tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155858082024-03-18T06:53:54.243-07:00Have Fun • Do GoodA blog for people who want to live their big vision!Britt Bravohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02134123127272499735noreply@blogger.comBlogger1047125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15585808.post-66686451438121886862015-03-20T10:32:00.003-07:002015-03-20T10:37:32.588-07:00Have Fun, Do Good Has Moved to brittbravo.com<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EgeDeJqDNks/VQxYxMYlV0I/AAAAAAAADuU/jFbhxc-IHcw/s1600/Big%2BVision%2BConsulting.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EgeDeJqDNks/VQxYxMYlV0I/AAAAAAAADuU/jFbhxc-IHcw/s1600/Big%2BVision%2BConsulting.tiff" height="165" width="400" /></a>Hello Have Fun, Do Good Readers!<br />
<br />
After almost 10 years of writing Have Fun, Do Good on the Blogger.com platform, I've decided to integrate it into my Big Vision Consulting website at <a href="http://brittbravo.com/">brittbravo.com</a>.<br />
<br />
If you would like to continue to receive my posts via email or RSS, the prompts to subscribe are at the bottom of <a href="http://brittbravo.com/">brittbravo.com.</a><br />
<br />
I hope to see you over there soon!<br />
<br />
Warmly,<br />
<br />
Britt Britt Bravohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02134123127272499735noreply@blogger.com330tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15585808.post-40578492733075573662015-03-12T12:25:00.001-07:002015-03-12T12:25:20.539-07:00What pollinators for your big vision do you want to attract this spring?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gO0_U6Imw5s/VQHmYRnuPqI/AAAAAAAADtc/qdnYDGAdhRQ/s1600/wasp%2Bin%2Bnew%2Bmexico%2Bflower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gO0_U6Imw5s/VQHmYRnuPqI/AAAAAAAADtc/qdnYDGAdhRQ/s1600/wasp%2Bin%2Bnew%2Bmexico%2Bflower.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<em>Q. What is the function of a flower?<br /></em><br />
<em>A. <span class="quick-answer-content"><strong>The purpose of a flower is to attract pollinators to a plant to aid in fertilization so that the plant creates seeds.</strong>
Bright colors, strong scents and sweet nectar all work together to
attract birds, bees and other insects to move pollen from one flower to
another. After pollination occurs, the flower develops seeds.<br /> </span></em><br />
<em>~ <a data-mce-href="http://www.ask.com/science/function-flower-7318f360896ebbee#full-answer" href="http://www.ask.com/science/function-flower-7318f360896ebbee#full-answer" target="_blank">via Ask.com:</a></em></blockquote>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wB7wLeZk5UA/VQHmWT07SWI/AAAAAAAADtw/RsVlznm0AhE/s1600/bee%2Bin%2Ba%2Bpink%2Bflower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wB7wLeZk5UA/VQHmWT07SWI/AAAAAAAADtw/RsVlznm0AhE/s1600/bee%2Bin%2Ba%2Bpink%2Bflower.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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I'm reading journalist Gail Sheehy's memoir right now, <em><a data-mce-href="http://www.amazon.com/Daring-My-Passages-A-Memoir-ebook/dp/B00H7LYLWI/ref=pd_sim_kstore_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=0ZP1A3K5GF9QRKMSAT4T" href="http://www.amazon.com/Daring-My-Passages-A-Memoir-ebook/dp/B00H7LYLWI/ref=pd_sim_kstore_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=0ZP1A3K5GF9QRKMSAT4T" target="_blank">Daring: My Passages: A Memoir</a></em>. I've only read up to 1981, when she is 44, but so far she has been a founding writer of <em>New York</em>
magazine, interviewed all kinds of people from Anwar Sadat to Robert F.
Kennedy, been caught in the crossfire during Bloody Sunday, and written
a <a data-mce-href="http://www.amazon.com/Passages-Predictable-Crises-Adult-Life/dp/034547922X/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" href="http://www.amazon.com/Passages-Predictable-Crises-Adult-Life/dp/034547922X/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">bestselling book</a> all while raising a daughter as a single mom. Although the title states that the story is about <em>her</em>
passage, as with most memoirs, it's clear that there were many people
who influenced her, inspired her, and supported her along the way.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rdOcjL3P4V4/VQHmWt2YQ2I/AAAAAAAADtI/-MxCrV1SpRM/s1600/Bees%2Bon%2Ba%2Bpassionflower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rdOcjL3P4V4/VQHmWt2YQ2I/AAAAAAAADtI/-MxCrV1SpRM/s1600/Bees%2Bon%2Ba%2Bpassionflower.jpg" height="400" width="400" /> </a></div>
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Sometimes when we're pursuing our big visions for our work in the world,
we forget that we don't need to do everything on our own, nor should
we. Like flowers, we benefit from "pollination." Other people's ideas,
resources and support help us become who we are meant to be. Likewise,
we can also be pollinators for other people's big visions.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ry4IANX-hrA/VQHmWV7fdKI/AAAAAAAADtE/lU-YPMdFqdU/s1600/Hummingbird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ry4IANX-hrA/VQHmWV7fdKI/AAAAAAAADtE/lU-YPMdFqdU/s1600/Hummingbird.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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With the first day of spring around the corner (March 20), it's a
good time to set your intentions for the new season and ask yourself:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>What kind of "pollinators" do I need to help me with my big vision for my work in the world at this time?</li>
<li>How can I attract them (e.g. take a class, hire a coach, ask someone to be my mentor, get a <a href="http://havefundogood.blogspot.com/2014/09/big-vision-tip-stay-on-track-text-your.html" target="_blank">Big Vision Buddy</a>, explore a business or creative partnership, join a community of practice, ask a friend for help)?</li>
<li>How can I be a pollinator for someone else's big vision?</li>
</ul>
<br />
<em>All photos by me.</em><br />
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<b><i>Subscri<i>bers: <i>I will be moving Have Fun, Do Good over to my website, <a href="http://brittbravo.com/">brittbravo.com</a>. If you would like to receive my posts via email or RSS, the prompts to subscribe are at the bottom of </i><i><a href="http://brittbravo.com/">brittbravo.com.</a></i> </i></i></b><br />
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<br />Britt Bravohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02134123127272499735noreply@blogger.com207tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15585808.post-41961101932541865402015-02-18T07:53:00.002-08:002015-02-18T08:02:34.330-08:00Which is better: structure or flow?Neither.<br />
<br />
You need both.<br />
<br />
If you think of yourself as a
creative, visionary, intuitive and/or spiritual person, you might feel
more comfortable with moving towards your big vision by "going with the
flow." It allows you to come up with amazing ideas, have big aha's,
experience incredible synchronicities, create prolifically, and feel
connected to something greater than yourself.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-mce-href="https://bebravo.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/flowing-puddle-with-reflection.jpg" href="https://bebravo.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/flowing-puddle-with-reflection.jpg"><img alt="Flowing puddle with reflection" class="aligncenter wp-image-386" data-mce-src="https://bebravo.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/flowing-puddle-with-reflection.jpg?w=660" height="500" src="https://bebravo.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/flowing-puddle-with-reflection.jpg?w=660" width="500" /></a></div>
<br />
Going
with the flow can also make you feel confused, overwhelmed by
possibilities, disorganized and like you're going around and around in
circles rather than towards your big vision.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-mce-href="https://bebravo.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/whirling-rain.jpg" href="https://bebravo.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/whirling-rain.jpg"><img alt="whirling rain" class="aligncenter wp-image-388" data-mce-src="https://bebravo.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/whirling-rain.jpg" height="500" src="https://bebravo.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/whirling-rain.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
<br />
Maybe
you're naturally a more structured person. You create lists and plans
and milestones and systems to track how you're spending your time and
money. These tools help you to be organized, productive, grounded and
able to see how you are making progress towards your goals. You feel in
control of your destiny.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-mce-href="https://bebravo.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/yellow-stripe-path.jpg" href="https://bebravo.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/yellow-stripe-path.jpg"><img alt="yellow stripe path" class="aligncenter wp-image-389" data-mce-src="https://bebravo.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/yellow-stripe-path.jpg" height="500" src="https://bebravo.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/yellow-stripe-path.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
<br />
But
then something happens and your plans don't unfold the way you'd mapped
them out. Unforeseen events or expenses make it impossible for you to
stick with your schedule, budget, action plan, or time line. When life
doesn't fit within the structure you created, you might feel anxious,
scared, powerless, or stuck.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-mce-href="https://bebravo.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/no.jpg" href="https://bebravo.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/no.jpg"><img alt="NO" class="aligncenter wp-image-391" data-mce-src="https://bebravo.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/no.jpg" height="500" src="https://bebravo.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/no.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
<br />
Whether you naturally lean towards going with the flow, or creating structures, you need to go back and forth between the two to realize your big vision.
As one wise friend described it to me: a river needs banks to guide it
to the ocean.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-mce-href="https://bebravo.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/stream-after-rain.jpg" href="https://bebravo.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/stream-after-rain.jpg"><img alt="stream after rain" class="aligncenter wp-image-394" data-mce-src="https://bebravo.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/stream-after-rain.jpg" height="500" src="https://bebravo.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/stream-after-rain.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
<br />
What feels more comfortable for you? Structure or flow?<br />
<br />
Would adding a little more of one or the other help you realize your big vision?<br />
<br />
<i>All photos by me.</i><br />
<br />
<i><i><i>* I will be moving Have Fun, Do Good over to my website, <a href="http://brittbravo.com/">brittbravo.com</a>. If you would like to receive my posts via email or RSS, the prompts to subscribe are at the bottom of </i><i><a href="http://brittbravo.com/">brittbravo.com.</a></i> </i></i>Britt Bravohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02134123127272499735noreply@blogger.com196tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15585808.post-55302128262626352222015-02-10T08:27:00.000-08:002015-02-10T08:27:21.080-08:00How do I find time to ___________?Many of us feel time-crunched. Like we need more spaciousness in our
lives for all kinds of things, including working on our big vision.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HHLhRPm7S3U/VNowR-VWcTI/AAAAAAAADrE/hKFJx4xpQCU/s1600/Pickles%2Bin%2BSkippys%2BBasket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HHLhRPm7S3U/VNowR-VWcTI/AAAAAAAADrE/hKFJx4xpQCU/s1600/Pickles%2Bin%2BSkippys%2BBasket.jpg" height="217" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Now sometimes, "I don't have enough time," can really mean, "I'm
exhausted and need more sleep," or "I'm afraid," or "I don't want to
fail," or "I don't want to have to make a decision and focus on one
project." But when time is truly the issue, we have two choices:<br />
<br />
1. <strong>Eliminate</strong> some of the things that have been taking up the space we need to create.<br />
<br />
2.<strong> Adapt</strong> to the space we have and embrace our limits.<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BXmZl-7lgis/VNowbvqhv-I/AAAAAAAADrM/aw7_tpjwJwY/s1600/d-on-basket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BXmZl-7lgis/VNowbvqhv-I/AAAAAAAADrM/aw7_tpjwJwY/s1600/d-on-basket.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vD7dPmRbcs4/VNowo7Xw81I/AAAAAAAADrc/i7Pre3OaMik/s1600/Puss%2Bin%2Bhannah%2BBasket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vD7dPmRbcs4/VNowo7Xw81I/AAAAAAAADrc/i7Pre3OaMik/s1600/Puss%2Bin%2Bhannah%2BBasket.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HSqjRughgqM/VNowijlFmNI/AAAAAAAADrU/YC5mMC468uU/s1600/Toolie%2Bwaits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HSqjRughgqM/VNowijlFmNI/AAAAAAAADrU/YC5mMC468uU/s1600/Toolie%2Bwaits.jpg" height="221" width="400" /> </a></div>
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For example, let's say you were hoping to sit down at the beginning
of this year and map out a BIG plan for your life. You were going to
make a 1-year plan, a 5-year plan and a 10-year plan. You were going to
create timelines and to-lists and "figure it all out."<br />
<br />
But now
it's already February. And your days are filled with work and family and
friends and laundry and commuting and, oh yeah, you had the flu for a
week in January, which threw everything out of whack, and the kids have
spring break in March, and you have a wedding to go to in April (what
will you wear?) and you keep getting those postcards reminding you to go
to the dentist. It doesn't seem like things are going to slow down any
time soon. Aaaargh!<br />
<br />
If we can't eliminate any commitments from our lives right now, we have to <strong>adapt and embrace our limits.</strong>
We need to use the time we have to do what we can rather than waiting
for "someday" in the future when we think we will have luxuriously long
free chunks of time. That someday may come, or it may not. In the
meantime, we have to work with what we have, even if it's only an hour a
week.<br />
<br />
<strong>Limits can actually increase our creativity.</strong><br />
<br />
According to the <em>New York Times</em> article, <a data-mce-href="http://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/07/science/route-to-creativity-following-bliss-or-dots.html?smid=pl-share" href="http://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/07/science/route-to-creativity-following-bliss-or-dots.html?smid=pl-share" target="_blank">Route to Creativity: Following Bliss or Dots?</a> researchers found that:<br />
<blockquote>
"[N]othing
stifles inventiveness and artistry more brutally, than too much
freedom, too much wiggle room for the imagination. Instead, they argue,
the real source of productive creativity may lie in art's supposed
bugaboos: rules, structure, even the occasional editor or two."</blockquote>
The Lifehacker post, <a data-mce-href="http://lifehacker.com/challenge-your-creativity-with-limits-not-freedom-484496043" href="http://lifehacker.com/challenge-your-creativity-with-limits-not-freedom-484496043" target="_blank">Challenge Your Creativity with Limits, Not Freedom</a>, reminds us:<br />
<blockquote>
"Dr. Seuss famously bet that he could write a children's book [<a data-mce-href="http://www.amazon.com/Green-Eggs-Ham-Dr-Seuss/dp/0394800168" href="http://www.amazon.com/Green-Eggs-Ham-Dr-Seuss/dp/0394800168" target="_blank"><em>Green Eggs and Ham</em></a>] using only 50 unique words. That book went on to become a best-seller."</blockquote>
And in the TEDBlog interview, <a data-mce-href="http://blog.ted.com/2013/03/05/can-limitations-make-you-more-creative-a-qa-with-artist-phil-hansen/" href="http://blog.ted.com/2013/03/05/can-limitations-make-you-more-creative-a-qa-with-artist-phil-hansen/" target="_blank">Can limitations make you more creative? A Q&A with artist Phil Hansen</a>, Hansen says:<br />
<blockquote>
"It’s
hard to get people to focus on plan B when plan A is working so well.
Now we are in a place where lots of 'plans As' are no longer working.
Being forced to reevaluate is allowing us to see this connection between
limitations and creativity that has always been right in front of us."</blockquote>
Someday
may never come, but today always will, so let's try to see the
restrictions on our time as opportunities and love our limits!<br />
<br />
<em>Flickr photo credits: <a data-mce-href="https://flic.kr/p/cvLoz" href="https://flic.kr/p/cvLoz" target="_blank">Pickles in Skippy's basket by walt eis</a>; <a data-mce-href="https://flic.kr/p/4kKN1a" href="https://flic.kr/p/4kKN1a" target="_blank">d-in-baset by Aaron Weber</a>; <a data-mce-href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/greengirl24/8015835321/in/photolist-ddkfzg-cFp9e7-h3YRX-h3YSX-fGTgY3-fGAGX2-h3YUh-ddk6FY-ddjYTr-94kRA8-ddki6s-4fFfCX-aDS8EH-2eSeAu-8QPtNc-HNmwG-ddkjnT-g8upXe-dhgj3T-jqjP4D-cL4qeN-cFoLnL-cFoMBq-cFpfPf-6XbhnE-ddkgTJ-cFoQaN-cFoNsJ-cFoQAs-cFoKBj-cFoKYU-cFoPjy-dhgjWE-6Xbhqy-dhgjBu-cFoN49-ddkbN3-7hAnoo-cFoLLG-bo6zV2-7nBqBC-9PxaeC-jqmKTQ-96okxa-dxN1xM-oExyAx-2Dipef-dxN1nV-dxN1cV-dxN3Nz" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/greengirl24/8015835321/in/photolist-ddkfzg-cFp9e7-h3YRX-h3YSX-fGTgY3-fGAGX2-h3YUh-ddk6FY-ddjYTr-94kRA8-ddki6s-4fFfCX-aDS8EH-2eSeAu-8QPtNc-HNmwG-ddkjnT-g8upXe-dhgj3T-jqjP4D-cL4qeN-cFoLnL-cFoMBq-cFpfPf-6XbhnE-ddkgTJ-cFoQaN-cFoNsJ-cFoQAs-cFoKBj-cFoKYU-cFoPjy-dhgjWE-6Xbhqy-dhgjBu-cFoN49-ddkbN3-7hAnoo-cFoLLG-bo6zV2-7nBqBC-9PxaeC-jqmKTQ-96okxa-dxN1xM-oExyAx-2Dipef-dxN1nV-dxN1cV-dxN3Nz" target="_blank">Puss in Hannah Basket by Greengirl24</a>; <a data-mce-href="https://flic.kr/p/jYmZCZ" href="https://flic.kr/p/jYmZCZ" target="_blank">Toolie waits by Linda Tanner</a></em><br />
<br />
<em><i>* I will be moving Have Fun, Do Good over to my website, <a href="http://brittbravo.com/">brittbravo.com</a>. If you would like to receive my posts via email or RSS, the prompts to subscribe are at the bottom of </i><i><a href="http://brittbravo.com/">brittbravo.com.</a></i> </em>Britt Bravohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02134123127272499735noreply@blogger.com199tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15585808.post-44902535569931639932015-02-02T19:05:00.002-08:002015-02-03T08:26:17.934-08:00One question for you<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kx_rjIVNKkE/VNA57geDSxI/AAAAAAAADpU/_OxuleLHHys/s1600/Fern.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kx_rjIVNKkE/VNA57geDSxI/AAAAAAAADpU/_OxuleLHHys/s1600/Fern.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
As I make some changes to my business, <a href="http://brittbravo.com/" target="_blank">Big Vision Consulting</a>, I want to know:<br />
<br />
<b>What challenges are you facing around your big vision for your work in the world?</b><br />
<br />
Some normal obstacles that come up when you are pursuing your dreams are:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Lack of clarity around your vision. </li>
<li>Haziness around the required action steps to reach it.</li>
<li> Fear of failure.</li>
<li> Lack of time, money, skills, energy, or other resources.</li>
</ul>
<br />
I would be honored if you would share the challenges you're experiencing as you work towards your big vision either in the comments of this post, or <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1OjdVb_PlR5UzqdBgkjDALlBiGpMQQMgYJNBkeO4Jnxw/viewform?usp=send_form" target="_blank">on this anonymous form</a>.<br />
<br />
Thank you!<br />
<br />
<i>Photo of fern unfolding by me.</i><br />
<br />
<i>* I will be moving Have Fun, Do Good over to my website, <a href="http://brittbravo.com/">brittbravo.com</a>. If you would like to receive my posts via email or RSS, the prompts to subscribe are at the bottom of </i><i><a href="http://brittbravo.com/">brittbravo.com.</a></i>Britt Bravohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02134123127272499735noreply@blogger.com202tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15585808.post-14416969446704755692015-01-31T08:41:00.001-08:002015-01-31T08:49:35.757-08:00How have you navigated directionless times in your life?When we are pursuing our big visions there will be times when our path becomes obscured.<br />
<br />
In Cheryl Strayed's, <i><a data-mce-href="http://www.amazon.com/Wild-Found-Pacific-Crest-Trail/dp/0307476073" href="http://www.amazon.com/Wild-Found-Pacific-Crest-Trail/dp/0307476073" target="_blank">Wild</a></i>,
which I just finished reading, most of the time she knows where she is
on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) and where she wants to be at the end of
her 1,100 mile hike. But sometimes, like when she hikes through snow,
she doesn't know if she is on the PCT, or if she is lost. She has to
consult her guidebook, look for signs, ask for help from strangers, and
trust her instincts to find her way.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-40CDwl7pjYg/VM0D94DSCSI/AAAAAAAADlw/cQvQJXyPBYE/s1600/Yosemite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-40CDwl7pjYg/VM0D94DSCSI/AAAAAAAADlw/cQvQJXyPBYE/s1600/Yosemite.jpg" height="297" width="400" /></a></div>
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When I graduated from college, I really didn't know what I wanted to
do next. I had a degree in sociology that I loved studying, but didn't
point me in a particular direction. My only guidepost came from a
friend's boyfriend who had graduated the year before who said, "If you
don't know the kind of work you want to do, or where you want to live,
or who you want to be, go where you know people because it's important
to have friends around when you're figuring all of that out."<br />
<br />
I
took his advice to heart. Most of my friends had moved to either New
York City or the Bay Area. I needed to decide between the two, but again
I was at a loss. This time, it was my who Dad gave me some good advice.
He said, "What color do you see when you think of each place?" I closed
my eyes and thought about New York. All I could see was black and
white.<br />
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Then I thought about San Francisco. I saw pinks and yellows and lots of
color. I decide to move to San Francisco and have lived in the Bay Area
for almost 25 years! </div>
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I think when we're in unknown, directionless, lost, or "blank slate"
periods of our lives it's important to: 1. surround ourselves with
people who care about us, and 2. listen to the less linear parts of
ourselves that know things through feelings, images and intuitions.</div>
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<b>How have you navigated directionless times in your life?</b><br />
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<i>Image credits: Snow in Yosemite by me. <a data-mce-href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/paalia/3582759194/in/photolist-5rouLe-6sAzuf-oaQnNy-5rsQxy-8jnsFT-mk8JeL-p2icEG-oFX9ep-6tnvWE-7NoGAc-mk7rV4-95T2Ax-oFXGqh-5qPdV7-dRM4z9-d71PuG-aeEoFM-4Q5i31-oYbxzx-oWq9B7-mk8GqA-oYqbBd-oFXKWA-oYqcuf-oFXHXf-oFXe8c-oFXVAe-oYqdc7-oWq5fb-oFXWet-oFXu9q-oYqgqG-oFXbUV-oFXJE7-oYs6fF-oYs6wx-oYbAKF-oFXK1s-oFXaSz-oYqc8J-oFXczc-oFXsg7-oFX9kB-oFXbv8-oYbxWz-cQXzXS-7zcchq-5yvNVN-aupewD-eiBvty" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/paalia/3582759194/in/photolist-5rouLe-6sAzuf-oaQnNy-5rsQxy-8jnsFT-mk8JeL-p2icEG-oFX9ep-6tnvWE-7NoGAc-mk7rV4-95T2Ax-oFXGqh-5qPdV7-dRM4z9-d71PuG-aeEoFM-4Q5i31-oYbxzx-oWq9B7-mk8GqA-oYqbBd-oFXKWA-oYqcuf-oFXHXf-oFXe8c-oFXVAe-oYqdc7-oWq5fb-oFXWet-oFXu9q-oYqgqG-oFXbUV-oFXJE7-oYs6fF-oYs6wx-oYbAKF-oFXK1s-oFXaSz-oYqc8J-oFXczc-oFXsg7-oFX9kB-oFXbv8-oYbxWz-cQXzXS-7zcchq-5yvNVN-aupewD-eiBvty" target="_blank">New York City</a> by <a data-mce-href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/paalia/" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/paalia/" target="_blank">Paul Stocker</a> <a data-mce-href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/" target="_blank">(CC by 2.0)</a>. </i><i><a data-mce-href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/imageme/3169077098/in/photolist-5Q3mdj-DB8tN-5a9YiN-vb2nS-ng9BZM-9SbMZe-dheaBA-fty5EM-2FN8cE-3H4MfW-pe9jkz-4BT2La-2xD4Xa-6VGugH-nPu9UG-fc24i3-fzhNSx-byRCrJ-gxFKL-at5uUd-9jcTBf-pcmKso-atCYuH-4YT7dg-57pK5f-c4x6qW-gxoC2-gzv85-b7mVSP---4889q8-2Eet8a-q23VFX-mrwo6B-iicW1m-8dczBd-87oAqq-7UX9Ea-658JBb-2y1yx9-aB43i-q9b1sm-pQpGM5-p9vfUF-kzUF6r-futFrm-ettS6G-7y538h-7wKjyr" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/imageme/3169077098/in/photolist-5Q3mdj-DB8tN-5a9YiN-vb2nS-ng9BZM-9SbMZe-dheaBA-fty5EM-2FN8cE-3H4MfW-pe9jkz-4BT2La-2xD4Xa-6VGugH-nPu9UG-fc24i3-fzhNSx-byRCrJ-gxFKL-at5uUd-9jcTBf-pcmKso-atCYuH-4YT7dg-57pK5f-c4x6qW-gxoC2-gzv85-b7mVSP---4889q8-2Eet8a-q23VFX-mrwo6B-iicW1m-8dczBd-87oAqq-7UX9Ea-658JBb-2y1yx9-aB43i-q9b1sm-pQpGM5-p9vfUF-kzUF6r-futFrm-ettS6G-7y538h-7wKjyr" target="_blank">San Francisco, City of Color</a> by <a data-mce-href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/imageme/" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/imageme/" target="_blank">Matt</a> <a data-mce-href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/" target="_blank">(CC by 2.0)</a>.</i><br />
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<i>* I will be moving Have Fun, Do Good over to my website, <a href="http://brittbravo.com/">brittbravo.com</a>. If you would like to receive my posts via email or RSS, the prompts to subscribe are at the bottom of </i><i><a href="http://brittbravo.com/">brittbravo.com.</a></i>Britt Bravohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02134123127272499735noreply@blogger.com208tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15585808.post-82450770039732718892015-01-26T20:55:00.002-08:002015-01-31T08:47:32.878-08:00Life is a long experiment that includes successes and failures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MBInP0v9MyE/VMcYSRFNzQI/AAAAAAAADjY/ZZsBDmJNgPY/s1600/no-such-thing-as-a-failed-experiment.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MBInP0v9MyE/VMcYSRFNzQI/AAAAAAAADjY/ZZsBDmJNgPY/s1600/no-such-thing-as-a-failed-experiment.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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At the beginning of this year, 47% of Americans made a New Year’s resolution. <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/medical_examiner/2014/12/new_year_s_resolution_tips_how_to_start_exercising_and_lose_weight.html" target="_blank">Only 8% of us will keep it. </a>But maybe that isn’t a bad thing as long as we:</div>
<ol>
<li style="text-align: left;">Take the time to reflect on why we didn’t keep it.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Look at it as one “experiment” in a long process.</li>
</ol>
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Last weekend, I saw two movies, <i><a href="http://www.birdmanthemovie.com/" target="_blank">Birdman</a></i> and <a href="http://particlefever.com/" target="_blank"><i>Particle Fever</i></a>, that portrayed very different attitudes towards success and failure. Without giving too much away about each movie, in <i>Birdman</i>, the former star of a comic book hero movie franchise tries desperately to regain his former success by writing, directing and starring in his adaptation of a Raymond Carver play.</div>
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He tells his daughter, “I’m trying to do something important,” to which she responds, “You’re doing this because you’re scared to death, like the rest of us, that you don’t matter.” Throughout the film, it feels like he is running from his failures in the past, and possible failures in the future.</div>
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<i>Particle Fever </i>is a documentary about the launch of the Large Hadron Collider and the search for the Higgs Boson (aka the “god particle”), which some of the scientists interviewed have been working on for 20+ years! I was struck by how different the attitude, as expressed by one of the physicists in the film, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savas_Dimopoulos" target="_blank">Savas Dimopoulos</a>, was to failure:</div>
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“Jumping from failure to failure with undiminished enthusiasm is the big secret to success.”</div>
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Failure seemed to be an accepted part of the process, and a looooooooong process at that. As another physicist, <a href="http://www.uslhc.us/The_US_and_the_LHC/US_LHC_Blogs/Monica_Dunford" target="_blank">Monica Dunford,</a> says in a voice-over during footage of her going for a run:</div>
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“When you’re dealing with something that’s a long term project . . . you can’t think about the end. Ever. If you start off a marathon thinking ‘I can’t wait to get to the finish line. I’m going to have my data,’ or ‘I’m going to have my crispy french fries at the finish line’ or whatever motives you. If you start thinking that at mile one and it’s like ten minutes into the race and you’re thinking to yourself, ‘Wow, I’m only at mile one, I’ve got 22.5 miles to go.’ If you’re thinking like that at the start, then you’re done. Mentally you are done. This is what doing discovery physics means. This is what discovery means.”</div>
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I’ve thought about both films a lot recently and wondered: As I make future plans in reaction to past failures, am I being more like the actor in <i>Birdman</i>, or like the scientists in <i>Particle Fever?</i></div>
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I have to admit that I have been being more like the actor in <i>Birdman</i>, running from failures and taking desperate actions in the hopes that future success would bury the memory of my failures, rather than embracing life as a long experiment that includes successes and failures.</div>
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So, I’m hoping to spend some time at the end of this month reflecting on some of my most recent failures with a <a href="http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/projects/thescientificmethod.html" target="_blank">“scientific method”</a> type of lense:<br />
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b>Question:</b> What question about my life was I trying to answer?</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b>Hypothesis:</b> What did I think the solution would be?</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b>Experiment:</b> What actions did I take to try to make happen what I wanted to happen?</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b>Data:</b> What are the facts about what happened?</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b>Observations:</b> What other things did I notice and feel about what happened?</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b>Conclusion:</b> Did I achieve my hoped for solution? Why or why not? If I didn’t, what did I learn and what will I do differently next time?</li>
</ul>
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As we wind down the first month of 2015:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>What hasn’t turned out the way you expected?</li>
<li>What will be your next experiment?</li>
</ul>
<br />
<i>* I will be moving Have Fun, Do Good over to my website, <a href="http://brittbravo.com/">brittbravo.com</a>. If you would like to receive my posts via email or RSS, the prompts to subscribe are at the bottom of </i><i><a href="http://brittbravo.com/">brittbravo.com.</a></i><br />
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Britt Bravohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02134123127272499735noreply@blogger.com102tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15585808.post-5633315579149509312015-01-10T11:40:00.003-08:002015-01-31T08:43:27.039-08:00Creativity is not just for artists<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><span class="bqQuoteLink"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6dS50HNOSIQ/VLFmW0_6zcI/AAAAAAAADbA/nTI3cGveJnM/s1600/Flower%2Band%2Bumbrella%2Bin%2Ba%2Bpuddle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6dS50HNOSIQ/VLFmW0_6zcI/AAAAAAAADbA/nTI3cGveJnM/s1600/Flower%2Band%2Bumbrella%2Bin%2Ba%2Bpuddle.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></span></i></div>
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<i><span class="bqQuoteLink">"Creativity is not just for artists. It's for businesspeople looking for a new way to close a sale; it's for engineers trying to solve a problem; it's for parents who want their children to see the world in more than one way.</span>" ~Twyla Tharp, author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Habit-Learn-Use-Life/dp/0743235274/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life</a></i></blockquote>
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Twenty plus years ago, I went through a graduate program to earn an M.A. in Creation Spirituality. The premise of much of the curriculum was that if you believe in some kind of greater creative force, then you will be your truest self and closest to that source when you are being creative.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YTkujOEvD_M/VLF_m56C7eI/AAAAAAAADb8/28Z1Cv1qbiY/s1600/Mossy%2BHeart%2Bin%2Bthe%2BSidewalk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YTkujOEvD_M/VLF_m56C7eI/AAAAAAAADb8/28Z1Cv1qbiY/s1600/Mossy%2BHeart%2Bin%2Bthe%2BSidewalk.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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One of the daily practices we were encouraged to foster during the program was <b>art-as-meditation</b>, to do something creative each day (e.g. make music, sing, dance, write, paint, draw, take photos, mold clay) without focusing on the product, only the process. I was pretty regular with my art-as-meditation practice while I was in school and for a little while afterwards, and then it fell away.<br />
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Lately, I've found myself focusing Focusing FOCUSING on getting from A to Z in certain areas of my life and feeling extremely frustrated when either 1. things go from A to J to F, or 2. it seems like nothing is happening. As I've continued with pushing my metaphorical boulder up a hill, the idea of an art-as-meditation practice keeps popping up.<br />
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I even recommended it to someone else. Classic. It's so much easier to give other people the advice you need to take yourself! Clearly, I need to spend a little time each day being comfortable with the uncertainty, lack of linear thinking and chaos that being creative can bring.<br />
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<b>If you're interested in trying an art-as-meditation practice, it's fairly simple to do:</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Set aside time each day (5-20 minutes).</li>
<li>During that time, create in whatever way moves you without focusing on the product, just the process.</li>
<li>Don't judge what you create.</li>
<li>Social media didn't exist 20 years ago, so I would add, refrain from sharing what you create on social media so that you don't set yourself up to be judged by someone else either.</li>
</ul>
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The process is easy. The challenge is committing to make space each day for the unknown.<br />
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<i>"All the arts we practice are apprenticeship. The big art is our life. "~ M.C. Richards, author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Centering-Pottery-Poetry-Caroline-Richards/dp/0819562009" target="_blank">Centering in Pottery, Poetry, and the Person</a></i></blockquote>
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***<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tvJuPMrnFU4/T1e8-m5l-fI/AAAAAAAAB2I/Bz7ON8U3CWE/s1600/juicybluehummingbird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tvJuPMrnFU4/T1e8-m5l-fI/AAAAAAAAB2I/Bz7ON8U3CWE/s1600/juicybluehummingbird.jpg" height="162" width="200" /></a></div>
P.S. I'll be offering <a href="http://havefundogood.blogspot.com/2015/01/juicy-blogging-e-course-art-and-play-of.html" target="_blank">The Juicy Blogging E-Course</a> January 20-February 17, 2015. <br />
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<i>Photos by me.</i><br />
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<em>* I will be moving Have Fun, Do Good over to my website, <a href="http://brittbravo.com/">brittbravo.com</a>. If you would like to receive my posts via email or RSS, the prompts to subscribe are at the bottom of </em><em><a href="http://brittbravo.com/">brittbravo.com.</a></em><br />
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Britt Bravohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02134123127272499735noreply@blogger.com89tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15585808.post-30555708516088915982015-01-02T12:39:00.000-08:002015-01-31T08:45:21.679-08:00Juicy Blogging E-Course: The Art and Play of Blogging<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YaXTbxeEl2U/VKcBR5RtxSI/AAAAAAAADZo/I533wczSLl8/s1600/Test%2Bof%2BLARGER%2Bbritt%2Bhummingbird%2Bjuicy%2Bblogging%2Bfor%2Bnonprofits%2Blogo%2B6%3A11.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YaXTbxeEl2U/VKcBR5RtxSI/AAAAAAAADZo/I533wczSLl8/s1600/Test%2Bof%2BLARGER%2Bbritt%2Bhummingbird%2Bjuicy%2Bblogging%2Bfor%2Bnonprofits%2Blogo%2B6%3A11.jpeg" /></a></div>
<br />
The Juicy Blogging E-Course is back!<br />
<br />
Do you want to re-energize your blog and blogging practice, or rediscover the ♥ of your blog?<br />
<br />
I’ll be offering this ever popular e-course January 20-February 17,
2015. During the course, you’ll play with fun assignments on a private
blog with your fellow juicy bloggers.<br />
<br />
<i>“The best part of it all is that it is <b>just</b> <b>so</b> <b>much</b> <b>fun</b>!”</i> ~ Juicy Blogging E-Course student<br />
<br />
<b>The course consists of three kinds of fun-work:</b><br />
• <i>Reflection</i> questions to refine your blog’s purpose<br />
• <i>Connection</i> assignments to build community and traffic<br />
• <i>Creative</i> and juicy blog post prompts to get you writing<br />
<br />
<b>While working at your own pace, this course will help you:</b><br />
• Discover what you love to write about<br />
• Create a big ‘ole list of juicy blog post topics<br />
• Learn tricks and tips for building community and traffic<br />
• Design a blogging schedule that works for you<br />
• Connect with other juicy bloggers<br />
<br />
<b>How it works</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Each week, you’ll receive an email with a link to the week’s lessons on a private blog.</li>
<li>You can work privately on your own, or interact with your fellow
students in the comments of each lesson’s posts by asking questions,
sharing reflections, and posting links to your blog posts for feedback.</li>
<li>I individually answer all of the questions you post in the comments of each week’s lessons.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Your Juicy Blogging lessons and homework assignments will be posted on Tuesdays (January 20 & 27, February 3, 10 & 17).</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>Juicy Bonus</b><br />
At the end of the course, you’ll receive a coupon for 25% off a <a href="http://brittbravo.com/blog-coaching/" target="_blank">one-hour blog coaching session</a> tailored just for you.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Investment<br />
</b>$99</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a class="ec_ejc_thkbx" href="https://www.e-junkie.com/ecom/gb.php?c=cart&i=1264229&cl=102494&ejc=2" target="ej_ejc"><img alt="Add to Cart" border="0" src="http://www.e-junkie.com/ej/ej_add_to_cart.gif" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>FAQs</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Do I need a blog to take this course?</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Yes and no. You will get more out of the
class if you have a blog, but if you’re taking the class to figure out
if you want to blog, I recommend setting up a free <a href="https://www.blogger.com/home" target="_blank" title="Blogger.com">Blogger</a> or <a href="https://wordpress.com/" target="_blank">WordPress.com</a> blog to play with. You can make your <a href="https://support.google.com/blogger/answer/42673?hl=en" target="_blank">Blogger blog private </a>and your <a href="http://en.support.wordpress.com/settings/privacy-settings/" target="_blank">WordPress.com blog private</a>, if you want to experiment without anyone seeing it.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Will I learn how to set up/design a blog?</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Nope, but if you’re just starting out, by
the end of the course, you’ll have a much better sense of the type of
blog you want to create when you do set up, or redesign your blog. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>I have some things going on during part of the time the course is happening. How long will I have access to the material?</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I’ll keep the class blog up for a month or so after the course is over: Till the first day of spring (March 20)!</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Please feel free to <a href="http://brittbravo.com/connect/" target="_blank">email me</a> with questions about the course!<br />
<br />
<em>* I will be moving Have Fun, Do Good over to my website, <a href="http://brittbravo.com/">brittbravo.com</a>. If you would like to receive my posts via email or RSS, the prompts to subscribe are at the bottom of </em><em><a href="http://brittbravo.com/">brittbravo.com.</a></em><br />
</div>
Britt Bravohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02134123127272499735noreply@blogger.com57tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15585808.post-17478755233925644932014-10-24T13:26:00.001-07:002015-01-31T08:43:47.510-08:00Be open to Big Vision photobombs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
While visiting New Mexico this summer, I raised my phone to take a photo of some pink flowers against a blue sky when this happened:</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--NEKh3zP89c/VEqo-TBb28I/AAAAAAAADX8/XKGVV9-sRnY/s1600/IMG_4862.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--NEKh3zP89c/VEqo-TBb28I/AAAAAAAADX8/XKGVV9-sRnY/s1600/IMG_4862.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c9Ulsg7406Y/VEqo6tORaMI/AAAAAAAADXM/WuwgxwFJJpc/s1600/Hummingbird.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c9Ulsg7406Y/VEqo6tORaMI/AAAAAAAADXM/WuwgxwFJJpc/s1600/Hummingbird.tiff" height="400" width="398" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bsbQh7RMcxc/VEqo8n0pOiI/AAAAAAAADXo/lVGEnrNIdd4/s1600/IMG_4861.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bsbQh7RMcxc/VEqo8n0pOiI/AAAAAAAADXo/lVGEnrNIdd4/s1600/IMG_4861.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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This hummingbird flew right into my frame and posed for a long time (at least by hummingbird standards). It was a magical moment, especially because hummingbirds have always been an <a href="http://www.gretchenrubin.com/happiness_project/2014/10/buddhism-has-8-auspicious-symbols-what-are-your-symbols/" target="_blank">"auspicious symbol"</a> for me.</div>
<br />
Sometimes when we're working on our <a href="http://brittbravo.com/" target="_blank">big vision</a>: <a href="http://havefundogood.blogspot.com/2014/09/looking-for-your-big-vision-notice-what.html" target="_blank">noticing what sparkles</a>, <a href="http://havefundogood.blogspot.com/2014/10/when-your-big-vision-dies.html" target="_blank">letting go of old visions to be open to the new,</a> and <a href="http://havefundogood.blogspot.com/2014/10/dont-be-shy-run-towards-your-big-vision.html" target="_blank">running towards what excites us</a>, something unexpected shows up right in front of our face. It might even be more wonderful than the vision we imagined. Why not focus on it, before it flies away?<br />
<br />
<em>* I will be moving Have Fun, Do Good over to my website, <a href="http://brittbravo.com/">brittbravo.com</a>. If you would like to receive my posts via email or RSS, the prompts to subscribe are at the bottom of </em><em><a href="http://brittbravo.com/">brittbravo.com.</a></em>Britt Bravohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02134123127272499735noreply@blogger.com198tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15585808.post-57707153004263751102014-10-17T09:52:00.002-07:002015-01-31T08:46:59.855-08:00Don't be shy. Run towards your big vision.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2oASBg4m0KE/VEE4j8QpTXI/AAAAAAAADVs/UFZR7FJuyI0/s1600/IMG_5483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2oASBg4m0KE/VEE4j8QpTXI/AAAAAAAADVs/UFZR7FJuyI0/s1600/IMG_5483.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
As I was walking to work one day this week, I saw this cute Corgi (pictured above) on the street. At first he was shy. He watched me with half of his face hidden behind the wall. But as I walked closer, his excitement overwhelmed him. He ran out of hiding to say hello and invited me to pet him (so soft!).<br />
<br />
Sometimes that's how we are with our <a href="http://brittbravo.com/" target="_blank">Big Visions</a>. Shy at first. Testing the waters. Not wanting to make a commitment. But here's the important part. The excitement. When we get SO excited about something that we just HAVE to do it, or learn more about it, or share it with others, we need to let go and run towards it.<br />
<br />
When you feel pulled towards something that makes you go "Oooooooh!" Move towards it. Get closer. See what it's all about. For example, I often take photos on my walks to and from work.<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-guNYuykgZ20/VEE-SAcSmLI/AAAAAAAADV8/yt9sCbL3Pog/s1600/IMG_5477.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-guNYuykgZ20/VEE-SAcSmLI/AAAAAAAADV8/yt9sCbL3Pog/s1600/IMG_5477.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
A color will catch my eye and compel me to take out my phone and look closer.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HQS3FfXL6Xk/VEE-hsABuRI/AAAAAAAADWE/xUwSb8F3F2E/s1600/IMG_5481.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HQS3FfXL6Xk/VEE-hsABuRI/AAAAAAAADWE/xUwSb8F3F2E/s1600/IMG_5481.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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Sometimes I decide that it doesn't look as great as I thought it would, and I keep walking.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z9bGoCCfTzM/VEE_vydYV7I/AAAAAAAADWY/hkoixX7C6qI/s1600/Fall%2Bleaves.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z9bGoCCfTzM/VEE_vydYV7I/AAAAAAAADWY/hkoixX7C6qI/s1600/Fall%2Bleaves.tiff" height="397" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Other times, halfway through editing it on Instagram, I'll decide that the image or moment isn't drawing me in anymore. I discard the edits and delete the photo.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lYi1vrWs1m8/VEE-2CkbvFI/AAAAAAAADWM/jrs60jc6Ezo/s1600/Sunset.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lYi1vrWs1m8/VEE-2CkbvFI/AAAAAAAADWM/jrs60jc6Ezo/s1600/Sunset.tiff" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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But a lot of the time, if I stop to photograph something I feel inexplicably drawn to, the photo turns out even more beautifully than I could have imagined. And that makes me happy. Very happy.<br />
<br />
<b>Big Vision experiment</b>: Move towards what excites you, attracts you, or draws you in this week. <br />
<br />
<i>All photos by me.</i><br />
<br />
<i>* I will be moving Have Fun, Do Good over to my website, <a href="http://brittbravo.com/">brittbravo.com</a>. If you would like to receive my posts via email or RSS, the prompts to subscribe are at the bottom of </i><i><a href="http://brittbravo.com/">brittbravo.com.</a></i>Britt Bravohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02134123127272499735noreply@blogger.com165tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15585808.post-60670768085474732302014-10-10T11:29:00.003-07:002015-01-31T08:44:21.634-08:00When your big vision dies . . .<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oltvOK6OPJY/VDgNNKU9jmI/AAAAAAAADUc/TMgdlH2JDw8/s1600/a%2Btree%2Bgrows%2Ba%2Btree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oltvOK6OPJY/VDgNNKU9jmI/AAAAAAAADUc/TMgdlH2JDw8/s1600/a%2Btree%2Bgrows%2Ba%2Btree.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A tree grows a tree</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"The Death of a tree is the birth of a log or a snag [a standing dead or dying tree]. Dead trees are essential to the health of the forest and they are the basis of its astonishing productivity. Fallen trees are a substantial reservoir of organic matter and water that other plants and trees depend on. . . </i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>As a tree slowly decays, it becomes a nursery for plants. It may take 400 years or longer to become incorporated into the forest floor. During this time, a variety of shrubs and trees have the opportunity to develop part or all of their root systems within the decaying wood." </i><br />
<br />
- California State Parks guide for the <a href="http://www.redwoodhikes.com/Humboldt/Founders.html" target="_blank">Founders' Grove</a> in the <a href="http://humboldtredwoods.org/" target="_blank">Humboldt Redwoods State Park</a>.</div>
</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: left;">
A couple weeks ago, I went on vacation along The North Coast or "Redwood Coast" of California. The hubs and I spent a lot of time hiking, and did some camping among the giant redwood trees. It was wonderful. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BvR0DrB201w/VDgQuoA5t0I/AAAAAAAADUo/ONFv5787mNY/s1600/Burned%2Btree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BvR0DrB201w/VDgQuoA5t0I/AAAAAAAADUo/ONFv5787mNY/s1600/Burned%2Btree.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Fire-scarred tree</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I was particularly struck by how intertwined death and life are in the forest (<a href="http://redwoods.info/showrecord.asp?id=506" target="_blank">Did you know that the greatest accumulation of biomass [living and dead organic material] ever recorded on earth is in Humboldt Redwoods State Park?</a>).<br />
<br />
I knew in theory that when things died they provided nutrients for living things. "Cycle of life," "when one door closes, another opens," and all that, but there was something about seeing so many fallen and standing dead trees, and the life that grew out of them that amazed me.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_SSSQWycWIM/VDgUo9IGpAI/AAAAAAAADVE/J1OMQjCfCug/s1600/tree%2Bwith%2Bhole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_SSSQWycWIM/VDgUo9IGpAI/AAAAAAAADVE/J1OMQjCfCug/s1600/tree%2Bwith%2Bhole.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Tree with a hole in it</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There were also a lot of fire-scarred trees, and trees with crazy holes through them. The forest wasn't just filled with natural beauty, it was also filled with destruction, natural and man-made (<a href="http://www.nps.gov/redw/faqs.htm" target="_blank">96 percent of the original old-growth coast redwoods have been logged</a>).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iNhQ25IfByM/VDgWW6CMXTI/AAAAAAAADVU/VazPVYmNGUQ/s1600/Me%2Bin%2Bthe%2BRedwoods.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iNhQ25IfByM/VDgWW6CMXTI/AAAAAAAADVU/VazPVYmNGUQ/s1600/Me%2Bin%2Bthe%2BRedwoods.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Sometimes when we are pursuing our <a href="http://brittbravo.com/career-consulting" target="_blank">Big Vision</a>, things die (goals, habits, identities, ways of being, jobs, where we live, relationships). The destruction can happen by our hand, or by others', deliberately, or against our will. Reality is, death, destruction and challenges will happen. On the up side, the growth of new things and "nutrients" for existing things can come out of those deaths. <br />
<br />
One of the things that helps redwoods survive strong winds and floods is to <a href="http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=22257" target="_blank">intertwine roots with other redwoods</a>, so when a storm rolls into your Big Vision, or your life in general, find someone to intertwine your roots with and hold on!<br />
<br />
<i>All photos by me and the hubs. </i><br />
<br />
<em>* I will be moving Have Fun, Do Good over to my website, <a href="http://brittbravo.com/">brittbravo.com</a>. If you would like to receive my posts via email or RSS, the prompts to subscribe are at the bottom of </em><em><a href="http://brittbravo.com/">brittbravo.com.</a></em><br />
</div>
Britt Bravohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02134123127272499735noreply@blogger.com197tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15585808.post-53997157633715939962014-09-24T08:16:00.001-07:002015-01-31T08:46:30.953-08:00Looking for Your Big Vision? Notice What "Sparkles"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sq7uKD9u2sc/VB9LwyGM3gI/AAAAAAAADTo/x7QDIxy5eJQ/s1600/photo%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sq7uKD9u2sc/VB9LwyGM3gI/AAAAAAAADTo/x7QDIxy5eJQ/s1600/photo%2B2.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>Rain "sparkles" by me</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
A
friend who is between jobs recently asked me, "Is there one piece of
advice you would give to a creative person when they are looking for their
next job, or project?"<br />
<br />
I responded, "Notice what 'sparkles' for you."<br />
<br />
<b>I
think of "sparkles" as things that make you smile, makes time fly,
or that you all of a sudden become very curious about (even if you don't
understand why).</b><br />
<br />
If you are a "creative" type,
you already know that most creative projects don't usually happen in a
straight line: A to Z. They often begin with something small: a craving for an ingredient, a phrase you can't stop
thinking about, an attraction to a color, or a problem that
piques your interest. My experience has been that if you follow that
sparkle, and the next one and the next one, they will take you on a curvy route to your next big vision.<br />
<br />
If you're in the middle
of a transition and trying to figure out what to do next, follow you sparkles, even if they don't make logical sense. They will light the way.<br />
<br />
<b>Try this:</b><br />
<br />
Over the next three days, notice what "sparkles" for you:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>What brings you joy?</li>
<li>What are you attracted to?</li>
<li>What are you curious about?</li>
</ul>
<br />
Capture your "sparkles" in your journal, in a conversation with a friend, or with photos.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Are there any themes that run through all of your sparkles?</li>
<li>How can you bring more of what sparkles into your life?</li>
</ul>
<br />
<i>* I will be moving Have Fun, Do Good over to my website, <a href="http://brittbravo.com/">brittbravo.com</a>. If you would like to receive my posts via email or RSS, the prompts to subscribe are at the bottom of </i><i><a href="http://brittbravo.com/">brittbravo.com.</a></i><br />
<br />
<ul>
</ul>
Britt Bravohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02134123127272499735noreply@blogger.com82tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15585808.post-6484416079714178392014-09-15T09:08:00.001-07:002015-01-31T08:46:07.799-08:00Big Vision Tip: Stay on Track. Text Your Big Vision Buddy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Prw2m65OwYo/VBXw_FOJ1jI/AAAAAAAADTQ/zke_Kp0t8yQ/s1600/Heather%2BAlaine%2BBig%2BVision%2BBuddy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Prw2m65OwYo/VBXw_FOJ1jI/AAAAAAAADTQ/zke_Kp0t8yQ/s1600/Heather%2BAlaine%2BBig%2BVision%2BBuddy.jpg" height="219" width="320" /></a></div>
About a year and a half ago my friend <a href="http://createyourownbeautiful.com/" target="_blank">Heather</a> and I decided to try the <a href="https://chopracentermeditation.com/home/?acode=oprah" target="_blank">Oprah and Deepak 21-Day Meditation Experience</a>. To make sure we completed it, we texted each other right after we meditated. There were many mornings when I would "forget" to meditate (isn't it funny how our minds do that when we're resisting something?), and her text would prompt me to do it.<br />
<br />
It worked so well that even when the 21 days were over, we continued to text each other after we meditated. A year and half later, our meditation practices certainly aren't perfect, but they're so much a part of our lives that we no longer text about it. We've moved on to new projects!<br />
<br />
Heather is working on finishing <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ACollectionOfDatingTalesForTheModernDayPrincess" target="_blank">her book</a>, and I'm trying to get back into the swing of regular blogging, so now we text each when we're going to write, and when we finish. Once again, it's working! I'm posting here for the first time in almost two months.<br />
<br />
It's such a simple process, but one that has made a huge difference in our lives. <br />
<br />
Below are a <b>few tips for texting with your Big Vision Buddy:</b><br />
<br />
<ul></ul>
<ul>
<li>Pick a Big Vision Buddy who is also working on a project, or habit. It's more fun for the support to be two-way, rather than one-way. </li>
<li>Also, your Buddy should be someone who you aren't competitive with, or who isn't emotionally invested in the completion of your goal, or project.</li>
<li>Nudge don't judge. If your Buddy hasn't texted you in a while, <i>gently</i> ask them how things are going, and how you can support their getting back on track. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>Big Vision to-dos for you:</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Pick a project, or habit you would like to work on this week, this month, or this fall.</li>
<li>Ask someone to be your Big Vision Buddy.</li>
<li>Start texting!</li>
</ul>
<br />
Speaking of which, I'm going to go text Heather now<b>!</b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://inherimagephoto.com/" target="_blank"><i>Photo of Heater by In Her Image Photography</i></a></span><br />
<br />
<em>* I will be moving Have Fun, Do Good over to my website, <a href="http://brittbravo.com/">brittbravo.com</a>. If you would like to receive my posts via email or RSS, the prompts to subscribe are at the bottom of </em><em><a href="http://brittbravo.com/">brittbravo.com.</a></em><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> </i></span><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></b>Britt Bravohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02134123127272499735noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15585808.post-55747783956903348872014-07-26T14:37:00.002-07:002014-07-26T14:40:07.397-07:00Bye-Bye Big Vision Podcast: 70+ Interviews Over 7 Years with Social Changemakers<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0bFfyPwZ15k/U9QQeVbK3cI/AAAAAAAADOg/6tcMxf1Za2c/s1600/Best+Blogger:Podcaster+Most+Dedicated+to+Social+Change+2007.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0bFfyPwZ15k/U9QQeVbK3cI/AAAAAAAADOg/6tcMxf1Za2c/s1600/Best+Blogger:Podcaster+Most+Dedicated+to+Social+Change+2007.tiff" height="395" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>East Bay Express,</i> <a href="http://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/best-podcaster-blogger-most-dedicated-to-social-change/BestOf?oid=1167639" target="_blank">Best of the East Bay 2007</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Today is my day for letting go of things to make space for something new.<br />
<br />
I just told my VegCookbook Club that I'm <a href="http://vegcookbookclub.com/" target="_blank">stepping down as its organizer,</a> and now I'm letting go of the Big Vision Podcast. It has been REALLY hard to let this go, but after not posting an interview for a year, I know that it is time.<br />
<br />
I started the Big Vision Podcast in 2006 about six months after starting Have Fun, Do Good. When I told my <a href="http://www.soundbravo.com/Home.html" target="_blank">husband</a> that I wanted to interview social changemakers for my blog, he suggested that I start a podcast. He had the audio equipment to help me with the recording and iTunes had <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_podcasting" target="_blank">recently added support for podcasts</a>.<br />
<br />
And so began seven years of talking to some pretty amazing Big Visionaries. What an incredible experience. Every single one of these people inspired me in some way, and I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to spend time with them.<br />
<br />
I'm not sure how much longer I'll pay for the podcast's hosting, so if you've been meaning to go back and download any of the old interviews, now is the time. You can listen on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/big-vision-podcast/id178474271?mt=2" target="_blank">iTunes</a> and <a href="http://bigvisionpodcast.libsyn.com/" target="_blank">on the podcast's home page</a>. I'll also embed a podcast player on the bottom of this post. If you click on Menu, you should be able to access all the shows from there as well.<br />
<br />
I've listed the interviewees by year below. I didn't put their organizations or titles because many people's jobs have changed. Sadly, one of the Big Visionaries I interviewed, <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Priya-Haji-helped-found-groups-serving-people-in-5631848.php" target="_blank">Priya Haji</a>, passed away recently.<br />
<br />
I want to thank all of you who have been listeners over the years, and of course thank all of the people I interviewed for making the time to talk with me about their big vision. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RXBYMC43Ip0/U9QUNFYCDdI/AAAAAAAADOw/sBHcm_uyjkk/s1600/Lisa+Truong.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RXBYMC43Ip0/U9QUNFYCDdI/AAAAAAAADOw/sBHcm_uyjkk/s1600/Lisa+Truong.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lisa Truong</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b> </b></div>
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<b>2013</b> </div>
<ul>
<li>Tara Mohr</li>
<li>Marianne Elliott</li>
<li>Kristen Zimmerman</li>
<li>Lisa Truong</li>
<li>Akaya Windwood</li>
</ul>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Cx827AbtZk/U9QUVD5Z-DI/AAAAAAAADPQ/bJ1ChDLbdOQ/s1600/Will+Allen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Cx827AbtZk/U9QUVD5Z-DI/AAAAAAAADPQ/bJ1ChDLbdOQ/s1600/Will+Allen.jpg" height="164" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Will Allen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>2012</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Beth Terry</li>
<li>Will Allen</li>
<li>Deanna Zandt</li>
<li>Stacey Edgar</li>
</ul>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oyT2oCed1HA/U9QUTSIObpI/AAAAAAAADPI/9BJpfcnTpIw/s1600/Kathy+LeMay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oyT2oCed1HA/U9QUTSIObpI/AAAAAAAADPI/9BJpfcnTpIw/s1600/Kathy+LeMay.jpg" height="200" width="147" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kathy LeMay</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>2011 </b><br />
<ul>
<li>Ben Mangan</li>
<li>Sara Potler</li>
<li>Carinne Brody</li>
<li>Halle Butvin</li>
<li>Naomi Natale</li>
<li>Kathy LeMay </li>
<li>Samin Nosrat</li>
<li>Rachel Cohen</li>
<li>Aneesha Raghunathan</li>
<li>Robert Wolfe</li>
<li>Gabriela Masala</li>
</ul>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uu1VEOOEexU/U9QUQNcHo4I/AAAAAAAADO4/cueab3yLDzA/s1600/Jensine+Larsen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uu1VEOOEexU/U9QUQNcHo4I/AAAAAAAADO4/cueab3yLDzA/s1600/Jensine+Larsen.jpg" height="200" width="170" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jensine Larsen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>2010</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Secret Agent L (Laura Miller)</li>
<li>Jensine Larsen</li>
<li>Marsha Wallace</li>
<li>Temra Costa</li>
<li>Jessica Prentice</li>
<li>Tom Aageson</li>
<li>Anna Lappe</li>
<li>Melinda Kramer and Amira Diamond</li>
<li>Ashley Rowe and Carol Webb</li>
<li>Rebecca Kousky</li>
</ul>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xX-_PN_5xx0/U9QUWv3DbPI/AAAAAAAADPY/nNcUADdN0FQ/s1600/Zainab+Salbi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xX-_PN_5xx0/U9QUWv3DbPI/AAAAAAAADPY/nNcUADdN0FQ/s1600/Zainab+Salbi.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zainab Salbi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>2009</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Patricia Loya</li>
<li>Kimberly Wilson</li>
<li>Lisa Witter</li>
<li>Jose Corona</li>
<li>David Cohn</li>
<li>Kjerstin Erickson</li>
<li>Zainab Salbi</li>
<li>Seane Corn</li>
<li>Bryant Terry</li>
<li>Jennifer Lee</li>
</ul>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-awJ-vMw5Fys/U9QUn6f19JI/AAAAAAAADPg/T3H9xKgGpJk/s1600/cristi+hegranes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-awJ-vMw5Fys/U9QUn6f19JI/AAAAAAAADPg/T3H9xKgGpJk/s1600/cristi+hegranes.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cristi Hegranes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>2008</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Favianna Rodriguez</li>
<li>Marianne Manilove</li>
<li>Cami Walker</li>
<li>Marisa Handler</li>
<li>Martin Fisher</li>
<li>Ari Derfel</li>
<li>Janessa Goldbeck</li>
<li>Anisha Desai</li>
<li>Kavita Ramdas</li>
<li>Cristi Hegranes</li>
<li>Christina Arnold</li>
</ul>
<b><br />
</b> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uqamParTgfs/U9QXY3BwBHI/AAAAAAAADP0/IX27C1qxUrM/s1600/solutionary+women.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uqamParTgfs/U9QXY3BwBHI/AAAAAAAADP0/IX27C1qxUrM/s1600/solutionary+women.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Solutionary Women Panel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>2007</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Andre Carothers</li>
<li>Paola Gianturco</li>
<li>Shalini Kantayya</li>
<li>Marsha Wallace</li>
<li>Elizabeth Pomada</li>
<li>Chris Messina and Ivan Storck</li>
<li>Solutionary Women panel I organized for the Stanford Women's Leadership Conference: Alli Chagi-Starr, Ilyse Hogue, Melinda Kramer and Reem Rahim </li>
<li>Van Jones</li>
<li>Paul Rice</li>
<li>Priya Haji</li>
<li>Jodi Van Horn</li>
<li>Reem Rahim</li>
</ul>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v7hY_gLYNCI/U9QURjB-2TI/AAAAAAAADPA/VCqS2FAv_V0/s1600/Anna+Lappe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v7hY_gLYNCI/U9QURjB-2TI/AAAAAAAADPA/VCqS2FAv_V0/s1600/Anna+Lappe.jpg" height="200" width="132" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anna Lappe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>2006</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Kevin Danaher</li>
<li>Melinda Kramer</li>
<li>Ingrid Severson </li>
<li>Jessica Jackley</li>
<li>Jonah Sachs</li>
<li>Lisa Russ</li>
<li>Nola Brantley</li>
<li>Anna Lappe</li>
<li>Steve Williams</li>
<li>Ilyse Hogue</li>
<li>Abby Jaramillo (Rosenheck)</li>
<li>Mei-ying Williams (Ho)</li>
<li>Brahm Ahmadi</li>
<li>Ari Derfel and Eric Fenster</li>
<li>Alli Chagi-Starr</li>
</ul>
<ul></ul>
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" height="325" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" oallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/destination/id/29565/height/325/width/325/theme/legacy/direction/no/autoplay/no/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/preload/no/no_addthis/no/" style="border: none;" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="325"></iframe>Britt Bravohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02134123127272499735noreply@blogger.com200tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15585808.post-65909015574851082182014-06-07T08:18:00.002-07:002014-06-07T08:23:10.684-07:00Color = happiness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ls6iwS3RwRY/U5H-zS252yI/AAAAAAAADNI/vFHoOwM6-s8/s1600/IMG_4429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ls6iwS3RwRY/U5H-zS252yI/AAAAAAAADNI/vFHoOwM6-s8/s1600/IMG_4429.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
A few years ago, I had a vivid dream that I went into a dark therapist's office to meet with my client, Cameron Diaz. She wanted to know the secret to happiness, so I told her:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Cook</b> </li>
<li><b>Connect </b></li>
<li><b>Care</b> </li>
<li><b>Color</b></li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bGrj9bROces/U5H-CUwqxJI/AAAAAAAADMQ/jTY1g0UJ1z4/s1600/IMG_4384.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bGrj9bROces/U5H-CUwqxJI/AAAAAAAADMQ/jTY1g0UJ1z4/s1600/IMG_4384.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I've heard that all of the characters in your dreams are aspects of yourself, so I've thought a lot over the years about my advice to the "Cameron Diaz" aspect of myself. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W_m0lQtuIbA/U5H-DgSt4_I/AAAAAAAADMs/3NJHMwX5e7g/s1600/IMG_4410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W_m0lQtuIbA/U5H-DgSt4_I/AAAAAAAADMs/3NJHMwX5e7g/s1600/IMG_4410.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Cooking, connecting and caring made sense, but I didn't fully understand the color part until last week when I joined Andrea Sher's e-course: <a href="http://www.superherolife.com/e-courses/treasure-hunt-color-collecting/" target="_blank">Collecting Color: 30 Days of Photo Joy</a>. I'm having so much fun!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QIqbHVSCyWc/U5H-CVM9OuI/AAAAAAAADMM/eZgaQpjbWD8/s1600/IMG_4385.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QIqbHVSCyWc/U5H-CVM9OuI/AAAAAAAADMM/eZgaQpjbWD8/s1600/IMG_4385.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Each day, for thirty days, she sends out a photo prompt (e.g. take a photo of a flower, color at your feet, a splash of red). I take 1-5 photos based on the prompt, and upload them to the course's <a href="https://www.flickr.com/groups/" target="_blank">Flickr</a> group. It's self-paced, so I can do as little, or as much as I want, whenever I want.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sZUJL3GFlUI/U5H-FuNt4OI/AAAAAAAADM8/CfovMMvtt9A/s1600/IMG_4414.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sZUJL3GFlUI/U5H-FuNt4OI/AAAAAAAADM8/CfovMMvtt9A/s1600/IMG_4414.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Walking around each day on a "treasure hunt" for color has helped me to see beauty in the everyday. I took all of the photos in this post walking on the not always pretty streets of Oakland. When I look at them, I feel like I live in a magical land full of luscious flowers, yellow brick roads, and luminous symbols.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R2z5xUD4NQ0/U5H-z15AeLI/AAAAAAAADNM/rKHy4PDGIYw/s1600/IMG_4428.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R2z5xUD4NQ0/U5H-z15AeLI/AAAAAAAADNM/rKHy4PDGIYw/s1600/IMG_4428.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a> </div>
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Last week, <a href="http://havefundogood.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-healing-power-of.html" target="_blank">I wrote about the healing powers</a> of different things. I think color should be added to the list. Turns out there is actually something called <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1297510/" target="_blank">color therapy or chromotheraphy</a>. Who knew? (OK, probably a lot of people knew, but not me).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6tVBHarG9ec/U5H-E3Lp4uI/AAAAAAAADM0/THUdPK82l6w/s1600/IMG_4413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6tVBHarG9ec/U5H-E3Lp4uI/AAAAAAAADM0/THUdPK82l6w/s1600/IMG_4413.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I now understand what my dream was trying to tell me. Color matters: in my home, my clothes, my food, my environment. Everything. It is one of the keys to happiness.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bGrj9bROces/U5H-CUwqxJI/AAAAAAAADMQ/jTY1g0UJ1z4/s1600/IMG_4384.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bGrj9bROces/U5H-CUwqxJI/AAAAAAAADMQ/jTY1g0UJ1z4/s1600/IMG_4384.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a> </div>
<br />
How can you add more color into your life this week?<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K_IcBTymsu4/U5H-EvyrT2I/AAAAAAAADMw/xjUgc2-oUL0/s1600/IMG_4412.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K_IcBTymsu4/U5H-EvyrT2I/AAAAAAAADMw/xjUgc2-oUL0/s1600/IMG_4412.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
P.S. I think <a href="http://www.superherolife.com/e-courses/treasure-hunt-color-collecting/" target="_blank">registration for Collecting Color is still open</a>, if you wanna join me!<br />
<br />
<a class="twitter-share-button" data-count="vertical" data-via="Bbravo" href="https://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Britt Bravohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02134123127272499735noreply@blogger.com207tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15585808.post-62262000865686160852014-05-31T12:45:00.001-07:002014-05-31T13:14:56.662-07:00The healing power of . . .<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bc9GWSeKdRE/U4orIc2bubI/AAAAAAAADIA/x5qbNkc8TRA/s1600/Bee+on+Flower+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bc9GWSeKdRE/U4orIc2bubI/AAAAAAAADIA/x5qbNkc8TRA/s1600/Bee+on+Flower+2.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I woke up this morning feeling kinda poopy. It was one of those mornings when I felt like a "broken" person. When I feel like that, I sometimes wonder if it is all me, or if I am also feeling the pain and sadness everyone is feeling (I'm a bit of an emotional sponge).<br />
<br />
I began thinking about what heals, what helps us feel more whole, and how there are a lot of things we say have "healing power":<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Healing power of nature</li>
<li>Healing power of listening</li>
<li>Healing power of art</li>
<li>Healing power of hugs</li>
<li>Healing power of laughter</li>
<li>Healing power of tears </li>
<li>Healing power of animals</li>
<li>Healing power of children</li>
<li>Healing power of eating together</li>
<li>Healing power of food</li>
<li>Healing power of water</li>
<li>Healing power of sleep</li>
<li>Healing power of compassion</li>
<li>Healing power of friendship</li>
<li>Healing power of connection</li>
<li>Healing power of community </li>
<li>Healing power of telling your story </li>
<li>Healing power of music</li>
<li>Healing power of silence</li>
<li>Healing power of medicine </li>
<li>Healing power of movement</li>
<li>Healing power of prayer</li>
<li>Healing power of creating</li>
<li>Healing power of letting go</li>
<li>Healing power of love </li>
</ul>
<br />
Most of the things on the list usually refer to healing for an individual, or a small group, but I wonder if they work on a national, or global level. Can <a href="http://thedailyshow.cc.com/" target="_blank">laughter heal injustice</a>? Can <a href="http://smallplanet.org/food/recipes" target="_blank">eating together heal environmental destruction</a>? Can <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/02/oregon-cops-hope-classica_n_844030.html" target="_blank">music heal crime</a>?<br />
<br />
What I see on that list is a lot of basic human needs, activities and qualities. No single one of them is more "healing" than another. Together, they form a quilt of things, and ways of being that help us feel whole.<br />
<br />
So, if you wake up feeling poopy, try one of these healing powers (that's why I'm writing this blog post!), and if you are struggling with something that is "broken" on a community, systemic, or global level, <i>why not</i> try some of the healing powers as part of the solution? I have a feeling they'll help.<br />
<br />
<i>Photo by me with my iPhone (how cool is it to see the bee up close?!) </i><br />
<br />
<a class="twitter-share-button" data-count="vertical" data-via="Bbravo" href="https://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Britt Bravohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02134123127272499735noreply@blogger.com200tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15585808.post-61253139699119912322014-02-23T17:30:00.003-08:002014-02-23T22:32:40.565-08:00Feeling Between Seasons<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6NmAP1uGpj4/UwqExqEp5NI/AAAAAAAADGg/o2UEMEsrTdI/s1600/is+it+spring+yet%3f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6NmAP1uGpj4/UwqExqEp5NI/AAAAAAAADGg/o2UEMEsrTdI/s1600/is+it+spring+yet%3f.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is it spring yet?</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It is warm and lovely outside today, and I'm feeling between seasons. It's technically winter, the time of the year when we're supposed to stay inside and embrace the quiet and the darkness, but it's also spring-like (at least in California), which is inspiring a desire to bloom.<br />
<br />
Very confusing weather that is reflective of the transition time I'm in.<br />
<br />
In January, I joined the staff of <a href="http://www.rockwoodleadership.org/" target="_blank">Rockwood Leadership Institute</a> as the Senior Communications Manager (yay!), which has been awesome, and a big change after working for myself for about eight years. Over the past couple months, I've been learning the ins-and-outs of my new job, and getting accustomed to working in an office (no more working in my PJs with the cat on my feet!). Simultaneously, I've been trying to figure out what to do with the <a href="http://brittbravo.com/" target="_blank">business</a>, <a href="http://vegcookbookclub.com/" target="_blank">blogs</a>, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/big-vision-podcast/id178474271?mt=2" target="_blank">podcast</a> and other <a href="https://twitter.com/Bbravo" target="_blank">social media channels</a> I created while self-employed.<br />
<br />
One of the wonderful things about working for Rockwood is that they have a four-day workweek (how cool is that, right?), so there is a possibility that I can keep some of the things I created, but definitely not all of them. In fact, not many of them. Maybe one, or two. So, what should they be?<br />
<br />
My springtime urges make me want to know how to do my new job perfectly, and have the decisions made about my old work life sorted out and settled, but the part of me that knows it is still wintertime says, "Slow down there, pardner. It's not time to sprout yet."<br />
<br />
Like our kitty on her new perch, I need to keep an eye out for the sunshine of spring, and know that it's coming, but stay "inside" during this transition process, until the winter's work is done.<br />
<br />
<b>How are you feeling during this late wintertime season? Is there anything you're trying to make bloom before it's ready?</b><br />
<br />
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<br />Britt Bravohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02134123127272499735noreply@blogger.com192tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15585808.post-6994842202248532462014-01-20T08:32:00.000-08:002014-01-20T08:37:19.698-08:00Are you giving to what you really want to change in the world?<div style="text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D_QannCwvoY/Ut1NBbAgfQI/AAAAAAAADF0/W5hrv6WCRT4/s1600/coloredpencils.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D_QannCwvoY/Ut1NBbAgfQI/AAAAAAAADF0/W5hrv6WCRT4/s1600/coloredpencils.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<br />
"Everyone is a philanthropist whether you're giving five dollars, or fifty thousand dollars. What sets this apart as philanthropy is, are you giving in a way that really affects your passions, your interests, <b>what you really want to change in the world</b>. . . . Are you giving mindfully? That to me is really the mark of thinking about this as a philanthropist." ~ <a href="http://blog.kimberlywilson.com/2013/12/tranquility-du-jour-301-philanthropy.html" target="_blank">Lauren Brownstein on the Tranquility du Jour podcast.</a></blockquote>
</div>
<br />
While listening to Kimberly Wilson's Tranquility du Jour podcast interview with fundraising and philanthropic consultant, <a href="http://pitchconsulting.com/PITCH_LLC/Welcome.html" target="_blank">Lauren Brownstein</a> on Saturday, the quote above really resonated with me. When it comes to giving donations, I don't think I've ever really thought about it that way: am I giving to what I really want to change in the world?<br />
<br />
I use that framework when choosing where to volunteer, but not necessarily when I make a donation. Maybe that's because I usually donate to a cause because 1. someone I know asked me to give, 2. a crisis happens (e.g. earthquake, tsunami, fire), or 3. I like the org because I'm connected with them in some way either through a friend, work, or volunteering.<br />
<br />
Over the last few years, I cut back on my donations because I felt like they were all over the place and not making much of an impact (especially when I give my little donation to an organization and I feel like they spend it by sending me pounds of direct mail).<br />
<br />
This year, I would like to be more mindful with my philanthropic giving, even if it isn't a huge amount. Each year, Lauren picks three causes that are a priority for her, and gives money and time to them. <b>She offered a handful of questions during the podcast to help determine personal giving priorities:</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>What brings me joy? What really excites me? What inspires me?</li>
<li>What makes me sad?</li>
<li>Is there a way that I've needed help that someone, or an organization reached out to me?</li>
<li>Are there things that my family gave to when I was growing up?</li>
<li>Is there is someone I want to honor?</li>
<li>Do I want to pool my money with someone else and/or put together resources with a group of friends to have a bigger impact?</li>
</ul>
<br />
Some of my answers to her questions would be:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>What brings me joy? What really excited me? What inspires me?<br />
<i>Cooking. Making things. Writing</i>.<i> Social innovation. </i><br /><br />
</li>
<li>What makes me sad?<br />
<i>The state of our public school system. Lack of arts in the schools.</i> <br /><br />
</li>
<li>Is there a way that I've needed help that someone, or an organization reached out to me?<br />
<i>Having arts and great theater and writing teachers in school changed my life.</i><br /><br />
</li>
<li>Are there things that my family gave to when I was growing up?<br />
<i>Groups working on poverty and homelessness issues.</i><br /><br />
</li>
<li>Is there is someone I want to honor?<br />
<i>Not at this time.</i><br /><br />
</li>
<li>Do I want to pool my money with someone else and/or put together resources with a group of friends to have a bigger impact?<br />
<i>I would actually. I've always been interested in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giving_circles" target="_blank">giving circles</a>.<br /> </i></li>
</ul>
<br />
Looking at my answers, I would say that the three causes to prioritize my giving to in 2014 would be public education, arts in the schools and social innovation.<br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>How do you prioritize how you give your time and money? <br /> </b><br />
<b>Do you feel like you're giving to what you really want to change in the world?</b><br />
<br />
<i>Flickr photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alancleaver/2380333875/sizes/m/in/photolist-4CkQke-5A4xWY-89GqP4-9pCax6-bz3o5i-BkXJq-eArfr6-i6qKm9-eJJRQg-j1ZfGo-eV1YpZ-6cCYq5-9pC7Nz-9pC6Vc-9pCami-8SaYUG-h685kM-bm8uGf-bm8uU1-9pC9ok-6xLjf8-9pFb3E-9zKN8V-9zNLEw-9zKNAH-9zNMmd-9pFcJJ-9pF8jL-9pC8h6-9pFczq-9pCa9B-9pC6CF-9pFcUq-9pFcqY-9pF8Wj-9pFaej-9pFaoW-bz3ofv-bm8uvG-bAdm7y-bP81fa-i6qLtm-9zNM89-4b4hhW-4aZgY6-4b4hGJ-4aZgCV-4aZgMa-5ZyFKt-5ZCTHC-5ZyFHP/" target="_blank">Colored pencils</a> by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alancleaver/" target="_blank">Alan Cleaver.</a></i><br />
<br />
<br />
<a class="twitter-share-button" data-count="vertical" data-via="Bbravo" href="https://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Britt Bravohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02134123127272499735noreply@blogger.com182tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15585808.post-27670614841642678072013-12-18T10:30:00.000-08:002013-12-18T10:31:02.246-08:00Both Are True<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ATkhOS9EquU/UrHm-iAAxHI/AAAAAAAADFA/2wVA51HYBp8/s1600/full+moon+sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ATkhOS9EquU/UrHm-iAAxHI/AAAAAAAADFA/2wVA51HYBp8/s400/full+moon+sunset.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
As we head into the darkest day of the year I'm trying to remember that so often, "both are true."<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>This is a time of year for rest and solitude <i>and</i> of celebration and company.<br />
</li>
<li>The holidays are a time of fun <i>and</i> of sadness.<br />
</li>
<li> It is OK to feel gratitude <i>and</i> grief.<br />
</li>
<li>There are a lot of good <i>and</i> bad things going on in the world right now.<br />
</li>
<li>Person/corporation/political party x is harmful <i>and</i> helpful.<br />
</li>
<li>Others do <i>and</i> don't need my help. <br />
</li>
<li>I help others for selfish <i>and</i> unselfish reasons.<br />
</li>
<li>I am perfect <i>and</i> imperfect just how I am. <i><i><i><br />
</i></i></i></li>
</ul>
<br />
As someone who tends towards<i><i><i> </i></i></i>a right/wrong, black/white, good/bad way of looking at the world, I think practicing "both are true" will give me comfort in difficult situations, and perspective in joyful ones.<br />
<br />
Is there a "both are true" situation, or belief you want to hold for yourself during this holiday season, or in the New Year?<br />
<br />
<i>Hat tip to <a href="http://www.adriennetorf.com/" target="_blank">Adrienne Torf</a> for helping me to really understand this idea.</i><br />
<br />
<a class="twitter-share-button" data-count="vertical" data-via="Bbravo" href="https://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Britt Bravohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02134123127272499735noreply@blogger.com140tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15585808.post-90955689349212648062013-12-08T11:48:00.003-08:002013-12-08T12:01:24.953-08:00What I've been learning, cooking, reading, teaching and makingHello Have Fun * Do Gooders!<br />
<br />
I've missed you. The last seven weeks (since I last posted) have been a whirlwind. I love <a href="http://marianne-elliott.com/mailing-list-sign-up/" target="_blank">Marianne's Elliott's e-news</a> where she shares what she's been "learning, reading, writing and listening to," so I'm doing my own version.<br />
<br />
<b>Learning</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Afhyf4qGABk/UqN24WdIEZI/AAAAAAAADBc/mi5o3i8pHZs/s1600/Trees+%2526+Quotes+from+Art+of+Leadership.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Afhyf4qGABk/UqN24WdIEZI/AAAAAAAADBc/mi5o3i8pHZs/s320/Trees+%2526+Quotes+from+Art+of+Leadership.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
After working as a communications consultant since May for <a href="http://www.rockwoodleadership.org/" target="_blank">Rockwood Leadership Institute</a>, I finally had the opportunity to participate in their signature personal leadership development training, <a href="http://www.rockwoodleadership.org/section.php?id=9" target="_blank">The Art of Leadership</a>.<br />
<b><br />
</b> Myself and 28 other social changemakers spent five days at the <a href="http://noetic.org/earthrise/" target="_blank">Earthrise Retreat Center</a> learning how to use Rockwood's <a href="http://rockwoodleadership.org/article.php?list=type&type=31" target="_blank">six practices</a> (Purpose, Vision, Partnership, Performance, Resilience and Personal Ecology) to be more effective leaders for social change.<br />
<br />
It was a deep and profound experience. I learned a lot about my strengths and challenges as a leader, and gained a bevy of tools to help me be a better one.<br />
<br />
Although I will use what I learned about myself and the tools for a lifetime, the most powerful experience was watching the evolution of trust and love in my group of 29 incredibly diverse people (e.g. issue, gender, race, religious belief, sexual orientation, background). As a Rockwood alum I recently interviewed put it, "It could be blueprint for something bigger." It was quite an amazing experience. <br />
<br />
<b>Cooking</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1pYSZWVqoE8/UqN5C_ddM2I/AAAAAAAADBk/lHsqIqhpPjo/s1600/Isa+Does+It+Recipes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1pYSZWVqoE8/UqN5C_ddM2I/AAAAAAAADBk/lHsqIqhpPjo/s320/Isa+Does+It+Recipes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
In November, the <a href="http://vegcookbookclub.com/" target="_blank">VegCookbook Club</a> (my other blog)<b> </b>cooked from Isa Chandra Moskowitz's new vegan cookbook, <i>Isa Does It.</i><b> </b><br />
<br />
I made the:<b><br />
</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Carrot Cake Pancakes</li>
<li>Kale Salad with Butternut Squash and Lentils </li>
<li>Lentil-a-roni</li>
<li>Lentil-Quinoa Stew with Kale </li>
<li>Omaha Yakisoba </li>
<li>Puffy Pillow Pancakes</li>
<li>Sunflower Mac</li>
<li>and the Roasted Yellow Beet Salad with Warm Maple-Mustard Dressing<br />
<b></b></li>
</ul>
I wish I'd had time to try more recipes, but I'm really struggling with finding the time and energy to cook now that I'm working outside of my home a few days a week.<br />
<br />
Four years ago I wrote a post, <a href="http://havefundogood.blogspot.com/2009/10/5-tips-for-finding-time-to-cook.html" target="_blank">5 Tips for Finding Time to Cook</a>, but I'm realizing now that it was written from the experience of someone who works from home and has a much more flexible schedule than I do now. I don't know how in the world people who work full-time outside of their home do it. I would love your tips and advice about how to find time to cook.<br />
<b><br />
</b> On a related note, an interview with me about the VegCookbook Club was featured in <a href="http://vivavegan.com/interview-with-britt-bravo-creator-of-thevegcookbookclub-and-have-fun-do-good/" target="_blank">Viva Vegan</a><b> </b>last month.<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>Reading</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Akak7-qCUi8/UqN9afV2oUI/AAAAAAAADBw/vHZCxWw34og/s1600/summer+of+may+.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Akak7-qCUi8/UqN9afV2oUI/AAAAAAAADBw/vHZCxWw34og/s320/summer+of+may+.jpg" width="209" /></a>I've been too tired lately to read any heavy nonfiction, and in general, I usually don't enjoy adult fiction, so I've been reading children's books, and loving it. I read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Summer-May-Cecilia-Galante/dp/141698304X" target="_blank"><i>The Summer of May</i> </a>by Cecilia Galante, and <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Aurora-County-All-Stars-Deborah-Wiles/dp/0152066268/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1386445937&sr=1-1&keywords=the+aurora+county+all-stars" target="_blank">The Aurora County All-Stars</a></i> by Deborah Wiles. I really liked <i>The Summer of May</i>, so now I'm reading <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Patron-Saint-Butterflies-Cecilia-Galante-ebook/dp/B004VLZ5RC/ref=la_B001JP41L4_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1386446043&sr=1-5" target="_blank">The Patron Saint of Butterflies</a></i>, also by Galante.<br />
<br />
If you're a fan of children's lit, I'd love to hear your suggestions. Some of my favorites (all old) are <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Harriet-Spy-Louise-Fitzhugh/dp/0440416795/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1386446244&sr=1-1&keywords=harriet+the+spy" target="_blank">Harriet the Spy</a></i>, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mixed-up-Files-Mrs-Basil-Frankweiler/dp/1416949755/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1386446280&sr=1-1&keywords=from+the+mixed+up+files+of+mrs+basil+e+frankweiler" target="_blank">From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler</a></i>, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Side-Mountain-Puffin-Modern-Classics/dp/0142401110/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1386446317&sr=1-1&keywords=my+side+of+the+mountain" target="_blank">My Side of the Mountain</a></i>, and <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wrinkle-Time-Madeleine-LEngles-Quintet/dp/0312367546/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1386446360&sr=1-1&keywords=a+wrinkle+in+time" target="_blank">A Wrinkle in Time</a></i>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b> Teaching</b><br />
<br />
On Friday, I taught a fun Social Media for Coaches unit as part of a "Building a Successful Coaching Practice: Nuts, Bolts and Social Media" course in San Francisco State's College of Extended Learning's <a href="http://www.cel.sfsu.edu/coaching/index.cfm" target="_blank">Core Strengths Coaching Skills Program</a>. Super fun.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H-_HpDEMakg/UqOEGhwFzRI/AAAAAAAADCg/vGHV-Hv5_vc/s1600/social-media-manifesto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H-_HpDEMakg/UqOEGhwFzRI/AAAAAAAADCg/vGHV-Hv5_vc/s320/social-media-manifesto.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
While researching different examples of how coaches are using social media, I came upon <a href="http://heatherplett.com/2013/11/my-social-media-manifesto/" target="_blank">Heather Plett's 12-point social media manifesto</a>.<br />
<br />
At the beginning of her post, Plett writes, <i>I’ve been giving some thought to what kind of presence I want to have online, and I realize it’s not much different from the presence I want to have everywhere I go.</i><br />
<br />
A number of the students in yesterday's class were hesitant to use social media to promote their coaching practice. They wondered if social media was a space where they could bring their authentic, non-flashy, non-shiny, non-polished, non-branded selves. It was wonderful to be able to share Plett's manifesto which includes declarations like: <i>I will share my messes from time to time to remind myself and my friends that I am human and beautifully flawed.</i><br />
<br />
<b>Making</b><br />
<br />
I've been trying to take time lately to make stuff for no particular purpose except for the joy of it. I've been doing a little collaging and embroidery. When I was a teenager, I used to do a lot of embroidery. I find it soothing, meditative and satisfying.<b> </b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m8kS2NPa7rQ/UqOq62VmzLI/AAAAAAAADC8/cW3tEFk8XUA/s1600/November+Making+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m8kS2NPa7rQ/UqOq62VmzLI/AAAAAAAADC8/cW3tEFk8XUA/s320/November+Making+Collage.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
In early October I bought a <a href="https://www.etsy.com/transaction/156720291?ref=fb2_tnx_title" target="_blank">pre-printed embroidery sampler</a> <i>(left) </i>that says, "Love What You Love. Make What you Make." Seemed like an appropriate reminder for me ( :<br />
<br />
That's it for me. <b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>What's new with you?</b><br />
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<a class="twitter-share-button" data-count="vertical" data-via="Bbravo" href="https://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Britt Bravohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02134123127272499735noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15585808.post-84010707982038682252013-10-24T08:19:00.000-07:002013-10-24T08:20:28.250-07:00Writing as a Spiritual Practice with Pat Schneider<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>"The thing that I have learned through my own practice, and writing this book, is that the dragon is there guarding it for me." ~ Pat Schneider</i></div>
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As some of you know, in addition to the <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/big-vision-podcast/id178474271" target="_blank">Big Vision Podcast</a>, I also produce the <a href="http://www.artheals.org/projects/arts_healing_podcast.html" target="_blank">Arts and Healing Podcast</a> for the Arts and Healing Network. This month, I posted an interview with Pat Schneider, the author of <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/How-Light-Gets-In-Spiritual/dp/0199933987" target="_blank">How the Light Gets In: Writing as a Spiritual Practice</a>.</i></div>
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If I was Oprah, I would make this book my book club pick. It is not only one of the best books on writing I've read in a long time, it's one of the best books I've read in a long time, period. It inspired me to explore <a href="http://havefundogood.blogspot.com/search/label/Why%20I%20do%20good" target="_blank">why I "do good"</a> here on Have Fun, Do Good.</div>
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You can listen to the interview on the <a href="http://www.artheals.org/projects/arts_healing_podcast.html" target="_blank">Arts and Healing Network's website</a>, or on the player at the bottom of this post, and you can learn more about Pat's work on <a href="http://patschneider.com/" target="_blank">patschneider.com</a>.</div>
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<a class="twitter-share-button" data-count="vertical" data-via="Bbravo" href="https://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Britt Bravohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02134123127272499735noreply@blogger.com41tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15585808.post-2500984742742848312013-10-09T11:23:00.001-07:002013-10-23T12:30:05.150-07:00Why I Do Good: Starry Night<i>I'm exploring the roots of my desire/need/compulsion to "do good." I don't usually share personal stories here on Have Fun, Do Good, and I'm not sure where this is going, but I'm giving it a whirl. Here's the link to my first post, <a href="http://havefundogood.blogspot.com/2013/09/why-do-you-do-good.html" target="_blank">Why Do You Do Good?</a> and my second post, <a href="http://havefundogood.blogspot.com/2013/09/why-do-i-do-good-center-and-agape.html" target="_blank">Why I Do Good: The Center and Agape</a>.</i><br />
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</i> I was raised to serve.<br />
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In addition to being very involved with our <a href="http://havefundogood.blogspot.com/2013/09/why-do-i-do-good-center-and-agape.html" target="_blank">church community</a>, my parents' professional work was service-oriented.<i> </i>My mom had a variety of teaching and counseling positions while my dad worked mostly for nonprofits.<i> </i>Outside of his paid work, my dad organized <a href="http://hunger.cwsglobal.org/site/PageServer?pagename=crop_main" target="_blank">CROP walks</a> in our community, co-founded <a href="http://www.martinhousect.org/" target="_blank">Martin House</a>, volunteered with <a href="http://www.habitat.org/" target="_blank">Habitat for Humanity</a> and <a href="http://www.witnessforpeace.org/" target="_blank">Witness for Peace</a>, and visited elderly people at the local convalescent home who didn't receive much company.<br />
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Being a dutiful only child, when I went to college, I unconsciously followed a service-oriented path. I studied sociology, did a summer internship for the <a href="http://www.nationalhomeless.org/" target="_blank">National Coalition for the Homeless</a>, studied in Sweden for a semester (so that I could understand how their public policy worked), co-chaired Vassar's Hunger Action chapter, and wrote a <a href="http://newspaperarchives.vassar.edu/cgi-bin/vassar?a=d&d=miscellany19891027-01.2.20" target="_blank">couple</a> <a href="http://newspaperarchives.vassar.edu/cgi-bin/vassar?a=d&d=vcleft19891201-01.2.13&srpos=3&e=-------en-20--1--txt-IN-britt+aageson------" target="_blank">pieces</a> about social-changey things for the student newspapers.<br />
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Even though I was studying and doing things related to social justice, I ended up writing my senior thesis about the holistic health movement as a social movement, and my most transformative moment came from reading in the library one night about the <i>Atman</i>, or <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/atman" target="_blank">"world soul"</a> in <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upanishads" target="_blank">The Upanishads</a></i> for a History of Religion class.<br />
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As I walked back to my dorm across the dark quad from the library, I remember the sky being incredibly full of sparkly stars, the grass feeling extra soft, and the people I passed seeming simultaneously close and far away. I felt a blissful, joy-filled rush of connection to all things and all people. I wasn't on drugs, but it felt like I was.<br />
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I've never had an experience like that again, but I think of it often, and wonder why I had it at that moment. I wish everyone could have that feeling at least once. If I could figure out a way to make that happen, I would do it in a flash.<br />
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<span class="st"><i>Photo of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31945787@N00/4849859065/in/photolist-8oyN8K-8Vq3Fr-8Vt6Kd-8Vq5S4-8Vt8RU-8Vqafg-8Vtdhs-8Vq8LH-8Vq9ZT-8Vt7oY-8Vtbxj-8Vq9rk-8Vq7Y8-8Vq7ck-8VtceG-8Vt7h5-8Vtc1b-8Vq4gc-8VtaoA-8Vq7QF-8VtagL-8Vq8pp-8Vq8b4-8Vt7Du-8Vq84P-8Vq9Ti-8Vt7wu-8Vtct9-8VtcAu-8Vtd33-8Vq8TV-8Vq6PK-8Vq7Ht-8Vq7B2-8Vtbqs-8Vt9SJ-8Vq49g-8Vt7Qw-8Vt6RS-8Vt6Y7-8Vq5Kv-8Vq5C6-8Vt8qh-8Vq5gF-8Vt86s-8Vq5nB-8Vt9uy-8Vt9dG-8Vq6qR-8Vta1N-8Vt9Cy" target="_blank">stars at night</a> by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skelastic/" target="_blank">sukchander.</a></i></span><br />
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<a class="twitter-share-button" data-count="vertical" data-via="Bbravo" href="https://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Britt Bravohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02134123127272499735noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15585808.post-49602059893836544252013-09-23T09:56:00.001-07:002013-09-23T09:56:43.831-07:00Jennifer Louden's Shero's School for Revolutionaries September 23-28<br />
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My friend, <a href="http://jenniferlouden.com/" target="_blank">Jennifer Louden</a>, is hosting a free, online event this week (September 23-28), <a href="http://www.entheos.com/Shero-School-for-Revolutionaries/Jen-Louden" target="_blank">The Shero's School for Revolutionaries</a>. Each day she'll be sharing streaming audio and video interviews with women about how to express your gifts in service to the world. Each interview will be streamed for free for 24 hours from their start time. <br />
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<b>Here's the line up for today, Monday, September 23:<br /></b><br />
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<li> 2 PM PT/5 PM ET: Welcome to The Shero's School for Revolutionaries with <a href="http://jenniferlouden.com/" target="_blank">Jennifer Louden</a>. </li>
<li> 2 PM PT/5 PM E: Yes, You are a Shero with <a href="http://www.seanecorn.com/" target="_blank">Seane Corn</a></li>
<li> 3 PM PT/6 PM ET: Being Led by Love with <a href="http://www.unabashedlyfemale.com/" target="_blank">Julie Daley</a></li>
<li> 4 PM PT/7 PM ET: The Feminine Call to Greatness with <a href="http://justinemusk.com/" target="_blank">Justine Musk</a></li>
<li>5 PM PT/8 PM ET: Evolving Lives: 4 Sheroic Stories - Jane Goodall, Etty Hillesum, Sister Helen Prejean, Tenzin Palmo with <a href="http://www.tworock.org/" target="_blank">Carol Lee Flinders<br /><br /></a></li>
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<b><a href="http://www.entheos.com/Shero-School-for-Revolutionaries/Jen-Louden" target="_blank">To sign up, click here</a>.</b><br />
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<a class="twitter-share-button" data-count="vertical" data-via="Bbravo" href="https://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Britt Bravohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02134123127272499735noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15585808.post-26676808538715934092013-09-11T10:23:00.001-07:002013-10-23T12:30:52.781-07:00Why Do I Do Good: The Center and Agape<i>I'm exploring the roots of my desire/need/compulsion to "do good." I don't usually share personal stories here on Have Fun, Do Good, and I'm not sure where this is going, but I'm giving it a whirl. Here's the link to my first post, <a href="http://havefundogood.blogspot.com/2013/09/why-do-you-do-good.html" target="_blank">Why Do You Do Good?</a></i><br />
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In 1975, when I was five, we moved from Vermont to Mystic, CT. The local Catholic Church, St. Patrick's, had been in a fire, so Masses were held in a church-owned building next door, The Center, while the church was being repaired. The main room of The Center was a gymnasium. On one end was a wooden stage with a thick velvet curtain. On the other end was a kitchen where coffee and donuts were served from after Mass.<br />
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Once the church was repaired, everyone went back to the church with the steeple, except for the people of the 11 o'clock Mass, where many families with young children, like my parents, often went. They preferred sitting in folding chairs arranged in a circle (rather than in rows of pews), fabric banners hanging from the ceiling (rather than a crucifix), and singing modern hymns led by a "folk group" with guitar, bass, clarinet and drums (rather than an organ and dusty hymnals). <br />
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Mass went for about an hour and the coffee hour lasted for another hour, sometimes longer. Once the folding chairs were cleared, the large space was perfect for the 30+ children to run around in while their parents socialized, or had meetings. Often the meetings were about how to keep the Mass in the Center.<br />
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Over the next ten years, or so, the people of the 11 o'clock Mass fought to stay in The Center. From a child's eyes, it seemed like they were the most active members of the parish, organizing community events and giving back. Over the years, a variety of priests and the Bishop visited to assess whether, or not the Mass in The Center constituted going to "real church."<br />
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I remember the passage, <i>For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them</i> (Matthew 18:20), being cited often, but it was to no avail. In the late 80's, the people of the 11 o'clock Mass were told to return to the church with the steeple. <br />
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It was during this time, when I was 15 or 16, that I wrote the Bishop to say that I thought it was wrong that the 11 o'clock Mass couldn't meet in The Center, which is why I wouldn't be getting confirmed along with the other teens in the parish. He wrote back a not very nice letter explaining why I was wrong. I chose not to be confirmed.<br />
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Some of the members of the 11 o'clock Mass went back into the church building with the steeple, but many of them, including my parents, created their own weekly worship experience in the warehouse of a religious book publisher, a couple, who had been a part of the group at The Center.<br />
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Each Sunday, they put up their banners and placed their folding chairs in a circle in a drafty room with windows looking out on the Mystic River. One person would lead the service with a reading from the Bible, and a "homily" of sorts, based on the reading. The folk group led everyone in the same songs we'd sung at The Center. On the back wall, a big silver coffee maker brewed coffee during the service, and people brought treats to share during coffee hour while the kids played in the warehouse, and by the water.<br />
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They called it <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agape" target="_blank">Agape</a>, which basically means, a selfless love for everyone. It still exists almost 30 years later.<br />
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<i>To be continued.</i><br />
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<i>Photo: This is a page from a scrapbook about growing up in Mystic that my childhood friend, Jill, made for me when I moved to California. The top photo is of St. Patrick's Church with The Center to the left, partially obscured by a tree. The bottom photo is of the building where Agape was first held. </i><br />
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<br />Britt Bravohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02134123127272499735noreply@blogger.com3