Images inspire creativity and soul purpose

It occurred to me tonight, as we spring forward, that there are so many images and quotes that can inspire me.  Likely anyone for that matter.

Whether you be an insomniac like I can be so many times, or an early riser in other parts, one can enjoy peaceful solitude or united solidarity with talented people of the world, from around the world.

It should be impossible to feel lonely in this brave new world, where just about anything we do, is centered on a computer or television screens.  Our jobs, our entertainment, our creativity, our memories.

Like so many others, life is in control.  It sometimes leaves gaps on the online world when you become enveloped with warmth from real life events, family, friends.  

More often, you are in survival mode in the outside world:  juggling jobs, finances, commitments, obligations, taxes, crises, pushing dreams and goals to the bottom of the pressure broil of keeping things together, whether mentally exhausted or morale challenged.

So what do you do?  To find a release to avoid the pressure explode with stress, health ailments, energy depletion .... what can help?

Creativity can be an escape. 
Like exercise is optimum for ongoing health invigoration,  so can creativity be a great way to exorcise those demons pressing down on you from real commitments.  

Take a stroll through the universe .... online.  For images that appeal to your senses, make you smile, make you in awe.  Look for quotes that speak to you personally, that can inspire you to move on from just barely getting by to where you belong.

Your sole purpose in life makes your soul sing.  Finding images to escape to and enjoy can go a step further when merged with stimulating verses or quotes.  Be moved to create your own.  That can be creative.  That can be a release.

Be at peace every day.  Be satisfied with what you have.  Don't try to reach too far into the future so that you have lost the gift of enjoyment of today. 





It is in you to be enveloped in a positive enjoyable world.  To discover what it is will guide you to what others find similarly mirrored philosophy and talent unfolds, makes connection.

UPPER and lower case BATTLES

Upper and lower case battles

Dear Sir or Madam:

I'm going to give you a verbal resume for your consideration as the opportunity post it online presence itself.  (Whew no red over presents but i caught it because I read things over three or four times before i hit PUBLISH anywhere, yet it snuck past Google's blogspot spell checker.   I don't think Chrome can enter through the website internal workings of Blogspot, both wonder childs of Google, the machine that keeps on chugging, and now steaming ahead in the war on Data.  Now, I'm certainly no engineer or computer designer or architect (hey, maybe I've been around one or two or more of the types ... eh?  

I keep watching the competition going on.  And, my friends, it isn't a war on drugs, political arena, money or power.  Well, perhaps it is an arm wrestle over POWER.  It all comes down to this word called "data".  No caps, a noun and strongly overtaking as a verb for what is really driving the world:  it's data.  The problem of ISIS compounded by a hundred.  Because the one thing I learned in the digital equipment business, with HP, XEROX and IKON (now swallowed up by RICOH).  

Think about the biggest most powerful companies who have survived at least 50 years in business, never afraid of evolving their identity to appear as a leader in its field.  They have all CAPS logos and identity!  They share that common denominator.  When did Apple become APPLE?  They snuck it in on us, could be a conspiracy theory?  

The sublimity of becoming an all caps logo from all lower case to one capital letter?  I wonder if anyone has figured this out?  Interesting possibilities and endless learning opportunities unfold.   Thinking of Mashable comes first into my head.  They're at the capital or uppercase M with the rest lowercase. (Thank you to Google for waking up after being asleep at the wheel on the spell checker side, I didn't know that uppercase and lowercase were singular words, I had typed at two separate words.

Imaginary soul
My imagination and creativity is my gift to the world.  I may not be the most eloquent writer or unpublished as an author.  How else could I adopt and self-title myself from optioneerJM to ThePublisher ? Yes there are MEANDERINGSabout and The INbetweeners blogs indeed in between.  Gosh, I'd typed INbetweeners so much I thought they were indeed one word.  Wrong, and wisely pointed out by Google.

Google has the ability to control the data that so many are grasping at getting so desperately.  The fight over data began when I was at HP.  We were building and decommissioning servers (wiping them completely clean) all from scratch all because DATA my friends was playing havoc with INFORMATION.  

Umbrella
Data is the is virtually in the cloud.  It is starting to be the battle on who not only can grab and house the data (have you used the Apple Cloud?  Geese, they have the in front of their name too, maybe I AM an imposter!  Thinking I'm as good or clouds away from information.

Battle Ground
You could consider the faceoff or the ball toss, is between Google and Apple.  They've been cleverly gathering data about us for a very long time.  Where Google may have had the head start, Yahoo and AOL were light years ahead.  {What happened to those two pioneers?  As such happens too far frequently, where the real pioneers of a technology or a solution to a problem (because they're not always at the hands on a keyboard)}

I have had the opportunity and through training which drove my ability to launch assistance on a new business, leave behind cool ideas (mostly templates) wherever I've been.  That is one of the things I can almost guarantee.  My name remembered as a different last name, long before I shed it and the husband that went along with it.  I've been fortunate to hone my abilities with the right type of leadership support that brought out the best in me.  Sprinkle in some of the worst, easily defined as horror stories of bosses and companies I've worked for.  Yes, a few gave me a shot of developing leadership skills, when I was truly blossoming in the right role, building my team from the ground up.  Developing and sharpening an ever evolving plan.  That's kinda like me.  

Toastmaster
As they say, distinguished Area Governor, award winning President,taking a club at the bottom with struggling attendance and engagement.  The Area Governor while I was president went on to be the District Governor, or was that a VP before the District Governor.  The District Governor is like the Mayor, Premier, Prime Minister, The President (there's that capital "The" I copied here.  OOPsie, LOL.

That is why I write
The difference between the gifted and truly great orators cannot amount to anything without the write words.  That is what I found by discovery.  I guess in a nutshell I don't settle for the status quo.  There are an infinite number of people, companies, processes, operations, people, characteristics, profiles, principles, philosophy, culture, impediments to trying to accomplish just about anything.

The resources
Of a given company, the resources are the thing.  They make or break a company, organization or country.  Really regardless of global location, culture, religions, they share the same obstacles.  There is this really important balance between three separate things:

* people power
* equipment and technology
* intelligence and innovation above all.

If you don't have the resources in place or minimum keeping pace with your growth, you will fail miserably.  Think about all the GREATEST of pioneers who fade into the background, a forgotten innovator.  It has to be the guy who invented SKYPE.  Without skype, people really were unable to communicate in any other way than on the phone OR a webcam but not both.  

Without SKYPE, there would be no FACETIME (Apple eh?) no SNAP CHAT, Periscope or YouTube for heaven's sake.  I may have gone off the deepend a bit here.  I guess you just found out the second most unique thing about me didn't you?  I don't like others stealing credit when it is due someone else.  

The Folklores
When is the last time we had folklores?  I know that a lot of indigenous peoples who pass down stories for generations and then the ones more unbelievable thus called folklores.  With the little brothers and sisters called rumours who don't even have hardly a blip on our radars or importance meter until they implode with cast offs from Yahoo, not realizing it was capitalizing on the lead from AOL that allowed people to type a conversation in real time.  Now we call them texts and they are as well taken for granted on all the smartphones out there along with the telecommunications world, which is another big power struggle of our time ::: which ironically gather the most revenue from being that word again:  DATA.  Well, we do have folklores. In our generation they're called MicroSoft, Apple, GE, HP, Xerox, IBM, Disney.

It all begins with a story
Every folklore has a story.  
For me, as a career I've had the knack to help launch businesses, come up with some creative ideas that solved big problems (which was rewarded because it was in a sales capacity where money talked, results won.)  If I was truthful, I would not expound upon the glories of sales glory at the highest level.  What nobody tells you in sales school, university, or college, that to be truly great in sales, you have to toughen your skin to a shell of steel because the higher you climb the more people think they want to step on you.  Or, kick you from the sidelines.

Once, I was doing some really great things, people become nervous.  I don't think they are nervous because they may be cool ideas, but they could see that I could execute on those ideas.

An Army
Some companies think they should run it like the army.  No, I've never been in the Army, but my father was highly regarded in the Canadian Armed Forces Air Force Command Center in Winnipeg.  It may have moved for all I know, but through osmosis I could see how it ran its operation.  They'd blip at me when I heard "insubordination" or "leadership command"  or "full disclosure, tattle taler society".  

The Hierarchy
Some companies have tried to soften the army approach because when business is booming, which usually means economies are booming.  That, usually equates to oodles of opportunity for more sales which trickle down to net profits, executive reasonal salaries with outrageous bonuses.  Some of us do pretty well and even can thrive in a Hierarchal society, it's best to blend in and fade into the background in this climate.  Because the leaders of the top of the chain do not like to be threatened.   Not in a hierarchical society.  There still are a lot of yes sir and no ma'am in this society without the salute (unless it's the third finger salute behind the back of the hierarchical ~ geez, is this a hard word to spell or what??!!) There are clear distinctions between the haves and the have nots in this world.  There are the people that make all the money (around 10%) and then there are those that do all the work to allow the top to keep making more money (90%).  I've worked in this world the most.  It's a comfortable place to be.  It isn't necessarily THE best place to be if you like to be a creative thinker.  Can you imagine the business cases, best practices, powerpoint presentations there are in a Hierarchy company?  Well, the area you can really be creative is within the confines of those arenas:

* Business Cases
* Best Practices
* Powerpoint Presentations

If you're good at any three of those things and become outstanding, you will knock the socks off anyone who merely glimpses at your showmanship, intelligence, innovation and wanting to solve a problem.  

The Narrow Path
Imagine being in the confines of processes, procedures, protocol, pretty power points, and I didn't even expound the virtues of being an excel spreadsheet whiz.  You, young man or young lady, will be going places.  Vroom vroom.  I've never been a rule breaker.  Not that I can think of too readily.  Maybe someone else can remember and enlighten me?  In any case, I will admit to being a rule:

* Pusher
* Enveloper
* Evasive
* Determined
* Focused
* Driven
* Chaser
* Dreamer

of ways to do new things in new ways.  Hardly, a spot for someone like that in a Hierarchical surroundings.  It could be almost like a tadpole or goldfish swimming in the ocean surrounded by sharks.  Very teritorial these barracudas and bastards are.  (First official swear word in print, ha! Power of NOW!)

Idea Makers
Become stakeholders to their ideas.  They are driven farther and higher than the former two worlds.  Out of this pool of unique creative, techno visionaries come a lot of really great things.  Innovations we try to associate with The Jetsons.  Flying machines, just frequency in space doesn't match yet.  The only unfortunate part of this society is that egos reign supreme.  I know, you thought that attribute would live more comfortably in the Hierarchical domain.  But no, this world revolves usually one very powerful person.  I know, we usually identify with that more as a leader or dictator of a country.  Well, they live in the Idea Makers world.  They me and I one hundred times than we or third place you.  Then again, that only deviates when there is assigning blame.  

Dysfunctional
Now many of us have lived in one form of dysfunction or another.  You are delusional or a liar if you deny this.   Some demonstrate it more privately and at home, or when they're out, or at work.    Most, if not all, have had to deal hands on or hands off with dysfunction.  There are a lot of companies that are dysfunctional while sharing the common ground of The Army or by Hierarchy.   For that reason, can emerge a Dysfunctional work culture.  Or, the lack of balance between life and the way you have a roof over your head.

A few things to ponder.  If they make you think, absolutely great.  Thank you.

Me

IMAGE SOURCES: 
Images for this were taken from my "FACEUS" Board on Pinterest.  My favorite board.  There is so much intrigue captured from an expression. 

 Black and white images can exude a mood that is unique from color.  Sometimes I use a themed collection of images, instead of images or quotes related to the writings, in my blog. 

creativity inspired inspiration

The Publisher

Friday, 3 March 2017

creativity inspired inspiration

Blow your horn.
If nobody hears it.  No harm no foul.
If somebody hears it and likes the beat of the drum.

I figure nobody reads 

Blow your horn.
If nobody hears it.  No harm no foul.
If somebody hears it and likes the beat of the drum.

I figure nobody reads much

unless renowned.  Then the thump of nations
echo through all sounds. 

So why not be engaged in laughter?
From a giggle to a snort. 
A way to evade the real world
full of evil and dismay.

If one can poke fun at oneself
regardless of one's name.
That is the gift of optimism.
For the greater good.

Join in music, hum along with heart.
Who cares if anyone listens.
You are becoming one with your heart
that echoes within your soul.

Do what YOU love.
Regardless of acclaim.
You do it because YOU love it.
It doesn't need any fame.

The glue that sticks us all together
is filled with optimism and hope.
Drowning out the empty noise 
of anything of fame or violence or corruption.

If we heed only the automatic reaction
to the reflection of others grief.
We are desperately trying to get relief
from sorrow, heartache, despondency.

Gravitate together.
Those whom want to celebrate 
the beauty and the art around us
is how we became glued
to each other in gratitude.

Strike out everyone
to inspire and motivate each other.
Banish anything to do with fear
.... or porn .... or scorn.

Singularly assembled
for the greater good of everyone.
Not where prejudice or spite or bullying
are permitted to reside.

A club of big believers
that the world can be a better place.
For all ages, all genders, all religions,
all beliefs, all colors of skin, for every race.

Champion the good ones
so that they can learn to be great!
Nobody ever starts out at the top
in every situation, every lifestyle,
every talent comes from inspiration.

Inspiration and motivation
surfaces with grace, praise and engagement.
Corruption arises from malice, ego, greed.
The aforementioned to be accommodated
to give voice.  For learning and understanding
to unravel and unfold.

Mystery and adventure
can be achieved by the imagination 
you can miraculously unlaced.
Without knots and NOTS
free to explore the wonders
to be reached.

Thank you for joining me for my reflection in a poetic form.  It speaks to me, about me and what I'm all about.  Trying to help others.  Maybe inspire one or two?  Stretching my own imagination to the endless possibilities in store.

I originally wrote this earlier on "The Publisher"

A little bit of this :-( and a lot more of THAT :o)

IMAGINATION inflation
Anyone who has read this blog more than a few times (which most fall under) has joined me in reflection, especially approaching my birthday.  Every person, businessperson, sales professional, artist, writer, creator, imagineer, imageer and optioneer should do this annually:  
Your own Annual Life Plan
Taken with a twist on my REALLY popular Blog called "The 90-Day Plan" (I really wish I knew who the person was to give it a lift, sharing it somehow outside my typical social media radar.  
Before you can move FORWARD 
you have to have a heart to heart with yourself.  Seriously.  Honestly.  Barely a hairs breath away from your nose touching the mirror.

It can be your Journaling all at once!  
For any other procrastinators like me.  Once I discovered a way to exhaust my mindfulness times 100% ::... by BLOGGING!  

A cork popped open ||\\"//|| 
Ideas that had been brewing began to become released.  By sharing knowledge and seeking even more to fill up the depleted.  

New Curiosities
unfold, gliding across your vision or glimpse of an expression, a beautiful attention getter image.

Stretching the imagination
because as it explodes into the universe, some small particles, fall glittering into a receptive hand.
My year in review
has been one of where I have been putting others first.  Not an easy feat to consider the impact one has on others, and try to obtain a lofty one, for them, not me.  That is one of the biggest struggles I've been wrestling with:  am I an impostor of greatness?  Was I really a big sales professional once upon a time?  Maybe I got lucky for a few years when the timing was right.
A social media experience
as I ride the waves from the tide pushed by others before me.  Am I just a toe in or knee deep?  Thank goodness for analytics to appeal to my numerical musical notes, de-scrambling and decoding information that is mine for the taking, just as I log on and click in.  

Like a sponge floating
soaking up, but not falling too deep beyond the grasp of realization that maybe I've been looking at it all wrong.  I mean, I read A-LOT!  It never sinks me in, it expounds wonder at all the information at my disposal, my right, my actions, my clicks revealing a true, authentic person.  
Not a persona but a brand
I've been continuing the brand I started so many years ago.  I tap into what has delighted me (like last night I was surfing the PINs on PINTEREST on "figure skating")  .... who cares how long I look?  Nobody, my WIFI provider LOVES the moola it extracts from me:  I have an "unlimited data plan".  
True Authenticity
is when you allow your spirit and soul to guide you to what you find intriguing, moves you in its beauty.  The next wave a super social media rock stars will need to be authentic in a crowded noise of ME me ME (like Guy Kawasaki, who forgets was among his small tribe when he moved on to Google Plus G+ not remembering who they were, ah-hem, like moi).  

I didn't adopt someone else 
to build my brand by trying to be someone I am not, claim to know something I do not, brag about knowing someone to build your brand?  Well, my not-so-reciprocal friends aka |devils in disguise| narcissists | fake | crooks | egotistical | famed | self-proclaimed experts.
Honesty has been my guiding star
towards bright lights without sunglasses to block the glow.  Truthfulness is a strength in character, it is ingrained and cannot be replicated by large degrees.
Believe in me?
The jury is still out.  I just know that I'm not doing my God-given gift.  I keep looking and stretching to find it.  Sometimes I think maybe I've found it, when instead I've found some new great hobbies ::... like painting objects and making them into art.  Really a fun sidekick to have.  
I may have become too scattered
creating far too many blogs, when here I should just write.  Focus on making one site really really good, then a bunch of others mediocre.

I've had this ah-HA moment before
I realize.  When I was jumping from advertising to the world of publishing ::... the how before the what.
The how before the what
Is really what makes me stand out.  I'm not suggesting that I really do, but I was trying to appease you, your time and dedication for reading thus far.  
Whether it is sales, business 

or communication people gravitate to the explosive environment we allow ourselves to tumble into ::.... traditional media that has the explosion with headline before any details.  Saying WHAT??!!??

I gravitate towards  the HOW
which basically covers the how, the who, the where, the speculation as to the why, or the scientific explanation of the how.  I think people's eyes and sensibilities are been drummed out of the noise, and only ENGAGE with those they believe appeals to their own values, opinions, knowledge, genre, topics, interests, hobbies, visuals, emotional well being, what grabs them NOW.  
I'm going to continue on this journey
with you by my side.  Continual in experimentation on a quest for new insights.  The insights that I share may be long and somewhat rambling.  But there is a nugget in there somehow.  
Too many people haven't discovered
who they are so they try to invent themselves to be someone they're not.  For personal, professional, relationship reasons, known only to themselves.  They hide behind a character or persona in which they want the world to see them as.

An enthusiast
is what I tagged myself.  Does it really suit me?  OKay, thanks for the reminder mirror | DANG! (borrowed from my 22 y/old lovely daughter) | I am not always in a good mood.  Gasp, shocked?  Probably not those that know me and still love me would say.  
Determined and tenacious
would be a common affront in succinctly describing me.  That's what is great.  As a woman who is 5 ft TALL and petite curvy figure ::.... it is a gracious honor to be synonymous with STRENGTH.
A nod for the new year ahead
will be the stretch to willpower.  Where I should examine these fair questions:
Am I trying to prove something?
To myself?  To someone else? Or bigger?
Am I doing my hardest to avoid and stay out of toxic environments or people? Am I being true to my GIFT that I am working to discover:  a teacher? a writer? an advertising Adonna?  | HA!  Google Chrome spell check:  "Ladonna, Madonna, Donna" | fooled YA!  Yes, I meant to make up a new word since GURU isn't even in the cards for a lot of knowledge to beget.
A website
I've been struggling with this for almost two years.  It doesn't fall under my PROCRASTINATION leanings, but I keep coming up with ideas on sections, which will fall under an umbrella of an e.zine.  I have experimented with blogs, Word Press, Go Daddy | good grief: worst experience EVA!  They didn't mind taking my money | "there's a sucker born every milisecond on the internet" | they fall into my bucket of ::... "NEVER AGAIN" pile.  Of which there are few, it's a small crowd, like my "former dentist" Lee (first or last name, I'll never tell, except from what it rhymes with "Cal-gar-y" ('y' pronounced "Eeee")

I'm going to write and let him know.  This young fellow, who shall not be named, unless agreed to by name).  I would like to showcase his work from Word Press websites.  
What's in a name?
I can't settle on a name is what a name is about.  You'd be surprised how much time I spend waving on the tide of websites, website hosts, and a few creative outfits in between.  
graFX
designCA has been born.  I guess pretty much anything I spend doing ends up in a blog of some sorts.  I launched it about a week ago.  What I want to do is showcase what I uncover for the social media crowd or blogging tribe.  Tools, resources, gallery, creative, writing host of a colossal kind!  
Getting pumped up
now, creative juices flowing unabated, from feeling a strong sense of cabin FEVER since my skin erupted from either Shingles or a skin reaction/infection | doctors have conflicting prognosis | first time ever the Wicked Witch of the West has been nice to me in months, if exactly a year ago from now.
I think I have an idea
so I guess I better go.  Thanks for joining me while I uncork another idea for others to be amused by, inspired from or motivated to ..... JUST DO IT!

TRUST your instincts

The trials of being 50+ can be eye popping, especially so if you are a woman.

Jeannette Marshall

10 mins · 

I was just getting prescriptions filled less than a week ago after seeing the doctor for an annoying recurring bug (first laryngitis type virus then nauseous); it occurred to me to mention it to the doctor but I didn't, but remembered and asked the pharmacist: my husband had a small case of shingles in his back beneath his shoulder blade: he said that shingles is NOT contagious; The day before last during a meeting excusing during the discussion, saying I didn't know what was going on. Thankfully, yesterday was a day off because, even though I grumbled about missing the Super Bowl, I had swapped Sunday's 9 to 5 shift instead of an ugly 2pm to 10pm shift. My skin started to erupt and today it almost looks like I am a burn victim. I wasn't even thinking shingles, but when the Hunkster Hubster had shingles, I did what most of us do: look it up on the internet. Let me emphasize that I do not condone self-diagnosis, always rule to see a doctor first. (I was taught this while my Awesome SONster was in and out of the hospital a lot as a baby)! To top THAT off, I had been invited for a video interview for a career position (not a job, like I am in now) with an international sustainability corporation (the environment is something I'm passionate about - please go to my optioneerJM blog where I wrote about how to use normal household objects instead of expensive manufactured, packaged, designed, marketing overhead products. Because I consider my main focus groups: INBETWEENERS (born 1960 to 1965, after the Baby Boomers, before Generation X, while likely parents of Millennials) ..... so here I am with this erupted sore face, I had to slather it with tons of foundation to try to hide it with massive amounts of cover up ..... wishing for the best: one thing I said in the video was a wholehearted response: just doing this video interview while I have a severe allergic reaction on my face, should demonstrate that I can bounce back from set backs. So later on this afternoon while I am waiting for my family to come home and stop over to celebrate my Awesome SONster's birthday; 28th birthday......... read more on meanderingsABOUT 

I came online to ask Google the question:  "Can you get Shingles on your face?" and a plethora of information abounded.  I read some of the symptoms and it registered with me to go beyond to take a look of the images of Shingles on faces ...... pretty GROSS is an understatement.  I WAS able, however, to find one that mirrored my own face.  In fact, mine appears a lot more drastic.  Trust me, it may be slightly redder from putting cover up and mega tons of foundation to cover up for the video interview I had on my agenda this afternoon.  That, and preparing for my Awesome SONster's 28th Birthday celebration.  Not any lazing around.

YES you CAN get #shingles on your face!!  

My lesson for the day:  trust your instincts.  If it is anything other than Shingles I will update my blog.

This was me a week ago.

Lesson to you:  If you are over 50, get the Shingles vaccine.  If I had been given the proper information less than a week ago, I may have gotten the vaccine that very day.  Less than a week later, ironically they must be contagious, just like chicken pox are.

Shingle Alert

Thanks Donna, I just got home from Dr who confirmed it is Shingles. I wrote about it on my MEANDERINGSabout blog and posted this uncomplimentary picture that has horrified my family to create awareness that it is CONTAGIOUS and very painful. Anxiety is the highest contributor in my case. I took two months off work this summer, the first time in a career spanning 40 years -- I can say that because I got my first job at a newspaper when I was 15, because if I wanted to continue figure skating, I had to contribute financially to the ice times, private lessons, tests, competitions, skates and dresses (most top contending figure skaters come from very affluent backgrounds typically because it is almost an elitist sport for the well off, a beacon for affluence similar to that of tennis. READ more on MEANDERINGSabout http://meanderingsabout.blogspot.ca/