“BEEEE-GIHN!” Even though it’s well past dawn, Thalia crows like a rooster sounding an alarm. “Never too late —” Nia picks up the thread and allows Calliope to anchor the stitch. “… to become who you might have been.” Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.
What you do today matters. You might not be able to see where you are going or why... that's kinda cool. When we take action(s) for the love of what we are doing, I am now convinced we are selecting threads and colors that have the potential to weave beautiful tapestries.
Okay! Enough poetic metaphor. 😂
This morning on Clubhouse with my friend Elaine I read a chapter about transformation from my book Flourishing Fictions: Possibilities from A to Z. It was fun!
I'm aware that if I hadn't started the 100 Naked Words challenge over on Medium in 2016, I wouldn't have my name as author on 4 books. I wouldn't have the opportunity to share all of the valuable learnings I gather along the way. I would have stayed an egg, or a caterpillar, or... died? Our lives are our opportunity to make something amazing! We can begin at any time.
Here's a link to the Clubhouse replay if you are interested. Approx. 30 minutes in length.
I probably never mentioned making surgical devices for Tallahassee’s first “Doc in a Box.” One with four operating rooms! These were designed for single day surgery. The general contractor was from out of town and asked me to be available for installation of back ordered items and to tend to as many punch list items as I had the skill to handle.
One day a surgeon approached me asking if I knew of a material that could be used to install ear drains in youngsters for middle ear infections. He indicated that the material would have to allow hand shaping for each particular patient. 💡 I had some scrap, heavy gauge copper wire in my vehicle and showed the doctor. He okayed my producing a prototype but asked that the ends be smooth. “Hemispherical?” I asked. He agreed but wondered if I could do that. I winked back at him.
That evening I created a sample, certain that my operations had achieved the goal. Next morning I showed the surgeon. Instant approval and a request for ten matching devices. He asked, “How much?” When I said $50 each, he smiled and said, “You obviously don’t know how expensive all medical devices are.”
Then, as now, I didn’t know where I was going, but I enjoyed creating with hands and brains on the same team. Until the doctor asked, I wouldn’t have thought about that task. Inspiration?
“... to become who you might have been.” That rings of metaphysical processes! Alchemy?
I’m curious? Seeing the yarn samples and the organizer stuffed with more challenges my brain (an easy task🙃) to remember if they’ve been in your studio all along? Any role they might play in future collages? Creating bird nests... Symbolic spider webs...
I recall, somewhat, Don McLean’s “Starry, Starry Night” from a while ago as he spoke of Van Gogh, “This world was never meant, For one as beautiful as you.” Van Gogh’s “Starry, Starry Night painting” seems as he wrote: Great things are a series of small things brought together.
Thanks, Loveletterist, for the vivid realizations that images and words crafted today.”
I think of alchemy every time I wear my Forged shirt. I also think of a quote from John Steinbeck:
"I am impelled, not to squeak like a grateful and apologetic mouse, but to roar like a lion out of pride in my profession."
When we work really hard and overcome tough obstacles I am inclined to believe there's nothing wrong with a little pride -- joy in becoming. And yet I hear my father's voice... "Pride is a sin." Contradictions abound!
I had no idea McLean's Starry Night is about Van Gogh's Starry Night! Thanks for teaching me something.
That is my numerically organized bin of cross-stitch thread. I haven't stitched in 25 years or more, but could never part with the floss. It lives upstairs in the spare room closet. Love the idea of re-purposing!
A note from Loveletterist:
What you do today matters. You might not be able to see where you are going or why... that's kinda cool. When we take action(s) for the love of what we are doing, I am now convinced we are selecting threads and colors that have the potential to weave beautiful tapestries.
Okay! Enough poetic metaphor. 😂
This morning on Clubhouse with my friend Elaine I read a chapter about transformation from my book Flourishing Fictions: Possibilities from A to Z. It was fun!
I'm aware that if I hadn't started the 100 Naked Words challenge over on Medium in 2016, I wouldn't have my name as author on 4 books. I wouldn't have the opportunity to share all of the valuable learnings I gather along the way. I would have stayed an egg, or a caterpillar, or... died? Our lives are our opportunity to make something amazing! We can begin at any time.
Here's a link to the Clubhouse replay if you are interested. Approx. 30 minutes in length.
https://www.clubhouse.com/room/xXNdBBn3?utm_medium=ch_room_xr&utm_campaign=3MKslrpXVNhSycVUAFAWvQ-852915
I probably never mentioned making surgical devices for Tallahassee’s first “Doc in a Box.” One with four operating rooms! These were designed for single day surgery. The general contractor was from out of town and asked me to be available for installation of back ordered items and to tend to as many punch list items as I had the skill to handle.
One day a surgeon approached me asking if I knew of a material that could be used to install ear drains in youngsters for middle ear infections. He indicated that the material would have to allow hand shaping for each particular patient. 💡 I had some scrap, heavy gauge copper wire in my vehicle and showed the doctor. He okayed my producing a prototype but asked that the ends be smooth. “Hemispherical?” I asked. He agreed but wondered if I could do that. I winked back at him.
That evening I created a sample, certain that my operations had achieved the goal. Next morning I showed the surgeon. Instant approval and a request for ten matching devices. He asked, “How much?” When I said $50 each, he smiled and said, “You obviously don’t know how expensive all medical devices are.”
Then, as now, I didn’t know where I was going, but I enjoyed creating with hands and brains on the same team. Until the doctor asked, I wouldn’t have thought about that task. Inspiration?
Hmmm! Yes!
Thank you for sharing your story Gary!
What a gift to hear the call of in(spirit)action!
Spangler AND Edison... Two peas in a pod... Who knew? 🔬🧫🧪
🙌🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🙌🏼
🙌🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🙌🏼
Bravo! Encore! Or as Simon Cowell says, “Brilliant!”
Thank you BK!
Indeed! 😎
“... to become who you might have been.” That rings of metaphysical processes! Alchemy?
I’m curious? Seeing the yarn samples and the organizer stuffed with more challenges my brain (an easy task🙃) to remember if they’ve been in your studio all along? Any role they might play in future collages? Creating bird nests... Symbolic spider webs...
I recall, somewhat, Don McLean’s “Starry, Starry Night” from a while ago as he spoke of Van Gogh, “This world was never meant, For one as beautiful as you.” Van Gogh’s “Starry, Starry Night painting” seems as he wrote: Great things are a series of small things brought together.
Thanks, Loveletterist, for the vivid realizations that images and words crafted today.”
I think of alchemy every time I wear my Forged shirt. I also think of a quote from John Steinbeck:
"I am impelled, not to squeak like a grateful and apologetic mouse, but to roar like a lion out of pride in my profession."
When we work really hard and overcome tough obstacles I am inclined to believe there's nothing wrong with a little pride -- joy in becoming. And yet I hear my father's voice... "Pride is a sin." Contradictions abound!
I had no idea McLean's Starry Night is about Van Gogh's Starry Night! Thanks for teaching me something.
That is my numerically organized bin of cross-stitch thread. I haven't stitched in 25 years or more, but could never part with the floss. It lives upstairs in the spare room closet. Love the idea of re-purposing!