Posted tagged ‘artist of life’

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The Saturday Book Shop – The Art of Aliveness

March 27, 2021

The Art of Aliveness: A Creative Return to What Matters Most is a new book by Flora Bowley, who taught me, via her Bloom True online course, about intuitive painting back in 2014.

Just released a few days ago, this book is about way more than painting. The stories she tells here are personal and leave me feeling as if I’ve just had a chance to sit in on one of her sought-after in-person workshops!

The timing on this book couldn’t be better as we all have this pause in the world to reflect more deeply on the underpinnings of creating a joy-filled life. Filled with prompts and exercises as well as generosity and vulnerability, this book applies the soulful “Be Bold. Let Go. Unfold” mantra into memorable lessons of discovery for forging your own empowered path of fulfillment. She shares her insights into moving effortlessly between both structure and free-flowing freedom—a fluid trust forged in strengthening intuition and self understanding. 

Flora Bowley has been a pivotal part of my own creative journey and I adore her work PLUS the way her practice of creativity flows through every aspect of her life. She taught me about layers. She taught me about contrasts. She taught me there’s no wasted paint. And that’s especially important moving forward as the layers of time are brushed on.

I can already tell this will be a read-and-reread kinda book favorite. I’m still learning. We’re all still learning and discovering and can use reminders of what we already know. The wisdom, pain, inspiration, renewal, and permission-giving Flora shares here encourages connection, reconnection, and living by creative wellness, whether you paint or not.

Here’s wishing everyone green new days of Spring sunshine, a beautiful full moon this Sunday, smooth vaccinations, a wonderful Passover, a Happy Palm Sunday, and paperbacks like this one by Flora that you can take along to read on your next walk, picnic, or pause by the water.

Always happy to hear what’s on your reading table right now or any book club favorites you’re enjoying. 

Thanks for being here and see you back next week at The Saturday Book Shop.

© 2104 paula boyd farrington my first brave intuitive painting as inspired by Flora Bowley

Categories: art, Books, cool stuff, favorite things, inspiration, intriguing images, making a difference, Sunday Inspiration, wonderful ideas, writing
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108 Double Stitches

November 3, 2016
Dear Fellow Kaizen Muse Creativity Coaches +  Creativity-Loving Friends,
baseball-a

I am still in the thrall of that AMAZING 2016 World Series Game 7 that I got to watch last night between two of the best-matched and incredibly talented give-it-all-you-got baseball teams: the Chicago Cubs & the Cleveland Indians. WHAT A GAME!!! I’ve never seen anything like it.  It had all the elements of an epic movie:  action, mega-suspense, dramatic pauses, laughter, tears, heroic perseverance in the face of fatigue, big league Pressure with a capital P—plus—an unforgettable ending … it was all that and more. Beyond WOW.

Both teams had a lot on the line.  Both teams have been a long time between bringing home the pennant.  Both teams played their hearts out.  I wanted to give each of them a trophy, but having lived in Milwaukee many years ago (and been a frequent visitor to Chicago), I was also cheering for The Cubs to break their 108-year ‘losing’ streak … I wanted them and their fans to be like Bill Murray in that wonderful Groundhog Day movie and wake up to a new day.  To see either of these teams win felt like it was somehow an homage to the sheer joy of playing the game, of going about the day-to-day business of throwing and catching and hitting the ball and running the bases … and having a damn fine time doing it.  That’s what any game is about.  Including the game of Life.

Jill Badonsky knows this. And she brings this same wholehearted “joy of the game” to life in everything she does—including her new Finding Über Bliss program coming up in Delray, Florida, January 19-22, 2017   I am so looking forward to this. It will be a terrific chance to be with Jill in person and experience this work for yourself as a participant. You can deepen your game and adapt it to your own individual playbook—or—put yourself in Spring Training to get to be one of the first coaches to share this lighthearted, centering, and inspiring work with your very own creativity group!

It’s also one of the most reasonable investments you can make in learning new techniques and creative exercises that will serve you in any group you’re putting together, or in your one-on-one coaching.  Or just in letting you feel firsthand, in a memorable and deeper way, a fuller engagement of the creative principles that can lead to having more fun along the way, more home runs or base hits, less crankiness in general. (to borrow one of my favorite Jill-phrases! 🙂 )

Talking all these baseball metaphors also has me thinking about another favorite movie, A League of Their Own.  It’s about another set of teams that played their hearts out. I love movies. And sitting in the stands. And being out there on the field, athletic or not. This one makes you want to get out on the field more. Or take a road trip. And so does Jill.

If you’ve been thinking about getting out there more for yourself or for your coaching, I hope you’ll look at the information here and join this new team of Finding Uber Bliss guides that’s coming together. There’s a few spaces left and a whole lotta fun to be had. And some warm-winter days to enjoy in Florida!

Delray Beach is close to either the West Palm Beach International Airport or Fort Lauderdale International Airport. The retreat will be held at Duncan Center, which is tucked into a quiet corner with a pool, labyrinths, zen space to breathe and meet and be, lodging and meals included (except for an outing to one of the many lovely restaurants in a jazzy little shopping area that’s just a 10 minute drive away). A beach jaunt, smart phone camera techniques, no-pressure drawing, creative writing, creative rejuvenation among kindred spirits, and the whimsy and mojo experience that are part of Jill’s stadium of wisdom and wonder, are also doing a little crowd wave to you in hopes you’ll join us!

It took The Cubs 108 years to win a World Series pennant. I read this morning that there are 108 double stitches on a baseball.  There’s a certain magic in baseball.  There’s a certain magic in all the ups and downs of playing the game and finding more joy and Uber Bliss along the way. Mox nix if you’re a baseball fan, just wanted to say I hope to see you in Florida with Jill, Team KMCC!!!

with ramped up survived-hurricane-mathew-and-just-got-internet-and-power-again renewed gratitude for the basics, and a little happy dance,

Paula
uber-castle-and-title

Categories: cool stuff, Creativity Workshop, inspiration, movies, wonderful ideas, writing
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