Tag Archive for: curiosity

Last Friday my work day began with a dance party. Say what?!

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 I’ll be honest, I’m a regular at Creative Morning events. I love the range of speakers – Pete Davis,  Roxanne Gay, Carla Fernandez, Timothy Goodman to name a few. And I won’t lie, a good cup of coffee and a delicious breakfast – hosted by Harvest –the mix of seeing friends I’ve developed and meeting new people is even more of a delight. (Plus, my daughter and I usually see each other there and have coffee afterwards.) It’s my monthly dose of something new, usually outside my immediate interests, and that makes it exciting! And yet I almost eschewed the dance party… it felt frivolous – I’ve got lots of work to get done that’s exciting and important to me.

 

Creative Mornings starts at 8:30, often in Manhattan, yet last Friday it was in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Lucky for me, the stars aligned! Thursday night I spent over two hours at Sparrow Funeral Home (in BK) at a meeting with death doulas and a few other death care workers. (That meeting is another conversation.) It was an opportunity to see old friends, get reacquainted with newer colleagues, and forge new relationships. Afterwards, I stayed with my daughter overnight to walk the few blocks to Friends and Lovers hosting the Creative Mornings event the nexxt morning.

 

Loved the little sign to the left!

I was sorry to leave a bit early.

The nightclub is small—yet all the elements of a CM event were present: a welcoming sign, friendly volunteers greeting us, good coffee, delicious breakfast treats, and folks ready to connect with old friends and make new ones. Tina Roth Eisenberg, the creator of Creative Mornings, shared her thinking about why a dance party–essentially her message was, the world is upside down, let’s dance! And we did! The DJ was great, the disco ball, the lights, people loving what was an awesome way to start the day.

Unless you think it was all fun (which wouldn’t be a bad way to start the workday), I met an art therapist who accompanies people wishing to use psychedelics in their therapy–something I know a bit about because psychedelics are a newer area of interest in the end-of-life field,  in working with end-of-life fears. And, I connected with a woman who gave a 30-second pitch (a staple of CM events) because she’s developing a school for children from a Buddhist orientation. My background in curriculum development, Buddhism, meditation, and the expressive arts might just be a fit for a collaboration. Sadly, I had to leave early—I didn’t want to miss my meeting with bikablo global team members. What fun it was to see their surprise when I answered the check-in question, “How are you doing today?” with, “I’m sweaty and energized, just having come from a dance party— I feel great!”

How did you start your work day today?

Do you know Creative Mornings? There are chapters all over the world. Not only do they offer once-a-month events, but they also have fabulous Clubs to attend and Virtual Field Trips! I host the Open Door Death Café Club, and I appreciate CM’s willingness to support a range of opportunities for connection.

 

Check them out! And if you do, let me know what you think! Maybe you’ll come to our in-person Death Café in Manhattan!

 

 

 

PS: More fun photos!

I had the opportunity to pitch a workshop to the crowd. 2024.

Brought my buddy, Nancy to a CM event in BK—such fun! 2023.

Jaclyn & I gave 90-second promos for our passion projects—hers was KPOP dancing & mine was graphic recording EOL wishes. 2023.

A Love Letter to Holiday Cards

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I’ll admit it, I’m late to the party, and in this instance, the party is about sending holiday cards on time… Although when I think about it, I feel almost like an anachronism in my delight in sending paper through the mail to family (given and chosen), friends, and colleagues around the world. So, perhaps I get a little grace?

Growing up, when holiday cards started arriving, my mom would hang red ribbon on a wall at the entryway of our home, and every card would be taped to the ribbon—it was festive and a reminder of our family and friends around the world. It’s a memory that brings tears to my eyes…honestly, a tradition I haven’t thought about in years. The dozen or so holiday cards we received this year adorn our coffee and dinner tables. They are happy reminders of our connections.

In part, I send New Year’s cards because almost everyone I know likes the beginning of a new year. Whether you like the way the old one came together and you’re hoping for more of the same, or you’re really done with the last year and the new one brings hope or feelings of promise, it feels inclusive to wish everyone a happy new year, from both religious/spiritual and practical perspectives.

And, truth be told, I LOVE stationery and pens—I buy cards every time I visit a museum. I love receiving cards and letters–I grew up writing letters—perhaps in part, a consequence of attending sleepaway camp for 10 years… away from home for 8 weeks, I dialed home once a week to talk with my parents on a Sunday afternoon. So letters were a tangible connection to my parents and my friends back home. I wrote letters as an exchange student in France, maintaining my relationships while being away for a few months of my junior year of high school. I loved sharing my adventures. I wrote and received missives. It’s how I really got to know some of my friends, because we’d say things in letters that we might find almost too personal to share face-to-face.

And (you know me), I love to draw, so now, every year, I create a visual that encapsulates the year – notably the delights and adventures but also some of the challenges. I keep it real without getting heavy. This year, I found it difficult to write a brief note in each card. It’s not that my sentiments weren’t clear–it’s that being pithy after such a big year (personally and in this country) was difficult for me. I wished everyone on my list good health, finding moments of joy every day, and inner peace and abundance… and the truth is, I wish everyone hope, strength, a sense of belonging, great adventures (if they want them), and the year they desire.

I wish the same for you.

In this New Year’s card, I shared one of my favorite sentiments expressed by Mary Oliver,

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

I’d love to hear your answer.

And, I’m happy to share mine in return–we could even write it in a letter! (Did I say that I’m a

part of The Sunday Letter Project?) If you love writing letters, check it out, let me know what you think! If you’d like to receive a postcard or note card from my vast collection of stationery, send me an email with your home address, and I’m happy to oblige. You could be the person I write to this coming Sunday.

Wishing us all a year of good health, peace, finding moments of joy every day, and abundance.

Live every day!

Wrapping Up!

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Looking Back at Fall

What a delight to devote time to sharing impressions, questions, ideas, and plans for the future! Yesterday, graduates of Francesca Arnoldy’s Death Literacy Educator Program met to discuss the experiences of those who hosted the Living Fully, Dying Prepared Community Series, sponsored by a Compassion & Choices grant. The meeting prompted me to re-read the feedback received from the two groups I facilitated. My experiences held similarities and differences. The groups, from two counties, wanted to read the book, share personal stories, ask questions, make plans for their someday, one-day deaths, and find a safer space to open up about topics not often discussed in families or among friends. The differences were around the ways in which the groups approached these elements of the series: the desire for logistical information (What is a green burial? Why might I need an estate lawyer? What is MAID/Medical Aid in Dying and what’s happening with the legislation in NY?), the depth of conversation about personal relationship-oriented challenges, and the engagement in introspection and quiet moments (versus almost continuous discussion). Here are just a few of their comments:

The series:

“… made me aware of the need to both think about my death and to make the most of my remaining life.”

“… motivated me to plan death and live life more fully. Saying yes to more things now.”

“… met my needs. It was thought provocative; covered the hard conversations when it deals with oneself.”

Several of us spoke about how participants are continuing to meet after the series’s conclusion—to have this special “container” to talk and stay accountable. It is a testament to people’s appreciation of the book, the work they accomplished, and the desire to be in community, talking about these (often considered) taboo topics.

This year, I gained new knowledge and skills in creating rituals, which I am now using to support meaning-making and conversation around the tender areas of grief, loss, and transitions. On December 6th, I hosted, Experience the Alchemy of Nature, Ritual, and Creativity. It was a multi-layered and rich experience with women who were ready to explore, create, and share what was on their hearts on that day. The Padlet I created, which we could easily use to view everyone’s work, became a gorgeous gallery. Perhaps even more fascinating was listening to each person tell her story about the questions she was working with, the personal meanings of the materials she chose, how they contributed to the design, and their feelings upon completion.

Continuing to Offer Spaces for Conversation of (Generally) Taboo Topics

The Death Cafés I host in my county and for a Creative Mornings Club are also inviting spaces for open, relaxed conversation. Last month we talked about broaching the topics of dying, death, and planning for quality of life with family, the challenges of working through unfinished business with a family member who has died, how often people don’t know how to talk with us about our grief, the devastating impact of loss of our close relationships, that grief isn’t linear and there isn’t a fixed timeline for healing, resources exist and yet we often forget to look for them as our focus becomes so focused—on our pain and grief. Every Café is different, dependent on who attends and what is on their mind.

Looking forward into Winter

Before the year’s end, there are two death cafés (in person)—December 28th in NYC through Creative Mornings, and December 30th in Suffern, NY.

I’m excited to offer Welcome in the New Year through Nature, Ritual, and Creativity on January 3rd at 11 AM ET online.

For those who love Appreciative Inquiry, using it as a lens to look at all of life, I will offer an Appreciative Living Learning Circle, beginning on January 31st, for four weeks.

It’s my plan to offer another in-person series of Living Fully, Dying Prepared in the new year, and I would like to expand the opportunity and create an online group, too. The online group will begin in February, and the in-person series will begin in the early spring.

These different gatherings are opportunities for self-reflection, exploration, discovery, and creation within the experience of a safer container. They are described more fully on my calendar.

And, if you feel that one-to-one coaching is the best modality for you for these experiences, please reach out to me. If starting on any of these journeys is made easier by reading books or listening to podcasts, I’ve developed a curated list of resources. If you’d like a conversation to suss out what will best support you, or the list of resources. Send me an email or use my calendar link for a brief conversation.

Creating Collaborations—My Intention for the Year!

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At the beginning of the year, one of my intentions was to create more collaborative work— with existing colleagues and venture into unexplored territory.

I see connection and opportunity almost everywhere (a blessing and a curse, I believe). Two weeks ago, I took a fabulous course with Ramiro Davaro-Comas, a professional muralist and instructor at the Art Students League in NYC. (Ramiro has been painting murals for 15 years, painted over 200 murals, and facilitated more than 150 additional murals. You can find his work here, www.ramirostudios.com and www.super-stories.org) I have a (not so) secret desire to create more murals—BIG artwork. I want to add more of this type of work and play to my repertoire. 

During the session, I also found that I was constantly thinking about the mechanics—the micro-adjustments necessary to create the desired effect with the spray paint—which nozzle I was using, how close my hand was to the wall, and what angle I needed to get a tight straight line as opposed to a wide swath of paint. Sustained, hyper-focused attention to the details of my drawing is not so common for me—I most often work in well-known ways that are almost second nature. It was a great lesson in microlearning. 

After the course, having had so much fun and learning new skills, I approached Ramiro about partnering to create a session I could offer to my community—visual practitioners. The idea has come together so easily and quickly! The session is on the calendar, announced just yesterday to my bikablo alumni and now for everyone who would like to dive into this learning experience/adventure. While it might seem like the session—an afternoon in Bushwick (Brooklyn) is all fun and games, visual practitioners, trainers, facilitators, and coaches are always creating posters, charts, and collateral that includes headlines/hand lettering, close attention to layout, and color.

Have I whetted your appetite? Are you curious to learn more? I’d love to talk with you about my experience and to answer your questions!

Come to New York, if you’re nearby, and run into the city for the day. I added a brief trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to start the day for those who love to be up early to begin their day in Manhattan. All the details of the schedule are on my calendar. Or perhaps make it a long weekend in the middle of the summer, or maybe you’re attending the IFVP (International Forum of Visual Practitioners) Summit that begins the day after this session, and you will add this adventure to your calendar.

As you can imagine, space is limited because we will be plorking (playing and working) in the backyard of world-renowned LowBrow Artique, a Brooklyn gallery, and a spray paint store. Find more details on my calendar here.

Perhaps most importantly, beyond the joys and challenges of hand-lettering, what do you think about your experiences with collaborations and partnerships? And of greatest import, what are your intentions for this year? How are you living into them? I’d love to know!

PS: And, if you’re curious about more visualization events and resources, email me to join my ezine list. Yesterday’s edition was chock full of info and goodies!

I LOVE feedback! What about you?

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When you finish a project, what do you do? Do you celebrate, reflect, plan for the next time/future, and…?

 In the past two weeks, I’ve had opportunities to engage in giving (myself and others) feedback. I’ve also considered how I want to receive it from others. These have been enlightening experiences. 

In what circumstances do you offer feedback, appreciations, observations, reflections, critique, constructive criticism or the like? 

What do you think, feel, and communicate before engaging in the activity? And how is it different when the sharing is one-way, a conversation with one or more people, or setting up an opportunity for people to share feedback?

In my practice
I have developed a daily art practice. One project took me into rather unknown territory—working with a combination of acrylic paints and pens, gouache, collage, gel matte as a fixative, and mixed media paper. While I’ve worked with almost all of these materials before, this particular sequence and the combinations were new and held challenges (the weight of paper was not quite right for all the media, using gel matte with gouache is tricky {there’s a story there!}, and more. I’m also the gal who follows the “recipe”/directions the first time I do something, and then I change it up. I tried to follow the plan this time but then abandoned part of it. (I gave it a good try twice and didn’t like the results, so I found my way.)

 

Working/Being with others
I am always observing people’s habits/how they give feedback to themselves and each other. As the facilitator of a recent experience, I sought to guide the reflections in a generative way—with a focus on appreciating aspects of participants’ work about the criteria of success and pointing to opportunities to try new and different techniques rather than viewing aspects of their work as mistakes or flawed. While I believe in recognizing mis-strokes in drawing and processes that didn’t achieve the intended purpose and impact, I always choose to “fail forward”/focus on future possibilities. It’s delicate work being a facilitator seeking to create a warm, open, honest, learning-oriented environment.

I was also part of a gathering of about 30 people interested in addressing climate change through art and activism. The organizers asked for feedback, and I shared my reflections using my simple framework of: 

  • asking about their intentions and goals—thinking about the complete experience for participants (before, during, and after the event)
  • what I appreciated/the processes that had worked well for me and as an observer (I never stop thinking of group dynamics)
  • what might be done differently next time and why I thought so.

The facilitators were receptive.

These experiences were instructive to me—personally (in my artwork), as the facilitator of learning experiences, and as a participant with a stake in the event. 

What do you enjoy, find challenging, or wonder about harvesting people’s thoughts and feelings about experiences?
I LOVE hearing reflections and always ask for them, even when time is short. Here are a few photos of quick feedback from students after several 45-minute sessions at a conference. They put the sticky notes on the chart paper on their way to the room. I asked them to share about their experiences: 

  • What did you like?
  • What did you learn?
  • How will you use your new knowledge and skills?

Their responses gave me a pulse check about their engagement, enthusiasm, and learning.

Here’s one last example of a feedback sheet I use during some of my Appreciative Inquiry sessions.

 

How do you elicit reflections on your work? What influence does what you learn have on future sessions? I’d love to know!

All materials copyright ©2019 Jill Greenbaum, Ed.D. All rights reserved.