Remabulous

Return to optimism in upstate NY

As the market bounced up over 900 points today, the highest climb in its history, I traveled from Baltimore, where I had been for a friend's wedding this past weekend, up to Albany, NY. The news of where the market closed was quite a sigh of relief, as the standing of the market does have some bearing on my savings flexibility as I am building up my work.

This crazy shifting over the past weeks has reminded me that crazy times can be the best opportunity we have to evaluate what matters, and that sometimes, all that's needed to formulate next steps is some good solid plane reading. Plus, having lived away from seasons for the past few years in southern CA, an east coast jaunt is helpful to remember that everything goes through cycles, even our businesses and the systems that hold them up. Trying to prevent change in these areas is as silly as trying to glue the leaves on the trees so thy don't fall.

image: hysuo via flickr.

Artist of the Week: Francesca Woodman

For this week's artist, I picked another photographer: Francesca Woodman. I rediscovered her work at the Tate in January when I was in London. While many have taken on this style of work now, Woodman was an early photographer to tackle the introspective self-portrait and we can see the imprint of her style on many people's work still today...

Unfortunately, due to copyright, I was unable to embed the video in the blog, but you may watch it on youtube through this link.

 

Ask Remabulous: How can I attract Abundance and Prosperity?

This week's question is quite timely given all the talk about the economy and the up and down trip of the stock market over the past weeks. Thanks to "Open to Abundance" for the following question:

Dear Ask Remabulous,

What coaching suggestions do you have for attracting abundance and financial prosperity? I am open to ideas on all levels: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.

Thanks,
Open to Abundance.

image: bradipo via flickr.

Holding onto optimism in a crazy time.

I just finished watching the second presidential debate. I had recorded it since I had client sessions until 7pm. Funny that on the day I finally hit my quota goal for sessions per day for my business, I am pacing around practically in a cold sweat while watching the two candidates wrestle with the current state of our country.

I know who I am voting for. I want to be informed and watch the debates and be current on the issues. But what is the impact on people who are trying to start new goals and try to live for their dreams in a time like this?

image: "optimism" by kevindooley via flickr.

Doing the global/local tango.

It seems lately that there are two simultaneous, yet opposite, pushes in the world of contemporary business. While standard wisdom suggests getting bigger and bigger and making changes on the web and through blogging and connecting and reaching a larger and larger audience, there is another side growing through the opposite impulse.

With the economy on crack lately, with an uncertain handle on itself and the world it impacts, there is a pull to focus on the tiny little world right around us. I bought all my food this week at the farmer's market, learning the name of the man I bought my mango from, and breakfasting on coffee that was delicious, rather than burnt and bitter.

How can you pull from the best of both worlds: creating a personal experience and staying close to home while still reaching out to all the wide web world you can touch? The answer comes in a term I love from Daily Kos founder Marcos Moulitsas Zuniga: netroots.

image: Hollywood farmer's market by JohnnyRokkit via flickr.

On Sigur Ros's "Heima" and the meaning of home.

This week, I moved into my new home. As of today, I am back online and am settling into my beautiful and magical new space. It feels a little bit like I have always lived here. This is the first post I have written at my desk in my new office, and still it feels like I have been here before. Moving has been a gift. I am so grateful to have achieved another of my goals in my 31 for 31 list; finding a beautiful new home. Thank you to all who listened, sympathized, and agonized with me as I struggled through the past few months. And thank you so much to those who helped pack and unpack: Ann, Paige, Erin, Tim, and Roz. You are the best. Thanks to all of you and many more I won't list out here, I am starting to feel like a real person again.

Tonight, I must thank my friend Kalyanee, who wooed me over to her place to watch a little documentary called Heima, about a tour the band Sigur Ros did of their home country of Iceland.

I think it might be the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.

image: still from Heima.

Peach Tree Pottery: Check out a great spot for an artist's date!

Hello all, why not try something new and creative to get your juices flowing. I have been loving the audio-visual element of putting video up on the site lately. I am delighted to say that my friend Linda Mechanic's studio Peach Tree Pottery was featured on the show First Look LA. Enjoy the documenatry about the studio and then check out the fun tv segment here and see if you aren't inspired to try making something new to get your creative juices jump-started. Linda is an amazing teacher, and she has also been kind enough to show my artwork in her gallery space.

Ask Remabulous will return next week.

Ask Remabulous is on hiatus this week, due to the move and Time Warner's not showing up to give me the magical internet. Look for a new Q+A next week! thanks for your patience.