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Childhood Dreams

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Rosalind Russell said, “Life is a banquet and most poor fools are starving to death.”

A few lucky people discover early in their lives what it is that makes them feel happy and alive and fulfilled, and then pursue their dreams with passion and deliberate intent. For many of us, however, it takes a little or sometimes a lot longer. For some, sadly it never happens. The practicalities of life, fear of failure or success, expectations of parents, self or others, are just some of the reasons we give ourselves for choosing a ‘safer’, more conventional path. For me, it took a long time and much internal turmoil.

This poem is dedicated to all those who have chosen to pursue their dreams, and to those who are just on the edge of the cliff deciding whether to jump. . . Jump!

Eloise Wilkin – An Inspirational Artist

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Eloise Wilkin is one of my all-time favourite illustrators. As a child, I spent hours adoring her sweet scenes of adorable children and babies in my Little Golden Books. The children’s lives were so expertly captured in each beautiful picture, and all the little details of play and surrounds were carefully included. I loved the expressions, the clothes, the poses and activities, the toys, the decor, the gentleness of it all.

I was confronted with the lasting impact of these beautiful illustrations when I chanced upon some Little Golden Books for sale on Ebay about a year ago, and there were the pages I remembered so clearly, but until now, had forgotten. I was amazed by how many of the Golden Books which I had read and loved as a child were illustrated by Eloise Wilkin. As often happens in a large family, most of my books and toys were passed along to other siblings and cousins, or disappeared during our childhood years.

I have managed to obtain second hand copies of my favourites: My Dolly and Me, Good Little Bad Little Girl, Baby’s Birthday, Where Did the Baby Go, A Day at the Playground, We Help Daddy, Baby Dear, and The New Baby. I was also thrilled with Eloise Wilkin Stories, which I bought new from Amazon.com. This book includes the classics: Busy Timmy, Guess Who Lives Here, My Little Golden Book about God, Wonders of Nature, Selections from A Child’s Garden of Verses, We Help Mommy, Baby Listens, Baby Dear, and Baby Looks.

It has a beautiful introduction by Eloise Wilkin’s daughter, Deborah Wilkin Springett, whose pride in her incredibly talented mother is so evident as she shares her mother’s inspiring story. Also included is a fitting remembrance by Jane Werner Watson from 1987. In it she reflects that ‘a warm and creative homemaker, Eloise shared with the world glimpses of her big, busy, welcoming household, in rooms papered with gentle patterns, its drop-leaf tables and rocking chairs aglow with hand rubbed sheen, its four-poster beds covered by hand-stitched quilts. ‘(p209)

Thank you Eloise for sharing your wonderful gift with the world.

Creativity

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As children we are naturally creative, inventing endless games and activities built on imagination alone. This is not learnt. It is something innate, which we seem to be born with. It is the ability to look within to create and make sense of our world without.
At some point in most of our lives something happens and the ‘creativity’ seems to vanish. It is not announced one day, but rather there comes a time when we simply believe ourselves not to be creative. We look longingly at the inspirational writers and artists of the world and wish that we had their ‘gift’.
But what if it is there all along? Could it be that as we grow, our creativity begins to be devalued, as teachers and parents, and society at large, chide us for wasting time ‘daydreaming’ and not being ‘practical’. We are encouraged to seek ‘realistic’ solutions to life’s problems, particularly in regard to the pursuit of our livelihood, so that we may become useful citizens. And useful citizens, indeed, we become.
If we look at the world around us, everything we see is the result of creativity in one form or another. God’s great creation is the start, not the end of creating. Amazing vision held by great women and men through the ages has brought us to where we are today, in terms of technology, the arts, science, and every other form of human advancement. That this has most often occurred in spite of the resistance and ‘nay-saying’ of the masses only makes this ‘creation’ all the more amazing.
What will you ‘create’ in your life today? How will you think ‘outside the square’ to find solutions to seemingly impossible problems? The possibilities are endless if you think about it. Think about it . . .

Uniquely Amazing

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I love the famous quote by Marianne Williamson:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is
that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our Light, not our Darkness,
that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, talented, fabulous. Actually, who are you NOT to be? You
are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightening about shrinking so that other people won’t feel
unsure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is
within us. It is not just in some of us, it is in everyone. As we
let our own Light shine, we unconsiously give other people permission to do the
same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically
liberates others.

What a wonderful insight. We are each uniquely amazing, and it is such a tragedy that so many never fully appreciate not only what they truly have to offer, but how this denies the world around them the amazing gifts only they are capable of giving. Wow! Let that sink in for a moment.

Imagine . . . not having to measure up to some imaginary, elusive standard, not having to compete to try to be someone we are not and never really could be. Just a deep sense of peace and contentment that comes from the knowledge that we are right where we should be, being exactly who only we can be, and doing what we should be doing, nothing more and nothing less. Nothing to prove to anyone, especially ourselves. . . but a whole lot of joyous motivation to give all of our uniqueness to the world.

A New and Glorious Day

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Dear Friend

Today as you begin your day, take a few moments to breathe deeply and feel a sense of calm deep inside, deep beneath the outer noise and chaos. Reflect on where you are right now and gently consider the events by which you are troubled or burdened today. Remember that each one is only part of the greater whole of which you too are only a part. Watch the turmoil of each gently float away.

By entering a state of flow, you will begin to draw on God’s infinite wisdom, strength and all knowing in order to respond in ways that are appropriate and edifying to all, and are far beyond your capability if you work alone. Rest in the confidence that greater forces work in you and through you.

Let go of the need to strive to achieve and succeed; let go of the need to control, and breath in all the goodness which is from God and which is a part of you. Relax and enjoy this moment, and trust while amazing things happen to you, and around you, as you embrace the positive attracting forces which are available to you.

Give thanks for all you experience and watch as this amazing day unfolds before you!