Tag Archives: creativity

Be Alive

Posted on November 15, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

I enjoy the counter cultural nature of Parker Palmer’s writing and the concepts in the Art of Hosting. I write about Parker‘s work often and he describes the listening we need to do to our inner teacher and others as counter cultural. When we invite people into conversation, listen deeply, and ask questions which shake our certainty about the world the same applies.

Today, I walked to the top of Cates Hill here on Bowen Island. It was spectacular. A colleague took this picture as I was writing. Notice I am on high ground and wearing sandals. I got up there of my accord

Perched pensively

Pencil in hand;

My senses alive

I awake–

Aware.

Sounds flow,

A breeze caresses,

Sunlight bathes,

Peaceful moments–

I bask in each.

11 Comments

Posted in Leadership, Mindful Life, Nature in All Its Glory, Photography, Poetry, Reflective Moments, Uncategorized and tagged Art of Hosting, Bowen Island, community, creativity, leadership, Mindful Practice, nature, Parker Palmer, poetry, teacher as transformer. Bookmark the permalink.

That Space, That Silence

Posted on November 14, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

It has been another long day. I am not always a politically correct person in the way some want. I struggle to say what the dominant group of the moment wants everyone to say. A reason we have polarization in the world is we want others to agree with us sometimes without giving reasons for it to happen. I might agree, but what about those who are not present?

That invisible space between us–

Between our truths

Sacred ground

Till it gently.

That silence you hear–

Almost imperceptible;

It is reverent

Hold it gently.

That space,

That silence,

Emerge magically

No recipe needed.

That space,

That silence,

Easily chased away–

Shhh…

15 Comments

Posted in Leadership, Learning Organizations, Mindful Life, Poetry, Reflective Moments and tagged conversational journey, creativity, Educational Leadership, Mindful Practice, poetry, teacher as transformer. Bookmark the permalink.

Stay Human My Friends

Posted on November 11, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

I ready for my Sabbath break. Yesterday morning, this Bizarro cartoon was in my blog reader. Todd’s posts are short and provocative, so the link is to his site for those who have not been there before. He gives me pause to think.

I shared this cartoon with a circle of acquaintance. We discussed the Most Interesting Man in the World advertisements for an adult beverage. I am an abstainer so the ads are humourous, but there is no chance I will buy the product.

What about a broader message? Instead of closing with “Stay Thirsty My Friends” or “Stay Filthy My Friend”, we could say, “Stay Human my Friends”?

Thich Nhat Hanh reminds me, “find the ordinary in the extraordinary.” I often miss those things which make me most alive and human. I find, in the ordinary so often missed, the extraordinary and live a mindful life.

Stay human my friends

Be one with the universe

Be compassionate.

17 Comments

Posted in Community, Haiku, Humour, Mindful Life, Poetry, Sabbath, Synchronicity and tagged Bizarro, community, creativity, eloquent questions, haiku, humour, Mindful Practice, poetry, spirituality, teacher as transformer. Bookmark the permalink.

Witness

Posted on November 10, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

Denise Levertov wrote this beautiful reminder for me. I awaken and grow aware of the world I live in and with. I only need make the effort to open my eyes, my mind, and my heart

Sometimes the mountain

is hidden from in veils

of cloud, sometimes

I am hidden from the mountain

in veils of inattention, apathy, fatigue,

when I forget or refuse to go

down to the shore or a few yards

up the road, on a clear day, to reconfirm

that witnessing presence.

8 Comments

Posted in Mindful Life, Poetry, Reflective Moments and tagged beautiful reminder, creativity, Denise Levertov, Mindful Practice, poetry, presence, spirituality, teacher as transformer. Bookmark the permalink.

Hear from the Heart

Posted on November 9, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

Silently–

Listen closely,

Differently–

What do you hear?

Pause–

Be open–

Allow momentary glimpses–

Here,

Hear from the heart;

Who do you hear?

The true self–

Breathe a soft invitation;

Surrender to spacious solitude;

Be with one’s self–

Be one’s self–

Oh, so gently.

10 Comments

Posted in Mindful Life, Poetry, Reflective Moments and tagged creativity, eloquent questions, Mindful Practice, poetry, spirituality, teacher as transformer. Bookmark the permalink.

The Right Moment Arrived

Posted on November 7, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

We were hit by a somewhat unexpected winter storm today. The forecasters predicted it for parts of northern Alberta, but it slumped towards Edmonton. Driving was slow, but I took my time and arrived on time, just when I was supposed to arrive. Sometimes in the fog or blizzard of life’s busyness, I lose my way. We are into report cards and we have the latest system designed just for us. I was not very happy yesterday and was letting stress get to me. Today, I took a message from nature and slowed down and it got done.

It arrived–

A winter storm

Unexpected,

I felt unsure

Slow down.

Grasping frantically,

Busyness overtakes

I let go

I arrive on time

In the very moment that just arrived.

16 Comments

Posted in Education, Mindful Life, Nature in All Its Glory, Poetry, Reflective Moments, Synchronicity and tagged creativity, education, Mindful Practice, poetry, teacher as transformer. Bookmark the permalink.

Self Discovery

Posted on November 7, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

Father Richard Rohr wrote an excellent meditation this morning. He wrote about discovering the self and all day his words came back into my quiet moments. I am tired, but I feel more awake now, because there is something exciting in being lost.

Discover self–

Imperfect, unrefined;

Genuine, real–

Not hidden;

Unvarnished, vulnerable.

Happiness appears;

Refuge

Falsehoods recede–

Ever so slowly,

Spirit wakens–

Revitalized and awake.

11 Comments

Posted in Mindful Life, Poetry, Reflective Moments and tagged creativity, father richard rohr, leadership, meditation, Mindful Practice, poetry, Richard Rohr, spirituality, teacher as transformer. Bookmark the permalink.

Teaching on the Margins

Posted on November 6, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

Last week, I wrote Mojo Gathers Momentum. A gift of my journey to Bainbridge was the realization I had lost the belief I was a good teacher. I have never believed this was my place to speak to that. There is a certain humility a teacher should have and extends beyond patting myself on the back. What I do know and recognize is I am different teacher. I have modeled my approach after teachers I believed operated on the margins and accepted that is their place. It was a place that they could do more good for students and the communities we live in.

false security

when hidden

yet, fully surrounded–

paradox of my humanness.

stand out

reveal blemishes

make them obvious

revel in them.

great teachers

found comfort on the margins

not hidden in the crowd

stepped out with pride.

humanness lived;

so fully

it reveals imperfections

for I am human, after all.

28 Comments

Posted in Community, Education, Mindful Life, Poetry, Reflective Moments and tagged community, creativity, education, leadership, Mindful Practice, Parker Palmer, poetry, teacher as transformer. Bookmark the permalink.

A Space for All Stories

Posted on November 2, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

It was a long week and I am not sure, in my tiredness, where this poem came from, but it appeared on the horizon. I thought I would try to let it write itself.

Listen–

Stories seek space

A space where they come to life

A space to speak their words.

Listen deeply–

Some stories

Of those oppressed

Remain unheard.

Listen with your heart–

Lean into those words,

Give those voices life

Join them with yours.

13 Comments

Posted in Mindful Life, Poetry, Reflective Moments and tagged creativity, leadership, Mindful Practice, poetry, teacher as transformer, writing. Bookmark the permalink.

Courage on the Edge

Posted on November 1, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

The dominant society or group within believes they control the conversation. What would happen if we trusted each other and made ourselves vulnerable? What would happen if we acknowledged and accepted differences? It takes courage, but it is possible. It takes us to acknowledge the other and reach out. In those moments of vulnerability and courage, we expose our self in ways that take us outside comfort zones.

There is courage in vulnerability

One sits on the edge;

The perimeter

Or margins

Not hidden in the crowd.

Expand boundaries–

Encourage and pull

Do not discourage and pull

Make invisible visible

Give a name to the other.

Create spaces;

Not for agreement