There is No Such Person as Superman

supergirl is effing tired, originally uploaded by juli78.

My teenage son came to me the other day and exclaimed with surprise, “Mom, you are effing Tankgirl, except, with boundaries.” I didn’t know who Tankgirl was at that time. Now, I wish I didn’t. Which only confirms, I don’t believe in superheros. We fail. We work hard and no matter how hard we work we fail.
I meet a lot of people and as my husband says, “Either you’re in the boat or out of the boat” with me.
In the boat…you are honest, you share, you admit your weaknesses, you make it easy for others to share their shortcomings, because that is the kind of honesty that makes it easy to try again, to ask for help to look others in the eye.
Out of the boat…Boasting, never showing weakness, or asking for help, pointing out how where it is not your fault.
Humans are human. We grow tired. We need safe places to grow and discover and share. Start with yourself. You are super. Just not a superhero.

Recycled Grace

Recycled Grace, originally uploaded by mommy peace.

revisiting a work of art from a man who understands the art of living.

Brother Kevin rides this across America at least once a year. He mods and tweaks it between deliberate and caring acts of kindness to all…hard work with his back and hands…and prayer of silence.

Learn

childs play, originally uploaded by ~Epoy~.

Learn from the biggest thinkers of all time. Sit down with a child and play and let a child lead. Use his tools. Use his words. Borrow his imagination. Peek through his eyes. Get comfortable being uncomfortable. Stretch small. Then, fill your pockets with gems of child wisdom and pull them out in the long limited day of grownups. Learn Play.

Discover

a monday in the life_morning afternoon_lo, originally uploaded by paintMonkey.

Discovery comes natural for some folks. It makes precocious children and wandering men. It opens the doors of progress and turns office cubicles into prisons. I think it is essential in making young minds great and old minds greater.
Make discovery a goal of yours. Try to discover something new in any area you find interesting.
The areas of most natural yearn for me are music, art, media, things people use-how people use things…well, the list keeps growing. It grows because I use it.
Practice discovery.
My latest discovery…Andrew Bird

Video

Learn From Others

Teamwork – Work together, originally uploaded by ste7130.

Find people who are doing things and volunteer to work with them on a project.
Find one person and ask them to teach you what they know about their craft or field of work.
Ask them “Why?” when you see something they do that catches your eye as different.
Pay attention to materials and supplies.
Be humble.
Listen.
Be patient with yourself.
Be patient with others.

Expand your thinking.

Caught by the sun, originally uploaded by cupra.

Look.
Look Closer.
Look from all angles.
Consider its uses.
Consider the people who might have used it.
Consider how you could use it now.
Ask.
Apply all you have learned.

Bigger Observing

Bud and Tree, originally uploaded by katherinephm.

The practice of observing will lead you to fresh understanding. Children do most of their learning with their five senses.
Today notice the trees in your area. Use both your collected knowledge of the trees…things you might have learned over your life or in school then try…

Touching
Smelling
Biting
Looking
Asking…

What kind of soil does it grow in?

Does it stand alone or in groups?

What kind of animals or fungus live around it?

What things are made with its wood?

How does it change throughout the season?

Does it live near water?

The more you practice observing, with new eyes the things you have previously taken for granted, the easier it will be for you to observe and analyze in all circumstances. When you continue to see and think about things as they are and in different ways you will become a richer and more creative thinker. Promise.