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Turning challenges into opportunities: Arina Isaacson and Kimberly Riggins share their stories

Posted on 2011-12-26 at 8:00 am.

Today’s fascinating shared stories come from former clown and master storyteller Arina Isaacson and body image expert Kimberly Riggins.

Arina Isaacson

I am 10 years old. I am sitting in the beautiful old opera house in the classic western mountain mining town of Central City Colorado watching my, first ever, live theatre production. The Miracle Worker with Patty Duke and Ann Bancroft is the inspiring story of Helen Keller, born deaf and blind and how she first learned to express herself through non-verbal communication. My child heart is beating wildly and the hairs on my arm are standing in thunderous applause. Little did I know that the magic of this moment would define my life’s work, insisting that I follow my heart and do what I love.

Mimi-the-Clown

ACT I

In 1970 I received my Master’s degree in Communication and became a teacher of deaf children. At this time my best friend suggested that I take a mime class to enhance my teaching and my love of gestural language. I called my mother and I said, “Guess what? I’m going to become a clown.” There was dead silence on the other end of the phone. “You’re going to become a what? A clown? You just got a Master’s degree –Wherever did you get that idea?”

All I can tell you is that something very strong grabbed hold of my heart when I started doing mime, clown and improvisation work. I came alive and had to follow this tug wherever it was going to take me.

Buba-the-Magician

ACT II

I quit my job, sold all my belongings, packed my Chevy and moved to San Francisco to follow my heart’s calling and pursue creativity. For the next 20 years I immersed myself in theatrical clown work, sacred puppetry and visual art. I found ways to combine my creative work with my love of teaching and began to experience the power of visualizing my dreams and healing my deepest wounds. The sacred art pieces that I created held the energy of my dreams. My inner landscape helped form sacred artifacts—mythic performing dolls; fetishes, charms, amulets, and shadow boxes. Each piece represented a different intention or prayer.

The Devouring Tree Mother

You see, by the time I turned 35 years old, I had lost my parents and grandparents to cancer; endured a hysterectomy, dashing my hopes of ever becoming pregnant and, survived a brutal rape by a stranger breaking into my home. Early on, I realized that I could view these challenging moments as opportunities to become empowered rather than victimized. And so, adversity has been one of my greatest teachers. It has provided me with the chance to get to know myself. The constant theme in my life has been the path of the artist. By consciously experiencing, working with, and expressing my inner and outer obstacles, I have been able to find my authentic voice, to unleash my passion and use it to cultivate wholeness and creativity. Adversity has been my inspiration for following my heart and doing what I most love to do. My commitment to pursue the creative path guided me toward building confidence and authenticity.

I used my own suffering to heal and make other people laugh at the same time. This unique approach to creating personal clown characters enabled me to explore the place of vulnerability where the funniest and most touching clown persona reside. I developed a process of creating clown characters based on externalizing my inner world. Clowning gave me ways to express hopes, fears, heal my grief and hidden craziness by forming a clown character.

I created five characters over a period of 20 years, based on my natural inclinations of movement, voice, gestured habits, inner feelings, and stories. Each season of my life, a new character would emerge.

Baby Fatty

Boo-lu was my first character. She was a feisty single mother who traveled with five white baby dolls with red noses, all named Baby Kaka. Each vignette told a story about the love/hate relationship between the mother and her babies. Then came Mimi the Clown. Me! Me! She was based on my tendency to be a narcissist. Mimi made a lot of mistakes as a way to deal with my perfectionism. She would say, “Oh, you’re right, you’re right,” you’re right”, you’re right!” “How do you know? How do you know” How do you know?” Baby Fatty helped me come to terms with my body image and food issues.

In my early 50’s, Ms. Lotta Bucks appeared to help me face my fears of growing older. She was an expert in cultivating “inner beauty” and counseled women about retirement. She taught them how to invest their “socks in the sock market and wash them grow!” And, finally, out popped Mrs. Milton, whose favorite advice is, “Just remember, dearie, it only matters what other people think!”

The treasured Clown School of San Francisco, which I founded, became home to people from all walks of life who wanted to explore and tell their unique life stories by creating personal clown characters. Computer programmers from Silicon Valley, priests and nuns from the theological seminaries, CEOs, business professionals, emergency room doctors, and criminal lawyers all converged at the Clown School to tell their stories, find their voice and experience their joie de vivre.

Moona-the-Wise-Owl-Woman

ACT III

Next, I came to understand that self-awareness and telling one’s compelling life stories, are the key to becoming an authentic and powerful person. I wanted to take the essence of the clown – the aliveness, the vitality of that unique voice further out into the marketplace. Joining with colleagues, in a theater-based communication training called ‘Active Communicating’ (www.corporatescenes.com) we focused on finding and expressing one’s authentic presence, voice and compelling leadership journey stories. For the past 20 years I have been traveling the world helping leaders learn the skill set to inspire, motivate, influence and connect with any audience.

The River of life

ACT IV

Over time I came to painting, spirit journals, and vision storyboards. The River of Life has become a central exercise in my story-telling curriculum. By creating a River of Life, one is able to clearly track the richness of his/her life experience and draw from those experiences to tell stories of courage, triumph, risk, struggle, values, adventure, mistakes made and lessons learned. My life stories provide the context for my experiences and through them, I am able to find the inspiration to make an impact on the world.

The ability to create and tell certain kinds of stories is not only a useful tool, but an essential prerequisite to finding my original voice. These stories have provided visual maps and images for conveying who I am, the authentic moments of where I came from and who has mentored and inspired me along the way.

My 40-year creative journey has been about the healing aspects of art, ritual and theater. The thread that has traveled through each act is creativity and communication. It is and has been my greatest joy to first find my authentic voice and then to inspire others to open to their full self expression. This process has helped wake me up to life! My art work is the deepest manifestation of my gratitude for the gift of living a meaningful life and doing what I love every step of the way. Thank you for allowing me to share my journey with you.

The Beloved

To find out more about Arina visit her website or her art site.

Kimberly Riggins

I truly believe we all have a choice how we show up in the world. How we wake up in the morning, how we go about our day, who we interact with, how we handle our emotions and where we put our energy. Regardless of our circumstances, we all have the ability to choose.

Doing what you love is also a choice. A conscious choice to do something that brings you joy, inspiration and fulfilment, regardless of what other people may think.

I most certainly do what I love.

But it wasn’t always that way. I used to think I needed to conform to societal standards of what is proper, how to speak, how to look, what to do with my life.

Standing at a crossroads in my own life, staring down the path of least resistance or the path of an unknown adventure, I chose the latter.

I must say, choosing adventure which includes being authentically myself has been the best decision I have ever made.

Today, I get to empower and inspire other women to stop conforming. To stand up for themselves. To live an authentic, beautiful, passionate life. I show them how they can fall head over heels in love with their own bodies, regardless of its shape or size. I teach them how to wrangle their negative thoughts that are just keeping them stuck and most importantly, I unveil a world that includes pleasure and lots of it!

I couldn’t ask for a better way to spend my time.

Believe me, my journey to get to this place was a bumpy one. I had to endure a lot of pain to get myself to this place. A rape, an eating disorder, depression, a crumbling relationship and a financial failure… all situations and circumstances that have the potential to break a person.

Rather than play the victim and let these issues consume me, I tried to find the lesson I was supposed to learn with each event. It wasn’t easy. There were a number of times I wanted to throw in the towel. Just give up!

But something deep inside me kept me going. It took years for me to realize that it was my innate strength that kept me afloat. That strength lives in all of us. Sometimes, it helps to have someone else help us pull it out.

Moving forward, my life is full of exciting things. My first book, “Love Your Naked Ass” will soon be published, I have an amazing new program coming out, I am rebuilding my relationship, and I am creating a new financial plan.

Looking back, if I had to do everything all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing. Because I love who I am today and without those life experiences, I wouldn’t be me!

[Images courtesy of Kimberly Riggins.]

Kimberly is Founder and Creator of The Art of Eating Chocolate Naked is a Body Image Expert, Self-Talk Warrior and Transformational Catalyst who inspires and empowers women to love and accept themselves just as they are. Find out more about her on her website.

Work with meaning: Danielle Diamond and Beth Cougler Blom share their stories

Posted on 2011-12-19 at 8:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Today’s shared stories come from Danielle Diamond and Beth Cougler Blom.

Danielle Diamond

I strive to inspire people to live healthier lives both physically and mentally through Yoga, meditation, and a healthy diet, because I have experienced firsthand the profound positive change it can bring to not only your body, but the amount of happiness you feel on a daily basis- and isn’t that what we all ultimately want- to be happy?

For me, doing what you love can be broken down to the simple act of waking up everyday and feeling inspired by the work that you do. To be excited about the opportunities in front of you; to enjoy the company of the people you engage with throughout the day, and to picture yourself in some way continuing this work for many years to come and still smiling; that’s what doing what you love means to me.

I realized that I needed to change my career when I stopping skipping to work everyday while at MTV. All I ever wanted since the first time I watched them play “Video Killed A Radiostar,” was to work there- but after many years of producing concert shows that I loved, I was being asked to produce reality TV. I felt really crappy about creating this genre of television as well as watching it, and I didn’t want to be a part of the machine that was churning it out. I had begun a love affair with yoga, so I decided I would again turn to something I loved; something that could add to people’s lives in a positive way, instead of making them feel good because of other people’s misfortunes.

I happened to leave MTV when I was 8 months pregnant with my first son, but I continued taking weekly yoga classes at a studio I found nearby. By the time my second son was 9 months old, the studio I frequented was beginning a 9-month training program. The teacher I studied under recommended I look into the program, so I decided to sign up. I wound up not only deepening my practice, but my also my relationships with my family, my friends, and ultimately myself. As soon as I graduated I was offered teaching positions at two local studios; then after teaching for 8 years I developed my new Xen Strength Yoga program, which combines a challenging vinyasa flow sequence with weights.

I am extremely grateful that I’ve been lucky so far in building my yoga career. I am fortunate to work at a few great studios, with owners who really care about teaching students how to take their yoga off the mat as well as just a great way to stretch. I think the real work is just beginning as I try to build my brand and reach a broader audience. However, I can already see that ramping up my work schedule has made me prioritize the importance of spending quality time with my children – I never want to let that be sacrificed for my career.

I really try to look forward and not dwell on what I could have done better in the past, because I could make a mile-long list. However, I do wish I had known about web marketing and blogging eight years ago when I started teaching and people were just beginning to blog. Now the marketplace is flooded, but I really hope to create a niche with my Xen Strength brand. I also wish I knew the importance of learning how to run the “business” side of a business instead of just being concerned with the creative and “fun” aspects of it. I could have saved myself a ton of time and money- but I have learned from my mistakes and hope to make fewer of them in the future.

My dream now is to turn Xen Strength into the next big fitness brand, similar to Zumba. Not only do I have my yoga with weights program and DVD, but I am also creating a teacher training program and writing a book with Dr. Barry Sears of The Zone Diet fame. I would also love to speak about my wellness journey to young women who may be going down the same dark road I once was on, and prepare them with tools on how to navigate self-doubt and body image issues, and increase their self-confidence.

[All images courtesy of Danielle Diamond, creator of Xen Strength Yoga.]

To find out more about Danielle visit her website.

Beth Cougler Blom

I know I’m doing what I love when I really enjoy going to work and the hours fly by when I’m there. It’s always been very important to me to do work that aligns with my values and I believe wholeheartedly in what I do. It’s probably why I ended up working at a volunteer centre here in Victoria, BC, Canada – it’s very easy for me to go around the community and speak about how important it is to volunteer. I’m still passionate about it after being there for five years – a record for me in terms of job longevity!

People always tell me that they can tell I’m passionate about what I do just by the look on my face when I talk about it. That is the greatest compliment to me, and a sure sign that I am on the right track with my career.

I never want to have the kind of job again that I dread going to every Sunday night, thinking about the next morning. I really think we all deserve a lot more than that.

I don’t know if there will ever be “one thing” that I want to do, as I have many things that I love doing. And I need a lot of variety in what I do or I get bored. Right now I love organizing events, connecting with people, developing and facilitating workshops, speaking in the community, and promoting issues and causes that I believe in. I feel pretty lucky to be doing all this, yet I know my future probably holds other types of work in it as well. I just don’t know what they all will be yet!

For me, though, teaching/training has always been an interest and then a love. I wanted to be a high school teacher like my parents when I started university but eventually I found my way to adult education instead. I think the principles of adult education actually fit better with how I think education should be “done”, that is, recognizing that everyone in the classroom has some knowledge to contribute, not just the teacher. I find that concept very freeing as a facilitator: that I don’t have to have all the answers. In fact, it’s more interesting and rich when I don’t because it allows others in the room to share their experience. I always learn something myself when I facilitate workshops – I love that!

Last year I did a self-imposed retreat and I read back years’ worth of journals. I discovered that I had written – eight years before – 23 points of what I needed in my future work. I was incredibly surprised to realize that I had 22 of them in my current job! That really struck me about the power of positive intention … I put it out there to the universe what I wanted, and eventually I got it.

I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit and so in the past few months I’ve started a business on the side of my day job. It is doing workshop facilitation and motivational speaking around the themes of “do what you love”, “love where you work” and “work effectively.” I have a number of passion areas of that I am exploring and facilitating workshops around underneath those themes. It’s exciting to put myself out there under my own name, yet also a bit scary. I guess my big dream is that I become fabulously successful and people will pay big bucks to contract me as a facilitator! And of course, that I am in heaven doing it. I’d love someone to call and say, “I was wondering if we could fly you to facilitate a workshop in Santa Fe, New Mexico…” I’d be there in a second!

If I could ask one thing of the universe I would ask for it to always give me the confidence and courage I need to keep putting myself out there and taking risks to do what I love. It takes a lot of guts to follow your dreams, and I find that a lot of fears bubble to the surface that I have to keep setting aside. I am very lucky to receive support from my friends and family to follow my dreams, but it wouldn’t hurt to have a little cosmic assistance as well!

I think I spent a lot of my twenties thinking that I had to be older than I was to do what I really wanted to do. I didn’t think people would take me seriously as a facilitator or trainer because I wasn’t old enough. Silly me…what a waste of time! In my mid-30s I had a baby and I think I gained more confidence at the same time. I finally woke up and realized that I wasn’t the youngest one in the office anymore, that I am really good at what I do, and that I can do so much more! I could spend time now getting after myself for taking so long to gain the confidence I needed to grow in new directions, but I am instead spending more time reveling in being the age I am now. And like the butterfly in the photo here, drinking life’s nectar and enjoying spreading my wings.

[Images courtesy of Beth Cougler Blom.]

Find out more about Beth on her blog or connect on Twitter (@BethCouglerBlom) or Facebook.

Weekend book club: Japanese style

Posted on 2011-12-17 at 8:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

As a complete book addict and hoarder, I thought it was about time I shared some of my favourites with you! In each ‘Weekend Book Club’ I post about a set of lovely books, with a different theme each week. This week’s theme is JAPANESE STYLE, in celebration of having just booked my flight to Japan for March next year. Japan offers a whole world of inspiration and I find Japanese people have such an incredible sense of beauty, reflected in the style of their homes, shops and traditional clothing.

***

In Praise of Shadows by Junichiro Tanizaki

The ultimate explanation of the essence of Japanese style.

Japan Style by Phaidon Publishing

The definitive guide to Japanese style through the ages covering everything from fashion to furniture.

My Made by Bunka Shuppankyoku Publishing

Gorgeous handcrafted interior decoration.

Japan Design to the new generation

Showcasing the best of moden Japanese design

Japanese Chic

Filled with beautiful images of simple but chic home furnishing and decoration ideas.

Elements of Japanese Design by John Dower

A directory of motifs most frequently used in Japanese design.

Basic Life 2 by Watashi no Heya

Lovely book showcasing cosy furnishings and items for the home from popular store Watashi no Heya (which translates as ‘my room’)

Do you have any recommendations?

Running businesses inspired by nurture and nature: Lisa Grace Byrne and Marie Pickering share their stories

Posted on 2011-12-12 at 9:24 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Today’s shared stories come from Marie Pickering and Lisa Grace Byrne.

Lisa Grace Byrne

The story of the birth of my business is really the story of when “That Which You Must Do” became radically clear and in focus. It also happened to coincide with my own birthing as a mother. It’s a fascinating phenomenon that many women share upon becoming a mother. Whether it happens early on after the birth of your first child or in a later season of your life… for some of us, motherhood is the crucible that refines a powerful urge to contribute in a specific way. It is as if your experience in mothering your actual child brings up your maternal nature toward yourself, toward others and toward the world. But first it isn’t always pretty.

I have three young children, all close in age from five years old to almost two years old. I can remember when my second child was born, my oldest just a young toddler. I was so unprepared for the physical, emotional and mental intensity of motherhood, that I had literally run myself ragged. Eating poorly, sleeping poorly, out of check stress, post partum depression. And then a cold hit that knocked me out cold. Double ear infections in each ear and deep infection in my lungs, I literally couldn’t move an inch without triggering vertigo and intense vomiting. It was a pretty bleak place. I was encouraged by many people to go and see a therapist (which would have been a very good and wonderful thing to do – I’m not against therapy!), but that is when a small flicker of who I was caught my inner eye and I knew. I knew how I was to reconnect to myself again and what I needed. At that point, WellGrounded Life began.

Something within whispered that in order for my mind and body to heal, I needed to give it the raw materials – the literal nutrition it needed in order to become whole and healthy. Some inner voice gently asked me to extend loving kindness toward myself and consider walking the path of whole nourishment, paying attention to a soul’s need for beauty, silence, friendship, meaningful work, laughter, fresh air, movement, joy, ambition.

Part of my meaningful work was to lift others up as I cared and tended to my own health. It was a way to self-care without wallowing. To firmly offer my gifts to the world without succumbing to self neglect (which happens all too often when our lives become others-focused and outward-looking- very easy for a mother to fall into).

WellGrounded Life just grew and grew out of my heart’s own journey of healing and stepping into a vibrant life as a woman and mother in the world. What started as a blog and private coaching grew into speaking and live workshops and grew still into online multimedia courses, an international community within my membership site and a forthcoming book. It has been a way for me to knit together an integrated and congruent life from what once felt deeply fractured and scattered.

One of the gifts of doing what you love in the world is that it can grow with you, you can keep moving your great work along your own growth edge. For me that is exploring how we as modern women of this generation are navigating the path of motherhood while honouring our ambitions, passions and great purpose.

I believe that in order to be a happy and energized mother you must begin by being a healthy and self-connected woman. My work offers tools to moms who are feeling scattered and depleted… and in turn it keeps me on my path of self-kindness, restoration and growth.

[All images courtesy of Lisa Grace Byrne.]

Lisa is author of forthcoming book ‘Healthy Woman, Vibrant Mom: 7 habits that will make you a calm, energized and healthy mother’. To find out more about Lisa visit her website.

Marie Pickering

The Enchanted World of Needle Felting is full of Rainbow dyed soft New Zealand Wool Its warmth and light speaks to me, I feel it breathe in my hands and fingers. I want to warm peoples hearts and ignite in them a stirring of their spirit. Magical creatures, fantasy figures, Waldorf Inspired, Gnomes, Fairies. Living out in the rural countryside. I am inspired by Mother Nature. Here all is calm and peaceful.

Children especially find my art appealing as it appeals to their wonderful imaginations. My small homestead and garden is organic and was built 25 years ago. I work on the kitchen table, and the sun’s light bounces off the wooden walls, to create a heart-warming glow.

I started making a few small wool dolls, and took them to markets and fairs to sell. They were well received. I friend suggested that I start a blog, and I have been astounded at the interest and following. I joined Etsy and the New Zealand on-line shop Felt. I wanted to share my art with others globally, to let them have in their homes a little piece of me. To this end my art is affordable to all.

By going global this has extended my view of the world. New Zealand is a fairly small Island nation, but now I consider the seasons happening in the world and create items for others’ Seasonal Nature Tables. I love what I do and have written a lot of short poems that go alongside my original 3D needle felt art. My hope is to publish these in a book.

Soft light falls

The pale yellow sun’s light

shines down on to the little child

Her pale pink dress glows softly in the pale sunlight

Flowers abound in her long golden hair

Soft light falls

May the sun’s soft light shine on you

My original designs come easily to me. I feel I have a spiritual connection to each piece and that the receiver is imbued with my light. This I feel is what I am meant to be doing in the world.

[Images courtesy of Marie Pickering.]

Find out more about Marie on her blog.

The Fire Within – a guest post by Christine Mason Miller

Posted on 2011-12-06 at 8:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

(Images via christinemasonmiller.com)

Way back when – in the fall of 1995 – I started a business called Swirly with no earthly idea what I was doing. The internet was just beginning to come into its own, but had yet to become the now-indispensible tool it is for creative entrepreneurs. There were no e-courses with step-by-step instructions on setting up a business, there was no Etsy, and it was not possible to instantly spread the word about my work to a global audience the way I can today with Twitter. I took one adult education course on the basics of the wholesale gift industry, and marched onward from there with no long-term plan, no start-up money, and no experience. In other words, I had to figure it out on my own, make it up as I went along, and pick myself up again and again after all of the slips, stumbles, and missteps that were impossible to avoid.

All I had was an idea I was wildly passionate about, and the belief that I could make it real.

That is all anyone who has pursued their creative passions and built a meaningful life ever started with – an idea. Whether the idea is to create a close-knit family, learn how to bake the perfect cupcake, open a ceramics studio, master the art of juggling, travel across the country, re-unite with a long-lost friend, or get back on a bicycle after a bad accident, it is the ideas that make our hearts sparkle (you know the ideas I’m talking about) that have the potential to transform our lives, and, in turn, the world. The ideas don’t have to be “big”, and they don’t have to involve international travel, Fortune 500 goals, or New York Times bestseller lists. They don’t need to go farther than one’s own backyard. If they are sincere, and made real with integrity, their light will travel beyond those boundaries without our having to do a thing. That is the funny thing about our creative passions – they are capable of traveling at the speed of light all on their own.

I think it is extraordinary how much information, guidance, encouragement, and practical support is available here in 2011. No matter what the dream or passion, it is possible to find and/or create a community for that passion, to promote and/or share it, and to learn how to integrate those ideas that make our hearts sparkle into our day-to-day lives. The availability of resources is truly endless. But beyond all the opportunities we now have to plan, prepare, educate ourselves, and organize our lives, it is important to remember that there is also value in the stumbles and gifts in the mistakes. There is something to be said for learning, researching, and prioritizing, but even more for the commitment to getting up each day and doing the work our passions require. My ability to create a passionate, meaningful life has absolutely been supported and furthered by classes I’ve taken, mentors I’ve trusted, and advisors I’ve hired, but if all I did was look outside myself for the answers I was seeking and the direction I felt like I was missing, I wouldn’t have gotten far.

Sixteen years ago, I secured a business license on the foundation of an idea, and the idea was to inspire others. Ever since then, this deep desire has taken me down dirt roads, to dead ends, across oceans, up winding staircases, and in hot air balloons. It has carried me, held me, thrown up roadblocks, and provided me with gifts that were far greater than I had ever imagined. Through it all, I have learned to trust my dreams, and to let them lead the way. And it is the day-to-day experiences of this journey, rather than any final goal, that have provided me with the ongoing inspiration to keep doing the work I am doing – the most important work of my life, my most meaningful work in the world.

***

Christine Mason Miller is a Santa Monica-based artist, writer, and explorer. Her next book – Desire to Inspire: Using Creative Passion to Transform the World – is now available at bookstores everywhere and Amazon.com.. Follow her adventures on www.christinemasonmiller.com

Doing what you love is an extension of being the person you love to be: shared stories by Kat Fulton & Tracy Verdugo

Posted on 2011-12-05 at 10:31 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Today’s shared stories come from Kat Fulton and Tracy Verdugo.

Kat Fulton

Doing what you love is an extension of being the person you love to be. I think you first must be who you love to be before you even know what inspired actions to take. Once you live out who you want to be, then doing what you love comes naturally.

(Image via katfulton.com)

I went to grad school for music therapy on a whim. I had never heard of it. I thought my parents would disapprove, so I went for it. I always follow my gut, and my gut was telling me “Yes yes yes.” At the time, I was coming out of intensive studies, practicing piano hours and hours per day. I felt a bit burned out. I was ready for a drastic change, and I was ready for more human contact. 10 hours per day of me and a piano was fine for a few months, but I could never imagine a life-long love affair with the piano. As a music therapist, I’m having a life-long love affair with life on earth. I feel so blessed to have found this career.

When I moved to California as a music therapist, I was deeply moved by the rhythm-based wellness practiced by so many. I was sold. Doesn’t it just make sense that if you were born with a heartbeat, then you were born with rhythm? It’s common sense. It blows me away that so many people have turned common sense off, and listened to the false belief of “Oh no no no, I don’t have rhythm. I can’t make music.” I love defeating that belief with pure logic. We make music every day! Footsteps, breathing, heart-pounding, cycles of nature, etc… There’s no escaping the rhythm of life. Realize it, live it, love it, and take joy in the rhythm.

When pure logic kicked in to defeat false beliefs held by so many, I realized that this career was my calling.

I started developing marketing materials. I connected the research with the practical application. I delivered the message in as many places as I could. All these actions were 100% inspired. Now I have a booming business working with Alzheimers patients, older adults, children affected by cancer, support groups, corporate team builders, and more. On the side, I have created a site to connect with other music therapists and drum circle facilitators.

I’ve had to move far away from my family because my practice fits better into the culture here in San Diego. I’ve had to turn down social events in order to meet deadlines. I’ve had to live frugally in order to make ends meet at times. But I sincerely believe that any sacrifice is worth opening the space to just be yourself. I’m so fortunate to have found a gainful career where I can just be myself. If you must make sacrifices in order to be yourself, do it!

With hindsight, I wish I hadn’t been so stressed about getting work when I started. I wish I had realized at the time that when you are living the life of someone you love, all the chips fall perfectly into place. Everything always works out. Bills get paid, mouths get fed, and lives get lived. Taking inspired action is the way to go.

My big dream now is to expand my online reach. I realize that my body won’t always be able to lug around drums from place to place, but reaching people online is so convenient and fun. That’s the next big thing for me: being open to more web-based exchange.

[First image courtesy of Karen Christensen of The Legacy Boutique. Other images courtesy of Kat Fulton. ]

Kat is a speaker, coach, and creative visionary. She believes that by making music, YOU can be the catalyst for change. Find out more about Kat at her website or connect on Twitter.

Tracy Verdugo

What does it mean to do what I love? I feel truly blessed to be at a point in my life where I am on the cusp of living the life of my BIGGEST dreams……painting, inspiring, teaching, learning, exploring, creating, spreading love, cultivating peace, appreciating beauty.

2012 will see me teaching my wholehearted, exploration-encouraging creative workshops in Australia, the U.S, Mexico and Thailand and in less than two months I will be holding my first International exhibition on the beautiful island of Koh Samui. I am also honoured to be joining an amazing team of artists teaching in the beautiful Tamara Laportes Life Book e course which will run throughout the whole year. It has been 18 years since I first picked up a paintbrush~a journey of self discovery, of moving through pain and joy, letting go of fear and embracing love and having the courage to name my greatest desires and give myself permission to feel worthy of receiving those gifts…

and then…. to help others to do the same. What do I love?

Having the courage and commitment to spend 27 years “growing up’ and “becoming” with this amazing man.

Designing a life of adventure with our family and teaching our girls by example that our dreams can become our reality.

Seeing LOVE and BEAUTY in all places,

and spreading happiness and inspiration through my art.

Gently guiding others……

to find their own unique creative spirit.

Creating a home which nurtures our souls

And our senses….

Looking at the world around me through compassionate eyes…

And standing up for the rights of those whose voices have been silenced.

Having the freedom to record our music in our own studio in my dressing gown if I want to!

And being brave enough to expose my soul in performance

Travelling far and wide,

Exploring and learning from other cultures…and making friends along the way.

(Photo by Sienna Verdugo)

Learning to give AND to receive with grace…

Daring to dream my biggest dream,

And taking the action needed

To bring it to reality…..

Through my art I seek to discover new worlds…

Explore the microcosm and the macrocosm

And tell the story of beautiful moments embraced and appreciated.

[All images courtesy of Tracy Verdugo unless otherwise indicated.]

To find out more about Tracy’s art and her upcoming workshops visit her website here or connect with her on Facebook.

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Have you heard about my collaboration with surface pattern designer Rachael Taylor?

The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design is open for registration now! Find out more here

Do What You Love is one year old!

Posted on 2011-11-30 at 4:44 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

This month we celebrated one year of Do What You Love as a registered company (although the dreams have been in the works for much longer than that!) So much has happened, including the inaugural Do What You Love retreat a full six months ago – as I was reminded by one of the lovely participants who sent me a note recently saying,

“It’s lovely having that moment in time as a kind of benchmark for change and evolution (or even revolution!) It will always serve as a beautiful milestone in my life.”

I have to be completely honest and say that before Do What You Love I never thought for one moment I could create something that would have that kind of impact on an individual, and it is what makes everything feel so right – and makes me so grateful to everyone who has helped me make the choices that brought me right here, right now.

(Image: NavyBlur)

These past few weeks I have been doing a lot of reflecting on the Do What You Love journey in preparation for sharing it (highs, lows, finances, warts and all!) in January. I have trawled through a whole stack of journals, seeking the moments of sparkle and darkness, the whispers of intent and the hesitant recognition that it might just be working! I don’t normally read my own journals and they certainly aren’t written with the intention of showing them to anyone else, so to open them up to the class so completely makes me more than a little uncomfortable – but I am so intrigued by the story they tell that I know it is worth it in order to share them.

I will be sharing a few sneak peeks here over the coming weeks. For now I just want to acknowledge that this has been one of the best years of my life so far, and none of it would have been possible without the support of others – including YOU! So thank you. Truly, thank you so much.

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Stay tuned for an exciting new project being unwrapped and announced here tomorrow! You are going to LOVE it!

Shared Stories – call for submissions!

Posted on 2011-11-28 at 8:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Every Monday this space becomes a place where brave and inspiring souls share their stories about doing what the love – whether they are doing it now, or whether they are still striving to do it.

I would love to share your story here, and give you this platform to help you reach a new community of tens of thousands of like-minded souls.

To date we have shared the stories of many women (and one man!) all over the world, including the UK, Italy, Holland, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, the US, Canada and India . We have had filmmakers, photographers, entrepreneurs, painters, life coaches, and people who just love creating. And each of them has been a storyteller, with a story to tell. Read their stories here

If you are interested in sharing your story please drop me a line: beth [at] dowhatyouloveforlife [dot] com and I will send you the submission guidelines. Please feel free to pass this on to any friends who might like to share their stories.

Join us next Monday for more inspiring *shared stories*

Weekend book club: Textiles

Posted on 2011-11-26 at 1:36 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

As a complete book addict and hoarder, I thought it was about time I shared some of my favourites with you! In each ‘Weekend Book Club’ I post about a set of lovely books, with a different theme each week. This week’s theme is TEXTILES. These are the kind of books that make your mouth water, with photos so beautiful you can almost feel the textures…

Living with Textiles by Elaine Louie

This book features my dream lounge (second image below) and explores how textiles can change the character and feeling of spaces in the home.

Fabric by Suzanne Trocme

I have to admit I bought this after falling in love with the cover. The image below doesn’t do it justice – it is a dreamy shade of green, almost metallic. Inside there are more examples of beautiful fabrics.

Textile Designers at the Cutting Edge by Bradley Quinn

This gorgeous book features interviews with emerging designers and showcases textile designs from all over the world – so inspiring!

Textiles and Fashion by Jenny Udale

A brilliant introduction to the importance of textiles in fashion, and how each influences the other.

Rinen to kurasu (Living with linen) by Kunie Dayasue

Elegant book showcasing various uses of linen in the Japanese home – the beautiful neutral palette makes you really notice the fabric textures and quality

Transparency in Textiles by Dawn Thorne

This lovely book is filled with techniques for manipulating textiles to get a variety of beautiful transparent effects

Experimental Textiles by Kim Thittichai

Stunning examples of the art you can create when you experiment bravely with textiles.

Do you have any recommendations?

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Inspired? See other Weekend Book Club posts here (on paper, pattern and sketching & illustration)

Giving thanks

Posted on 2011-11-24 at 7:06 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

I’m not American and I don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, but I love the idea of a special day where you thank everyone you love for being in your life.

Recently I seem to have been quite hidden away from the world, busy working on some exciting but full-on projects. While this has meant I have got to do some really fulfilling, thought-provoking work, it has also led me to the point where I feel I have no idea what is going on in the life of some of my very good friends. And even blog friends – I haven’t done the rounds for weeks, months even (and more and more people seem to have blogs that are hard to comment on for techie reasons, so I haven’t even left comments on those I have visited).

If you are one of them, you know who you are. Please know that when I’m not sending you emails or letters or gifts in the post, it doesn’t mean I’m not thinking of you. Know that when I don’t come to dinner or make it to your party, it’s not because I don’t want to. It’s because right now there are a few things I need to get done. But through every moment of that, know that I am thankful for you. So very thankful.