Comments on: Feeling Shrinky and Practicing Expansion http://christinekane.com/blog/feeling-shrinky-and-practicing-expansion/ Be Creative. Be Conscious. Be Courageous. Sat, 13 Mar 2010 11:16:14 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: m http://christinekane.com/blog/feeling-shrinky-and-practicing-expansion/comment-page-1/#comment-148823 m Mon, 11 Aug 2008 08:49:11 +0000 http://christinekane.com/blog/feeling-shrinky-and-practicing-expansion/#comment-148823 yes ! to Petra - I make sure I get the ISBN from Amazon (thanks for providing that info Amazon !) and then I email my favourite independent bookshop. The margins on books are low so when I pick up my book I also try to stock up on cards. yes ! to Petra – I make sure I get the ISBN from Amazon (thanks for providing that info Amazon !) and then I email my favourite independent bookshop. The margins on books are low so when I pick up my book I also try to stock up on cards.

]]> By: Petra http://christinekane.com/blog/feeling-shrinky-and-practicing-expansion/comment-page-1/#comment-148629 Petra Mon, 11 Aug 2008 00:39:51 +0000 http://christinekane.com/blog/feeling-shrinky-and-practicing-expansion/#comment-148629 Another way of tithing--purchase things from local and independent retailers, who may not necessarily be able to compete (pricewise) with the Amazons of the world. The money likely stays in your community, too. Paying a little more is a way of giving back. Another way of tithing–purchase things from local and independent retailers, who may not necessarily be able to compete (pricewise) with the Amazons of the world. The money likely stays in your community, too. Paying a little more is a way of giving back.

]]> By: Patricia http://christinekane.com/blog/feeling-shrinky-and-practicing-expansion/comment-page-1/#comment-148425 Patricia Sun, 10 Aug 2008 16:15:25 +0000 http://christinekane.com/blog/feeling-shrinky-and-practicing-expansion/#comment-148425 This conversation is so timely! I started tithing this year by donating artwork to be raffled to raise money for groups I believe in. It's been exciting to be a part of this process. I have more time and paint than I have cash, and in the end my donations produce more dollars and good will than any single dollar I give. A few years ago I was in a class with Donna Aldridge, a wonderful teacher. I was noodling around, feeling really shrinky, when she stepped in and asked me who my favorite artist was. Did I suppose they stood in front of their easel all caved in, noodling around? She admonished me to take a deep breath and straighten my shoulders. Fake it. Act like I knew exactly what I wanted to do. It worked. I often practice this when I feel small and shrinky, regardless of what I'm doing. Maybe one of these days I'll forget I'm faking it! This conversation is so timely!
I started tithing this year by donating artwork to be raffled to raise money for groups I believe in. It’s been exciting to be a part of this process. I have more time and paint than I have cash, and in the end my donations produce more dollars and good will than any single dollar I give.
A few years ago I was in a class with Donna Aldridge, a wonderful teacher. I was noodling around, feeling really shrinky, when she stepped in and asked me who my favorite artist was. Did I suppose they stood in front of their easel all caved in, noodling around? She admonished me to take a deep breath and straighten my shoulders. Fake it. Act like I knew exactly what I wanted to do. It worked. I often practice this when I feel small and shrinky, regardless of what I’m doing. Maybe one of these days I’ll forget I’m faking it!

]]> By: m http://christinekane.com/blog/feeling-shrinky-and-practicing-expansion/comment-page-1/#comment-147556 m Fri, 08 Aug 2008 12:11:07 +0000 http://christinekane.com/blog/feeling-shrinky-and-practicing-expansion/#comment-147556 I almost laughed out loud at this (I'm in an internet cafe in London's charing cross) I had breakfast out this morning and sat at the window and for no particular reason beamed at a woman walking past - she looked very startled ! I almost laughed out loud at this (I’m in an internet cafe in London’s charing cross) I had breakfast out this morning and sat at the window and for no particular reason beamed at a woman walking past – she looked very startled !

]]> By: Alli http://christinekane.com/blog/feeling-shrinky-and-practicing-expansion/comment-page-1/#comment-147319 Alli Fri, 08 Aug 2008 04:18:55 +0000 http://christinekane.com/blog/feeling-shrinky-and-practicing-expansion/#comment-147319 I have a little experience when it comes to working with organizations in need, I'm in the Peace Corps. If your budget is tight but you want to give, remember that often times your time is worth MUCH MORE than the cash. Think of it this way... You earn a certain amount of money per hour to perform a job. There are organizations out there that would have to pay that amount to have that job performed by someone else. Volunteer to do it for free. ~OR~ So, you come home, want to not have anything to do with work at all... Focus on what you like. If you enjoy books and kids you can volunteer to host a book reading at your local library. Like to garden, share some vegetables. Like to teach but nothing traditional, look into teaching an adult education class such as GED. Volunteer at a local soup kitchen. Go through your home and donate items you don't use/like any more. Do you like to hear stories about times gone by? Stop at a nursing home or assisted living. Ask the residents to tell you about when they were growing up. I may be mistaken, but I believe that the time you volunteer (including costs such as fuel, mileage, etc) may be able to be taken off on taxes. I know for certain that some companies will donate money to organizations that their employees volunteer with. Check with your Benefits department and see what they offer! These options will not only save the organization money, but you can keep the cash earning interest, you meet new people, and perhaps have a little fun! I have a little experience when it comes to working with organizations in need, I’m in the Peace Corps. If your budget is tight but you want to give, remember that often times your time is worth MUCH MORE than the cash.

Think of it this way…
You earn a certain amount of money per hour to perform a job. There are organizations out there that would have to pay that amount to have that job performed by someone else. Volunteer to do it for free.

~OR~

So, you come home, want to not have anything to do with work at all… Focus on what you like. If you enjoy books and kids you can volunteer to host a book reading at your local library. Like to garden, share some vegetables. Like to teach but nothing traditional, look into teaching an adult education class such as GED. Volunteer at a local soup kitchen. Go through your home and donate items you don’t use/like any more. Do you like to hear stories about times gone by? Stop at a nursing home or assisted living. Ask the residents to tell you about when they were growing up.

I may be mistaken, but I believe that the time you volunteer (including costs such as fuel, mileage, etc) may be able to be taken off on taxes. I know for certain that some companies will donate money to organizations that their employees volunteer with. Check with your Benefits department and see what they offer!

These options will not only save the organization money, but you can keep the cash earning interest, you meet new people, and perhaps have a little fun!

]]> By: Christine Kane http://christinekane.com/blog/feeling-shrinky-and-practicing-expansion/comment-page-1/#comment-147277 Christine Kane Fri, 08 Aug 2008 02:50:05 +0000 http://christinekane.com/blog/feeling-shrinky-and-practicing-expansion/#comment-147277 Thanks for all the cool thoughts here, folks! I'm getting ready to head out to NYC and I'm trying to pack into a suitcase filled with two sprawled out cats... so, I'll just answer briefly... Mark - we'll keep the "shrinkage" talk to a minimum! :-) Sue - I love your husband's clarity there. Wow. Monica - you could not be MORE right! I often cut and paste the MSN Money headlines and send them to my husband just because they are SUCH drama queens! Thanks for all the cool thoughts here, folks! I’m getting ready to head out to NYC and I’m trying to pack into a suitcase filled with two sprawled out cats…

so, I’ll just answer briefly…

Mark – we’ll keep the “shrinkage” talk to a minimum! :-)

Sue – I love your husband’s clarity there. Wow.

Monica – you could not be MORE right! I often cut and paste the MSN Money headlines and send them to my husband just because they are SUCH drama queens!

]]> By: MbB http://christinekane.com/blog/feeling-shrinky-and-practicing-expansion/comment-page-1/#comment-147250 MbB Fri, 08 Aug 2008 02:05:33 +0000 http://christinekane.com/blog/feeling-shrinky-and-practicing-expansion/#comment-147250 I love the word...feeling "shrinky" just gets to a meaning we need to think about. There's another word I really like, even if it is a bit nerdy as it was coined by Aristotle..."Praxis". It refers to the actions we take based on a theory, faith, or feeling. Rather like the idea of putting something into action even if you aren't sure, but somehow believe, it will work (and hoping for that net!). I love the word…feeling “shrinky” just gets to a meaning we need to think about. There’s another word I really like, even if it is a bit nerdy as it was coined by Aristotle…”Praxis”. It refers to the actions we take based on a theory, faith, or feeling. Rather like the idea of putting something into action even if you aren’t sure, but somehow believe, it will work (and hoping for that net!).

]]> By: Judy http://christinekane.com/blog/feeling-shrinky-and-practicing-expansion/comment-page-1/#comment-147193 Judy Fri, 08 Aug 2008 00:02:45 +0000 http://christinekane.com/blog/feeling-shrinky-and-practicing-expansion/#comment-147193 This year I began a project so big it scared the heck out of me. But after asking a few "wise women", the best advice I got was; just begin. The rest will fall into place when it is time. But if you don't begin, none of those things will happen. She was right. I still feel overwhelmed some days, but it has opened up my mind to looking at my work in a whole new context of what is possible. Taking that first step towards expansion is the scariest. Each one after that becomes a bit easier. This year I began a project so big it scared the heck out of me. But after asking a few “wise women”, the best advice I got was; just begin. The rest will fall into place when it is time. But if you don’t begin, none of those things will happen. She was right. I still feel overwhelmed some days, but it has opened up my mind to looking at my work in a whole new context of what is possible. Taking that first step towards expansion is the scariest. Each one after that becomes a bit easier.

]]> By: Deb http://christinekane.com/blog/feeling-shrinky-and-practicing-expansion/comment-page-1/#comment-147185 Deb Thu, 07 Aug 2008 23:44:52 +0000 http://christinekane.com/blog/feeling-shrinky-and-practicing-expansion/#comment-147185 I have to echo the comment about physically shrinking. In the car recently on the way to an appointment I became aware that I was literally curling over the steering wheel (not smart with an airbag, but anyway); my arms were tense, jaw clamped tight and I could barely see over the dashboard let alone get any air in my lungs. I kept on for another mile just noticing this. And then a line from Laraine Herring's "Writing Begins with the Breath" that goes something like "breathe deeply, expand your chest, notice your ribs separating." (that might be a paraphrase) And as I was doing it this other thought appeared that birds expand their chests to look bigger, more powerful and more intimidating. Maybe we shouldn't major on the intimidating but I think we know that Christine is all over the powerful part. I have to echo the comment about physically shrinking. In the car recently on the way to an appointment I became aware that I was literally curling over the steering wheel (not smart with an airbag, but anyway); my arms were tense, jaw clamped tight and I could barely see over the dashboard let alone get any air in my lungs. I kept on for another mile just noticing this. And then a line from Laraine Herring’s “Writing Begins with the Breath” that goes something like “breathe deeply, expand your chest, notice your ribs separating.” (that might be a paraphrase) And as I was doing it this other thought appeared that birds expand their chests to look bigger, more powerful and more intimidating. Maybe we shouldn’t major on the intimidating but I think we know that Christine is all over the powerful part.

]]> By: Mark http://christinekane.com/blog/feeling-shrinky-and-practicing-expansion/comment-page-1/#comment-147152 Mark Thu, 07 Aug 2008 22:41:01 +0000 http://christinekane.com/blog/feeling-shrinky-and-practicing-expansion/#comment-147152 Whenever I'm about to leave a tip at a restaurant, and I grapple about whether I should leave three dollars or four dollars, I leave four - sometimes even 5 bucks. It makes everyone feel better. And maybe it's because I'm a guy, but you'll have to forgive me for not appreciating the word "shrinky". (Don't you remember the children's toy, 'Shrinky Dink'?) Whenever I’m about to leave a tip at a restaurant, and I grapple about whether I should leave three dollars or four dollars, I leave four – sometimes even 5 bucks. It makes everyone feel better.

And maybe it’s because I’m a guy, but you’ll have to forgive me for not appreciating the word “shrinky”. (Don’t you remember the children’s toy, ‘Shrinky Dink’?)

]]>