This girl, she is...

self-portrait of a tired, emotional girl

A poem note I wrote using a word list I created on the first day of the Midwest Inner Excavation retreat based on the prompt, This girl, she is.

This girl, she is carefree yet tailored and refined.

Illuminated with beauty.

All aglow with a sparkling sweep of confidence.

She is celebrating that which is emerging, transforming.

Ripe with possibility.

Embracing a cherished blossom.

In a cozy safe space.

Framed by a picture window into her soul.

window in the administration building of Culver Academies



Vews from the Midwest Inner Excavation Retreat

I was gone for about 5 glorious days last week at Liz Lamoreux's Be Present Retreat in the Midwest (Culver IN) based on her book entitled Inner Excavation.  I've followed her blog for quite awhile and secretly harbored the wish to attend.  When I discovered that she was having a retreat within driving distance I just couldn't say no.  I'M SO GLAD I SAID YES!  The retreat was co-led by artist Kelly Barton.  Her shop has been a favorite of mine on Etsy for a very long time.  Heck, I gotta promote Liz's shop as well.  It is so amazing to finally get to meet these two very special people.

I can definitely say that it was one of the BEST experiences of my life.  I'm still processing it all.  For now I will share photos I took on the third day when we went on a photography walk along Lake Muxinkuckee on the campus of Culver Academies.

the lake

this one's my favorite. i may have to enlarge it and frame it as a reminder

a happy mistake

flowers

reminds me of part of my childhood in Utah

Can't ya just smell 'em?

More to come...

I Was on the Radio

I was interviewed for a piece on Free Play and Playgrounds for Radio Health Journal which is covered by 450 radio nations across the U.S.

You can hear the interview by clicking on the link you'll find here.
You can read about the interview here.

Click here to visit the webpage of the Appalachian Play Therapy Center at Lindsey Wilson College.
Be sure to also check our information on that page about our upcoming play therapy conference!

Click here to read a blogpost about the Appalachian Play Therapy Center.

Be Myself (playcrane)

The message I've been getting from so many creative sources lately is to

BE MYSELF

Gretchen Rubin, New York Times bestselling author of The Happiness Project, has this mantra as her top personal commandment in a list of 12.  Sounds easy enough.  But then a tendency to compare myself to others creeps in.  I wonder why I'm not-like-that.  If only I _______, then I'd be able to _______.  I think Gretchen's right.  I am much more happy when I   BE MYSELF.  Incidentally, her May chapter is called Be Serious about Play.  Aww, it all fits.

  

I recently made the artwork above as part of Kelly Barton's Find Your My Inner Icon workshop as part of the wishBIG ecamp.  I put it off for awhile since I have such trouble with drawing and sketching.  Then I realized I should stop trying to draw like an artist and then just draw the best I can and more importantly, have fun in the process.  It WAS fun.

I coined the word "playcrane" for this blog, my twitter, and flickr pages.  It seems to fit.  Of course, Crane is my last name through marriage.  The Crane is also a symbol of longevity particulary in Asian cultures due to its long life span.  It is also associated with longevity, health, happiness, wisdom and good luck--all good things.  The white crane or origami crane is a symbol of peace.  You can read more about this in an earlier post.  I am all about peace in its many forms.

playcrane: a reminder to be myself

What reminder do you have to be the fabulous, wonderful, unique you?