Spring Has Sprung!

Spring is Here!

Thank God we are unthawing from our winter hibernation and a burst of activity has blossomed. Stay tuned for more insight, art and creative expression coming soon!

A Discussion on Miracles

An Interview with Gabrielle Bernstein

I loved this interview by Latham Thomas on Huffingtonpost.com with 'Spirit Junkie' author Gabrielle Bernstein.

Ever wonder what a miracle was, well guess no more:

Courtesy of T.Kiya

"If you're wondering what I mean by "miracle," it's simple: a miracle is a shift in perspective from fear to love. A miracle can be the moment you choose to forgive your ex-lover and let go of decades of resentment, or the moment you recognize that losing your job was not a tragedy but an opportunity to follow your true calling. Simply put, each moment you choose love over fear is a miracle. And the more miracles you add up, the less likely you are to perceive life through dark-colored lenses. When you choose to perceive love over fear, life begins to flow. You feel peaceful and you see love in all situations. Your hang-ups subside and your life feels guided." Gabrielle Bernstien

What miracles have you experienced lately? Don't just wait for them to happen, consciously choose to allow miracles into your life. Choose love over fear.

Click here to read more of the article.

Summer

Brooklyn

Bicycles

Sun and wind

I wonder if I'll see you again

Governor's isle, picnics and BBQ's

Summer's gone and so are you

Concerts in the park, wine on rooftops

Memories last even when love stops

Photo courtesy of Ludovic

Discovering Your Voice: Susan Merson's Writing Workshops

Want to discover your passion? Join Susan Merson's fantastic writing workshops to discover your passion & your voice.

VOICING: A WRITING WORKSHOP

VOICING is a workshop established by Master Teacher Susan Merson to support the work of writers at all levels in the exploration, development and completion of their writing. Author, playwright and teacher, Merson has mentored writers in all genres across the country for over twenty years. An established solo performer, she can also work with writer/ performers in the development their performance pieces. VOICING WRITING WORKSHOPS are sponsored by NY Theatre Intensives.


EXPLORE WORK IN PROGRESS OR BEGIN A NEW PIECE.
This workshop is ongoing with a month long commitment. We are set for the month of July and will continue in September in Manhattan.

IDEAL for writers exploring their own voices or next steps in their work. 

All levels welcome.

Where: MANHATTAN
When: THURSDAYS
BEGINNING IN JULY
Time: 7:30PM- 10PM
Price: $150 a month or $40 a class
Contact: Susan at 310-770-6570 or at summerconservatory@gmail.com

Full bio available at www.susanmerson.com and www.nytheatreintensives.org. References also available.

Passion and Happiness

A couple of weeks ago I was discussing career choices and financial goals with a high school student I mentor. She said, "I really love make-up and was thinking of going to school for that but I don't think I'll make a lot of money doing that. Maybe I should study psychology." I gently told her that money comes from being really good at what you do and that it can be anything. In order to be good, you have to have the passion to keep practicing your craft. I reminded her that make-up artists get to travel the world and can build very lucrative businesses around products & services. I encouraged her to pursue her passion and to expand her perception of what success is. 

"Don’t aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally." - David Frost

Our discussion reminded me of how important it is to do what you love.  In order to live your dreams, you must first find what you are most passionate about. A lot of people deny their true passions, thinking that it's silly or won't bring them success. These thoughts are based from a place of limited perception.

It took me a long time to accept my passions, I thought pursing them would be too arduous but I realized that it's better to make sacrifices for our dreams than to sacrifice our dreams for insignificant gains.  

While it is easier to follow your dreams when you're just graduating high school it's never too late to change directions. It will take more maneuvering but once you've made the decision, half the battle is won. 

6 questions to discover your passion: 

Photo courtesy of Nina Matthews

1. What makes you happy? Do you get giddy just thinking about rock climbing or do you feel euphoric when you sing? Strong emotional responses are one key indicator of passion. 

2. What would you do for free? If you find yourself spending all your free time organizing your friend's closets, that's another clue. 

3. What do you love talking about? Can you talk about fashion 24/7. Can you share your enthusiam with others? 

4. What would you regret not trying? This was a big one for me. I knew I loved singing and acting and had to at least take a few classes to see if it was worth pursuing in my free time...so far I have no regrets.  

5. What sparks your creativity? Are you always finding fresh ways to decorate your home or are you constantly coming up with delicious versions of classic recipes?

6. What do you naturally gravitate towards? When you're in a book store browsing, what section do you find yourself in? What topic can you read about for hours? 

Once you discover your passion, design a plan to integrate it into your life and pursue it with all your heart. Even if the road is challenging you will be happy knowing you're pursuing what you love.   

"Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it." - Buddha