What Feeds My Soul/Spirit

As I write this I have the back door open to keep an eye on my boy who is digging in the dirt while the next door neighbors play basketball.  It is a beautiful, sunny day with temperatures in the mid 60s.  If only it would stay this way.

Awhile back I sat in church and in my little journal wrote a list of all the things that feed my soul.  I keep this journal with me almost all the time to jot down everything from a to do list to quotes to words that strike me in some way.

Last week I set aside some time while in my office at work to take my feeds-my-soul-list and find miniatures and place them in my sand tray.  (Incidentally, this sand tray was a gift from a former student who had remembered that many semesters before I had mentioned in a play therapy class how much I was coveting Eliana Gil's sandtray in her family play therapy video.  So very grateful for this gift.)  The ironic thing about this activity is I had just come from teaching about socioemotional development in infants.  It was another beautiful day but the air conditioning wasn't working right in the classroom.  I was nauseous.  Perhaps I should have just gone home, but I was determined to do this tray.

What Feeds My Soul/Spirit

All things creative:

music, drama, books, visual art

young children for so very many reasons

being in nature:

the trees, flowers, and water

sitting by a roaring fire,

looking up at the sky,

walking along a bridge,

listening to a water fountain

the beach:

the sun, the sand, the waves

finding shells

making sand castles

the grace, the freedom, the nurturing of birds and butterflies

fresh, local, organic food

sipping tea with a friend while having a heart-to-heart talk

I need to find a little table for those tea cups

sitting.

be still.

meditating.

my meditative like figure just seemed too big
so Gumby came to the rescue

The other two items in the tray were a bottlecap that said "play" and a knobby, colorful ball.

What do these things all have in common?

Taking the time to be quiet

to listen

to reflect

to be grateful

to remember what is really important.

To know we are all connected.

Namaste!

What I Believe with a Capital B

taken with my iPhone

Play, creativity, and self-expression in all its forms:

poetry, prose, storytelling, visual arts, drama, music, photography, dance, humor, and physical touch are the antidote to all the ills of the world.

Why?
They make us feel alive.  We are valuable.
They remind us there is beauty and goodness in this life.

It takes courage to play, be creative, and express oneself as an adult. 
We might be criticized.
We might be rejected.

But it's still very important indeed.

my daughter's doodle

Some Inspiration for the Beginning of the Week

I read a bunch of blogs and love to browse Twitter, mainly because of the vast amount of inspiration and creativity there is to be had.

I still haven't seen this commercial on TV but I heard enough about it on Twitter.  I love the diversity of the children.  A wonderful tribute for the anniversary of 9/11.  If you haven't seen it, you're in for a treat.




Yesterday on Brene Brown's blog she posted the following video.  Who doesn't love the song Stand by Me and its message?  I can't help but remember in high school in the 80s going to see the movie by the same name based on Stephen King's novella.  There was a time when I had watched it so much I could recite many of its parts.  Again, this version of the song in this video is full of diversity.



Here's to a world where we are tolerant and respectful of one another's differences and help one another without tearing each other down!

Music, Play and Passion

Check out this video of 3-year-old Jonathan conducting to the 4th movement of Beethoven's 5th symphony.  He really does FEEL THE MUSIC as Jamie Ridler stated in this post where I first saw this video.  Man, does this kid get into it!  Such passion in his play.  (See I'm continuing with this passion theme.)



And here he is in a much shorter video practicing his violin.  My favorite part comes at the end when you can see what must be his little sister "playing" right along with him.



Of course this child has natural, possibly genetic, talent and we all can predict his future vocation will involve music some day.  And it reminds me what Dr. Stuart Brown says in his book, Play, that we are probably happiest in our work as adults if our career involves some form of what we used to play as a child.

And for me, I'm checking out some live music with some friends this weekend.  Can't remember the last time I did that.

When you wish upon a star

When You Wish Upon a Star

from Pinocchio

Music and lyrics by Leigh Harline and Ned Washington

When you wish upon a star

Makes no difference who you are

Anything you heart desires

Will come to you

If your heart is in your dream

No request is too extreme

When you wish upon a star

As dreamers do

Like a bolt out of the blue

Fate steps in and sees you through

When you wish upon a star

Your dreams come true

the famous Cinderella castle at Disney's Magic Kingdom--Dec. 21, 2010

yours truly

the castle all lit up in my favorite color

Was looking for a video of the classic song when I came across this version

What are your wishes for the new year?

Playful Christmas music

In case you haven't seen or heard these fun songs: (Complete with lights because who doesn't love that?)


Toy Sack - RockinChristmas 2009 in HD from RockinChristmas on Vimeo.


12 Days of Christmas - The Northern Lights 2009 from Jeff Holmes on Vimeo.