mix of shame, anger, humiliation (is humiliation a mix of shame and anger?) of not being seen. A passive being labelled as not good enough. a fury so useless that no one but me feels it or cares that it exists. The feeling of not being picked, being the unwanted. of being below ridicule. etc etc etc. blah blah blah.
Its not very nice. It descends when particular events match a particular story that has been in my life for a very long time. I have added to it over the years. There are several incidences I can pin point. I have been feeling it over the last month, off and on. I fight it, but its there. I don't like it.
Someone told me today that the world is mostly much kinder than we imagine it is. And for the most part I am able to know this.
They also told me that there is the situation, and how we feel about the situation. And its the latter that is the place where the hurt happens.
This niggly precipice teetering feeling, is my weak spot, my open wound place. It seems to bubble up some proper OLD stories. A memory of hurts all piled on top of each other to create a narrative that resonates at a particular frequency.
I am seeing it for what it is. It is not going to rule. It is not the total truth. And I am carrying on, holding my head up with dignity, despite it.
I am not the only human to feel this, and feelings like this must not stop me. I will feel it and carry on anyway.
I wonder what name I should give it? I am going to call it Potter. I know what that means. And its from a very long time ago. And this name makes it smaller and less relevent. I shall put it on a postcard sized piece of paper. Like maybe a really small piece of art and shrink it to that size. The story of Potter. Potter is just a story. A postcard folded up and in my back pocket.
I felt it made me too vulnerable (just learnt how to spell vulnerable too)
Then I read this piece.
And I guess I need to name my niggly feeling. and I need to carry on regardless of it.
Its stepping out into the arena. I need to keep going.
An attempt to describe and name it
There is the niggly icky sticky tape feeling that amounts to a mix of shame, anger, humiliation (is humiliation a mix of shame and anger?) of not being seen. A passive being labelled as not good enough. a fury so useless that no one but me feels it or cares that it exists. The feeling of not being picked, being the unwanted. of being below ridicule. etc etc etc. blah blah blah.
Its not very nice. It descends when particular events match a particular story that has been in my life for a very long time. I have added to it over the years. There are several incidences I can pin point. I have been feeling it over the last month, off and on. I fight it, but its there. I don't like it.
Someone told me today that the world is mostly much kinder than we imagine it is. And for the most part I am able to know this.
They also told me that there is the situation, and how we feel about the situation. And its the latter that is the place where the hurt happens.
This niggly precipice teetering feeling, is my weak spot, my open wound place. It seems to bubble up some proper OLD stories. A memory of hurts all piled on top of each other to create a narrative that resonates at a particular frequency.
I am seeing it for what it is. It is not going to rule. It is not the total truth. And I am carrying on, holding my head up with dignity, despite it.
I am not the only human to feel this, and feelings like this must not stop me. I will feel it and carry on anyway.
I wonder what name I should give it? I am going to call it Potter. I know what that means. And its from a very long time ago. And this name makes it smaller and less relevent. I shall put it on a postcard sized piece of paper. Like maybe a really small piece of art and shrink it to that size. The story of Potter. Potter is just a story. A postcard folded up and in my back pocket.
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