Yesterday, I sent an email to my newsletter list
and I said...
Do you have something you'd like to "Show & Tell" and talk about publicly?
Maybe an article, book, video, podcast, song, painting, product, activism project, workshop, or... something
else you've created?
Tell me what you're working on—and why you're so excited about it.
HOLY SNAPDRAGONS! I got so many
emails! I read every single one and I've compiled a big, beautiful list, which you'll find down below. It's our very first Community Show & Tell. (But not the last! I will definitely do this again in the future.)
To each person who contributed a project... thank you.
The world can be a distressing, frightening place, and you're all fighting back in the most incredible way: by writing, speaking up, making art, teaching, coaching, and spreading messages of beauty, resilience, laughter, kindness, and strength.
You are a lighthouse in the night.
- COMMUNITY SHOW & TELL -
{in no particular order}
- Jean sends out a Yoga Lovenote once a week. Her goal: "To bring a little peace and gentleness into a bumpy world."
- Susan plays one new board game every week, and then she posts a review on her blog,
Game On.
- Rebecca wrote an article about the magic of human
connection. - Dale just released an album of choral music called How To Go On. This is one of the songs.
- Dave made a class called Unavoidable Writing. It's about getting through creative resistance and turning fear into fuel.
- Layan started a blog and this is one of her favorite
pieces.
- Chloe created The 28-Day Gratitude Project. One of her favorite quotes is: "Every day may not be good, but there's something good in every day.” —Alice Morse Earle
- Topaz wrote and starred in a short film called SUPERNOVA. In her own words: "This film explores the loveliness in loneliness and the infinite wonder we
find when we allow ourselves to bloom into the empty."
- Elizabeth wrote a book filled with lessons on dating, love, and jumpstarting your career. After years of wanting to write a book, she finally
buckled down and did it! Yessss!
- A different Marianne has a new children's book that's coming out this fall. It's called Be Brave Little One.
- Temple is the producer, creator, and host of a show called Hello
Vancouver. Each episode includes interviews, videos, a musical guest, and silliness!
- Melissa wrote a book called Stella's Stars, about a young artist who is granted the
ability to see a deceased loved one for a final time.
- Ella started the Creative Ladies Coalition. It's a place for women who want to own their power and create something
awesome.
- Pascale just released her second novel— a sexy, suspenseful love story about people coming to terms with the complexity of desire and the danger of secrets. Ooh la la! You can download the first chapter here.
- Milena wrote an article about how to quiet the inner chatter in your mind so you can become calmer, more patient, and more
focused.
- Danni wrote an article about being transgender and it got published in Danni's university
newspaper.
- Emma wants to help people stop obsessing about food and just... EAT! She's been passionately writing about food, ease, and pleasure.
- Joanna owns a business called Three Boudoir. They've done over 1500 boudoir photography sessions to date!
- Esther runs an event series in London called Therapy Is Not A Dirty Word. You can learn about what therapy is (and isn't), ask tons of questions, meet interesting people, sip on a cocktail, and have fun!
- Kris hosts a podcast called Inspired Vixens, celebrating women, creativity, and unconventional thinking.
- Alexa runs Wishbeads. She shows you how to write down a wish and
transform it into a piece of jewelry. So cool!
- Linda makes stunning artwork inspired by mythology and folklore. She can create a custom portrait of your spirit animal. Here's one of her creations...
- Holly started a fashion blog called Who Wears Who? She
writes about clothing and personal style with a big dose of empowerment.
- Kathy wrote a memoir about breaking away from a cult-ish religious
organization—and she started a blog called Love Is Better.
- Jordan helps people create thrilling, fulfilling, super sexy relationships. He's doing some workshops later this year and he's soooo excited. You can get on his mailing list for more info.
- A different Amanda wrote a book called Becoming Enough: A Heroine’s Journey to the Already Perfect Self. It's being released very soon. You can get info on her site.
- Jessie and Kathy created Chasing Rainbow Tales, a series of children's books that deal with heartbreaking topics. Their goal: "To explain to children that sometimes, difficult things can happen but there are people in this world that can help you heal." Here's one of their storybook
characters...
- Tonia is teaching a new class called Your Delightful Life. It's all about the art of self-care, covering areas like: saying no, sleep, food, exercise, and meditation. Info
will be posted soon on her site.
- Nicole just released Season 10 of her show, Real Talk Radio, featuring conversations on topics
like: feminism, fatphobia, gender inclusivity, writing, running ultra-marathons, overcoming addiction, and more. This show is uhhhh-mazing.
- Cindy submitted 15 minutes of music to the Sundance Composer Lab. Hopefully she'll be selected! Fingers crossed! You can listen to her music here.
- Justin got a new job at FUEL Yoga Workouts. Congrats, Justin! (It's a brand new studio and I've taken a couple classes there. Very intense, sweaty, and so much fun!)
- Phoenix and Anya opened a company called Empowered Domains, offering web design and branding services plus e-course development and other cool services.
- Jacqueline is pursuing her dream! After lots of preparing and planning, she quit her job so she can be self-employed and homeschool her kids. Wow!
And last but certainly not
least...
- Mavis just bought a new bicycle, for the first time in decades! Despite having some mobility issues due to Cerebral Palsy, she's learning how to ride again. Wheelin' and zippin' all over town! Have fun, Mavis!
. .
.
This concludes our first ever Community Show & Tell.
I hope this list brought some fresh energy and inspiration into your day.
Sometimes, hearing about other people's creative work can make you
feel amazing ("The world is such an incredible place!" "Everything is possible!" "There are no limits!").
But other times, depending on your mood, hearing about other people's work can make you feel really distressed ("Ugh, other people are so amazing but NOT ME because I SUCK." "I could never create anything like that." "I'm a lazy slug." "My website is dumb." "I
hate my life.")
If you're feeling icky right now—feeling like you're not creative / smart / cool / productive / brave / disciplined / strong / talented enough—please stand up, do five jumping jacks, or clap your hands, or swivel your hips in a big circle, and remind yourself, "Those negative
thoughts are NOT TRUE."
Shake the negativity out of your body. Then sit down and write a "thank you" note to someone you care about. Stamp it. Mail it. Or email it. Send it now.
By writing a "thank you" note,
you'll remind yourself that you can write. You can create beautiful things. You can contribute to the world in a positive way. You can make a big difference in someone's day.
You can create something beautiful for one person, two people, or thousands of people to enjoy.
It doesn't have to be complicated.
You just have to decide to do it.
-Alex
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