I hope they still make them. I have a stash from my days of facilitating creativity workshops. They're like pen-size Mr. Sketch scented markers. They're yummy, especially for mind mapping! I often had little kids approach me as I was mind mapping in airports, waiting for my flight. Sweet memories...
I just read your Journal Sandbox post and it made me want to go home RIGHT NOW and draw and color in my journal. Alas, I'm facilitating an IN-PERSON workshop this afternoon (only my second since Covid) so my journaling will have to wait. But my Fiddlestick pens are at the ready.
Some days I enjoy inspirations from Julia Cameron's book, Transitions. Like this one: "Today I practice receptivity to loving forces. At any moment a divinely inspired intersection may occur. I accept the good which flows to me from many sides." On other days I write my own morning poems; "The neighbor's bamboo, grown so tall, veils the morning sun; a lacy skirt swirling in the breeze at sunrise." Finally, there is my practical reasoning such as this organizing framework: Purpose determines focus, focus determines content, content determines audience, audience determines affiliates and action. That is a snippet of who I am, in gratitude, as 2022 comes to an end.
When I was a kid, the old people in my church would form a circle and pray over a person about to leave on a trip. They would pray for something they called 'journey's mercies'. It was an odd phrase and one that conjured up visions of lurking bandits along a dirt road somewhere. The kind of danger that befell the poor guy in the story of the good Samaritan. Today there are other dangers out there and other fears which we carry inside of us. Added to our concerns for any trip are our worries about leaving our loved ones, homes, and businesses alone. "What will happen to them in our absence?" My mom used to run around the house unplugging every appliance before we left on our family vacation, fearing that a fitful toaster or vacuum cleaner would burn down the house while we were out of town. Safety devices in our cars, like alarms, are now accepted features of urban America. In more rural places, a woke person may scoff at a pickup truck bearing a gun rack in the rear window, yet they themselves are carrying pepper spray on their key ring. No matter how many devices we carry, or appliances we unplug, we know deep inside that we cannot always protect ourselves. We are afraid of Mother Nature and Big Brother. We are afraid of tiny invisible germs and sprawling terrorist networks. Perhaps you have learned the deeper meaning of the good Samaritan story. "A good offense is better than a good defense." Taking care of each other in distress helps us control our own fears. We can commit at least as much time assisting others in need as we spend worrying and protecting ourselves. In the meantime, I wish you "journey's mercies."
Thanks, Anita ... love the wish for journey's mercies. As you note, life has hazards as 8 billion people bounce off of each other in a world prone to tilting at the wrong moment. We are our most important protection ... we are the carriers of the journey's mercies. May the coming year reveal how important we are to each other and how deeply interconnected we are.
I hope they still make them. I have a stash from my days of facilitating creativity workshops. They're like pen-size Mr. Sketch scented markers. They're yummy, especially for mind mapping! I often had little kids approach me as I was mind mapping in airports, waiting for my flight. Sweet memories...
Ohhhh ... I remember those now ... just didn't remember the name. Multi-sensory mindmapping ... multi-sensory in general is a great thing,
I just read your Journal Sandbox post and it made me want to go home RIGHT NOW and draw and color in my journal. Alas, I'm facilitating an IN-PERSON workshop this afternoon (only my second since Covid) so my journaling will have to wait. But my Fiddlestick pens are at the ready.
Thanks, Becky ... hope you have a grand time with your journal. I'm going to go look up Fiddlestick pens ... they sound fun.
Some days I enjoy inspirations from Julia Cameron's book, Transitions. Like this one: "Today I practice receptivity to loving forces. At any moment a divinely inspired intersection may occur. I accept the good which flows to me from many sides." On other days I write my own morning poems; "The neighbor's bamboo, grown so tall, veils the morning sun; a lacy skirt swirling in the breeze at sunrise." Finally, there is my practical reasoning such as this organizing framework: Purpose determines focus, focus determines content, content determines audience, audience determines affiliates and action. That is a snippet of who I am, in gratitude, as 2022 comes to an end.
And delightful snippets they are. Thanks for sharing and Viva 2023!
When I was a kid, the old people in my church would form a circle and pray over a person about to leave on a trip. They would pray for something they called 'journey's mercies'. It was an odd phrase and one that conjured up visions of lurking bandits along a dirt road somewhere. The kind of danger that befell the poor guy in the story of the good Samaritan. Today there are other dangers out there and other fears which we carry inside of us. Added to our concerns for any trip are our worries about leaving our loved ones, homes, and businesses alone. "What will happen to them in our absence?" My mom used to run around the house unplugging every appliance before we left on our family vacation, fearing that a fitful toaster or vacuum cleaner would burn down the house while we were out of town. Safety devices in our cars, like alarms, are now accepted features of urban America. In more rural places, a woke person may scoff at a pickup truck bearing a gun rack in the rear window, yet they themselves are carrying pepper spray on their key ring. No matter how many devices we carry, or appliances we unplug, we know deep inside that we cannot always protect ourselves. We are afraid of Mother Nature and Big Brother. We are afraid of tiny invisible germs and sprawling terrorist networks. Perhaps you have learned the deeper meaning of the good Samaritan story. "A good offense is better than a good defense." Taking care of each other in distress helps us control our own fears. We can commit at least as much time assisting others in need as we spend worrying and protecting ourselves. In the meantime, I wish you "journey's mercies."
This is lovely, Anita. Thanks for sharing journey's mercies. I'm off to the airport, so I'll accept them, with gratitude. 💕
Thanks, Anita ... love the wish for journey's mercies. As you note, life has hazards as 8 billion people bounce off of each other in a world prone to tilting at the wrong moment. We are our most important protection ... we are the carriers of the journey's mercies. May the coming year reveal how important we are to each other and how deeply interconnected we are.
I am forever thankful for meeting YOU and for Gratitude Mojo and your posts and your presence in my life. I bow to you in gratitude. 💖💖💖
Becky ... thank you so much for your words and friendship which always stretches across the miles between us and touches my heart.