Kathryn and I put the following video together last week. We shot in Time Square and the theatre district. We asked people what inpires them. We got some great answers to the question. I am looking at this again tonight becuase I used to feel inspired by so many things…and lately it gets tough. But as I say in the videoblog, New York inpires me. If it weren’t 4 in the morning I’d go take a walk and find some inspiriation out there. As it is, I am just thinking about inspiration…With that said I though I’d put this out there.
have you ever stolen anything…how did you feel? March 11, 2007
Earlier this month we were in Central Park asking our “Question of the Week” videoblog. The question was “Have you ever stolen anything…and how did it make you feel.”
I think this episode is really fun. The answers are interesting…a lot of candy and rings that day. In our small slice of life it seemed kids steal things…more than adults…well, at least people are willing to admit that they stole something as a kid. I love the girl that stole Barbie shoes from a friend and she felt good about it.
I felt really bad when I was a kid and stole a tiny plastic/candy pumpkin from my cousin. He had a bunch of them and wouldn’t share…so finally I snuck in his room and took one. I felt fiesty at being denied. My mom found it later in my pocket and asked me where I got it. I cried and felt so bad. She laid into me. I felt bad about stealing that. I was supposed to tell my cousin and return the pumpkin. I never did. I lied and said I did. Twenty years later I finally told him over a beer. He laughed at me, but I felt relief. I can’t believe that took up space in my brain all those years. I never stole anything again. I guess it’s good to have parents that help set you on the right path.
Check it out. I am curious what else people steal. Hmmm?
Who or What do you love? March 7, 2007
So for Valentine’s Day, Youtube.com sponsored a little question of the month. We used their question. It is a little sappy for me, but we did it at fashion week, and got some great answers. There were some beautiful people, inside and out. But it has had me thinking a lot. What do I love the most? Who do I love the most? I hate committing to an answer, so I am not sure what that says about me. I love my boyfriend, but is he who I love most? I answered my mom…like a lot of people, I suppose there is something about mothers. If they are good, they provide unconditional love and support, partciularly when you are a child. Mine was awesome. She loves me more than anyone in the world. There is something very special about that for me. I also lucked out because she is cool…smart, pretty savvy. She would have loved Fashion Week too. She is always beautifully dressed, but then she can roll up her sleaves and work really hard. She inspires people…gives to her community. As a teacher and director, she inspires many children to dream bigger and believe in him/herself. So I do love her most. I have known her longest. I also love my friends. I have a group of amazing friends that support me…and there is my brother. Of course, my mother when asked by my younger brother if she loved me more replied to him, “well, which of your puppies do you love most?” He had two…he said, “I can’t pick, they each have something special and I love both of them so much.” He was 9 or 10 at the time. She said, “exactly, I can love both of you.” That has always stuck. I think you can love a number of people. And again I ramble. Is it really clear to some people?
There is also “What do you love most?” Something material…I LOVE CLOTHES. I love beautiful fabrics, the perfect cut, the way something fits….moves. On the show I answered beauty because clothes are in there somewhere for me. I want to be clear that I think beauty can be found in the most mundane places…and I love to find the beauty in each person. I truly believe that everyone has something beautiful about him/her. Sometimes it is hard to find…but the trick is to keep looking for it, because you can find it and it can inspire. Anyway, check out the video, I am curious what other people love most…and the who.
Of course after watching that again…I love the young girl who loves Mary and Kate…and then EVERYTHING! ..and then the guy that loves his dog. But my favorite is the guy who says his what is his boyfriend “Jamie” and his who is “Jamie”….of course, Jamie says, “Billy” and then “Candy” …it makes me laugh. Sweet. Let me know what you think.
Are you Ambitious? March 1, 2007
So another question that we have asked on the street is “Are you Ambitious?” It is one that has been puzzling me. My initial response was “UGGGH”. And I later talked about manufacturing ambition. But can you? I feel like Ambition is the thing everyone is supposed to have, that if I am good and a “go-getter”, I will be ambitious. There is a lot of should surrounding it for me. I sometimes, just don’t care. I like doing things or I don’t. I suppose where I run into a lot of conflict in my mind is that I want a lot of things in this world….but do I have to be ambitious to get them? Or can I succeed in my way? I don’t know. I would love to hear what other people think about ambition. I feel like if I don’t say I am ambitious people might mistake me for lazy…but that is far from the truth. I am a hard worker, but I believe that is very different than ambitious. Perhaps it is just symantics. I would like to succeed through my passions, and hard work. Again, I ramble. If you have a minute take a look at what some people said.
brightness February 19, 2007
I am figuring this out. I want to inspire myself each day. I used to keep a journal, but thought why not a blog. For me, insight comes from writing. Perhaps sharing the writing will bring insightful comments….or hecklers. I try to find the most positive outlook each day. I am creating the world in which I want to live. I visualize it, I feel it, I am happy about it. It seems the more I do this, the more I receive. I am grateful for each moment. I wasn’t always. Even up to a month ago I would often go down a dark spiral, but there is so much good in my world. Somehow I am now able to celebrate it. There was this immense shift that was barely perceptible. It was so soft I wasn’t sure it happened. It started in my brain, and then ever so slightly in my body. Almost as though it were tingling. It seems that by telling myself that things were better, they became so. Feeling all of what is underneath is the important step. I for once didn’t supress all the crap inside. I just let it flow through and out. I think by allowing it space it created more space for the good stuff. I also keep reminding myself that it is there. It is available. It has become a mantra. “I am whole, perfect, strong, loving, harmonious and happy.” It beats repeating “you idiot”. So this new mantra has become habitual and changes the way I feel. I am no longer berating myself at every turn. It feels pretty wonderful. I fear sounding too “peace and light”, but if that is how I am feeling ~ so be it. I have a self-deprecating side that I’ve given too much weight over the past years. It is time for something different. I feel brighter.
Question of the week on www.ifnotnow.net
So my friend Kathryn and I host this videoblog and we ask people on the street a different question each week. I always find it amazing how brutally honest people can be to a stranger on the street. I often think they are inspired by the city. It begs you to be raw. I find the answers inspiring…and I learn a lot about myself.
In this particular video we asked people what decision they would change in their life….if they had one to change. I guess ultimately I wouldn’t be here now, if I changed my history, but is that true? Would we find a way to be in the place we are supposed to be irregardless of which events we extricated from our lives? I sometimes wish I could skip over the really bad parts. The parts that are so damaging and from which you often don’t heal…or a little part of you is lost. I can sprial down when I think of certain events. However, I am here now, moving forward creating a new life in the city. It is intresting how those things that we all experience; death, divorce, deceit, whatever it might be, we feel like we are the first, and picking yourself up from those things can be tough. I would love to change all of those events, but I wouldn’t be as aware as I am now. I might not have the wonderful friends I have. Hmmm? I ramble.
When I was asked the question my first intinct was to walk right by someone who ultimately ended up breaking my heart in such damaging ways. The truth is though, I am now in a fantastic relationship. Perhaps I wouldn’t cherish it as much as I do if I had not had that first experience. Perhaps I wouldn’t have met the one I am dating now. Hmmm?
Just thoughts on a Saturday afternoon….
creating this life 