sparkignitefire

The house is coming along. We were without internet for a couple of weeks and it actually helped my focus on getting organized, painting, cleaning, sorting…….more cleaning, painting and tomorrow, don’t laugh I will attempt to hang wallpaper.

My answer for most things is to watch a YouTube video on it. Thank God for a kind gentleman in West Virginia who showed me how to replace the gasket in my front loading washing machine. ( saved me about 300.00 )

The internet is a wonderous enigma. It is the more frightening, callous, raucous version of my brain. ( I see giant filing cabinets when I envision the internet-my brain is an old-fashioned round Rolodex, except in pink ) If someone had told me I could make a living at doing research…….oh wait, I do.

Just finished watching Brene Brown’s latest TED talk. She is a wonder. I did not know she was a Texan at first, though honestly she did not have to tell me, I knew in my heart. There is a ballsy way about us. (Think Anne Richards, Lady Bird Johnson, Molly Ivins-miss all of these amazing ladies-all woman they were, with the hearts and mouths of very intelligent sailors) Brene’s latest TED talk moves to the second part of her research (the 1st being vulnerability)…..shame. It is the most caustic 5 letter word. It keeps people from eating, helps them put a gun to their temple, and gets handed down generations like a fine piece of silver. I wear mine like a mink coat lined with 100 thread count poly blend sheets. It’s there, it itches and it makes me sweat.

She talks about how to be creative, cutting edge and innovation we must…..must be vulnerable. I do believe that it can be learned, we can take the shame and gently pull back the layers….quiet those talking the loudest in our heads. The key……courage. The courage to enter the arena. Brene quotes a great one from Teddy Roosevelt and my first thought is people are going to be afraid of the “word” arena. It conjures up gladiators, blood, evisceration, matador and death. (nice huh) It can also bring forth visions of Prefontaine, Joe DiMaggio and Barbaro.

Step into the arena.

The only person going to laugh or point is you. That is not enough of a reason not to.