Wishcast Wednesday

I have not taken part in Wishcast Wednesday for a while. Time seems to have been at a premium lately and mid week is hectic. But I am home today and hearing the news of Liz Taylor's death, made me think of Jamie's wish question this week:

How do you wish to sparkle?

If ever there was a woman who sparkled it was Liz Taylor. She was legendary and so full of life.

I looked up the definition of sparkle and found this:

1. (v.i.) sparkle to shine or glisten with little gleams of light, as a brilliant gem; glitter.

2. sparkle to be brilliant, lively, or vivacious.

Again - this made me think of Elizabeth Taylor!

There was also a quote by Henry Ford:

"Enthusiasm is the sparkle in your eyes, the swing in your gait. The grip of your hand, the irresistible surge of will and energy to execute your ideas."

I am tired of being tired, of being quiet, of being sluggish and careful.

I need to add sparkle to my life; to be more lively and gutsy. I need more enthusiasm, and a surge of energy! I need to find a passion and take it on fully. Life is to be lived, not just endured!

Jamie of Jamie Ridler Studios encourages us to "be a maker of magic and a tender of wishes.

It’s easy. Answer the wish prompt above on your blog . Support wishes by visiting other participants. It’s that simple. There is great power in wishing together. Let the magic begin!"

Be sure to visit the great wishcasters here.

Wishcast Wednesday

I haven't taken part in Wishcast Wednesday for a few weeks. I have missed the well wishes from the blogging community. I always feel better after reading everyone's comments! I really do feel that our wishes have such possibility because so many people support us. So thank you in advance to those who offer such loving support!

Today Jamie Ridler (of Jamie Ridler Studios) asks:

What do you wish to enjoy?

When I first heard this question, my first thought was that I really want to enjoy the coming Christmas season. Usually, I am so rushed - with report cards, teaching and other obligations that I don't stop and enjoy each day of preparation.

I want to enjoy the music, the spirit of giving, the buying of that perfect present for loved ones, decorating the tree, the get-togethers, the writing and reading of Christmas cards, the joy of the season. I want to give back and help out more this year.

May this Christmas season be simpler and full of love and joy.

As Jamie says:"You can be a maker of magic and a tender of wishes. It’s easy. Answer the wish prompt above on your blog . Support wishes by visiting other participants. It’s that simple. There is great power in wishing together. "

Visit the other wonderful wishcasters here.

Wishcast Wednesday - Envisioning!

Today Jamie Ridler (of Jamie Ridler Studies) once again poses us a question to answer:

What do you wish to envision?

To envision means:

"to conceive or see something within one's mind; to imagine." (Wikipedia)

"to foresee; picture to oneself; imagine possible; to make, create,imagine, conceive of" (wordreference.com

I wish to envision/imagine/create a life of possibility, of creativity, of joy. I wish to have a life filled with love, family and friends, art, music, travel, fun, laughter, beauty, nature, purpose.

I wish for a life that enriches me, and offers me the opportunity to give back, to create daily, and to be healthy.

As Jamie says:

"You can be a maker of magic and a tender of wishes. It’s easy. Answer the wish prompt above on your blog . Support wishes by visiting other participants. It’s that simple. There is great power in wishing together."

Be sure to visit the other great wishcasters here.

Wishcast Wednesday

Today Jamie (of Jamie Ridler Studios) asks:

What do you wish for your relationships?

I almost decided not to answer that as the first thought that came to mind was that certain relationships are almost non existent.

But, then I realized that I do need to make several wishes.

1. I wish that my children and I could have more quality time together; that we could be in touch more often; that they would once again take part in family celebrations. I do miss their presence in my life., especially with my daughter who lives much closer!

2. I wish that the chasm that exists between my siblings and myself could be bridged, even if only a small bridge. The past cannot be forgotten, but it does need to be forgiven.

3. I wish to develop stronger friendships here. After spending 19 years in my former hometown, I need to establish deeper friendships here. This is my home now.

As Jamie says:

"You can be a maker of magic and a tender of wishes. It’s easy. Answer the wish prompt above on your blog . Support wishes by visiting other participants. It’s that simple. There is great power in wishing together."

Visit other great wishcasters here.

Wishcast Wednesday

Time once again for Wishcast Wednesday, a time to consider and respond to a prompt from Jamie Ridler (of Jamie Ridler Studios)

This week she asks:

What do you wish for your well-being?

As I finish my school year today (a PA Day, no children, planning for next year and tidying up as well), this is a very important question and comes at a good time!

This has been an exhausting year, physically, emotionally and mentally. I have had the most challenging class in 30 years and I feel drained.

I need the next 2 months to:

* recharge all my batteries fully;

* find out what I can do to help my arthritis pain (I can't take anti-inflammatories)

*establish a morning ritual that will will power me through the day (Christine Kane had an excellent article on this!)

*lose weight and get fitter

*create, create, create

*read, read, read

*connect more with family and friends

*say Yes more often!

(take time to stop and smell the flowers!!)

I would like to begin the 2010/11 school year refreshed, positive, organized and healthier!

A big order I know but I must commit to focusing on my well-being this summer - or else!

As Jamie says:
"You can be a maker of magic and a tender of wishes. It’s easy. Answer the wish prompt above . Support wishes by visiting other participants. It’s that simple. There is great power in wishing together."

Be sure to visit the other wish-casters here.

Wishcast Wednesday

Today at Jamie Ridler Studios, Jamie asks us:

What fun do you wish to have?

Now that is a very easy question to answer! With summer holidays beginning next week i am aiming to have fun and relax and enjoy myself.

I want to create, read, visit, tour, watch movies, sleep-in, laugh, play, take photos, learn, and just do what I want to do for 8 lovely weeks!

There will be time for some must-dos, but I want to plan for days that offer fun and relaxation and time to create!

As Jamie says:

"You can be a maker of magic and a tender of wishes. It’s easy. Answer the wish prompt above on your blog . Then support wishes by visiting other participants. It’s that simple. There is great power in wishing together."

Be sure to visit the other great wish-casters here.

Wishcast Wednesday

Today Jamie, of Jamie Ridler Studios, asks us:

What do you wish to nourish?

First and foremost, I need to nourish my health. But more importantly, I need to nourish my soul and my creativity.

There are only two weeks left of school, and as summer holidays approach I need to focus on keeping well and being creative. I want to use those weeks off to further develop my skills and to create for myself a healing routine that I can sustain through the school year.

I want to have fun and laugh and enjoy my time off; to spend time with my husband, family and friends.

As Jamie says:

"You can be a maker of magic and a tender of wishes. It’s easy. Answer the wish prompt above . Support wishes by visiting other participants. It’s that simple. There is great power in wishing together."

Be sure to visit other wonderful wishcasters here.

Wishcast Wednesday

It is time once again to cast out our wishes. Today Jamie Ridler (of Jamie Ridler Studios) asks us:

What leap do you wish take?

This week began Creativity Boot Camp and one of the first exercises was to define "artist" and to journal about what keeps us from calling ourselves an artists. I skirted around this and wrote about what an artist is, but did not - could not call myself -a true artist. I could call myself a creative soul.

SOOO - I wish to take the huge, giant leap and call myself an artist.

YES! I AM AN ARTIST!

Now I have to act like that and be that!

As Jamie says:
"You can be a maker of magic and a tender of wishes. It’s easy. Answer the wish prompt above on your blog . Support wishes by visiting other participants. It’s that simple. There is great power in wishing together."

Visit the other wonderful wishcasters here.

Wishcast Wednesday

Today at Jamie Ridler Studios, Jamie once again asks us a deep question, one that takes time to answer.

What do you wish to know?

There is knowledge and there is knowing. There will always be knowledge I would like to gain, new ideas, new methods of teaching, new art techniques to learn. But the knowing - that is different. It is feeling that knowledge deep inside, and using it help.
To really know someone, to really understand why people behave the way they do, to look past their masks. Especially with children, I wish to know what will help them achieve to their potential. I want to know why we can't help many of these children sooner.
There are so many things left to learn and know - and I want to keep learning and using that knowledge to help and to grow.

As Jamie says:


"You can be a maker of magic and a tender of wishes. It’s easy. Answer the wish prompt above on your blog and Support wishes by visiting other participants, It’s that simple. There is great power in wishing together."





Be sure to visit the other wishcasters here.

Wishcast wednesday

It is time once again to answer Jamie's prompt (of Jamie Ridler Studios):

What do you wish for your space?

Foremost, I wish for a space that is clutter-free and inviting, a space that allows us to relax and be comfortable.

I also seek my own creative space, that is a haven for art and creativity.

Knowing what I seek, now I must achieve that!

As Jamie says:

"You can be a maker of magic and a tender of wishes. It’s easy. Answer the wish prompt above on your blog and support wishes by visiting other participants. It’s that simple. There is great power in wishing together."

Visit other wishcasters here.

Wishcast Wednesday

Once again it is time to answer the prompt from Jamie at Jamie Ridler Studios.
This week she asks:

What do you wish to experience?

I wish to continue to experience new things - new tastes, new art techniques, new friendships, new places, new authors and books - just new experiences in general.
I want to continue to learn new things all my life. There is so much to see and do and read and learn.

As Jamie says:
"You can be a maker of magic and a tender of wishes. It’s easy. Answer the wish prompt above on your blog and support wishes by visiting other participants. There is great power in wishing together."

Be sure to visit other great wishcasters here.

Wishcast Wednesday

Today at Jamie Ridler's Studios, Jamie asks us another searching question:

What Rules Do You Wish to Make or Break?

As I thought about this question, I realized the idea of rules seems to relate quite a bit to my age.

I would like to break these rules or notions:

I am over 55, and therefore as a senior I am old.
I am older, so there really can't be too many more new things to explore or do - not many firsts left.
I am old, therefore I can't lose weight, get fit, look good.
I am old, therefore I can't learn new things.

Well, I want to explode all those myths, and rules.

I may be over 55, but I am capable of so many things and there are still many firsts I can and hope to accomplish. I can and will lose weight and look fitter and better!
I am definitely not old!
There is still much to do. I can't wait til I grow up and move on to the next phase of my life!

Be sure to visit the other great wishcasters here.

Wishcast Wednesday

It is Wishcast Wednesday once again and Jamie of Jamie Ridler Studios asks us to reflect on this question:

Large or small, financial or otherwise, what do you wish to invest in?

As I thought about the question, I realized there are a number of areas I need and want to invest in. Most require just time and effort.

I would like to invest my time and greater effort in:

*My health. There are many simple things I can do to ensure I stay mobile and healthy as I age. (For example - walk every day, meditate, stretch, drink more water, laugh.)

*My relationships - with family, friends, colleagues. I need to make time to be with them, to talk with them, to share with them.

*My art. It is this area that I need to invest the most effort and time (and money) if it is to carry me through retirement. I need to practice, to take some more courses, to study and learn new techniques. I want to enjoy and continue creating on a daily basis.

As Jamie says:
"You can be a maker of magic and a tender of wishes. It’s easy. Answer the wish prompt above on your blog . Support wishes by visiting other participants. It’s that simple. There is great power in wishing together. "

Be sure to visit other wishcasters here.

Wishcast Wednesday

It is Wednesday and that means a probing question from Jamie of Jamie Ridler Studios. This week she asks:

What do you wish to dare?

That question needed time to percolate. Usually the answer comes right away. I find that as I age I become less daring, choosing safer and less active pursuits.

So, I would like to dare to be more active, more physical, and challenge myself more - to not always take the safe route. There are still a lot of firsts out there to accomplish!

As Jamie says:
"You can be a maker of magic and a tender of wishes. It’s easy. Answer the wish prompt above on your blog and and upport wishes by visiting other participants. It’s that simple. There is great power in wishing together. "

Visit other great wishcasters here.

Wishcast Wednesday

Today Jamie of Jamie Ridler Studios asks another of her penetrating questions:

What do you wish to be gentle with?

As I thought about it, I realized that I really need to be gentle with myself.

I expect that I should be able to do all that I want and need to do. I expect that I should be able to lose weight and exercise daily. I expect that I should be a better artist. I expect that I should be a perfect teacher, wife, mother.But, it takes time for all these things.

I need to give myself permission to try and when I don't succeed as I want and expect, then I need to be gentle with my limitations.

Life is too short (and as I get closer to 60 it is much truer!). I need to go easy and try and keep trying.

As Jamie says:
"You can be a maker of magic and a tender of wishes. It’s easy. Answer the wish prompt above on your blog . Support wishes by visiting other participants. It’s that simple. There is great power in wishing together."

Be sure to visit other wish-casters here.

Wishcast Wednesday

Today at Jamie Ridler's Studio, Jamie asks us:

How do you wish to bloom?

Before I answered the question, I decided to check the definition. From answer.com came this definition:

v., bloomed, bloom·ing, blooms.
v.intr.
1. a. To bear a flower or flowers.
b. To support plant life in abundance:

3. To grow or flourish with youth and vigor.

The act of blooming always makes me think of spring. There is such joy in seeing the growth of the flowers and the blooming of such beauty in the garden. To see the starkness and deadness of the end of winter give way to freshness, greenery and the beauty of the flowers and plants, is always something I look forward to.

So to answer Jamie's question, I wish to bloom as a flower does. To reach up, to open up to the world, to flourish with vigor, to give life. Spring is here and I want to slough off the old and bloom with newness and creativity and abundance!

As Jamie says:

"You can be a maker of magic and a tender of wishes. It’s easy. Answer the wish prompt above on your blog and support wishes by visiting other participants. It’s that simple. There is great power in wishing together."

Be sure to visit the other great wishcasters here.

Wishcast Wednesday

Jamie Ridler of Jamie Ridler Studios once again poses a thoughtful question :

What do you wish to accomplish?

As I thought about the question, I realized there were a number of specific goals I want to accomplish this spring:

Physical:

*Learn to meditate

*Get moving, preferably by dancing, more regularly

Creatively:

*For April, draw or sketch something every day

*Keep trying new challenges

*Declutter!

I could go on but I want these to be achievable!

As Jamie says:
"You can be a maker of magic and a tender of wishes. It’s easy. Support wishes by visiting other participants. It’s that simple. There is great power in wishing together."

Visit other wishcaster here.

Wishcast Wednesday

Jamie Ridler of Jamie Ridler Studios poses the following question this week:

What do you wish to take a break from?

I have just returned from a week away in Mexico, where I was able to get away from school, the internet, cold, clutter!

It was so good to have that much needed break.

But now that Jamie has posed this question, I relize I need to take a break from negativity.

Negativity about my weight, unrealistic expectations, and from and about others.

As Jamie says:

"You can be a maker of magic and a tender of wishes. It’s easy. Support wishes by visiting other participants. It’s that simple. There is great power in wishing together. "

Visit other wishcasters here.

Wishcast Wednesday

Today Jamie of Jamie Ridler Studios poses the question:

What do you wish to say NO to?

I feel myself lately slipping back - into sadness, guilt, even hints of depression; feelings of being overwhelmed.

We are going away for March Break - to Mexico and one of my overriding feelings is - fear!

SO - I must say no to all those feelings and say a huge NO to negative thinking!

As Jamie says: "You can be a maker of magic and a tender of wishes. Support wishes by visiting other participants. It’s that simple. There is great power in wishing together."

Be sure to visit other wishcasters here.

Wishcast Wednesday

Today Jamie of Jamie Ridler Studios poses another question to stir our imaginations and challenge us to think deeply.

What do you wish to make time for?

Right now it seems I have so little time. For teachers this is one of the busiest times - assessing children, writing report cards and still trying to plan and teach. Throw into this mix, several weeks of illness, the Olympics and lack of good sleep makes for little time to really focus on family, art or photography. This past weekend I did not even have the energy to work on my blog or art. Ughhh!!

So, as I finish report cards tonight, I so want to recapture that time and energy for creating and for time with family. And to use that time joyfully, not in guilt or in tiredness!

As Jamie says: "You can be a maker of magic and a tender of wishes. Support wishes by visiting other participants. It’s that simple. There is great power in wishing together."

Visit the other wishcasters here.