Fall = New Beginnings

Photo by Jesse Storms Linton

Many people view fall as a time of endings – the end of summer, the shedding of dead leaves, the long sleep of winter, the end of another year. Granted, most people enjoy fall activities – playing in the leaves, apple picking, pumpkin patches, hay rides, cider, cider doughnuts, etc. – but they dread the day that last leaf falls and winter officially begins.

However, I’ve always looked at fall as a time of new beginnings. I don’t see “death,” I see the preparation of life. It is a time to reflect and make needed changes. It is a time to recharge and renew your mind, body, and spirit. It is a time to take charge of your goals for your life and/or business. It is a time to give thanks and be grateful for everything you have and your accomplishments, and a time to think about what you want to achieve in the fast approaching new year. It is the rest (not death) before the new growth.

I know January is the usual time to make new year’s resolutions, but to me, fall has always seemed like the real start of the new year. Maybe it comes from all those years of being in school and everything starting in September – I don’t know. But whatever it is, fall is the new beginning for me.

As I did the usual Thanksgiving reflections, I realized that I once again have much to be thankful for this year. I was lucky enough to have many great things happen both personally and professionally. There are some new, promising opportunities lurking on the horizon for this coming year that I am also looking forward to. I get another wonderful year on this earth to make my own little mark any way I can, and I am so grateful.

So as the season turns from fall to winter, I am not going to mourn the end of summer, flowers, good weather, sunshine. I am going to rejoice in the chance for another new beginning. I am going to continue to walk confidently down this road of life and enjoy every moment of my journey – leaves or no leaves. I will cherish each detail the season offers. I am going to take full advantage of this period of rest, while everything around me renews and recharges – myself included. I will come out revitalized and ready to rock this year even better than last!

So let that last leaf fall – It’s not just an end. It’s a fresh start. A new beginning. Another bend in the road that offers a different view and new adventures. My journey awaits!

 

Photo Credit: Jesse Storms Linton
Copyright (c) 2014 Jesse Storms Linton. All rights reserved.

Photos are not to be used without prior permission & license.

Advertisement

Just a Thought: A Different Perspective

Our society tends to be very linear these days. There seems to be a regulation or procedure for everything. Social media is overflowing with people constantly arguing about which side is “right” or “wrong.” Why does there always only have to be just one answer? The beauty in this world comes from the differences. Some of the best things in life came about because first, someone had a little originality.

That’s one of the many things I love about the Arts – they often make you look at things from a different perspective.

The motto at Skidmore College is “Creative Thought Matters.” How true in so many ways! Most of the time there isn’t just one way to do things. There isn’t just one clear answer. And, how you come to your own answer really all depends on how you approach it.

There is not a clear-cut category for every little thing (Thank goodness!). Perhaps that is why a group like the Trans-Siberian Orchestra became so huge over the last several years. From the name, it sounds like they’re just your standard orchestra, but have you ever been to one of their shows?  There is nothing “standard” about them! Go to one of their concerts and you’ll see that their audience includes children right up to senior citizens. Not too many groups can pull that one off!

The below video has been making the rounds on social media lately and does the same type of thing. You are set up with an expectation – 2 cellos, old-fashioned attire. But then you are shocked with a rock & roll sound – looking at things from a different perspective. And what a wonderful, magical, awesome outcome!

That’s how we should approach life – look at things from a different perspective. Use creative thought. Keep everyone around you on their toes and your brain fresh. Always look for another way. Don’t fall into “the standard” trap of doing or thinking about everything in the “usual” way. Have an open mind. Step out. Step up. Make your mark in your own personal world. You’d be surprised how much magic can creep into your life!

Just a thought.

New Year, New You – Blah Blah Blah

I’ve been seeing it everywhere – “New Year, New You!” Initially, it’s a nice sentiment — It’s a fresh year, make a fresh start. Now is your chance for a change.

But let’s face it – we all know those New Year’s resolutions are pretty much shot by March. And what really changes? You’re still you. Ok, so the number on the calendar went up one more notch, but everything else is still the same. You still have the same job. You still have the same body. You still have the same problems. That pile of work you left on your desk just before the Christmas break is still going to be there. Your to-do list hasn’t been deleted. In fact, it now is even longer since it has your New Year’s resolutions added to it.  Nothing has been truly erased – it’s all still there.

I’m not trying to be a “Negative Nelly” here. I’m just being realistic. As nice as the thought is to wipe the slate clean with the new year, it just can’t happen.

Instead of New Year, New You, how about New Year, Better You? Because let’s face it, you’re still you.  And that’s a good thing! You’ve spent your whole life becoming who you are. You’ve worked hard to get here, and even if you don’t like everything about your life, you don’t really want to erase your history. That’s your backstory – it leads up to the exciting climax. A new year is really just a new chapter in the book of your life. Which way is your story going to go now?

When thinking about my New Year’s resolutions this year, I’ve decided to get rid of the notion of a whole new life and fresh start. I am merely turning the page and developing my story in a better direction. I am an ongoing masterpiece. I will keep the good things and revise the things that need some work. I am the master behind my own story – I control the pen, so it is up to me to decide what comes next. My decisions determine whether my character is a strong one or a boring one. I might stumble. I might fall back on some old habits. But I know the direction my story needs to take and I will continue to work toward that, and enjoy every aspect of the journey along the way.

A good story has twists and turns, highs and lows. We must learn to relish the same in our own lives. We don’t need to completely change. We just need to strive toward that better revision, develop our story, and add to our plot.

Here’s to a New Year, BETTER You!
Happy 2014!

Image Courtesy of: Silverpen Productions, LLC.  Images should not be used without prior permission & license from Silverpen Productions, LLC.

Chin Up

See The Blue Beyond The Trees

We’ve all heard them before – “Stop & smell the roses.” “Slow and steady win the race.” “Chin up,” etc. But what about, “See the blue beyond the trees?”

I went for a mini hike with my family this past weekend. Things have been mighty crazy lately, so the quiet time in the woods was very much needed. At one point, I stopped to look up at the multitude of colors on the trees in a particularly beautiful spot, and I was struck by two things: 1.) How tight my chin and front of my neck felt, and 2.) How amazing the crystal blue sky looked just beyond the tops of the trees.

I realized that we now live in a society where we no longer ever really look up. We’re constantly typing on our computers, or using our smart phones or tablets. We never have enough time, so when we are going somewhere, our head is down, our bodies on a mission, our thoughts 6 paces ahead. Think about it – when is the last time you really looked up?

I like to think I’m the type of person that can appreciate the little things in life. I often pause to admire a sunny day or a pretty flower. Time stops when my child laughs and nothing else matters. However, based on the tight pulling sensation under my chin, even I apparently have not been looking up enough lately. And the thing is, it was just so refreshing! Besides being a nice little stretch for my neck, it was a moment of pure beauty. It was even a moment of hope.

Seeing that blue way up beyond those beautiful leaves reminded me that there is always a blue sky somewhere beyond the trees. Some days, it may seem really far away, but it’s guaranteed to be there. If you’re constantly looking down, weighted down by the stresses of your day, all you see is the dead leaves and broken sticks on the ground. But if you raise your chin, lift your eyes, stop and take a breath for just a moment, you will see the spectacular color, light, clear skies, sunshine, inspiration, freedom that await beyond those branches. That is so much more, so much bigger than what’s laying at your feet or weighing down your soul.

So remember – Smile, and “Chin up!” – There’s always a blue sky waiting for you!

Photo Credit: Silverpen Productions, LLC.  Photos should not be used without prior permission & license from Silverpen Productions, LLC.

The Importance of Looking Up

Last week the movement arts group New York Live Arts hosted a five-day festival dedicated to the work of one of my favorite writers, Oliver Sacks, a neurologist turned author whose fame stems from his ability to make medical writing digestible for a lay audience.

Sacks writes primarily about neurological cases he comes across in his practice. In his essays, he explains the scientific underpinnings of complicated and rare neurological disorders, but his pieces also read like engaging personal narratives. His patients and their experiences come alive on the page.

As a writer I’ve always wondered how Sacks managed to craft such emotionally and scientifically intricate pieces, and I think I recently came across the answer in a National Public Radio blog post dedicated to Sacks.

NPR Reporter Alva Noe writes: “A comment I heard more than once at a recent [New York Live Arts] event in New York to celebrate the life of Oliver Sacks, who turns 80 this year, is that it isn’t Sacks’ patients who are particularly interesting; it is the interest Sacks brings to them that makes them special. He has good eyes.”

He has good eyes. That comment really struck a chord with me. Not just because it shed light upon a question I’d had about Sacks, but because it speaks to something I think every writer has asked themselves at least once: am I paying enough attention?

Whether the focus is your emotions, the world around you or the world of others, writing requires attention to detail. In order to reconstruct our experiences into essays and stories that ring true to others, we have to be able to set scenes, emotional or physical, that are saturated with observations which help our readers feel as if they’re experiencing our worlds themselves.

For me, it sometimes feels like my world is no longer saturated with the kind of details my favorite authors capture in their works. But the problem is not that those details don’t exist—city streets are still as lively as Virginia Woolf described, and people are still as beautifully complicated and fickle as Hemingway depicted them—the problem is that I’ve stopped noticing, and I don’t think I’m alone.

How often have you participated in a conversation where it seems like you’re just one-upping a friend on the exhaustions scale?

“I haven’t slept in three days I’m so busy.”

 “I’m so busy I can’t even remember the last time I ate!”

It seems like as a society we’ve come to a decision: busy is better. And busy means not having the time to stop and take in the little details that make life beautiful and exciting.

I don’t know when we decided that busy was the new desirable status quo but it seems like everyone has signed on, and if you’re not busy you’re somehow missing out.

After all, technology makes it so easy to stay busy. Ten minutes between doctors’ appointments? Respond to that e-mail you neglected this morning. An hour-long bus ride to visit family for the holidays? You can make a whole PowerPoint presentation from your iPad. There’s no longer any reason to not be busy.

But there’s also no longer any reason to look up from our smartphones and tablets, to look around at the world and realize there are things beyond our isolated, technology-centric worlds worth devoting our time and attention to.

Sacks was lucky in that he was able to use his work as inspiration for his art, but if he’d spent his diagnostic time looking down at e-mails from his patients instead of looking up and seeing them face-to-face, as unique parts of a bigger world with a greater purpose, I don’t think we’d have the same amazing accounts of his experiences.

To replicate experiences in a tangible way, we have to be present for those experiences. Fully present and mentally alert.

If we stop paying attention, if we stop looking up, if we no longer have “good eyes,” will we deprive ourselves of a whole new generation of literary wonders like Sacks?

We might. But we might lose even more. Philosopher John Campbell once wrote, “People say that what we’re all seeking is a meaning for life. I don’t think that’s what we’re really seeking. I think that what we’re seeking is an experience of being alive.”

If we stop looking up we can lose those essential, random, unplanned experiences of being alive—the very experiences that allow great writers like Sacks to captivate us, that allow us to gain something more from our day-to-day than just checking things off a to-do list, that make us essentially human.

Let’s start looking up again. Let’s have good eyes.

-Jean-Ann Kubler

Photo Credit: code poet via photopin cc

See The Rainbows?

“See the Rainbows, Mama? Seeee??”

What is it that children have that always allows them to see the magic in the most seemingly ordinary things? Do they have special eyes that we slowly lose over time? Or is it merely that they have not yet become jaded as adults do, and are therefore just able to see things more clearly, more purely than we can?

My daughter constantly reminds me to “see the rainbows.” We have some beveled glass in our front door, and when the morning sun hits it just right, it casts prisms across our front hallway. I’ll never forget the day my daughter first really discovered this. She walked out front, squealed, pointed, drew in her breath, then yelled out, “See the Rainbows? See?” She came running into the kitchen, grabbed me by the hand and pulled me out. “See the Rainbows, Mama? See?” The joy and wonder on her face tugged on my heart. She continued to pull us out there all morning long. She would point to them, touch them, stick her toes in, try to sit on them, and sometimes just stand there holding my hand in wonder, saying, “See? See?” It was a perfect moment. A perfect, ordinary, normal, magical moment. A moment that I come back to again and again because it taught me something – It reminded me to always look for the magic in things. To let my daughter lead me in remembering what it’s like to have pure joy, hope, innocence, and magic. To be truly present in just one moment and to not let anything else cloud that.

Easter is often viewed by Christians as a time of rebirth and new hope. Even if you are not religious, Easter is synonymous with Spring, and Spring is most certainly a time of new life. We begin to see the plants peek their heads out through the seemingly dead ground. The birds appear once again. Sunshine feels like a long-lost friend, warm upon our face. Hope is in the air. It’s easier to be positive in the Spring. The extra light and signs of new life prove to us that summer is on its way and we are filled with fun thoughts of good things to come. If only for a brief moment, we are once again able to feel the “magic” in the air.

We need to try to remember that there is always magic in the world. Sometimes it feels like all the magic is gone. We’re often so caught in the horrible stories on the news, the stresses of work and family life, the weather, the commute, our everyday worries and anxieties and routines, that we forget to take a moment and just enjoy, well, the moment itself. There are still so many wonderful things in this world to cherish. There’s still hope for us to reach our dreams, to stretch to our true potential. There is always a reason somewhere to smile, to laugh, to enjoy one quiet breath. Somewhere deep inside of all of us is that ability to still “see the rainbows.” We may sometimes have to look a little harder to see the magic in the world, but it is still there.

This Spring, let’s hold onto that feeling of hope and rebirth, find that childlike corner of our heart (no matter how small it may have become) and try to stay positive. Live life from one joy to the next and always find a way to see the rainbows. They might sometimes be behind a cloud, but they are still always there!

 

Photo Credit: Nature’s Images via photopin cc

To Dance Like a Child

Have you ever watched a child?
Every move they make is instinctual and pure. Most of the time, they’re not even conscious of what they are doing. They just move when it seems right. Sometimes it may get them into trouble, but usually, it’s just what the body is meant to do.

Stand back and watch a child when a song comes on. If it has a good beat, no matter what s/he is doing, the child will likely start bouncing, swaying, or bopping his/her head. He may not be graceful. She may not win the mirror ball trophy on Dancing With the Stars, but they are dancing. Children dance for the pleasure of dancing. They’re dancing because it feels good. It feels right. It expresses a joy. It’s a visual representation of the music that is invading their bodies. They don’t care if anyone is watching them – judging them. They just dance.  And usually, they laugh.

I always get such delight out of watching my daughter dance. It’s so cute. And innocent. Two things we do not usually get to see in the “Real World.” It’s a nice break from the usual guarded behavior we consistently live with.

Most adults are the complete opposite of my daughter when they are put in a situation. But this weekend, I was reminded of her while I was teaching at Dance Flurry. While the event may not be as pure as a child, it does at times seem to come close. I always joke that it’s a weekend of peace, love, and dance, but it’s true. I have been going to the Flurry for well over 10 years now, and it still amazes me to see such a diverse group of people – of all ages – come together with nothing more on their agenda than to just dance. It doesn’t matter what you normally do, or what your “real life” is like. A contra dancer in bare feet can be dancing with a tango dancer in 4 inch heels… and somehow, it’s not weird. People step out of their comfort zones at the Flurry and go into whatever room they want to try out. No one judges. No one cares. Everyone is just happy to see you.

To dance like a child. No cares. No weight on your shoulders. Doesn’t matter what you are wearing. Just close your eyes, feel the music, and laugh.

It is rare to see an adult experience that, which seems very sad to me because there’s no reason that can’t happen. How unfortunate that we now live in such a cynical world that we are so caught up in the requirements of life, we can no longer just experience life itself. How sad that we have lost the ability to tap into that child inside of us and once again experience life through fresh eyes. Even if for just one song, we step in the middle of the floor – leave our cares, our worries, our stress, our age on the edge – and just dance. Feel nothing but the music, the joy, the movement, the freedom… and just dance.

I’ve always said we can learn a lot from children. They are much wiser than we often give them credit for. There’s a lot to be said for instinct, we just have been conditioned to shut that off. But perhaps we should pay attention to our smaller peers. Tap back into that instinct, and, even if for only the 3 minutes of one song, just dance. How our life may change.

Dance like a child and see how the world will brighten!

 

Photo Credit: familymwr via photopin cc

Quote of the Day – RIP Steve Jobs

“Your time is limited,
so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.
Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking.
Don’t let the noise of others’ options drown out your own inner voice.
And most importantly, have courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become.
Everything else is secondary.”

-Steve Jobs

The Crossroads at 2010

“Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
I’m through with playing by the rules
Of someone else’s game
Too late for second-guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It’s time to trust my instincts
Close my eyes and leap…”
–Wicked

As we start out this New Year, I’ve taken a moment to reflect on the past year and what I hope for in 2010.

Reflection – Last year kinda sucked. For one of the few times in my life, I will actually say,
“I’m glad it’s over.”

Reflection – But it wasn’t as bad as it could be.
I’m alive. I’m healthy. I have a wonderful family that’s still all together. I’ve met some amazing new people. I’ve learned some new things about myself. I’ve been forced to look at things in my life a different way.
“I am very lucky.”

2010 – I have hit yet another crossroad in my life. And I think that “Crossroads” will be something of a theme for me this year, and thus likely in this blog. Being at a crossroad can be a very scary place to be. Especially for someone like me. For most of my life, I have been blessed by my instincts and convictions, and they have not often led me astray. I’ve always been one of those people that knew what she wanted, and somehow knew what choices to make. I may not have always known what to do in any given situation, but I always had a plan. I always had an end goal in site, and I always pushed forward in finding ways to achieve that goal.

I feel I’ve lost a bit of that over the past couple of years. Somewhere along the way I’ve lost my “gump.” I’ve become hesitant and I question every move I make. I still have my goals, but I seem to have lost my instinct on how to get there.  I have been distracted.

So here I am, staring down several crossroads at the beginning of 2010. And yes, I’m scared. It’s very hard for me to feel unsure, to not know the right way, the right choice for me. This is new territory.

But still the choice is in front of me. Time is marching on, with or without me. So it is up to me, up to all of us, to move forward in the best way I know how. Because I am not one of those people that like to be left behind.

So my resolution this year (and hopefully you will help me stick to it!) is to teach myself to find that stronger person that was once inside of me. I need to learn to let go of those nagging fears and once again learn to fly. The word “can’t” never used to be in my vocabulary, so I will learn to strike it out once again. If the bumblebee can fly contrary to the scientific evidence that it can’t, then so can I!

To borrow from the musical, Wicked:

“I’m through accepting limits
‘Cuz someone says they’re so
Some things I cannot change
But till I try, I’ll never know
Too long I’ve been afraid…
As someone told me lately:
‘Ev’ryone deserves the chance to fly’…
It’s time to try
Defying Gravity
I think I’ll try
Defying Gravity
And you can’t pull me down…”

Just Live

We all go through various crossroads in our lives. Some of them are easy to navigate. Some take a little longer, or require a little more self-introspection before passing through.

I saw this hanging up in the office the other day. Not necessarily a Pulitzer winner in terms of literary devices, it still has a great message, and seemed to resonate with me and the current intersection I am working to cross…

As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn’t supposed to ever let you down probably will.
You will have your heart broken probably more than once and it’s harder every time. You’ll break hearts too, so remember how it felt when yours was broken.
You’ll fight with your best friend.
You’ll blame a new love for things an old one did.
You’ll cry because time is passing too fast, and you’ll eventually lose someone you love.
So take too many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you’ve never been hurt because every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you’ll never get back. Don’t be afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin.

Live simply. Love generously.
Care deeply. Speak kindly.
-Unknown

“Every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you’ll never get back.”

That’s an interesting and simple way of looking at things, and so true. Often, the simple way is the best way. I think that as a society, we often get too caught up in planning ahead. All our money is saved for a rainy day. Home improvement projects are based on increasing the value of the house for the day you sell it. We shop for clothes a season in advance. Every career move we make is based on how to get to our ultimate career goal. We buy a car based on what we think our future needs will be (Well, we need room for the dog and kids and camping equipment, so we will be ok when it’s time for a family vacation. Of course, we have no kids yet…)

Granted, it’s smart to plan ahead for some things. But do we really need to be so caught up in all the, “What happens if…”? Instead, we should focus more on what’s happening now. If everything we do is based on supplying our happiness at some far off future date, will we ever actually feel satisfied? How do we even know if we’ll ever even get to that exact spot in our lives? We have no idea what other roads we may follow before that point, that may lead us in a completely new direction.

If we live our lives for the future, do we ever really live?

Make every moment count. Stop yourself at least once a day to just take a deep breath and enjoy what’s around you. Treasure what you already have. Let your loved ones know they matter. Live your life so it will always be a full life – no matter what stage you are in. Enjoy every moment and find something to laugh about every single day.

Just live.