You Found Me 14 Sep 2012 12:02 PM (12 years ago)

So, after not speaking to you for over a year, we are somehow inexplicably linked out there in the ether. I have no idea how that happened and to be honest, when I found out- I was utterly stunned into immobility. I wanted to press that disconnect button that would sever our virtual tie, but curiosity got the better of me. So it remains there like the gossamer tendrils of the spider web that connected us so long ago.

I'm wondering who will have the courage to pull the lever.....

Copyright Michelle Beckham-Corbin 2011-2012

Cycle of Life 11 May 2012 5:19 AM (12 years ago)

Life is a never ending cycle: birth and death transform our world continuously. I say good bye today to my mom's only remaining sibling (of 8), Gertie Fontenot Jolivette Wilson and welcome the newest member, 36 hour old Peyton Elizabeth. We are given a short time on earth, our maxim should be to make a difference....

Copyright Michelle Beckham-Corbin 2011-2012

Cincinnati Social Media Marketing Series for Creatives & Others 13 Apr 2012 5:48 AM (12 years ago)

Excited about a new partnership with the Mason-Deerfield Arts Alliance in Cincinnati. We have teamed to bring together social media educational programming for Creatives: artists, writers, directors of arts organizations, marketing managers for arts organizations and businesses, musicians and anyone who wants to learn more about digital marketing. Here's the full info:

Please join C3: Creating Connections Consulting, LLC and the Mason-Deerfield Arts Alliance for four (4) unique Social Media Marketing seminars that can enhance your marketing efforts; build awareness around your work or organization; and help you to connect with your target audience online. It is our goal to help artists, creatives and leaders of arts organizations to get the digital marketing education that they need to utilize key social media tools to their fullest potential. We're here to assist you in showcasing your work, your organization and your business in the best possible digital light. Each seminar can be taken independently of the others, but as a series, are designed from an introductory level to the final advanced class. Not in the arts field? Don't feel left out. Social Media Marketing is key for all organizations, non-profits, small business, and solo-preneurs. All are welcome to attend. Space is limited, so register early!

Seminars and workshops will be taught by Michelle Beckham-Corbin, President & Social Media Strategist at C3. Creating Connections Consulting. Michelle is a long time trainer and presenter in the social media education field and is a Procter & Gamble Marketing and Customer Business Development alum having spent 15 years with some of the biggest brands in the consumer packaged goods industry. Read more about Michelle here.

Introduction to Social Media Marketing (includes Pinterest)

Date: Thursday, 4/19

Time: 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. (2 hours)

Cost: $59.00

This seminar provides an overview of key social media platforms that arts organizations should consider integrating into their marketing efforts in order to reach their target market, build awareness, and establish relationships that lead to an increased call to action response. We will examine: Facebook Pages, Twitter, Blogs, YouTube and the rapidly exploding Pinterest. Examples from the Arts Industry will be show-cased and live sites will be examined. Strategic planning and reputation management systems will be discussed. Participants from all fields and industries are welcome!

Learning outcomes:

Greater understanding of key social media marketing tools
Importance of setting a social media marketing strategy
Why goals and measures are important
How to create a social media plan
Reputation Management & monitoring tools

Additional courses include:

Facebook Page Timeline & Settings Optimization Seminar
Info HERE

Exploding Your Organizations' Reach with Pinterest
Info HERE

Facebook Page Marketing Strategies Seminar
Info HERE

Copyright Michelle Beckham-Corbin 2011-2012

This I Believe 16 Nov 2011 4:24 AM (13 years ago)

Recently read the book of essays entiled, This I Believe, The Personal Philosophies Of Remarkable Men And Women edited by Jay Allison and Dan Gediman and have been thinking about what I believe in. Here is an unedited post-morning coffee stream of consciousness regarding what I believe in. Would love to have you share your beliefs with me as well.

I believe in Integrity and Truthfulness

Standing up for what is right and just, not what is popular sentiment

Action and taking a stand vs. camping out on Wall Street and protesting

That any two committed individuals have the right to be together regardless of their sexual orientation

I am opposed to death of any kind: abortion, capital punishment, euthanasia, mercy killing, WAR

I believe in self-sufficiency and the community (neighborhood, church, support group, whatever) taking care of its own and the government NOT giving out handouts

I believe in the power of education, both formal and informal and its ability to transform a life

I believe that there is a heaven of sorts, not necessarily a place, but a state of mind

I believe that evil does exist and it walks the land in the guise of human nature

I have strong faith and love my Catholic religion while recognizing that other faith communities exist alongside- whether they are Christian or not.

I believe any individual who has led a good and faith-filled life will enter that state of mind called Heaven regardless of whether they are Catholic or Christian, Muslim or Hindu.

I believe in holding on to dreams and using them as guideposts for living.

I believe in the power to transform lives through actions and mighty endeavors.

I believe that you can have many loves in your life.

I believe that the power of friendship is more valuable than all the oil in the world.

I believe in believing in YOU.

What do you believe in?

Copyright Michelle Beckham-Corbin 2011-2012

Apocalypse 7 Nov 2011 6:13 AM (13 years ago)

Frozen landscape

Dark, desolate

Sun absent in the sky

Falling ash, ashen snow......

What would you do if there was an apocalypse and you were one of the few remaining on earth? How would your faith be tested? In the movie The Road based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel of the same title by Cormac McCarthy, a man and his son find themselves in this scenario. The man’s wife has taken her own life unable to go on under the extreme conditions that they have been living under and hoping to create more of a chance of survival for the remaining two. The movie follows the pair on the road to reach the southern coast to find warmth and possible life. Along the way their values are tested profoundly and the boy must make a herculean choice.

What struck me the most was looking at the breakdown of society and the construction of a new order in which people were no longer valued for their humanity. To witness the savagery that people turned to in their desperation in order to survive was shocking. It became a crowd mentality, where people acquiesced in order not to be on the outside: the ones attacked and ultimately eaten. There was a renegade leadership running rampant that followed the mantra of survival of the fittest and if you were outside of one of these groups, you literally were running for your life.

One image that continues to haunt me is the scene involving a loaded gun: their only means of protection. In this scene the father shows his little boy how to put the pistol in his mouth and aim upwards toward his brain for a quick and painless death. The loaded gun that the father and son kept ultimately contained only one bullet and would be the saving grace to prevent the boy from a horrific end at the hands of the cannibalistic survivors. The father knew at this point that he was dying and would not be there to protect his son in the future. Such a tragic, tragic image. But within that image, there exists unconditional love.

Another theme that ran throughout the film and touched my core was that of trust. The boy asks a stranger at one point, “Are you one of the good guys?”. In a lawless and desperate society the role of good guy can flip on a dime. We can only trust our instincts and make a decision based on the information that we have at hand.

I suppose the answer to how you would handle being in a similar situation would depend upon your faith and your views of life, death and after-life. I hope we never see an apocalypse in a million lifetimes from now, but if we did, I know what I would do.

Do you?

Copyright Michelle Beckham-Corbin 2011-2012

Nirvana & Naming 17 Oct 2011 6:25 AM (13 years ago)

Just found an errant page that belongs to my unpublished novel. As I read the lines that were written five years ago, I was struck by the power of the words. The voice is that of Gabrielle writing of her soul mate, Jon, in the pages of her personal journal. They are young adults who met as teens through an online game. Here is a small excerpt from a larger piece:

"We have shared so much

It is truly an incredible experience to be completely known

Every raw nerve, every idiosyncrasy exposed

And through this naked unveiling, we remain close

Not frightened away by our own realities....

Sometimes we react in a series of classical conditioning scenarios

that we are unable to prevent from playing out

But no matter, we always find our way back to each other

Back to that feeling of being totally and utterly connected

To each other in body and soul

You take me to the highest heights

You make my heart soar

Over and over again

I am with you every time

Every single time

Calling out your name

Before I take that final leap off the mountain

You answer, "Gabrielle, I'm coming"

And you are right behind me; along side of me

Landing in a heap of blissful exhaustion at the bottom of that mighty mountain

Two blind people assisted by heightened other senses

Making sense of the world they have created

Living to love; loving to live........"

Afterwards I picked up my copy of This I Believe, The Personal Philosophies Of Remarkable Men And Women edited by Jay Allison and Dan Gediman and read an entry by writer and activist Eve Ensler entitled "The Power and Mystery of Naming Things". This quote really struck me:

"Naming things, breaking through taboos and denial is the most dangerous, terrifying, and crucial work. This has to happen in spite of political climates or coercions, in spite of careers being won or lost, in spite of the fear of being criticized, outcast, or disliked. I believe freedom begins with naming things. Humanity is preserved by it."

Not sure why both of these pieces struck me enough to place them together here in Kaleidoscope, but I'm going with the suggestion of my muse and perhaps later I will find a connection......

Copyright Michelle Beckham-Corbin 2011-2012

Life Is What You Make Of It 9 Oct 2011 5:50 PM (13 years ago)

Dreamer, Believer, Passionate, Extrovert, Unconventional, Eclectic, Empathetic, Analytical, Gifted, Intelligent

When I think about who I am deep inside, these are the words that come to mind. They are words that many people have used to describe me. I love people- I love knowing their stories and I love connecting with their souls. If I can touch just one person in my day, then I label it a success. My greatest joy is to see someone achieve and to help them reach their goals.

I feel that I have led a highly successful life: wonderful career with Procter & Gamble, many community leadership positions, international travel, published work including a book on social media and the launching of my own company, C3: Creating Connections Consulting, LLC. Despite all of the professional accomplishments, my greatest achievement is raising two wonderful children who are both amazingly intelligent and gifted and who will go on to change the world.

Tomorrow marks my 24th wedding anniversary, and in today's world, that is probably a huge accomplishment as well. To me it seems like yesterday. A friend on Facebook commented to my status update about the anniversary with a question:

"You and Glenn are both wonderful people. We've been blessed to have met you both. You are a great couple. I'm sure you have some words of wisdom in how to make it last for 24 years. Any you care to share? Or is it like hiring employees - try to pick the right one the first time?"

I took some time to reflect on this question. I think the biggest piece of advice would be to really know who you are marrying; in other words, spend some time deeply getting to know what their core values are and if they align with yours. The person should truly be your best friend and communication should flow freely and often between you. I think you need to be partners and equals in the relationship sharing everything from duties to dollars, while still maintaining your own identity. There will be tough times and changes along the way, but it is how you handle these circumstances that make all of the difference.

So 24 years have flown by and it truly feels like just yesterday that we were dancing at our wedding. And if I close my eyes and press the knob on my jewelry box, I can hear our song play and see us beautifully executing the dance steps we learned at Arthur Murray. Two Procter managers with MBAs and a dream.....

Copyright Michelle Beckham-Corbin 2011-2012

East of Eden, South of Despair 20 Jul 2011 7:35 PM (13 years ago)

Have been reading your blog lately

You claim to speak from the universal voice,

but it seems to me that you are battling personal demons

in your words

All this talk of rain and burning embers and

Death

Sounds like you are dealing with loss

Loss of love

Loss of the guidance that never was

Loss of the dream

So drummer boy, keep writing

Keep waiting, but

never stop dreaming

because the truth shall set you free....

Copyright Michelle Beckham-Corbin 2011

Snow Globes 6 Jul 2011 7:15 AM (13 years ago)

Snow globes, like life, capture moments

Caught within the windows of time

Our minds remember the reels of yesterday,

But in the absence of fresher moments

We extend our understanding to be commensurate

With the present

Unfortunately, reality plays a cruel hand

And often what we experience in the present has

No resemblance to what was held in the past.

You had so much promise

Truly a mover and a shaker off to live a larger life

Than the rest of us

Something happened along the way

That I am not privy to

Something flawed and tragic and life-changing

Because you are no longer the same person

Yes, there are shadows of your former self,

Slivers actually, that poke through this “new” persona

But they slide across your countenance in a pattern

That leaves me confused and wondering if you are in

Full command of your faculties

Do you truly know who you are?

Copyright Michelle Beckham-Corbin 2011

Unveiling the Secret Life 20 Jun 2011 10:41 AM (13 years ago)

Today is the day that I embark on a personal journey. I feel a sense of trepidation as I picture the window of my anonymity being rolled down further than the child safety seat of my comfort zone normally allows. At this stage in the journey, why hold back? More than 1/2 my life has already been written.....

Join me on my journey to the Secret Life of an American Female Entrepreneur:

Copyright Michelle Beckham-Corbin 2011

Journey With Me 15 Jun 2011 11:24 AM (13 years ago)

Getting ready to embark upon a journey with mixed emotions. An inner voice is telling me that the time is right to share some wisdom (perhaps due to my impending birthday??) and the vehicle to do this is via Vlog (video blog) on Vimeo or YouTube. Being the uber brand evangelist that I am, I will create a new channel for this softer, personal side of me; a separate slice from my C3 life.

Yes, I still compartmentalize and that is the irony that runs through my life: Social Media Professional who operates at the nth level of privacy. I suppose the bigger issue will be whether anyone even "tunes in".....

Copyright Michelle Beckham-Corbin 2011

My Heart & Soul 10 Jun 2011 12:43 PM (13 years ago)

"We could have had it all

You had my heart and soul……"

Love these heart-felt lyrics by Adele.

Makes me wonder what the story is behind her words. When I reflect upon them it makes me think back to my life, especially as I enter the second half of the journey. I have written many, many times about my belief in destiny and the idea that things/events/people happen for a reason. Yes, I believe in free will extending a hand and altering the plan that has been pre-designed, but the path has been carved out long ago.

I believe that I exist today as a sum of my experiences, my joys, my disappointments and the many loves and friendships that have touched my life. Would I ever say to the one who would have been, “We could have had it all...” Nope. Because that path would have led to a person who is other than me today. If there is one thing that I do perhaps suffer from, it is too much self esteem. I love who I am, how I’ve lived and the choices that I have made. There is nothing that was within my control that I would have changed.

Now about that situation that was out of my hands……

“But you played it,
You played it,
You played it,
You played it to the beat…”.

Copyright Michelle Beckham-Corbin 2011

Two Roads Diverged..... 7 Jun 2011 8:58 PM (13 years ago)

You "get" me
Very few people do
Complex thought processes coupled with a
Dichotomous outlook
Result in a conundrum that few understand

Glad our friendship has endured decades
And come full circle

Copyright Michelle Beckham-Corbin 2011

Sunset in Key West 5 Jun 2011 8:11 PM (13 years ago)

And so the dance begins

You quench my thirst and I enlighten your lost possibilities

A bit of antique art glass and a pair of Steve Maddens

Purple haze of Karma reconfirms our destiny

You purely slay me with your humor

and touch my core with your concern

Not going to lose you again....

Copyright Michelle Beckham-Corbin 2011

Solstice Encounter 2 Jun 2011 7:01 AM (13 years ago)

Came upon a piece of me that has been buried

That’s why it feels like a story, like a slice of someone else’s life

I know the pain is there because I can only read so much

Of the long ago journal before having to close the well-worn cover

It’s a story that is buried so deep

That it feels like I’m reading a novel or a bio of another’s life

*****************************************

Young, intense, competitive love

Forming each of us into adulthood

Soul click

Heart break- no…..

heart-shredding

Living a façade for the masses

Led to an end to us as you left for self-discovery

Escaping the conservative confines of our city

Searching for a progressive place that would allow you

To explore the stirrings in your own soul

A chance to answer the question that had been pulling at you

Like demons in the night

Buried pain, picking up the shattered pieces

Wondering if I could go on without you

Intelligent, Motivated, Driven,

Intensely Competitive, Sophisticated, Narcissistic-

You were my male twin and even our hearts beat in sync

Later, as with all deep heart-wrenching pain,

I went on with my life

Using yours as the yard stick

by which all future relationships were measured

Years rolled by and became decades

I found you once again within the pages of

A college photo album

Pictures curling as the adhesive aged

Hand-in-hand together at Coney’s Moonlight Gardens,

Nominated for Homecoming King & Queen

An irony like no other….

Searched for you online only to be met with resounding silence

You were nowhere to be found

And I feared that you no longer walked the earth

How unbelievable when the universe shifted recently and a

Tear in the cosmos allowed me to find you again

So many years have passed, yet it feels like yesterday

Only different…..

“What an unexpected gift and blessing from the universe….remember, after all these years, we have plenty of time! Love ya, Michelle.” ~Todd

And yes, Todd. Time is the one thing we do have……

Copyright Michelle Beckham-Corbin 2011

So This Is My Life- No Regrets 11 Feb 2011 2:48 PM (13 years ago)

Erin Schreyer, President of Sagestone Partners asked me to write a bio highlighting my career, current position and volunteer work for a panel I will be participating in soon. Thought I would house it here in case there are Friends that don't know my story. For the record, I consider my greatest achievements to be the care, nurturing and education of my two children. I walked away from an incredible career building world-class household brands with Procter & Gamble in order to focus on my own home-grown brands, and I'm happy to say I don't regret a single minute of my decision. The kids are doing well and my path led me to C3- which I absolutely am passionate about!

So here you go:

Career History for Strengths & Sisterhood Panel

2/10/11

Michelle Beckham-Corbin, Owner & Principal of C3: Creating Connections Consulting, LLC, a social media marketing strategy firm.

Michelle began her career as a Sales Representative in the Health & Personal Care Division of Procter & Gamble after graduating from Xavier University and rose through various Customer Business Development & Marketing management positions during her 15 year career with P&G. Along the way, she acquired an MBA in Management. Michelle later left P&G to devote more time to her two young children and to offer her organizational & training talents to family- based non-profit, Beech Acres Parenting Center, as a Contract Facilitator & Trainer for several long-running programs.

After several years, she returned to the business world working for a local marketing firm and became fascinated by the early world of Social Media. As she built up her knowledge base of digital media, she was sought after by many companies for her expertise. Her husband encouraged her to hang her own shingle and C3 was officially born in early 2009. Today she works with corporate clients, non-profits and start-ups consulting, coaching, training and speaking on all things social media.

Outside of running her company, and keeping tabs on her two high school children’s activities, Michelle is an active volunteer in the community. She is a former Girl Scout Leader, PTO Board Secretary, Parish Council Member and Lector for her Church. Michelle is a Board Trustee for the non-profit group Authentic Leadership Cincinnati and is on the Board of the IHM Job Search Ministry Group where she shares her knowledge of Web 2.0 job search strategies and social media promotion with those in transition. She is a member of the Steering Committee for the digital networking group, New Media Cincinnati and is the host of AC-TV talk show, Trustee Talk, on Warner Cable. Michelle is a frequent speaker, lecturer and trainer. Additionally, she is a published writer, co-author of Social Media book, Age of Conversation 3 (Channel V Books, New York, 2010), frequent commenter and Blogger.

She brings great energy and passion as well as a keen ability to deeply connect with people in order to create business building social media opportunities for her clients.

~So there you have it. Not the Bio that my clients usually see. This is the back story......

Copyright Michelle Beckham-Corbin 2011

Driving My Passion With Virtual Grenades 12 Jan 2011 4:35 PM (14 years ago)

I'd catch a grenade for love
Throw my hand on a blade for love
I'd jump in front of a train for love
You know I'd do anything for love
I would go through all this pain
Take a bullet straight through my brain
Yes, I would die for you....

Bruno Mars sings these heartfelt lyrics in his fast rhythm song, Grenade. I love the beat; it has a pulsing tempo that just begs to pull your body into movement. However, if you listen closely, the lyrics will break your heart. When I take in his words, they makes me wonder about the things in my life that I would ascribe these same intense sentiments.

What are the passions that drive me to succeed and for which I would lay down everything. For me the number one answer would be relationships. I value the connections that I have with people. I am a deep, analytical soul and when I meet someone, I want to know everything about them.

Secondly I am passionate about self-actualization. I aspire to be the best possible version of me that can exist at this time and in this space. I love to make a difference in people's lives that will help them achieve their goals.

Lastly, I am passionate about leaving a legacy. I want to leave this earth having created pieces of myself that are left to lodge and grow and influence future generations. I don't want to disappear into the ether, but to have some tangible proof that I walked this earth and left it in a better state of being somehow.

So what do my ramblings have to do with unrequited love as it is described in Bruno's song. Well not much, but words and lyrics inspire me and cause me to reach deeper into my own psyche for parallel meanings.

What things in your life would you take a virtual grenade for?

Copyright Michelle Beckham-Corbin 2011

Breathe Change Into the World 10 Dec 2010 1:52 PM (14 years ago)

Take a moment to breathe in the cold air around you and as you hold it inside your lungs, remember that you were placed right here, in this spot to make a difference. Whether that difference is within your own family or out in the world, know that you possess the ability to faciliatate change. It only takes one committed person to move a mountain. I'll see you on the other side.

Copyright Michelle Beckham-Corbin 2010

Escaping the Image of Me 8 Dec 2010 6:31 PM (14 years ago)

Escaping the Image of Me

For years people have told you:

“You look just like her”

And while I don’t see the complete physical resemblance

Beyond similar hair and eye color,

I think what they were trying to do was to paint the feeling

That they had into words- the observation that our inner core, our essence is similar

Extroverted over-achievers with a flair for the dramatic and a love

Of being front and center

We have strong, independent personalities and value integrity and truthfulness

We are unflinchingly loyal,

Unless of course one has proven themselves to be lacking in the virtues we hold dear

Leaders

Thought provokers

Keeper of the peace

Risk takers (ok- we diverge here)

Brave hearts that seek to do what is right and not what is popular

Voracious readers of good content

Talented Writers

Gifted intellect

Lately you voice concerns about our similarities

And I ask, “Is there a reason why you don’t have positive feelings about being like me?

And you answer, “Because I feel like I am re-playing a movie role about your life”

Hazards of sharing journal entries of my life at your exact age….

And yes there are many, many similarities.

BUT there are differences that make you your own unique person

You are you and I am me

How lucky we are to have each other.

Walking Rainbows 29 Nov 2010 5:18 AM (14 years ago)

Be my walking rainbow

Kaleidoscope of colors, exuding energy

At each point of the spectrum

We walk this earth radiating points of our personality

Each sliver, each edge of brilliance has

The opportunity to touch someone’s life

Sometimes we are unaware of the net effect

Our color chart of traits has on others;

Not knowing that the interaction,

No matter how brief, caused an intermingling of color

Into another’s life

The energy passes, is received

And recycled into the aura surrounding them

Continuing to make a mark on the next in line

Be cognizant of your rainbow and

The good you can achieve by sharing your energy with others

You have the ability to change the world with your rainbow…..

The Kindness of Strangers 9 Nov 2010 9:49 AM (14 years ago)

Coincidence, Karma, Fate, Pre-determinism....

All thoughts that swirl through my coffee-fueled mind...

I believe that we have a destiny that has already been carved and within that destiny we have the ability to use free will/ choice to close our ears and eyes to the signs that are around us or to embrace them. It takes awareness and a conscious decision to slow down our lives to be aware of what is around us.

This point hit home for me with a video that was making the rounds on Facebook and has probably hit the numbers needed to brand it viral by now. Would love to share it with you, but it's not a YouTube embed, so I can't get a URL. Best I can do is give you a link to my C3 Facebook Page and have you view it there. The premise is that we tend to take people at face value without looking for the back story. Imagine what the world would be like if we extended more kindness and compassion and didn't react immediately to our first impression.

The second part of this observation is the idea that when we do extend kindness, no matter how small, no matter how random, we have the ability for that to build. People are struck by the generosity and compassion of others and the warmth that emanates inside them finds its way in some type of expression of gratitude that affects yet another person, and so on. Remember the Pay It Forward movement from several years ago? That's what I'm getting at.

I experienced several acts of kindness today, to the point where I began to wonder if there was a sign on my back that said "Show her a little love!". Weird how that happens. Here are my little miracles for the day:

1. During a surgery consult at Children's Hospital, the nurse was able to squeeze us in over the Christmas holidays so that no school would be missed for the operation

2. Stopped at a shoe repair shop to inquire whether my favorite Borns were fixable. The owner stopped what he was doing and repaired them that minute and threw in a polish and shine.

3. Popped into a local bakery to grab a muffin to eat while I waited for the shoes. Wanted to remove any traces of hospital germs off my hands, but the bakery did not have a public restroom. The clerk invited me to come behind the counter to use the bakery sink.

None of these things will change the world, but you know what. They changed my day. They made me smile.... Perhaps you will too!

Copyright Michelle Beckham-Corbin 2010

The Sweet Spot: Where Passion & Career Collide 4 Nov 2010 1:02 PM (14 years ago)

Imagine the infinite possibilities that await you when you follow your passion.....

Full text of the post referred to in the video can be found here.

Want to join the conversation? Need help in navigating your passion? Contact me here and let's talk!

Also:

I am looking to establish a mentor/mentee program for women. If you have any interest on either side of the equation, please send me your name & contact information. You can reach me: Michelle@CreatingConnectionsConsulting.com

The Bell Tolls 27 Oct 2010 3:21 AM (14 years ago)

Circle of Life

Light of Hope

Belief in tomorrow

That you will be there

In your place as always

Yet

Life throws us curve balls

The path twists

And we dodge the arrow

Or unknowingly get caught in the cross hairs

Of our destiny

The pain of losing an ancient one

Is a million times milder than losing a child

Both sad, but the elder has led a long life

Affected change through many seasons

A child is just beginning to make a mark on the world

The possibilities are endlessly open

The pain cuts like a knife for those who were not there

They did not get the chance to say good-bye………

Vashkrieg: Journey to the Epicenter 26 Oct 2010 11:05 AM (14 years ago)

"You and I were friends from outer space

Afraid to let go, the only two who understood this place

And as far as we know, we were way before our time….."

~This Ain't Goodbye by Train

You will forever be a piece of me

A sliver of warmth wedged deeply into my heart and my psyche

You taught me to love deeply and risk greatly

Believing in the truth and not the norm

Allowing me to be the ‘me’ that was hidden away

Unpeeling the layers like the leaves of the artichoke

Until my essence was exposed

So glad that we have reached that pinnacle

That defines success for each of us today

Music and literature will forever tie the pages

Of our lives together

So glad that you won’t be traveling that road alone

So raise a glass to “the only two who understood this place”

I'll see you on the other side.

Rocking My World 6 Oct 2010 5:00 AM (14 years ago)

One day you will stumble upon this page

And you will be carried back in time

Slowly you will breathe in my words

And one by one, the cylinders of your brain will kick in

As the memories fire up the engine of yesterday

Once upon a time and long, long ago

You touched my life

You changed me in a metamorphic way

Your presence challenged me to change my view on the world

As you turned my universe upside down

We knew each other as much as any two humans can deeply decipher

Yet, a key element was missing that made our attachment

All the more remarkable

Years went by and memories faded to the dark recesses of our minds

But the words remained

Along with the power to tell the story from long ago

So take your time and choose carefully

Most of what you will find is about your life and our time together

The rest is left unwritten……

Kaleidoscope Discoveries View RSS

You Found Me 14 Sep 2012 12:02 PM (12 years ago)

I'm wondering who will have the courage to pull the lever.....

Cycle of Life 11 May 2012 5:19 AM (12 years ago)

Cincinnati Social Media Marketing Series for Creatives & Others 13 Apr 2012 5:48 AM (12 years ago)

Additional courses include:

This I Believe 16 Nov 2011 4:24 AM (13 years ago)

Apocalypse 7 Nov 2011 6:13 AM (13 years ago)

Nirvana & Naming 17 Oct 2011 6:25 AM (13 years ago)

Life Is What You Make Of It 9 Oct 2011 5:50 PM (13 years ago)

East of Eden, South of Despair 20 Jul 2011 7:35 PM (13 years ago)

Snow Globes 6 Jul 2011 7:15 AM (13 years ago)

Unveiling the Secret Life 20 Jun 2011 10:41 AM (13 years ago)

Join me on my journey to the Secret Life of an American Female Entrepreneur:

Journey With Me 15 Jun 2011 11:24 AM (13 years ago)

My Heart & Soul 10 Jun 2011 12:43 PM (13 years ago)

Two Roads Diverged..... 7 Jun 2011 8:58 PM (13 years ago)

Sunset in Key West 5 Jun 2011 8:11 PM (13 years ago)

Solstice Encounter 2 Jun 2011 7:01 AM (13 years ago)

So This Is My Life- No Regrets 11 Feb 2011 2:48 PM (13 years ago)

Driving My Passion With Virtual Grenades 12 Jan 2011 4:35 PM (14 years ago)

Breathe Change Into the World 10 Dec 2010 1:52 PM (14 years ago)

Escaping the Image of Me 8 Dec 2010 6:31 PM (14 years ago)

Walking Rainbows 29 Nov 2010 5:18 AM (14 years ago)

The Kindness of Strangers 9 Nov 2010 9:49 AM (14 years ago)

The Sweet Spot: Where Passion & Career Collide 4 Nov 2010 1:02 PM (14 years ago)

The Bell Tolls 27 Oct 2010 3:21 AM (14 years ago)

Vashkrieg: Journey to the Epicenter 26 Oct 2010 11:05 AM (14 years ago)

Rocking My World 6 Oct 2010 5:00 AM (14 years ago)