Coaching

Commonalities – Regal Faces in Clouds and on Boardwalk – Picture to Ponder – V6 – Issue 24

by Sheila Finkelstein on June 16, 2010

It is my intention for today’s message to be brief. When you scroll down and look at the two different photos you may wonder at their relevance to one another. Usually I look for a theme and, using art principles, I always attempt having them hold together and relate both visually and aesthetically to one another

Not wanting to intrude on your individual responses, I’ll expand further in my notes below the photos.

Today’s Photos -

cloudprofile balaconysunset Commonalities Regal Faces in Clouds and on Boardwalk Picture to Ponder V6 Issue 24

woodknot princess angel Commonalities Regal Faces in Clouds and on Boardwalk Picture to Ponder V6 Issue 24

To give reference to the perspective from which it was shot, the top sunset photo was taken from the balcony of a penthouse apartment in Boynton Beach, FL.

Although she looks somewhat pained, I love the regal, queenly appearance of the woman in the clouds whom we see in profile facing to our right. If you enjoy exploring further, you might see the second much smaller profile face in her “neck.” It, too, faces to the right. Then there is the one on our left at the top of her full hat, facing skyward. I suspect you will find more.

The image in the lower wood knot photo brought a quick smile to my face when I almost stepped on it on the boardwalk at Green Cay Wetlands in Boynton Beach. She looks like she is winking at us with the eye on our right. She has the feel of a “Greek Goddess and also an angel, though the wing we see is misplaced. It wouldn’t be attached to her cheek.
RE Art and Composition:
To complete on my thoughts from the introduction, what’s holding together the space that these two photos are occupying is that:

1. The subject of both is women, albeit imaginary ones, and

2. There is a bit of burnt orange in the wood that picks up on the orange in the sunset. Colors in the wood are also repeated throughout the sky and clouds in the top photo.

There is a similar linear pattern in both, though horizontal in the top and vertical on the bottom.

Today’s Photo Story -
No story today beyond what I’ve shared above in the photos and, as I see it, there is plenty of “juice” for many stories. Why not have fun and make up some of your own.

If you have children, or know any, I invite you to share these photos with them and listen to their observations and stories. And, certainly don’t neglect the “children” within the adults in your world. Please invite them to have fun with you also.

No more words on either. I invite you to BE with each, fully for a moment or two, less or more, and simply experience the images.

Self-Reflecting Queries -
Today, I also invite you to reflect on your responses, or reactions, to today’s photos. Did you see the faces I saw? Did you have judgments on my observations on the photos, or other things I might have said?

If so, was your response, or judgments, part of a pattern that you can identify and match to other situations in your life? If so, is there anything you can take from it, remind yourself of, and/or acknowledge yourself for, to further empower yourself in those areas or others?

And, as I stated last week, and at other times, it’s all made up. What stories are you making up in your life today? Are they serving you? providing fun? openings for interactions with others?

Thanks for “playing.” As always have fun with these queries and looking/seeing. Also, please post your responses in the COMMENTS section below.

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Shadows and Light – Nuts and Bolts – Anchors in Life – Picture to Ponder: v6 – Issue19

by Sheila Finkelstein on May 11, 2010

Today’s Picture to Ponder photos are a little different from our usual flowers, birds and/or reflections and may not be considered by you as “pretty” pictures. They are the result of “ponderings” I’ve been in for the past week. See “Story” below.

The bottom line is my often times repeated observations, “where there are shadows, there is light” had surfaced. “In order to have shadows we MUST have light.” This thus was the underlying observation, as I glanced toward the front door at the end of my foyer yesterday. The pattern below below popped out at me. Sunlight was coming in the sidelight windows casting shadows of the plant in its path. The second, railing and exposed screw photo, suggests, to me, noticing the anchors in our lives.

Also, the shadows and light theme, seems to be fitting to acknowledge the official launch of CHECK MATES, today, with several bonuses for those who purchase it today.

“Despite the growing awareness of such conditions, stereotypes persist…and an inspiring (and inspired) group of writers have boldly decided to do something about that. Together, they have compiled a groundbreaking new book – a collection of Fiction, Poetry and Artwork about Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder by People with OCD. See Check Mates for Bonuses and Purchasing information.”

Today’s Photos -

light shadows foyer Shadows and Light Nuts and Bolts Anchors in Life Picture to Ponder: v6 Issue19

woodknot screw Shadows and Light Nuts and Bolts Anchors in Life Picture to Ponder: v6 Issue19

The top photo is of Light and Plant shadows on my foyer floor.

The lower photo is an exposed screw anchoring the top of the boardwalk railing in Green Cay Wetlands. Though there is not much in shadows here, I do love the coloring and the rhythm of the patterns in the wood.

Today’s Photos’ Story -

At random times the light and shadows observation “hits” me. Last week, on one of the Awakened Wisdom bonus calls, I asked Patrick Ryan a question in relation to the “meaning” of something someone had told me. It related to something Patrick had said. Not knowing me, he said he couldn’t answer the question.

What he suggested was that I take a walk in Nature with that question in mind and pay attention to whatever showed up. (Almost sounded like I was speaking.) He said I could find the answers in that.

I don’t know that I found the “exact answer” AND the first observation that hit me, before even going out for a walk, were the shadows of outside plants, dancing on my patio in the midst of large blocks of light. The shadows danced; the light stayed bright and stable!

Later on in the day, when I went for a walk on the boardwalk at Green Cay Wetlands, the first thing I saw was a collapsed spider web still holding firmly on to the top and bottom of upper and lower boards. So now a reminder of the “stabililty” in my life came into my consciousness. After that, in addition to my usual noticing of wood knots, screws and nuts and bolts started surfacing into my field of perception.

Self-Reflecting Queries -
Bottom line query today:

In your life do you spend most of your time looking at the shadows, or do you focus on the light, allowing the shadows to simply help define the light that’s there?

If you are intrigued with the thought of shadows, my friend Renee Barnow wrote on Groundhog Day, here in the US, “Seeing Your Shadow” on her blog. In it she put forth two queries:

“• Ask what is good about your shadow, for those of us who are uncomfortable seeing our shadow and

• Move into even more sunlight with your shadow, which will be with you anyway as, “You take yourself with you wherever you go,” and see what shows up in the brilliance of the sun” See Right-Line Blog.”

Lastly, since I did bring up discovering “screws and bolts” as anchors in life, I invite you to look at those components which lock the components of your life together and support you.

If you find yourself in occasional states of fear, as have a few people I’ve coached recently, I invite you to pay particular attention to the latter.

I suggest that you also use self-acknowledgment, a daily diary of at least five things for which you can acknowledge yourself. This is one way of setting up, or adding to your “tool box.”

As always have fun with this and please post your responses in the COMMENTS section below.

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Not Paying Attention – Missing Out on Purple Tulips, Wild Irises and Life – Picture to Ponder – v6 – issue 17

by Sheila Finkelstein on April 28, 2010

Today’s Photos -

tulip purple1 Not Paying Attention Missing Out on Purple Tulips, Wild Irises and Life Picture to Ponder v6 issue 17

With tilted head, querying “What do you see?
Where will you be taking me?”

tulip purple2 Not Paying Attention Missing Out on Purple Tulips, Wild Irises and Life Picture to Ponder v6 issue 17

“Nestled in; comfy and cozy, safe
and protected before I emerge.”

iris1 wako309 Not Paying Attention Missing Out on Purple Tulips, Wild Irises and Life Picture to Ponder v6 issue 17

“Bright light; rhythmic petals, curve and dance,
reflecting many aspects of life.”

Today’s Photos’ Stories -
I purchased the above tulips for my annual tulip photographing, acknowledging the APDA annual fundraiser walk for Parkinson’s Research (see Vol 6 – Issue 13). I was really excited with both the richness of color of the tulips and the variety of stages they were in… the potential for so many great photos. I did one photos “session” and then, although they were on a table in my living room for my enjoyment, I TOTALLY forgot about watering them! A week after I purchased them they had wilted and were beyond resurrection. Evidently I hadn’t been paying much attention to them. On my living room table, they had even been in visible range any time I walked through that central location and were there for sidewise glances whenever I watched TV.

Then, last week, when I was organizing photos to share after the Events and Adventures Saturday photo walk I led, I came across the wild iris photographs I had taken at Wakodahatchee Wetlands last year. I glanced at the dates – February and March 2009 – and was aghast. I had TOTALLY missed them this year! Though I have not been walking at Wakodahatchee as much this year as in the past, I certainly had to have passed the Iris location there at least two or three times, and probably more, during this 2010 bloom period.

Granted there may have been fewer this year as a result of the unusual cold spell we had here in Florida, they were still there. This was confirmed by one of the participants in Saturday’s workshop who lives near me and had seen them.

In both cases it will be a full year before I can resurrect the experiences, AND they will never be the same.

As an aside, for those who live in the tri-state, NJ/NY/PA, area and love irises, Presby Memorial Gardens in Montclair, NJ has a WONDERFUL collection. According to their website their irises will be in full bloom from May 15th to June 6th. It’s a not-to-be-missed “show” for Iris lovers. Several years ago I did my photo/drawing process on several of the photos I took. See Iris Photo/Drawings.

Self-Reflecting Queries -
Given my “stories” above, the obvious queries for today include my invitation to look in to your life and see:

Are there places where you “know” you are not paying attention? – Listening to your children, spouse, friends, strangers? Being human qualifies you for a “yes” answer here!

Now looking at one or more of those situations, can you identify a pattern of when those inattentive times might occur? You may make a request, assuming an answer; ask for a name and already be posing the next question, without fully paying attention to an answer.

How many times have you been driving someplace and suddenly look out and noticed you’ve “suddenly” gotten to your destination,

or not? Placed your keys, mail, or important papers down someplace and then can’t find them. There are a myriad of other situations, I’m sure, that you can uncover.

For me, I am setting a goal to be more cognizant of some of the patterns I might pick up on for myself, set the intention to be more mindful and assume that the “training” will put be in a future place where I won’t miss the seeing the irises and watering the plants. Perhaps, I’ll end up putting some easy and fun, new structures in place.

I invite you to also start paying more attention, at least for the next few days, to your own inattentions.

As always, have fun with this and please post your comments below.

UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES -
Conscious Business Marketing Panel – Between May 3rd and June 9th, 30 experts share:

• Getting Top Name Sponsorship for Your Online and Offline Events
• Stop Selling and Start Sharing: How Your Marketing Changes the World
• How to Use a Book as a Business Card
• Attracting and Nurturing Your List with Newsletters and Done for You Products
• and so much more . . .
on a telephone conference call bridge line. Replay available for listening to at no charge for 24 hours and full packet of MP3 recordings can be purchased, at a low investment, to have for your listening and reference anytime in the future. Click on Marketing Summit for more information and to register for call details.

OCD Book – Might you have OCD or do you know anyone who does? On May 11th the book Check Mates is being launched. See OCD Launch to register to be reminded of the day and the bonuses.

The book is a collection of fiction, poetry and artwork about obessive compulsive disorder by people with OCD. To learn more about OCD and the book, go to Check Mates. Even if you don’t think you know anyone for whom this fits, Vrinda’s (the author) story, and those of many others, is interesting to read about. And there is a 44-page preview of the book on Preview.
(Disclaimer Note: Should you make a purchase of this series, I do benefit as an affiliate.)

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Beauty and Transformation: Monarch Butterfly and Beyond – Picture to Ponder – v6 – Issue 16

by Sheila Finkelstein on April 21, 2010

Today’s Photos -

monarchinchrysallis 475 Beauty and Transformation: Monarch Butterfly and Beyond Picture to Ponder v6 Issue 16

Monarch Butterfly in Chrysalis
(on right side occupying 3/4 of the vertical space)

chrysalisonplant 475 Beauty and Transformation: Monarch Butterfly and Beyond Picture to Ponder v6 Issue 16

Plant on which caterpillar had attached itself
(Look closely at upper left side of plant.)

monarchbutterly emerged Beauty and Transformation: Monarch Butterfly and Beyond Picture to Ponder v6 Issue 16

Monarch Butterfly Emerged from Chrysalis – next day
Photo Courtesy of Sheldon Rosin

Today’s Photos’ Story -
This Saturday I am leading a Photography Walk and Workshop for a small group of members of the South Florida chapter of Events and Adventures. Last week I visited Tropic Plants of Tamarac, FL, the location where we will be photographing prior to going to another spot for the sharing-plus workshop.

Sheldon Rosin, the artist/owner, was a delight to experience. He shared a wealth of information and creativity. One of the absolute highlights, for me, of last week’s adventure was Sheldon’s pointing out the chrysalis that a Monarch caterpillar had created, attaching itself to one of the plants up in front of the nursery. My excitement with this experience had resulting photographs become today’s feature in Picture to Ponder.

The descriptions under each photo are self-explanatory. I included the middle one for “informational” purposes, rather than aesthetic. Then, since I wanted to see the resulting butterfly, I’m assuming you might have the same curiosity.

Thus, for the second time in Picture to Ponder, I am breaking tradition* and including a photograph other than mine or Sam’s**. Sheldon very graciously forwarded me photos he took after the butterfly emerged the next day and was drying its wings.

Also, in going to Google for more information on the whole process, I discovered a number of fascinating YouTube videos. To see a speeded up version of caterpillar to chrysalis, check Monarch Chrysalis. I also found a wonderful site, full of easy-to-read information. See The Monarch Butterfly.

*The first break in my “exclusivity” policy can be found on the Blog, where I’ve included 8-year old Toby Garver’s beautiful tulip photos. See Toby’s Tulips. You’re in for a treat and several queries. I will most likely revisit it in a future issue of Picture to Ponder.

**(For those new to Picture to Ponder, Sam was my beloved husband who passed away in November 2007. You can see wonderful Black & White Photography on B&W PHOTOS.)

Self-Reflecting Queries -
As I researched on Google and saw photos of other pupa/chrysalis in a group, I recalled that I had seen them before in Butterfly World, Pompano Beach, FL. Being part of a crowd, the full beauty of the individual pupa had not had the same impact on me and I don’t recall having seen the butterfly within the chrysalis itself.

Now to you – Once again, I invite you to look in your life.

Are there places where you are allowing yourself to simply blend in, where you’re not letting your beauty shine through? Are there others in your life who could be, or are, important to you, whom you’re simply seeing as a merged part of a whole?

If “yes”, to either of these questions, I invite you to pause and look for the uniqueness, the “shine”, what excites you in yourself/them,

the beauty. Then I invite you to look and see where you can step out, if you made a discovery about yourself. Then take an action.

If someone in a group now stands out, I invite you to ackowledge that person, letting him or her know the contribution of and the beauty you’ve seen in him/her.

The butterfly life span, I learned from the Monarch Butterfly site is two to six weeks in the first three generations, up to eight months in the fourth generation because there is a lot of migration to do.

What generation are you in? What is your beauty that you can be sharing with world?

Lastly,

As always, have fun with this and please post your comments below.

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Differing Perspectives – Is Close-Up Confrontation – Picture to Ponder – v6-issue 15

by Sheila Finkelstein on April 15, 2010

One thing I’ve neglected to mention in the past two postings,  in relation to Parkinson’s Awareness Month, all profits from sales off products with Tulip images in my Nature Art Gift Shop will be donated to the April Walk-A-Thon fund – 100% for research. See TULIPS The top three folders contain tulip products.

Today’s Photos -
Amaryllis in the American Orchid Society greenhouse in Delray
Beach, FL

amaryllis group Differing Perspectives Is Close Up Confrontation Picture to Ponder v6 issue 15

amaryllis closeup1 Differing Perspectives Is Close Up Confrontation Picture to Ponder v6 issue 15

amaryllis closeup2 Differing Perspectives Is Close Up Confrontation Picture to Ponder v6 issue 15

amaryllis closeup3 Differing Perspectives Is Close Up Confrontation Picture to Ponder v6 issue 15

Today’s Photos’ Story -
As I was enjoying viewing and photographing Phalaenopsis orchids on a recent visit to the AOS gardens, I glanced ahead and over to my left and was immediately captivated by these flowers. They were larger than any of the surrounding orchids and it was the first time that I had seen Amaryllis there, either in the greenhouse or on the grounds.

I’ve been in conflict on which of the many photographs I took that day to share here. I finally decided to go with the sequence above. Many of you who answered the survey made note of having become more tuned in to looking at things and images from different perspectives, the recurring theme in many issues of Picture to Ponder.

Insofar as my own responses, I love the top photo for the dramatic (“Come look at me,” from the front flower) and the joyful (“Let’s play together in a circle”) feeling I get from the “landscape” view.

By the time I get down to the third flower, not surprisingly, I see a “face” two, almost squinting eyes, anyway. I get lost in the fourth photo, not sure I want to be there. It’s almost a relief to get back up to the first photo.

Self-Reflecting Queries -
For today, I invite you to take time with each of the Amaryllis photographs, individually. Make note, perhaps in writing, of what comes up for you, as you VIEW each image.

I then invite you to compare your responses with my observations.
I suggest this as opportunity for you to be directly aware of probable differences of experience and the okay-ness of each.

Were there differences? Did you prefer the full view, intermediate or close-up? And, there might not be a preference at all since each response might have been unique for you.

For fun, you might share these photos and queries with someone else and compare responses, yours, theirs and mine. This is, of course, one more way of tuning into and ACCEPTING that all perceptions and perspectives have value.

As always, have fun with this and please post your comments below.

Note: As I was doing my final edit, the word “confront” popped into my mind. I wonder if that was the experience for me with the last photo.

What about you? Did you find it all confrontational? If so,
how do you respond when confronted? Obviously, I withdraw, since I went back to the “happy” photo.

Reminders –

CP tulip pink magnet Differing Perspectives Is Close Up Confrontation Picture to Ponder v6 issue 15
 April is Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month – As mentioned above, this month I am donating all profits from my Tulip enhanced products (clocks, tiles, boxes, calendars, note cards and more) to the Walk-A-Thon fund – 100% to Research.

See TULIPS.

Programs I recommend:
For Artists and/or Entrepreneurs -
My mentor and friend Julie Jordan Scott is offering another Product Bookcamp.

She describes it as “an intense day of product creation in a Virtual Camp setting followed by a week-long promotion intensive camp where we tweak and polish our product and begin to put ourpromotional plan into place.”

It’s very inexpensive and promises to be fun. Check it out on CAMP PRODUCT, her name for the program. Even if it’s not for you, you might know someone else who would appreciate learning about it.

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Listening Attentively – Boy, Wood Knots and Blue-Winged Teals – Picture to Ponder – v6 – Issue 11

by Sheila Finkelstein on March 16, 2010

If you are ever feeling stuck or in a funk and you’ve been around me for a while, you might hear my voice say, “Grab your camera. Pay attention to what catches your eye and take some pictures.” I’ve written about this in articles and you’ve most likely read my RX in the PDF file you received as a new, or renewing, subscriber. You can claim it by subscribing to Picture to Ponder.

Oftentimes I do I forget my own advice. Though I almost always have my camera with me, I may not use it. Last night, in a funk, I went for a walk at Green Cay Wetlands. When I finally pulled my camera out, I remembered, “Oh yes. Why didn’t I think of this in the first place, as immediate access for shifting my mood?”

Today’s Photos -
As I started walking and taking photographs of wood knots, I got into conversation with a young boy, Grady, and his mother. I stopped and showed them the Green Cay Wood Knot Lion, still in my camera. We then discovered another possible lion, or other critter, right under our feet. Grady did not agree with his mother and me on what it was. So the next time I made a discovery, he went close down to inspect it.

woodknotandboy 475 Listening Attentively Boy, Wood Knots and Blue Winged Teals Picture to Ponder v6 Issue 11Click on the photo to see Wood Knot the Boy is studying

We continued our walk, made some other “finds”, and then stopped at one point. My young friend climbed on the railing to watch the blue-winged teals. As I photographed, Grady continued talking about a story that was evidently on his mind from earlier conversation. His chattering along with the movement of the bird, is in the 32-second, fun video below.

Grady and his mother proceeded to move on as I stopped to record the two blue-winged teals below. This is a 34-second video in which you can experience the busy-ness of the teals and the peace of the scene.

teals bluewing 475 Listening Attentively Boy, Wood Knots and Blue Winged Teals Picture to Ponder v6 Issue 11
Click on photo to see the video online.

Self-Reflecting Queries -
Obviously, from my story above, you can see that once again, I had accessed shifting my own “funky” mood.

Do you have a regular practice that will do this for you? If so, do you have a reminder system in place that will have you use the practice whenever needed?

And now, in a totally different conversation, let’s look at “paying attention.” If you’ve watched, and listened to, the first video with the boy chattering, you’ll have heard me break in with the suggestion to look at the water coming out of the duck’s beak.

I invite you, for the next day, or more, to pay attention to your own listening. Are you always full present to what the other person is saying or are your thoughts going elsewhere?

When you notice you’re not, are you planning on what you are going to say next, concentrating on something else, or is your mind simply wandering?

If/when you catch yourself, I invite you to stop, apologize to the person who is speaking, if appropriate, and ask for a recap. Then fully enjoy being in the moment with that person

As always, have fun with this, and please share your experiences in the COMMENTS section at the bottom of this post.

Awakened Wisdom -
I have been invited to participate, offering a bonus, in the launch on April 20th of a new book, “Awakened Wisdom – A Guide to Reclaiming Your Brilliance”, by Patrick Ryan.

Over the past three decades, Patrick, an executive coach and a former Buddhist monk, has been on a spiritual quest that eventually led him to devise a system of teachings he calls “Awakened Wisdom Experiences” (AWE). For years he taught this system worldwide at his workshops of the same name.

Now, at long last, he has consolidated the teachings of Awakened Wisdom Experiences into a book, appropriately entitled, “Awakened Wisdom – A Guide to Reclaiming Your Brilliance.” This means his unique spiritual teachings can now reach a much wider audience around the globe. You can read more about the book here: AWAKENED WISDOM.

The book Awakened Wisdom is written in two sections. The first is a deeply spiritual exploration on what it means to be human. The second section explores what Patrick calls “Eight States of an Awakened Life”. These eight states help you tap into your divine wisdom to create more of the life you want. Here are the eight states from Patrick’s book:

1) A Good State of Understanding
2) A Good State of Intention
3) A Good State of Words
4) A Good State of Being
5) A Good State of Purpose
6) A Good State of Effort
7) A Good State of Practice
icon cool Listening Attentively Boy, Wood Knots and Blue Winged Teals Picture to Ponder v6 Issue 11 A Good State of Doing

In addition to bonuses from 40 other people, Patrick is giving away an EXTRA special gift of his own: An Awakened Wisdom VIRTUAL Experience!

When you buy the book, you will be given free admission to this special 2-day live “virtual” event, taking place on May 5th and 6th, 2010. On that event, Patrick will personally guide you through the Eight States of an Awakened Life. If you cannot make the live event, it will be recorded, but it will be available only to those who buy the book on April 20th.

To find out how you can buy this book on April 20th and claim Patrick’s gift, and the others, just go to Awakened Wisdom Launch When you go to that page, be sure you enter your email address in the form, and Patrick will send you a “launch reminder” to make sure you don’t miss the April 20th date.

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Beauty Continues in Aged Rose – Picture to Ponder – vol 6 – Issue 8

by Sheila Finkelstein on February 23, 2010

As you most likely recall, roses were featured in the last issue of Picture to Ponder – “Perfections, Imperfections, Counting Blessings” (see post below this).

Although I had not intended a continuation of the theme or photos, I am in such awe of the beauty of several of the roses, now eight days older, that I simply had to share one of them here.

Today’s Photo -

pinkrose4 8dayslater 475 Beauty Continues in Aged Rose Picture to Ponder vol 6 Issue 8

I started adding another photograph and it felt that this one needed to have the total space. I invite you visit the page, Roses – 8 days Later. It has this rose photograph, plus five others taken at the same time.

Self-Reflecting Queries -
Comments on the blog and directly to me had me revisit the theme of imperfections.

One reader wrote that she has frequently created rose greeting cards and realized, as she was reading and looking at the featured roses, that she often would pinch off the “imperfect” petals!!. This, during times she was teaching children to accept their “imperfect” pictures and stories.

As I mentioned above, today’s rose, and those on the Roses Page, were taken 8 days after I brought them home. Amazed at the remaining full-body-ness of several, I took more photographs in the night light.

I suspect that many of the readers here would have long ago discarded the flowers, seeing them only as shriveled up.

I invite you to look into your life. Can you identify a point in the life cycle when you discard flowers, objects, people – defining “life cycle” as the time period of usefulness?

Are there people’s statements that you automatically disregard, because they feel “old”, not “right”? What if you took another look?

Where can you find beauty today/tonight in something you usually ignore or slough off?

As always, have fun with this.

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Perfections, Imperfections, Counting Blessings as seen in Roses – Picture to Ponder – v6-issue 7

by Sheila Finkelstein on February 17, 2010

Today’s Picture to Ponder message relates to perfections and imperfections and finding the blessings in our lives.

On Sunday, Valentine’s Day, in the United States, I found myself feeling sad, missing Sam more than I usually do. It was interesting for me to observe this since he and I never really celebrated Valentine’s Day. I handled it by taking constructive action, for me writing, making a phone call and posting insights on my Writing for Healing blog. Bottom line I ended up being invited to dinner at my son’s home, which resulted in, among other things, receiving a beautiful bunch of flowers.

Once home I took an abundance of photographs, for some unidentified reason, focusing on the numerous roses that were part of the grouping. I experimented with different backgrounds and lighting with this issue’s roses being a small sampling. You can find more in the Rose Set in my FlickR account.

Before continuing, I do want to remind you of the SPIRIT AUTHORS Grand Opening on Monday Feb. 22.  I consists of  5 FREE webcasts with 18 leading publishing experts. See  SPIRIT AUTHORS.

Today’s Photos -

rose orange1 475 Perfections, Imperfections, Counting Blessings as seen in Roses Picture to Ponder v6 issue 7

rose orange2macro 475 Perfections, Imperfections, Counting Blessings as seen in Roses Picture to Ponder v6 issue 7

rose pink1 macro 475 Perfections, Imperfections, Counting Blessings as seen in Roses Picture to Ponder v6 issue 7

rose pink2 475 Perfections, Imperfections, Counting Blessings as seen in Roses Picture to Ponder v6 issue 7

Self-Reflecting Queries -
Today’s photos are, obviously, of roses, none of which are perfect. I was initially caught up in their beauty in color and/or patterns and shapes.

Then I saw the “imperfections”, the first pink one almost at the end of its time. This led me to querying, and inviting you do the same, “When you see something or someone, is your first response to see the imperfections or the beauty and positives?” If you miss, the imperfections at first glance, or two, are you able to accept them and stay with the beauty of that at which you are looking, or is something marred, with negative in the space? If the latter, do you stay with the negative, or are you able to create a shift for yourself? If so, how?

As I conclude, I realize that seeing the roses’ imperfections and choices we make are somewhat analogous to my Valentine’s sadness experience, staying in it or finding a way to see the positives.

For me, if you read the blog post, you’ll see, I ultimately chose to see the blessings in my life and wound up with even more than I expected – the flowers and the riches of that.

How about you? Are you able to see the blessings in your life?

As always, have fun with this.

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Creative DNA as Pointed Out by a Flower Photo Close-Up – Picture to Ponder – v6-issue6

by Sheila Finkelstein on February 11, 2010

In Session 2 of the current Through and from the Lens Point and Shoot Photo Course, I introduced the concept of Creative DNA and referenced my discussion to issues of Picture to Ponder five years ago.

When participant Deb Mallett commented on then-featured photo and imagery she had difficulty finding, I decided the article and photo were worth revisiting.

Thus Today’s Photo – (See below for a description of the imagery which I saw at that time.)

tropspike1cr Creative DNA as Pointed Out by a Flower Photo Close Up Picture to Ponder v6 issue6
An unidentified tropical flower from a local nursery

In 2005, I wrote: As I prepare the curriculum for the upcoming teleclasses, I’ve been reading THE CREATIVE HABIT: LEARN IT AND USE IT FOR LIFE by Twyla Tharp, dancer/choreographer. In it she speaks of “Creative DNA” which we may think of as our “creative hard-wiring or personality.”

She goes on to say, “When I apply a critic’s temperament to myself, to see if I’m being true to my DNA, I often think in terms of focal length, like that of a camera lens.

All of us find comfort in seeing the world either from a great distance, at arm’s length, or in close-up. We don’t consciously make that choice. Our DNA does, and we generally don’t waver from it. Rare is the painter who is equally adept at miniatures and epic series, or the writer who is at home in both historical sagas and finely observed short stories.”

After reading this I had a “flash.” People have been asking me how I see and take photos the way I do. In attempting to find answers, I’m noticing that the pictures subscribers seem to be most responsive to are those where I’ve zoomed in and on some where I’ve gotten even closer by cropping.

My creative DNA IS that close-up focus. So I became “true to my DNA”, pulled up the picture and cropped it. I’m thinking you get the strongest response to my work when I am being “truest” to myself.

tropspike1 Creative DNA as Pointed Out by a Flower Photo Close Up Picture to Ponder v6 issue6

The long view of the above photo which I cropped

Puzzling Imagery -

In 2005, I stated wrote: “I see a woman [top photo] with her head at a 3/4 angle toward the right cradled and protected by the petals, one of which caps her head. There is also a bulging-eyed, pink frog on the left protecting her, where her knees would be. I could continue with the some of the other petals and didn’t. I suspect that some of you will now probably start seeing images also.”

In response to this Deb Mallett wrote:
“It took me a long time to see the woman’s face and the bulging-eyed, pink frog in that flower, but I stared and stared and all of a sudden they both were there. And it’s not an abstract woman’s face, it’s actually quite realistic. Now that I’ve seen it, I can’t understand how I didn’t see it before.”

Now, five years later, I immediately see the frog and have yet to see the “realistic woman’s face.” I’ve marked the “frog” in the photo on FlickR (scroll over the PICTURE there and a box will pop up) and may or may not have identified the woman by the time you click on the picture link.

Self-Reflecting Queries -
I invite you to become aware of your creative DNA. As a pattern, are you looking at the world, people, situations, “from a great distance, at arm’s length, or in close-up?”

If you find yourself in challenging situations, are you in the true mode for you? If not, would shifting it make a difference to you and to the people with whom you are interacting?

Does it help to be aware that a person with whom you are attempting communication may have a different creative DNA when viewing projects?

Also, in relation to looking for the “face” and the “frog”, if you “played” the game and could not find one or both of the images, how did you handle your possible frustrations? My first inclination is to attempt to figure it out myself and then walk away if I can’t find the answer. Ultimately, I might ask for help and I am getting better at it. What about you?

Lastly, if you’ve read all of the above, are pondering it and, then, find that what I’ve related has some impact for you, I’d appreciate your sharing that in the comments below. It doesn’t have to be the “what” or the “why.” Simply knowing a difference has been made would be helpful and sufficient for me. Thank you.

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Prickly Situations or Enlightenment from a Cactus Flower – Picture to Ponder – v6-issue 5

by Sheila Finkelstein on February 4, 2010

Today’s Photo -

cactusflower1 pink 475 Prickly Situations or Enlightenment from a Cactus Flower Picture to Ponder v6 issue 5
Cactus flower in the Desert Botanical Garden in Scottsdale, Arizona.

As part of the focus and sensory expansion exercises we do in the Point and Shoot Through and From the Lens photo course, participants “place” themselves into a photo of an alstromeria flower and explore it from within and/or from the outside. As a follow up, there is a choice of two other photos with which to do this exercise between sessions.

When looking at the photo page the other day, before sending participants the Photos for Exploration link, the shiny light within the above cactus flower popped out at me. It called out to, once again, be a featured photo in Picture to Ponder.

Self-Reflecting Queries -
Although the “spiny” needles surrounding the flower may be prickly, in the photo they appear to be soft and gentle. The light feels strong and bright, yet there is an overall sense of softness, conveyed in part by the pinks.

I invite you to do the exercise mentioned above, putting yourself into the photo, exploring the flower, the setting within which it resides, covering it from all angles.

Observe – “What size are you?” “How does it feel?” “Would you want to be a permanent resident in this space?” Check your responses. “Why ‘yes’ or ‘no’?” Do they point to similarities in any aspects of your life?

I also invite you to look further into your own life. Are there areas where you are feeling “prickly” places, perhaps ones you wish to avoid? If so, can you look beyond and find a bright light beckoning you? What could you be saying to “soften” them up?

You may also want to use your camera to photograph images that catch your eye and then do the same exercise with one or more photos of your own.

As always, have fun with this.

Programs I recommend for:
Authors – Published or Inspired to be ones -

My friend, author of GARDEN OF THE SOUL, is launching a new program with an exciting FR*EE Grand Opening Event coming Feb 22-26. She is hosting 5 days of webcasts with 17 other leading names in the exciting world of mind-body-spirit writing and publishing.

Lynn is presenting an exciting NEW concept on the Internet, combining coaching, learning, community and business-building in a creative, spirit-based environment.

If you’re an experienced author, a brand new author, or someone who is dreaming of writing an inspirational book some day, you’ll want to register for this fr*ee event.

Using Social Media – Developing an Internet Business:
This weekend I was in Atlanta for the Niche Affiliate Marketing System (NAMS 3) program. It was a full, information-rich, people-connecting, inspiring weekend.

On Saturday, a recording, STRATEGIES 4 SOCIAL MARKETING, was made with a panel of 5 top Internet Marketing Experts sharing information and tips on effectively using social media for connecting AND building business. That hour session is now available in a downloadable MP3, with several bonuses, for only $17.

My friend Tomar Levine, not at the conference, wrote: “Thanks, Sheila. I bought it, listened to it, and took four pages of notes. Just what I needed to re-invigorate my social media, which I’ve backed away from of late. I got at least one brand-new piece of info which I will start using immediately.”

It is also possible, until Monday when the price increases, to purchase the recordings from the past three NAMS conferences, including this past weekend, for only $97 total. The above-mentioned Social Marketing recording is part of the weekend recordings, so you wouldn’t need both.

See NAMS for details and to purchase the full series, should it fit for you.

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