Category Archives: lifestyle/well-being

SOAPBOX of the week: the beauty of painted bewilderment

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“The world doesn’t make sense, so why should I paint pictures that do.”      – Pablo Picasso

Left brain vs. right.  The creatives vs. the techies.  Realists vs. dreamers.  Subjectivity allows for ambiguity and confuses both sides when it comes to art.  And isn’t it funny how we magnify our opinions of painting and performance –spouting judgment, dismissing importance and demanding explanation.  As if we expect mathematical equation to give us a “why”.  Yet, without rhyme or reason we accept reality TV, love at first sight, dogs wearing clothing, people driving the speed limit, and Hostess Twinkies as “normal” and without question.  Point being, art reflects life, folks.  So embrace the confusion…each of us helps create it!

Copyright 2008 by Kimberlie Dykeman 

Pure Soapbox available nationwide online and where books are sold.

A portion of the proceeds of all book sales is donated to LIVESTRONG.

SOAPBOX of the week: the sounding grace of almighty truth

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    “Truth is not a soundbite.  You have to stick around for the whole conversation.”     – Mary Anne Williamson, Author

Truth is innately simple. Almost naively so.  It presents itself without airs, fanfare, or candy-coated shell.  It is what it is and yearns to be hung out there as bare as possible.  When it becomes the center of attention in this divine, pure state, lives are changed immensely and tremendous things happen.  But when manipulated by the hands of society, the reduced, remixed version never reveals the whole story.  Beware but be open to researching the context and the real face-value of the words truth has been buried in…or omitted from entirely.  Stop, look and listen and the truth will come in loud and clear.

Copyright 2008 by Kimberlie Dykeman 

Pure Soapbox available nationwide online and where books are sold.  Fabulous news updates at Pure Soapbox Newsroom.   A portion of the proceeds from all book sales is donated to LIVESTRONG.

SOAPBOX of the week: The future of our past-tense

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“History gets thicker as it approaches recent times.”     – A. J. P. Taylor, historian and journalist

Alas, history invariably repeats itself, proving the scholars and cynics right, time and time again.  Pun intended.  It’s as if the mirroring years were plucked from the past and layered right over the present; a heavy cloak, bringing with it economic struggles, familial strife, environmental trauma, global conflict, and basic issues of human evolution.  Indeed, it doesn’t take a genius to acknowledge the pattern.  But…purposefully paying mind to this replication might just prompt you to see its place in your own independent life.  Meaning, your own history repeating itself.  Meaning, witnessing the funk you’ve caused, experienced, or dodged…show up again!  Are there some lessons you would-could-should learned by now?  Conversely, have you forgotten all the glorious things that also happened along the way…and how you woulda-coulda-should helped them reproduce?  Perhaps, those fearsome forecasters wouldn’t lay on the guilt that we’re unavoidably doomed for burnt toast if we just worked smarter at getting the recipe right the first time around.

Copyright 2008 by Kimberlie Dykeman 

Pure Soapbox available nationwide online and where books are sold.

A portion of the proceeds of all book sales is donated to LIVESTRONG.

SOAPBOX of the week: Present-tense positivity

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“Don’t worry about anything. Worrying never solved anything.  All it does is distort your mind.”     – Milton Garland, oldest working businessman

We’ve all been there: someone says, “Relax.  Don’t worry about it” and you cringe.  Easier said than done, right?  But take an honest look at the plethora of times you’ve made mountains out of molehills, only to kick yourself for the energy you wasted, the opportunities you missed out on, the people you upset.  Worrying creates a false future with a worse case scenario as the premiere outcome …and you as the lead victim.  How does that serve you?  It doesn’t.  So don’t go there!  Period.  Instead, stay here!  Empower yourself by remaining in the present and trusting the proverbial “Law of Attraction”.  Positive thoughts in your current reality will attract positive outcomes and squelch that warped image in your noggin.

Copyright 2008 by Kimberlie Dykeman 

Pure Soapbox available nationwide online and where books are sold.  FABULOUS UPDATES: Pure Soapbox Newsroom

SOAPBOX of the week: Go green or be gone

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    “To cherish what remains of the Earth and to foster its renewal is our only legitimate hope of survival.”     – Wendell Berry, philosopher, novelist and social activist

It’s about time we stopped snickering at Al Gore, the forewarning NPR folks and tree-hugging, hybrid hippies…because they might be onto something!  It’s about time we stopped being so selfish and purposefully merged as Humankind for the simple Darwinian hopes of perpetuating our existence by strengthening our collective homebase – we call Earth!  For, not seeing is believing.  When a species of animal disappears, we must rescue braver.  When a strain of plant disappears, we must think greener.  When snowcaps are melting, swallowing up islands and life, we must conserve stricter. Amidst the chatter of economics, religion and war, don’t miss the underconversation of environment, culture and interdependent community.  My fellow EARTH-lings, we must research cleaner, protect fiercer, commit firmer, explore broader, spend wiser, educate brighter.  May we all look back after long, fulfilling lives to proclaim that we are survivors and all did our part.  It’s our time to think globally…and act globally.  

Copyright 2008 by Kimberlie Dykeman 

Pure Soapbox available nationwide online and where books are sold.

SOAPBOX of the week: Educate to imaginate

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“Study as if you were going to live forever; live as if you were going to die tomorrow.”     – Maria Mitchell, American astronomer
   
Now that doesn’t mean bury yourself in a library and moonlight as a bank robber or cliff diver!  It means learn to love to learn…again.  Don’t be afraid to ask or try.  Are you curious about the who, what, when, where and why of all the stuff that impacts your current reality?  What about the people, places and things that have touched your life already?  Well, I say, ante up and stuff your brain with all  the fresh info, images, trivia and statistics you can get your hands on!  Decidedly fuel your imagination by tapping the fabulous resources right at your fingertips and see what evolves.  Folks, you’re enrolled in the school of life for the long-haul.  Learn more to live more and you’ll be glad you showed up.

Copyright 2008 by Kimberlie Dykeman 

Pure Soapbox available nationwide online and where books are sold.