Sharing your voice

To me, sharing your voice is about allowing others to see the wisdom, understanding, stories, questions, and the beauty of who you are.  A less-filtered you  than you might be used to showing at work, in public, or among family and friends. This takes some courage and an intention to live with freedom in who you are, believing that you DO have something great to offer in the world.     

Voice can be shared in many ways, such as: Answering honestly when you're asked 'how are you'; sharing an opinion that is different than the group of people you're in conversation with; wearing colours that you feel good in, regardless of what the 'best' shades are for you; writing a note to tell someone you miss them; speaking up about an unfair policy in your workplace. Voice is about expressing your song in the world, your unique sense of what life is, in all its mystery, amazingness and sorrow. 

I invite your voice to be bold in its coming forth.   

This beautiful poem by Sally Atkins speaks to me of how extending your voice can be quiet and yet powerful in its subtle existence.  I hope this encourages you to honour the stories alive in you, the voice that is you, your beauty.

The Imperative of Song

You who have only heard

The sound of tension

From your throat,

Know that the ancient ones

Mapped their land by song.

To sing is to get somewhere;

Know that song

is your incarnation,

Whether an aria

A prayer

Or a single word.

To speak from the inside out

Is to witness

To your own humanity.

Listen,

The heartbeat

Of an ancient beast

Moves through you.

You can only listen

And love it,

And weep,

The sound

Of your own voice

Singing.    -Sally Atkins

Risking honesty and finding courage

It was a great day when I first heard about Brene Brown's work. Oh my! She dares to delve into the topic of vulnerability... A courageous woman indeed! I especially appreciate one of her TED talks on vulnerability, which you can find at:  http://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability?language=en.  Something about Brene's down-to-earth demeanour, transparency about the process of her research, and the well- humoured pokes at her own follies captured my attention.  Her book Daring Greatly is a very thought-provoking read, as she unpacks some of the core emotions and reasoning behind our human fears. The notion of risking to connect with and to treat with gentleness, one's places of vulnerability is offered in an accessible yet rather indepth way. How terrific that authors and talented researchers are guiding us on the path in finding new ways to think about our lives. Risking honesty: Where are you risking honesty in your life, and how is that shifting the way you see things?

In my counseling and expressive arts work I am honoured to journey with others through their experiences, places of vulnerability, and unique expressions of courage. Finding courage can come about in the smallest of ways: reaching out to have a thoughtful conversation with someone, answering a question with honesty when it feels risky, taking note of what you excel at and boldly LIVING that out. I encourage clients to access a glimmer or a brightly burning flame of hope, clarity and resilience as we work together; embodying what Brene calls 'Calling deep on courage'. Simply engaging with a supportive therapeutic relationship can open up new avenues of previously unexamined capacity, courage, and wonder.

So here's to more awareness of the tender places alive in each of our stories, and to mindful, wholehearted connection with ourselves as we learn and grow.

Why we create:Maya Angelou reflections

Lately Maya Angelou has often been finding her way into my awareness. She was a firecracker of a person, with compassion, spunk, strong values and a clear voice for uplifting others through struggle. I appreciate her thoughts on why we CREATE in the world- as a tool for sharing our dreams, questions, passion, and process of living. I find that no matter what kind of background someone has with the arts, when a person spends a few moments with colour, words, music; any material they can interact with- some sort of transformation happens. It might be an inner shift that person feels, a brightening of their eyes, a  re-discovered sense of possibility, or playfulness in themselves they had forgotten about. In the simple act of creating and sharing, we are inspired to move towards something good.

'We write for the same reason that we walk, talk, climb mountains or swim the oceans- because we can. We have some impulse within us that makes us wan to explain ourselves to other human beings. That's why we paint, that's why we dare to love someone-because we have the impulse to explain who we are'  -Maya Angelou

Freedom

Exploring the world

I was inspired while reading Paris Letters recently, which re-connected me with how much I love exploring other cultures around the world. The smell of dinner wafting up the street, choices of different local wines, encountering live music in the streets, seeing the way families interact with eachother, the eyes of children that mirror something about the place you are in. Mmm! I enjoy this kind of immersion in a land that is not my own, yet where my heart is open to feeling the spirit, the resonance, the pace and particular character. 'We must find places to explore in this world, but also places to rest'.  -Janice MacLeod    Yes, it is certainly life-giving to go on marvelous adventures that bring a different spark to our souls; yet when we are not out there exploring are we able to relax into everyday life where we are, at home? I have several favourite places in my neighbourhood that I go to for a mini holiday of sorts. Places where I can sit and breathe, take in the beauty of nature around me, and pause from needing to recall any schedules or task lists.

What are some of your favourite places to explore around the world? In your city?

Forgiveness says the lily

Tiger Lilies Always earth holds another

forgiveness at its center:

and tiger lilies splinter

cold air for their own colors,

like teeth or smooth young shoulders,

or the ears that tradewinds bother.

-Jonathan Aldrich

Tiger lilies are intricate in their center, in the way they stand upright and brightly coloured for so long before suddenly their dropping centre piece down. A bold letting go.  Dark purple fuzzy plant stuff everywhere- wow!

For me this image of  a tiger lily conjures a beautiful concept of the boldness involved in forgiveness: The mental reach it can take to let go of a careless word or action from someone you hold dear; the wildly courageous act of being in close connection with others, where we take the risk of being wounded, disappointed, or misunderstood.

Sometimes holding a posture of graceful letting go shows strength of heart.