Life Well Lived #11: You Are Vital
We must believe that we are gifted for something, and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained. – Marie Curie From time to time, I’ve heard wise people say that each of us arrives with one-of-a-kind gifts, a combination of qualities that no one who ever lived or who will ever be born can offer. What might that special ‘something’ be? Here are clues, a list of ten qualities that make everyone unique. What do you discover? Share what you learn. Reply. Comment below. Definitely view this week’s video.The 3-minute Story of Your Life presents a precious insight into why where we place ourselves is important. Petition to Build Statue in Chadwick Boseman’s Hometown During Black Panther‘s opening weekend, a friend who dined with me after the movie had to tell me about Chadwick Boseman and his film career. In the week following his death, the world has come to know him as more than a gifted actor but a caring, compassionate human being … a great role model. When I signed the petition to move a Confederate monument to a museum and replace it with one honoring Boseman, my number was 44,485. Then, the goal was 50,000 signatures. Now, they’re close to 75,000. For more information and to sign the petition, click here. * Tales from The Dream Zone & “Wishes”Tales from The Dream Zone is Flying Ketchup Press’ second anthology. This collection of weird and wonderful stories is inspired by remembered or imagined dreams. “Wishes,” my short story about a magic coin debuts in this collection. Copies of this beautifully illustrated book are $12.99. Sandra’s Special, Limited-Time Offer Receive unlimited, personally-autographed copies on single orders, to one US address for $5 shipping & handling. Request here. * Win National Novel Writing Month In 2019, nearly a half million people started National Novel Writing Month, determined to build at least 50,000 words into the start of a book-length story. A few succeeded. Far more important than piling up words is producing useful material. This Pennwriters workshop will use October to launch a fabulous writing adventure at midnight, Halloween night while winning the word-count challenge.Join me. I’m a NaNoWriMo winner and learned a lot along the way. Course Info * OMAZE Would you like to win a Mercedes Benz camper with an added $60,000 in customizations? How about watching the Monaco Grand Prix with Danica Patrick or cooking with chefs Emeril Lagasse and Aaron Sanchez [a Chopped judge] in New Orleans? These fabulous opportunities and more can be yours for as little as $10. Omaze raises money for great causes by offering fabulous opportunities. Their motto: Good things come to those who give. Visit OMAZE. Labor Day Weekend Deliciousness Interested in some cocktails and mocktails to toast the end of summer? How about a juicy peach crisp or some no-bake desserts? Click here for recipes. * This Week’s Special Offer Each week, my Featured Art is offered at 25% off [plus any discounts offered by my Galleries]. Shop here. Thank you for visiting my galleries and for your purchases. They support Succeed and Soar. NOTE The original was shot with a Nikon Coolpix camera. The jpg was “developed” in Adobe Photoshop Elements 14.
Life Well Lived #3: Tough As Nails
If you ask me what I came into this life to do, I will tell you: I came to live out loud. -Emile Zola Might the one place on Earth with more human diversity than the United States – races, religions, ethnicities, etc. – be the planet itself? Because of all these differences, the U.S. has extraordinary potential. A personal goal for a Life Well Lived could be to ‘live out loud,’ vibrant and enthused as Zola said. Along the way, that individual energy could make the world great [in addition to America]. On Wednesday night, in the first episodes of the CBS TV show Tough As Nails, I saw two challenges which seem like metaphors for how wealth is achieved. One trial was of individuals seeking to win ahead of everyone else. The other test involved people working together to reach First Place as a team. Most heartwarming was how opponents encouraged other’s efforts best efforts. Thank you, Phil Keoghan [also the host], Louise Keoghan and Anthony Carbone for producing a program that reminds what makes human beings everywhere Great. Check out Tough As Nails. NOTE: The videos offered with each post are chosen for visual interest, inspiration, ideas and brevity. This week, enjoy an uplifting and lovely moment from the movie Akeelah and The Bee. Outdoor Movie Theaters A favorite summer memory from childhood was watching movies under the stars. Thank goodness, drive-in movies remain. During these social distancing times, here are ways to find them: 18 Best Drive-in Theaters 7 Drive-in’s [relatively] close to Pittsburgh Create your own theater under the stars An added, special feature: The first time I saw shooting stars was when they kept zoom-zoom-zooming over a drive-in movie screen. Each week, a featured item is offered at 25% off [plus any discounts offered by my Galleries]. This week, “Shasta Daisies” is on sale. Shop here. Thank you to everyone who visits the galleries and for your purchases. They support Succeed and Soar. NOTE The original image was shot with a Nikon Coolpix camera. The jpg was “developed” in Adobe Photoshop Elements 14. In addition to enriching the color saturation and vibrance, the image was processed through a filter that gives the Watercolor effect.
Life Well Lived #2: Independence
Too much of a good thing can be wonderful. —Mae West On a Wise Walk as part of the Cooper Siegel’s exercise program, I spotted Mae West’s [bio] words among many quotes printed throughout the Pittsburgh Mills Mall. Her thoughts about good things were always planned as the second ‘Life Well Lived’ post, which happens to coincide with Independence Day. In researching West, I learned that fashion icon Andre Leon Talley said she was the pioneering “sexual gangster” who blazed trails for Cher, Madonna, Rihanna and Beyonce. Among Mae West’s many, most quoted quips are: A hard man is good to find. Is that a gun in your pocket or are you happy to see me? I’ll try anything once, twice if I like it and three times to make sure. She began making movies in her forties. One year, her earnings came in second, a bit behind fabulously rich William Randolph Hearst. This wealth let West buy a building and remove the ban that denied entrance to a black friend. In the United States, July 4 celebrates this country’s Declaration of Independence from British rule. This day can also spark individual declarations of independence from inhibiting beliefs so that lives well lived can be built on more personally healthy and pleasing foundations. NOTE: The videos offered with each post are chosen for visual interest, inspiration, ideas and brevity. This week, enjoy Mae West. These financial resources are offered in my region. Check for similar support in your area. Small Business Assistance Pennsylvania grants ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 are available to qualifying enterprises that have suffered financially due to COVID-19. The first of several rounds opened June 30 and runs for ten days. Information & Application. Emergency Funding for Artists of Color. $500 grants are offered to artists living in Southwestern Pennsylvania’s nine counties. Funds can be used for rent, groceries, childcare, bills, etc. Apply here. Please share with those who could benefit. Each week, a featured item is offered at 25% off [plus any discounts offered by my Galleries]. This week, “Lacy Purple” is on sale. Also “Baby Grapes” from last week. Shop here. Thank you to everyone who visits the galleries and for your purchases. They support Succeed and Soar. NOTE The original image was shot with a Nikon Coolpix camera. The jpg was “developed” in Adobe Photoshop Elements 14. In addition to enriching the color saturation and vibrance, the image was processed through a filter that gives the Watercolor effect.
Life Well Lived #1: Baby Grapes
Attend to and nourish the garden of your becoming. -Jean Houston This post begins the new Succeed and Soar theme: Life Well Lived. Each week, you’ll receive a wisdom to consider. Because the first quote mentions garden, my floral photographs will illustrate this theme. I was going to take a summer break to focus on my own gardens and my novel. Last night, I decided to stay in touch and hope you’ll take a moment to meditate on the featured picture and quote. What fruits do you want to grow in your garden? Share your thought here. In the meantime, live well. Stay safe. The difference between the right word and almost the right word is the difference between lightning and lightning bug. — Mark Twain One of my EMail joys is the The New York Times “Word A Day “. It’s called, “The most welcomed, most enduring piece of daily mass e-mail in cyberspace.” In this one-minute read, I gain a word’s: definition origin and usage Author Hart Crane said, “One must be drenched in words, literally soaked in them, to have the right ones form themselves into the proper patterns at the right moment.” Word A Day is a quick and delightful, daily shower. Learn more. This Week’s Special Offer Each week, a featured item is offered at 25% off [plus any discounts offered by my Galleries]. This week, my ethereal photograph “Baby Grapes” is selected. Shop here. Thank you for your purchases. They help support Succeed and Soar. NOTE The original image was shot with a Nikon Coolpix camera. The jpg was “developed” in Adobe Photoshop Elements 14. Along with enriching color and enhancing the lighting, a primary adjustment was use of the Accented Edges filter.