We are all walking each other back home

Much of my art is inspired by either a quote or a retro lady wearing bright red lipstick.  Sometimes a Hummel will strut over my canvas, but not very often.

I am a huge fan of OWN's (Oprah Winfrey Network) Super Soul Sunday.  Oprah has amazing thought leaders on as guests.  Gems like:  Rainn Wilson (Check out "Dwight Schrute's" website, www.soulpancake.com for some fun and insight into your soul), Brene Brown (love her new book, Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead), Dr. Wayne Dyer (does it get better than, The Power of Intention: Learning to Co-create Your World Your Way?), and Don Miguel Ruiz (If everyone read his book, The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book), the world would be a different place.  From personal experience, I can attest that not taking things personally eliminates a lot of pain.). 

One Sunday I was watching Ram Dass (former colleague of Timothy Leary at Harvard) on Super Soul Sunday.  Ram said, "We are all walking each other back home."  I immediately reached for my Super Soul Sunday notebook (I am such a geek.  I have the official Oprah notebook - free for the first one million respondents.) and wrote it down.  And then I went in my studio and made a collage.  One of my favorites ever.  It hangs by my bedroom door so I can see it often.

I don't have a problem walking home people I like or love.  Bring it on.  I'll listen to you cry about the dumb-ass boy who left you for a buck toothed girl.  I'll pick up your kids from ballet practice.  And I'll clap my hands joyfully when you tell me your latest artistic accomplishment.  Count on me to be your biggest fan if I like you. 

But, I DO have a problem walking home people I don't like.  And then having them escort me to my front door???  Forget it.  As Anne Lamott says:  “You can safely assume you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do.”

I was pretty sure Ram wasn't referring to just prancing around with people you already liked.  So, I grudgingly admit that I learn the most from people I don't even want to be around. 

I learn from the over-achieving mothers who send cupcakes on their child's actual birthday.  I take creative license to move my children's birthdays around to a date that works with my schedule.  In fact, next year I am moving all of their birthdays to July so I don't have to send in cupcakes adorned with gummy worms to school and preschool.  Okay.  These over-achieving mothers show me how to step up my game, but not too much. 

I learn from the student who I wish would be absent, but who is there each and every freakin' day.  I learn from this student (and there is a fresh supply each and every year!) patience and how to be a stronger teacher.  Oh, and I learn more patience. 

I learn from the person who never stops talking about themselves and their problems.  I learn how people want to be heard.  I also choose friends who know how to listen.  Here is a quote from Thich Nhat Hanh (Another of Oprah's Super Soulers!  He taught Oprah how to mindfully drink a cup of tea.  Which reminds me of the time Sharon and I went on a silent, mindfulness retreat.  Yeah.  After mindfully eating our skimpy salad, we broke out to go and shop on State Street.)  "The most precious gift we can offer anyone is our attention.  When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers."  Awww.  I am going to remember that when my boys want to give me a tour of their latest Lego battleground. 

Now it is time to turn our attention to Michael Landon Monday.  Did you know that Michael Landon was married three times and is survived by 9 children?  (Sorry Prairie Friends.  Sharon took all the images of Michael without a shirt.) 

Mighty vicious looking hoe, there (added by Prairie Sherry).

Prairie Eydie