I can’t wait to see this:
This is just too beyond adorable and makes me want one of each – a kid and a puppy:
Toddler naps with his 2-month old puppy every day
And this, this is just great, (more so the sexy men than the kittens for me, but I will admit, the cats are quite cute, too):
Hilarious Photos of Sexy Men and Adorable Cats in Similar Poses
And… the original Tumblr page that the photos came from – thanks to my friend for bringing my attention to it!:
Here’s to another day of creativity…
I just realized that One Common Unity quoted my post from way back when, on their website in the Praise for the film section. Awww, that makes me feel so good!
And what perfect timing… as today, we announced that we (ReSourceArts) will be hosting an advanced screening of the movie for our December Reel Talk event.
I’m so so so thrilled. I hope you can, and will, see the movie.
Here’s to another day of creativity…
I wish I could embed this VIDEO right here in this post. (You can also view a great ARTICLE, with the video embedded.)
I’ll have to settle for posting this photo instead:
In my deepest heart I believe the intersection of artists – being purely themselves – while surrounded by other creative folks, is the key to creating peace and sustainability.
I don’t have words or a way to quantify this type of energy and inspiration. I’ve been searching for them. The words. Obviously this is a very utopian, simplified view. But the essence is what I’m getting at; creating creativity together sparks greatness.
It’s why I created ReSourceArts and am working to figure out how to create a physical space that can offer this kind of organic and magical interaction on the regular.
I believe we are all creative in our own right and all have something to offer. Given the right tools and circumstances, and permission – from ourselves and each other – to let go of fears and stereotypes and an out-for-myself mentality, magical things can happen. We all grow stronger – individually and as a community – for it. We can then go out into the world and continue to multiply this type of positive energy.
Jay Z’s video for “Picasso Baby: A Performance Art Film,” in my opinion, is a really wonderful reminder of this. I totally smiled the entire time. I loved Marina Abramovic’s PERFORMANCE PIECE, and I love that Jay Z reshaped the idea into his own performance art.
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“Artists and musicians are usually told they’re different. They don’t fit in. They’re crazy. They’re too much. But people who don’t see the world the way they’re told the world is recognize that quality in other people.” – Cedric Shine for the record: NPR’s music news
That sentiment is why, totally why, we all need to be working together and creating other kinds of communities. Cause we haven’t ever fit in. Sometimes it makes us more likely to go and continue to work in a vacuum. I see this all the time. I get frustrated by artists who operate this way. I get it. The self-preservation mechanism that sets in because we haven’t ever felt cared for, so we do everything we can to take care of only ourselves, as if there isn’t anyone else out there who can be trusted to do so. But there is another way. A kind of space that allows us all to be free to be us and within that amazingness, to connect with others and spark new kinds of amazingness. No need to be fighting for our little piece of the pie. Instead, to keep working to make the pie even bigger for us all to enjoy.
I’m glad for the reminder today, and excited to keep building, in my own small way, on this idea of creating connections and community.
Here’s to another day of creativity…
Ask me how I know the world will be alright.
With all of the hate and injustice and war and sadness that surrounds us.
Ask me, and I will tell you it is because I saw this movie.
Fly By Light, a film by One Common Unity, literally changed the lives of fourteen Washington, DC teenagers. And also, it is fair to say, the lives of the adults who created the movie with them.
I’ve worked in schools. With young people. I have seen outreach programs, and outdoor education programs, and conflict resolution programs. Some good, some terribly not so good.
And I can say, without a doubt, that this – this is the real thing. That these people, and now this movie, are making the world a better place. This is what lasting change looks and feels like. One person at a time.
Because at the end of the day, there is no magic potion or sum of money or Hollywood ending that makes it so. No. This is the real thing because each and every one of the contributors of the movie offered respect and love and compassion and belief – belief that these young people are worthy. That, my friends, is where the true magic lies. We don’t always have the right answers, but we always have what’s in our hearts. And that is enough. This movie is proof that it is enough.
I don’t want to give it all away. I want you to see it, and be moved by it.
But I will say that to see not only the transformation on screen, but also in person as these brave young people shared their stories, their lives, with us – this was an incredible thing.
Also, I should note – I am definitely not a thug (not that this was ever really in question) because I certainly shed more than a single tear while watching the movie. (If you’ve seen it, that will make sense. Otherwise, just take my word for it…)
So.
Ask me how I know the world will be alright, and I will tell you to see Fly By Light.
And then you, too, will know.
Here’s to another day of creativity…
A movie. A meal. A great conversation.
That’s what we had tonight. The first of many to come. A new monthly event series: Reel Talk.
Here’s to another day of creativity…
I used to think bigger was better.
Events. People.
I used to think bigger events, were better.
Now, I’m starting to see that there’s nothing wrong with starting out small and building something lasting and worthwhile instead.
I’m realizing I won’t ever be an ‘Ideavirus’ unleasher, as described by Seth Godin. I read the book. I thought, maybe, I could be that, do that. And up until, well, tonight maybe, it made me sad that I didn’t seem to possess the magic to get everybody to jump on board and flock to my idea, event, etc.
That’s never been my way.
I don’t have a million viewers on my blog. I don’t have a thousand people like my Instagram photos.
But I have a steady group of people who support and encourage and attend, and that means more these days.
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I have an event this Thursday – the kickoff for a monthly series my friend and I developed, called Reel Talk. (Food, Film, and Forward-Action Conversations.) We capped it at 15 people (it’s taking place at our friends house and includes cooking and watching an independent film.)
We have… five people registered. All of them are friends or family of those of us putting on the event.
Instead of feeling bad about this in the way I would have in the past, I see this as an opportunity. We have no idea if this idea will go well or not. (We have a hunch it will – WE believe in the idea of gathering people around a thought-provoking movie and delicious meal to get some connections and positive action happening.) But we don’t really know how it will be received. So starting with five people – whom we all know – will allow us to test it out and refine it in order to build the event’s success over time. It will be the right five people at the right time and will allow us to grow into ourselves as an organization. And this is all good.
In another first – I didn’t over-extend myself money-wise for this event. We kept the price low enough to get people to register but charged enough to cover our costs. This is a huge in my world. Huge I tell you.
So two pats on the back for me, for altering the way I approach my work.
And two more for continuing to charge forward with the work I believe in. Even when it feels so hard to do so.
Here’s to another day of creativity…
A really lovely and inspiring NPR story.
At minute 16:08 they play a clip of Merry Clayton singing with Bobby Darin when she was 14. FOURTEEN people. Holy wow.
I can’t wait to see the documentary.
Here’s to another day of creativity…
First of the month means email newsletter time. This month, lots to share. We are launching a new event, called Reel Talk: A monthly Film, Food, and Forward-action event series. Here’s the logo I put together today:
For more information on the event series, kicking off April 25th in Washington, DC, you can click here.
Here’s to another day of creativity…
The Daily Creative Project 