How one book can change the world...

hello everyone.

This is Harriet Beecher Stowe. 

She's an american author who is most well known
for her book, "Uncle Tom's Cabin", 
a book about slavery and the desire for change.

A great book, although it was at times hard to read.
Too much suffering.

So many books to read...
so many things to learn.

I think women like this were so brave...

at a time where it was certainly uncool
to speak out against slavery (in the 1800's)
and where it was definitely uncool
to speak out at all, if you were a woman.

...and yet, she wrote.

It is said that when she met Abraham Lincoln,
he referred to her as
"the little woman who made this great war"
(the American civil war)

She may not be responsible for having started the war,
but one thing is certain:
she got people thinking
about why certain things were still accepted.

Why some things were still left unquestioned.

Thought is the seed that breeds action and change.

A quick tint in photoshop, and it feels more like the 1800's... :-)

And this was taken yesterday... 

today is a different picture. Another snow storm.

Another day of from school for the kids.

Another day inside for me,

drinking coffee and staying out of trouble. (giggle)

thank you all for your kind comments and emails

re: yesterday's post.

I knew most of you were kind souls

and truth seekers.

xox

a published book from a broken heart...

hi everyone.

(translation of book title: The stars at dawn)

I'll share some art later tonight, but for now,
I want to share this.

This book was written by a beautiful young woman of 17 years old.
The story of her father's battle with cancer -
one that he sadly lost three years ago,
when she was only 14, and her brother was 16.

More than anything, it's a story of courage and love.

Once in a while,
someone or something comes along and we are forever changed.

A separation

an illness

an accident

the death of a loved one.

Deep pain.

Deeper than many of us can imagine.

During such times, it's hard to make sense
of the world as it is.
It's hard to understand that life goes on...
with or without us.

It's also hard to believe
that through such anguish,
through such darkness,
eventually,
light finds a way in.

There is a Leonard Cohen song with these lyrics:

"there is a crack in everything,
that's how the light gets in".

Writing this book was Renée's crack.

This young woman made sense of her world
by writing about it,
by giving herself the space to grieve,
by giving her father a voice,
and honouring him in the most loving way,
with gentle, honest words on a page.

She is donating all the proceeds
to the cancer society,
to help find a cure.

And the reason i am sharing this story?

Because it is proof, once again,
that WORDS MATTER
and they also heal.

Sharing matters.

She chose writing
as a way to express her pain
and her story will not only change her,
but it will touch others.

It will inspire people to look at their own lives differently,
and be more grateful for what they have,
rather than what (or who) they don't have.

Stories like these
promote love
in a world often filled with hatred and loss.

This young lady is giving her father
the highest honour
and showing him the greatest love,
by spreading her wings
and showing him that she can fly.

We all have something to learn
from such stories of courage.

Wishing you all a day
filled with gratitude.
xox

big dreams

Hey folks - it's Monday! 

I bought a few wonderful books lately

in the hopes of keeping myself inspired.

When i read the first few pages of this wonderful book,

I knew it was exactly what i was looking for.

So inspiring.

A few posts ago, I made a comment about dreaming BIG.

Over the weekend, I was at the Costco.

For those who aren't familiar with the Costco,

it's basically a place where you can buy things in bulk,

like a jar of peanut butter the size of a Buick,

or paper towels in packages of a million.

ok, that may be a bit of an exaggeration.

But as i stood in line at the cash register

and looked at all the other baskets full of stuff -

and the zombie-like faces staring into space,

I wondered about the dreams of those around me.

It made me think about how there is as much value

in a small dream

as a big one.

Maybe the woman next to me

wanted to become a published author,

or the man behind me

wanted a herb garden in his back yard.

Some people need a herb garden to give their life meaning,

others need the Taj Mahal.

Whatever your dream is...

however big or small

the important thing is to keep moving towards it.

To make little changes towards a more

fulfilling life for yourself.

To take baby steps.

The saddest thing would be

to take no step at all.

To decide that your dream isn't worth it.

It absolutely is worth it.

Trust me on this one. :-)

xoxo