Looking on the Sunny Side of Life

I tend to look on the sunny side of life, at least I try to more often than not. Though I know we need the dark to see the light and bad times come hand in hand with the good…at this stage in my life, I’ve come to see the power in dwelling in the positive rather than the negative…expecting the best rather than the worst…seeing the good in people rather than the not-so-good whenever possible…remaining hopeful!

When I found this wonderful Helen Keller quote I knew I wanted to pair it with a photo I took on an early morning beach walk last week. What’s more hopeful than a sunrise? It’s literally the beginning of a new day…the opportunity to begin again…a fresh start.

With that in mind, what’s one small way you might “keep your face to the sunshine” today? What’s one simple way you might begin again? Do you have a project you’ve laid aside you’d like to revisit? Has it been too long since you last played the piano, picked up your needlework or took out the scissors and glue? What if you gave yourself five or ten minutes to get reacquainted with your creative calling?

"I Am Not Alone" painted and donated by Michelle Stroescu for Infinite Possibility – A Night of Music, Art & Women Helping Women"

I wrote and recorded a song called “I Am Not Alone” for my CD, “Dancing In Limbo” that shares the reminder that rain combined with sunshine can create the magic of a rainbow. How might you play with the concept of light and dark in your creativity? My talented friend, Michelle Stroescu, painted and donated the artwork above for my CD release/silent art auction event, "Infinite Possibility – A Night of Music, Art & Women Helping Women" which raised more than $10,000 for Women for Women International. (click here to see all of the amazing artwork which was donated by my generous, talented female friends for the event)

As always, I’d love for you to share anything that was sparked for you by this post and please feel free to share it with anyone you feel could use some permission to make time for their creative passions.

All the best from my Creative Oasis to yours,

Jill

P.S. – If you'd like to have Mid-Week Oasis Moments (bite-sized bonbons of creative inspiration) delivered each week please sign up here: http://www.creativeoasiscoaching.com/newsletter.html

You'll also receive a free copy of "Permission to Be Creative 101" – my short e-book that will help you take the first small steps to make the time and space for creative fulfillment – your Creative Oasis – in  your busy life!

How One Bullet Sparked Creative Chaos and an Amazing Creative & Spiritual Journey

One Bullet 

Story and illustrations by Karen Blessen 

Originally published in The Dallas Morning News on Sunday, August 17, 2003

How I wish that each and every one of you could have joined us Saturday, April 30, 2011 when the Creative Oasis Day Trippers™ visited the art studio of Karen Blessen. An artist, writer, humanitarian, promoter of peace, spiritual seeker and gracious hostess, Blessen welcomed us into her Deep Ellum space to share the story behind and the future hopes and dreams for her "29 Pieces" project.

The story that she shared with us was one of the most beautiful examples of "creative chaos" of which I've ever heard. The idea of creative chaos as we share it in Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coaching® supports the notion that creativity is a non-linear process. While linear thinking goes from A to B to C to D, non-linear thinking, or creative thinking, goes from Q to Venus to Peacock by way of glitter and winds up on your front doorstep at midnight with a bottle of champagne.

Karen Bless & Jill Allison Bryan

In Blessen's case, she was on a fabulously successful creative path making a living as a graphic artist and illustrator, having won many awards, including a Pulitzer Prize. She created the illustrations for the campaign that helped revitalize Times Square in NYC. She felt blessed to have a career using her creative talents for writing and art. Then it happened. One bullet sparked a series of events that would change her life forever. 

After a young man was shot and killed in Blessen's front yard she searched for a way to process the unthinkable that had happened. Over the span of three years she interviewed as many people as she could that were affected by the random shooting. The end result is the story "One Bullet" which ran in The Dallas Morning News on Sunday, August 17, 2003. (See her graphic illustration at the top of this page with a link to the entire story.)

Even after the somewhat cathartic experience of conducting the interviews and writing, Blessen was still filled with anger, sadness and questions that couldn't be answered. A friend suggested she try Passage Meditation. "I felt like a duck who'd be searching my whole life and finally found the pond," says Blessen of her immediate connection to this type of meditation. 

www.29Pieces.org

Memorizing and meditating on sacred texts led to the next steps of exploring them on a deeper level in her journals. The wellspring of words and images that this effort produced became the nucleus for her 29 Pieces project. 

Cleave the heart of a raindrop, a hundred oceans will pour forth.

I encourage you to visit the 29 Pieces website above to learn more about Blessen's incredible vision for this project which includes a permanent public space to house 29 enormous sculptures interwoven with spaces for reflection, fellowship and creative and spiritual practices. I as said, creative chaos at it's most beautiful.

Creative Oasis Day Trippers(tm) taking a closer look at the 29 Pieces models

As usual, there were some lovely connections made and serendipities experienced during our Day Trippers' time together. Trish had just come from a celebration at the Dallas Public Library where she had found a book she thought Blessen was meant to have as she seeks to bring her enormous vision for 29 Pieces to life. 

Serendipitous Sharing

If you'd like to know when and where will be going for future Creative Oasis Day Tripper experiences please subscribe to my Creative Oasis blog via e-mail. Send me your e-mail if you'd like to join the list to receive monthly invites and information on all things Creative Oasis! Until next time, how will you allow yourself to open to the infinite possibility of creative chaos in your life?

All the best from my creative oasis to yours,

Jill

Join Me On The Bridge, Tuesday March 8th

Please join me on the lovely bridge over White Rock Lake (Mockingbird Ln. & Lawther Dr.) Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 1pm to celebrate the 100^th anniversary of International Women’s Day.  We’ll show our solidarity with our sisters around the world living in war-torn countries doing their best to create new lives for themselves and their families. This wonderful Women for Women International event was created by the Country Directors of Women for Women's programs in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo - two countries which have seen some of the most devastating impacts of war in recent years and where atrocities such as rape, torture and violence against women are commonplace. Women from different communities decided to come together on a bridge which borders their two countries, in the heart of the conflict; to stand up for peace and an end to violence against women.

Last year the first ever global bridge campaign in 2010 when over 20,000 women across four continents took part in 108 different bridge events. Here in East Dallas a small but passionate group of us gathered on the bridge over White Rock Lake, not letting the rain dampen our enthusiasm.

We heard moving words from the amazing Gorethy Nabushosi, founder of Congo Restoration.

We waved signs for peace that we made with our children. We shared umbrellas, tears, hugs and hope.  Hope that even this small group of men, women and children coming together on a tiny bridge in Texas could send a message of love and light to people half a world away. Hope that by taking a bit of time out of our almost-always-too-busy schedules to do something as simple, yet powerful as gathering together on a bridge; we truly facilitate change for the better in our world.

My hope is that this year we can gather at least 100 people on the bridge, and by giving at least one dollar each, contribute to the 100 for 100 fundraising effort to support Women for Women International.

Visit Women for Women to learn more.

I’ve been sponsoring women through this transformational program for three years now and have learned from the notes and letters I’ve received from my sisters in the Congo and Rwanda how profound an impact the Women for Women programs have on their lives. For just $27 a month you too can sponsor a woman who will then be able to participate in a year long training program to learn skills to earn money for her family and have access to other important educational and health programs.

                                                                                            

Last year, with the generous support of many talented friends and family, I was blessed to create an event, “Infinite Possibility – A Night of Music, Art & Women Helping Women” that raised more than $10,000 for Women for Women International. 

(Please visit the website here if you’d like to see the beautiful artwork created for the silent art auction of this event and meet the artists and sponsors.)

Zainab Salbi, founder of Women for Women International, was here in Dallas this past week to receive the Posey Leadership Award. Although I was unable to see her speak in person, I did listen to this wonderful interview she gave to my friend Krys Boyd, host of THINK on KERA 90.1 radio. (Krys graciously offered to host the Infinite Possibility event last year.) Listen to her interview by visiting this link to THINK and you’ll understand why Salbi is a force of good in the world worthy of our time and support. As she so eloquently explains, when you give women the means to create change for the better, everyone in the community benefits.

Please join me and other men, women and children as we support Women for Women International Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 1pm over White Rock Lake. Bring signs of peace, friends and family and most importantly, bring yourself and your heartfelt wish for peace to embrace us all.

Wishing an oasis of peace, love and light for us all,

Jill


p.s. Please read my lovely friend, Ashley Brown's, blog post at Soul Flung Open on her experiences with Women for Women International.  Ashley was one of the 13 amazing female artists who contributed her time and talent the Infinite Possibility fundraiser last year. This is the fabulous piece she contributed below.

Mary's Song by Ashley Brown

Music, Art & Love Raised Over $10,000 For Women for Women International!

“Infinite Possibility – A Night of Music, Art & Women Helping Women” was a tremendous success and, I believe all who attended would agree, a whole lot of fun. What began as a creative daydream about how to celebrate the release of my solo CD, “Dancing in Limbo” became a dreamy reality on the evening of March 27.

An amazing group of people gave freely of their time,

talent and resources to create an event of a lifetime and in the process raised $10,775 to benefit Women for Women International.

I introduced you to most of the artists here on my blog. You can still view all of these short films (most are 3 or 4 minutes) by visiting my youtube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/creativeoasiscoach. They’re a wonderful source of inspiration for anyone who longs to make the time and space in the life to pursue his or her creative passion.These gifted, giving women shared their talents generously by creating and donating artwork that raised more than $6,000 on the night of our celebration through silent auction. Additional profits were raised by our generous sponsors, individuals and businesses who donated to

our fabulous raffle prize basket, and the wonderful

guests who purchased tickets, CDs and special “Dancing In Limbo art & lyrics” books for a grand total of $10,775 profit to benefit Women for Women International.

The ultimate success of this event was also due in large part to the big-hearted offers of time and support from an amazing group of women who I am so proud to call my friends. They rallied to find sponsors, sell tickets, haul supplies, set-up, break down and offered me a non-stop flow of encouragement and support that lifted me up and carried me along even on the days I didn’t think I could do it. I am so grateful to them all.

I’ve learned so much more from this experience than I can relate in this short space – but I imagine I’ll be sharing more in the coming days and weeks as I process it all.

For now, I do know this – we are all capable of doing more than we think we can – sometimes you just have to follow your heart and see where it leads – and, finally, the power of love, music and art can come together in amazing ways to create awareness and raise funds to help women around the globe positively transform their lives and the lives of their families while lifting up everyone who participated in the process.

All the best from my creative oasis to yours, Jill!

Singer/Songwriter/Creativity Coach/Head Chica-in-Charge of Creative Oasis Coaching

Following My Heart into Infinite Possibility

What is Infinite Possibility? It's a theory that in each and every moment there exist an infinite number of possible choices and outcomes in life. It's also a song on my upcoming solo CD, "Dancing in Limbo." And, it's the name of the event I'm hosting here in Dallas on Saturday, March the 27th to celebrate the release of said CD in collaboration with 13 talented female artists who have each created and donated an original piece of artwork inspired by the songs on my CD. These beautiful pieces will be sold in a silent auction and I will perform the songs live at the celebration thus creating the event "Infinite Possibility – A Night of Music, Art & Women Helping Women" with all profits benefiting Women for Women International.

In the short video below, I share my journey into Infinite Possibility and invite you to join me.

In the beginning, I was searching for a creative way to celebrate the release of my CD - something outside the box and preferably not inside a smoky bar. I had no experience creating an event of this magnitude, fundraiser or otherwise. I was simply so inspired by the idea of combining music and art and finally having the opportunity to collaborate with some of my many talented artist friends and raising awareness and money for Women for Women International while I was at it - that I employed the "ready-fire-aim" strategy. I more or less just followed my heart and went for it. Luckily, I've had help and support from many, many wonderful people along the way including generous sponsors, raffle prize donators (now worth more than $1,000!) and, of course, the 13 gifted artists.

My good friend, Kim Hammond, was the ideal artist to pair with my song "Infinite Possibility." She and I share a long history of serendipitous moments, as well as psychic connections and experiences. I think she does an excellent job of describing her take on Infinite Possibility in her short video below.

If you're interested in attending and/or supporting "Infinite Possibility – A Night of Music, Art & Women Helping Women" please visit the website link above. It's been truly gratifying to hear from people in other countries and states who are sending in donations and buying tickets to lend their support though they won't be able to join us for the actual event. Their reaching out has proven to me that the ripple effect is real and the possibilities are indeed infinite for us to do good in the world. What a joy!

An Artist Who Won’t Change Her Spots For Anyone

Tori Webb Pendergrass says that it’s not really a choice, she simply must remain true to her own artistic style. Several years ago, when her mother suggested that Tori try painting pieces that would appeal to a wider audience, rather than attempt to change her personal style, Tori was inspired to create this piece.

“The leopard represents me, comfortable in my own skin, while the different 'outfits' hanging in the painting represent other personas that people might like me to be.” In remaining true to her calling, Tori has built a thriving career around her art.

Tori draws on her personal narratives to create vibrant yet primal pictorial stories infused with magical realism. She has exhibited her works in galleries, colleges and rock ‘n roll clubs around the world.

For Infinite Possibility – A Night of Music, Art & Women Helping Women (the celebration for the release of my solo CD, "Dancing in Limbo" & silent art auction benefiting Women for Women International), Tori painted a piece inspired by my song “RSVP,” which she discusses in the video below.

(click here to connect directly to our YouTube channel)

I find myself inspired not only by Tori’s compelling art, but by her ability to fully inhabit her life as an artist as well. In addition to creating and showing her own fine art, Tori owns and operates Pigment School of the Arts, an art school where she teaches and nurtures creative minds of all ages.

Visit her school at www.pigmentarts.com and view her personal portfolio at www.urbanimps.com.

An Inspiring Reminder to Be True to Your Creative Self!

Margaret Wolf admits there was a time when creativity took a back seat to the rest of her life, but not anymore. “I no longer steal time for my art,” says Margaret. “I made a promise to myself that the rest of my life would have to work around my creative pursuits.” A photographer/artist/writer, who recently held her one-woman show, “Three Cubed” at the Janette Kennedy Gallery in Dallas, Texas, Margaret says it’s a joy and a privilege to live a life immersed in her creative process.

As one of the 13 talented artists who agreed to donate an original piece of art to Infinite Possibility, A Night of Music, Art & Women Helping Women, (a celebration for the release of my solo CD, “Dancing in Limbo,” and silent art auction benefiting Women for Women International) I chose my song “Parallel Lives” for Margaret. This selection proved to be fairly serendipitous.

As she shares in her inspiring video below, although Margaret has always realized the value of living a creative life, she recently made the conscious decision to honor her true creative spirit at all times – to live her creative truth every day. She has successfully created a very satisfying MidLife Oasis™ for herself, and I for one am absolutely inspired by her!

Click here to watch connect directly to video if you're unable to view above. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSqi3YQJ56I)

No stranger to combing art and philanthropy, Margaret recently curated an charitable exhibit of 40 Dallas-based photographers (Living in Gratitude) and raised thousands of dollars for the North Texas Food Bank. “I feel lucky to be able to use my creative gifts to help others,” says Margaret.

And I feel lucky to call Margaret Wolf my friend. To see more of Margaret’s beautiful images visit her at www.margaretwolf.com.

“Limbo” Offers A Solid Place For This Artist To Begin

While one might think of limbo as an indeterminate state of oblivion, “Dancing in Limbo” actually provided artist Martica Griffin with a tangible jumping off point for her painting of the same name. “I always like having a basis to begin a new piece,” says Martica. “It makes things so much easier.” This time the basis to begin happened to be the title song of my soon-to-be-released solo CD, “Dancing in Limbo.”

Martica created and donated her painting “Dancing in Limbo” for my upcoming CD release/silent art auction fundraiser. “Infinite Possibility – A Night of Music, Art & Women Helping Women” takes place in Dallas, Texas, Saturday, March 27, 2010 and will benefit Women for Women International. Please check out the all-new event website (www.infinitepossibilityevents.com) to learn more about the cause, meet the participating artists, see their amazing artwork, hear some of my music and learn how you too can be a part of Infinite Possibility.

The video below shows Martica in action as she shares a bit about her personal creative philosophy. (In the weeks leading up to Infinite Possibility I will introduce all 13 artists and share their videos here and on the event website.)

(To view full screen through YouTube click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2uGHrf5lGU)

Although “Dancing in Limbo” was the first time Martica painted a piece inspired solely by a specific song, she often uses themes as a starting point for her artwork. At present, she’s working on a new series titled “Charms of the 50 States” in which she draws inspiration from charm bracelets and offers her non-representational take on well known state symbols and icons.

Martica is now concentrating on “Southern Charms,” 10 paintings that will cover the South and still leave 40 states worth of inspiration to spare. She’s excited to announce that she will be the featured artist at Tinney Contemporary this April where “Southern Charms” debuts Saturday, April 3rd.

Martica and I became friends years ago when my first copywriting job out of college took me to an advertising agency in Nashville where she was an art director. She now owns and operates a long-standing Nashville advertising agency, ASAP (Alternative Strategic Advertising & Promotions.) As a friend, and as a creativity coach, it’s been a joy for me to watch Martica’s journey back to her love of painting over the last ten years or so. After watching her short film, and seeing her fabulous artwork, I think you’ll agree that this is a woman who has definitely created her own Mid-Life Oasis™.

All the best from my creative oasis to yours,

Jill Allison Bryan

Singer/Songwriter/Creativity Coach/Believer in Infinite Possibilities

2010 – The Year of Infinite Possibility for Me and You!

Allow me to begin this entry by extending the same forgiveness and compassion to myself that I would to any of my coaching clients, friends or family. Rather than beating myself up for not posting anything since mid-December, I’ll offer my sincere apology for the time lapse, and quickly move ahead to bigger, better and brighter news.

Since last we met I experienced a major Mid-Life Oasis moment when I successfully completed my first half-marathon at Disneyworld on Jan.9^th, 2010. The weather turned unseasonably cold just as we arrived in Orlando. The morning of the race, (and when I say morning, I mean middle of the night – we boarded the bus at 3:30am!!!!) I waited along with several thousand other shivering crazy people for my 6:20am start time. When it began to sleet, I began to laugh, perhaps a little hysterically. This was definitely not what I had envisioned when I agreed to do this a year ago - running through the Magic Kingdom on a sunny, 50-degree day with Tinkerbelle scattering fairy dust on me to help me fly painlessly over the 13.1 mile course.

No matter, once I did finally cross the finish line, I may not have been able to feel my toes or nose, but the warm feeling of personal accomplishment was well worth it. I had successfully pushed myself way out of my comfort zone (way, way out) and lived to tell the tale. I felt strong. I felt invincible. And, yes, I could hear Helen Reddy somewhere in the distance singing “I Am Woman – Hear Me Roar!”

The timing couldn’t have been better, because as soon as I arrived back home in Dallas, I plunged headlong into another first-ever experience, producing “Infinite Possibility – A Night of Music, Art & Women Helping Women”, my CD release and fundraising event benefiting Women for Women International. (Saturday, March 27, 2010)

With each passing day I’m learning more and more about what it takes to put together an event like this. If I had realized just how difficult, time-consuming and sometimes overwhelming this process could be back in August when I first had the idea, I might not have gone through with it. But, here’s the thing – if I had known it would be freezing rain on the day of my first half-marathon, I might not have done that either. And then I would have missed out on a pretty amazing life experience. So, I’m going to keep reminding myself, and you, that the possibilities really are infinite for us all. We can do whatever we put our minds and hearts to! (believe me – never in a million years would I have thought I would run a half-marathon – “wintery mix” or no – and yet, at 45, I did it and it was an amazing experience!)

Where is your heart leading you? What do you want to accomplish this year? Whatever it may be – writing a book, starting a business, planning a trip – I’m here to tell you it’s possible. Here’s to our hopes and dreams and the Infinite Possibility of them all in 2010.

All the best from my creative oasis to yours,

Jill

Meet My Sisters in the Congo & Sudan

For a little more than a year now I’ve been a sponsor through Women for Women International. The first year I sponsored a woman living in the Democratic Republic of Congo named Elise Nzigire M’Cirindye.

Although I never received a photo of Elise she did send two wonderful hand-written letters that were translated by Women for Women. From those two letters I learned that Elise was married with four children ages 20 months to 12 years old. They lived in a mud dwelling with a thatched roof. The majority of her day was spent working in the fields, fetching water, looking for food, cooking, cleaning and, of course, taking care of her family. And, she was a survivor of war. She began her letter, “I am happy to greet you my loving sister!”

I don’t know if I can do justice to the feelings I experienced when I received those letters…holding a piece of paper in my hand that had traveled half way around the world, written in a language that I could not decipher, and yet, I felt so connected to the woman who wrote those words. It was goose-bump, spine-tingly, teary-eyed amazing stuff. And, I felt hopeful. The letters represented possibility…possibility that I might actually make a positive difference in Elise’s life...possibility that she could truly create a better life for herself and her family through the Women for Women training program…possibility that this was only the beginning. There were tens of thousands of women to help in war-torn regions all around the world…yet, I felt hopeful knowing that Women for Women was doing more and more work to reach out to these women and help them learn to help themselves. (Flash forward a year to the first small steps of my creating The Infinite Possibility of Women Helping Women - my upcoming CD release/fundraiser.)

During the year long program, Women for Women International supports women in war-torn regions with financial and emotional aid, job-skills training, rights education and small business assistance so they can rebuild their lives. When Elise graduated from the program, I received a survey she completed which showed the areas that had improved in her life because of her training: her health, family’s health, ability to get medical care, sense of self-confidence, support network, relationship with her husband, relationship with her family, economic situation, awareness of her rights, ability to make decisions, and ability to send her children to school.

Wow! All of that was accomplished with her hard work and my relatively small commitment of $27 a month. That’s when I knew I had to get the word out about the great work begin done by Women for Women across the globe, and the inspiration for turning my CD release into a fundraiser took shape.

I’m now sponsoring Deborah Ajak Nhom-gol from the Sudan. She is married with three children and three other dependent adults living with her. They have no electricity, use torches to see at night and must walk long distances to bring their water from a well. She has had no formal education. She has lost family members due to the war. And now, she is my sister.

Our lives could not be more different, and yet, I know we share much in common – our basic human needs and desires and feelings. We love our families. We breathe and laugh and cry. We’re women. And it’s my sincere hope that our involvement with Women for Women International will elevate our lives in ways neither of us can even imagine. I truly believe in the infinite possibility of it all and I hope that you will join me and many other hopeful women on this journey!

Visit the Women for Women International website to learn how you can sponsor a woman today and stay tuned for more details about the creativity, art, music and women that are coming together to raise awareness and funds for this life-changing organization.

Ready, Fire, Aim! CD Release Fundraiser – Let’s Do This Thing!

“Only those who risk going too far know how far they can go.” – T.S. Eliot, poet, playwright.

Okay, so I’ve never held a combination CD release-silent auction-fund raiser before. In the wise words of my creative mentor, Jill Badonsky, “So what? I’ll do it anyway!”

In Badonsky’s inspiring book, The Nine Modern Day Muses (and a Bodyguard), Audacity – the Muse of Courage and Uninhibited Uniqueness, might just be my favorite. She’s the muse who acts “as if” she can be who she wants to be and do what she wants to do and urges us to do the same. Several years ago, Audacity helped me get back to writing songs and performing. Then she encouraged me to become a certified creativity coach and start my own business – Creative Oasis Coaching. Throughout the past year, Audacity has helped me to record my first solo CD. (People don’t buy CDs anymore you say? So what – I’ll do it anyway!)

Today she’s helping me as I boldly go where I’ve personally never gone before – to create a fund raising event that combines my passions for creativity, connections, music, philanthropy, performance, and supporting others in their creative and life journeys. Definitely a major moment in my Mid-Life Oasis™!

So what? I’ll do it anyway on Saturday, March 27, 2010 to be precise! (with the help of many wonderful friends!) Thanks to Donna Harris of the always in the know inTown Mix, I’ve found the ideal venue - the dreamy 7 Senses in the Dallas design district. Imagine Moulin Rouge meets Alice in Wonderland meets the inside of Jeannie’s bottle on "I Dream of Jeannie” (where I wanted to live as a little girl!) and you begin to get a sense of the ambiance. (look for an interview with the creative genius behind 7 Senses – Reg Land, in an upcoming blog!)

In my last entry I shared the details of my plan for The Infinite Possibility of Women Helping Women event. Since that entry, I’ve received the first piece of artwork and let me tell you it’s amazing. I’m beginning to think that the most difficult part of this entire process for me is going to be relinquishing the artwork to the silent auction with the proceeds going to benefit Women for Women International. (stay tuned for information about Women for Women and interviews, photos and videos of the artists and their work in the coming months)

I’m looking forward to the adventure that awaits me, and to introducing you to some fabulous artists and amazing humans along the way! So, as we sometimes say in creativity coaching – Ready! Fire! Aim! – which is another way of saying “Let’s get this party started!” – we’ll figure out the details as we go!

p.s. - I was recently interviewed by Molly Childers for The Creativity Portal. Here's a link to the interview. A big thanks to Molly & The Creativity-Portal!

The Infinite Possibility of Women Helping Women

This is a page from my Creative Oasis Journal. I use this type of journal with my coaching clients and for myself as a place to combine inspirational words and images in collage form. The above is my most recent entry and one I'm very excited about because it holds clues to a big event coming up in my life - the release of my CD.

I've decided that rather than have a typical CD release party at a club, I'm going to create a charitable event which will combine art, music and women in collaboration to raise money for one of my favorite charitable organizations - Women for Women International. The pieces are slowly coming together, and what began as a creative dream is coming true day by day.

The woman in the photo is Zainab Salbi, founder of Women for Women Internation. "Infinite Possibility" is the name of one of the songs on my CD. The quote energizes me each time I read it and as this CD release event becomes a reality I do feel that my life is perfectly on course!

Stay tuned. I'll be sharing more details as the project takes shape!