Winner of the Annual Shell Art Fair –My Sweetheart!

It is a three step process. 

Step 1:  Go to beach and collect shells.

Step 2:

Organize shells by color, texture and style.

Step 3:  Create.

“I like to let the light in.”–Richard Ryabik

I have the pleasure on some weekends to have a play date with one of my favorite 6-year olds, Ava Hasson, who adores arts and crafts and couples her artistic talent with a wild imagination.   Whether we are playing charades (for children) or pulling out her paint set, Ava’s creative talent quickly surfaces. Ava’s brush stroke is clean and uninhibited and if you ask her to paint a butterfly she takes it to the next step and delivers something very special–a flower and a caterpillar.  Last week, we played charades.  It was Ava’s turn and she stood tall and resolute with arms and legs open in a x-shape.  Everyone spoke out–“tree”, “fence”, “stop sign” with no success.  So Ava laid her body on the floor with arms and legs open in a x-shape again and gave us a hint–” I am at the bottom of the ocean”.  Her Mom, of course, had the aha moment.  So my dear little “Starfish”, I look forward to our next play date.

I wholeheartedly agree with what Picasso famously said, “every child is an artist.  The problem is to how to remain an artist when [we] grow up. “

It is Week Four in Training .  Rick and I don our gis and head to the “dojo” to study karate.  They say karate is mental and spiritual training that teaches courtesy, cooperation and patience.  The necessary traits to help us function in society.  But like everything we do in life, the most fascinating part is the people you meet along the way. 

The senseis “our teachers” are incredibly talented and quick.  We are taught skills in punching, sparring, kick boxing and snap kicking.  Our senseis are riddled with tattoos on their arms and chests and you cannot help but stare in fascination and wonder. There is a tribal feel among black belts and a culture we are just beginning to understand.

We arrive and chant the Seibukai Dojo Kun (student creed) that we will practice good manners at all times, cultivate a peaceful and harmonious mind, remain humble and devote ourselves to improving our minds, bodies and spirit. After the creed is spoke,  the real work begins for us.  It is a demanding exercise in physical  and mental acuity. 

Jupiter, FL  (September 3, 2010)

It is so clean and so pure.  You even get a sense of right and wrong.  Many lessons can be learned from riding waves like patience and how long you have to wait for what you want.

Do you wait, act or live to regret? No regrets here.