Dancing Their Way Through LIFE...One Step at a Time

What are they doing?? What is the meaning of all of this? What do I see and why do I share this?? SHOES...from the first spark - the orange and pink laces in New Brunswick, Canada 4 years ago, I have been noticing and photographing the shoes that others CHOOSE to wear - and yes, we have choices ...usually. This past weekend, while at the Pitman Craft Show, I took close to 200 more views of people's feet. It is NOT the shoes, but the stories and the conversations that I have that are a big part of my reason for doing this. NO ONE (well, one guy last week in a coffee shop) has refused my request. See, I start out with AFFIRMING them..."You have great shoes. Can I take a picture of them to add to my collection?" I share with them that I am writing a book about shoes...how the shoes are in some ways a metaphor for life (thanks Bob!!) and also how they allow us to express our uniqueness and our diversity!! Same...yet different. It is how we all our...we are human beings and then unique individuals. We vary in physical appearance, behaviors, temperaments and the "baggage" and history that we bring to any relationship. See, it IS all a dance. Sometimes we trip over our own feet trying to dance. Sometimes we flow gracefully around the floor, often with a partner...or not. It is WONDERFUL!!
Now I have taken some of the shoe pictures and made them into cards. When I take a picture, I now have an AFFIRMATION CARD to give to people to say THANKS and to share that I have "caught thems doing something right."
People are responding to our workshop topics and asking us to facilitate sessions for them, the shoe collection is growing, and through Flickr.com and my friends there, I learn to value and appreciate affirmations I receive and those I can share with others.
See, all over the world, IT IS A DANCE!! Put on your shoes and get going. Then write and tell us how catchthemright@aol.com

Painting Our World...One Stroke at a Time!!

Today I met Heather and Patti , "COLOR ME HAPPY" face painters, at the Pitman,NJ craft show. I want to share with you what FUN we had getting to know one another!! It all started out as I was watching Heather paint the design on Patti's face) and Patti asked me to take a few pictures with her camera for them. I said, "Of course, and then can I take some for me too?"Being my usual self, I watched...waited and saw what they were doing before I took any action. Then I saw their total joy at what they were doing - their friendship with each other, and their eager anticipation for what the day would bring - and the gifts they would offer others. Wonderful!! I had taken a few pictures and...along came Joe!! Well, let me tell you, Joe was eager to share that he was a "photographer" and had just spent a LOT of $$ for his new Nikon single lens reflex camera. OK for him...not necessary for me. Personally I take my best pictures with a Fuji FinePix 31fd. It's what is called a "point and shoot" camera and it is always with me since it fits right in my pocket!! Joe took one picture of them and gave them his email/website if they wanted the picture. Then he was off. I spent about 20 minutes with them and took about 20 pictures!! Why do I tell you this story? It is so "out there" in the world. People are interested in who they are, what they have and what they are doing. Nothing else. For me, it is a different approach and for me, as you who read this know, it is about AFFIRMING, NURTURING and "catching them doing something right". I went to the craft show today with an open mind thinking of who I would meet, what I would see, new friends I would gather, and stories I would have to tell. Patti and Heather, well, Joe too, were all part of today. Besides that, I saw incredible shoe pictures and brought home more than 200 more for the collection. Have I shared that we are developing the idea for a book - or maybe more than one about Unity and Diversity using shoe photos?? Well...now I have. We are going to post some of the shoe pictures on the web-site and asking all of you to send us your shoe pictures that tell us about YOU. How do your shoes show that YOU are a UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL??? Let us hear from you...and thanks. catchthemright@aol.com See ya again real soon!!
ps...want them to come to your party or event?? colormehappyface@hotmail.com

Stopping to SEE...Reflect and Relate

The Perfection of Imperfection...

I have been spending a lot of time with photography and reflecting on the connections between it and DARE to AFFIRM. What I realize is that when I am just still and appreciative as I observe nature, I see and feel the energy of what is around me without trying at all to judge or have preconceived notions. When this happens, life flows smoothly and I feel at peace. When I am unsettled, I try to "shoot" the perfect picture and end up with nothing I am satisfied with. The other morning, I visited our garden...just so see and receive. This rose bush showed me its beauty in all of its colors and stages of being. There was perfection in the imperfection. Every part of the plant was unique, just like we all are as individuals. Even the thorns, the tight buds and the bugs, were a part of nature's plan that showed itself to me. It had strengths and challenges.

Later in the morning, I thought about facilitating classes and workshops and even back to the times when I was a classroom teacher. When I was still and settled, meeting the group with love and an open mind to receive from them, the sessions flowed with loving respect. When I was "uptight", the flow was not the same. I discovered TEACHABLE MOMENT S in all of these lessons from nature. For me. it connected me to who I am, what I see and what I do. I am filled with gratitude.

Do you have similar stories to share with me? catchthemright@aol.com I would love to hear from you.

REMEMBERING MOM...

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

This wild violet was growing in our yard and part of my early morning discovery the other day. It revealed itself to me in all of its simplicity and also opened up some memories stored in my heart. These flowers always bloom for Mother's Day and every year I would make a bouquet for Mom of these violets. She loved them. She also loved iris as her favorite flower. She couldn't tell me why but just did. Now as I write this message for Mom, I realize that I have shared the violet picture and am looking out at my garden just filled with iris in bloom. Coincidence? What do you think?? I think NOT. It is the synchronicities of life that are always present for us when we are open and still and pay attention to them.

My greatest Mother's Day gift this year is that Jon will be coming "home" from Japan to spend 12 days in NJ. We will reconnect, store up hugs to last until next time, and just generally hang out and BE together. After all, isn't that a big piece of what relationships are all about!!!?!?!?!? I wish all of our readers a wonderful, peaceful Mother's Day and hope that you take the time to NURTURE AND AFFIRM YOURSELF as much as I hope your family will take the time to NURTURE AND AFFIRM YOU.