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THE PAPER GARDEN: An Artist Begins Her Life’s Work at 72 ~Molly Peacock

patricia — Mon, 14 May 2012 08:55:30 +0000

The Paper Garden was/is a must read book for me, I was drawn to it from our first encounter and have not been disappointed by it even after reading it two times. This book has its own unique story of how it arrived in my hands, even as it is a unique story about a unique artist.

An Extraordinary Book a Wonder Full Read

I first encountered The Paper Garden when I was searching for a gift for my artist friend Jane’s 60th birthday. I have written about Jane before, actually several times, for you see, Jane was waiting to hear if she would be “pink slipped” or if she would be moved to a new state project for less pay and retain her health insurance. Her optimism was infectious as she sorted our whether or not to start her own art business yet hoping to make it to retirement on what she could earn; that seemed an exciting but worrisome leap.

Jane is one of the long term members of one of my book groups. I wanted the gift to be just right and knew it would need to be a book. I went to the TLC online book tours site and started reading reviews.

There it was, The Paper Garden, as I read that it is a biography of an artist who beings her life work at 72 and realized it was about second chances and opportunities, I knew I needed to choose this book and wrap it with care.

Nine months after the purchase, TLC book tours emailed and ask if I would consider reviewing the book. Bloomsbury sent me a copy. Of course! I would love to read this book and it was a lovely and memorable read.

The author, Molly Peacock is a poet and teacher, who has included memories of her own life and second chances which parallel the artist’s life. They were meant to be friends I am sure of it. Peacock used all the historic references she could find and visited London and Ireland numerous times to research and touch base with the still existing works of art, which are treasures of the Royal Museum – all 900 some paper collages. Much of her primary work involved reading the thousands of letters written to the artist’s sister and preserved by family members over time. Both the biography and the memoirs are remarkable stories and how they weave renders them more endearing.

Mary Granville Pendarves Delany was born in England on May 14, 1700. Her Aunt trained her to be a member of the royal court, but she was never chosen and rather at age 16 married off to an older, alcoholic, insecure fellow with a castle. Mary Granville Pendarves was confined to the castle with a huge hole in the roof, and so she mastered her embroidery, designed incredibly stunning gowns for herself and ladies of the court. She sewed and embroidered with mastery. Her other endeavors included rebuilding and designing the castle gardens into a remarkable show piece.

Pendarves died of a heart attack before he could change his will, so the estate went to a niece and Mary was left with a widow’s stipend.

She married a kind and loving man, who was a clergy in Dublin, Ireland and they had a delightful time together. Mrs. D as she was called in the book, painted the walls of the new chapel; she and her husband designed and built a remarkable and stunningly beautiful garden for their home. Mr. Delany was older also and he died a few years after Mrs. D’s beloved sister died.

In her grief, Mrs. D became a sort of companion to a Duchess, the King, and Queen and though she had a house in London spent a good deal of each year with the Duchess. It is here as she grieved the loss of her sister and husband and with 72 year old hands and eyes, she began making her botanical collages. These intricate layers of cut paper also served as a record of what was in the garden preserving the botanical names that were being assigned to the flowers.

Mrs. D not only cut and sculpted the paper into works of art, which are still revered; she also made the paper, the paint and the flour and water paste which was used to produce the pieces. There are 14 chapters each beginning with a template of one of the collages she cut – even in my paperback edition.

The beauty of this book from the words, the lives and livings shared, the art, history, science, and the blooms makes this volume a gallery showcase. This story was strikingly told by the poet and it is masterful.

I have put my copy by my reading chair, so that anytime I feel as though I am too old or that I have not accomplished something worthwhile, I can open it and discover it anew. Just as I am full of wonder for each flower I experience, it is thus with this fine book and awesome read; I think I shall never grow tired of it.

“But in life our routines are the sign posts of destiny.” ~Molly Peacock

I feel privileged to be writing this review on the anniversary of Mary Grenville Pendarves Delany’s Birthday

A stunning book

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British Edition also available at Powell’s for $1 more.

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The Perfect Mother’s Day Gift

patricia — Thu, 10 May 2012 08:00:53 +0000

Ruth M Hamilton

I love to give gifts and I pride myself in giving gifts that truly match up to the person to whom they are intended. The specific event is not so important, it is the thought and intention which matter the most.

Mother’s Day is celebrated in the middle of May in the USA. My older brother holds the record for giving the best gift to our Mother by being born male on Mother’s Day. He was the first grandchild added to my Mother’s family tree and she was so proud to hold that honor. The two daughters had to work very hard for this event and we never quite measured up.

My Mother was very proud of all of her children and extremely equal with her attentions. She taught us all that we must work very hard to achieve anything in life, how to be good citizens and thoughtful people. She wanted my brother to be an elementary school teacher, my sister to be a special education teacher and she thought maybe I could become a secretary because I was so organized. My brother became a policeman, my sister a reading specialist and me, well (sigh) I write a blog or three.

My siblings had a hard time learning to read and I had dyscalcula (she just thought it was being lazy on my part); my siblings took on learning how to be great at what they did and to show her how wonderful they were. My Mother hoped we would win scholarships to college and get awards for our efforts. Rather she became the most requested 1st grade teacher in the district, not because she was a great entertainer, but because the children who left her classroom at the end of the year had a strong foundation to go forward and they felt good about school; had a sense of accomplishment. She earned many a reward from the parents of her students and so many of her students attended her Memorial Service 5 years ago.

My brother did win the Volunteer of the year award before Mother died and she was so proud.

She was so proud of my sister for her frugality and talent with earning and investing money, at one time she thought she should have encouraged her to be an accountant, numbers were her forte’, instead of a reading teacher, which was so difficult. Mother was proud of how hard she worked and her perseverance. She was proud of how carefully my sister followed in her example and how disciplined they both were.

My Mother felt she had taken care of me by getting me to marry a man who would have a stable income and who she liked so very much and he would always make sure I had the basic necessities of life. As a team, we brought her home after she fractured her spine and I took care of her 24/7 – right to the end. I heard her confessions and there were no real regrets and I valued her clear global voice.

Her last Mother’s Day, she told me that I was an amazing mother – loving, guiding, kind, and creative – and she forgave me for sometimes yelling my anger; she apologized for being so critical of me at the time it had seemed appropriate.

Now is time for the best Mother’s Day gift of all – her grandchildren are doing her proud. Those awards are coming this year – IT Girl has just won the highest honor for her master’s thesis at San Francisco State University and was nominated for another award for writing excellence. Librarian Girl just had a week of 32 hugs from her students as she completes her first year of full time teaching. Entrepreneurial Girl has been promoted in her position 2 times this year into management with her own car. Dancing Girl will graduate from Law School this Mother’s Day. Alaska Girl has her driver’s license and is moving towards high school graduation with honors. First born Grandson, and oldest of the crew, is off teaching math and reading for the Navy having to leave his wife and children at home for a long period of time.

The perfect Mother’s Day gift is coming true and I think she knows – I’m sure of it.

Have you ever given the perfect gift? Was someone proud of you? Did you receive a great award for your talents?

Happy Mother’s Day !

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

CONGRATULATIONS
TO Vered DeLeeuw for winning the book FOODTRIENTS and the APRON from the author Grace O and TLC online book tours.

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The Perfect Mother’s Day Gift

Gullible

patricia — Mon, 07 May 2012 08:24:34 +0000

Gullible is the right word to describe me. Yesterday at this time of day I was in a battle with a telemarketer on my cellphone. I am having a hard time forgiving myself for raising my voice to this fellow and anger at myself for answering the call. I want to think of myself as compassionate and kind 24/7.

The day started with a phone call from an unknown source and with the right area code and city name for where one of my daughter’s resides. My first thought was that maybe it was a medical center or police and there had been an accident. I answered the phone. It was a recording about credit card services. I hung up and became angry at myself for thinking the worst and being gullible to a marketing call. I will say that both my business and my personal phone numbers are on the DO NOT CALL LIST and I changed phone companies last autumn because my carrier would not honor my request. I still get about a dozen calls per week from marketers. I have blocked several calls that I recognize and just do not answer many of the unknowns.

Then came gullible yesterday. I was in the middle of listening to WAIT WAIT… DON’T TELL ME! on NPR. I love to laugh and I can knit socks during this show each week and exercise my hands. I was listening on my cellphone.

I was busy with 4 needles at the most complicated section, and the phone rang and cut out the program. I reached over suspending yarn in my free fingers and complicating the yarn to answer the phone? It was a strange number and I am not sure why?

The heavy accented male voice on the line told me that I was being offered a rescue service which was tracking my computer which was full of viruses and infections. The Mother Board was a mess. I responded, by saying that my computer is fine and I am on the “do not call list” so remove me from their list and do not call again. I then hung up.

The phone rang again, and I answered to put this number on the blocked list. On the other end was the same fellow now yelling at me because I hung up on him; he is saying he is trying to save my computer. I was neither kind nor compassionate; I yelled right back at him, “YOU SIR Are a SCAMMER! DO Not CALL ME EVER AGAIN!

The phone rang in from that number 6 more times. I have now missed 11 minutes of my program and I am so angry. I am angry for the folks who do not know this is a scam and that it puts a tracking system which can steal credit card numbers from you. I am so angry that this man is yelling at me and telling me he is a Good Guy trying to help me.

I calm myself down, rip out a row of knitting because I cannot remember where I am and start over. I also realize that I can download the program onto the phone and still hear the show. I have something I can do to remedy. I feel better. I am frustrated that I cannot tell the world and save others from this scam and potential travesty.

Deep breath in and deep breath out.

Later in the day another gullible experience occurs, though this time I laugh at myself for being foolish. We go to the grocery store where they are playing a game with lots of prizes. I have a game board and pieces to attach come at the cash register. I am hoping to win one of the 4 cars, because my Librarian Girl needs a car, or the mortgage payoff to allow my partner to retire before age 72. I have been so hopeful and dutiful at playing the pieces.

The shopper ahead of me purchased $69 (US) worth of groceries. I notice he has no fruit or veggies going into the bags and he has not brought his own bags. He received 32 stickers for his game board. I think I am going to get lots and lots of stickers because I am having my book group for dinner and I have purchase enough food for a dinner for 12, many items I normally would not purchase. Yep! I have spent $150 (US) and they are all food items – only the 2 bottles of wine are taxed. I receive 1 sticker game piece.

It is at this very moment, I realize one must purchase the specific products which are part of the game. Organic veggies, fruit, and the other items I normally purchase from this store are not playing the game. My optimism just slides down to my shoes and I felt foolish and gullible.

Then I laughed and laughed and laughed at myself! Forgiveness achieved.

Have you ever had a telemarketer or scammer make you feel gullible? Does your hope sometimes blind your perspective? Are you willing to play the game?
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Gullible

Satisfying Conversation

patricia — Thu, 03 May 2012 08:46:56 +0000

Conversation, good solid conversation, real conversation, deep thinking conversation, historic conversation, and fresh and invigorating interpretation was just what I needed this past weekend. I set out to achieve just that at the Pacific Northwest Conference of the United Church of Christ (PNW-UCC) annual meeting in Pasco, Washington. I was content and satisfied by the conversations I experienced.

Clergy in the UCC church are highly trained to listen, interpret, read, research and are able to communicate well in a variety of arenas. These individuals are keenly aware of the culture, news, politics, and how people interact and need to understand situations and events in order to live their lives fully and participate in the world as good stewards, leaders and parents. There is a great deal of attention paid to teaching the youth how to be in conversation, interpret and keep thinking and learning. There is a curiosity and a freedom to question. I watched an 8 year process towards change in governance being discussed and challenged right up to the call for the vote. People truly felt heard and respected. There was no yelling or shouting. There were no age restrictions or gender bias. There was a respectful honoring – lots of contemplation and debate. I was planning on voting one direction and after the discussion and good night of sleep, I changed my mind. It was satisfying.

One thing I cherished in the weekend, that there were no “sound bites” except in the humor of the speeches and lectures, which were extremely fun, funny and informative. It was wonderful to hear folks clarifying what they heard so they could respond to the idea shared and move the conversation in many directions. It was savory to witness true heart/head and head/heart connections being made.

Now the group was not perfect, no way! Lots of the young folks did not even speak to the elders. Several groups came together and did not connect with others. Several people boldly stated that they did not receive an answer to their question even when it was restated. That conversation went on past my bedtime, and I was heartened to see it had created new friend bonds in the morning, when they had reached a point of understanding that enabled them to disagree and to agree upon their disagreement.

I was hungry for the conversation and the depth.

In so many of my daily interactions, I am being told, “Oh I never discuss religion or politics,” “I always keep the conversation positive”; “I don’t know”. These statements assume that discussion or discussing change is negative, religious or political. How does one improve their society without knowing that there is something different that could be accomplished? Without learning the new?

We know that the brain does not make a decision or a change without new research and having conversations about it. I have written about how we make decisions and change several times. If you are just following orders or directions of suggestions and ideas of others – you are just memorizing another path and not choosing; there is no dialogue or integrating of concepts.

I was hungry to have a meaningful, heartfelt conversation.

I have returned home satisfied and fulfilled.

When was the last time you had a heart to heart, mind to mind satisfying conversation? Do you hunger for these? Some people are happy on a restricted diet, I know I am weary of conversation these days, I need to establish trust, how about you?

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Satisfying Conversation

The Riot Within: My Journey From Rebellion To Redemption ~Rodney King

patricia — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 08:08:07 +0000

The Riot Within is an important story to be told and shared in our time. It is Rodney King’s telling of how he became an ICON in the civil rights movement and how that icon status affected his personal life over the past 20 years. It is the 20 year anniversary of the beating he received in Los Angeles.

King has been beaten down most of his life; the moments when someone was not doing it to him, he was busy blaming himself and “beating himself up” primarily thorough alcohol abuse and drug use. He could be an icon for a child of poverty, or a child of substandard education, or the child of an alcoholic parent, or just a survivor of a racist environment.

King is holding onto self- blame for the riots that followed the verdict and for the deaths of people who participated in the riots. As the reader, I am asking, where is the advocate for this person, where is the compassion for this human being become icon, and did he truly need to be on Celebrity Rehab to prove his self-worth?

I am appalled that his lawyers took such a huge cut of his settlement and victimized him again. Lawyer Brutality. We need to know this information. We need to stop blaming and victimizing King. We could demand that his legal counselors give the money back. We could re-exam our prejudice and racism in our culture.

King will probably never reclaim his icon status, and yet because he is doing the ‘work’ he may regain his own selfhood and recovery. The man is job hunting and still has pain.

This book needs to be in every High School Library and included in college reading lists. It is a powerful messenger. Timely.

I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to read and review this book. Thank you Mr. King for writing the book, for HarperOne for sending me a copy and for TLC book tours for asking.

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The Riot Within: My Journey From Rebellion To Redemption ~Rodney King

Shopping with Awareness

patricia — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 08:07:06 +0000

Shopping has been a time consuming project on my list these past few weeks. I am working on health related issues and putting new measures into practice with as much awareness as possible. I realize that folks in other countries besides the USA might find this information unnecessary and shocking, but it is what we must contend with here and at this point in time.

In order to comply with my new health insurance policy, I must have certain tests every year. If I do not comply between now and age 65 I will be dropped from my policy and thus not be eligible for Medicare at age 65. (I will still need to purchase a supplemental policy to go along with Medicare and those are not inexpensive either.)

I personally pay $524.00 (US) a month for a major medical policy with a $3,000.00 deductible which requires me to co-pay for each visit. I must see my Physician every year at least one time and I must have a mammogram every year. I pay full price for these services until I have covered the deductible.

There is no coverage for any alternative medical treatment, massage therapy or herbal supplements.

It has taken me 3 months to plan and take care of the first requirements for 2012. I have met and seen my Doctor, had lab work completed, and a mammogram.

Walking into the Doctor’s office cost me $600.00
Getting the lab work completed was $662.00 (My shopping paid off – see below)
And the Mammogram was $366.46

Who can afford all this? Well not many people can find $1,500.00 and there is a tendency for some to just suffer and save the whole deductible for the Emergency Room.

I instead decided to go shopping. I have no choice over the Physicians approved for my policy, so I interviewed several from the approved listed for my $600 and found a nice young woman who was highly recommended and willing to work with me.

Now I went shopping for Mammograms. There are only 2 imaging centers here and they both cost the same. One makes appointments; the other is a drop in center. The next closest center charged the same price but I would have needed to add gas money into the equation making this option too expensive. I chose the place with the appointments and did not have to sit and wait. (This is new because of the Affordable Health Care Act – Insurance companies cannot randomly set the price for required Mammograms any more)

The really big SHOPPING event was center stage. I started interviewing Labs to get estimates on the 3 lab tests that I needed to have. One group charged over $1,000 for one of the tests, the Hospital charged $600 for the same test, an independent Lab group charged $288.00, and the third independent lab group charged $60.00. For the last 2 labs listed, I did all the paperwork.

I chose the last lab. Not because it was the cheapest, but because I found out all the labs use the same facility to process the actual tests and produce the results. Because if I prepaid through my Naturopathic Physician all three of my tests came to a total of $131.00 and she will mail the results to my new Provider Doctor.

Now I will start the same process for getting the cyst removed off my spine. Remember it is $600.00 just to walk into the Doctor’s office. This last shopping experience took me 3 months to work out all the details. But it is good training as my partner is studying the Medicare plans. I can see clearly how they work and how much expense and energy is going to be needed to maintain our health. It is all good and good practice.

I am willing to be aware. One cannot just assume that it is going to work like company or government policies have worked in the past. I have met 3 people who are trying to get back into the work force just this week, because they are overwhelmed by the cost and time this kind of healthcare is taking and none of them have severe health problems. (Medicare does not cover alternative treatments at all)

As Comedian Jack Benny is quoted,“GROWING OLD IS NOT FOR SISSIES!”

Do you keep a copy of your own health records? Are you aware of all the steps necessary and all the places to look to get the best services? Is the Government in your State working for you or against you? When you do not feel well, who will assist you with this kind of shopping?

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Shopping with Awareness

FoodTrients: Age Defying Recipes For A Sustainable Life ~Grace O

patricia — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 08:15:06 +0000

When TLC Book Tours asked me to review a cookbook, I was delighted and thought this will be great fun. I enjoy cooking and I love to eat (oh my do I love to eat), and that this book was about healthy eating truly lit up my expectations. The book was not disappointing – it is very beautiful and well put together with all the radiant food colors dazzling the eye and igniting the tasting anticipation.

I spent several hours just looking through the book and figuring out what I might prepare and enjoy. I particularly liked the coded message on each page that demonstrated the health promotion features of each recipe. This chart gave me a quick reference guide at the onset.

“Studies suggest that by consuming the ingredients in FoodTrients, exercising, and managing your weight, you may add as many as 10 to 20 years to your lifespan.” (from the order page)

So what is FoodTrients?

The cookbook is called this because it is the study and use of the nutrients in the foods that defines it’s wholesome, beneficial outcomes. It is designing meals around the nutrients and how these nutrients provide what our bodies need to defy aging, repair, and energize. It is a revolutionary way to prepare foods to start with the nutrients.

The recipes were also subtitled with headers like: Age Defying; Health Enhancing, Youth Elixir, Damage Reversing, Inflammation Fighter, Skin Strengthener, etc.

I asked the newlywed engineers next door if they wanted to try some of the recipes and here is what they said:

“ Mango tapioca: very tasty and easy to make, never would have thought to purée fruit to put in a tapioca. Since this is a book about eating for health I am curious if you could substitute the evaporated milk for regular milk? Overall good and easy recipe.”

“Trip Tip – very, very tasty and simple marinade. I followed the recipe but next time I’m going to try a few things differently. I personally did not think it needed to marinade overnight and then 2 hours in a slow oven is too time consuming after a long day at the office. I think it would have been just as wonderful grilling or broiling.”

The Guide to Age-Defying FoodTrients Index was worth the whole book as were the pictures and graphics.

The master chef, biologist fellow who organizes my partner’s bike tours gave a recipe a try too:

John said:
“I made the Tilapia which was very easy to prepare and served it with brown rice, cranberries and silvered almonds ( his own recipe). I did not have the specialty wrap so used parchment paper and it worked very well too. This is a great dish to serve to company and very attractive. Everyone at my table who eats fish thought it was excellent. I am not concerned about the nutrient labels or what the dish is supposed to do, I just want to serve good food and this was Good”.

Grace O the author has more than 35 years of experience as a cooking instructor, chef, as well as running restaurants, operating senior healthcare facilities, and studying the healing properties of food.

FoodTrients is based on her scientific research and ancient knowledge of medicinal herbs, and natural ingredients from many cultures all around the world. The author emphasizes organic.

I am going to serve several of these recipes to my book group for my May and June meetings at my house. I am excited to figure out which ones! Both my groups are folks who are into age defying and healthy recipes so I am pleased to be able to share.

Thank you TLC Book Tours for sending me a copy of this book to review.

You can sign up for the FoodTrients newsletter

For a comment one lucky reader will have the opportunity to receive a give away book and apron from the author! Offer available in the USA and Canada…Drawing will occur at the end of the book tour – about 2 weeks.

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

Hope you will share!

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FoodTrients: Age Defying Recipes For A Sustainable Life ~Grace O

POETRY a Movie Review

patricia — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 08:18:59 +0000

Mija is a 66 year old woman who lives in a city in a rural province of South Korea. She is raising her middle school aged grandson as her now divorced daughter works in another city. She is a pensioner and makes some of her income by working as a maid/caregiver to a senior male who has had a major stroke.

POETRY is a movie about a rather plain ordinary older woman. The Korean filmmakers did not submit it to the American Awards system, so it has not been nominated or received awards, which means it has not received much attention here in the states. It is also about an older woman living a rather ordinary life and many would not find this an interesting story and it would seem too slow.

Mija has been told several times that she speaks poetically and when she sees that there is a poetry writing class at the cultural center nearby she decides to take the class and write a poem. The famous instructor asks the students to be aware of everything in their environment and to be open to hearing what nature and sounds are saying to them; they are to discover their feelings and find the words to describe what they are experiencing. The students are eager and patient and respectful.

When the door to all the sounds of nature creates awareness by opening it also permits the harder, uglier, and tougher noises and feelings to be revealed. These too are messages to be gleaned into the poem for the class. Mija is busy taking notes in her book of the beauty, confusions,blossoms and sorrows.

I was introduced to this movie by Sam Juliano at Wonders In The Dark, where every week movie viewing is shared and my list of what to watch grows and grows. Just about every writer about POETRY thought it should have been submitted for awards and there were wonder full words of praise for the photography, the production, the story and the acting. I just knew I would need to see this film.

It is available from many sources for streaming now and rental. I have watched it 3 times and found more to enjoy and discover with each screening. I would like to encourage each of you to find the time to watch this movie. It is a special experience, a profound discovery within a plain story.

No one paid or sent me anything for this review and I did not receive remuneration.

Do you write poems? Does writing open you up to your feelings – the beautiful and fragrant as well as the difficult and tough? Has a new movie been an award winner for you?

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POETRY a Movie Review

The Art Of The Sale: Learning From the Masters About the Business of Life ~Philip Delves Broughton

patricia — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 08:07:39 +0000

I am very enthusiastic about this book. THE ART OF THE SALE is about change and success and I am always enthusiastic about those topics. I picked up this book with the first opportunity that presented itself because I thought it was going to be a difficult read and I had lots of tasks to complete with so much company arriving at my house, I wanted guaranteed focused time. I could hardly put the book down, it was a great read and so well written.

Mr. Broughton has traveled the globe interviewing the very top salesmen and women. He believes that we are all sales people and that we all need to be sales people, because this is the basic way we connect to others in our world and it is how we get our needs met. Here he tells the stories of how these individuals developed their skills and sharpened their talents. It is fascinating.

At first I thought I should just recommend this book to bloggers and writers, because I think the stories and tools are such valuable lessons, then I slept on that idea and think this book is ideal for everyone.

“Sales is nothing more than the purely human ordeal of rejection and acceptance”

I have taken 2 marketing classes this past year and learned a great deal. I am still not able to implement good marketing strategies into job interviews or marketing my blogs. It is not that I do not believe in myself or my words, but marketing is big, big, big picture work; the salesman or saleswoman does the one on one work of promotion. This is the ART OF THE CLOSE. After reading this book, I realize that I have lots of knowledge about marketing, I am not fast enough in this environment, and to be truly successful at this business I will need to hire someone and I still have to learn how to be a good sales person because I am not a natural.

My youngest child is a natural and, as she says, #1. I over talk myself and the customer out of the sale. I do not know when to stop. I try to convince folks. I am not afraid of rejection and I can use it well to learn and grow, but I have to be too “honest” about what I am trying to sell. I am not a good trickster or promiser and since I am working on selling “change” and releasing “fear”, I have chosen a very difficult market to reach. I also do not have enough WANTS. I have to teach my classes at University for a couple of years before I have a waiting list; folks think they know how to think and think ethically because they are not being arrested and the noise in their brains is running all the time.

RESILIENCE

“…being committed to finding a meaningful purpose in life, the belief that one can influence one’s surroundings and the outcome of events, and the belief that one can learn and grow from both positive and negative life experiences.”
“The folks with the most ‘no s’ made the most money.”
“ …this acceptance of rejection and failure as essential to building the muscle necessary for eventual success.”

The stories are about real people and how they succeeded at selling whether it was at street fairs, door to door, on a showroom floor, through big industries such as IBM, and Boeing right through to how to do Internet sales. It takes a salesman or a saleswoman to close the deal that the marketing folks have set the stage for – you can only close if you meet the NEED of the other.

Martin Shanker asked the author during his interview this question: “What do you most want for your children? The answer, he told me [Broughton] after I fumbled to find my own, was this: the ability to meet their own needs.” “We want our children not merely to be self-sufficient, but to be able to meet the needs any human has in order to live a fulfilling life.”

Selling is about understanding and using your own needs and emotions to find fulfillment.

This book is very valuable information sharing. Selling inspires thinking skills and faith, when one stops being told what to believe (formulas) and what to say and can truly think and act . The Art Of The Sale is what we will need when we give up playing games and being entertained, it is about the art of living life.

I am grateful for TLC online book tours and The Penguin Press for sharing this book with me – It was eye opening and full of great information.

If you order anything from Amazon (including Kindle) or Powell’s or from this site, I will receive a few beans in my bucket.

Post from: www.patriciaswisdom.com

The Art Of The Sale: Learning From the Masters About the Business of Life ~Philip Delves Broughton

TASTE

patricia — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 08:12:58 +0000

My eyes, hands, nose and ears have all reached out to select this lovely green reward. As the shoots are just venturing forth from garden beds in my world, I know this gem has traveled far to catch all my senses.

I have brought it home just for me and now as sunshine burns back the fog and mist of morning walk, I pick up my treasure and begin the task of preparation. Two good thumps to the side of the sink and the leaves relax to allow the water to cleanse. Thick stem cut away and set aside for potassium broth. Swift, sharp blade to the top edge and then a slice to create the halves; it is wounded.

Red handled veggie scissors snip the prickly tips and remind me of my mother’s hands at work by the sink; it is a memory. Small spoon digs into the silky choke to separate and pare away.

Steamer is set into the pot and pure water filled to the level and each half is carefully laid down upon the form. To boil and then to simmer, and the hands are washed and cutaways are put into the compost for the work ahead. My fingers are blackened and will remain so for most of this day; reminder.

A bowl of raspberries and red, red juice are set beside my plate of green. I do not mind the heat, rather I draw the first leaf slowly across my teeth and savor the gentle offering; there are 42 leaves before the heart, each one granted a minute on its own.

Nothing interferes with the exaltation and pure taste of what has transpired.

The hour has past, dishes are done and steam water is greenish delight in freezer for stock; I push myself back to the work and the list knowing full well that this was enough.

Do you focus on every bite when you eat? Is it like a gift or a meditation/prayer? When was the last time/instance you were certain it was enough?

Happy Easter and Passover

If you purchase anything from Amazon or Powell’s from the site I will receive a few beans in my bucket – or maybe artichokes?

Post from: www.patriciaswisdom.com

TASTE