Fragment: DETOUR

"When you come to a roadblock, take a detour." -Mary Kay Ash from THE 12 SECRETS OF HIGHLY CREATIVE WOMEN book

I believe in this fiercely!

Every time I feel stuck, any kind of movement creates opportunities; adds new things to my life. Something as little as finding a quote in a book that provides insight, a photo in a magazine that brings inspiration, or an article that inspires ideas. Just as in my walk-abouts, movement places you on a path of hidden treasures.

Yesterday, while working on my homework for hours (WHAT? homework?? yes, I know, I still have to blog about it), I came to a roadblock! I didn't feel satisfied with the way it was coming out. My hands were getting tired from coloring tiny squares. My brain was drained, and ideas just stopped flowing.

(Above right: the homework without the finishing touch)

So, I stood up and went out.

This time, instead of a walkabout, I went directly to one of my favorite spots in this town: BARNES AND NOBLE.

Chai tea in hand, a bunch of books and magazines on the table, the smell of coffee in the air, chattering from all kinds of strangers as background noise. *SIGH* What an inspiring place to be!

I found cool quotes and ideas, and relaxed while dreaming of places and things I saw in the magazines.

I wore beautiful dresses and hats. Visited an ice cream parlor in Brooklyn. I met an artist, a writer, a photographer, a home decorator, the owner of a coffee shop and received great advice from all of them. I traveled to Cambodia and Greece. I was walking around each page in high heels, until I finally brought my tea to a beautiful English garden. There I sat surrounded with butterflies and fairies, and read my books all over again. I became the artist, the writer, the photographer, the home decorator, and the owner of the coffee shop ;)

Yup! I forgot about my homework COMPLETELY! When I got home, I felt brand new...and was able to come back to my tiny, colorful squares with a fresh approach.

Taking detours works wonders for me!

NOTE: I do have to give dad and sister some props. They gave my homework the finishing touch that made it work ;) Help is always needed!

Fragment: ART

My heart stirs in such a way when I come across things like these:

Expressive Arts Teacher Training program

http://creativejuicesarts.com/teacher-training/

Jennifer Lee's blog LIFE UNFOLDS

http://www.lifeunfoldsblog.com/about-me/

"Wreck this Journal" by Keri Smith

What is it that my heart keeps TELLING me?!

Fragment: LETTERING ART

Going through old e-mails yesterday, I ran through this motivating quote:

"To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did..."

For quite a while, I've had a burning desire to take a class of some sort. I haven't been sure of exactly what kind of class, but I've just been wanting to learn something new, use my brain a bit more, and have homework to do ;)

I've thought about dance classes, french, sculpture, lettering art, creative writing, or perhaps, get my masters? (hmmm...)

Ok, so the french class I already got on with. Although, I have to admit I've left it behind and must resume it :p I have taken up yoga instead of a dance class and absolutely LOVE IT! ;) I've thought of the masters subject, but don't think it makes much sense at this point in my life (why? this will take another post!).

So, I looked for information on a LETTERING ART course and found a cute, little art school not too far from my house...I am soooo excited! It is a 6 week program, 3 hours of practicing calligraphy each day..ufff! I went this weekend, and felt like I was in 1st grade learning how to write! My hand was shaky and all, WHAT?! :) But I must say, for those three hours, my mind did not wander off ANYWHERE. What a relieve!

I need more of these...CLASSES!

Fragment: YOGA

I started YOGA class about 2 weeks ago and I'm totally FASCINATED! It's such a cool way to start the day...I've never been so aware of my body before; of its strengths and weaknesses, of of its capability to go further, of some body parts I didn't even notice were there (excercise your toes?), my heartbeat, my breathing...WOW! It's like a confirmation of how ALIVE I am:)

We go through the days just doing what we have been domesticated to do, and rarely take a moment to be in touch with ourselves, our body, pay attention to it! After all, it is the temple of our souls, we should nurture it and take care of it! And be AWARE of all of it, so we could LOVE it and APPRECIATE it more.

It's been so awsome hearing my heart beat when we lay down after each position...and how the body just NEEDS to breathe! And at that moment, I feel so thankful...Thank you God for BREATHING! It's such a wonderful thing :)

I go early in the morning, three times a week. The class is held at a roofed terrace in a lush green garden...we can hear birds chirping, the wind rushing through the leaves and then caressing our bodies...classical music in the background...candles and inciense...and a fabulous instructor, who always has a smile on his face and has gorgeaus eyes, just seeing him makes me smile :)


I am feeling more energetic, more stretched out! And this was the very purpose for taking this class...I'd been feeling weak lately, my body had been getting lazy and tense. But now, I feel great! Totally recommend it! Specially in the morning...it's such a FRESH way to start the day :) I started going to a gym early in the morning a couple of months ago...but it was just a too agitated way to start the day, for my taste; cardio, aerobics...cool, but no...YOGA is the ......... ! jejeje ;)

Note: all the walls and ceilings are painted in lilac and white...what can I say? LILAC JUST MAKES ME HAPPY :)

"L'Atelier de Tom"

My first class was such an experience...and anything that gives me an unexpected, out-of-the-ordinary moment, j'adore!

Tom is such a character. He is my teacher and the owner of the school. The minute I entered L'Atelier de Tom, I knew I was in the right place...it is so wonderful to feel that, an instant click that makes you move forward without a doubt despite you entering the unknown. It's like you belong there...something feels familiar although you've never been there before. This is how I felt.

The school is really Tom's house, in which he converted a small annexed cottage into a language school. The little school has 2 classrooms; there is a shelf full of books, a TV, videos, a radio and CD's; there's also a fridge full of sodas, juices, water and beer (?!); and my favorite part, Tom's office, which consists of a tight hallway that looks like it used to be the kitchenette of the cottage...so funny!

Tom is tall and slim, has a huge smile which he uses at all times, and is VERY outgoing and loud :) He is from Bordeaux, and lives such a european lifestyle despite having lived in DR for quite a while. Ok, enough about Tom...I come into the classroom to see only 4 students other than me and I immdiately love it! I love intimate settings, I work better in this style ;) The group is small but very diverse. There is an older woman, who's more advanced than the others, but wants to keep attending the Basic French (?); there's another one, a couple of years younger, who's attitudy and acts like "Mrs. Know It All"; there's one a little younger than this last one, who seems like a working woman, a secretary or something, maybe it was her uniform (?); then there's a younger one, but a bit older than me, who's not dominican, looks european, not sure from where though, and was talking about how to lose her baby fat...and lastly, there's MOI!

So everybody immediately starts speaking french! WOW! Wait a minute...TOM! DO YOU REMEMBER THIS IS MY FIRST CLASS?!?!?! He didn't seem to care...ok! Some were speaking better than others, they would talk about random things, I could tell, and help each other, sometimes even correct Tom...it was interesting, but I was so lost! But I suddenly remembered that in my first conversation with Tom he did mention that the technique he uses at his school is very conversational, very coloquial, learning by just talking a lot about whatever they were doing, seeing, hearing or even eating. So I guess I was just being thrown out there, I had to "swim or drown". In situations like these, the brain becomes more alert, instincts of defense awaken, and without me having total conscious control, my brain started making connections, and even formulating little sentences or questions! I'd never spoken french before! So I guess this technique really works! However, I am a very structured person as well, besides me loving spontaneity, so I am not sure for how long the throwing me out there will work for me.

Anyways, now to the prime moment of the day! In the middle of the random conversations, I hear the words vin and chocolat...mmm, I wonder what they are talking about! And suddenly, the older woman brings out a black bag and starts giving out chocolate bars. Tom, on the other hand, stands up with such emotion, like he just started a bet with someone and is sure to win. He brings out a jug of wine! WHAT?!?! We start eating il chocolat and drinking le vin, and the class just went on regularly, as if nothing out-of-the-ordinary was happening! Meanwhile, I was loving the class already ;)

Let's see how the rest of them go............................Bon Soir!

Seize the moment of excited curiosity on any subject to solve your doubts; for if you let it pass, the desire may never return and you may remain in ignorance.

Fragment: FRENCH

I am so excited this morning...I even have butterflies in my stomach :) It's just been a while since I studied something, since I had homework, since I had to meet a schedule for something other than work, since I had to learn and memorize stuff...and for all these "since's", I finally went to a school and signed up for french lessons, YAY!

I've been wanting to learn french ever since I went to Denmark in August 2004, and met my wonderful french-speaking friends Emilie, Sandra and Marie Claudine (miss you girls!). I'd always found Italy a dreamy place, with dreamy guys and a dreamy language, so I took Italian lessons in college, learned quite a bit, fell in love with a very handsome italian guy, and after a failed intent to travel to Florence (got VISA denied, was SO mad!) all that interest went away. So, after meeting the french-belgian trio, I forgot about Italy, and started being interested in FRENCH!

I've wasted lots of time though the past couple of years...had been so focused on how lost I was that I was losing time and not investing in ways to find myself. But the waves have calmed...things are clearer now...my sun is rising...and the hunger for things is back! And I am taking ACTION! So, among other things that I will probably share later on, today one of those ACTIONS begins...and I am excited and nervous...how ALIVE do I feel?!?!

AU REVOIR ;)