Naperville Cultural Center News

Social entrepreneurs to speak at North Central College forum

2008-02-20T17:21:07Z

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Kim McCullough, Public Relations Director, 630/637-5307 Feb. 13, 2008––North Central College will host “Social Entrepreneurship and New Visions of Community Building,” a forum on applying business principles to effect social change, on Thursday, Feb. 21. Open to the public, the free forum will feature: • Gerald Thalmann, associate professor of accounting at North Central College, speaking on “Coffee, Chocolate, Students and Free Enterprise.” A certified public accountant, Thalmann co-advises North Central’s Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) organization. Among its activities, SIFE works with coffee and artisan cooperatives in Latin America and Africa to provide a profitable, socially conscious product line of jewelry, textiles, tote bags, T-shirts, coffee and other goods that has generated more than $10,000 in revenue for the overseas producers. • Cliff Parish, CEO and founder of RemoteLink and RemoteLink Philippines, Inc., speaking on “Frontline: Computers, the Church and Education in the Philippines.” Parish is also director of The NewThing Network-Asia, which works to multiply Christian missions in Asia. An active member of the BBL Forum for Christian chief executives, he has been a catalyst for new church plants, Christian schooling and adult education in the United States and the Philippines. • Kristin Dean, president of the Homan Square Community Center Foundation, speaking on “Homan Square: From Sears & Roebuck to Complete Community.” The Homan Square project, a $200 million redevelopment of the 55-acre former Sears, Roebuck and Co. headquarters on Chicago’s West Side, has won numerous local and national awards including the Urban Land Institute Award for Excellence and two Chicago Neighborhood Development Awards. • Keynote speaker Esther Benjamin, director of resource development for the International Partnership for Microbicides that works to provide retroviral drugs and training to women in the developing world, speaking on “Education for Social Change.” Benjamin, a 1990 North Central College alumna who serves on the College’s Board of Trustees, is a fellow with the U.S.-Japan Foundation and the U.S.-Southern Africa Center for Leadership and Public Values. She also is a member of the Echoing Green Foundation, which provides grants to social entrepreneurs and encourages careers of social service. Thalmann, Parish and Dean will speak beginning at 4:30 p.m. in Koten Chapel at Kiekhofer Hall, 329 E. School St. Benjamin’s keynote remarks will begin at 7 p.m. in Heininger Auditorium at Larrance Academic Center, 309 E. School St. For more information, contact Richard Guzman, North Central College professor of English and director of the master of arts in liberal studies program, at 630-637-5280. Founded in 1861, North Central College is an independent, comprehensive college of the liberal arts and sciences that offers more than 50 undergraduate majors and graduate programming in six areas. Located in the historic district of Naperville, Illinois, which was rated by Money magazine as the nation’s second “best place to live,” North Central College is just 30 minutes from Chicago’s Loop. With more than 2,000 full-time undergraduates and nearly 550 part-time undergraduate and graduate students, North Central College is committed to academic excellence, a climate that emphasizes leadership, ethics, values and service, a curriculum that balances job-related knowledge with a liberal arts foundation and a caring environment with small classes. North Central College is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. It is recognized as one of “America’s Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report; ranked as “a college for high-achieving students” by Peterson’s Competitive Colleges; and among a select number of schools profiled in Kaplan’s Unofficial Insider’s Guide to the 320 Most Interesting Colleges.

Keep Asking WHY

2008-02-15T16:25:35Z

I probably opened up the local news only to find more crazy devastation everywhere again and as usual. Why Why Why?! I kept wondering - I wondered it so much that after a while I stopped wanting to wonder Why - I didn't care. The world stinks and people are depressed and over medicated and we're going to end up like how it was in Alfonso Cuaron's Children of Men. Who cares. Yes, DeKalb. That is what I'm talking about. Our Art teacher lives there and goes to school there and there is a road that you pass as you get there called Peace Road - of course then I imagine it all tattered and falling off the hinges like in a scene from Terminator II. Why Why Why. That's when I realized that when we ask why we DO care - and a plethora of mottos started rushing to my head. The greats like Make Love Not War, Guns for Plowshares, Question Authority. So where are we today? Are there indeed enough people who value LIFE - not just being but the QUALITY of LIFE to make the hard decisions - to BUY the GREEN stuff (I meant environmentally safe... by the way) - to DROP OUT of society and live for happiness not money? Honestly I doubt it. I don't think people in general are willing to bust a**... Because that is what it takes. Believe me... and I don't do a fifth of what I'd liek to be doing. Brings to mind two concepts. One from someone I miss dearly - it is the concept of 'All In'. Like the poker term. All In... All the time though.... What and interesting concept I thought and wondered how many of us live like that? It doesn't mean - to me at least - that we live self indulgently. I believe it means to take risks. Now how about this: Taking Risks BECAUSE it is the Right Thing To Do. How many people do you know that do THAT? Now those are our Hero's. That is exactly what a hero would do. And we can do this every day with even the littlest of choices - THINK ABOUT IT. The Other fellow I met "Lost his Shirt" persuing some endeavor. What it brought to mind is that this is exactly what springboards investors - yes I mean YOU - to say bet on something Safe; buy that thing that came out of the coal burning plant because They pay their workers a penny per pound and it's cheap and the profits are HUGE ...HALLELLUJA! Hmm.... what the heck does this have to do with the shooter in DeKalb? The answer to that question is embedded in the subtlies of Quality of Life. Are we *medicated* because we're depressed? Are we *consuming Junk*? Do we make time to *meditate and relax*? Are we *Kind* to strangers? Do we *encourage* kindness? I mean as a society... Who are we? Where are we going? And how did we get Here? Just thoughts.

Hiding from ourselves

2008-02-08T15:27:49Z

Diversity issues is one of those things that people seem to want to either be really vocal about or just ignore altogether. Even if it is about ourselves. It's so easy to get on the defensive, or be the 'activist', or pretend prejudice is a thing of the past. I had a conversation with a friend-at-the-time last year about the start of an advocacy group - I fully thought this would be for the oh-so discriminated against Artists who are under-represented (the way we like them) and thought this person would be interested because of his deep passion for jazz and music and art. Before I was able to get into it further he jumped to the conclusion that I was talking about race issues and blurted "I do not affiliate with advocacy groups because my way of equalling the scales is being a big tipper at restaurants - everyone assumes that because I'm (of a certain race) I will not be a good tipper - and I want to prove that I have just as much spending power as anyone else." After unsuccessfully trying to calm him, I discovered that my idea would not get heard that day and it would be best if I just persued another course of action. So what happened here? When I think about social programs, the ones that have to do with diversity, the promenent ones, tend to pop out in my mind as extreme. As I've traveled along on this little "art project' of mine better known as the cultural center (I should write a dissertation about it!), I have discovered people who want to remind me that I am American afterall you know. I call this my art project because this is the thing that I would like to sculpt to make my world a more beautiful place. This is simply an art project because it is an aesthetic creation. Living public art that you can experience... and hopefully it will be a good one! Anyone can come here and take art or music or just sit around - too bad I don't have a little cafe! Maybe one day! If I were to make a wish list it would include a sitting area with refreshments, an exhibit area with lecture space & plenty of classrooms for languages and the arts. Now how beautiful would that be?! I had an interesting email from an "underground" artist recently - that was interesting too. I never felt more pleased that I was not organized by a large beauracracy! Although, financially it's a whole heck of a lot safer. Whatever that is. So anyway - it went like this: Would be nice to join if as the social underground would stop hinting that only blacks with the Obama skin type are really welcome, even if your social IQ is less than expected. The question is: Is "diversity" now a commercial mantra? me: Not sure what you are asking - but commercial mantra or not - you are a part of society. And the society you are a part of has a diverse population. That may be true from a sociological perspective, but in current real-time existence, those of us who have our mental fingers on the pulse of society are aware of pockets of gradual unraveling of traditional social structures. This means that these changes are below the "mainstream radar screen", and the resulting social entity incurs the social risk of not just linguistic and national diversity, but racial diversity, which is a national joke in the greater Chicago. I am trying to simplify what was unclear when I referred to the "social underground". Certainly by default we all are a part of society, but society is like a Set Construct, and within that Set, there are subsets-(culture/subculture), which are pretty well established understandings of social fabrics throughout the Western world. {The question is: Is "diversity" now a commercial mantra? } It was really intended to be a rhetorical question, but to amplify its meaning: Where is the reality behind the ‘diversity’ banner, or is it just a slogan to enhance a commercial image? Resipsaloquitur You discretely or wisely ignored the Obama comment. Any thoughts?

Super Tuesday.. I dunno. Wednesday was pretty good. Tuesday was nice, but would I call it 'super'... gosh.. I just don't know~

2008-02-07T01:22:46Z

If you voted yesterday it means you are not yet a complete cynic - you haven't given up! Good for you! Polls showed record breaking numbers for the voter turn out - hmmm - wonder why. There were also a number of little tests and quizes out there to see of you are truly aligned with your candidate. Be careful though - as I was wading through them I found a lot had all kinds of crazy sales pitches at the end, or questions that obviously probed for additional information about my demographics. A good quiz will be from a college, university or study (and even still I'd take two because, hey, colleges can be slanty too... not that I'm a cynic or anything)... The irony for me is that they say that less taxes, less government is the way of one group... the group that wants to privatize everything - they keep raising the taxes. The other bunch is supposed to want more government, trust the government, vote for more taxes & they are just the stingiest most curmudgeonly folk I've ever met! They don't even want the government to pay for school repairs - but that's just the cranky ol' people I guess I've been talking to (bless their hearts). Well, whatever. Have a strange surreal experience on me. When I listen to this enough, I start talking with a drawl. It's kinda cool:

Another fun personality tester

2008-02-03T17:42:19Z

A few months ago I read the Golden Compass - fabulous book and would like to find the time for the other two. The movie, however, was not as good. The treasures are in the subtle details of this book and I felt that certain points were unnecessarily exaggerated in the film. The book is very personal and insightful to the flaws and hidden strengths often found when pursuing study of what is known as the human condition. The website for the film is pretty fun. Go to the website and click on daemon, then click on meet your daemon. Controversy over these terms is really to me just silly arguement over semantics. These "daemons" really are merely an expression of our emotions revealed. Often we cover these, or hide them. But this story examines the idea that our emotions hold truths about who or what we are. If that is so, or not, is irrelevant. The idea is something we all know and experience often enough.. Now, go to meet you daemon - your own personal animal guide and attendant - :^) Enjoy~

Donuts, vitamins & Shamanic Journeying

2008-02-02T20:55:05Z

Being a slob is an art - I am convinced of it. You have to be really crafty to be a good slob. Sometimes I revel in it. Donuts and daily vitamins: breakfast, lunch and dinner. That was my Friday. We were completely out of fruits and veggies and someone made the mistake of putting a big box of donuts unattended on the table! What's a poor girl to do? As I am an Aquarius, I notice that my horoscopes always prescribe to my dilemas a day late and a dollar short ~ Todays read: Watch out for the donuts. Thanks. Last weekend I went to a Shamanic Journeying session conducted by Dr. Esther Geitner, shamanic practitioner & Hyptnotist (maybe she can help me with my donut problem?) Esther was a student of Michael Harner, founder of the foundation for Shamanic Studies. While there we bundled up and carefully placed eye pillows over our eyes and laid back while listening to drumming rythms. About 220 beats per minute to be exact which is meant to bring the meditator to a 'shamanic state of consciousness'. I'm very interested in this idea of natural living and healing - but I cannot brag about being very disciplined. I was spoiled when I was a child, I guess. I feel I've seen the long term effects of what could be called Un-natural healing & it's just not pretty. Let me think of a few examples, hmm, Elvis.... Liza Minelli... Jackson's (your pick)... Very creative these shamanic practitioners. The don't prefer to call themselves *shamans* because they say this is an aboriginal word best left defined by those who are decendants of past shamans. I looked into this. It seemed to be quite controversial: a little shamanic drama I reckon. Not even shamans can escape the tabloids. So I listened and relaxed and was told to travel into an imaginary garden and wish for an animal spirit to visit - it was very clear and very beautiful - there was sagebrush and desert and birds - and depending then on how this animal spirit felt it could be what the core shamans call a power animal - the power animal is the animal guide. It's pretty cool actually. I like animals - they're cute and and cudly and live purely. The idea is like that of finding a 'totem' - that the attributes of this animal are your attributes. Mine was the coyote. I didn't really know what that meant so Esther told me to look it up - Here's what I found: Coyote is the antihero whose antics make it easier to see ourselves. Coyote's Wisdom Includes: Understanding that all things are sacred--yet nothing is sacred Teaching that only when all masks have fallen will we connect with the Source Intelligence Singing humans into being Childhood trust in truth Teaching us how to rear our young Brings rain Ability to laugh at one’s own mistakes Placing the North Star Shape-shifting Teaching balance between risk and safety Illumination Stealth Well, I didn't really get the part about 'singing humans into being' but the rest brought words to the way I'd been feeling lately. It's fun anyway. I wonder if coyotes eat donuts?

Heritage Fest at Ranch View Elementary

2008-01-24T15:36:51Z

What a wonderful evening and what a wonderful tag line and quote! I could not have said it better - The idea of "Passport to Friendship" ties the ideas of Diversity and Acceptance together perfectly and simply. The quote says:

"Friendship is the only cement that will ever hold the world together." ~ Woodrow Wilson This was the 5th school we've been in this year participating in multi-cultural fairs. Like other schools, the children were given 'passports' they'd have to get stamped at each station they went to. There was a variety of of tasty ethnic foods, colorful booth displays, and interesting performances. Nine years ago Miss Bartolotta, the LRC Director at Mill Elementary, conducted the first multi-cultural fair in the Naperville elementary schools - she suspects North Central College may be the first among Naperville schools in general. However, this seemed to be the start of an exciting new trend. They are well organized and fun and the people of our town love it because not only it is all about us and our own heritage, it teaches about so many beautiful and compelling places around the globe. Each of the places have a story to tell that often enough engages us on a level we have not reached enough. Miss Bartolotta and I talked several times about the difficulties of peer pressure and the struggles of growing up. It can be easy to question without care when one child dresses differently, or eats a food that smells differently, or perhaps has a bindi, or doesn't practice the same holiday traditions. Children don't intend to be hurtful or accusatory when the questions come out - but it can be intimidating to get asked the questions because it points out that child as being different. Multicultural fairs provides an occasion for questions about the variety of traditions we practice, foods we eat, clothes we wear or languages we speak to be asked and explored in a non threatening way. It provides a time when kids are allowed to ask the questions. We are all different from one another. And our world and lives are in constant motion. It was very encouraging to hear the types of conversations parents and children were having - and the enthusiasm in the voices as they were involved in the process of discovery.

Membership, Diversity, Theater Board & Downtown Parking

2008-01-24T15:28:00Z

Welcome to the new year! I am so excited about this new membership booklet the Check Awards is putting together for us - it is just coming along so beautifully and is going to be Full to Overflowing with all kinds of great activities all around the Naperville area. Sponsors of the book include dining in at Raffi's on 5th Mediteranean Cuisine, Philip's Flowers delivery, activities at the Contemporary Studio of Glass Art, Piano Lessons, Downtown Music Together, Create-A-Mosaic & SO MUCH MORE! This member book is your passport to fun all around town ~ with literally Hundreds of dollars worth of Amazing stuff. We are kicking off this member drive with online pre-sales already underway and are planning a date for a family friendly open house in February! Just log on to store.naperculture.org/frofnacuce.html to recieve your member book - or to see all the membership options and to learn more about the Cultural Center, log on to store.naperculture.org/spme.html. ]]> Diversity If you google diversity you can everything from anti-hate education to how to improve your work dynamic (through the benefits of the individual and specialized knowledge of a diverse work group). I become surprised often enough by the announcements of 'first timers' every now and again such as Lovie Smith, Barack Obama, Hilary Clinton, Katherine Hughes, Muriel Siebert, and others. Perhaps this person is the first woman CEO or the first Japanese MVP, or whatever. I wonder if they even thing about that at all. Yet it is marked in the history books. Their mark. Their acheivement. That brings a smile. I cannot really imagine living in less than the open society we have today. Being told I cannot do something not due to lack of ability but because of a preference or superficial characteristic. I cannot imagine it. I had the pleasure of hosting some friends the other night. Buckets of fabulously interesting stories filled the air. I intended to treat everyone to an art project. Who knows what could happen if one were to mix a little wine with mosaic making. Well, we never even got to it. I had to remind two young ladies to fill the plates they'd been holding for a good 20 minutes or so. You'd think their tummies would have rumbled at some point. But during the discussions I realized we had about 20 different countries represented in the room. At least. The very next day a girl friend of mine came in who organizes and founded Seeds of Grace (yet other great opportunity for helping humanity!) and she suggested how interesting it might be to have some sort of geneology workshop. I thought of Jeffrey Bockman immediately. Currently his book can be found at Anderson's as well as here at the center. I never really checked it out - but thought it to be a good foundation for someone's search for their own history. How did we get to talking about that? Oh yea, identity. It is amazing how such a little thing can impact a person. Maybe not immediately - I'm certainly not saying it is a panacea - however - I have seen how knowing our personal histories have impacted our self esteem, our kindness, our relationship with others. Think about it. Some of us know our geneology very well - and others have had it hidden or stolen. For myself, the story goes that my grandmother was Irish, but adopted by a German family - the Rubens - who immigrated to America. The records were not kept and the history was lost. There is another side to this arguement, however. It has to do with living in the present moment. Being Present. Awareness. But that never kept the questions or longing from popping up. I just curb them by remembering that, well, it isn't the mailman's fault the records were lost, and worrying about it isn't going to help me get my kids lunch made and ... well... it's in the past. Finally at 35 years old... I can let somethings remain in the past. I know. It takes me a long time! I've come to believe that this Identity thing must be one of those things that people either Really care about - or perhaps don't care about at all. I think I've made up for my blogging silence for the past 4 months... Volunteering Volunteers are the backbone of any not-for-profit organization. It truly takes a community of support to provide the kind of enriching programs not-for-profit organizations have to offer. And the best part is there is something for everyone. You can support local agricultural efforts through Illinois Green Pastures. You can volunteer at the hospital, church, PADS, food pantry, pet shelter, symphony, or children's museum. And that is not to mention the programs at the schools. To be most effective as a volunteer, find something that suits what you are passionate about. This is something that can be done with your parent, or children or friends. Set goals and define timelines that you can stick to. Don't be unrealistic about the time you can commit. The organization you are volunteering for most likely would rather be able to trust your commitment than get excited about an over commitment that is unkept. Remember that stepping forward as a volunteer means you are there for them and that they will be reliant upon you. Volunteering is a fabulous way to meet new friends, be a part of the community and foster happiness. Just keep it simple. The Grounded Theatre is currently looking for board members who are interested in marketing and fund raising. This board only meets a few times per year to discuss the two major performances they produce at the Comedy Shrine. Board members do get comps for shows. Cuurrently working on: Crimes of the Heart from March 8th to April 19. For more information contact Karen Rosenberg. Downtown Parking Please be aware, construction has started across the street from the Main Street Promenade on the corner of Main and Van Buren in the flat lot. Although it only held 51 parking spots, this can often be an interruption to our routines. Take extra time to get to where you want to get to around town. There are two other large flat lots, a parking deck, and street parking all around the Main, Van Buren and Benton Street area if you are headed to the Promenade or around the North side of downtown. 2 hour street parking is allowed across Benton on Main, on Benton, and on Webster. There are two other CBD parking decks also: one is on Chicago Ave., the other is at the municipal building. Cheers~ M

A Time of Change

2007-09-01T17:09:00Z

This fall is a great time with many changes for the Naperville Cultural Center. We have said our good byes to Universal Spirit Yoga and Fun Lovin' Yoga with hugs and tears. It has been a wonderful two years with a lot of growth and self-discovery for all. We wish them all the best in the continuation of their journey~ Happiness and all the Best Blessings upon them! In this time of change, I am very happy to announce that the universe is bringing new additions to our Cultural Center family! I am very happy and honored to welcome the first of many new members: Welcome Sarah Starnes of Jagati music! Sarah Starnes began practicing Hatha Yoga when she was twelve, and has always been very connected to a spiritual path in life. She is an Anusara-inspired yoga instructor. Sarah will be conducting classes Wed. Sept. 5th at 9:30am, Sat. Sept. 8th at 9am, and Mon. Sept. 10th at 8pm. Classes will continue weekly from that point on as long as you keep coming! I would also like to Welcome Downtown Music Together, a music program for children and their families 0-5 years old! They will be conducting classes Mondays from 930am - 1130am at the Cultural Center! For more about Sarah Starnes or Downtown Music together please read more!]]> Sarah has many wonderful teachers including Sianna Sherman, John Friend, Darren Rhodes, Ross Rayburn, Billie Topa Tate, Ganga White, Mitchel Bleier, Paul Grilley, Doug Keller and Brent Miller. She has received advanced Hatha Yoga certifications through the White Lotus Foundation in Santa Barbara, CA. She is also a certified Reiki Adept Master Teacher and Nomena Healer through the Mystical Sciences Institute in Evanston, IL. Sarah is currently working on becoming a Certified Anusara Yoga Instructor, and her classes are very deeply influenced by this style of teaching. She has taught yoga in the city and suburbs of Chicago, as well as in Kauai and Italy. Sarah's teaching explores the energetic subtleties of a yoga practice, along with anatomical alignment principles that are modified for each individual person, bringing music and a joyful creativity into the physical flow of postures. She brings a fun, blissful and compassionate energy to her classes, providing a safe and happy environment for students of all ages and levels of experience. Sarah's passions include Anusara yoga, kirtan mantra and music, partner/acro yoga, tap dancing, rock climbing, horseback riding, writing songs and poetry, painting and exploring anything new to create, or learn and grow from. *********** Music Together is an internationally recognized early childhood music program for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, created in 1987 by co-authors Ken Guilmartin and Lili Levinowitz. The curriculum, based on extensive, ongoing research at the Center for Music and Young Children in Princeton, New Jersey, teaches young children the way they learn best - through play and exploration, in the company of adults they love. The Music Together philosophy is that all children are musical and, therefore, can achieve basic music competence. Our classes are an informal music and movement experience for children, birth through age 5, and their parent(s) or caregiver. Performance is not a requirement in our classes! Our classes build on your child's natural enthusiasm for music and movement. We'll help you provide your child with the basic musical skills needed to enjoy school and social musical activities, and to study an instrument should he or she choose to do so.

Gratefullness

2007-08-01T17:09:09Z

always remain true to all that is good and honest I know I will always find happyness and happyness will always find me. So I've a list of quotes to share - but don't just sit around and read them all at once! You have a Great Life to go out and live~ Enjoy!]]> ****** Don't be fooled by the calendar. There are only as many days in the year as you make use of. ~Charles Richards Waiting for the fish to bite or waiting for wind to fly a kite. Or waiting around for Friday night or waiting perhaps for their Uncle Jake or a pot to boil or a better break or a string of pearls or a pair of pants or a wig with curls or another chance. Everyone is just waiting. ~Dr. Seuss Enjoy yourself. It's later than you think. ~Chinese Proverb Live every day as if it were your last and then some day you'll be right. ~H.H. "Breaker" Morant Go for it now. The future is promised to no one. ~Wayne Dyer I have died so little today, friend, forgive me. ~Thomas Lux Every man dies. Not every man really lives. ~Braveheart Do not take life too seriously. You will never get out of it alive. ~Elbert Hubbard As you grow older, you'll find the only things you regret are the things you didn't do. ~Zachary Scott Spend the afternoon. You can't take it with you. ~Annie Dillard Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today. ~James Dean Why always "not yet"? Do flowers in spring say "not yet"? ~Norman Douglas As if you could kill time without injuring eternity. ~Henry David Thoreau, "Economy," Walden, 1854 Life is not lost by dying; life is lost minute by minute, day by dragging day, in all the thousand small uncaring ways. ~Stephen Vincent Benét And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years. ~Abraham Lincoln There is no cure for birth and death save to enjoy the interval. ~George Santayana, "War Shrines," Soliloquies in England and Later Soliloquies, 1922 For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way. Something to be got through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life. ~Fr. Alfred D'Souza Time! where didst thou those years inter Which I have seene decease? ~William Habington Be happy while you're living, for you're a long time dead. ~Scottish Proverb To always be intending to live a new life, but never find time to set about it - this is as if a man should put off eating and drinking from one day to another till he be starved and destroyed. ~Walter Scott I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read and all the friends I want to see. ~John Burroughs Never forget that you must die; that death will come sooner than you expect... God has written the letters of death upon your hands. In the inside of your hands you will see the letters M.M. It means "Memento Mori" - remember you must die. ~J. Furniss, Tracts for Spiritual Reading There are a million ways to lose a work day, but not even a single way to get one back. ~Tom DeMarco and Timothy Lister To change one's life: Start immediately. Do it flamboyantly. No exceptions. ~William James Why must conversions always come so late? Why do people always apologize to corpses? ~David Brin A man that is young in years may be old in hours, if he has lost no time. ~Francis Bacon, Essays You will never find time for anything. If you want time you must make it. ~Charles Buxton Men for the sake of getting a living forget to live. ~Margaret Fuller Death twitches my ear. "Live," he says, "I am coming." ~Virgil (Publius Vergilius Maro), Minor Poems, Copa He has spent all his life in letting down empty buckets into empty wells; and he is frittering away his age in trying to draw them up again. ~Sydney Smith Fear not that life shall come to an end, but rather fear that it shall never have a beginning. ~John Henry Cardinal Newman You live longer once you realize that any time spent being unhappy is wasted. ~Ruth E. Renkl You may delay, but time will not. ~Benjamin Franklin We cannot waste time. We can only waste ourselves. ~George M. Adams How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. ~Annie Dillard, The Writing Life I would I could stand on a busy corner, hat in hand, and beg people to throw me all their wasted hours. ~Bernard Berenson I have spent my days stringing and unstringing my instrument, while the song I came to sing remains unsung. ~Tagore Many people die with their music still in them. Why is this so? Too often it is because they are always getting ready to live. Before they know it, time runs out. ~Oliver Wendell Holmes Contemplation often makes life miserable. We should act more, think less, and stop watching ourselves live. ~Nicolas de Chamfort I held a moment in my hand, brilliant as a star, fragile as a flower, a tiny sliver of one hour. I dripped it carelessly, Ah! I didn't know, I held opportunity. ~Hazel Lee We die daily. Happy those who daily come to life as well. ~George MacDonald Gather ye rose-buds while ye may; Old Time is still a-flying; And this same flower that smiles today, Tomorrow will be dying. ~Robert Herrick Most of us spend our lives as if we had another one in the bank. ~Ben Irwin If you wait, all that happens is that you get older. ~Larry McMurtry, Some Can Whistle When your life flashes before your eyes, make sure you've got plenty to watch. ~Author unknown, from a television commercial In theory one is aware that the earth revolves, but in practice one does not perceive it, the ground upon which one treads seems not to move, and one can live undisturbed. So it is with Time in one's life. ~Marcel Proust, The Past Recaptured, 1927 Our time consumes like smoke, and posts away; Nor can we treasure up a month or day: The sand within the transitory glass Doth haste, and so our silent minutes pass. ~Rowland Watkyns If I could only remember that the days were, not bricks to be laid row on row, to be built into a solid house, where one might dwell in safety and peace, but only food for the fires of the heart. ~Edmund Wilson If we would only give, just once, the same amount of reflection to what we want to get out of life that we give to the question of what to do with a two weeks' vacation, we would be startled at our false standards and the aimless procession of our busy days. ~Dorothy Canfield Fisher Every day of our lives we are on the verge of making those slight changes that would make all the difference. ~Mignon McLaughlin, The Neurotic's Notebook, 1960 The word "now" is like a bomb through the window, and it ticks. ~Arthur Miller, After the Fall, 1964 Use your health, even to the point of wearing it out. That is what it is for. Spend all you have before you die; do not outlive yourself. ~George Bernard Shaw The clock talked loud. I threw it away, it scared me what it talked. ~Tillie Olsen, Tell Me a Riddle Life happens too fast for you ever to think about it. If you could just persuade people of this, but they insist on amassing information. ~Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. Here I am trying to live, or rather, I am trying to teach the death within me how to live. ~Jean Cocteau When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life in such a manner that when you die the world cries and you rejoice. ~Indian Saying Warning: Dates in Calendar are closer than they appear. ~Author Unknown Whether it's the best of times or the worst of times, it's the only time we've got. ~Art Buchwald If you woke up breathing, congratulations! You have another chance. ~Andrea Boydston though love be a day and life be nothing, it shall not stop kissing. ~e.e. cummings There are many To-morrows, my Love, my Love, - There is only one To-day. ~Joaquin Miller Life is always walking up to us and saying, "Come on in, the living's fine," and what do we do? Back off and take its picture. ~Russell Baker Catch, then, oh catch the transient hour; Improve each moment as it flies! Life's a short summer, man a flower; He dies - alas! how soon he dies! ~Samuel Johnson There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want. ~Bill Watterson, Calvin and Hobbes To-morrow - oh, 'twill never be, If we should live a thousand years! Our time is all to-day, to-day, The same, though changed; and while it flies With still small voice the moments say: "To-day, to-day, be wise, be wise." ~James Montgomery, To-day I don't want to get to the end of my life and find that I lived just the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well. ~Diane Ackerman

Reflecting while trying not to fall in

2007-07-22T16:51:03Z

The last week has been a blur. I try to always keep my eye on the future, but today, in this moment I have the past week of events on my mind. Leaving all conversations aside, where is the inspiration going to come from so that I - or, we, if you are feeling the same way - can move into the next day. So that I can find just a little bit of a peaceful place. Will it ever be there for me? A friend of mine tells me I am already there. That no matter what, it is the way it is meant to be and has always been meant to be. A tricky concept to subscribe to - Those buddhists - always trying to get us westerners to spin our wheels! ]]> Beautiful, Crazy English peoplegetting ready for a big day of Open House Celebrating. Be sure to keep an eye on that. Who knows what entails. I wont arrive until after 5, even though was there already once dropping off pasta and green beans and yummy asparagus & was there last night brooming and watching the construction guys all over the place! Yes, 5pm today is a good time to arrive for a party :^) Well, again, I am off to the races.

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Waking life - Free Will

2007-07-16T16:15:43Z

constantly amazed

2007-07-16T00:49:54Z

i know i live in a square town. but still everyday i realize how many talented and truly amazing individuals that i am surrounded by living here - or living there - it really doesn't matter. this world of ours shrinks and expands through our technological advances, open-heart and mindedness, as well as through what we fill it with. truly existential and creative at times. truly empty and peaceful at other times. finding balance is key. i don't claim to have that yet.
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The Naperville Culture Center Meetup Group!]]>

It's clever, It's responsible...and it's Art

2007-06-13T16:27:52Z

Having a not-for-profit business is a funny thing. It seems people think nfp's are government organizations, or separate from the rest of the world in some way: loftier, higher, to be founded by the wealthy, perhaps. Not for profit businesses are businesses at the end of every day, no matter how altruistic, philosophic, educational, or humanitarian.... http://www.naperculture.org/MidSummer.html The Naperville Cultural Center strives to promote artisans and artists that make a better world of the one we have been given to live in. Sometimes that is through beauty. Sometimes that is through reflection. Thank You to all our volunteers and idea generators and patrons and sponsors.]]>

A Simple Thought for the Future

2007-05-29T14:43:49Z

It occurs to me that I've never fully explained what I'm doing or why I'm doing it. Not that it matters really. Sometimes life boils down to either 'getting it' or 'not getting it'. Besides some of my favorite heroes never seemed to feel the need for explanation at all. They just Live. As we all perhaps should. Sometimes an explanation is like an excuse to try to make up for something. I get to hear a lot of those actually. I probably give a lot of them too. In such a busy time, things are bound to be forgotten. I think, however, that I have been fully honest vocally with anyone who's ever asked me about the cultural center. I'll say it's my mid-life crisis. And perhaps people should have them sooner. To me, this is my little red sport car or the younger romantic interest or the fad diet or fake tan. In the end everyone who has what is called a mid-life crisis is just trying to be accepted or decipher who they really are. We spend so much time trying to be who we should be, or what others want us to be. In time we’ve forgotten ourselves. We get out of alignment with ourselves, so to speak. Or perhaps, I should say, that's what happened to me. So I conceived and opened up this little place that I hoped many could enjoy. I thought that if I felt this way about this absence of identity, maybe other did too. The thing is... the identity is Beautiful, and Fun, and Dynamic... it's difficult to explain. It's complex ... a paradox... like a mandala: reflective, an ever changing maze, a stream of consciousness. My simple thought for the future. The dream is not fully realized. Wouldn’t it be nice to see a permanent multi-cultural hands on art exhibit be present. It could consist of things for younger children like dress-up clothes, or plastic foods, or art activities. For those who want to show their children the world without getting on an airplane. And for older kids (like me), renditions of paintings or sculpture with descriptions could be displayed on the walls or pedestals. They could be touched, walked around, and read about. The Anasazi cliff paintings, for example, or Anagama Zen pottery, or cool sleek trends of popular culture throughout history, or images from world celebrations and what they symbolize. Where are you from? What about your parents? Grandparents? How far back do you have to go back in time before you find your family in another country? What was it like then? What is it like now? What an amazing world we do live in. This could be complemented with traveling exhibitions to keep the center current. And the exhibitions could be paired with film, or discussions, or books. I have a few in mind. But I’d love to hear from others as well! I remember when I worked at the Peace Museum in Chicago. I would ride the train and subway to get to Erie Street and walk all the way to the teeny weeny little place all the way at the desolate end of the road. It was adjacent to what were Cabrini Green housing projects at the time. I remember the little boys from there used to come in to ask to sweep for a dime or a quarter. A pretty sketchy neighborhood. I remember when someone told me that Yoko Ono gave them $20,000 that they were really doing well - because That was a Lot of Money! Well, yes that may be a lot of money. But when rent is $10,000 a month and you have to pay staff, and get new walls made for changing exhibits, and all that...$20,000 became a Symbol of Support... for an idea that was loved and cherished... This idea was living art...not a single sculpture, or a single painting, but a collection that indicated a movement, a shift in the paradigm. Later the museum grew. It attracted more famous supporters. It moved around. It inspired me. It taught me. It helped me grow as a person. Inspire. Teach. Grow. A simple thought for the future.