Archive for the ‘Melinda's Blog’ Category
Posted on January 11, 2010 - by melinda
What’s your best movie suggestion?
I just watched “I Am David” and enjoyed this story of a persevering boy who broke out of a prison camp after WWII and learned to trust again (see link below). How about you…any suggestions?
http://www.iamdavidmovie.com/main_flash.html?DETECT=SWF.6000000
Posted on November 11, 2009 - by melinda
I am most fulfilled and focused when…
I am looking out on nature
engaging in a life of the mind
with people who take faith seriously
my spirit is twirling, smiling, celebrating, creating
How about you?
Posted on October 11, 2009 - by melinda
I wanna get creative – thanks Julie & Julia!
I finally saw it this afternoon, the movie Julie & Julia. www.julieandjulia.com I walked out chatting with a woman who was beaming, declaring she’d made some of Julia Child’s recipes in the past. I admitted I hadn’t. If a recipe has certain words in it, like ”French,” I’m usually too scared to try it! She couldn’t believe it, and I felt sheepish. I’ve always prided myself (there’s the first problem) in simple and easy cooking. What’s the need to “fuss,” to search for odd ingredients? Even capers scare me off – besides, I’m practical. Why purchase an ingredient I’ll only use for one recipe and leave the bottle to decay in the fridge for the next couple of years? I’ve left the Junior Women’s League cooking to my freinds Terry, Joan, Sarah, Beth, etc., etc. But – oops – somehow I got a little smug about it too. Where’d that come from? Author and speaker Janet Davis says it’s easier to say, “I’m not creative,” than, “I’m scared.” I have to admit – I’m scared. “It might not turn out. ” That’s the big roadblock to my creativity in ALL areas…so I often just don’t try.
I walked out of the moving smiling and wondering, “What’s the harm in expanding my horizons. What’s wrong with creating a culinary work of the heart that requires hard work, forces me outside my comfort zone and makes me face possible failure?” Enough of constant “30 minute meals.” What’s that saying about my lifestyle and spirit of play?
My daughter Kelly and I did cook Christmas Eve/Day meals out of the Williamsburg Holiday Fare cookbook. We were exhausted and declared next year will be simpler. Is that part of it – Julia Child-style cooking is (like inthe movie) both exhausting and requires A LOT of one’s focus?
I’ll be talking about diving into our creative selves at the DIVE! Conference on Nov. 7 – I know I’ll be adding a pinch of Julie & Julia to my talk! Check out the conference dive.soulcare.com And I hope, that by Nov. 7, I’ll be able to report that I’ve cracked open my White Gull In cookbook, popped in my Pride and Prejudice movie soundtrack cd and created…and smiled.
Posted on September 16, 2009 - by melinda
She dreamed a dream – Susan Boyle
Susan Boyle – I watched her on America’s Got Talent tonight. I am sure you’ve seen her on Youtube, if not somewhere else where her amazing story has been told. Tonight in a little filmed piece before she sang, Susan said, “I used to be on the inside looking out at life – and now I’m a part of that life.” What a thrill for her to realize her dream. Her album releases in November. What is a dream of yours? Or what would move you to say, “And now, I’m a part of life….” I’m thinking about that too…..I sometimes dream of being a Freshman in college again, knowing what I know now, and getting a degree in leadership, creativity or spiritual formation. Just having the world before me all over again sounds exciting. I couldn’t appreciate the moment back then.
Now it’s your turn….what do you dream of?
