Yesterday I posted The Beckoning of Lovely, a video which made me smile from beginning to end. As I watched I got this amazing, wonderful, big fat fun idea.
In the film, writer Amy Krouse Rosenthal, along with hundreds of curious and creative souls, “make a bunch of stuff together.” They:
- Make a grand entrance
- Make a friend
- Make something pretty
- Kiss and make up
- Make do with what they have
- Make someone’s day
- Make music
- Make it up as they go
- Make peace
- Make out
- Make a splash
- Make a movie
And so here’s what I thought… I want to “make a bunch of stuff” too. Having stumbled upon Amy too late to participate (and not living in Chicago), I wasn’t able to be part of the big event last year, but I can do it now. And that’s exactly what I’m going to do. Starting tomorrow, every Monday, I’ll post my lovely thing. Twelve weeks, twelve things. (And a new category – J’s Lovey Things.)
You’ll notice the first one is “Make A Grand Entrance.” Anyone who knows me knows that I’m not the “make a grand entrance” type. So this will be a challenge for me. I either have to be daring, or be creative. Hopefully, during the course of the next 12 weeks, I’ll be both!
I’d love it if you did it too. If you were touched by Amy’s film, if you’re feeling creative and fun, or if you’re inspired to tap into the part of you that is creative and fun, then please join in my shenanigans! Pick one or all of the things on Amy’s list and make them for yourself. And if you do, feel free to comment on it here in Zebra Sounds, or send it to me.
Share your lovely!
I anticipate having fun, tapping into my creative, daring self, learning something new. And who knows? Maybe it will be so much fun I’ll just keep going, making lovely things week, after week, after twelfth week.
I love that it’s called your big fat fun idea. And I can’t wait to see what you’ve come up with.
I’d type more, but I’m covered in glue and glitter right now and it’s making a mess of my keyboard….I WILL, however, need an EXACT measurement on your mailbox so I can send you what I’m working on….
(postage due is ok, right?)
Hahahaha… (nervous laughter). Maybe I should have specified email? ;-)
From you, I’d like a picture of glitter-and-glue Karen. I’ll put you in a green frame to set off your hair and smile at you every Monday.
Oh, I ADORE this big, fat, juicy, sprawling, sometimes-out-of-the-comfort-zone idea! And the concept of doing it alongside one another (in virtual reality) is so fun and motivating.
Like you, Judy, I’m not one for making grand entrances. But I’ve already thought of what I want to do for that one. It will take some setting up, so I might not get to that one till later. But I plan to have it filmed and make my first ever YouTube video. Yikes!!
I’m going to jump around on the list and start on #7. I’ll post about it on my blog later this week.
I’m still choked up with happy tears from inspiration received on your blog today (across a range of posts).
P.S. Last night I visited one of your regulars, karen from mentor, and her blog rocks!
Lovely. I can’t wait to see what you do, plus the other you have inspired!
Cool. I just watched “The Beckoning of Lovely,” and living not too far from Chicago, I’m sad to say I never heard about it until now. (BTW, anyone who comes to the Windy City should definitely visit The Bean.)
Also, I have a loose connection to Amy Krouse Rosenthal that I think I’ll post about on my blog later — along with a mention of your “amazing, wonderful, big fat fun idea,” J! :)
Oh, and I did #6 yesterday. I was at an outdoor used book sale and carried a box of books for an elderly woman I don’t know. I believe I made her day.
Milli, I love your superlatives: big, fat, juicy, sprawling, sometimes-out-of-the-comfort-zone idea! That’s exactly how I feel about it. Going back over the list, I’m actually kind of nervous, but I think the idea of what I’ll get from doing this – the potential for growth – is the most exciting aspect of all. Thank you for doing it with me!
Terre, Thank you for being one of the people who encourages me most!
Craig, I was wondering if you knew about it. I definitely want to visit The Bean someday. I look forward to reading your post (as always), and I suspect you make peoples’ days all the time. ;-)
I’m nervous too!
I’ve already got too many irons in the fire and I was afraid of committing–especially committing in writing, in public. But I decided that nothing bad would happen if I can’t do the whole list–or if it takes me a bit longer to put some of them into action.
I actually felt better when I heard you admitting to some nervousness. It somehow puts it into perspective. Makes it more real :~)
Thanks for sharing the link to this very moving performance art! I loved it and shared it with other friends on-line. I did #7 today, on my twelve-string of course – a few numbers and that little song stuck in the middle of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off from the art museum scene…
wow! i’m so inspired and terrified and amazed and… hey, did you just dare me to do this?!? (i’m sure i read “double dog dare” in that post.) well, i can’t back down from a challenge, now can i? okay then, i’m in! :-)
here’s my plan:
step one – print list and post on office wall. (done)
step two – get brilliant ideas (a little fuzzy on this part)
step three – report back to zebra sounds
can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with – including me. :-D
thanks judy!
Not sure of the rules – I didn’t tape or record it but I did make a ‘grand entrance’ today.
Each Sunday there is a group that I meet at the pub at 4 – we call it ‘Sunday Tea’.
Today, I walked in, standing tall, arms spread wide with a big smile and shouted “Happy Sunday all and welcome to August! Isn’t it a great day?”
Reactions were mixed but all did have a smile on their face.
Sorry j, you inspired me too much and couldn’t wait until monday to begin – but know I have over a week to make a friend ;)
Milli, Don’t worry. I’m just happy you’re going to try! And for what it’s worth, I posted this and then thought, “Holy cow! I have no idea how I’m going to do half the stuff here.” I’m convinced that’s exactly why I should do it!
Darren, Sweet! Love picturing you with your 12-string. Tell me a 12-string song I should go listen to on YouTube. (If you’re the YouTube star, bonus points!)
jb, Yay! I have no idea how I’m going to do any but the first one. (Had to figure that one out so I could post on Monday.) Can’t wait to see what you do!
Peggi, There are absolutely no rules. I LOVE your story. That is just the kind of grand entrance I aspire to. I’m hoping that “more daring” will be a natural by-product of J’s Lovely Things.
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I sadly admit to being a little disappointed when I realized I had read the post title wrong. I thought I was in for a big fat NUN idea. I’d better rest my eyes a little before further comments.
Ha! My over-tired mind is reeling with possibilities of big fat nun ideas! This may not be that kind of blog. I haven’t decided.
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