still conversing

Conversation 1:

“Are you still doing the ‘2 Conversations’ blog? It’s a great goal.”

Rosie Perera asked this last week. Yes, I replied, I just got out of it. It’s a huge commitment, not just to have two conversations, but to report on them also. Well, here I am, listening to Brooke Fraser, a young lady who is certainly making a difference in the world. For example, her song/video Albertine.

But I digress. Brooke and I have not yet had a conversation—in person or via social media.

Rosie, on the other hand, is someone with whom I have been having interpersonal conversations for more than a decade. I was thinking that this picture from another friend’s Facebook page could be submitted as evidence, but realized that Rosie isn’t tagged. Hmmm. When did she come to Regent? Anyhow, I was there: the blonde in pink sweatshirt sitting directly in the front row.

So last week on Ash Wednesday, Rosie and I had a scheduled phone conversation. She’s doing important spiritual formation work during Lent, using this church year season as a transitional phase, working with a life coach with focus on purposefully living out a sense of vocation, which involves helping others learn to live well with technology. One means is writing, for example.

We talked about reclaiming sleep:

In vain you rise early
       and stay up late,
       toiling for food to eat—
       for he grants sleep to those he loves.

(Psalm 127:2)

We talked about good use of technology and I suggested that perhaps I should cut out non-essential internet use, especially internet game playing. “You won’t miss it,” noted Rosie. She did this one year. “I was free to go back to it after but had no desire anymore: that is so not nurturing of my person.”

Conversation 2:

I’ve been having lots of smaller conversations within a larger conversation about women and creativity leading up to a mini-conference in Calgary this weekend: www.siretona.com/beauty.html.

I had been longing for a gathering like this, but wasn’t sure where to host it. Then last Wednesday I was arranging to do presentations at Chateau Renoir Retirement Residence, and the Activity Director mentioned that they encourage community groups to use their spaces, which include 2 board rooms, a theatre room, and the lobby with grand piano. So, I immediately booked some space for a couple of events this Saturday, did up a poster, webpage and Facebook events and presto! Afternoon mini-conference (Creative Women: Blooming, Birthing & Beauty), dinner for the women, and an evening concert!

Ah, but who would come? I invited more than 300 women from my Facebook friends list. Not all of them live in or near Calgary, but I felt they should know about this.

Tonight Stacy called, excited about this event. After a half hour conversation, she prayed for me and I am now extremely curious to see what God has in store for the day.

Already, there are conversations with people in other locales about doing Creative Women there: Slave Lake, Medicine Hat, Caronport.

Hmmm …

new events, fundraisers

Conversation: Terri, counselor, email.

I’m going to BC at the end of March. So far I have two events confirmed on Vancouver Island: a church service and concert in Victoria on Sunday, March 28th, and a concert in Courtenay, BC on Friday the 26th. Both are fundraisers for houses that help women: Women’s Transition House of Victoria and Stepping Stones House for Women in Courtenay.I loooove making a difference with things like this!

For other events coming up, visit http://colleenanddara.com/schedule.html.

Conversation: Dale, dog breeder/adoptive mom/soon-to-be children’s author. Dale and I talked about when we can get together, how she can find time to write, and where to find the money to publish her first (and three following) children’s books about adoption.

why seek conversations

Loneliness can be a problem for entrepreneurs.

“A 2007 study by researchers at the University of Michigan even showed that just ten minutes of small talk improved study participants’ cognitive abilities.” (Blogtrepreneur, Feb 8, 2010).

One of the blessings in disguise that came from my December car accident: receiving regular chiropractic and massage treatments has forced me to get out of the house. It’s easy to get stuck and end up spinning my wheels. Today I got out to the chiropractor and had the nicest chat with his assistant. Came home energized and motivated to make a hard phone call which was frustrating and was anything BUT small talk.

Conversation: Last Thursday I had a Very Important Meeting. In many ways, it was like stepping into my own private Dragon’s Den. I had kind of hoped for this person to become a business mentor and/or an investor in the Open Eyes book series. I didn’t necessarily walk away with either one that day. He gave me valuable critique and challenge, a 79 page workbook for creating a business plan and an invitation to show it to him when I’m done.

Conversation: I love my family. My brother’s wedding in Strasbourg, SK was a wonderful reason to gather with family from both sides and thoroughly enjoy one another far too late into the night on both Friday and Saturday. Delightful. Most grateful to Kevin for driving—and for enjoying my family, too. 

Conversation: Kevin had a meeting tonight, so it was nice to stay home and have a visit with my landlady/roommate, to give perspective and encouragement for each other’s situations. We prayed together before she went to bed.

Conversation: Sue (the Accidental Poet/Housewife) and I have been invited to give workshops at the same conference in April. Neither of us has given a clear yes yet, but we’ve both been there before and would love to travel there together should we say yes. She called tonight to chat about that and to marvel at her experiences with being a significant person in the lives of several teens on the weekend. “Who is raising these children?” she asked. I marvel with her and thank God that she is who she is and where she is. 

C.S. Lewis said that we read to know we are not alone. However, basic email and social networking doesn’t do the trick. I am generally an introvert (much to most people’s surprise), who needs solitude to recharge. However, I also need fresh air, human interaction, and a reason to get up in the morning. Sometimes that reason is best if it’s extrinsic, outside myself: another’s voice, another’s need. I seek conversations to know that I am not alone.

Break … Forth/down/through

What is a breakthrough? In the midst of longing for one, I find myself often breaking down, like poor little Peter Rabbit.

“He found a door in a wall; but it was locked, and there was no room for a fat little rabbit to squeeze underneath.

“An old mouse was running in and out over the stone doorstep, carrying peas and beans to her family in the wood. Peter asked her the way to the gate, but she had such a large pea in her mouth that she could not answer. She only shook her head at him. Peter began to cry.”

I took a few days off. First for Break Forth, which was amazing. Then for wallowing in self-pity.

Self-pity? Where did that come from? I don’t know, but it was two days in a paralyzing pit of filth. I had conversations. I could have reported my quota filled, but wallowed instead. It happens. Apparently not as often when one’s gratitude discipline is intact:

“The study required several hundred people in three different groups to keep daily diaries. The first group kept a diary of the events that occurred during the day, while the second group recorded their unpleasant experiences. The last group made a daily list of things for which they were grateful.

The results of the study indicated that daily gratitude exercises resulted in higher reported levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, optimism and energy. Additionally, the gratitude group experienced less depression and stress, was more likely to help others, exercised more regularly and made more progress toward personal goals. According to the findings, people who feel grateful are also more likely to feel loved. McCollough and Emmons also noted that gratitude encouraged a positive cycle of reciprocal kindness among people since one act of gratitude encourages another.”  (source; found at this blog)

The crazy thing is that all my wallowing and paralysis was catalyzed a simple misunderstanding on Sunday afternoon!

No, that’s not entirely true. I spent the weekend with friends from Strasbourg Alliance Church and the first two days were exhillarating—being reunited with these friends and others, running into all kinds of people I hadn’t expected to see. But on Sunday, that little misperception cracked the dam and I cried like a baby. I think I was feeling homesick for Strasbourg, for relationships that are not still brand new. Sigh. Fortunately, the misunderstanding got cleared up yesterday, leaving me feeling a bit sheepish.

So here’s a list of conversations I was grateful to have over the weekend and since—conversations both about work and private life, about God and prayer, conversations with God in prayer …

• Glenda
• Heather
• Mark
• Gerald
• Brad
• Lori
• Nancy
• Margie
• Barb
• Beth
• Darryl
• Leonard
• Gayle
• Roxanne
• Blake
• Jen
• Josh
• Curtis
• more …

On Monday, I was sluggish, like I’d been hit by the proverbial truck. Even so, the day was not a write-off as I interacted with Cathy my SGI car insurance adjuster, Calvin who gave me a quote on a printing job, Mom about the upcoming wedding weekend for my brother, and Joyce about spiritual direction.

On Tuesday, I had more interaction with Cathy, Calvin & Mom.

Also on Tuesday, I had a real telephone conversation with Kathleen (she called me) in which I told her all my woes and she listened and prayed, then exhorted me from Beatrix Potter:   “When Peter Rabbit was caught in the net in the garden, the little birds came and ‘implored him to exert himself.’”

We both agreed to exert ourselves and made a plan for doing so. By the end of the day, in addition to tutoring and watching the movie “Amazing Grace” with Kevin and Stephanie, I had accomplished these things.

Oh! And I received two Minus 40 Tour DVDs in the mail from Ray Lacusta! The 14m30s documentary aired twice last week in an episode of “15 Minutes of Fame” on SCN television (Saskatchewan Community Network) and eventually will be available to watch online (season 4, episode 21 or 22). So I watched it once myself then again with Kevin & Stephanie. Strange and wonderful to seeing oneself on screen like that. Ray did a nice job.

Today (Wednesday)

• made a phone call to book a very important meeting for tomorrow afternoon.
• made another phone call to my mother.
• received a curriculum vitae and dissertation abstract from one friend to pass on by way of introduction to another friend
• received invitation to compose a soundtrack for a television documentary
• and more …

Kevin & Steph & I went to Okotoks for kids club at the church and we were so silly on the way home. It felt good to laugh and made me look forward to traveling to Saskatchewan together this weekend.

I have so much to be grateful for. There has not been a dramatic breakthrough (yet?), but there have been many ordinary and even extraordinary graces. I will keep putting one step in front of the other (literally and figuratively), moving through life attentive and grateful for the little things.

ladies who launch

It never seems to end!...the business building stage [is] an unraveling story, so thank goodness it isn't ending. ~ Ladies Who Launch, page 186

Even your bills are cause for celebration because they are evidence of [&] receipts from a life well lived. ~ Ladies Who Launch, page 205

I hardly slept last night. Too much to think about and do. Too many papers to sort. Too many projects to dream and execute. No time to eat properly, exercise, sleep. Later, the word “unraveling” really resonated with me. On the way to see the chiropractor, I had a cry. Couldn’t hold it in. Those emotions are no good held inside, so I let them out.

Conversation: Called my friend Sherry for a pep talk. She listened, prayed, & helped me figure out just ONE key goal for today. Whew.

Conversation: Sometimes you just need cheer & an ear. I also talked to Lisa & received some cheer. Gave her chords to a song.

Chiro helped, too.

Conversation: When Dr. Melrose walked into the room he could tell I was tired. “It looks like your brain is working overtime,” he commented. He was right. I was honest with him and his assistant that today didn’t feel like a good day. Healing can be like that. His assistant Bev recommended a walk along the Glenmore Reservoir. I did—just 10 minutes, but it was so refreshing. Would have walked longer but couldn’t find my keys! Rushed back to the car to find them hanging in the lock. Oops! At least I didn’t have to coat hanger the door!

The day got better from there.

Went to a coffeeshop to finish reading Ladies Who Launch. This has been a very important book for my entrepreneurial journey and I have savoured it, digesting slowly, and texting nuggets to Twitter and Facebook.

Realized for sure that I need to go to Breakforth. Posted about that ephiphany on www.siretona.blogspot.com: “say yes to change.”

Conversation: Speaking of tweets, Kathleen announced good news: Once Upon a Huckleberry Bush (children’s books) in Vancouver wants to feature us at book fair Monday and they need more books. Kathleen send three batches! (I have no idea how many are in a batch, but it’s certainly more than one!)

Conversation: Called Shelley L about my Breakforth ticket. Learned that she watched Dara & I on SCN’s 15 Minutes of Fame last night & liked it. Can't wait to see it myself! Dara doesn’t get SCN either.

Conversation: Dara emailed about the documentary (among other things).

I have had a number of people tell me how wonderful the premier of our doc was last night and am anxiously waiting for my dad to come up on the weekend to show me it.

He and Charlotte, along with Ray and a few others watched it with a supper night and celebration last night in Yorkton - yay!

Conversation: Kevin and I got together for the first time since Sunday. I served supper to him and my landlady/roommate and her 3-year-old granddaughter who adored Kevin. I love watching him with kids. After supper we went to his place where we had a good talk then harmonized our calendars. So simple and important to make sure we’re connected in these ways.

 

What a day. It started out overwhelming and precarious. It ended peaceful, fulfilling.

The others, the ones who go to the edges, who reach for the remarkable and do work that feels risky—these are the entrepreneurs who thrive. …

I was on the brink of bankruptcy for more than five years. No cash flow, living week to week, paychecks on the verge of bouncing. Sticking that out, not looking for shortcuts or quick hits or panicking… that was the most difficult challenge I’ve ever overcome in business. …

You say, “Art is about intent and communication, not substance.” In your opinion, what is the best way to create and distribute (market) art that is effective?
Change people. Connect with them and deliver something that transforms their day or their week or their life. You do art when you free a housekeeper to get paid fairly, or a mom to have an hour to herself. Not with standardized business practice, but by being honest and human.

~ Seth Godin in Ladies Who Launch Magazine

a simpler day, but no less important

Conversation: Calvin Plum of Leading Edge Printing Services. Calvin & I grew up going to camp together at Arlington Beach. He printed the inserts for my first CD, Good Storyline, in 2000 when he still owned Optima printing company. Now, instead of operating scanners and printers, he offers printing services in the form of consulting and project management. We had a good chat about some of my potential printing needs, including a project I need to quote on.

Conversation: Melanie, a very creative lady who started attending Okotoks Alliance Church around the same time I did. Melanie is already a very talented visual artist, working in mixed media and jewelery. She’s got a lot of raw talent for songwriting. One of these days I hope to unveil a website of her work. For now we encourage, support and cheer each other through our personal and vocational transitions. I’ve been procrastinating another conversation, which I’m to initiate by email. She’s waiting for me to report that I’ve done it…

Conversation: Kathleen, of course. Email. Business names—registration options; voice over studio; another paid booking came through. Recalling serendipitous events from the summer buoys our confidence.

Conversation: Kevin. Surprisingly we haven’t seen each other since Sunday and haven’t really had a conversation since Saturday. We chatted for a few minutes this evening and he asked about my successes. I reported on the above. I also sorted a lot of papers today… and have a lot more to go.

One success that’s not business related: Kevin’s looking for new steel-toed work boots, but he needs some special features. Turns out it’s hard to satisfy his needs, but I discovered a shoe store today and had an excellent, informative conversation with a certified pedorthist (see also this). Who knew there was such a thing? Certainly not my spell checker!

 P.S. There’s a new post on the Siretona blog about Rebekah Joy Plett and how we knew she was “the one” to illustrate BlueBeary’s series.

catching up … on sleep!

I’m several days behind. Oops. No excuses for slipping this far, though there was a birthday party for a recently-turned 11-year-old, with 16 guests, an intensive bear-stuffing-and-decorating craft, a movie (Kit Kitteridge), and a sleepover where hardly anyone slept. One guest proclaimed to me, “Steph always has the best birthday parties of the whole year!” and “This [bear] is the best craft ever!” Kudos to Steph’s dad for establishing such a strong birthday-party-throwing reputation. Then there was about 12 hours of novel contract homework with said 11-year-old on Sunday, where she worked on the related tasks while her dad and I took turns reading the novel aloud to her. Dad had a meeting in the evening so I stayed to feed and read to the sweet, busy girl. 

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And on top of this, I’ve been having LOTS of conversations about books and music, but mostly books. So here’s a review of the key conversations:

FRIDAY

Conversation: email, Peggy, Vice Principal of Harry Sayers School in Abbotsford, booked Kathleen for a full day of presentations in May at our full asking price. A very good moment!

Conversation: email, Lynette of PicPocket Books. I sent her all of the files for BlueBeary.

Conversationsssssssss: Kathleen was on fire catching up on her emails! I received about 20 messages from her in one day!

MONDAY

Conversation: my massage therapist declared that I’m doing very well with recovering from December’s car accident and that she believes I’ll come out of this healing process stronger than I was before this whiplash. We talked about how I’ll need to learn to hold the guitar differently and that it will be better than ever.

Conversation: Kathleen Busch in Victoria. This was a simple conversation via email:

ME: Still want me [to sing] for the weekend of Palm Sunday? I made a decision on the weekend that frees up most of my weekends from now until Easter.

HER: Yup!

Conversation: A timely email led to a very late Skype call with my friend Crystal in China. We talked about goals for personal growth and business. And as it was a video call, I was able to see her two younger children dance and prance around where the camera could see them. :)

TUESDAY

Conversation: Mike Michalowiz: my contribution to the Toilet Paper Entrepreneur blog was posted today: http://bit.ly/BizIdeas. Scroll down looking for the icon of BlueBeary. 

Conversation: Kathleen by phone, trying to figure out Twitter’s relationship to her Facebook accounts, generally catching up.

Conversation: Roy Salmond of Whitewater Studios in BC, by phone, about the possibility of doing the iPhone app voiceover in his studio. What is a voiceover? It’s the narration of the story—the reading soundtrack to go with the pictures. We’re planning that Kathleen will do her own voiceovers.

Interestingly, Roy & his wife know our illustrator Rebekah’s family quite well. Another potentially amazing connection: Roy’s wife Gayle is a children’s writer, working primarily with Wind and Tide, apparently the largest preschool company in Canada. She has written some curriculum and children’s books for them, and has done four albums of songs & vignettes. Hmmm … Roy & I talked about other possible formats and applications for the voiceover. Whether we end up recording in Roy’s studio or now, this was like a valuable 1/2 hour free consultation!

You know there were more, but technically it’s Wednesday already and I’m yawning, so it’s time for me to sleep in order to get up and have more conversations tomorrow!