17 Comments
May 7, 2022Liked by Carmen Radley, Suleika Jaouad

Each of these pieces is so life giving. Thank you for creating (to the artists) and thank you for posting (to "The Posters"). The first part of my project (My second Sunny Bunny and Boo Boo children's book) is all painted...today, is part 2...photographing each page to make a PDF to send off to a publisher (who have been Radio Silent on my first Sunny Bunny and Boo Boo book, but I still feel hope...that's my story and I'm sticking to it).

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May 8, 2022Liked by Suleika Jaouad, Carmen Radley

“Rather than feeling like life is happening to me, I am actively shaping it.”

There’s an abundance of beauty in the creative projects and joy in this welcoming and supportive community you’ve so lovingly shaped, Suleika. We are all the better for it! With gratitude!❤️ Tammy

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May 8, 2022Liked by Suleika Jaouad, Carmen Radley

Not only are the projects a work of art, they are uplifting, and we all can use an uplifting boost. So time well spent.

My project is finding a daily, meaningful quote that I text to my granddaughter. I try to find ones that are meaningful to her life on any given day. It’s not creative, but it’s engaging and I do it daily.

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What a beautiful practice to share with your granddaugther—and creative too! It's strengthening your connection to her (an act of creation!) and expansive for both of your minds (synapses firing, neural pathways lighting up, certainly acts of creation!). Love love love ❤️

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That "engaging and doing it daily part" are so strengthening, aren't they? Your granddaughter is very lucky indeed to have your love and commitment to her. Everyone needs someone to adore them in this life.

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I don’t agree that what your doing is “not creative”. To my mind, thoughtful collection, (re)combination, curation really, towards meaning is a form of creativity. We ought not to be so sparing in our understanding of it (or on generosity towards ourselves.) What a lovely ritual.

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The 100-day project and the Isolation Journals have been a creative portal for me, a gift from a friend. Since the first day of the 100-day project I have been doing long-form Shodo, a calligraphy practice of Rinzai Zen, each day. From beginning my creative practice by listening to meditative music (most often Meditations by Cory Wong and Jon Batiste or The Astounding Eyes of Rita a recent discovery through one of the Sunday prompts), laying out the newspaper, then the sheets of rice paper, and inking the brush, the ritual of creativity has been as fulfilling as the actual calligraphy.

On Tuesday, I woke and listened to Meditations, then practiced the long-form shodo, a section of the Heart Sutra. This has been such a creative and powerful grounding practice for me, and allowed me to go with the hospital that morning with a calm, centeredness. So grateful for family, community, creativity and the Isolation Journal. Thank you to Suleika Jaouad for being such a bright path.

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Meditations has been a frequent companion of mine recently, and such a good one ❤️

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May 8, 2022Liked by Suleika Jaouad, Carmen Radley

💛💛💛

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May 9, 2022Liked by Carmen Radley

Thank you for sharing these beautiful pieces. They are helping to keep me inspired. I'm almost done with the third of three short stories I am planning to try to publish--but now I have to go back and revise the second one. I'm not happy with the way the third one is looking right now but at the same time, it's twice as long as I thought it would be, and I think there is probably a lot of good raw material in there. After today, I think I will let it rest for a while. One of the great gifts of moving into my forties has been the realization that I am not creating in isolation--seeing what others are doing makes my own work stronger. Also, Suleika, I started reading your book last night. Sending healing thoughts to you and to Jon. This community has also helped me discover his music.

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Yes to revision, to seeking out the kernel, to separating wheat from chaff. Wishing you clarity and energy as you tackle it! ❤️

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I am learning so much here ~ my dreams have changed to reflect my deeper desire to collaborate for good (although not sure quite how, yet). My inner critic is way more sneaky than I ever knew. My determination to move forward creatively is stronger. Indeed this is both an anchor & a buoy. Soo many thanks..we keep going.

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So happy to hear this, dear Maggie ❤️

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May 8, 2022Liked by Carmen Radley

This couldn’t come at a better time. Last night I said to my mom, is it just me or does it seem like we can’t get a break right now and there’s this dark cloud piling on …. In the same breathe I then am so grateful where I was born in this world but it also has seemed lately to have so many setbacks. I’m just so tired; thank you Susu … sending healing thoughts to Jon and relief you are not compromised in your path … ❤️‍🩹❤️

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Sending love and wishes for rest, dear Heather ❤️

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Congratulations and excellent photos.

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Thank you for sharing, these projects are absolutely beautiful and I'm sure they are steeped in meaning. These made my day.

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