Inspiration

© 2014 Analiese Miller

Today I went to the funeral of my childhood friend, Leah.  She was a remarkable person who will be tremendously missed by so many people.  The memory of how she chose to live will inspire me for the rest of my life.

I believe that we all want to be inspired.  We seek out creativity, beauty, grandeur, innovation, kindness, resiliency.  And we all want to feel purpose and meaning and the presence of a force that's greater than us, however we may define that personally. 

It's impossible to encapsulate the topic of "inspiration" in a single blog post and I'm not going to try.  I will simply say: I hope you find your inspiration today.  Some days we have to look hard for it.  Other days it's just so very obvious, and it can really change your life.

This beautiful quote was read at Leah's funeral and is a perfect reflection of her memory:

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."  -- Maya Angelou

© 2014 Analiese Miller

The photographs in this post were made by my talented friend, Analiese Miller.  Watch for more of her beautiful work to be featured on The Fischbowl.

Have a colorful weekend

Wine-throated hummingbird

What are you up to this weekend?  We're going to (try to, finally) tackle some indoor painting projects.  The previous owners of our 80 year-old house favored the color pale yellow.  It's sallow and dingy and kind of makes you feel uneasy, and it's everywhere.  Our biggest hurdle for getting painting projects done, however -- of course, after trying to do this with little kids running around -- is choosing paint colors that we both like.  Jesse and I have very different (strong) opinions about wall colors and it takes us forever to agree on a hue that we both don't hate.  Thank goodness for the sample-size jars of paint.  We've bought at least a dozen this time around!

Have a great weekend and here are some fun posts from around the web:

Five mistakes everyone makes (well maybe not everyone, haha) when choosing paint colors.

Getting eight hours of sleep might actually be bad for you.

A wear-everywhere tank dress.

Craft beer bars in Paris.

Eye color may be linked to pain tolerance.

Delicious fruit-infused waters.

Strawberry lime cucumber mint water

Hummingbird photograph by Jose Yee.
 

Creativity

Hanging light bulb vases at Etsy

There's an interesting article in The Atlantic today about creativity and various theories about how one becomes creative.  Are we born creative, or is creativity is learned?  Can we become more creative with practice or by being open to new experiences, or are we all hard-wired to be as creative as we're ever going to be?

I think creativity is a fundamental trait of human beings.  We're problem-solvers and survivors, which requires tremendous creativity daily.  Of course we all have different creative strengths in millions of different areas.  I love to write song lyrics, but put me in front of a canvas with a paintbrush and I go totally blank.

I love to be inspired by others' creativity.  Music is often my biggest inspiration.  And photography.  And my kids.  And, oh you get the point.  What are your creative inspirations?

How to be creative.  A 2009 study found that subjects solved twice as many insight puzzles when surrounded by the color blue, since it leads to more relaxed and associative thinking. Red, on other hand, makes people more alert and aware, so it is a better backdrop for solving analytic problems.

A terrific book about being creative, by one of my favorite artists.

Test your creativity.

Amazing travel photography.  And an interesting perspective about the art of mindful photography.

A favorite songwriter performing a favorite song at a favorite show:


We passed the time with crosswords that she thought to bring inside
What five letters spell "apocalypse" she asked me
I won her over singing "W.W.I.I.I."
Oh, she smiled and we both knew that she'd misjudged me
© 2007 Josh Ritter

Sweet Carolina

As promised, another favorite singer songwriter for your listening pleasure... For two years I lived in Greensboro, North Carolina while I worked as an investigative producer and reporter at a local television station.  For many, many reasons this was a memorable time in my life and career.  This song by this artist about this place is sort of a perfect coming together for me.  I have a deep affection for all three.



I ain't never been to Vegas but I've gambled up my life
Building newsprint boats I race to sewer mains
Was trying to find me something but I wasn't sure just what
Funny how they say that some things never change

Oh, my sweet Carolina
What compels me to go
Oh, my sweet disposition
May you one day carry me home
 © 2000 Ryan Adams

P.S. Adorable summer sandals and yummy Italian basil lemonade.

Sweet Tune

I promise to feature other artists here besides Paul Simon.  This song is just so fitting for the holiday weekend.  Enjoy!

America
“Kathy,” I said, as we boarded a Greyhound in Pittsburgh
“Michigan seems like a dream to me now
It took me four days to hitch-hike from Saginaw
I’ve come to look for America”
© 1968 Words and Music by Paul Simon

Homeward Bound

I’m sittin in the railway station/ Got a ticket for my destination
On a tour of one-night stands/ My suitcase and guitar in hand
And every stop is neatly planned/ For a poet and a one-man band
Homeward bound
© 1966 Words and Music by Paul Simon

Have a wonderful holiday weekend

I am very proud that my grandfathers, my father, several of my uncles, and now my cousin have all served in our nation's military.  On this Memorial Day weekend, please remember to keep the families who have lost loved ones while serving our country in your thoughts.

Enjoy the long weekend!

Patio season in Minnesota!  Here's where you can find a table.

A lovely read about springtime in Paris, ahhhhhh.

20 pairs of seriously wearable summer sunglasses.

Coming in September: Target's latest designer collaborator is Joseph Altuzarra.

Well, I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder with this one.

This week's top 10 Minnesota music videos.

Five iconic toys born in Minnesota.

Hooray, It's May!

All Minnesotans know: it's been a long brutal winter here.  That's all I'll say on the topic because I'm over talking/thinking/writing about the gross weather.  So on a happier note: Hooray, we made it to May!

Minnesotans aren't the only ones to sorta lose their minds this time of year as we await the warm fresh air in our noses... Paul Simon and Edie Brickell rather famously made the news last week for a spat.  Well now they have released a sweet little duet called "Like To Get To Know You" about loving each other after 12 years of marriage.  It's a clever bridge over troubled water, ahem (and a genius PR move!)



You might also be interested in: Free admission at museums this month and here's how you can buy Bob Dylan's "Like A Rolling Stone" lyrics with all the money you saved from not paying for museum tickets.

Lip Service

One of my favorite springtime rituals is to freshen up my makeup bag.  There's something about a great new lipstick that just pulls a whole look together.  Check out the 50 Best Cult and Classic Lip Shades of All Time for some ideas.  And in case you were wondering, We Still Hate Lip Gloss.

P.S.  The best of the best at the party for the best and another Beatles domination anniversary.