A wonderful life, a life full of wonder

A post I wrote a good few weeks ago, but never saw the light of day.

So, here it is...

Sometimes life it just wonderful.
Wonder-ful.
Full of wonder.

Facebook
Many of you know that I was never much of a fan of Facebook, but I was 'tricked' back into this strange world to fundraiser for Into the Light just over two years ago. The page wage was managed for me. I just suggested what could be written on it. I stayed away from this scary place for a god while. But, alas, eventually I wrote a few words myself, and added pictures, and then even wrote on my personal page, not just my Art page ... I know...

But, as life moves on, I have moments when I actually like facebook...

Being part of that world, has brought me in contact with many other creative, I would not have met otherwise. I don't get out into the real world all that often.
It led to giving puppet making classes.
It led to some amazing (many private) conversations, about birds, and books, and art.
About healing, and illness, about challenges and gratitude.

Goldcrest

Birds and books

A photo of a little bird which had flown against my kitchen window. The photos of the bird brought a discussion about what kind of bird it was, many got involved.  It also led to a conversation with a fellow nature lover, also living with M.E. Selina is currently in Scotland, and we "visited" each other's gardens, through sharing images, taken from our homes.
I loved that!

Also, recently I was contacted by a lady who's drawings I had posted in a post last year about Severe M.E. Linda had come across  a version of this post on the Disability Arts Online blog. Linda and her husband Greg, then found themselves exploring my website, and made contact with me on facebook.  We are both creatives, like to write, love the birds, identified in such similar ways in terms of the experience of illness. Linda's symptoms are much more severe. Being grateful to have seen some light in my journey, I decided to post a copy of Into the Light to her. Just felt right.  As Hatched  is about my first eight years of illness, when I was still pretty shook, they downloaded the book from my website: Linda:"I really am moved by the words and pictures and they touch my own experience."

When Into the Light arrived at their doorstep, we were all catapulted into a place of wonder and excitement.  Linda was awake during the night and felt compelled to write her thoughts on the book. Greg got inspired to create a beautiful page on their Stonebird Website. I felt overwhelmed by their kindness, and what the creation I had made, made such an impact on people I will most likely never meet in person.

“What we love about this in essence deconstructed and elegantly transformed book, is how it brings accessibility, where an ordinary book is too heavy, too complex and often too many pages and too many words to manage. 

The imagery and photography convey so much to me personally – they elicit a recognition and deep resonance in my heart of my own experience, yet bring hope. They seem to bring a multi dimensional aspect because it resonates so deeply with what I know myself also from my own very severe illness and helps me recognises a bond of knowing between us, carried through the messages, words, imagery, beyond what is physically seen – the gift of not aloneness, the comprehension of pain, the need to surrender to the experience yet not to give in, the triumph, the resilience of the human heart and spirit despite intense physical suffering.” (Linda Crowhurst - See more at the Stonebird website)

What can I say.
It has been an amazing week.

... And to top it all, at the very moment I was writing this I heard a motorbike stop outside my gate. Followed by a knock on the door. The driver has seen one of my prints I have displayed on the wall...

'Into the Light print:
'The blessing for which we hunger are not to be found
in other places or people.' John O'Donohue  - Anan Cara

We had a lovely chat and he went away with a copy of Into the Light .

So, Facebook can be full of wonder, 

but having this unexpected visitor equates to a wonderful life.

stepping out into the world

Stepping more confidently into the world of social media 

in turn made me Dance in real Life.

A few months ago I had the pleasure of meeting Mags Durand, who gave me some of her time to help me dip my toes into the world of social media with a bit more confidence.

Yes, I had a website for years.
I had been writing the occasional blogs for years.
But I was not that bothered if anyone actual read it. I liked writing. I loved playing with the layout of the blog, and the design of my website.
To have people actually find my explorations was not my biggest concern.
Facebook, well that was set up - and updated for me for a while- by Brendan in aid of the Fund-it Campaign. It had taken a LOT of persuation to agree to set it up.

But, as you might know, from the 1st of January I have been writing a daily blog.
(missed about three due to hospital adventures.)
Some days I write a lot.
Other days, I just share an image or a thought.

It is about showing up.
It is about sharing the good, the funny, the challenging. Illness, wellness, vulnerability, books. The Millions Missing ME protest, creativity, cats, and nature.
A mixed bag.
A mixed audience too. Which is lovely!

Thank you all who turn up here every day, and have told me that they are awaiting my few words in the mornings.
That is so beautiful to know, that although I don't leave the house too often, I am still in contact with the world beyond.
My deepest gratitude.

Readers respond here on my blog (which I love the most, as other readers who might visit on a later day, can read the comments too). Others respond or share on Facebook. I get private emails with questions, and well wishes on days when life is a little more challenging than anyone hopes for.

So, back to the days of mentoring.
I was blessed to have been assigned a person by the Local Enterprise Office who did not just have the technical expertise to bring to me, into my house, but to bring me Mags who understood my story. From the start there were some amazing moments of connection.
A connection about the feather which I had chosen to become the logo and symbol of my website and blog - Of me - The Little Wings, me.

The Twenty Minute Bird

Mags identified with the way I work. How I view the world.
She invited me to share the thoughts on my "Twenty Minute Creative Rule" with a fledgling group of Women in Business. I would be their first speaker.
"Sure!"
You know those kind of commitments, they seem such a great idea, until the day looms close...

Thursday was the day. I was to give my Twenty Minute Talk about my Twenty Minute Rule. Tell my story, and how this 'rule' can apply to anyone. Not to just those living with illness. But also for people in business.
It is really a case of time management.
And scheduling.
Knowing what you are going to do with your precious time.
To not get distracted by anything- most of all social media or the phone.
To be disciplined.

The bottom line is, that we ALL have a few of these twenty minutes (or whatever time scale works for you) in our day, or week. There is NO excuse not to follow your dream and complete a project.

So, I did it. I gave my talk. And received and awful lot more than I had to share.

This group of women told me that they did not see an ill person in front of them, or a person in a wheelchair. Or a sad person.
Louise, who works at the restaurant we had the meeting in (followed by a gorgeous dinner- thank you) is a reader of my blog. She sat in on the talk, and shared some of her views on my writing. It almost brings me to tears writing this. It was honest and open. Thank you. Also her thought on my home, my garden... All has a place. Mags told the other women about my book in a box. And how she reads a page every day - always the right page. Miriam, staff member of the IWA was my driver and wonderful companion for the event.

I was welcomed with such respect and interest.
Beautiful.
Thank you all.

Some experiences - even if I had to rest for hours before hand and a day, or days after - are just too beautiful for words.

Stepping more confidently into the world of social media - in turn made me Dance in real Life.

Thank you ladies - for the dance.

Birth Dance -  detail
© 2016 Corina Duyn

Birth Dance  © 2016 Corina Duyn