The Red Couch Gallery

The Red Couch Gallery
April 17, 2010
Noon-10:00PM
1804 N. 51st Street
Seattle, WA 98103

The Red Couch Gallery is a one day only collaborative art show / fundraiser. There will be snacks, good music, and arts and crafts by a variety of local artists and crafts-people. Stop by, bring some friends, hang out, shop, chill with cool people, enjoy beautiful art, snack, have a drink, and if you feel moved, make a donation.

This is a “Fund-my-vision” project co-sponsored by REJJ Arts and Tina Blu Creationz for the purpose of raising money to send me on a spiritual journey around the world.

FEAUTRING ARTISTS Include:
REJJ Arts
Tina Blue Creationz
Chrissy Waiching
Moxy Jo Designs
Euphorya
Mikal Whoberry
Verbal Oasis
Pretty Prudent
V.J.
AphroditeXchange
and more...

A trip, A dream, An opportunity...

As I deepen my spiritual practice and enter into a space where I am discerning my goals and my life's path, I feel myself ever drawn back to my art, writing and traveling. I love teaching. I love the little school that I work for and it is a very comfortable existence, but there is something in me that says I am ready for my next step. Publishing my book of poetry and the subsequent positive reaction had given me much needed confidence, and more importantly perspective on what things are possible. Like so many people, I grew up with practical parents who raised me to think about life like a realist. While they always encouraged me to pursue my dreams, it was always within reason. Sure, be a writer, be a painter, be whatever, but make sure you can support yourself and make sure you have health insurance. There is an undeniable logic there, however, I have entered a place in my life where being logical is at odds with my greater good.

I am currently working on my first novel and I have decided that this July I want to travel around the world. I thought about all the ways I could make this happen. I looked at applying to work for semester at sea and the peace boat and all sorts of other programs where I could make use of my MA in International Education and also get to travel, but when it came down to it I realized that if I did a trip through an organization as an employee, I wouldn't really be having the experience I want to have. I want to visit an ashram and do love meditations at the Taj Mahal in India. I want to learn about Condomble in Brazil and visit Maori schools in New Zealand. I want to meet the children at our sister school in Barranquila, Colombia. I want to visit Ishmael Tete's church in Ghana.

There are so many places I want to go and so many things I want to see and do. Everything is telling me that the time is now, I just have to have the courage to step out on faith and believe I can really do this. So that said, I have put in my notice at my job. I will be finishing my contract at my little school and finishing out my lease in June and by July I would like to be on the first leg of my trip around the world.

Here is the thing. I'm not independently wealthy (yet). I have been saving and I have some money, but I don't have quite enough to really go everywhere I want to. It has been suggested that I scale back my trip, but I really don't want to diminish my experience. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity ...the chance for me to really live out my dream. I know that there are a million and one great causes to support, but this is one more, and I know you can find it in you to support my journey.

I am surrounded by people everyday who do what they think they have to do. They sacrifice their dreams for their children, or for their jobs, or sometimes simply because they don't have the guts to go for it...whatever the reason, they watch their dreams die. I've been that person. I've been the one who wants to do this or that, but in the end settles for what is possible and I am absolutely committed to not letting that happen to me again. I am ready to walk in my good. I am ready to shed my fears and follow my heart. Now here is what you can do to help: April 17, from noon to 10:00pm, I am hosting a fundraiser / art gallery at 1804 N. 51st Street in Seattle, WA 98103. Stop by, chill, snack, and shop. There will be art by several local artists as well as food and good music. This is a great opportunity for you to support someone in following their dream. Thank you.

The Best Day of My Life

Every morning at the little school I love and work for, the fourth grade participates in Morning Meeting. During Morning Meeting, which is part of this program called Responsive Classroom, we greet one another, share, and have some kind of activity. This morning after a goofy greeting we did this sharing activity where everyone had to write down some things that they did on the best day of their life. Then we folded up the papers and the fourth grade teacher read them one by one while each of us tried to guess whose day it was.

They wrote things like:
Yesterday when I went to the arboretum and played on the swings.
The first time I tried snowboarding.
When I got my first hamster.
Big fat bubbles floating in the air and me and friends pop them. Popsicles at the end.

As I tried to think of what to write, so many days came to mind. Road trips with my Dad, Ghana with my mom, birthdays with friends, or even by myself watching Circ Du Solei in Vegas, chillin on the beaches of Spain, driving to the Sea of Japan or maybe my best day ever was yesterday, waking up early to pray with my friends, getting to work on my novel, having time to clean out the mystery drawer in my desk and then eating good Indian food with some cool writers. I guess lately I feel like everyday is the best day of my life or can be. Maybe that's a sappy idea or a high ideal, but why not? When I look back on my life I hope it's always hard for me to pick just one best day. I want them all to be best days, whether I'm teaching verbs in Spanish to the fifth graders or learning how to samba in Brazil. It's all good. And that's the thing that stands out to me...the best day ever doesn't have to include popsicles or hot dudes or perfect weather, the only pre-requisite is happiness and a willingness to allow the good to flow. Are you willing? I am.

Shining the Light

Recently I have been really thinking hard about shining the light. Anyone who grew up with any kind of Christian Background has probably heard the song "This Little Light of Mine". Well something I learned kind of early on is to moderate the shine. Some shine is nice, but if you shine too brightly, haterism rears it's ugly head. And this has lead to a lot of self silencing and subsequent self doubt. Perhaps that's why it felt so healing to take part in my little school's talent show...not as the light, but as the light bringer.

This year I was charged with the task of organizing a multitude of talented and energetic little people into a show which meant screening acts and bringing order to the chaos. At my school there are kids who sing, play the piano, the guitar, the violin...there are kids who like to act and one very awesome forth grader who is obsessed with Michael Jackson. When you put it all together it made for a fabulous show. Objectively some kids were a little more skillful in their light shining than others, but just the fact that they all had the courage to get out there and do their thing was inspiring. I was inspired. So inspired that I decided to audition for Jesus Christ Super Star...and I made the cast which means I will be singing and dancing and shining my light on stage at the Center for Spiritual Living on April 2 at 7:00pm. Can't wait!

Fearless Surrender (Step 5)

Be fearless in your pursuit of the light
walk bravely the night at your back
the dawn of surrender breaking across your naked face
morning, like Beloved bloomed anew
fearless, like the warrior
who knows that everyday is a good day to die,
but that today isn't everyday,
it is the day that is meant
for the living
ripe for the choosing
still with the peace
that isn't battle won
but born of forgiving
giving of yourself,
your soul,
living with each breath
the miracle unfolding
that there is nothing to fear
in a life
illuminated.