What If We Become Radically Amazed?

Mid-April, Pemaquid, Me ~ budding begins

I’ve been wondering what habits, patterns, mindsets will remain post-COVID and which will just go away. There is one habit I’m trying to keep and I invite you to make it part of your ‘new norm’ too. It’s the habit of Radical Amazement. What the heck is that, you ask. Well, I shall answer! Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel (one of my all time sages) winsomely said, ““Our goal should be to live life in radical amazement. ....get up in the morning and look at the world in a way that takes nothing for granted.” Why? Because “Mankind will not perish for want of information; but only for want of appreciation.”*

Mackerel Sky” so named since it looks like the scales of a mackerel

I’ve spent a lot of time looking upward this past year plus. Literally and metaphorically. The colors, patterns, movement, sounds of creatures, breezes, gusts and silence of blue, clouds, canopies, greens, whites, grays. Every single day, I am Radically Amazed at the sky (ok, Maine sky). It never gets old, it never gets less majestic, mystical, magical and stunningly beautiful. It is different every minute, hour, day and yet the same ~ a paradox of the new and the steadfast.

Please join me in Radical Amazement. Today, this week, just go outside for a few minutes and look around - take a short walk, look at the trees, grass, flowers, creatures, everything and anything, feel the breeze, cherish the stillness, and dwell in some radical amazement to rejuvenate your mind and soul … to appreciate all that we have and are despite everything, all that remains glorious despite us. And if you’re willing, share it with me here. I wish you the joy and serenity of Radical Amazement.

*Abraham Joshua Heschel’s “G-d In Search of Man”

What Will You Tell Yourself in 20 Years?

Graduation time is upon us - so much has been learned, so much learning awaits. Some things are cool to learn, some not ~ I wish I’d learned more from others and spared myself a lot of pain. So, to my students (and friends & clients of all ages), here’s some advice that those of us who graduated in the 20th century wish we’d learned upon entering the ‘‘real world.” Please add some and share them with me!

• Show, don't tell;

• Know what you can, and can’t, control;

• Show up!! Be Present!! Don’t wait around for things to come to you!

• Use your skills & interests (you have more than you think) - the more you say it, the more you become it! Volunteer! Engage!

• Be your own best advocate - don’t wait for someone else - talk about your talents & victories;

• Don’t be afraid to fail - it’s a form of learning & applying … and it means you tried;

• You may be able to have it all - but not all at once;

• Just because you get along well with your peers, doesn’t mean you’ll be a good manager;

• It’s good to feel out of your depth - it means you’re learning;

• Talk to people, ask them about their stories, meet them where they are - and say Thank you!

• Be willing to take time ‘off’ your career path for a sabbatical if you want;

• Change on a dime by putting in a nickel;

• Experience!

• Love yourself and those around you;

• Be joyful - it’s more meaningful and lasting than being happy;

• Ask for help! Not knowing takes guts, courage and it’s how we learn;

• Say yes to more hard things than you want to do - grow your comfort zone;

• If you believe it can be awesome, it can;

• Don’t be surprised by your successes!

• Always do something for someone else, always give back;

• Be curious, open and skeptical;

• …

The Curious Case of the Artist in the Archives

What did you do during the pandemic? That seems to be the question now. For Jessica Esch, her insatiable curiosity combined with her serendipitous discovery of oral histories in the Smithsonian Institution’s Archives of American Art led to the creation of a new form of art she calls typelooping.

Totally – Jessica Esch: Fill in the Blanks, November 2020; Source Quote: Oral history interview with Kay WalkingStick, 2011 Dec 14-15. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. (Page 19 and Pages 23-24, respectively) Details: 1938 Corona Standard typewriter Underwood-Olivetti Studio 44 typewriter Frosted Flakes cereal

Jess dove into oral histories at the Archives, devouring the transcripts of female artists 60 and older. The first transcript she read remains her favorite – that of the mixed media and textile artist, Barbara Lee Smith. So, what did Jess do? Typed Barbara a 10-page letter and mailed it with no expectations of a reply. But Barbara Lee Smith did - “You’ve given me a present, by the way, in telling me that those two days of (relaxed, but difficult) talking about myself had meaning for someone else.” And a friendship was born – Zoom calls, Instagram messages, emails – between two very different artists of different generations from different parts of the country.

Inspired by the Archives, Jess created typelooping to entertain herself during the banality of pandemic life. She used it to learn about other people’s lives, make use of the ‘stuff at hand’ as ‘paper’ for her typewriters and type words as she saw fit, often starting with the women she’d ‘met’ in the Archives. The Archives shared Jess’s story last week! She’s featured in a two-part series as part of the Archives of American Art and Smithsonian Voices blog.

Zing – Jessica Esch: Fill in the Blanks, November 2020; Source Quote: Oral history interview Lee Krasner, 1964 Nov. 2-1968 Apr. 11. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. (Page 27).  Details: Underwood-Olivetti Studio 44 typewriter, Popcorn bag, 8 1/8” x 14”

You know, I’m not surprised Jess found her way to something new, to the Archives, to a friendship with Barbara Lee Smith or even the featured blog posts. Why? Curiosity, serendipity and a diverse network are a perfect habitat for blue lobsters.

And Jess should know, because she created my blue lobster logo.

You can hear more of the story on April 6th from 7-8pm (Space is limited!) when Jess talks typelooping with Sarah Baker. Then please, set aside time to meditatively peruse her Fill in the Blanks typelooping series at shinebolt.com. It will add joy, light, and hope to your day, your week, or if you’re like me, your life.