Seedlings
I have great faith in seeds.Convince me that you have a seed there,and I am prepared to expect miracles.— Henry David Thoreau What joy when I went to water dirt Wednesday morning and discovered tiny, delicate, determined plants. Those bits of green reminded what a marvel gardening can be. Last autumn, narcissus bulbs were buried in a nearby, community planter. How delightful to ride past and see those yellow flowers atop the green stems, keeping their spring time promises after months of winter. Here are more thoughts on seedling magic, It’s good to leave each day behind,like flowing water, free of sadness.Yesterday is gone and its tale told.Today new seeds are growing.— Rumi Once in a golden hour, I cast to earth a seed,And up there grew a flower,That others called a weed.– — Alfred Lord Tennyson I would like to believe when I die that I have given myself awaylike a tree that sows seed every spring and never counts the loss,because it is not loss, it is adding to future life.It is the tree’s way of being.Strongly rooted perhaps,but spilling out its treasure on the wind.— May Sarton Every moment and every event of everyman’s life on earthplants something in his soul.For just as the wind carries thousands of winged seeds,so each moment brings with it germs of spiritual vitalitythat come to rest imperceptiblyin the minds and wills of men.— Thomas Merton We cannot change the past, but we can change our attitude toward it.Uproot guilt and plant forgiveness.Tear out arrogance and seed humility.Exchange love for hate—thereby, making the present comfortableand the future promising.— Maya Angelou While some start seedlings in December, time remains. Here are some how-to videos: Succeed and Soar! Sandra Gould FordPresenting arts experiences to encourage, refresh, enrich creative thinking and inspire. Journals Record your dreams, hopes, plans and achievements in these beautiful, inspiring notebooks. Details: 6” x 8, spiral notebook 120 pages, ruled on both sides Art printed on front Cover is thick paper stock.Back cover is medium gray Inside front and back covers have pockets for storing extra paper and pens View All Notebooks Thanks for shopping!
Authors Speak, Suzy Robison
A book is a gift you can open again and again. Garrison Keillor Authors Speak This Succeed and Soar series invites writers to answer questions about their artforms and special inspirations. Welcome Susy Robison Susy, what phrase inspires your writing and life? It’s not where your dreams take you, its where you take your dreams. Maya Angelou For ten years I was the Director of Volunteers for the Homeless Children’s Education Fund. During that time, I learned that: The typical homeless person in the United States is a child and that 2.5 million American children were homeless at some point in 2013. National Center on Family Homelessness Susy, share how these words helped your writing, your life. About eight years before I retired in 2019, I imagined that my retirement project would be to write a young adult historical novel set in India in 1952 that teens might like to read. I was five-years-old when my family moved to India. My memory of the day we arrived was when our car was surrounded by begging children my age crying out for money. At a retreat when I was thirty, the teacher spoke about compassion and asked us to meditate on finding a compassionate heart. I searched back through my life and discovered that my compassion for others was first germinated at that moment with the children in Bombay. Its where we take our dreams Maya Angelou In addition to the experiences of a girl who moves to India with her father when she is fifteen-years-old Halley and the Mystery of the Lost Girls is about the beauty and dangers of the real world as reflected off the sights, tastes, smells and sounds that children and teens experience when they move to a new school, a new town, or a new country. Sample Text: Chapter One: From paragraph 3: Halley held onto the ends of her streamers and watched each one uncurl spiraling down toward her aunt, blending into a weaving of hundreds of thin paper strips that interlocked in the middle. Like a glorious, multicolored, abstract tapestry it linked them to the shore. She tossed her last one and waved just as the ship began to move. Review Your book is beautiful — the weaving in of animals and Indian culture so seemingly effortless — and just enough. Your use of color and imagery is wonderful. The mother’s death imbuing the experience is deeply felt. Her connection with friends and the tinge of first love all believable. The way you get us to relax as we near the end and then Bam! Incredible adventure and great character to follow and all the emphasis on nature and animals makes the book a joy to read despite the very grim matter of child trafficking. Professor Jane McCafferty, Carnegie Mellon University Halley and the Mystery of the Lost Girls can be ordered through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Independent bookstores. About Susy Robison Susy Robison received a BA in English from the University of California, Berkeley but didn’t begin writing fiction until 2019 after years of directing volunteer programs in Pittsburgh. Her first novel was published in 2024. She and her husband love to hang out with their adult son and daughter every Sunday evening. Keep in mind, Reading is essential for those who seek to rise above the ordinary. – Jim Rohn Succeed and Soar! Sandra Gould Ford Presenting arts experiences to encourage, refresh, enrich creative thinking and inspire. COMMENT. Beautiful and inspiring Succeed & Soar art can be purchased as posters, framed, metal and canvas. Art also available as puzzles, totes, blankets, mugs, greeting cards, notebooks, phone cases, pillows, towels, clothing and more. Shop All Art HERE. Collections change. Visit often. Thanks for your support!
Self Care 2nd of 2, Sabbath
Every person needs to take one day away. A day in which one consciously separates the past from the future. Jobs, family, employers, and friends can exist one day without any one of us, and if our egos permit us to confess, they could exist eternally in our absence. Each person deserves a day away in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for. Each of us needs to withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us. Maya Angelou, Wouldn’t Take Nothing for My Journey Now The Hindu deity Vishnu sleeps on the cosmic ocean between the world’s repeated dissolution and re-manifestation. While other gods sometimes take breaks, the first mention of, “Sabbath,” a once-a-week, day of, rest was in Moses’ “Ten Commandments.” In “What Is Sabbath?” Hope Bolinger asks, “Does Sabbath still matter today?” Her answer: Sabbaths might look a little different for us. It might just mean avoiding checking emails on weekends to avoid that extra stress. For those who work round-the-clock jobs, this might mean concentrating on a set number of hours and dedicating them to rest, even if, at this current time, you can’t designate 24 hours at once. Maybe designate 24 hours for the whole week and space it out. Inc lists 12 scientific reasons why a day of rest helps, including, Taking breaks reduces stress, as reported by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Getting away from work boosts the immune system Taking days off improves short-term memory Here are nine more reasons to take self-care days. Of this post’s opening statement, Poetry & Poets wrote, “Maya Angelou’s ‘A Day Away”’explores the importance of a day off from everyday stressors. They mention, How To Make The Most Of Taking A Day Away Draft a to-do list that includes enjoyable and productive activities like, creating a vision for the future, organizing photographs, walking in nature, reading a book [I’m now learning lots from Will, Will Smith’s memoir], or trying a new restaurant. How To Reintegrate After Taking A Day Away To make reintegration easier, schedule some simple things in advance, like meal prepping and a schedule for the next day. Thinking ahead can give direction and normalcy to going back to work. Read More, including Strategies for Making a Day Away Possible Along the way, buy a journal [below] to record your plans and achievements, and, Along the way, buy a journal [below] to record your plans and achievements, and, Succeed and Soar! Sandra Gould Ford Presenting arts experiences to encourage, refresh, enrich creative thinking and inspire. COMMENT. Journals Record your dreams, hopes, plans and achievements in these beautiful, inspiring notebooks. Details: 6” x 8, spiral notebook 120 pages, ruled on both sides Art printed on front Cover is thick paper stock. Back cover is medium gray Inside front and back covers have pockets for storing extra paper and pens View All Notebooks Thanks for shopping!
Self Care Days, 1st of 2
On the day of your birth, the Creator filled countless storehouses, set aside for your use and yours alone. – Maya Angelou Once upon a time, Blue Laws prohibited work on Sundays. Business closings during the Covid shutdown gave a good idea of that world. In a 24/7 era where nothing stops, consider taking breaks from busy-busy-business.The Lifestyle Files suggests ten, easy-going ways to make a day special, which includes, Wearing favorite clothes Getting fresh flowers Go to sleep in freshly-made bed and enjoy a slow start in the morning Read more Our Mindful Life offers “28 Relaxing Solo Date Ideas to Have Fun by Yourself,” including, Volunteering at animal shelters Random Acts of Kindness Redecorate a room Here are 25 more VIP Date ideas Happier Human encourages self-care days as, “important because it breaks you away from the pressure and hectic pace of keeping up with responsibilities. It allows you to recenter, refocus, and re-energize. Self-care is crucial for creating a healthy balance in your life.” The post also suggests 55 Self Care Ideas, including, Sleep All Day Spa Visit with Skin Care and Massage A One-Day Road Trip. This could include visiting a national park. Here’s a list. Read a Book. Here are lists of the best books of all time in categories ranging from Coming of Age to Mystery to Fantasy and much more. Right now, I’m reading [and recommend] Arthur C. Brooks’ Build the Life You Want. Here are 50 more Self Care Day ideas With so many marvelous ways to pamper, refresh and better understand your life’s most important person, schedule monthly dates right away! Enjoy! Succeed and Soar! Sandra Gould Ford Presenting arts experiences to encourage, refresh, enrich creative thinking and inspire. COMMENT. Let me know your VIP, special Care Day Plans! Wise Ways shares meditations on making the most of each moment. Encouraging quotes from insightful thinkers like Albert Einstein, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Dalai Lama and Winston Churchill fill the book. All essays are beautifully illustrated. The 6×9 version is an easy-to-carry handbook. The 8×10 version is also a sketch journal. It contains more pages, with prompts that encourage enriching reflections. 6” x 9 Handbook 36 pages 8×10 Sketch Journal, 60 pages View All Radiant Tree Books Thanks for shopping!
Your Heroic Heart, Facing Lions & Grizzly Bear
I think a hero is any person really intent on making this a better place for all people. -Maya Angelou Andrew Carnegie was born in Scotland, the second of three children. When he was 13, his family borrowed from a maternal uncle and moved to Allegheny City, now part of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.Growing up in Scotland, Andrew Carnegie attended the Free School in Dunfermline, founded by Adam Rolland of Gask, a philanthropist, judge and co-founder of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. When young Carnegie reached the United States, he stopped attending school and studied people, like his mentor, Thomas A. Scott of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. After selling his steel company and becoming one of the world’s richest men, Carnegie worked at distributing his wealth. One project remains the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission. As stated in his Deed of Trust, Carnegie wrote, “I have long felt that the heroes and those dependent upon them should be freed from pecuniary cares resulting from their heroism.” Here are two honorees: On February 9, 1940, Joseph R. Arcans faced down five lions at Clyde Beatty’s Circus in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Arcans was an animal trainer. While dressing for a performance, the small man heard a commotion and found five lions attacking a man who’d entered their space. Arcans grabbed a 2×4 and kept beating the lions. Even after his stick broke, Arcans kept chasing the lions until all fled. On October 1, 1971, in Edmonton, Alberta, Malcom R. Aspeslet rescued a co-worker from a huge grizzly. With a small knife, Malcolm climbed atop 800-pound bear and hung on, while his scalp was lacerated, his ears torn off, his arm broken. Nominate a Hero. Myths tell of gods creating constellations for heroes . Some stories say heroes’ eyes become stars to watch over loved ones. ‘Hero’ comes from ancient words meaning demi [half, unfinished, almost]-god and to watch over, to protect. Imagine a world where everyone goes to bed a hero. A “Random Act of Kindness” will do, as in this post’s video [below]. What a world! Succeed and Soar! Sandra Gould Ford Presenting arts experiences to encourage, refresh, enrich creative thinking and inspire. COMMENT. Pen Pals Meet after 56 Years Click Here to View 2 minutes From ABC’s “America Strong” series, here a 7th grader’s kindness to a stranger wound up being incredibly powerful. Through Radiant Tree Books, SucceedandSoar.com, and her Fine Art collections at SandrasArt.Pixels.com, Sandra Gould Ford [a former steelworker] creates and presents art for healing and high achievement, to lift hearts and spirits, awareness and humanity. Shop All Books Thanks !
Authors Speak, Daughters of Eve
Books are lighthouses erected in the great sea of time. ~ Edwin Percy Whipple Authors Speak This Succeed and Soar series invites writers to answer questions about their artforms and special inspirations. Welcome Sally Wiener Grotta Photo [c] 2014, Sandra Gould Ford Sally, what phrase inspires your writing and life? Butt to chair; hands on keyboard. Sally Wiener Grotta How have these words helped your writing, your life? No book can be written without “Butt to chair; hands on keyboard.” But what drives me to write is my need to try to understand what is incomprehensible to me in this world. And I write to try to find ways to make connections – through questions and listening. My newest book “Daughters of Eve” (Bayit Publishing) is an essay collection that is all about questioning and listening. It’s a discussion workbook and journaling guide that explores the nature of living in the 21st century through the filter of the stories of the women of the Hebrew Bible (such as Eve, Sarah, Hagar, and so forth). It’s designed to facilitate exchanges not so much about religion or the Bible, but about how our reflections on those ancient female archetypes influence and reveal who we are today. Most of all, it’s about connecting with and questioning the past, and then listening to our own hearts and minds, and to one another. By doing so, we can open paths for in-depth, respectful conversations on all kinds of subjects, among both non-religious and religious participants, as well as among people of different faiths or no faith. How did these words inspire Daughters of Eve? While I’ve been inspired by many great authors and thinkers, such as Maya Angelou, Jorge Luis Borges, Ursula K. Leguin, Viktor Frankl, in the end, it’s up to me. The primary requirement of being a writer is to write. So, I do, nearly every day, for at least a ½ hour, often longer. When I’m feeling uncertain or don’t know quite how I want the words to be formed, I remind myself: “Butt to chair; hands on keyboard.” And I type whatever. Stream of consciousness. My character’s personality quirks. A physical description of a scene. I type until the story pours out of me. Sample text From the first essay in “Daughters of Eve” (download a free sample chapter at https://bit.ly/Daughters_chapter) << If you could be magically transported into Eve’s body before she reached for the fruit, would you pick and eat it? To not eat would mean to be immortal, protected, and forever innocent. To eat would mean death for you and all your descendants, and struggling every moment of your short life. You’d be awake to good and evil, kindness and hurt, love and hate, and all the passions and needs that would beset your flesh and spirit. >> Review Purchase Book Definitely check out Sally’s video chats with authors at Why If? Why Not? How? About the Author Sally Wiener Grotta, award-winning writer, photographer & speaker. Her newest books are: Of Being Women, a collection of feminist scifi stories (Noble Fusion), and Daughters of Eve, an essay discussion workbook that explores what it is to be a woman today through the filter of biblical tales of matriarchs (Bayit). Keep in mind, Reading is essential for those who seek to rise above the ordinary. – Jim Rohn Succeed and Soar! This Month, shop Succeed and Soar art on 3 types of towels Details: Luxurious, brushed microfiber 100% cotton back for maximum absorption Top of towel has image, back of towel is white Three sizes: Hand towel 15” x 30” Bath towel 32”x 64” and Bath Sheet 37” x 74” Machine wash cold, tumble dry at low heat Personalized art arrangement Place vertical or horizontal on towel Change size and position Select from dozens of background colors See all towels. Shop all Fine Art America Collections. Thanks.
Path to Joy 12, Your Magnificence
Consider You weren’t an accident. You weren’t mass produced. You aren’t an assembly-line product. You were deliberately planned, specifically gifted, and lovingly positioned on the earth by the Master Craftsman. — Max Lucado All “Illustrated Wisdoms” in this 2023 Paths to Joy series were created by splattering viscous Dylusions shimmer spray on 11×14, 98 pound, Canson mixed media paper, then spritzing with water to see how the colors would run and gather. When dry, the white satin DecoArt paint brightened this illustration’s outlines. Ultra fine Pen & Gear markers created small star shapes [pink] and little starburst [green]. Art is available with and without the quote. Shop Sandra’s Galleries. Succeed and Soar first presented the “Twelve Paths to Joy” series in 2020. I hope 2023’s re-interpretation both refreshed and opens a year of enriching possibilities. As Teresa of Avila said, Let us remember that within us there is a palace of immense magnificence. What a different world if everyone saw themselves this way. All begins with one. Psychology Today lists these “Four Ways to Become Your Best Self,” Develop natural gifts. In this way, we can succeed with less energy and effort. Cultivate activities that give life meaning and purpose. Follow your heart. Embrace open-mindedness and a willingness to evolve. Read article Wikihow offers three stages for figuring out who we are now , because, “we are always growing, changing, and learning new things.” While each stage has several parts, the main categories are titled, Take Action Be Aware of Your Thoughts Continue The Search In choosing more joy in 2024, Minimalism Made Simple offers “Eleven Powerful Ways to be Your Best Self.” My favorites are: 4. Focus on Healthy Habits 8. Use Positive Affirmations 10. Celebrate Little Wins 11. Help Others Read all eleven. For encouragements along this 12th Path to Joy [and your magnificence], here are “17 Super Inspiring Quotes About Always Being Your Best Self.” These brought my biggest smiles, The goal is not to be better than the other man, but your previous self. — The Dalai LamaDo the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better. — Maya AngelouSet a goal so big that you can’t achieve it until you grow into the person who can. — Zig Ziglar Read all seventeen. Succeed and Soar! Paths to Joy Illustrations In addition to posters and framed prints, the art from the 2020 and 2023 “Paths to Joy” art is available as greeting cards, puzzles, cups and journals, even shower curtains, pillows, weekender bags and more. Build your beautiful collection. Shop here. Thanks! NOTE: Use CUSTOMIZE. tools with item to: Enlarge, reduce size of art Change placement of art and text Over 60 background colors can be chosen [shades of yellows, blues, greens, grays and more].
Path to Joy 9: Kindness
You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you. – John Bunyan On an end-of-summer evening beside the Allegheny River, as twilight settled over yachts docked at the Fox Chapel marina, I chatted with members of Rotary International, an organization I thought focused on business development. Turns out the profits Rotary members seek come from bridging cultures and connecting continents. They champion peace, fight illiteracy and poverty, help people get access to clean water and sanitation, and fight disease. Rotary’s newest cause is to protect our planet and its resources. Wow! How exhilarating to meet people who prioritize the 9th Path to Joy, Benevolence: good will, good wishes and wanting good for others. An old saying advises, “Everything that goes around, comes around.” The Bible’s Galatians 6:7 adds, “What a man sows, that he will also reap.” The Mayo Clinic finds that sowing benevolence does reap a joyful harvest. They report, “Kindness has been shown to increase self-esteem, empathy and compassion, and improve mood. It can decrease blood pressure and cortisol, a hormone directly correlated with stress levels. People who give of themselves in a balanced way also tend to be healthier and live longer.” Read more. Everyday Health lists seven ways being kind improves health and well-being, by: Reducing anxiety and depression Improving heart health Managing diabetes Read more Succeed and Soar’s Original Path to Joy #9 post stated, “Benevolence is good will, good wishes and wanting good for others. Beneficence is the joy of putting those intentions into action.” How? In “Practicing the Art of Benevolence,” Purposeful Habits suggests, “Never hold back in a moment when you can show kindness.” And remember, When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed. – Maya Angelou Succeed and Soar! Gifts from One Big-Hearted, Benevolent Gift of a Man Length: 2 Minutes 35 Seconds Shop Sandra’s Succeed & Soar Art on Hooded Sweatshirts As well as tote bags, tee shirts, journals, puzzles, phone cases, ornaments, face masks, towels, blankets, cups, pillows, greeting cards and more With autumn’s arrive, snuggle up artfully. These fine quality hoodies are: : 75% cotton, 25% polyester blend Five sizes [Small, Medium, Large, X Large, 2X Large, 3X Large] Two Art Locations [Full Chest or chest patch] Double-opening waist pouch Colors: White, Heather, Charcoal, Black, Navy Machine washable Price $48 NOTE: Sometimes art size must be adjusted for whole image to fit on item. Use CUSTOMIZE. tools with item to: Enlarge, reduce size of art Change placement of art and text Over 60 background colors can be chosen [shades of yellows, blues, greens, grays and more]. Purchase this Hooded Sweatshirt View All Hoodies Thanks for shopping!