GYPSY GIRL'S GUIDE

Alter State exhibit, Cell Space, 2006

I'm a little late on responding to this fun meme, but I thought it would be a nice way to get me back into my blog...

I opened the book Zen and the Art of Making a Living: A Practical Guide to Creative Career Design (Arkana) on page 123. As of the 5th line, it reads "In fear of being overwhelmed, we dull our senses. It is a hungry world we live in. This world is hungry, not just in material terms, not just because over twenty percent of it's population faces chronic malnourishment or starvation. It's hungry in so many ways - hungry for knowledge, hungry for wisdom, hungry for caring, hungry for justice, hungry for beauty, hungry for peace, hungry for joy, hungry for love, your love. Rather than to fear the enormity of the world problems, we can act with courage, responding to the particular hunger we are called to feed... What we fear to be aware of does not go away. If anything, it only becomes more pronounced."

I have recently decided to experiment with my own life to find out what my purpose is in the world. I am hungry for that connection. I need to discover where I'm called to feed. I realized my work days are too long and take too much of my time. Time that is valuable and that I've been spending without much consideration, without knowing what it is being used for. As I mentioned here before, there are accomplishments... But beyond that, what is the impact I have on my family, friends and community?

In these holiday times, I'm questioning what I can give besides gifts? How can I give more daily throughout the year? What is really calling me out there?

Lately, I'm hungry for new skills and tools that I could perhaps use in my quest. So, I dared to ask for a little time off work to take some web design classes at BAVC.

It was an incredible gift to change my routine for the last couple of days. I was interested in everything around me. While on a walk in the Mission neighborhood at lunch, I stumbled at plenty fun graffiti, street murals and a great show called "Alter State" at Cell Space.

So I thought I'd share info on these two special "orgs" that serve the hunger of the world:

BAVC is a top notch nonprofit media arts center that makes emerging technology accessible to independent artists and other non profits.

Cell Space works with at-risk youth and artists to minimize violence, assemble and exhibit art, produce community events, organize and promote positive social change.

How is that for inspiration? It can be done, guys!

And how yummy is to find our calling and put some good back into the world?

There is especially one superhero that's been guiding me on how to do just that. And I want to welcome her beautiful new baby Ben here too! Congratulations to the beautiful family!