haiku by Basho Matsuo
Wherever you once settle down, you will find it new home.
And the Moon is as beautiful as you would see from your home town. On March 11, 2011 a tsunami devastated Japan but not its resolve and spirit.Remembering together we can make a difference. Wrapping our arms around hope. Thank you Naoko for sharing with us your lovely artwork above, THINKING OF HOME. Thank you, Ken (as pictured above), for receiving our wishes and cranes for Japan. OUR WISHES FOR ALL WHO HAVE BEEN THROUGH DISASTERS and TRAUMA:LOVE, LIGHT, and H ๏Pモ. May you always know you are in our prayers. May your courage and strength be the light in the night that brings you a new day when all that has been destroyed be remade. May the uncertainties, the losses, and the hardships never hold you down. May you always remember you are not alone. -Mia- VIDEO ABOVE: Japanese children singing and dancing at Fukushima OperationSAFE, a day camp for children who have been through disasters to help them recover from trauma. PHOTO BELOW: Our treasure box of wishes and cranes—love, light, and hope for Japan. A special thanks to Ken Crane for coordinating the delivery of our treasure box to Mr. Kumagaya of Sunflower NPO who volunteered to deliver it to the shelters of Kesenuma in Japan in May 2011.
OUT OF THE DARKNESS from beneath the stormy skies, a New England photographer Donald Verger barely escaped the EF-5 tornado that devastated Joplin, Missouri last year in May. From that harrowing experience, he turned to peace and hope and started The Joplin Art Project, wanting to reach out to the people of Joplin. He created a series of 25,000 postcards featuring inspiring images (shown below in the photo slide). He sent them to the tornado survivors in Joplin, believing in the healing powers of art and caring. | "I do know that there is kind of a gentle power in art and there is a healing power in people caring. I suspect that by offering something to a young person in Joplin or a grandmother in Joplin, people know that there are people in the world thinking about them." -Donald Verger | |
Join us with Don and be part of the hope and help for Joplin: As we remember the children and families of Joplin, we keep our thoughts and prayers with the families who have suffered the recent storms tearing across the states, from the gulf coast to the great lakes. May your strength and courage be the light in the night that brings you a new day—when all that has been destroyed be remade. Many thanks to Don, for sharing his photographs with us, for showing us the gentle power in art and the healing power in people caring. -Mia *For more on Don, continue reading below. For readers receiving this post via email, please click here (then scroll to the middle of the post) to view the photo slide of Don's Peace & Hope postcards. *
DONALD VERGER is a critically-acclaimed, award-winning photographer and Founder and President Emeritus of the world-renowned Children's Discovery Museums and Science Discovery Museum in New England. His visionary work at these discovery museums was featured in two episodes of the PBS television series "Curious George." He has served on numerous boards including Chairperson of UNICEF's New England Advisory Board, along with members Ted Kennedy and Arnold Hiatt, as well as the board of directors for Wheelock College and the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. All of Verger's philanthropic work benefits families and children.A member of Society for East End Arts in Portland, Maine, Donald Verger's photography has earned him numerous awards and accolades including: Fryeburg Fair Best in Show 2008, Bangor Flower Show First Prize 2008, and Fort Williams Art Show First Prize 2008. In March of 2010, Verger debuted his 2011 Naturescapes Calendar Series featuring his most cherished and sought after images worldwide. This inaugural, limited edition calendar series celebrates twelve months of nature's glory, from sunrise at Acadia National Park, to the intimate elegance of a single rose. Verger was born in Brooklyn, New York and resides in Falmouth, Maine, just footsteps from the ocean, where he captures the early moments of nature's true splendor. *For Don's full bio, click here. Connect with Don on Twitter, Facebook, and his blog. * *A top story in Anita's Finding Inspiration Daily and The Becoming Daily. February and March 2012. *
AT THE HEART of a photographer's passion for the art of seeing, a moment of truth and beauty. This week, sharing Donald Verger's note and wish below, and also the place behind the photograph above ~ the whispers of love. Thank you, Don, for this moment. -Mia
"When Don Verger first took up photography seriously, he asked me to review his early work. I studied it and told him he could be the next Ansel Adams. That's a true story, and the intervening years have proven me right. This talented, award-winning photographer is one of those once-in-a-lifetime artists whose work establishes their reputation for generations to come." -Daniel Cheever President Emeritus, Simmons College Art collector
A NOTE FROM DONALD VERGER
On his birthday this past weekend, celebrating friendships, art, and love—
Thank you all, my Friends all, travelers together on our small beautiful Spaceship Earth for your kind birthday wishes and so much more! Your Friendships and Love are so important to me! I wish you all peace health joy and beautiful days.
Days before Joplin, i found little Shashoni Wyoming, almost a ghost town. I wandered down an old street and found a beautiful large mural. A tiny portion of that mural held these words that i photographed carefully to honored them and their setting.
The words and the Image say—
"Put your ear to the sky
And listen my Darling,
Everything Whispers I love You."
I love you all.
Thank you all.
don
_Donald Verger was born in Brooklyn, New York and resides in Falmouth, Maine, just footsteps from the ocean, where he captures the early moments of nature's true splendor. His 2012 Love calendar above is available on Amazon (limited quantities left). For all his 2012 calendars (each celebrated with Don's beautiful photographs), click here. Connect with Don on Twitter, Facebook, and his blog. *Join us here next week on March 5, 2012 for more beautiful photographs by Donald Verger celebrating peace and hope, his Joplin Art Project. Until then, put your ear to the sky ...* *A top story in Anita's Finding Inspiration Daily and The Becoming Daily. February and March 2012. *
SOMETHING SPECIAL arrived last week—the beautiful handmade card above (created by Christina Vizcarra of My Paper, Scissors, Rocks!). It was tucked inside my mailbox, an unexpected treasure celebrating the moments from my friend, Rachel Gellman. She wrote inside: keep writing and smiling! Her note brightened the evening and brought a smile to my face. The spirit of the moment continued a few days later when another friend, Stan Stewart, was celebrating feeling alive. From that joy, Stan tweeted to Ivette López, Elizabeth Jackson, Donald Verger, Anita Bondi and me: What do you celebrate, today?A conversation began. We tweeted to each other our celebrations of the day: - Celebrating beauty and power of breath, friendships, and art. -Mia
- Meeting my daughter for lunch. -Don
- Just returned home. 300 miles. Wonderful time with Carolyn. Thank you! -Don
- 300 miles (and never far) for the ones you love. TY @Donaldverger for sharing the moment with us. -Mia
- Your story of a 300 mile trip for lunch with your daughter really made my day. TY -Stan
- Nice combination: road trip & family visit. -Ivette
- Exchanges like ours are why I stay on Twitter. Bless you! ((hugs)) -Anita
- I feel the same way @anitabondi does about exchanges like ours on Twitter. Hugs ... -Elizabeth
 We hope you'll join us in the comments or on Twitter and share with us (and each other) what you are celebrating. Together let's remember the moments. -Mia*If you love the handmade card above by Christina Vizcarra of My Paper, Scissors, Rocks! as much as we do, we'd be very grateful if you’d help it spread by emailing it to families and friends, or sharing it on Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, and everywhere you go. Thanks so much. * *A top story in Anita's Finding Inspiration Daily and The Becoming Daily. February 2012. *
ON THE STEPS OF SPANNOCCHIA, coming together on a writing retreat. Full of laughter and joy. In a moment of happiness, in the photo above. Did we really just meet? It seemed we have known each other all our lives, celebrating Fourth of July every summer with each other. Sharing secrets and sparkles, our writings and wishes. In Tuscany.
We listened to the murmurs of our hearts. We followed our dreams.
-Mia
Spannocchia History and Farmhouses from Spannocchia Foundation on Vimeo. Tenuta di Spannocchia is 12th-century organic agricultural estate and educational center located just outside Siena, in central Tuscany. Spannocchia hosts a residential farm internship program and education/enrichment programs focused on Tuscan culture and history for students and adults. Learn more about our efforts to encourage global dialogue about sustaining cultural landscapes for future generations by visiting www.spannocchia.org ✶ PHOTO ABOVE (top left by Josh Bowen): An inspired group of writers celebrating the Fourth of July on the steps of Spannocchia, last summer in the heart of Tuscany. From left to right: Melissa, Mia, Rachel, Melanie, and Michelle. For more moments and photos from their writing immersion retreat, click here. ✶ VIDEO ABOVE: Capturing the beauty and spirit of Spannocchia, home of the Writing Immersion in Sustainable Tuscany Retreat and much more.
UNDER THE LIGHT of the Cistercian Abbey, San Galgano (above). We continue our journey from last week with Melissa to share in a moment, to meet, and to celebrate Melissa following her passion for writing, poetry, and the arts. Read on and be inspired. Love her insights and fearlessness. -Mia When did you first become interested in writing? Do you remember your first writing piece? I have been compelled to write since I was very young. In elementary school, I wrote an illustrated story about a mischievous cat who wreaked havoc around his neighbourhood. I also wrote my first cliché-ridden poem about love when I was 11 or 12 years old. I feel somewhat maternal toward these pieces of writing now, as though they are embryonic beginnings of what has become a lifelong passion. Through your writing, what is the story you want to tell? What is the spine that weaves and holds your writing together? This is a difficult question, and an important one. I could offer a unique answer for each individual story or poem I have written, but if I consider it from a wider perspective, I think the story I want to tell has something to do with the process of learning to occupy space in the world as an intellectual, political, and sexual being without apology. My writing also aims to confront the various ways in which we connect and separate by examining the evidence that is left behind—objects, echoes, and bones. What do you love most about the writing/editing/creative life? I love how the written word enables me to connect intimately with strangers. As a reader, I am able to access the author’s imaginary world—or their representation of the real world—and meet them there, on the page. It’s a little bit of magic, really. As a writer, I want to make the acquaintance of my readers in this way and connect with kindred spirits I may never meet in the flesh.  Melissa at The Secret Garden of Spannocchia. When pursuing what we love to do, there is always fear we must face to move forward. And there may be days when we think about giving up. What is your biggest fear and how do you overcome that fear? My biggest fear is that I don’t have an important or relevant enough contribution to make in the ongoing conversation of literature. I worry that my writing will be met with indifference, which would be even worse than a slew of bad reviews. I try to overcome this “voice in my head” by remembering that to remain silent is self-censorship. I live in a place that allows me freedom of speech and expression. Therefore, it is my responsibility to use my voice and contribute to the conversation, whatever the outcome. What is the one single trait you have that carries you through the ups and downs of your writing journey? That one trait you cannot be without? How about a trait you can live without? The trait I cannot live without is the fact that I need to live a life that strives for meaning and truth. This sounds very conceptual, but I certainly don’t have practical traits like self-discipline or time management skills to aid my productivity. For this, I rely on the fact that if I’m not creating—or immersing myself in the creativity of others—I feel as though I’m living a half-life. Writing is a big part of what gives my life meaning and purpose. As far as what I can do without, it would be my close relationship with Resistance (capitalized term coined by Steven Pressfield in The War of Art). More insidious that simple procrastination, Resistance is an enemy within that consistently keeps us from doing whatever it is we were put on this earth to do. I need to end my relationship with Resistance.
 At the Italian Piazza, Colle di Val d'Elsa. You recently became an editor at Evolved Publishing and part of a diverse and talented staff. Tell us about that position and experience. How do you like it so far? Evolved Publishing is an exciting new model for publishing in a rapidly changing industry. We are a collective of writers, editors, artists, and marketing professionals who are focused on the eBook market (for now), and serve as an alternative between traditional publishers and self publishing. I am currently working on my first editing project as a sub-contractor and learning a ton from the other members of this cooperative venture. I think we’re building something big here. This past summer you were a member of the Writing Immersion in Tuscany Retreat. What did you love most about that amazing experience? How did it change the way you approach your own writing? I loved connecting with you (Mia) and everyone else in our group over wine and incredible Italian cuisine on a nightly basis. I also found the imposed discipline of our full-day writing marathons very productive and benefited from putting pen to paper again. In an increasingly digital world, walking through the Secret Garden at Spannocchia with my pen and notebook in hand, felt like a return to something simple and close to the earth. Since my return, I’ve been writing some of my first drafts by hand, without the barrier of the backspace button.
 Melissa writing in Tuscany. Tell us about your current writing projects.
I have completed my first book of poetry and am preparing to send it out to publishers. (Come, rejection letters! I welcome you!) I’m also working on a collection of interconnected short stories, and collaborating on a screenplay for an animated feature. When you are not writing, where can your family and friends find you? For now, I can be found at my day job in Yaletown, a trendy neighbourhood in downtown Vancouver, or facilitating a creative writing program for teen girls at a nearby high school. I spend many evenings at home snuggling with my cats and my partner, Wade, while we watch movies and breathe in the aroma of my latest baking adventure. I’m also a huge supporter of the performing arts in Vancouver and spend a lot of time at various local venues watching theatre, musicals, dance, and concerts. A year from today, what would you like to see happen in your life? I would like to publish my first book of poetry and embark on a modest book tour to connect with potential readers. I also intend to go on another writing retreat and make it an annual ritual.
_✶ MELISSA SAWATSKY'S work has appeared in OCW Magazine, Quills, Sad Mag, and Rhubarb, among others. She has an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia and is currently working on her first book of poetry, a collection of short fiction, and a screenplay for an animated feature. Melissa is an Editor at Evolved Publishing and facilitates a creative writing program for teen girls called " Hot Ink." She spends much of her time in libraries (having worked at several), and worships the art of dance (call her a professional audience member and an amateur dancer). ✶✶ Follow Melissa on Twitter and at her blog, where she posts news and updates on her writing, reports on literary events in and around Vancouver, reviews books, and discusses the writing process. You can also find Melissa at her other blog, Write It Down. ✶
TRAVELING WITH MELISSA SAWATSKY, going with the ebb and flow. It is an honor to present Melissa, a writer and poet I met last summer on the Writing Immersion Retreat in Tuscany, and her wonderful post, In The Meantime (originally posted at her blog on August 16, 2011). Thank you, Melissa, for guiding us through the currents, for taking us to a rare place. Thanks so much for joining us here next week on February 6, 2012 for a conversation about your writing and dreams. -Mia IN THE MEANTIMEby Melissa SawatskyI am on a ferry boat, metaphorically speaking. The comfort of an established routine has been replaced by a propulsion of instability. I have maps, guidebooks, a vague idea of my destination, and short term plans for food and shelter. Beyond that, I'm a traveller in this transition period. If there's one thing I know about traveling in unfamiliar territory—literally and metaphorically—it's that spontaneity and open-mindedness are just as (if not more) important than preparation and planning. If you fill up every hour of the day with a logistical plan of where to be at what time, you might miss the afternoon street dance battle between a group of young men in London, or the slide show of photos projected against the side of a building at dusk in Berlin. You would miss the alchemy of spontaneous assembly in the service of creativity, a cause, or some form of festivity. The popularity of flash mobs, and the various forms in which they come, is a testament to our need to stir up the daily monotony of our lives.  In a moment of reflection.
Being in transition is both uncomfortable and liberating. Part of me needs something I can count on—a routine to assist in the business of organizing and maximizing my time. On the other hand, it's been awhile since I've been so attuned to the world around me. I'm inundated with imaginary scenes of the future that lies ahead of me. Although I'm in a bit of a pickle financially, I have found a healthy perspective on the ebb and flow of wealth (beyond money) and the laws of giving and receiving.
When this ferry finally docks, I will see the destination in 3D. I will disembark and use my maps to guide me. At some point, no doubt, my navigational abilities will fail me. I may sustain some injuries, but instinct and intuition will steer me clear of cliff drops.
In the meantime, I pay close attention to life in suspension. What a rare place to be.
-Melissa
✶ MELISSA SAWATSKY'S work has appeared in OCW Magazine, Quills, Sad Mag, and Rhubarb, among others. She has an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia and is currently working on her first book of poetry, a collection of short fiction, and a screenplay for an animated feature. Melissa is an Editor at Evolved Publishing and facilitates a creative writing program for teen girls called " Hot Ink." She spends much of her time in libraries (having worked at several), and worships the art of dance (call her a professional audience member and an amateur dancer). ✶✶ JOIN US here next week on February 6, 2012 for a conversation with Melissa, and more great photos from her travels and journey into writing. Prepare to be inspired. ✶ ✶ PHOTOS AND MEMORIES from a special Writing Immersion Retreat in Tuscany, where Melissa and Mia met last summer. ✶
Find a purpose in life so big it will challenge every capacity to be at your best.-Jim Loehr-Above photo by Tet Shimoda.From the White Rim Trail. Moab, Utah.
ACROSS THE SEAS a daughter, Mia T. Starr, returns to the village of Mong Phu, her father's birthplace in Viet Nam. The true story you read below takes you back to that day, a journey that is now woven into Mia's MORNING SUN, a historical fiction about an ordinary Vietnamese boy who must survive a time beset by famine, sacrifices, doubts, and two wars, if he is to honor his father's last wish and save their family. A FAMILY PASSAGE MONG PHU, VIET NAM by Mia T. Starr In February 2001 our Vietnamese driver and translator, Tuan, said in English, "We are almost there." I was quiet, sitting in the back seat of the car and looking out the window at the peaceful countryside. A foreign landscape of tranquil rice paddies, farmers at work, mountains, and rivers rich with history unfolded before me. My friend, Tom, who had hired the translator and made the trip possible, turned around in the front seat. He said, "Are you okay?" I gave him a smile for reassurance. I said, "Yes." "I'm happy we're here," Tom said and leaned back to give me space. He didn't want to be in the way of my journey home. The car moved forward. The rocks beneath the wheels crumbled, and I thought about my father walking barefoot on this same dirt road sixty-three years ago. That was 1936. He was six years old and in search of work, food, and wood to keep his family alive. [read more to continue the story] __A NOTE ABOUT THE WRITER: Mia T. Starr was born in Vietnam and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Her writing credits include published poems, an Honorable Mention for ASPIRING AUTHOR in the New York Stories 2005 Short Fiction Contest, and a Finalist placing for CLOUDS in the 2006 Glimmer Train Fiction Open Contest. Mia is currently working on completing revisions to her historical fiction, MORNING SUN. A NOTE ABOUT THE PHOTOS: Each was taken from Mia's trip to Vietnam on that day in 2001 when she returned to the village of Mong Phu, her father's birthplace. For more photographs and the story behind them, continue here. JOURNEY INTO WRITING: Read about Mia's writing moments through her blog posts at Four Days A Week. She shares excerpts from her works in progress, sharing her experiences as she moves toward her dreams of publishing MORNING SUN and other works in multiple formats. Popular posts include:
ON A SUMMER DAY IN TUSCANY I stepped away from my writing desk inside the villa at Spannocchia. I took a stroll with Casey, one of the participants at the writing immersion retreat, toward the large green gate and into the Secret Garden. Six months ago in a magical place. I sat on one of the stone seats at a table constructed from a tree trunk and rock. Nearby was a keyhole pond and winding paths lined with cypresses. I thought I had entered the world of The Hobbits. Here where the sun and shades danced in a tango with the trees, the birds sang with the frogs, and the soft wind kissed you with a whisper full of wonderful things to come. I looked out into the garden and smiled. Casey snapped a picture (shown above). In that moment, looking forward and thinking about my novel undergoing major revisions, my MORNING SUN, I embraced my fears past my failures and said, "Hello again, my dreams." -Mia _✶A top story in The Becoming Daily and The InterPlay Daily. January 2012. ✶
|
