Foster Community and a Love of Books

Oh, to live the delusion that things are always black and white…. What a luxury that might be, but situations are complex. For example, the idea of a community putting out a Little Free Library seemed perfectly simple until I joined the ranks of other authors who are now taking advantage of digital delivery through e-publishing where the following paragraph was required to be included on the first page of my book:

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only.

This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people.

If you would like to share this book with another person,

please purchase an additional copy for each recipient.

If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it,

or it was not purchased for your use only,

then please purchase your own copy.

Thank you for respecting the hard work of this and all authors.

The facilitators of the writers workshop I have been attending this summer also stress the importance of our commitment to purchase our favorite books in support of the authors. We work for years creating a book, and our time, energy, and dedication need to be honored by a purchase. That makes perfect sense, doesn't it….

I respect Todd Bol and Rick Brooks who created the first Little Free Library in Hudson, Wisconsin. They are said to have done that "to foster community and a love of books"—both values I deeply share!

According to the website, more than 25,000 Little Free Libraries now dot driveways and front yards in all 50 states. My home state of Michigan has about 268, and Little Free Libraries are found now in 70 countries. 

Just from the authors' point of view, I think you will get behind the idea of buying a book rather than borrowing it (especially with the ease of digital delivery). The larger issue, however, is the importance of your seeing the bigger picture in every situation. 

Perhaps the best advice might be found in Stephen Covey's best-selling book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, specifically Habit #4, Think Win-Win. Covey explains that there are six paradigms of human interaction:

1. Win-Win: Both people win. Agreements or solutions are mutually beneficial and satisfying to both parties.

2. Win-Lose: “If I win, you lose.” Win-Lose people are prone to use position, power, credentials, and personality to get their way.

3. Lose-Win: “I lose, you win.” Lose-Win people are quick to please and appease, and seek strength from popularity or acceptance.

4. Lose-Lose: Both people lose. When two Win-Lose people get together—that is, when two determined, stubborn, ego-invested individuals interact—the result will be Lose-Lose.

5. Win: People with the Win mentality don’t necessarily want someone else to lose—that’s irrelevant. What matters is that they get what they want.

6. Win-Win or No Deal: If you can’t reach an agreement that is mutually beneficial, there is no deal.

This post had been almost finished when I had to shut down the computer and drive downtown to make an appointment. The # 9 Tenderness card (Angelic Messenger Cards by Dr. Meredith Lady Young-Sowers) my client drew speaks directly to this important new way we are relating in the world. 

Refuse to accept that one person is right and the other wrong. 

Speak your truth while at the same time accepting that others will see their truth more easily than yours. 

Believe in yourself enough to ask others to hear what you need to say. 

Setting up a shared personal language for relationships allows you and others to express your feelings and your beliefs while at the same time making room for others to also be as right and sure of their opinions as you are. 

Whether you buy or borrow, spend or lend, you will probably agree the things that foster community and a love of books are wonderful! Read on....

 

Raising Consciousness

When Joel and I met a woman who has trained in NLP (and DHE) for many years with Richard Bandler we spent some time sharing our history.  She asked what our plans are for teaching in the future. I summed up where I am with things by saying I do not have an interest in building a better widget, but I am very interested in raising consciousness. The very next morning, this quotation came from Gratefulness.org. It fits my thoughts exactly!

Do not be small minded. 
Do not pray for gourds and pumpkins from God,
when you should be asking for pure love 
and pure knowledge 
to dawn within every heart. 

~ Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa

 

Gourds and pumpkins are OK, but they are not the ultimate.

Every day individuals on our planet are living lives looking at the bigger picture. I was blessed to see Myra Roberts' amazing portrait of Malala. ArtPoems pairs visual artists with poets, and the synergy results in inspiring pieces that are sure to be remembered. 

Visit ArtPoems 2014 to see the portrait of Malala, and let your heart release any small mindedness as you enjoy the companion writing by Lorraine Walker Williams.

  

Make sure you are a blessing in your own life, in the lives of others, and in the life of the planet. Yes, our planet is a living organization, and it, too, benefits from your kindness, compassion, and consideration. As pure love and pure knowledge dawns within every heart, plenty of gourds and pumpkins will exist, but the world will also be filled with so much more.

If You Only Hand One Year to Live

Over lunch with some like-minded friends earlier today, I mentioned the home work for a writers' intensive I had just completed a few moments before joining them. One of the group is moving back to Canada after living here for twenty-seven years. I don't see her often, but I will miss knowing I might see her any time soon.

Take a poll online. 

Designed for your discovering what motivates you, part of the homework process was based on a post by Mark Manson (touted as an author, thinker, and life enthusiast). 

Mark's 7 Strange Questions That Help You Find Your Life Purpose started out with "What's your favorite flavor of shit sandwich?" The point he was making is that even when you do what you love, there may be parts of that you do not enjoy. The list of questions ended with "If you knew you were going to die one year from today, what would you do and how would you want to be remembered?" 

When I put the phrase "If I only had one year to live" into a Google search, about 540,000,000 results came up! We are not alone thinking about things like this. 

That is why I write. To share what has meaning in life is what has meaning in life. 

My answer to the first question is: Some people I love die. I discovered that years ago. Not all, but some, and I open my heart to be broken again and again. 

My answer to the last question is: I would do what I am doing now, with even less sense of urgency. Being in the present moment would allow one year to feel like forever. 

Whatever is up for you right in you life right now, you might appreciate the insights to be gained by Mark's strange questions. 

Click here to access all seven questions. For sure, what has meaning is worth thinking about….

World of Words

Every child is an artist.

The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.

I first heard this quotation by Pablo Picasso watching a YouTube video of Amanda Palmer talking about being an artist. "Connecting The Dots" is about the way digital publishing has leveled the playing field and how vulnerable writers are in this venue.

Yes, writers and painters and musicians are able to now share their gifts via social media, but Palmer compares the Internet to the Wild West where pickpockets and snipers abound. With the Internet you do not get to choose. Cyber criticism can be cruel.

It is very interesting to me that I watched the video because I am participating with a handful of other writers in an eight-week intensive. A few years ago, I discovered my love of writing and I added the word author to my online bio. 

Admittedly, that late discovery of myself as a writer seems strange. I am someone with fifty years of journals. I am also someone who blogs regularly, publishes a wellness tip and a wholesome thought (audio and text) weekly, and co-authors a monthly newsletter.

But am I a writer just because my heart lives in a world of words?

Texting clients, family, or friends, meeting with a couple, creating a custom wedding ceremony for them, and then officiating at their wedding are also part of my world of words.

My maiden name is Smith. In my heart, my prayer is that I am a wordsmith: a person who works with words; especially a skillful writer (Merriam-Webster).

As Palmer says, once you share your art, the response is what it is. "You, as the writer, have to weather the critics." That made me think of the Eight Worldly Dharmas I have been working with for a bit over a year. The dharmas come in pairs, and as we grasp for one, we are vulnerable to the other. I think they will make good sense to you. 

Pleasure and pain

Loss and gain

Praise and blame

Fame and disgrace

My work around the dharmas included the "Reflections on Universal Well-Being" chanted by the monks of Abhayagiri Monastery, a Buddhist Monastery in the Thai Forest Tradition of Ajahn Chah.

May I abide in well-being, in freedom from affliction, in freedom from hostility, in freedom from ill will, in freedom from anxiety, and may I maintain well-being in myself.

May everyone abide in well-being, in freedom from affliction, in freedom from hostility, in freedom from ill will, in freedom from anxiety, and may they maintain well-being in themselves. May all beings be released from all suffering, and may they not be parted from the good fortune they have attained.

When they act upon intention, all beings are the owners of their own action and inherit it's results. Their future is born from such action, companion to such action, and it's results will be there home. All actions with intentions, be they skillful or harmful, of such acts they will be the heirs.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama says, "Spiritual practice is difficult in the beginning. You wonder how on earth you can ever do it. But as you get used to it, the practice gradually becomes easier. Do not be too stubborn or push yourself too hard. If you practice in accord with your individual capacity, little by little you will find more pleasure and joy in it. As you gain inner strength, your positive actions will gain in profundity and scope."

May it be so....