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Tuesday, January 9, 2018

Choosing and a giveaway!

About this time last year I was pretty disillusioned.  I was worried, concerned and pondering how low can we go?

It took me a little while to pick myself up, and in celebration of a blogging milestone, I printed some cards and sent them out into the world to folk who told me about the words they were choosing for the year.

This year, for some reason, I feel slightly more positive about it all.  I am not overexcited and thrilled because we have reached nirvana just yet; but I feel a creeping kind of positivity, a gradual increase in my personal positivity index perhaps? I like that, my PPI!


The new year still feels fresh and a little bit bright and it feels right to send out some more cards.

I have pottered around with a bunch of words and fonts, and in the end, I landed back where I began, with Kindness Care and Hope. I tried to think about a new set of words that could describe things better for me - yet these three feel honest, true and like real touchstones to me. They res till what we need.

What did change however, was that I put the word Choose in front of each of them.  That in itself feels like a positive move; an action to take and to bear in mind.


I have 20 sets of these three cards to give away. So for the first 20 folk who leave a comment telling why they might be feeling bit more hopeful at the start of 2018 than last year, I shall be in touch regarding postal details and then send a set of cards to you.


They are business card sized, printed in grey ink, using Placard Condensed type at different point sizes and a mix of upper and lower case letters.


They use whatever random scraps of paper I have in the studio and all offer a lovely reminder of how we can be in the world.


So once more, ripples of kindness, care and hope head out into the world...

36 comments:

  1. What a wonderful idea. I'm afraid my hope is to survive. On another note I absolutely love the post card, such satisfying font and lay out. Thank you, means a lot.

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    1. Dear Penny - I hope the year gets better for you. I shall send pack to you soon.

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  2. we are mending our beautiful broken world with love stitch by stitch, word by word, heart to heart
    namaste

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  3. Wow, this couldn’t have hit my inbox at a more appropriate time! I wish I could say that I feel better about this new year than I did last year but I find myself facing some pretty big obstacles. I love the sentiment of choosing, it makes me feel like I have a bit more control over how I “choose” to face these obstacles and perhaps the hurdles awaiting me won’t seem so daunting. Thank you for sharing this today!!!

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    1. Diva - thanks for letting me know this landed in the right place at the right time! I think adding choose into the mix does somehow make it seem a little bit more positive. Please email me your best mailing address and I shall pop a pack in the post to you soon.

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  4. It encourages me to know that there are other people that choose kindness, hope, and care. Too often the negative voices are the loudest. Thank you for choosing optimism over pessimism!

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    1. Indeed Alyce - I much prefer optimism over pessimism! Do email thru your best postal address and a set shall find their way to you soon.

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  5. ...so many large and small reasons..from the ridiculous..hey we made it through this year..to the grateful..we/i resisted and persisted and did not become worn down or so embattled that i quit calling or writing..and the personal..a new child becoming a welcome family addition.and growing with such fierce joy that it is sort of breathtaking to experience..gentle day fiona

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    1. Oh so fabulous Cynthia - so many reasons to be hopeful and to celebrate! Let me know your best post address and I shall send pack you r way soon...

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  6. Love the cards....I'm feeling more hopeful for 2018 because I feel I have more direction for my life entering into 2018

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    1. Thanks Anne - sometimes that sense of purpose just clears your head and reduces some of the worry and fog doesn't it? Go well, and let me know where to send them.

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  7. This is about the 3rd or 4th thing this year that confirms what I just felt needed to be a focus for me this year. Kindness. Not that I am unkind! But your added word says more about what I meant. 'Choose' kindness. I think it is because I feel so many people need it. and sometimes it means that they may also choose to be kind because someone was to them.
    My kindness word was also linked to gentleness...which is a way of saying to care. So choose care is good!

    And then Hope. I am feeling more hopeful this year because I have had help with managing my chronic pain. and perhaps that is why I feel I am able to be more aware of choosing kindness and gentleness/care...because I am not being forced to be so focused on myself by the pain.

    A bit long, but there it is! I like how these 3 words have given me more insight into what I meant to be intentional about this year.
    Thank you.

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    1. Hi Sandy - isn't it lovely when something clicks and helps us see ourselves or our intentions a little bit more clearly? I do think choosing is a good way to think about it - and I love how you can see how if we choose kindness then others might too. Your point about managing chronic pain enabling one to think beyond oneself is so very true - it is so amazing when some of that care and attention can be turned outwards instead of inwards where it was needed to just get you through the day...do let me know your best postal address and I'll see you some cards soon.

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  8. I feel hopeful because there are many people like you in the world. Artists and non artists who care deeply about kindness, truth, social justice and remaining hopeful and finding joy in the midst of difficulties.

    All the best to you,
    Linda Elder

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    1. Linda - thank you. I have found many kindred spirits in this artistic blogging world, and am sure there are many more quietly working towards to peace, and caring and equality...onwards!

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  9. Yes, creative and generous acts such as this are happening all around, though we seldom hear about them. No despair. Lovingkindness all around. We are here to look after each other.

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    1. So true Leslie - it is often in the whispers and the quiet corners that great caring work gets done. We hold each other tight and connect; we reach out and we care...will send you a pack soon!

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  10. Dear Fiona, Another year we made it through somehow....... Like many people, I'm happy to have said goodbye to 2017 and to renew my wish for the qualities you have printed so beautifully. I think you've summed up the heart of things. Without them, we can't truly build anything else. I am optimistic about 2018. With another 355 days this year to create something wholesome for ourselves and others, I'd love to share some of these cards. Wishing you a new year filled with kindness, care and hope. Annie xx

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    1. So interesting isn't Annie how many folk are happy to farewell 2017 and look towards 2018 slightly more positively? I feel for myself, if I can hold onto these three notions I shall be happier and healthier, and hopefully the world will be little bit better as well. Go well. Shall pop some in ht post to you soon - can you let me know the best postal address?

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    2. Hi Fiona, Delighted. Thank you!! Will email you my address. Best wishes, Annie xx

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  11. I've long told my girls "some people choose to be miserable, chronic complainers ... choose to be happy and then make it happen." However, I didn't follow my own advice last year, as I chose to wallow in political misery in spite of my word for 2017, which was "enjoy." Thank goodness for your "imagine peace" mantra that pulled me through the worst of it.

    So for 2018? A word that is more quantifiable: "write"

    And a mission to go along with it: "persist"

    To that end, I will continue to visit you and Barry, where I can count on thoughtful, inspiring words and images.

    Happy new year ... and thank you!

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    1. I love all your words Liz and where they have taken you and what you have made and done with them. As we each reach out wth care and kindness, we build hope for ourselves and for others I think. looking forward to more connections in 2018, go well.

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  12. Oh my, how lovely your cards are! I’m feeling more hopeful because I participated in a program that explored and shifted my mindset about money, my biggest challenge currently. My finances haven’t changed ... my attitude has. And it has spilled over into a more positive outlook on life generally.

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    1. How wonderful is hat Randi?!?! Let me know your best postal address and I shall send you set of cards. Go well.

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  13. I tried a 'word of the year' but didn't get on with it. However, I had been thinking of it again, and decided not a word but a process is needed ie "self care". There is the airline instruction 'first put the oxygen mask on yourself, so you can help others'. So your words resonate, some (self) care allows the kindness to extend and bring forth hope.
    I'm looking forward to reading what your creativity brings forth this year, a willingness to share brings much joy to this reader, thank you.

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    1. Thank you Beverley. I think you have it right - if we can care for ourselves we are in a better place to offer kinds and care to others. Lovely to hear that you enjoy the blog - I look forward to sharing the year with you in many ways. Do let me know the best postal address to send your cards to...go well.

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  14. Without hope we really have nothing ... hope is such a great word ... next to gratitude.

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    1. True words Tina - we need hope to carry on don't we? It is also such a hopeful word, offering us new possibilities and ways of being... if you'd like me to send you a set of cards, please let me know the best postal address to send them to. Go well.

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  15. what a lovely idea! I did not start this year off with hope for the year. My computer crashed on New years day, I also bent the middle part of a finger the wrong way lol But as the days have gone by I feel a little better, sometimes I just have to watch my attitude. I get depressed in the winter but I'm sick and tired of being grouchy towards myself. I want to focus on my attitude even in times of dispair

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    1. Oh Susan - hopefully the year improves on that start! Winter is challenging in so many ways and it can be hard to be positive. Choosing kindness and care towards ourselves is probably a good thing! Let me know your best postal address and a set of cards shall wing their way to you!

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  16. I, too, feel some of the despair of this last year lifting off, like mist from the trees as the sun rises. I hope for more equanimity as I imagine peace and choose kindness.

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    1. I love that image Dana - mist lifting as the sun rises...so true. Perhaps I might rise above things a bit better this year! Imagining peace, choosing kindness...we shall do well. Please let me know your best postal address and I shall send a set of cards your way.

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  17. Hi there, I hope, I'm not to late. I'm feeling a bit more hopeful than last year, because I feel stronger. And that was made by making art. Small bits and pieces that help me find out who I am. I'd love to get some of these cards. Thank you for the opportunity! Eli

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    1. Just in time Eli! You are right about making art and creating being a great way to heal ourselves and improve our minds - and definitely small bits and pieces (its often all I can manage). Let me know your best postal address and a set of cards will be yours! Go well.

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  18. I love the idea of your cards and definitely putting Choose at the front end. I think our attitude is somewhat dependent on our own taking some initiative. A few years ago I had a bracelet made for myself with 'Find the JOY in your day' - similar in putting 'Find' at the front end. Love your cards. If there are any left, I'd love to have some.

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I appreciate your thoughts and comments; thanks for taking the time.