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May 10, 2013

More than a Pretty, Pretty Princess

I confess I am not a Disney princess fan. Some talking dogs (with silenced cats no less), Robin Hood as a fox, Dingbat fish, I’m in. Don’t get me wrong— I am a girly girl, and my daughters are as well but Disney, the Barbie machine and the like always added a layer of saccharine plastic to the type of girl I wanted to be (not to mention an absurd waist measurement and shoe size). This is a photo shoot I wish I had done with my girls…Side thoughts occur: is it too late? a family picture of heroic women? even though they are 24 and 14? Maybe I could put the boys in as well…? who could they be? the Knight in the Canterbury Tales? or the Squire? MC Escher? Socrates? Thomas Jefferson?

And the girls…Aphra Behn? Jane Austen? Charlotte Bronte? Julia Child?   Florence Nightingale…oh the possibilities! 

The teacher in me is brainstorming as well—what a great assignment for students. They choose their inspiration doppelganger, pose for a picture  and write up a narrative as to why they choose her or him and a game plan to emulate them throughout their lives. What an interesting graduation project!

http://www.jaimemoorephotography.com/2013/05/09/not-just-a-girl/

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May 04, 2013
Life with dogs.:)

Life with dogs.:)

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February 10, 2013
Photoset
January 29, 2013
12,523 notes

humansofnewyork:

Have you guys seen these portraits by francoisbrunelle.com? Unbelievable! These are portraits of people who have no biological relation, yet look like twins. Not only are they fun to look through, they are quite thought provoking. Think of the billions of coin flips that go into the creation of a human face…

Check Them Out: http://nbcnews.to/VeIS4V

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November 06, 2012
Sometimes I wish I shared the passionate zeal some have that a political party or, more incredulous, a single man, can exact true change in our country. There were younger days when I did. Never a bumper sticker kind of girl, but I wasn’t against a lapel pin or two. (Thank god there was no Facebook in those days or I may have exposed myself as one of those I deem obnoxious and intolerant bashing other’s political beliefs). Perhaps the positive side of my lack of zeal is that I pride myself on avoiding broad stroke judgments, listening to both sides of an issue, and believing those who feel differently than me are still valuable. Lost my religious passion and clarity along the way too, but hold on to the belief that it will take something or someone much bigger than politics to make the changes I seek. It is too early for a cocktail (and I drank too many glasses of wine last night) so I think I will just have another cup of coffee.  P.S. I voted early:)

Sometimes I wish I shared the passionate zeal some have that a political party or, more incredulous, a single man, can exact true change in our country. There were younger days when I did. Never a bumper sticker kind of girl, but I wasn’t against a lapel pin or two. (Thank god there was no Facebook in those days or I may have exposed myself as one of those I deem obnoxious and intolerant bashing other’s political beliefs). Perhaps the positive side of my lack of zeal is that I pride myself on avoiding broad stroke judgments, listening to both sides of an issue, and believing those who feel differently than me are still valuable. Lost my religious passion and clarity along the way too, but hold on to the belief that it will take something or someone much bigger than politics to make the changes I seek.

It is too early for a cocktail (and I drank too many glasses of wine last night) so I think I will just have another cup of coffee. 

P.S. I voted early:)

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October 24, 2012
11 notes

THE FEELING I HAVE AFTER I EAT AT WHITE DUCK

whatshouldavlcallme:

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October 13, 2012
255 notes
:)

:)

(Source: amandaonwriting)

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October 08, 2012
5,092 notes

(Source: icanread)

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October 07, 2012
236 notes
amandaonwriting: Six Reasons To Embrace The Power of Stories: Stories have always been a primal form of communication. They are timeless links to ancient traditions, legends, archetypes, myths, and symbols. They connect us to a larger self and universal truths. Stories are about collaboration and connection. They transcend generations, they engage us through emotions, and they connect us to others. Through stories we share passions, sadness, hardships and joys. We share meaning and purpose. Stories are the common ground that allows people to communicate, overcoming our defences and our differences. Stories allow us to understand ourselves better and to find our commonality with others. Stories are how we think. They are how we make meaning of life. Call them schemas, scripts, cognitive maps, mental models, metaphors, or narratives. Stories are how we explain how things work, how we make decisions, how we justify our decisions, how we persuade others, how we understand our place in the world, create our identities, and define and teach social values. Stories provide order. Humans seek certainty and narrative structure is familiar, predictable, and comforting. Within the context of the story arc we can withstand intense emotions because we know that resolution follows the conflict. We can experience with a safety net. Stories are how we are wired. Stores take place in the imagination. To the human brain, imagined experiences are processed the same as real experiences. Stories create genuine emotions, presence (the sense of being somewhere), and behavioural responses. Stories are the pathway to engaging our right brain and triggering our imagination. By engaging our imagination, we become participants in the narrative. We can step out of our own shoes, see differently, and increase our empathy for others. Through imagination, we tap into creativity that is the foundation of innovation, self-discovery and change. From: The Psychological Power of Storytelling by Pamela Rutledge, Ph.D. From Writers Write

amandaonwriting:

Six Reasons To Embrace The Power of Stories:

  1. Stories have always been a primal form of communication. They are timeless links to ancient traditions, legends, archetypes, myths, and symbols. They connect us to a larger self and universal truths.
  2. Stories are about collaboration and connection. They transcend generations, they engage us through emotions, and they connect us to others. Through stories we share passions, sadness, hardships and joys. We share meaning and purpose. Stories are the common ground that allows people to communicate, overcoming our defences and our differences. Stories allow us to understand ourselves better and to find our commonality with others.
  3. Stories are how we think. They are how we make meaning of life. Call them schemas, scripts, cognitive maps, mental models, metaphors, or narratives. Stories are how we explain how things work, how we make decisions, how we justify our decisions, how we persuade others, how we understand our place in the world, create our identities, and define and teach social values.
  4. Stories provide order. Humans seek certainty and narrative structure is familiar, predictable, and comforting. Within the context of the story arc we can withstand intense emotions because we know that resolution follows the conflict. We can experience with a safety net.
  5. Stories are how we are wired. Stores take place in the imagination. To the human brain, imagined experiences are processed the same as real experiences. Stories create genuine emotions, presence (the sense of being somewhere), and behavioural responses.
  6. Stories are the pathway to engaging our right brain and triggering our imagination. By engaging our imagination, we become participants in the narrative. We can step out of our own shoes, see differently, and increase our empathy for others. Through imagination, we tap into creativity that is the foundation of innovation, self-discovery and change.

From: The Psychological Power of Storytelling by Pamela Rutledge, Ph.D.

From Writers Write

Link
October 03, 2012
Remember Wishbone?