Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Make it Your Solution

My good friend S and I garden together, dream together, and inspire one another to activate all the creativity we possess. We encourage each other to use our abilities to get things done. S will often text me profound thoughts to contemplate in the hours we are not working toward making changes in the community. I appreciate her words when they come because they remind me that we are always accountable. Even when we are resting, we are responsible for not throwing our dreams to the wayside. In our restful states, sometimes we can get the most accomplished.

S shed some light on one of my recent projects. After seeing my signs "Stuff Breaks, Make Art" in my kitchen she wrote:



"Take a problem and make it your solution. That's what stuff breaks make art means to me."


I was really happy to hear this insight. I realized that through a lot of chaos around me I am constantly having to take what is a problem and make it a solution. But what I really loved about her statement, is that she said to make it my solution. Not just any solution, by mine.


We are all responsible to do our part. If everyone takes accountability for the things they are able to solve we would not be overloaded! We would be chipping away at the problems little by little as a team.

Lets take some broken stuff today and make it into art. Lets take some problems and make them our solutions.

BPositive and BPart of the Solution!

Love,
B

Monday, April 16, 2012

Sharing the Positivity

I saw an idea for a birthday gift on Pinterest. It was a jar full of 30 lollipops with a colorfully decorated tag that stated "30 sucks!"

Now, I get where this idea came from. We often talk about touchy subjects like getting old with jokes and sarcasm. It's fairly harmless and gives us a chance to laugh at empathize with one another.

But it seems we use negative language a lot when poking fun at ours selves and one another. And soon it becomes habit. I find that when I'm using a lot of sarcasm, I'm not such a happy person overall. My husband A likes to describe sarcasm as anger slowly leaking out of a tiny hole. I try and remember these wise words when I'm feeling witty.

You may think I'm crazy but when I saw 30 sucks on pinterest it made me sad.

When I hear people warn the betrothed about the woh's of marriage and the soon to be parents about the awful sleepless nights of having a newborn, it makes me frustrated!

Why do we do this to each other?

My brother-in-law, who I love very much just turned 40. And to celebrate, A an I created our own positive version of "30 sucks!"

Take a look....





To the celebration of the positive things in life! Like turning 40!

BPositive a BPositive with one another!

Love,
B

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Going Rogue

Sometimes there is no stopping it.

The IDEAS! The PASSION!

They flow when they want to flow at full force!

Do we embrace them or push them away? Sometimes I think we stifle the ideas and we oppress the passion, simply to fit ourselves into the box in which we live and work. We do this to please the people around us and to avoid chaos in an otherwise orderly life.

I have come up with a system to allow myself to "go rogue" even when I know I need to tame my wild ways for the purpose of my responsibilities in my service and in the community.

This may seem obvious but this is what I do:

1. I write it down. No matter where I am, who I am with, or what I have access to I somehow get the thoughts down onto something concrete. Sometimes it's typed into my phone or in a notebook or in my journal. I let myself do this freely without holding back. I don't worry about the ideas being stupid or embarrassing. I don't even worry if they will ever be carried into fruition.  I just let it all out before it slips away!



2. I get excited!!! I LOVE new ideas. I love being in that place where I feel like I can accomplish anything! I embrace that feeling and I brainstorm and write out my thoughts like a maniac to savor every last idea!
3. I find people that appreciate the "out of left field" ideas and sometimes after writing things down I discuss with other passionate people who won't judge my ideas, but embrace them and help them grow.


4. I trust that the time will come that any and all of my creative passions will be actualized. If now is not the time, I embrace that and find excitement in knowing that this path will bring me to the right time. In other words I stay confident in my abilities and remember that I am exactly where I am meant to be.

As a member of a team, I must be on top of certain tasks. I must respect the boundaries of the program. I must be exactly what they need me to be. I am honored to be that person.

I also must know that outside of those boundaries, alternative and progressive concepts will ensue. And even though it's not time to break through the walls, I can actively pursue anything I want even while I'm serving more conservatively.

I don't write this post in a "damn the man!" sort of way. I appreciate order. I respect those that have created the spaces in which I work. I learn every day from the people I spend time with. Sometimes we must work in the boundaries for good reasons. But if you think a little "out there" like I do, don't be afraid to continue to let that be who you are. Let it out to play sometimes!
Hopefully my "going rogue" tips can help you express all the light you have inside. I have a good feeling it will open doors that you never knew existed.


BPositive and BRogue Sometimes!

Love,
B


Wednesday, April 4, 2012

There's no I in Team

We've been given this little golden rule since the days of kickball in the recess yard. But do we still follow it today?

Sure, as adults it is easier to understand that we can't hog the ball, so to speak. We must pass, share and give others deserved credit. But when it comes to getting the job done, do we allow ourselves to share the burdens

Today I spent the morning working with students with developmental disabilities in a local high school. Serving these students with my fellow Americorps volunteers, I couldn't help but feel like I was part of something. We are not here for ourselves, we are here for the ones we serve and we are here for one another.

After the project and our time with the students was done, it because clear that something was forming.

Bonding. Trust. Camaraderie. A fellowship. A support network. An intricately woven team.

My burdens became infinitely lighter in just one day because I have people I can count on. I have loved them since I met them and trusted them since our first interactions, but it wasn't until today that I truly allowed myself to let go of wanting to keep all the responsibility on my shoulders.

I am just a small piece of this team. And together we will accomplish so much more than we could as individuals. 






I share this with you all today, because sometimes we allow ourselves to truly feel alone in our troubles, stresses, and burdens. But if we look hard at the people in our lives, we are almost always part of a team. Maybe it's a family, a group of friends, co-workers, or fellow volunteers. We are not alone. We must share our burdens and divide the tasks. We must do our part and trust that others are doing theirs'. 

Who do you have that you can count on in your life?

I'd like to dedicate this post a group of incredible ladies that I am honored to be on a team with. Thanks S, G, M, K, K, M, R, and P for all that you do and all that you are!

BPositive and BPart of a Team!

Love,
B

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Be Significant

Both plants and people fascinate me. We all start so impossibly small and somehow transform into something so significant.

When I come home each day I am greeted by these magnificent hibiscus flowers.


They remind me of not only their significance in this world but the important roles we all play. If a tiny seed can turn into this incredible flower, can we not do the same?

Many seeds remain dormant. They never germinate, they never break the surface of the soil, and they never see the bright yellow sun. I don't ever want to be one of those seeds. I want to have the chance to make an impact, to appear in the form of a rare and beautiful flower. A flower that someone comes home to every day and feels inspired by.

I am thankful for the natural beauties that remind me to continue to live significantly. Will you bloom in the world with me?

 BPositive and BSignificant!

Love,
B