Be Not Afraid - You Are A Masterpiecer!

 

What is a masterpiece?  It takes a healthy mix of humility and courage to walk towards your life's fulfillment; to go where you have yet to go, to create your own unique, imperfect masterpieces.

Perhaps we need to pay more attention to the example that the lowly weed sets:  Weeds are actually unique, and when closely looked at, very intricate masterpieces.  There is no way that any of us can create that same piece of outstanding artistry.   The problem is that they dare to pop up in spaces that do not welcome or encourage them.

  If they had a society for abused weeds -  ‘unwanted’ plants - what would their complaints be?  “Help – We’re being stepped on, our feet chopped off, pulled by the hair, and spoken to quite rudely!  We thought our contribution would be appreciated but, clearly, grass is the only genus welcome."  In our finite human wisdom, we condescendingly insist on helping Mother Nature to correct her obvious errors.

The weeds know better - They are trying to tell us that our soil is actually ideal for them, that poor ‘monsieur grass’ is the one struggling to grow in the wrong spot.   Perhaps I'll stop stressing about not having perfect green carpeting everywhere out there; The patch of wild strawberries that showed up last summer in our back yard, together with bits of moss, are confirming the fact that the soil in that area is acidic – not the best soil for growing a lush lawn, but perfect for wild strawberries, and sorrel (tart but yummy on a cheese sandwich!), in other words, an edible lawn! That is just fine with me; I’m in no hurry to correct that mistake. 

In this larger garden that makes up my life, I'll try to nourish my soil with plenty of that healthy humility-courage mix, and I'll keep the phone number for the Master Gardener handy for those times when my garden becomes muddled, when  my confidence becomes choked out by fear.  I'll try to picture successes as I’m making my inevitable mistakes, and I hope that some day I will look back and, lo and behold, there will be a long lineup of sparkling efforts - an imperfect but beautiful path that others may follow,  learn from, and  improve on. 

I’ll just make sure I sprinkle lots of smile seeds as I go, that I speak kindly to the plants, and that I  try not to correct all of my mistakes too quickly - I may be overlooking some real masterpieces! 

 Oh look - There's another dandelion, and another, and another, and an......  Peace!

Baby Pictures!

How do you make a baby smile?  The things we are willing to get down and do is actually pretty awesome!  Suddenly, the makeup, hair and clothes are totally not an issue.  It’s all in the face and body language – and the number of ways that you can express yourself in ‘goo goo’ talk!  Our eyes are never brighter or wider; our smile is never more honest or engaging; and our play-acting is downright inspiring!  Did I mention that there is no better workout – for the heart, the body, or the soul?  There is also no way that you can fail the language exam!  If fact, the more mistakes you make, and the sillier your sounds become, the higher your reaction score gets!  It’s too bad that we can’t put our cameras in the hands of babies.  What amazing pictures they would take.  They are experts in bringing out the best in us.  We would all be surprised at the way that our love and laughter transforms our faces!  Suddenly, there is that little child again – shining through our wrinkles and crinkles – smiling and laughing, unaware of the depth of beauty that the baby saw. 

Next event: 36th Annual Artisan't Show & Sale - Prescott, ON

NOV. 16^th -  9:00a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  -   36^th Annual Arts & Crafts Show & Sale

      South Grenville District High School – 1000 Edward St. N., Prescott, ON

225 tables – Free parking – Free babysitting – lots of door prizes – canteens

Should be an amazing sale – I’ll be there with my books and artwork.

This event and so many other similar ones give us a glimpse of the amazing pool of talent that exists in our communities.  It is a chance for all of us artists and artisans to offer to the world our best works.  It is not just an opportunity to gain financial reward for our efforts, but it is also a chance to dip into that precious pool of encouragement and compliments that comes from those viewing our works.  Hats off to all of the vendors!

Next Stop: 'Zoomerland'!

Next stop: ‘Zoomerland’!

I’m taking a good look at what happened during my trip through ‘Boomerland’ - that magical place where this life of mine was planted, filled with beautiful, powerful, and sometimes frightening ‘booms’ that have challenged me to accept who I am.  When I wake up each morning, (after I take a few deep breaths and coax my eyes into staying open this time for sure!) it is with the realization that I am a very small piece of a very complicated puzzle.  I offer up a prayer that whatever I am and can do, will help to make this world a better place, and I ask for help in overcoming whatever fears keep me from doing that.

 I step out of bed, hit my toe on a table, and boom! all of that positive vibe has moved aside to make way for a false set of priorities, carried in by my unwanted shadow, the worry bug: ‘Oh Lord, I need to vacuum the house, clean the windows, dust the piano and cover it back up again (We’re still in house painting mode), rake the leaves, and paint something!’  My heart tries to break into the conversation: “Ahem, perhaps you could go for a walk, do some writing, work on your next book, try some sketching, practice your guitar or jump into those leaves!?”  These are all things that might distract the worry bug and get him to lighten up - He’s such a serious fellow!

In the end, we are who we are, with all of our unique imperfections, but also with the immense potential that resides within us, waiting to be asked to come forward.  We are largely unknown to ourselves; the face that we see in the mirror each morning hides behind it someone unique that wants to meet us and be included in our day.  What do we do?   Cover it up with makeup of various kinds, and give it nasty looks as we ignore its hopeful gaze, and try to form it into some version of ourselves that we think is expected or will be accepted by the world out there. 

Perhaps this next trip into ‘Zoomerland’ will allow us to relax and grow in charming ways - like a weathered barn, a fragile little shed, or a mature graceful tree - more beautiful with age.  In my third children’s book “How To Stretch A Puddle”,  I included a poem called “The Mighty Little” and it asks the question:  ‘How could something once so small become a tree so big and tall; It looked around just glad to be, It didn’t know it was a tree.”   Never underestimate your inner strength, your potential or your Zoom!  

The Treasure Seekers!

The Treasure Seekers!

I’m starting to wonder if there may have been pirates skulking around the branches of our family tree at some point.  That might account for the fact that I’m such an avid ‘treasure seeker’!   I passed three garage sales yesterday and I was barely able to hold the car on the road.  I don’t go looking for anything practical at such places – It’s the obscure little gems among the obscure little treasure chests that I love to uncover, items that no one else but me, with my super keen eye, might notice.

The treasure hunt doesn’t end at garage sales: Strawberry season is upon us, and my first taste of those luscious red fruits took me back to old Padgeberry Farm and the fun times I used to have scanning the ground amongst the tall grass in the untilled part of the farm.  These little mini hunts led to a peaceful refuge, a Shangri-La – a place where bluegrass, daisies, buttercups, sorrel and yes! - wild strawberries were in abundance.  I joined my children and became a little kid again as we dropped down on our knees and filled our hands and mouths with those tiny delicious treasures, our chins dripping the tangy red juice.

Here in our new abode, I have discovered my very own patch once again, at the side of the property.  Shiver me timbers!  There they lie, just waiting for a little more sun before coming into fruiting. Next to those wee ones is another treasure chest: our mulberry tree, and there we are:  myself, a hundred or so hungry birds and the extended squirrel family – a line-up of treasure seekers just waiting for the ‘ripe’ moment.  Avast ye lubbers - Let the race begin! 

Of course the real treasure is not the prize itself or even the finding of it – It’s the joy you feel when you are sure that you are going to find something exquisite – I think they call that hope!

On that delightful and more realistic note, there is the promise of new hope about to be gifted to our family in the form of a baby granddaughter, ‘Brenna”  - a true wonder that this treasure-seeking Nan can’t wait to meet!

Thanks For The Dreams Dad!

Thank You For The Dreams Dad!

My childhood world had defined me as being little and nice, quiet and smiling.  I didn’t really mind this description, but it provided two options: to use my ‘littleness’ to make a difference, or to abuse it by letting it excuse me from challenges.

Life moves along quickly, and once the ride begins, it insists on leading and picks up speed  - heading to destinations unknown! 

  In 1965, at 17 yrs. of age, I set off on a neat detour - I got my first guitar, and with my father’s tutoring, I learned to play the basic chords and to keep a beat with my strumming.  My first inkling that the world might not have me totally figured out was when I sat down beside my father with my guitar in hand.  It was my father’s exclamation:   “I’ve been waiting for this for so long!” – that touched my heart, and printed a wonderful indelible tattoo on it.  Dad had kick-started a dream.  Suddenly, I had been given the key to a new door in my life – I had been invited into the music club!   I count as some of my favourite memories, sitting and playing along with him, and contributing to our family sing-a-longs.  Another is of standing on his shoes and gliding around the living room on the strains of a waltz.   

 Over the years, I began to realize that my heart had a whole storage bin full of dreams - intriguing side roads that beckoned to me to ‘come on and explore!’  Musical rhythms began to fill my head more and more, and those playful characters invited words to jump in and define them.  That was when I began to write poetry.  While listening to beautiful pieces of music, recalling nostalgic scenes, watching children play, or many times, lately, just trying desperately to stay asleep at three in the morning, I will feel my heart calling out to my hands:  ‘Write this down!”  - NOW! 

The world will tell you many things about yourself – some true, and some not, and while it takes courage to follow the voice of your dreams, it is ultimately where you find true fulfillment.

Life is a highway

Crossing mountains and streams

But it’s often the detours

That lead to our dreams!

Thank you Dad for believing in me and handing me the keys to the ‘dream mobile’! 

A Great Big Warm 'Boot To The Head'!

A Great Big Warm ‘Boot To The Head’!

We could all use one, every once in awhile!  Listening to Mary Chapin Carpenter singing ‘Grow Old Along With Me’ and along came that big fuzzy boot – knocking me on the side of the head and giving my heart a good kick in the process.   It’s amazing what music can do: jolt you back to exact times and places, and bring the people that you love into sharper focus.  My memory, not great at the best of times, (and don’t get me started on names!) is somehow given turbo boost when music is playing.  So many beautiful lives and events come in and out of focus, like precious flowering herbs – balms that have been there to feed and heal my life.

As we get further from our starting point, the map becomes very complicated – and in my case, fuzzy - and we forget where we started out, where we stood when that seed of love was planted in us, encasing a child’s hopeful faith that everything would be bright and beautiful.  It was planted in each of us, and left in our care to nurture and protect – and to fall absolutely in love with.

Lately, my mind is pulling on its own boots, kicking up a fuss and telling me that I’d better add some colour to this grey matter - fast!  Just when I think I have figured out some of the big issues, my spirit gives a big sigh, picks up one of those boots and whack!  ‘Sorry, you have landed on a snake and have to go back and try again to figure life out.’  So, I pick up my humility card and start out afresh with my little bag of hope in tow, picking up new perspectives, new colours for my garden.

That original plant is still calling out as well and patiently waiting for me to stop covering my head, and to notice the ‘with love’ salutations that accompany the boots.

‘Don’t worry about those weeds’, it is saying – ‘just pour on the nourishment!’

Though the road may bring twists, turns, sorrows and challenges, love, wearing its great big fuzzy boots, is ready to take on all challengers.  

“Don’t be afraid of the odd kick, and don’t worry – I am custom-sized just for you – Stay with me - ‘The best is yet to be’.”