Posted in musings, writing, tagged creativity, Elizabeth Gilbert, failure, success, TED, videos on May 1, 2014| Leave a Comment »
Via Karen, this recent TED Talk from Elizabeth Gilbert is the best thing I’ve seen in a long time. (I loved her first TED Talk too, on genius and the creative spirit.)
Gilbert explores the emotional effects of success and failure, and the value of coming back home: “Your home is whatever in this world you love more than you love yourself.” Wise and powerful words – definitely worth a watch.
Posted in musings, tagged clothes, color, confidence, fashion, TED, videos on June 13, 2011| 6 Comments »
Some colorful inspiration for your Monday – designer Jessi Arrington explaining her wardrobe philosophy at TED.
I love Jessi’s cheery, bubbly outlook on life, her can-do spirit, her confidence in rocking new and unusual color combinations, and her sweet Southern accent. She’s inspiring me to rock a little confidence – and a lot of color! – today.
Posted in love thursday, musings, tagged Animal, Beaker, Carol of the Bells, Christmas, Muppets, silliness, Swedish Chef, videos on December 16, 2010| 4 Comments »
A little Christmas cheer for your Thursday – because I love those Muppets, and because I thought you could use a smile:
Posted in musings, writing, tagged creativity, Eat Pray Love, Elizabeth Gilbert, videos on March 24, 2009| 5 Comments »
From a 2006 Barnes & Noble interview:
“I can’t get behind the ambition to be ‘discovered’ as much as I can get behind the ambition to write beautifully and honorably and steadfastly. Here’s what I believe about creativity. I believe that creativity is a living force that thrums wildly through this world and expresses itself through us. I believe that talent (the force by which ephemeral creativity gets manifested into the physical world through our hands) is a mighty and holy gift. I believe that, if you have a talent (or even if you think you do, or maybe even if you just hope you do), that you should treat that talent with the highest reverence and love.
“Don’t flip out, in other words, and murder your gift through narcissism, insecurity, addiction, competitiveness, ambition or mediocrity. Frankly – don’t be a jerk. Just get busy, get serious, get down to it and write something, for heaven’s sake. Try to get out of your own way. Creativity itself doesn’t care at all about results – the only thing it craves is the PROCESS. Learn to love the process and let whatever happens next happen, without fussing too much about it. Work like a monk, or a mule, or some other representative metaphor for diligence. Love the work. Destiny will do what it wants with you, regardless. Just love the work.”
And then there’s this brilliant talk she gave at the 2009 TED conference. After listening to it, I wanted to take her out for coffee, and I also wanted to go and spin and twirl and dance in a field, and then sit down and write madly.
Posted in musings, tagged music, Oren Lavie, videos on March 9, 2009| 6 Comments »
I have been loving this video for weeks. (I can’t figure out how to get it to embed properly – but go watch it. It’s gorgeous.) I want to be this woman and sleep in that lovely soft bed, with sheets of dove-grey that actually hug me, and light making patterns on the floor. And then I want to go for rides on a tandem bike and let a cello play with my hair, and wear a red scarf.
I love the line “and she fights for her life as she puts on her coat” – because I think we all do a bit of fighting for our lives, every single day. We fight, not necessarily for our physical lives (though some people do), but to remember to be the kind of people we are called to be. We fight for safety, and for the ability to take risks, and for emotional honesty, and for joy and compassion and all the things that make life worth living. We fight against indifference. We fight to live every day on purpose.
Now, go snuggle up with a little fish-sock (and if you haven’t watched the video yet, go and do that. You’ll know what I’m talking about).
Posted in musings, tagged Muppets, silliness, USA, videos on November 5, 2008| 2 Comments »
No matter how you voted yesterday, this will make you smile – and be proud to be part of the country that has brought us the Muppets. Enjoy. 🙂
cakes, tea and dreams 