REMEMBERING AND CELEBRATING 02/20/2012
 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:
 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.*  6 Comments TUSCANY BLISS 02/13/2012
 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. ✶ 
TRUSTING THE JOURNEY 01/30/2012
 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 MEANTIME by Melissa Sawatsky I 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. ✶ 
BEYOND THE HORIZON 01/23/2012
 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.  A STORY AWAKENS 01/16/2012
 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: 
IN THE SECRET GARDEN 01/09/2012
 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 
DO. DREAM. BELIEVE. 01/02/2012
 THIS IS YOUR LIFE. Do what you love, and do it often. If you don't like something, change it. If you don't like your job, quit. If you don't have enough time, stop watching TV. If you are looking for the love of your life, STOP. They will be waiting for you when you start doing things you love. Stop over analyzing. All emotions are beautiful. When you eat, appreciate life is simple. Every last bite. Open your mind, arms, and heart to new things and people. We are united in our differences. Ask the next person you see what their passion is. And share your inspiring dream with them. Travel often. Getting lost will help you find yourself. SOME OPPORTUNITIES ONLY COME ONCE, SEIZE THEM. Life is about the people you meet, and the things you create with them. So go out and start creating. LIFE IS SHORT. LIVE YOUR DREAM. AND SHARE YOUR PASSION.  ✶ This is your life--MANIFESTO IMAGES & VIDEO provided and written by Dave, Mike, and Fabian of Holstee ~ lifestyle design with a conscience.✶ ✶ We danced in the delight of inspiration all around and held a raffle ~ giveaway from November 21, 2011 to December 27, 2011. From out of 764 entries, Pam Cooney was randomly selected as the winner. ✶ Pam (@pams_art), a follower of Four Days A Week on Twitter, will receive a print of Rachel Awe's drawing, along with a surprise gift from Mia: a set of Holstee Greeting Cards.✶ ✶ In an extended moment of joy, a second winner, Patty, was randomly selected from the readers who posted a comment In The Circle Of Joy. Patty wrote: That is lovely. Light and joy is what I hope will fill my heart!! ✶ Patty will receive two mugs (one of them shown below) with the inscription: At our fingertips. An unexpected Place. ✶ Winners (Pam and Patty) will be notified via direct message and tweets on Twitter or by email.✶ ✶ Thanks so much everyone for sharing your joy and inspiration with us. Thank you for making this small corner of the World Wide Web a special one.✶ ✶ Here's to doing what we love, and doing it often. We hope you'll join us in the comments section and share your inspiring dreams. Many have said (and we believe it to be true) that in sharing and writing down our dreams, we increase our chances of making them come true. It's also a wonderful way to start the New Year.✶ :-)  
 COMING TOGETHER. We carry our best wishes and dreams in our hearts and out into the world. We are growing.  At the end of the year and sharing with you below a wish, hope, and growth: an email and a story I recently received from my Japanese friends, Ken Crane, and his wife, Yumi Crane. It was Ken and Yumi who received our treasure box of wishes and cranes for Japan after the tsunami hit their homeland on March 11, 2011. Today continuing on the journeys of hope and into the New Year, a message from Ken and Yumi:
 OUT OF THE DARKNESS AND INTO THE LIGHT. Remembering our strengths and hopes. We embrace and release our fears. Thank you, Ken and Yumi, for being here with us and sharing your story and light. And to you, my readers, I wish you a wonderful New Year. May it be filled with magic and dreams come true. Thanks so much for being part of our journeys. Aspiring and inspiring. We hope to see you again next week here at the blog on January 2, 2012 when we announce the winner of In The Circle Of Joy (raffle ~ giveaway). If you are reading this on December 26, 2011, there's still time to post a comment, tweet, follow, and like to enter the raffle, which ends at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on December 27, 2011. Until next time when we reconnect, please meet Ken below with best-selling author Paulo Coelho. Ken also shares with us an excerpt from his story, Caterpillar. -Mia P.S. I hadn't planned on posting at the blog in December, but when I received Ken's email, I wanted to share his story of growth and hope with you. Enjoy and happy holidays. Thank you, Ken and Yumi.  ✶ PHOTO ABOVE: Yumi and Ken Crane. ✶ ✶ ILLUSTRATIONS ABOVE: Butterflies by Ken Crane, an illustrator, graphic artist, writer, and musician. He is also the illustrator for best-selling author Paulo Coelho's stories and posts at Paulo's blog. Ken's portfolio includes illustrations for magazine covers (Forbes, Japan Times, Newsweek, Vogue, and Wired), rock concert posters, artwork for the theatre, films, and animations for television shows. ✶  Ken Crane and Paulo Coelho. ✶ FROM PAULO COELHO, MAY 12, 2011: Writing creates images in the reader's mind. So, when someone tells you "I can make an illustration of your work", normally I politely decline. Till one day ... that I met Ken Crane in Twitter. Ken proposed to illustrate some posts in my blog and after having a look at his illustrations, I told to myself: "That's the person!" From this moment on, we started to collaborate together, pro bono, only for the sake of sharing our ideas with other people. Also, from this moment on, people started not only commenting the text, but also the illustrations. I hope that, by the end of 2011, we will have enough material to publish an illustrated book. I am proud to have Ken by my side, and I am one of his most fervent admirers. [read more from Paulo on Ken and on writing creating images] ✶ ✶ AN EXCERPT FROM THE CATERPILLAR by KEN CRANE: "I am all the material of this universe. And you are an existence to choose what to do with those material. The Sun has chosen to shine by collecting the gas floating in space. The Earth has chosen to rotate around the sun using the sun's gravity. Terrestrial plants on Earth has chosen to bloom flowers using the energy of the sun. And that is what is called creation and evolution. And I am this process itself. You must choose what to do and what to be using this process. Once you have chosen what to be with your will, you will be able to experience the miracle ...Don't you want to see a miracle?" [continue reading the story of the Caterpillar at Ken's blog] ✶  ✶A top story in Anita's Finding Inspiration Daily, Daily MsLadyJapan, and The Becoming Daily. December 2011.✶ IN A CIRCLE OF JOY (and a raffle ~ giveaway) 11/21/2011
 ART INSPIRED ABOVE: Custom artwork by Rachel Awes, who draws from Mia T. Starr's words. Join in the dance for a chance to win a print of the featured drawing above, plus a surprise gift from Mia. A raffle ~ giveaway below (through December 26, 2011). Connecting and sharing our journeys through the moments, travels, stories, treasures and dreams. ♪♫ ✶ Happy Holidays. ✶ ♪♫  THE STORY BEHIND THE RAFFLE ~ GIVEAWAY I had just returned from an immersion into writing, bliss, and the artful life in Tuscany when I saw a new follower, Rachel Awes, in my Twitter stream. As with all my new followers, I read Rachel's bio and recent tweets. Later I went to check out her blog and learned she was a psychologist, art playgroundist, writer, wife, mother, and friend, who loved listening to the beauty in people. She also sold art for your heart at her Etsy shop. At her blog, she shared her awe and inspiration from the gold she kept finding. On that day, Rachel was also having a Word Giveaway at the Wish Studio. She wrote:  Rachel Awes i would love to invite you to come play with me. would you share a favorite sentence or saying that is particularly resonating with you these days in the comment section? at the end of july, i will choose one that speaks “draw me” to me & i will put it into picture for you and mail you a print ... your words & all that resonates within you are wildly precious. thank you, deeply, for considering! l*o*v*e, rachel Feeling inspired from my writing immersion in Tuscany, I accepted Rachel's invitation to play in her Word Giveaway contest and submitted my words and joy: We danced in the delight of inspiration all around. My submission was a line from a story and photo journal I had just finished writing and putting together: Embracing the Sun in Tuscany (which was also recently posted here at my blog). On August 4, 2011 I received an email from Rachel and learned I was the winner of words :-) I was both thrilled and honored. It marked the first time my words inspired someone to *draw* from them. Celebrating that moment and the spirit of sharing in a circle of joy and inspiration, I am sponsoring a raffle for a chance to win a print of the featured custom artwork above (drawing by Rachel Awes and words and inspiration by yours truly). There will also be a surprise gift from me. ♪♫♪♫ You're almost there. Scroll and see below for the various ways to enter the raffle for a chance to win: post a comment, share, subscribe, follow, like, or tweet. Come. Join us in a circle of joy and be inspired. Be part of the magic. Dance in the delight of inspiration all around. ♪♫♪♫  _ Thanks so much for being here. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and happy holidays. We wish you a glorious New Year. May it be blessed, joyous, and inspiring. May it be full of creativity and discoveries, following and trusting your bliss. Let's do. Dream. Believe. -Mia ENTER THE RAFFLE BELOW. ✶Leaving a comment on this blog post is worth 4 entries. Sharing your dreams under *aspiring and inspiring* is also worth 4 entries. All other options are worth one entry each. Enter below for your chances to win.✶ ✶Twitter followers of Four Days A Week will be automatically entered in the raffle (up to 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on December 27, 2011).✶ ♪♫ Thanks so much for being part of the fun, raffle, and inspiration. ♪♫ ✶For readers viewing this post via email or a feed reader, please click through the blog post title or here to enter the raffle, which ends at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on December 27, 2011.✶ ✶The winner will be randomly selected and announced at the blog on January 2, 2012 when we return from the holidays with a new post.✶ ✶If you wish to share this raffle at your blogs, please contact us for the widget, or if you have any questions.✶ ✶Thanks so much for joining us in the circle of joy and inspiration all around.✶  |  ✶CONNECTING AND SHARING OUR JOURNEYS through the moments, travels, stories, treasures and dreams. ✶AT FOUR DAYS A WEEK. ✶Aspiring and inspiring. FROM HERE TO THERE. ✶LET'S DO. DREAM. BELIEVE.✶ -Mia T. Starr
CONTRIBUTORS & GUESTS
_✶ Click here for our special guests posts since 2010, or click on an image above to take you there. ✶
NEWS & NOTES
✶ This year's special guests, posts, and interviews include: ✶Jade Webber, painter, teacher, and environmental activist; ✶Matt Michaels, graduate journalism student at Northwestern University; ✶Melissa Sawatsky, writer, poet, and editor; and more to come.
✶ Cheers to Naoko Stoop (one of our special guests) on her new book, All Creatures Great and Small. Well done, Naoko!
✶ Stephen Webber, an excellent writing teacher who helped Mia with her MORNING SUN in Tuscany, is offering Wellness and Writing Immersion ~ Online Writing Classes.
✶ Gems along the way for MORNING SUN, a historical fiction in progress. No matter how dark the morning, the sun always rises. -Mia T. Starr
   SWEET TWEETS
✶ We treasure your tweets, comments, and emails. Thanks so much for sharing and sending them. Thanks for being here and making this corner of the World Wide Web a special one. ✶
TOP STORIES The posts and stories that captured your hearts and imagination, here and at Anita's Finding Inspiration Daily, The Becoming Daily, and other online papers. Thank you so much. ❤ ✶*¨¨*•*¨*✶☼
✶ In Venice ~ an awakening. In a swirl of art and joy. Above the grandeur. Photos, moments, and poetry.
✶ A daughter makes a visit to her father's village of Mong Phu in Vietnam. A family passage.
✶ HG handed the story to Mom and said, "Put it in my packpack. Please. I want to read it in school. Okay?"
✶ MORE TOP STORIES ✶ ƒ๏ℓℓ๏ω YOUR HEART AND INTUITION ✶ experience ✶ TAKING FLIGHT WITH LIFE ✶ something new ✶ BEYOND THE TRAIL ✶ THE WAY TO THE SKY, THE WAY TO THE STARS ✶ AN IMMERSION into Writing, Bliss, and the ARTFUL LIFE ✶ AM WRITING MORNING SUN ✶ MOM'S GARDEN From Vietnam to Michigan ✶SPRING ETERNAL ✶ WISHES AND CRANES WITH LOVE ✶ JOURNEYS OF HOPE ✶IF YOU FOLD A Thousand Cranes ✶ PRELUDE TO MORNING SUN ✶ A HISTORICAL FICTION In Progress ✶¨*✶•*¨*☼✶
READERS SHARE
✶ I loved your post and your description of the secret garden! Your words to me right there. :) Thank you for that experience. -Carolyn CJ Jones
✶ Beautiful post! You have such an excellent ability to impart the feeling of the retreat experience. I love this. -Stephen
✶ Mia, you do such beautiful and inspiring things. Simple, effective, wonderful. Thank you. -Stan Stewart
✶ dearest mia, your presence is breath-
taking. as is your writing, your face, your pictures. -Rachel Awes 
✶ Action! I can almost hear the director pulling this film together, firm voice rising above the din. I know, it's a book. But you write with the taste and feel of film. The gift of vivid, clean storytelling. I look forward to the next installment! Thanks for sharing this. @virtualDavis
✶ How lovely, Mia! Thank you for sharing these poignant thoughts about
your beautiful, strong grandmother and the excerpt from your WIP. It
reads like poetry. -Caron Guillo
✶ Mia, what an amazing thing to wake up to ... that was the most beautiful imagery I've ever seen ... and your words, as beautiful as your spirit ... I can't thank you enough for sharing it. And to think I never would have seen it if it weren't for lovely you ... -Jennifer Valentine
✶ Thank you for sharing the wonderful story about how you found my artwork ... these comments are treasure for me as well as it's fuel for my next creation. -Naoko Stoop
✶ Thank you for your kind comments about my post "expanding my horizons" ... I popped over to your site for a visit, what a wonderful place you have there! I am adding you to my blog roll, I definitely need to visit, often ... -Kelly Letky
✶ Mia, you are such an inspiration with your writing, travel, advocacy and all. I am so happy to have met you here. Bless you! -Anita Bondi
BELIEVING AND FOLLOWING OUR BLISS. FROM HERE TO THERE.
  TREASURES ALONG THE WAY ~ DOING WHAT YOU LOVE.
 
Lush little book by Naoko Stoop.
 Freedom by Kate.
 Vintage assemblage jewelry by Sacred Cake.
 In 1965 a nine-year-old son gave his mom a magnolia tree and planted it in front of their home in Toledo, Ohio. Each spring the tree grew and blossomed, carrying with it the spirit of life. This year the flowers of the tree were dancing to the winds on a clear, blue sky day. Photo by Beth Bingle.
 
GIVE VOICE TO YOUR DREAMS.
LEAP FEARLESSLY. In being fearless
you are not without fear, rather you are withstanding fear. You are moving forward in spite of it. -Meredith Pignon MUSINGS CATEGORIESAll  Become a possibilitarian.
No matter how dark things seem to be or actually are, raise your sights and see possibilities-- always see them, for they're always there. -Dr. Norman Peale- ✶✶✶✶✶✶✶
*PHOTO CREDITS*
Home Page (left to right): Portrait shots by Tom Bingle and Jade Webber. Landscape shots by Mia T. Starr and Tet Shimoda. ✶✶✶✶✶✶✶ Most photos throughout this site were taken by Mia T. Starr. All others provided by our readers and featured guests. Please contact us for additional information and permission to use the photos. ✶✶✶✶✶✶✶ Site banner created by Van T. Nguyen. |
