patriciaswisdom.com » Inspiration

Hosanna

patricia — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 08:19:44 +0000

Women in Black poster

I guess I am a fool, but I am not attending worship services again this important week. There is no one to celebrate a Seder and our faith community just schedules their gathering with the ever growing group of Temple friends. I do not attend most Christian services anymore because it is such a huge event of Entertainment – which means tons of fancy clothing and perfume. Add all the visitors with out-gasing toxic laundry products, shampoos and deodorants it makes the gathering a nightmarish, experience. This year I decided to watch the news instead.

Too much US vs. THEM I turned it off and went walking and to smell the flowers. When I returned home an old 1990 day planner called the Everywoman’s Almanac caught my eye. I could not remember why I did not throw it out; I did remember the lovely bookstore where I purchased it and how important it was to me. I truly savored the brief stories and art that surrounded the days of the week. When I opened it, I knew why I could not throw it away and what an amazing record of my hours spent working for PEACE.

I would like to share two of the excerpts from the book. The first piece is about Felicia Langer an Israeli human rights lawyer and activist. All of her work has been defending Palestinians and Israeli dissidents. In 1988, she was the vice president of the Israeli League for Human and Civil Rights.

When I came to Israel in 1950 I saw that there was an Arab population under military rule. I couldn’t understand how it was possible that we, the Jews, who were discriminated against so much, could put another people in a prison. I felt suffocated.

The second stage of suffocation occurred in 1967 when the oppression in the Occupied Territories began. I had been a lawyer for two years and I said to myself, “I have a skill, I can do something. I have to do something, otherwise I cannot survive.” I decided to open an office in Jerusalem.

I was told, “You’re a Jew, an Israeli, and a woman, why should Arabs believe you, and you don’t even speak Arabic?” Everybody was skeptical. The mother of my first client came and spoke about her son’s shirt which was stained with blood from his torture in Hebron prison. I thought about my son, Michael. I didn’t speak, but if felt as though there was no barrier between us. We became friends then, without a language, without common culture or origin. You can lie with words, but it’s very hard to lie if you feel something very strongly.

For years we had to fight in order to have a line in the papers about the Occupied Territories. Now it is better. We have peace forces and a strong opposition. But I am not satisfied with the amount of people who are protesting the Occupation. Every day, the death toll is terrible. A society that is tolerating murders is cultivating murder. This tolerance is a tragedy, not only for the Palestinians but also for us. Therefor we have to expose the ugliness of what is happening. If they want to beautify it, we have to expose it relentlessly.

I have so much love for everything which is human, that it is hard to speak about being self-hating. What I really hate is discrimination, I hate inflicting pain and sorrow and I hate murderers. But I very much love those who are fighting against them.

I got a prize at Dachau in memory of a German lawyer who fought against fascism. I asked my friends, “Munich is so close to Dachau. Didn’t you know what was going on?” They answered, “Those who didn’t want to know, didn’t know.” It’s the same in Israel. Nobody can live with the excuse that they don’t know. I think that silence in such a time is complicity.”

The second piece is about the “Women in Black” group which was organized in 1988. Our group still meets at the busiest intersection of the city on Friday nights during rush hour. Mothers are still silently praying for peace all over the world.

Women in Black organized a weekly gathering in Jerusalem. Every Friday form 1pm to 2pm, about eighty women dressed in black gather and stand in a circle holding black signs that read “End the Occupation.” They have been gathering since January 1988, a month after the Intifada, the current Palestinian uprising in the Occupied Territories, began.

More than 3,000 women, Jewish and Arab, have contributed to a quilt by adding a square containing her name and a political slogan, saying or poem.

So here we have arrived with a week of eating unleavened bread and waving branches of palm to mark our sorrow and all around me is the ravages of Us vs. Them – Jesus was all about giving to Caesar what was Caesars; healing and peace. I guess we are just celebrating bling these days with plenty of chocolate on the side.

How are you working on peace? Do you want to know? Do you want to see?

If you purchase anything from Amazon or Powell’s from this site, I will receive a few beans in my bucket!

Post from: www.patriciaswisdom.com

Hosanna

Who’s That Doggie in the Window?

patricia — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 08:08:41 +0000

Zip in the Window ~McEown

At this very moment as my fingers tap the keys, ZIP is looking out the window in the door. It is raining rather vigorously and the squirrels and cats are not out and about right now, but he is hopeful. I have to admit when he starts to bark sometimes it is just startling and loud causing me to jump and bound nearly out of my chair. Now he is racing to the other end of the house to check out the possibility of deer on the orchard side of the house, and the neighbor has company so he will soon race upstairs to survey her driveway for activity. He is vigilant.

He naps often.

I often spend my time on the computer looking at artist’s work, it is my favorite part of Friday afternoons. I like finding blogs and making the connections. I have highlighted my friend Jane’s local sketches and also asked Terrill at Creative Potager to share her work on my site.

Zip by Keith Palmer February 2011

Then into my inbox came a wonderful drawing of ZIP done by Keith Palmer of North Pennine Gallery’s Blog.

Keith’s work often captures my imagination and makes me wish I could head back to UK and see the countryside that he shares; the sheep in pasture, the stiles, and the pubs by the sea. His drawing of Edinburgh just drew me in and I could remember walking that mile and the crush of people.

So thank you Keith Palmer for my lovely rendering of ZIP. I am adding a copy to the gallery wall going up the stairs to my bedroom…the whole family hangs out there.

Say hello to DORIS (Keith’s Westie) for me!

Do You have a favorite spot you wander to enjoy the visuals of their art? Please share.

You might enjoy exploring IT Girls photography BLOG and liking her page!

As always we could use a share! All the good spots are under the share button below.

If you purchase anything from Amazon or Powell’s from this site, I will receive a few beans in my bucket. (This now includes eBooks and Kindle downloads)

Post from: www.patriciaswisdom.com

Who’s That Doggie in the Window?

Creation – A Movie Review

patricia — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 08:07:45 +0000

Sometimes when you need it most the right teacher just comes along. Creation was one of those teachers and an outstanding movie. I can highly recommend it and one might wish to set aside two times to watch it and realize the depth from the story.

The movie is a biographical drama about the life of Charles Darwin for the year before he wrote his book the Origins of the Species. The movie is a 2009 BBC production and has all the grace, charm, and skill they are known for putting into period pieces of work. The cast is excellent and one sees the wife, the scientist and the clergy and not Jennifer Connelly, Paul Bethany, and Jeremy Northam, although their names are what drew me to choosing to watch this piece.

The family is struggling with the death of their beloved 9 year old daughter. This event is the catalyst for Darwin and his wife to see clearly their differences in belief systems. They are deeply in love, but Darwin’s work in evolution and science has allowed for the release of his belief in the church’s doctrine, whereas the opposite has occurred for his wife, who has become more deeply religious and fears that her husband’s new beliefs will not allow them to be together forever and ever, including the afterlife. She knows that she will be reunited with her child in that blessed state; she is comforted by her beliefs.

The scientific community is pushing Darwin to publish his work and take the Church to task, which will allow their studies, work and efforts to move forward and progress the thinking of the nation. Darwin is made physically ill by his mourning, his releasing the belief, his love for his wife and his drive to reveal his knowledge to others and create understanding. He is in a painful neutral zone of change.

He stops trying to understand it and focuses totally on healing his physical self. He is able to hear what he needs to hear, and he opens himself to understanding FAITH rather than just believing. He recovers and he and his family are able to communicate and find their connections; opening to the love they have for each other.

We are witness to a dramatic change process as found within an individual who changed the world’s beliefs in a dramatic way. I found this profound and enlightening.

I have been struggling with making change in my life, and it has meant the loss of many of my belief systems and finding new behaviors and expressions. Susan of Today’s Path emailed me about Gregg Braden’s book The Spontaneous Healing of Belief and I have read this book several times.

Two things began to stand out for me from this book and they are: How can we be instantly healed? And secondly, why do so many people wish to avoid the struggle and effort that may be involved in the neutral zone of change, when it is only through this effort that we can progress into our greater self?

This movie helped me to understand that a belief can be healed in a second – how one proceeds with living after that healing is whether or not the change will have a lasting effect or be hidden away or even masked by physical symptoms and distress.

Braden, also a scientist, reminds repeatedly that we are hardwired to seek comfort and that a situation usually has to become extremely painful for any lasting change to take place. We like to stick with what we know and not take on others problems or challenges.

Change does not happen without discomfort.

Darwin did write his book and I read it in college and found new things to believe in from the reading. Now I read Braden’s book and am finding new things to believe in from studying it. The movie opened the door of my understanding and it was beautiful story telling.

Inspiring!

Have you watched a movie that assisted you in understanding a change you were making? Please share it with us.

If you purchase anything from Amazon or Powell’s from this site, I will receive a few beans in my bucket.

No one paid or promoted this review and I was not given a copy of the movie or the books.

Congratulations are in Order!

Susan Blake is the winner of the stunning book Precious Seconds, by Terrill Welch. Thank you for each one of you who comments on my blog and to all the wonderful readers, I am thankful for your words.

Post from: www.patriciaswisdom.com

Creation – A Movie Review

For Such Beauty is Mine ~A guest post

patricia — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 08:15:32 +0000

For such beauty is mine nearly every day of every week and of every year. It is a gift that I just need to see to have and enjoy. I find that there is a beauty in water that lures me into the flow of life and washes away the suffering that I have created or have allowed to meander within.

For the past two years, I have been wandering a path to the Creative Potager’s door (in this case blog) and enjoying her paintings and photographs. When a friend had to move to the deep, dark interior of the United States, I saw Terrill Welch’s calendar of trees and knew immediately I must send it to my friend to help her heal and not miss our sights and beauty so far from her home.

I am so grateful for the many forms of beauty in my life and I wanted to focus on Everyday Beauty as my Thanksgiving Theme. I could think of no better person, artist; inspirer than Terrill Welch to share with you today.

So I asked her to write a guest post and share her pictures with you and without further ado, here is her sharing.

Thankful for Everyday Beauty

Thanksgiving Day carries with it a long tradition of giving thanks. We can be thankful for many things. We may even come to this annual holiday with a long list to bring forward for acknowledgment. But today I am going to focus our attention on being thankful for the everyday beauty that surrounds us.

It could be the swirling grains in a piece of driftwood next to sea.

Did you notice a small echo of that same shape repeating itself in the sky? The day is quiet. It might even rain. This is the stillness that feeds resilience and inner strength. I often long for this melancholy silence.

Or it might the mist coming through the trees with a distant sun trying to break through.

There is no greater mystery than west coast fog draping itself through the trees, gathering damp fingers near the nape of your neck, leaving nothing behind but its cool breath.

Other times it can be the soft light of an early summer evening dancing off the clouds and reflected onto the surface of the ocean. How we wait at these times in anticipation of something greater. Often, it will simply get dark as the heavy clouds near the horizon devour any drifting rays of brilliance.

Our surroundings are not always so tranquil though are they? Sometimes waves crash and bellow with rage in the shadows. We may be standing on shore feeling helpless while noticing, even then, how beautiful it is.

Then, just as we believe we can stand no more and we are too weary to resist, the storm breaks.

Possibly, it is like this when we are thankful for everyday beauty. Happy Thanksgiving.

Thank you so much Patricia for asking me to your place of wisdom on your special holiday.

Thank you Terrill

I have a gift for one of my very special commenters, I wish I could send one to each and every one of you, but I will have to make a random selection from those of you willing to make a comment. I am giving one lucky commenter a copy of Terrill’s new book of her paintings and pictures…

You can take a look at a few pages at this Blurb Site

Just one word will suffice to win the book for you.

I hope that this experience and read assisted you in enjoying the beauty of everyday moments.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of the folks celebrating – A holiday about food and we eat! Everyday Beauty.

Terrill Welch ~artist, photographer, writer

Online Gallery
Creative Potager blog
Twitter
Photography at redbubble
Facebook: Terrill Welch
Email: tawelch@shaw.ca
Phone: 1-250-539-5877

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For Such Beauty is Mine ~A guest post

Temple Grandin – A Movie Review

patricia — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 08:22:46 +0000

Temple Grandin

Sam Juliano at Wonders In The Dark has made several requests that I review a movie here at Patricia’s Wisdom. I do not very often go to the Theatre because it is just too expensive for me right now; I do watch at least one movie a week, through the mailbox system of delivery.

However this 2010 movie just popped out at me as it came up in my “recommended for you” folder week after week, I had to read the plot summary and then go on line to look it up and discover it was a biography of a rather exceptional person. NOW, I was interested.

One reason I did not want to watch this movie was I do not like any of the movies that Claire Danes has acted in and that I have seen. She just screws up her face in the most bazaar fashion, it always distracts and I find myself wondering if she is going to cry or just drop over dead – No such luck. Danes was too hearty and healthy to play Beth in Little Women and I find myself talking back to her in every scene, the last time I was ill, I just fast forwarded over her scenes in that movie.

At least, she had brown hair in Temple Grandin. Actually, she was excellent and truly captured Temple’s actions and interpretations. And then again, Ms Grandin liked her portrayal in the movie too. The nice actor from Chocolate played Grandin’s mother and was so good.

Here is how Netflix summarizes the story:

”Emmy winner Claire Danes stars as Temple Grandin, a brilliant young woman coping with the stigma of autism at a time when it was misunderstood. With the support of her loving family, Temple dedicates herself to learning and becomes a famed animal behaviorist. Her passion for animals gives her a unique ability to understand them, and she fulfills her love of education by teaching about autism and the most humane ways to treat livestock and pets.”

Director:Mick Jackson
Genres:Dramas, Biographical Dramas, Dramas based on real life, Social Issue Dramas, Tearjerkers, 20th Century Period Pieces
This movie is:Emotional, Inspiring, Heartfelt, Feel-good

Here is Temple Grandin’s lecture on TED

Want more Temple Grandin Information? She has a whole page on Wikipedia and numerous websites.

Temple Grandin understands animal behavior. She understands Autism and she understands how minds work and knows how we need the whole spectrum of minds, working at their best capacity to make this world a better place.

“Nature is Cruel, so we do not need to be”
Temple Grandin

I watched this movie 4 times before I put it back in the mail box to return. I cried each time, Grandin gets up to thank her mother for all her efforts and for not giving up on her. You can read about her mother and she has written a book about her experience, it is called: A Thorn In My Pocket

I adored the scene where Temple’s Mother confronts the doctor with his diagnosis and then just moves forward on her own to help her child become the best that she can be. She did not give up.

I do not give up, I am an exceptional mother with exceptional children and I could relate to this movie on so many levels. It was beautiful storytelling and well worth the effort.

I just love to go to the movie theatre and when the lights go down, I feel myself transported into the world of the film. I enjoy the feeling of leaving the theatre and the sense of re-entry into the world; it is as though I can see with new eyes. I do not like going to the theatre and paying to watch all the ads and product placements. How do you feel about going to the theatre and about all the advertizing?

(Yes, I do realize the ads pay for the movie making – but they have become overwhelming to me recently) The ads did not detract from the important story being told.

I would also ask if you know what the definition is of the “exceptional child” in the world of education? I have used that definition intentionally in this review.

Here is my review Mr. Juliano – I have a few more coming up in the new year. I still like reading the books best because then I choose how the scene looks and how the characters appear – my imagination likes to play.

If you purchase anything from amazon from this site, I will receive a few beans in my bucket.

No one paid me to review this movie, nor did I receive any compensation for mentioning her mother’s book.

A Gift for my Readers and Commenters!
Yep! Come by and make a comment on Patricia’s Wisdom on Nov. 24,25,26 because I am giving away a lovely, beautiful gift to one of my readers that day!

Post from: www.patriciaswisdom.com

Temple Grandin – A Movie Review

Jane Dillon Wingfield – Local Artist

patricia — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 08:32:09 +0000

Oly Market Scene

I want to share my birthday gift with you right now. My friend and book group sister Jane Wingfield offered me a print of her lovely art as a birthday present, because I so enjoy her work and being in her good company, and because I was overjoyed by her offer, I requested to be a bit greedy and share her art here and give you the link to her blog where she shares even more of her drawings. Jane said, Yes!

Jane is off to Connecticut to celebrate her daughter’s wedding. I did a piece about Lianna and her Juvenile Diabetes fundraiser earlier in the summer right after the 4th of July, when we were celebrating Jane’s Birthday, which is on that day!

Every week I go to our Farmer’s Market from April to December and I do so love how Jane’s sketches capture the joyful energy. There is a touch of whimsy to many of her sketches that produce a feeling of delight for me.

Schilter Family Pumpkin Patch

Jane works full time for the State of Washington and has shared her wisdom with 3 amazing children and numerous pets and critters. Her partner John travels all over the earth helping Unity Churches develop and grow. She is a high energy person and enjoys being with people, she asks the tough questions and laughs easily to keep us from becoming bogged down and uninspired.

I loaned Jane my Foley Food Mill, because she was making Apple Butter to share with all the guests at the wedding. She also gave me a jar – yum. She returned my pan so shining and scrubbed, I seriously considered asking her to assist me in cleaning up my other cookware!

Regents Park London

Wasn’t this a great birthday gift?

Her enthusiasm for living is infectious.

Do you have a favorite local artist who helps you in joy your community? Are you drawn to the art? Looking forward to your comments.

Marcia Orchids Nighttime

If you enjoyed reading wander over and see what is happening at Wise Ears and Biking Architect

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If you purchase anything from Amazon from this site I will receive a few beans in my bucket. Thank you

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Jane Dillon Wingfield – Local Artist

Ladybug Recreation or Re-Creation

patricia — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 08:56:50 +0000

Just at that moment, when I thought I could not fix one more meal for company and my kiddos, just at that moment, when I was waiting to see if my puppy would get the bone shard out of his esophagus and the surgery would be successful, just at that moment, when I did not think I could find another penny to pay the bill, just at that moment when my plantar fasciitis rolled out the pain, and just at that moment when I thought I had made my SELF disappear a packet came to my mailbox.

It was a leather ladybug coin purse from Davina Haisell of Shades of Crimson.

It renewed my spirit of hope, just as the ladybug is the symbol of woman recreating herself – it brought me back to my sense of self and joy in the midst of busyness and stress.

There is nothing better in the world than to have someone let you know they are thinking of you.

Thank You Davina!

Can you think of a thoughtful surprise that has come your way just at the moment of greatest need? What are you thankful for in times of high stress, confusion, or busyness?

Let’s talk about gratitude and hope in the comments section; looking forward to what you share.

If you enjoyed reading words on this blog, you might also enjoy reading at my other blogs, Biking Architect and WiseEars also?

If you purchase anything from Amazon from this site, I will receive a few beans in my bucket.

Post from: www.patriciaswisdom.com

Ladybug Recreation or Re-Creation

Summer Through the Eyes of William Shakespeare

patricia — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 08:43:04 +0000

Sonnet 18

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer’s lease hath all too short a date:
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimm’d;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance or nature’s changing course untrimm’d;
But thy eternal summer shall not fade
Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;
Nor shall Death brag thou wander’st in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou growest:
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this and this gives life to thee.

May your summer’s day be full of blessings…

Post from: www.patriciaswisdom.com

Summer Through the Eyes of William Shakespeare

Wakes Up All My Senses

patricia — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 08:23:18 +0000

I woke up it was a Chelsea Morning
And the first thing that I heard
Was a song outside my window
And the traffic wrote the words
It came ringing up like Christmas Bells
Rapping up like pipes and drums

Oh won’t you stay we’ll put on the day
And we’ll wear it ‘till the night comes

I woke up it was a Chelsea Morning
And the first thing that I saw
Was the sun through yellow curtains
And a rainbow on my wall
Blue, red, green and gold to welcome you
Crimson crystal bead to beckon

Oh won’t you stay and we’ll put on the day
There’s a sun show every second

Now the curtain opens on a portrait of today
And the streets are paved with passersby
Pigeons fly and papers lie
Waiting to blow away

I woke up it was a Chelsea Morning
And the first thing that I knew
There was milk and toast and honey
And a bowl of orange juice too
And the light poured in like butterscotch
Stuck to all my senses

Oh won’t you stay and we’ll put on the day
And we’ll talk in present tenses

When the curtain closes
And the rainbow runs away
I will bring you incense owls by night
By jewel light, by candle light, if only you will stay
Oh my darling won’t you wake up, it’s a Chelsea Morning

This song by Joni Mitchell just makes me feel alive. The beauty of summer is here and we are awakening to marine air burning off to 77’F (25’C) days and cooling to 50’F (10’C) nights – Stunning. Breathtaking. Exquisite.

What makes you sing a song or happy dance or just feel full of joy?

If your enjoyed what you read here you might enjoy checking out my other sites Wise Ears and Biking Architect

If you purchase anything from Amazon from this site, I will receive a few beans in my bucket! Thank you.

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Wakes Up All My Senses

Wise Ears Invitation

patricia — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 08:04:53 +0000

I am cordially inviting all my readers to come over to Wise Ears, my new professional listening service website. I hope you each will consider signing up for the newsletter and partaking of the services offered. The first 20 people to sign up will get a free listening session. For details check out the sign up box. My business will grow through referrals and word of mouth recommendations.

We all need to be heard – so let’s get started.

See you over at Wise Ears this week.

Thank you,
Patricia Hamilton

“It was okay. The other guys did not know.” ~Josh, age 10

I would love it if you would share this invitation on the social media sites listed below.

Comments are welcome.

If you purchase anything from Amazon from this site, I will receive a few beans in my bucket

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Wise Ears Invitation