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Trevor Turtle starts the chapter on wonder and imagination
Wonder and Imagination
As I flipped through the book, my turtle artwork peered out at me from the chapter on wonder and imagination. I read my "Case in Point" See Beyond the Surface Image where I talk about my best way to experience joy being to learn and do something new:If you ever have an opportunity, you can take a workshop and just kind of explore and play with new material. See if it might be fun to learn something new. Go in with no expectations and don't feel that you have to come out with a masterpiece. Give yourself permission to throw it out and just enjoy the process. What's most important is that you enjoy doing it; you shouldn't let someone else's opinion stop you from enjoying and doing what you love to do.
Wonder as an Instigator of Joy
"Wonder, in its own breathless, fantastical way, is far from ordinary when it comes to the senses. In the hierarchy of things, wonder is an emotion—and a most important one at that. We might think of it as an engine that fuels our ability to make the most of our five primary natural senses. It's tempting to call it our sixth sense.
But call it what you will—a sense, an emotion, a mindset—one way or another, wonder opens the door to the delights of imagination, of curiosity, creativity, intellectual discovery. " -- Mary O'Connor
After speaking with Mary at length, I realized that it was the imagination and creativity that she saw in my work that led her to me as a potential interviewee for her book on joy. Becoming lost in a state of wonder, imatination, creativity, is so often a door opener to joy.
my autographed samples arrived this week!
Win A Signed Copy!
Respond in the comment field below (or on the Facebook post) with how you go about finding (and keeping) joy in your life.
The top two winners will be selected by Mary and myself to receive and autographed copy (both of us will sign) of Life is Full of Sweet Spots.
This is a feel good book full of ways to find joy and happiness in simple things. We could all use a little bit more of that.
Thank you both for offering this generous giveaway! I am always deeply inspired by all that you share with us, Elizabeth, and your joy and passion in creating comes through so clearly!
ReplyDeleteFor me, it's allowing myself to get fully immersed with my characters in my writing, or going for a long walk in the open sheep pastures with my pup, noticing all of the amazing gifts Mother Nature provides. It's the beauty of light on the scrub brush, it's my pup's pure joy in bullet-dog racing to her heart's content. It's the shadow the great Oak leaves for us to take a sun break in, it's in being present. There's always evidence of joy, even if you don't feel it in the moment.
Thank you again! <3
Maya
Maya, how awesome, i can imagine it from your description. Thank you for taking the time to post! :)
ReplyDeleteLove this one! I've talked with so many about how they found joy in their lives, and always love the reference to the joy a pup will bring! When choosing photos for my book, having one of a dog became a top priority! Thanks for your comments! Mary
ReplyDeleteI head toward the woods and my hiking stick is not a cane; it is a magic wand that leads me on adventures of joy. I stoop to look at small red berries that dot the forest floor even in the dead of winter. I poke around at a pine that has rotted away to "heart of pine" (highly flammable and great for starting fires outside.) I check out the bark of birches and read the tree's story. Looking down I take flight down a ravine and find an exquisite stone along a dry stream bed. I look up at the blue, blue sky outined by tree limbs and smile happily as a baby taking its first step.
ReplyDeletewow June, really nice. I feel like I can smell the pine!
ReplyDeleteThanks, June, lots of good fuel for joy in this, especially the pine that has rotted away to its heart! I have a number of old and rotted pines standing around my house that I've always seen as food for the woodpeckers...now I will think of them as hearts!
ReplyDeletethis one is from Judy, who does not have a google account:
ReplyDeleteLOVE the turtle, Elizabeth. How to speak of joy in one’s life without sounding like a cliché? Keeping alive the child within, to visualize ones dreams until they become their reality, shooting for the stars so we can at least hit the rainbow? 'Feel good' books are a rare breed, so it brings joy just to know about this breath of fresh air exists . Thank you. judy
That turtle(Trevor)makes me smile, everytime I look at him! And smiles really are the signature of joy!
ReplyDeleteI imitate my cats...keep still, with eyes and ears open, and mind clear. The smallest thing that can bring joy...a breeze, a color or sound...is right there, waiting to be discovered.
ReplyDeleteIrene
Every day it is my practice to free write early in the day in a journal. It is also a practice each morning to step outside, breathe in deeply and give thanks for the simple little place that I call home...for the birds that come to my feeders, to the bees beginning to come out of their little hotels ready to gather nectar a pollinate the trees, flowers and all the vegetables that need their loving help. Life is a blessing and I am grateful to be able to enjoy the every day of my life. So much delicious joy comes as I take the time to look, to breathe and to appreciate my space on the planet and my life here. Kristin
ReplyDeleteCats are cool. thanks "Unknown"
ReplyDeleteKAM LOVE LOVE LOVE the journal idea!
ReplyDeleteI would love to win the new book. I have admired your paper paintings for a long time, and the turtle in the new book is just gorgeous@!
ReplyDeleteThe colors you use in your work are so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI think Joy must come from within..a sense of peace and contentment which then allows you to reach out and see that others are successful. Therein lies the joy.
thank you thank you!
ReplyDeleteSo many wonderful thoughts in these comments! I LOVE the "imitate my cats" thought--talk about being in the moment! We can learn from much from them!
ReplyDeleteKAM, I absolutely relate to your practice of writing early in the day in your journal. What a wonderful way to be sure to observe - and appreciate - all the "delicious joy" you find in your space on the planet!
And to Betty and the Unknown writer, how right you are about color, and especially Elizabeth's use of it. That's a lot of what drew me to her work! Good luck in winning the book!
Thank you for the giveaway! I find joy most often in just basking in the love of my family! Smelling my daughter's hair, sitting next to my husband with our arms touching, having my fluffy kitty sit on my lap while I read, feeling the uninterrupted and all-focused love my sweet dog has for me as she follows me from room to room throughout the day, and even when feeding my little fish, who swarm to the side of their tank when I walk near it! I love all of the living things in my life, and their love and energy and warmth just swells my heart! I love your blog and artwork, Elizabeth!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the giveaway! I find joy most often in just basking in the love of my family! Smelling my daughter's hair, sitting next to my husband with our arms touching, having my fluffy kitty sit on my lap while I read, feeling the uninterrupted and all-focused love my sweet dog has for me as she follows me from room to room throughout the day, and even when feeding my little fish, who swarm to the side of their tank when I walk near it! I love all of the living things in my life, and their love and energy and warmth just swells my heart! I love your blog and artwork, Elizabeth!
ReplyDeleteJOY FOR ME IS A WONDERFUL FEELING, IT IS AN EMOTION THAT CAN COME FROM A SOURCE OF HAPPINESS –AN EVENT, A PLACE, A PERSON, A BABY OR A PUPPY- AND WHEN THAT EMOTION ARISES IT IS AN EXTREME FEELING LIKE A HOT SUNNY AFTERNOON, IT CAN MELT YOU – MY WEDDING DAY, THE BIRTH OF A DAUGHTER(s), ELATION AT DAUGHTER’S GRADUATION, BEING AWARDED BEST IN SHOW, SOMEONE LIKEING A PIECE OF ART SO MUCH THEY PURCHASE IT, wow! THE CELEBRATION OF 30 YEARS OF MARRIAGE HAS BROUGHT ME MUCH LOVE AND CHEER AND THE MOMENTS OF JUBILANCE HAS BEEN SPRINKLED WITHIN. IT IS AN OVERWHELMING SENSE OF COMFORT THAT FLOODS MY SOUL, like the childhood song . . . I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart linda lv illgner
ReplyDeleteJOY FOR ME IS A WONDERFUL FEELING, IT IS AN EMOTION THAT CAN COME FROM A SOURCE OF HAPPINESS –AN EVENT, A PLACE, A PERSON, A BABY OR A PUPPY- AND WHEN THAT EMOTION ARISES IT IS AN EXTREME FEELING LIKE A HOT SUNNY AFTERNOON, IT CAN MELT YOU – MY WEDDING DAY, THE BIRTH OF A DAUGHTER(s), ELATION AT DAUGHTER’S GRADUATION, BEING AWARDED BEST IN SHOW, SOMEONE LIKEING A PIECE OF ART SO MUCH THEY PURCHASE IT, wow! THE CELEBRATION OF 30 YEARS OF MARRIAGE HAS BROUGHT ME MUCH LOVE AND CHEER AND THE MOMENTS OF JUBILANCE HAS BEEN SPRINKLED WITHIN. IT IS AN OVERWHELMING SENSE OF COMFORT THAT FLOODS MY SOUL, like the childhood song . . . I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart linda lv illgner
ReplyDeleteStella and Linda's comments are wonderful reinforcements of that undeniable truth--that joy is all around us, just waiting to be had!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for so MANY GREAT comments!!!! Mary and I have narrowed it down. We are going to give away to the following for their fantastic comments. Please email me with your mailing address so that I can send your book out this week! ejnelson@mac.com
ReplyDeleteKristin, we loved your taking the time to appreciate the things around you, taking the time to look and linger. June Cardella, we loved your hiking stick as a magic wand, your sense of wonder. And even though we said we'd do two, we couldn't help ourselves! So we are also awarding to Maya and Stella for their great entries too! OK peeps, email me your addresses! and congratulations.
Thank you both so much! Just emailed!
ReplyDeleteJune Cardella, please email me, you won a copy of the book!
ReplyDeleteMaya, please email me: ejnelson@mac.com you won a copy of the book!
ReplyDeleteJust received my beautiful book today! Thank you!! Can't wait to get started! ~Stella (aka Jennifer O. and also aka my old wordpress screen name is ldygwnvr--too many screen names!!--I am getting myself confused!! :)
ReplyDeleteSo happy Stella! let us know how you like it. You are confusing! ha ha
ReplyDeleteWe still need mailing addresses for Kristin, June and Maya to send out your books! please email me at ejnelson@mac.com
ReplyDelete