Category Archives: Pause Points

Ordinary legacy moments in time.

4 O’clock In The Morning

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Some people (aka my mother and that entire generation) say no good can come from anything that happens at 4am. Once upon a time I believed that too. It was the exact time when exhausted me was disturbed by a certain someone’s self-induced insomnia coming to a crashing end. Nightly.

I’m starting to believe that 4am has become my witching hour. By definition a witching hour is a time deep into the evening, usually midnight, when anything might happen. A period of relative calm, during which a person or people undergo a significant mood change. The witching hour is NOT a time of violence, it is the calm that precedes a storm. Is writing a storm?

I’ve had a full writing schedule for the last few weeks and some of my best inspiration is coming at 4am. So what to do? Go with it, I’ve created a 4am survival kit and I get to work because I know damn well that if I don’t write it down it will be gone in the morning. I’m listening to my mind instead of trying to shut it off, making notes and researching and playing with new concepts and surprising myself by letting my mile-a-minute mind run wild.

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4 O’clock in the morning has become an interesting phenomenon for one man whose cockamamie TED talk, before TED talks were popular, created a crowd sourced sensation that is at once crazy and touching. You’ll love the Museum of 4 in the Morning. Want to take a stab at when I discovered this….yep doing research at 4 o’clock in the morning.

The problem becomes what to do when all this inspiration is duly noted and my mind is quiet. How to get back to sleep? For those of you with active minds and trouble getting back to sleep try these steps that I’ve found helpful:

Do a body scan, are you too hot, too cold, do you have to pee, are you thirsty, does something hurt? If any of these pesky things are effecting you take care of them! Put a sweater on, take something off, just get up and go to the bathroom for crying out loud, you know you’re not comfortable. Have a glass of water, take an aspirin…

Back in bed find a comfortable position and tell yourself not to worry about going back to sleep, just rest your body. Let each part of your body relax and try box breathing. Inhale for 5, hold for 5, exhale for 5, hold for 5…repeat. Once you give yourself permission to just rest the pressure is off and you’ll be asleep in no time.

4am Toti

Toti Nonna has no idea what’s been going on, she’s slept through the entire thing lights on and all. Thankfully she’s the only one I have to worry about disturbing. One caveat, make sure your alarm is set before you do fall back asleep…I know like I know you’ll blow right by your normal wake time if you don’t.   Sweet dreams.

Grateful Nomination

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Blogger Recognition Award 2015

Thank you Maria Baird of Manifesting Me and the Small Changes for Life Project for your nomination.  I am grateful you found me (through that terrific cousin of yours) and have been a supporter in the very short time we’ve know each other.  I love your work, you are indeed a legacy in the making.

The Rules:

Select 15 other blogs you want to give the award to. You cannot nominate yourself or the person who has nominated you
Give a brief story of how your blog got started
Give a piece or two of advice to new bloggers
Thank whoever nominated you, and provide a link to their blog
List those you’ve nominated in the post and comment on their blogs to let them know you’ve nominated them.

My blog started after creating a new life after divorce.  Sounds like so many other’s reasons but I was on a mission to build a legacy and show others that even ordinary people could leave behind extraordinary legacies.

My advice for new bloggers is to know like you know that you are sharing your truth, even if you’re scared to death.  The truth resonates like nothing else.

The not so ordinary list of people I keep up with and would love recognized:

Intoxikate-Living Life Deliciously

Daily Presents

Snap Maven

Chris Guillebeau

Green Mountain at Fox Run

Namaste House Wifery

Elke Trick Photography

Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary

Mad Hungry

Local Kitchen

124 Park

Jeff Goins

The Strangers Project

Drew Dudley

Becoming Minimalist

 

 

 

 

Art

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I do not believe in bare walls. In my theory of everyone should surround themselves with only things they love, I believe art plays an enormous role. This was an art weekend. Art is a broad term, described by Richard Wollheim as “one of the most elusive of the traditional problems of human culture”. Yes, that broad.

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Art is a human activity that brings to it imagination, technical ability, creativity, performance, or interaction. The shape or quality of one’s art form, will ultimately fall within a particular genre, and one’s style will emerge by using a distinctive method. It is an act of courage like no other to create art and put it out for the world to judge. This is truly legacy in the making.

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People are quick to place value judgments based on emotion, art is either understood or misunderstood. Art expresses something as lofty as the human condition, as fleeting as an emotion or as simple as a smile. I’ve come across many a piece I didn’t understand and I’ve listened to many a curator speak in terms I thought were ridiculous but because I didn’t get it doesn’t mean someone else won’t find it incredible.

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The purpose of art seems to be two fold; non-motivated and motivated. Non-motivated leans to the basic human instinct for harmony, balance and rhythm. One experiences the mysterious, can’t help but express their imagination and funnels themselves through symbolism. For those who practice a motivated style of art they are simply communicating, entertaining, or healing. This simplistic boiled down explanation of the purpose of art would surely be disputed by anyone/everyone in the “art world” but if you think about each of these expansive words you see how one could go on and on…so too the purpose of art.

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I have been the recipient of some incredibly beautiful art. The generosity of that gift still fills me with gratitude and the art still takes my breath away. I hope to be that generous to those nearest to me one day. There is a small collection being built as we speak.

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There is so much to see, so many people creating, so many different genres and ways to experience art. There is always an instant connection to art, it can leave you scratching your head, disgust you or take your breath away. Whichever reaction you have I encourage you to continue to observe, question, experience, and surround yourself with the art of whatever genre takes your breath away. No reason for bare walls when you could surround yourself with the inspiration of another human being.

 

 

I’m Back

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Lenovo

Back and Macless but not without a story…you’re shocked I know.  There is a reason why my adventure into the world of Mac didn’t work out, not just because some people are Mac people and some people aren’t.  Even though I had a Mac Guru there was a reason why he was unable to assist due to family and work constraints.  You’ve heard me say it before if it’s not a blessing it’s a lesson.

The Mac went back and I began the hunt for another laptop, windows based, light weight, beautiful grahics blah blah blah.  If you type those characteristics into google several brands come up.  Now I start asking around and see who’s using what beyond Mac.  Then I ask a friend…one of my former employees from a thousand years ago works for Lenovo…what do you suggest?  Several instant messages later not only does she confirm my recent research she assists in the sale…it was a lovely and generous assist but for me her reasoning was the most heartwarming thing I’ve heard in a very long time.  Ghandi said you may never know what effect you have in the world but if you do nothing there will be nothing.  Apparently I did something for her many many years ago that I had no knowledge of, I was doing my best as her manager and she never forgot me and felt I did more than my best. I have watched her become a woman of substance, a loving mother and beautiful soul over the last several years and my heart bursts for her with every new and exciting life hurdle she overcomes.  I could not have been more flattered or humbled by her loving words and generosity.  This is why the Mac didn’t work out.

It also didn’t work out because I chose it for all the wrong reasons.  Initially when my laptop died I first asked all the creative people I know and they unequivocally said they use Mac…so that’s what thought I had to do too.  The thing is it doesn’t make me less creative if I don’t use a Mac, doesn’t make them more creative because they do…I was trying to follow something that I wasn’t, I was negating all the expertise, experience and background I had in Windows for something I thought I should be using if I wanted to be considered creative.  The medium you use does not determine your level of creativity…ever. I will never again discount my experience, expertise or hard earned background to follow a crowd. Lesson learned.  By the way, all of that expertise and experience is the reason why so many people find it difficult to assimilate to Mac, it gets in the way.  I’ve been saying intuitive my ass for that very reason.  The youngest of the young can open the box and begin using those products mainly because they lack context, for them lack of context equals intuitiveness.   Ok, I’m done with that now…maybe.

Now my laptop is ordered complete with all the bells and whistles, my preferred software and the wait begins.  Now mind you I don’t have a laptop………what I do have is a camera full of images, 40gbs to be exact, and nowhere to do my work.  Here’s another reason why this happened, I’ve learned to value my work.  My work, not the job I do each day that pays the mortgage, my work.  My words and images and thoughts and observations and tastes and smells and recognitions and on and on.  My work. I missed my work.  I found myself wallowing in several different unproductive waist high marshes of boredom and television watching.   Until I had to travel for a few different reasons and downloaded some very pivotal audio books. Bless you Brene’ Brown and Marie Kondo for putting your work out in the world for me to grab on to and go.

You all know I can fill a construction grade big green garbage bag but putting your house in order according to Marie Kondo takes it to a whole new level.  The amount of nostalgic hold me backs that went in the trash or got donated lifted a weight I never even knew I was carrying.  Not done yet but the really hard stuff is going to require supervision…just sayin.

Finally my laptop is making its way from Shanghai, probably from the plant next door to Apple (but I digress) and should arrive on Monday 10-5-15.  The thing is it arrived early, does that ever happen (do not roll your eyes), on Friday 10-2-15 after I’m visiting my mother for her care update meeting I come home to the notice on the door that says we’ll be back on Monday.  Oh no you won’t………………I call UPS and beg them to get a hold of the driver, he’s out of the area already. Really?  The notice on the door was delivered 20 minutes ago.  Ok, yes hold it at the Customer Center and I’ll pick it up tonight.  What time?  Between 8-9pm.  Well I thought why not go down there early, bat my eyelashes use my best can ya help a sistah out routine and see what happens.  Here’s the thing, there is no one there UNTIL 8pm.   I drove down there in the pouring rain during rush hour to try and work a thing, lesson learned.

What the hell am I going to do for an hour and a half?  There is a huge mall a few miles from the UPS Center and I make my way over there, chiding myself the whole way about thinking I’ll get in and get out of there with my laptop under my arm, and find myself in the parking lot near Lord and Taylor when someone pulls out of a first row, six spaces in parking place….best parking karma ever.  Again, do NOT roll your eyes.

As I get out of the car I notice my phone is about to die…I plug it in and go.  No phone, no contact, just me soaking wet headed into the mall.  I walk through Lord and Taylor and beyond the mall side entrance is an oasis called…wait for it…Aroma Espresso Bar. Behind the counter is Lamar, who asks how I’m doing and takes my order.  I know what I looked like, a nearly drowned rat with a bit of the shivers, so Lamar assured me he’d make everything piping hot.  Amen.  There are no pictures with this post because my phone was left in the car but Lamar set the most beautiful tray in front me complete with croissant, a chocolate, and napkins.  My latte had a gorgeous foam art heart that instantly warmed me.  I couldn’t thank this young man enough.

And so I sat people watching, writing in the journal I always have with me and sipping my latte.  The heart never lost its shape, with each sip I took a bit went down my throat but it always kept its shape and there’s the lesson, if you work from your heart it will always keep its shape….I have been working from my heart all day with my new laptop, blessing the people who helped get me through to this day Muriel, Linda, Anthony and Lamar, and utterly enjoying my work.  Amen

 

 

Here’s what’s happening on Stowe Lane…

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The MAC went back.  Some people are MAC people some people are not, clearly I was not.  The Lenovo is on the way.

The Last of Summer found Toti Nonna back on the Cape, more to come when I can process my 40gb of pictures. Repeat after me, the Lenovo is coming.

I am now a Truthteller for womenforone.com  More exciting you can not get.

A new feature of Ordinary Legacy….can’t tell you yet but you’re going to love it and you’re going to want to be part of it.  Just ask Ida….

Future posts:

The Art of Dining Alone

What’s in a Name

Fall and the Big Green Garbage Bag

So there’s a lot happening on Stowe Lane if only I had the means to get it all out to you.  There will be pictures there will be stories there will be everything you’re used to and more….I might have mentioned the Lenovo is coming. Stay tuned…