Book Reveiw ~ Man's Search For Meaning ~ Viktor E. Frankl

 

Book Review ~ Man's Search For Meaning ~ Viktor E. Frankl

Internationally renowned psychiatrist Viktor E. Frankl endured years of unspeakable horror in Nazi death camps. During, and partly because of his suffering, Dr. Frankl developed a revolutionary approach to psychotherapy known as logotherapy. At the core of his theory is the belief that man's primary motivational force is his search for meaning. 

I will highlight a few of the points that Viktor has made that hit my heart and will stay in my heart.

From all of this we may learn that there are two races of men in the world, but only these two - the "race" of decent man and the "race" of the indecent man.

Both are found everywhere; they penetrate into all groups of society. No group consists entirely of decent or indecent people. In this sense, no group is of "pure race" and therefore one occasionally found a decent fellow among the camp guards. 

Life in a concentration camp tore open the human soul and exposed its depths. Is it surprising that in those depths we again found only human qualities which in their very nature were a mixture of good and evil? The rift dividing good from evil, which goes through all human beings, reaches into the lowest depths and becomes apparent even on the bottom of the abyss which is laid open by the concentration camp.

 

 That which does not kill me, makes me stronger.

What you have experienced, no power on earth can take from you.

Someone looks down on each of us in difficult hours. A friend, a wife, somebody dead or alive, or a God. 

For the world is in a bad state, but everything will become still worse unless each of us does his best.

So, let us be alert~alert in a twofold sense:

Since Auschwitz we know what man is capable of.

And since Hiroshima we know what is at stake. 

 

 I will again share the quote that hit my heart and penetrated it.

 From all of this we may learn that there are two races of men in the world, but only these two - the "race" of decent man and the "race" of the indecent man.

A Mid-Week ~ Joy List ~

 

A Mid ~ Week ~ Joy List

a weekly ritual

a reminder to stop and pay attention to the little beauties and graces that make life magical

and to set aside time for gratitude each day

 

I am so thankful for my garden. 

Flowers, vegetables, herbs and the nature that is in the garden. During a week of difficult current events, going out to the garden is where I can find time to rest my mind. It is the place that when I feel lost, I remember I have a Captain guiding me, I just have to TRUST.

 

 

Summer evening walks, with the song of summer bugs and the fragrance of fresh cut lawn.

 

You are a piece of the puzzle of someone else's life. You may never know where you fit, but others will fill the holes in their lives with pieces of you.

Bonnie Arbon

Book Review ~ Life in the Studio ~ Inspiration and Lessons on Creativity ~ Frances Palmer

 

 

I recently read,  Life in the Studio ~ Inspiration and Lessons on Creativity by Frances Palmer. 

 

Click here to visit Frances Palmer's website. 

Below is some of the information shared at her website.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

I have been making ceramics since 1987. I was trained as an art historian, yet have always made work with my hands. First as a printmaker and now as a potter and gardener, I love the process of changing ideas into form. I don't make or grow things to hold onto them, but rather to send them out into the world for others to live with and enjoy. My handmade ceramics are functional art – dishware or vases that can be used on a daily basis. Each piece, no matter how large or small, is considered and individual.

I am honored and happy to think that people across the USA are using my work when they gather in friendship to share a meal and good times.  

LIFE IN THE STUDIO: INSPIRATION AND LESSONS ON CREATIVITY
Release date: October 6, 2020

To step into potter Frances Palmer’s world is to be surrounded by the trappings of a life that has been intentionally—and painstakingly—built to maximize creativity. A light-filled, airy studio in which to make her pottery, with a corner always at the ready for her daily photo shoots. Cutting gardens overflowing with flowers to be snipped as inspiration strikes. Shelves of cookbooks to peruse as she plans the menu of her next dinner party, and museum catalogs and art books to pore over when it’s time to imagine a new vessel. After 30 years as an artist and entrepreneur, Palmer has learned how to cultivate a life that brings out her best. Those years have been at once rewarding and challenging, fruitful and fraught, and through it all, she has discovered the things that matter most: determination, routine, prioritization, perseverance, and perspective. She has distilled these hard-won lessons, and more, into her debut book, a manual for current and aspiring creatives.

I enjoyed the honesty of Frances. She has tragedy in her life. She shares it with us openly and how it shaped her as the person she is today.

She shares her art, garden, favorite recipes and more with us. I am planning to try several of the recipes she shared. I also loved how she gave credit to her husband with helping her get to the place she is today with her work. 

"Each day needs to be experienced and not taken for granted. It requires determination to be alive, to confront challenges and be present. I remember distinctly finding this quote from Benjamin Franklin not long after my brother's death. "Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of." It has remained in my mind ever since, as I strive to grasp every moment, forge ahead, and do my best."

Frances Palmer

 

Caterpillars and Butterflies

 

 

Three years ago, I planted several variety of milkweed. I wanted to create a Monarch Butterfly Garden. And I was in hopes to witness the entire cycle of the Monarch Butterfly in my garden. 

This year it has happened.

Monarch butterflies visited and laid eggs.

The eggs hatched.

Caterpillars began to munch.

And another cycle of life was created.

 

 

Caterpillars happily munching.

 

My excitement grew as we had more caterpillars munching. And more butterflies flying from flower to flower in the garden.

Each morning and evening I take a peek to see what our little caterpillar neighbors are up too.

 Eating. Growing. Eating. Growing.

That seems to be the daily agenda.

God has given so many gifts. Watching the life cycle of a Monarch Butterfly is a true gift.

I am so blessed my little garden has become a Home Sweet Home for these amazing butterflies.

 

Tips for Sunflower Bouquets

 Hello Friends,

Many times sunflowers will lose petals before the rest of our bouquet flowers are spent.

Here is a fun tip to create a lovely late summer bouquet using your spent sunflowers.

Take off the petals that are falling off and those that are not to leave the big beautiful seed head.

Using the seed heads arrange your bouquet using the sunflower seed heads, flowers and foliage.

 

 

Ta Da ~ You have a lovely late summer bouquet.

I enjoy using seeds heads to create bouquets. Other seeds heads that I find fun to use in bouquets are

bees balm, poppy heads and cone flowers.

And can you believe I said "late summer bouquet" goodness, summer is starting to say goodbye. I have noticed the change in light, some color in trees and late summer flowers are starting to bloom along the roadside.

 ♥