“Sculpture is an attempt to freeze a moment in time in three dimensions; to connect what already exists in reality to that which exists only in the imagination.” - Hipolito Rocha (Ice Sculptures - Delafreeze 2019)
« La mode se démode, le style jamais. » - Coco Chanel
Le Bon Saint Pourçain, 10 rue Servadoni, 6th Arrondissement, Paris, Tel. (33) 01-42-01-78-24. Metro: Saint Sulpice or Mabillon.
Those wooden chairs, that perfect shade of navy, the worn cobblestones, the handwritten menu, the romantic graffiti, the balconies and shutters, the Paris street signs - comme c’est chic!
I’m not a fan of New Year’s Resolutions, but I was recently inspired by this post on the Art of Learning’s Facebook Page. This year, I want to focus on these 26 very simple words that have such great impact.
APPRECIATE: Just yesterday, a colleague gave me a gratitude journal as a thank you gift. Her thank you will help me to be even more thankful. I love the idea of consciously expressing appreciation for the little things (see Sunday’s post ).
BUILD SOMETHING: Late last year, I built this website. What can I build this year?
CONNECT: I do a pretty good job of staying connected with family, friends, and my PLN on social media, but how can I connect on a more personal level — handwritten notes, phone calls, time together…?
DO WHAT IS DIFFICULT: Difficult intellectual challenges fuel me — bring them on!
EXPLORE: I love Paris (OK, now you’re singing, aren’t you?), but maybe it’s time to discover someplace new.
FORGIVE: Forgiving isn’t a problem for me, but forgetting is hard. I need to work on forgetting.
GATHER: I want to find a way to balance time alone and time together.
HONOR: Once a Girl Scout, always a Girl Scout: “On my honor, I will try: To serve God and my country, to help people at all times, and to live by the Girl Scout Law.”
IGNORE THE SKEPTICS: This is especially difficult when you are your own worst critic. I really need to work on this.
JUST BE — enough said!
KNOW YOU’RE LOVED: I only need to look into Piper’s eyes ♡
LISTEN: As a coach, I really practice “active listening.” I try to calm my thoughts, to truly hear what others have to say without thinking about my own next response. It’s so hard and so important! On a lighter note, I’d also like to start listening to more podcasts. Any suggestions?
MAKE: I’m not crafty (mostly because I don’t like clutter), yet I do love art. I choose to channel my own creativity into photography and writing.
NOURISH BODY AND SOUL: I need more water and sleep, more fresh air and healthy recipes. I need more time to think and reflect. I need to take more time for myself and to make more time for others.
OBSERVE: Six years of Project 365 have taught me to slow down and notice things. I may not take a picture everyday this year, but I will certainly capture 365 moments of beauty and wonder. William Blake said it best: “To see a world in a grain of sand and Heaven in a wild flower, to hold Infinity in the palm of your hand and Eternity in an hour.”
PLANT A SEED: Voltaire was right — « Il faut cultiver notre jardin. » Metaphorically, I hope that I cultivate new ideas, and I’m literally eager for my garden to bloom again.
QUESTION: My work is rooted in inquiry. Asking better questions leads to better solutions.
READ: Last year, I read 40 books. We’re only 10 days into 2019 and I’ve already read three — I’ve got this!
STRETCH: I need to stretch in the morning, get up and walk even more at work. I think that I might also like to try yoga.
TRY SOMETHING NEW: What else should I try this year?
UNPLUG: OK, for how long — an hour, a day, a weekend? I’m not sure I can commit to more than that.
VOTE: I always vote regardless of sometimes terrible options.
WONDER: Years ago when charged with choosing a word around which to focus my work, I chose wonder — “a feeling of amazement and admiration, caused by something beautiful, remarkable, or unfamiliar; to ask yourself questions or express a wish for more.” I still love this word!
XPRESS GRATITUDE: Gratitude is always a priority (see Appreciate).
YES TO ADVENTURE: As I get older, I become more and more cautious, but I hope to always be thrilled by travel and sailing as well as new experiences.
ZZZZZZ (GET ENOUGH SLEEP): I have never been a good sleeper, but I did get a pound of lavender for Christmas!
This beautiful girl is 4 today. She’s sweet and sassy and we just love her! Happy Birthday, Piper Marie! Bisous!
“The shortest day has passed and whatever nastiness of weather we may look forward to in January, at least the days are getting longer.” – Vita Sackville-West
“Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world.” - John Milton
Tonight, I am grateful for this weekend’s unseasonably warm weather, for some very successful bargain hunting, for precious time with family, for the squeaky clean, snoozy pup on my lap, and for continued inspiration.
![A Good [Week] for Ducks](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bbcc2ec3560c32eee22e8f8/1541526351519-28V0OO7DF1B61G3N5OPD/static1.squarespace-9.png)
