News & Views by Kim Davis
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
They're Baaaaack. My own personal little monsters are out of school for the summer, and I don't seem to be able to get anything finished. I'm good for a sentence or two when I hear "Mommy..." or "She took my..." or "It's my turn to play with the..." or "I'm hungry!" *sigh* What's a mother to do? I still wouldn't trade them.
Now most of you know that we live out in the sticks. This is the real rural America. Most of our neighbors have hooves. Somehow, though, my little girls who have grown up here still act like sissies. Last night we had a thunderstorm and the lights went out. (Also the reason I didn't finish this newsletter on time...) You have never heard such a panic. The little stinkers grabbed a flashlight each and hung on to them for dear life. Between them and my pathetic hounds who can't stand thunder, I couldn't move. I wouldn't know that this was unusual except that we had another little girl visiting, who thought the whole thing was ridiculous! It really was a big storm, and the neighbor's tree came down. Fortunately, though, only a fence was damaged, and not one that held livestock.
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Who are you really? Be that person for all the world, and have a great week,
- Kim ;-)
Feature:
Overcoming Artistic Fear And Recovering Your Creativity
Copyright © 2004 by Angela Booth. All rights reserved.
Fear… that icy cold sinking sensation in the pit of your stomach
when you think about starting work on your next project. Or
working on your current project. Writer's block. No inspiration.
How do writers and artists overcome fear?
You let go --- physically relax. If you're completely loose and
relaxed, you CANNOT feel fear, nor can you come to much harm.
Young children tumble over fourth floor balconies and survive.
Of especial interest to creatives: a completely physically
relaxed state is a creative state.
I learned about the protective power of physical relaxation when
I got my first pony, Dinky. I couldn’t ride, and Dinky was a
temperamental brumby, with a sneaky sense of humor. I climbed
onto her bare back, because no saddle was allowed until I became
an experienced rider, then she bucked, and I sailed over her
head. This happened a couple of times a week for months. As long
as I went completely limp, I knew I'd come to no harm.
Fear makes you tighten up. If you're falling, this is dangerous,
you'll break an arm or a leg or your head. If you let go, your
body absorbs the shock, and you come to no harm. When artistic
fear strikes, if you tighten up, your mind is instantly flooded
with scary ideas and scenarios which make you tighten up even
more. This breaks you mentally, triggering an avalanche of mental
horrors. In this state, it seems to you that the only way to stay
safe is to run away --- to forget about your creativity.
The trick is: don't try to fight the fear. Let go. If you
completely physically relax, your fear vanishes. Can't relax? Take a course in progressive muscle relaxation. Many
hospitals offer them for their patients. Bernd Harmsen has an
excellent free online course here ---
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/har/les1.htm
=> Shush!... Avoid confrontations
In addition to using physical relaxation, it's wise to avoid
confronting your inner dragons head-on. Until you've overcome
your artistic fears, never say, or think: "I'm writing a book",
or "I'm writing an article".
Give yourself a break, and let go of all the expectations you
have for your artistic endeavors. Tell yourself you're just going
to have fun, and mean it.
Remember to physically relax before you begin to write. Then use
Leonardo da Vinci's technique for getting ideas. It's fun, and
completely non-threatening.
Get a blank sheet of paper, and a pencil. Close your eyes, and
make doodles, scribbles and squiggles and lines all over the
paper. Take as long as you like. Open your eyes. Can you see any
images or patterns in the scribbles? Your scribbling and doodling
is a message from your subconscious mind.
Many of Leonardo's inventions are said to have come from his
doodling and scribbling.
Try these two techniques to overcome your artistic fears and
rediscover your creativity. They work.
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Casting Families for New Travel Channel Show
MT. OLYMPUS AND BEYOND - HELLAS JET JOINS EUROPEBYAIR FLIGHTPASS PROGRAM
Casting Families for New Travel Channel Show
Contact: Amy Fisher
Company: Martin-Calvert Productions
Telephone: 323-822-7276
E-Mail: mcpcasting2@martin-calvertprod.net
Date Released: 5/20/2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 19, 2004
Martin-Calvert Productions, a premier production company located in Los Angeles, CA, is busy casting the first season of an exciting new TV show for the Discovery Network/Travel Channel and are looking right now for families in the Chicago, NYC and Los Angeles areas. The show focuses on 'recurring' travel agents who plan and present three different trips to a fun, deserving or uniquely configured family or group who must then decide as a group which vacation to go on and go! 2-3 day all expense paid wonderful getaways will be filmed as the family enjoys the events, accommodations and location they choose. To be considered for participation in this new show please e-mail to mcpcasting2@martin-calvertprod.net the following:
. A good clear family portrait or photo of your entire group
. Your unique reason for deserving a getaway
. Address and Phone #'s
. Each persons - Name / Occupation or grade in school / age
. A brief description (one or two sentences only) of each persons personality (how someone else would describe them)
. Hobbies (list a few of your favorite things!)
 ![]()  
MT. OLYMPUS AND BEYOND - HELLAS JET JOINS EUROPEBYAIR FLIGHTPASS PROGRAM
Contact:
Bill Wolf
EuropebyAir.com
1 661 424 9229
marketing@europebyair.com
LOS ANGELES -- Hellas Jet, an Athens-based airline with routes to Brussels, London, Manchester and Paris has become the 25th airline to join EuropebyAir's $99 FlightPass program.
Bill Wolf, President of EuropebyAir, states, "Our customers now have the opportunity to combine their trip to Paris, London and Brussels with flights to the home of the Olympics this summer without emptying their wallets in the process. For only $99 one-way you can fly to and relax under the Mediterranean sun without stressing about travel expenses. Flights to Athens from Germany and Italy are also available on Flight Pass participating air carrier, Aegean Airlines. By jumping on such an offer our customers will be in essence going for the gold!"
Wolf added, "The other major development is that EuropebyAir passengers can for the first time fly to Cyprus. With average monthly temperatures around 77 degrees Fahrenheit, it is a steal to travel to this gorgeous island for only $99. Customers can experience a wide range of European cultures without spending much through EuropebyAir's FlightPass program. With the summer Olympics and season of travel ahead those who wish to travel first class, but not overpay, must act soon." Aegean Airlines, a member of the EuropebyAir program begins flying three flights daily from Athens to Larnaca, Cyprus this weekend.
EuropebyAir offers its customers a FlightPass program for one flat rate of $99 per ticket for flights to 170 cities within Europe on any of its 25 participating carriers. FlightPasses are sold in 11 countries outside of Europe and are not available for sale to European residents. Reservations can be made in advance or on the go. Tickets are nonrefundable. Airport taxes are not included.
For a Map, more information, and a list of all destinations visit your travel agent, www.EuropebyAir.com/ or call 888 231 9455.
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