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.
Read MoreSoft Rain on the Pond, Fireflies in the Field and a Poem for the End of Summer
In case you haven’t been able to get away enough this summer, or have but are wondering where it went, here are a some lovely time-stopping moments of summer…
Read MoreUpdate on My Recent Minor Disaster, with Thanks
The first grueling leg of the unexpected challenge that appeared in my life recently is over, and I am left with many gifts, and a lot of gratitude.
Read MoreAretha Sings the Joy and Jumpstarts Mine (The Blue Brothers)
This remarkable clip of the great Aretha dancing and leaning back singing FREEDOM proved an unexpectedly powerful antidote to challenging personal times.
Read MoreWhen Things Fall Apart, I Turn to This Powerful Survival Manual
As the challenge that appeared in my life recently continues, I turn daily to the best survival manual I know, and this passage in particular.
Read MoreGone to Navigate a Lesson in Impermanence (Pema Chodron)
An unexpected blip in my life necessitates my taking time off from Improvised Life. Not “to relax a little”. More like a lesson in impermanence.
Read MoreViewing the Day as a Blank Canvas
Every morning when we open our office for work, we take a minute to look at this image of artist Lucio Fontana. We love its enduring message.
Read MoreA Sicilian Cook’s Perfect Tomato Salad
The most perfect tomato salad I’ve ever had was made by wine writer Anthony Giglio following the formula of Lucia Lo Presti, his Sicilian mama-on-law. Here’s her formula.
Read MoreAll You Have to Do (John Cage with Fast Forward)
These remarkable words by John Cage made us think of two teeny videos made by his friend Fast Forward that expand them…
Read More