Square-Peg People

Holiday Book Love

 

 

I haven't shared book lists in a long time - and haven't done many reviews in the past couple/few years either…

so you might not know that I love books, but I do! Books were my best friends when I was a kid - and my best guides when I was older.

If YOU're a book lover too, how 'bout we exchange the names of holiday and/or seasonal favorites?

I'm always looking for new books to cherish, and like to hear about all kinds of books. Books from other traditions, from all genres - picture, poem or word books - alllllll kinds.

I'm going to point to three earlier posts that name the holiday favorites around here and I'm hoping you'll share YOUr favorites in the comments below (please)!

First up, funny books: The Holiday Book List.

Then books for kids: Favorite Holiday Books for Kids.

And lastly, the more spiritually leaning books: Oh Hell, it's the Holy Holly Holiday Reading List.

Your turn ~

Support Stories ~ Guest Post by Lisa Hofmann

 

Our holiday encouragement series continues (this is our 5th year!) with a soul-tending, heart-opening, deep (and incredibly practical) video from Lisa Hofmann!

Set aside some time to savor this beautiful offering - you'll be touched, I have no doubt!

~ ~ ~ ~

I am a creative explorer and joy warrior, living a life of magical possibilities in the Midwest US with my family. In addition to teaching yoga, I paint, write, take pictures, knit and sew. These are the ways I practice mindfulness and celebrate the details of my life. My background is Art History and I am fascinated by the ways art connects us to our inner stories and outer histories and backgrounds. My greatest teacher is my daughter (a master of the Dragon) whose own artwork inspires within me playfulness, curiosity, and discovery. my blog: Dandelion Seeds And Dreams.

 

~ ~ ~ ~

More Support Stories here!

Did you know that we have a Square-Peg Interview with Lisa Hofmann ? Check it out!

 

Hop, Skip, and Jump, Baby!

A Square-Peg People Book Review

Hop, Skip, Jump

by Marney Makridakis

I hopped, skipped, and jumped through Marney Makridakis's new book, Hop, Skip, Jump: 75 Ways to Playfully Manifest a Meaningful Life. I did!

When I went back and read through it again, with an eye to what I wanted to tell you, I was amused me to read this exhortation in the Introduction:

"If you generally don't like to read a book cover to cover, you can relax. This is, above all, an idea book, here to help you access more play and productivity in your life, and to help you do it in your own way. You don't need to read this book in sequential order and should feel free to -- you guessed it -- hop, skip, and jump around the book."

Ha! I did, I did!! And you might too - even if your normal reading style is more conservative (mine is).

Hop, Skip, Jump feels like a visit to a magician's workshop - where all the doors in your mind are thrown open to possibilities. So many possibilities! And Magician Marney (who says, in the Introduction, that she has "an imagination broader than Disneyland") doesn't seem to judge when we're fearful or lagging behind - she just offers more (and more!) ways to join in.

Marney describes Hop, Skip, and Jump (the book and the concept) thusly:

"Hop, Skip, and Jump represent three distinct energies that can work together harmoniously. This book is about playfully activating the energies of all three phases so that your manifestation process becomes a lot more robust and, especially, a lot more fun."

Here's a brief description of the phases:

Hopping refers to having an idea or impulse and exploring it in your imagination.
Skipping refers to experimenting and trying new things.
Jumping refers to quickly moving into action.

In an earlier post Hey, I'm an Irish Setter I mentioned that I'm heavily into Hop - though there's a lot of Skip in me as well. Jump I lack - but the book has loads of ways to playfully integrate the styles that we're not so strong in into our lives - because all three are important!

Which one are YOU? You can take a quiz (in the book or online) to determine what Marney calls your "core inclination".

The book describes/explains the 3 phases in different ways - from a table that "lists the goals, advantages, and potential risks of each phase" to a very interesting section (The Language of the Body) discussing "ways each phase contributes to physical development", to "Sample Scenarios", introducing us to a hopper, a skipper, and a jumper (somewhat day-in-the-life style).

Each chapter starts off with a FUN FACT and a question/prompt connected to the FUN FACT. Here's one:

"The original Kenner Easy-Bake Oven was heated by two one-hundred-watt lightbulbs, a design inspired by the roasted chestnuts sold by street vendors in New York City." And the question/prompt:

"How will you know when your idea or project is fully baked? Can you test it for doneness, like sticking a toothpick in a cake?"

There are also a number of Top Ten lists included. Some are a little on the schmaltzy side (not snarky like the David Letterman lists), but more than one had me literally laughing out loud. Real loud.

My favorite is "TOP TEN SIGNS YOU NEED TO TAKE A BREAK AND GROUND YOUR ENERGY", which includes:

10. You're trying to send a text message using the TV remote control. (Ha!), 9. Adding an appointment to your calendar reminds you of playing Tetris. (Ha! Ha!), 8. You find yourself ordering a sandwich from the bank teller. (Ha! Haaaaa!). You'll have to check out the book to see the other 7; I don't want to spoil all the fun!

Each chapter ends with an AcroWhim and a Haikoodle. Ok, ok - I have to say it: these are my least favorite parts of the book. I rarely enjoy haikus, and acronyms (with the exception of SNAFU) kinda make my stomach hurt. They feel forced - they are forced.

But I'll forgive the author (grin) because you can feel the sense of fun (play!) she had coming up with them. I'm not sharing AcroWhims or Haikoodles though; gotta hunt down a book for those (and who knows, YOU might love them!).

In between the extras described above there are ideas, suggestions, exercises and prompts to help us strengthen (and enjoy!) each of the three phases (hop, skip, and jump - in case they slipped your mind).

There's my personal favorite, Design Your Plan-it-arium (really rocking the star stuff prompts!) in the Hop section (plus 24 more); What Butterflies Know About Manifesting in the Skip section (plus, you know - 24 more); and Turn Your Doubt into a Dare in the Jump section (ahem - more, too).

This is a fun book, and feels personal - like you're sitting down with Marney. I'm going to keep Hop, Skip, Jump handy to jumpstart creativity and play often! You can't get enough play (it's vital)!!

Consider picking up a copy of Hop, Skip, Jump using this link - you'll be helping to support Square-Peg People without paying a penny more (we're Amazon Affiliates). Thanks!

Disclaimer: I am reviewing this book as part of the Hop, Skip, Jump Blog Celebration. I received a copy of the book from the publisher and am listed on Artella Land’s roster of 75 featured blogs. My opinions are my own.

Hey, have your read our Square-Peg Interview of Marney Makridakis? Check it out!

Support Stories ~ Guest Post by Anne Marie Bennett

 

Our holiday encouragement series, Support Stories, starts its 5th year with a contribution from the founder of KaleidoSoul, Anne Marie Bennett. Anne Marie shares a restful audio with us, which she describes like this:

Circled on a Map (12 minutes)- Take a few moments out of your busy day to breathe and relax. Enter an ancient room that houses the navigational tools and maps of your own life. Allow a Wise One to show you a map of your journey so far. This magical inner journey is based on this verse from the mystical Sufi poet Hafiz:

This place where you are right now

God circled on a map for you.

wherever your eyes and arms and heart can move

against the earth and the sky,

the beloved has bowed there-

the beloved has bowed there knowing

you were coming…

Click below to listen - and relax.

Circled on a Map

Circled on a Map is part of a series of Oasis Audio Breaks that Anne Marie offers as CD's, MP3's and scripts on the Oasis page of KaleidoSoul.
Pssst! I adore Anne Marie - check out our interview with her here!

~ ~ ~ ~

Anne Marie Bennett is a writer, self-taught artist, website goddess, cancer survivor, and SoulCollage® Facilitator / Trainer who was mentored directly by Seena Frost, the birth mother of SoulCollage. In 2005, she fell in love with SoulCollage® and was inspired to use her professional experience along with Internet technology as a means to serve the world by putting SoulCollage® "out there" in a really big way with KaleidoSoul. Anne Marie lives in eastern Massachusetts with her middle-aged husband, one senior sleepy dog and a three year old brave cat who keeps them all young. You can read more about how SoulCollage® assisted her on her cancer journey on her website SOS Cancer Journeys.  For more Oasis Audio Breaks like this one, please visit the Oasis page on KaleidoSoul.

 

~ ~ ~ ~

More Support Stories here!

 

Courage

 

Courage doesn't always roar.
Sometimes courage is
the little voice
at the end of the day
that says
I'll try again tomorrow.
Mary Anne Radmacher

Re-remember YOUR courage! In our holiday encouragement series, Support Stories, a number of courageous and en-couraging women share stories of connection to their inner support (which, I betcha, will bless YOU and remind you of your inner support).

Support Stories are Here Again

 

As I started to write this introduction to the 2014 Support Stories series I suddenly realized: this is the 5th year that women I adore - big-hearted writers, coaches, artists and teachers - have joined with me during the sometimes hard, almost always hectic, holiday season to share stories of encouragement and support.

Here's what I wrote in last year's intro (I tried writing a new one, but the old one still fits):

Holiday blahs - or blues, or angst - whatever you want to call that heart-achey feeling that can creep up on us (or drown us!) during the holidays...

you know that thing, right?

On our holiday Support Stories page we've got the accumulated wisdom of a wonderful group of women who know that stories (sharing who we are and where we've been) heal hearts (or, sometimes - when things get really tough - what we all need is to have someone lovingly hold our hearts - stories can do that, too).

There's sure to be at least one of these encouraging and heart-opening stories that is just what you need to hear (or read, as the case may be)!

Please open yourself to being blessed - grab some tea (read: beverage of your choice) and sit down with one of these stories, then come back for more as needed.

We'll be sharing this year's Support Stories on Tuesdays - starting November 25th, with a beautiful offering from Anne Marie Bennett of KaleidoSoul.

i carry your heart

 

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

I'm feeling this right now.

The first line of this love poem by E.E.Cummings really nails what I'm feeling (at least today): a huge, all encompassing grace/compassion/caring for the whole world!

While I'm not in depression, overwhelm, despair, or grief (at the moment) I am aware of (seeing/bowing to/sending love to) so many friends and acquaintances who are currently going through deep, deep shit.

And, in the solidarity of the whole up/down/sideways wild ride that is our common humanity, I repeat those words - the thought (that folks hold my heart) of which supports me up when I am the one in grief, despair, overwhelm, or depression:

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart),

~ ~ ~

If, perhaps, YOU are in depression, overwhelm, despair, or grief (at the moment) - or if you (like me) crave encouragement all the time - spend a few minutes taking in some of the love in Support Stories (more coming very soon!).

NaNoWriMo and Me

 

The first time I heard the term NaNoWriMo spoken (I'd seen it online a zillion and six times - but I'm talking heard) it sounded like: Na No Rhyme Oh,

and judging by the discussion the term came up in I assumed it was some kind of writing thing. Adding 2 + 2 and getting 7, I figured it was a twist on the NaNoWriMo I'd seen written about online (a zillion and six times) - and probably involved poetry, because -> Rhyme Oh.

Seeing the bewildered look on my face (when I was working through the math), someone asked: "Do you know what NaNoWriMo is?"

Well, I knew what NaNoWriMo was, but I didn't know anything about this Rhyme Oh thing, so I said (excitedly, hoping to learn about a poetry-writer's gathering): "No, never heard of it - do tell?"

And they did - with gusto! I instantly realized that they were talking about the same NaNoWriMo I'd seen written about online (a zillion and six times), but there was no chance to explain.

First there was a lot of enthusiastic describing and showing ("look, they gave me this! And this - and this - and I wrote ____ words, and I can't wait for next November because I've got some great ideas, and…") - way cool! I love enthusiasm,

but then I was peppered with questions and given no time to answer them (Introvert Hell).

The person asking the questions answered them for me, based (I'm guessing) on her own 2 + 2 equals 7 (which was helped along by my bewildered/deer-in-the-headlights expression):

"Do you write? No, if you did you'd know what NaNoWriMo is."

"Well, do you read?" (I croaked out a quick "yeah" on that one) "You do? Then what's your favorite genre?" Oh shit, I read a lot - on a lot of topics and in a lot of genres - how to answer that one (continued bewildered/deer-in-the-headlights expression)?

"So you don't really read."

And then I nailed my own coffin shut (so to speak). There was a radio playing in the background, something positive (rare!) was said about a Philadelphia Phillies baseball game; another gal and I gave little cheers and I was discovered (in a 2 + 2 = 7 sense):

"Oh, you're into sports (voice dripping with disapproval). I see!"

I think I was smarter when I was a kid. Back then I'd nod assent or mumble "yeah" when asked "Do you know what ___ is?" - because half the time (ok, more like 99.8% of the time) I'd be in my own little world and wasn't following the conversation - and the rest of the time I was covering my butt against eventualities like the NaNoWriMo embarrassment.

Sigh.

~ ~ ~

Hey, if you're taking part in NaNoWriMo this year you might want to check out my friend Charlotte Rains Dixon's post: NaNoWriMo Support and Encouragement - it's full of, well - support and encouragement!

You might also want to check out a teleclass Charlotte and I put together, called Authenticity + Creativity, where we explore the intersection of (your) authenticity + (your) creativity, discuss how Fear gets in the way, AND learn how to work around it!

Speaking of Grief

 

Grief has been on my mind and heart a lot lately.

Somewhere online (where? I wish I remembered) I read that in Fall the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead is very thin; so maybe that's why people I love who are gone are heavily on my mind right now.

Maybe that and the fact that so many friends and acquaintances have lost dear ones this past year. And also the fact that grief wraps around all losses, not only the death of loved ones - and to be 60 (I am) means having many losses (which is not to be ungrateful or negative, it's just true - as is the fact that, at 60, I can point to many gains and joys).

In case you're grieving too, I want to share something with you:

{Aside: this is not an affiliate link, I just love Mari's work. Also want to let you know that there are a number of posts touching on grief here on the blog, under the category, "Those Challenging Emotions"}

The holidays are especially tricky when you're dealing with grief. My friend Maribeth Doerr, who joined us for a Square-Peg People Interview last year, is offering "weekly prompts encouraging a self-exploration of healing and grief" through her program WriteGrief for the Holidays 2014.

Maribeth is gentle, open-hearted - and practical; her many personal experiences with grief are foundational to what she offers - and who she is. Check out her offer - and remember that you can work with grief of losses other than the passing of loved ones! (fyi: Mari is also a grief coach).

More of the lovely Mari - click here to see Maribeth's contribution to Support Stories (our yearly holiday posts of encouragement) - very heart-opening!

P.S. Yes, you have seen various versions of the labyrinth picture above - what can I say, I love it.

Hey, I'm an Irish Setter

 

Nah, not really - and neither is the guy whose picture you see above (he's just a cool mule who stands outside the Michener Museum), but I do want to point to something (POINT, get it? Irish Setters are one of the pointer breeds). Ok, I'll get to it.

Marney Makridakis has a new book coming out November 11th, it's called Hop, Skip, Jump: 75 Ways to Playfully Manifest a Meaningful Life.

 

Here's a picture of it. I've got a copy in my hot little hands right now - and I can tell you that this is a fun book!

{Aside: Years ago I took the majority of Marney's classes - and attended her first two in-person retreats. Her influence, classes and retreats are the reason that I got into blogging - and met so many lovely Square-Peg folk. I'm so grateful!}

I'll do a review of Hop, Skip, Jump very soon - but what I want to point you to now is a cute quiz that's related to the book. It helps you figure out whether you're a hopper, skipper, or jumper when it comes to play and productivity. Here's a link to the Hop, Skip, Jump Quiz.

FYI: I'm heavily into Hop - though there's a lot of Skip in me as well. Jump I lack - but the book has loads of ways to playfully integrate the styles that we're not so strong in into our lives - because all three are important!

Have your read our Square-Peg Interview of Marney Makridakis? Check it out!

~ ~ ~ ~

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher - with the understanding that I would only review it if I liked it (I did!).

Also, we're affiliates of Amazon.com - so when you buy from the links above you don't pay a penny more, but you help support Square-Peg People. Thanks!