Ink on my fingers

~ January Unravelling ~

'Thank you for a profoundly meaningful eight weeks! I knew I would love being in this class and, honestly, eight videos of you talking about anything was worth the price of admission :) Plus having an excuse to use my camera and do some writing was also very appealing. I never expected to fall in love with all my amazing classmates the way I have and how much I'd enjoy looking at their beautiful photographs and lives. You do a fantastic job of creating a completely nurturing and safe environment in which to share and explore and the content of the class exceeded even my high expectations. I cannot recommend this class enough.'  ~ testimonial from Liz, an Autumn Unraveller

My videos have a tendency to veer off into random chats about anything - and usually end with me laughing at my inability to talk proper - but if that hasn't put you off, you might like to know that registration for the January Unravelling class will open tomorrow. I'm trying a staggered enrollment this time, so Australia and New Zealand time zones will be enrolling from 9 - 10am (GMT) with the rest of the world from 4pm (GMT). We'll see if this new plan works!

Plus this is the first time gift vouchers will be available, so if you wanted to give something a bit different for xmas this year, how about eight weeks of photography, journalling and a nurturing online community? There definitely won't be time for any January blues :)

~ Polaroid swinger ~

If only all adverts were this fabulous! (via Miss Modish)

~ My dream home ~

When i finally buy a home and can decorate it as i choose, I'd really like it to look like this place. Jo Kornstein is a set designer and the co-owner of London boutique Howie & Belle, and i am in LOVE with her home (as featured in the November issue of UK Vogue). All that vintage-y goodness, and those sultry dark walls! And don't even get me started on the bathroom....



[Click to enlarge images; all photographs by Hugh Stewart]

~The first Polaroids ~

Here he is! The first Polaroids of my nephew, and already I can tell he's going to be a looker (it's my auntie's prerogative to be utterly biased :) I still can't quite get my head around the fact that my teeny tiny hold-her-hand-when-you-cross-the-street little sister is growing a new human being. Wow. Truly amazing.

~ The contents of my head ~

The contents of my head as of 18:14 Tuesday afternoon maybe i should stop working now it's time for dinner but i'm not really hungry words words words book ideas chapter titles this is so exciting but what if i have nothing to say but what if i have so much to say i can't say it right what if the words dry up hungry now maybe it's time for dinner polaroids make me happy i want to take pictures but it's dark hunger is calling me to the kitchen but i want to keep writing maybe i could pen a quick blog post i miss my blogging i wish i had more time but being busy is good isn't it yes being busy is good i am grateful for this work if we had thanksgiving in england i would be thankful for so many things love it makes me think of love i miss love i miss companionship hungry feeling more hungry time to stop writing but the ideas keep coming i hope i can say the right words my words words words words.

Hungry now. Kitchen calls.

~ 36 hours in London ~

[Just to clarify - my lovely friend Sas got engaged at the weekend]

~ Useful ~

'The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.' ~ Elizabeth Kubler Ross (from an Unraveller)

Oh lovely blog, how I have missed you. Friday saw the last day of both my classes and the end of an intense period of working. I've worked every day including weekends for the last six weeks and have put everything i have into my new course while shepherding my original Unravellers. This time last year I was taking my first wobbly steps in a classroom full of strangers, telling them about my theories of 'unravelling' and hoping to inspire them to pick up their cameras and start investigating their lives. How far my idea has come since that nerve-racking beginning just blows my mind.

I've spent my whole life searching for my passion, and now I find myself doing something i'm insanely passionate about. I'm so grateful for this, because when I get those rollercoaster days of grief memories or sadness or loneliness I walk a little more gently, and remind myself that I'm doing something useful. And that is the key. I've never felt useful before, never felt like i was contributing anything to the world - just a big spaghetti mess of insecurities and neediness and rubbish. And now i've found a way to support my family of one while being useful to others, and that really does make me get out of bed every morning, eager to start the day. Of course, friends and family are now concerned that i'm showing signs of workaholism, but I've waited so long to do something i love I want to give it my all. I feel a sense of purpose these days and that helps make the grief and loss make sense to me; I'm so grateful for that too.

~ Camera lovers unite ~

My newest purchase, delivered to my door at 7am this morning. She started it off, with her minty green body and flirtatious little lens; all i was going to do was take a quick Polaroid of her to send to a friend, but then, before i knew what was happening, the rest of the gang wanted to get in on the action. And I'm such a push-over, i just couldn't say no...
My beloved SX-70; if i could only shoot with one camera for the rest of my days, this would be it.
My first proper camera: my Canon AE1 SLR. She took me through art school and beyond.
The Hasselblad, or as she is now known, the beast. Heavy, reliable, beautiful.
One of my first Polaroids. All cameras should have rainbows on them - fact.
My little Instamatic. I had one of these when i was a kid, and even though i've never put a roll of film through her, she still makes me smile.

To meet the rest of the gang, click over here.

~ Fairy tales ~

I'm fascinated by the work of photographer Anastasia Cazabon, how she makes every photograph full of metaphor, story and hidden meaning. So beautiful. From her website:

[all photographs by Anastasia Cazabon]

~ My Creative Life: Danielle LaPorte ~

I first discovered my next Creative Life interviewee when her book, Style Statement, was recommended to me a few months ago. Tumbling happily into the land of writer & speaker Danielle LaPorte, I started reading her blog, invested in a Fire Starter session for my business and found so much inspiration from how unashamedly she walks her talk. In her varied career she's been the executive director of a Washington-based think tank and run her own communications company for 10 years, so it's no wonder budding entrepreneurs will travel far and wide to hear her speak about everything from guerrilla marketing to life purpose. She's also a commentator on the CBC TV show, Connect With Mark Kelley.

It's an honour to have Danielle on my blog today, and, just for fun, I'm sharing some thoughts over on her blog today too - on video, no less! Two for the price of one.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the white hot truth of Ms Danielle LaPorte...

SC:  Yours seems like truly vocational work – how did you get to this place?

DL: I think you should be mindful of how you refer to your work in the world (career, j-o-b, chore, calling, service...) and so I love the word "Vocation." It's rooted in voice. I got to this place - this place of earning my living by voicing my perspective - in part due to a severe allergy to conventional business and bullshit corporate policies. So that pretty much kept me from ever getting a real job. I got here by asking, relentlessly, for what I wanted, whether it was for a better position, a new gig, a better rate at the bank, or asking the universe to help me realize my dreams. I asked. And I believed.

Speaking in public is most people’s worst nightmare – how you prepare to blow your audience’s mind?

I intend to be useful, really useful. I'm clear that I'm there to teach, so there can be plenty of poetry and theater (that's where kimonos and killer boots come in,) but everything has to circle back to being practical. No filler.

I prepare. I think about four key nuggets that I'm most inspired about and I make sure I hit those notes no matter what. I'm transparent. I tell my story with plenty of vulnerability. I'm righteous. I don't apologize for my very strong opinions. And I pray. Before I get on stage, I say micro-prayer, it's one word: shine. I want us all to be shining and radiating and high on life by the end of our time together. So far, so good.
Describe a typical workday.

- Wake up in a cuddle pile with the kid and the man, and the dog at the end of the bed.
- Check email quickly to see if anything stupendous has happened overnight. Immediately feel guilty about checking my email.
- Look for Spiderman or Batman paraphernalia, and walk the munchkin to school.
- Call a girlfriend on the walk home. Usually Candis.
- Stretch. Pray or read something inspirational (or trashy.) Make pot of Yogi Indian Spice Tea with Honey.
- Crank my "Devotion Emotion" or "TranceBoomYa" i-Pod playlists.
- Depending on the day (I do the Entrepreneurial Time Management System) I'm at my Mac writing, jamming, you know, rocking the world. If I'm not writing for my site or others', I'm doing Fire Starter Sessions with clients, or working on distributing my new stationery line. And when I'm not doing those things, I'm lost in creating my next book - and selling it.
- On Wednesdays I record my segment of a new CBC TV show, Connect With Mark Kelley. And that evening, if my husband isn't doing a night shift (he's a fire fighter,) I do a 5 Rhythms  dance class and sweat my prayers out.
- Most days involve milk chocolate. On the days when I have to cook, I stress out about it and wish that the man were cooking that night, and then I suggest that we go for sushi.
- Hot bath with lavender.
- Stay up too late watching the newest documentary DVD.
 
What does true success look like to you?

Creative freedom. Deeply nourishing relationships. Fat cash. Helping to create aha's and ease for people. Social responsibility and effective philanthropy. Stirring the cosmic melting pot. Thick gold hoop earrings. Trust.

How has motherhood changed your way of living/working/creating?

When my son was born, I realized on a very deep level that, if I was going to teach him to live according to his own agency, that I myself had better up my game. And I committed to live more artfully and passionately. I became more creative when he came into my life. And less willing to suffer fools.

What books/music/blogs etc do you love?

READ:
Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes
The Astonishing Power of Emotions by Abraham-Hicks
Anything by Krishnamurti, Alan Watts and Pema Chodron
Grace and Grit by Ken Wilber
Beauty by John O'Donahue

LISTEN:
Antony & The Johnsons
Stadium Arcadium - the Red Hot Chilli Peppers
Big Time Sensuality - Bjork
The latest Jason Mraz
American Prayers - The Doors

CLICK:
Seth Godin
The TED talks
Abraham Hicks

How do you balance your online life with you off-line life?

I don't. And I don't believe in "balance." Balance is not the stuff of greatness, and the pursuit of it causes stress. I believe in proportion. A lot of love, a heaping amount of focus, and plenty of room to follow my heart and take a nap when I need one.
 
What three things could a creative entrepreneur do to make their business rock even harder?

1. get clear on your core desired feelings - they're driving everything whether you're conscious of it or not.
2. know your Hedgehog Concept, or call me for a Fire Starter Session.
3. always be the giver.

You're having a dinner party and can invite six famous people from the past or present - who would you choose?

Bruce Mau, Leonard Cohen, Jesus, Oprah, Isis, Meister Eckhart, Joan of Arc
 
What is the message you want to share with the world? (in other words, what do you consider to be your life’s work?)

Truth is freedom. Freedom is all.

* * * * *

Danielle, thank you so much for sharing with us today. I love that you're a fire starter, and your husband is a fire fighter - sounds like a passionate combination to me :)

[photo of Danielle by Anastasia Photography}