While I navigate an unexpected personal detour and a week away from Improvised Life, I recommend vearing off the road into Improvised Life’s archive for treasures, surprises, illumination…
Read MoreMister Rogers for Adults: 1 Minute Meditation to Turn Off the Noise
“Taking a Breath” is a perfect .58 seconds with wise, kind Mister Rogers to view any time you need a shift.
Read MoreThe Deep Internal Realizations to be Had from Fooling Around
In his wonderful TED talk, Gever Tully describes the “deep internal realizations” to be had from having the freedom to fool around, tinker, improvise…
Read MoreMillion Dollar Idea: Yayoi Kusama Bandaids (Art Medicine)
When I first saw the image of a Yayoi Kusama skateboard, I thought: How swell: Yayoi Kusama BANDAIDS, an idea made even more meaningful by Kusama’s practice of art medicine.
Read MoreOutdoor Rooms in the Natural World, Inspired by Russel Wright
The Moss Room mid-century designer Russel Wright created near Manitoga, his home in upstate New York got us thinking about outdoor space in a new way…
Read MoreSardinian Women Show How to Wash Dishes with Passion and Joy
Our friend Peggy Markel took this remarkable little video of women in a church rectory’s kitchen in Sardinia washing dishes as one sang loudly in dialect, refusing to be shushed…The BEST way we’ve seen to transform an ordinary household task.
Read MoreOde to Tomatoes, for the Last Days of Summer (Neruda with Recipes)
Every September, aware that the last moments of perfect summer tomatoes are imminent, I prepare them these simple ways in of advance winter, and remember Neruda’s lovely ode.
Read MoreBenediction for an Ordinary Day (John O’Donohue)
Some of the best blessings, benedictions and well-wishes we know can be found in Irish poet John O’Donohue’s book, Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom, like this one for an ordinary day.
Read MoreAnnals of Personal Ritual: Self Portrait in Wedding Clothes Taken Every Anniversary
Fran Black enjoys creating very personal rituals in order to collect memories in ways that feel meaningful, like this unique yearly celebration of her long marriage…
Read MoreHonoring 9/11
Seventeen years after I watched from my window as the twin towers fell, I remember a powerful message sent from a friend in Italy.
Read MoreWords to Begin or End the Week (Maira Kalman)
This week in the life of artist Maira Kalman has some very important reminders for any week to come…
Read MoreSister Corita Kent’s Visual Meditations on the Moment
Artist and renown educator Sister Corita Kent’s 1977 series around the theme of ‘the moment’ makes a heartening meditation…
Read MoreOpened at Random: Ancient Trees: Portraits in Time
This morning we opened Ancient Trees: Portraits in Time at random and found this:
Read MoreA Spider’s Lessons about Loss, Resilience and Pressing On, Regardless
In shock after the loss of a beloved tree, Susan Dworski found herself watching a spider at work on her web. It cast her loss in a different light altogether, and yielded an unexpected shift of view.
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