Pick from bouquets of brand knowledge. It is my quest to dig down to the root of great design and let great ideas blossom. I welcome your comments and feedback, and hope that these design tips for your brand identity, web and print design can help you make informed decisions to benefit your business.
Send us a cause. We'll design a web site. A cool one. FREE. We're not joking. Our custom design team has gone mad with good feelings!
The organization must fulfill the following criteria:
1. Must have non-profit status.
2. Must have a cause we can stand behind.
3. Must believe that they are making a difference.
4. Have a positive influence on people, their community and the world at large.
Come on, you know you know a cause. Send it to us, and we'll pick the winner by July 1, 2010. Send us any questions and your suggestions at info@ideasinbloom.ca.
Having enjoyed a Friday evening of dancing and hanging out with Patch Adams, we made our journey home from Seattle's Fremont district to our home in South Surrey. The purr of the car engine and the lull of the road put me to sleep almost immediately. We arrived home and quickly fell into bed around 2 am.
Before I could digest Friday, Saturday arrived.
We awoke at 7 am to prepare for the 6th Annual Woman of Worth event. As I arose, I prayed for strength, positive spirit and to be able to be of service to my dear friend and life coach, Brita McLaughlin. Brita had been nominated in two categories, and had been selected as finalist for Leader of the Year 2010. I was excited to support her, and join the table for Women With Heart, hosted by Brita McLaughlin.
Torsten and baby Adam in tow, we drove to Brita's for a morning meditation to center us before the event. I was tired and fragile. I did my best to stay positive and share in the excitement of Brita's selection as finalist. I was so proud of her.
I was ready to weep at the drop of a hat.
Some time in April, in more alert days, I had sent out an eleventh hour call to ask for nominations from those closest to me on the day of the deadline. Four wonderful people took the time to nominate me in the award category of Spirit, Success and Soul.
We drove into Vancouver to the event, and met up with the group, and quickly found our table as the event began. From the moment the MC, Candace Newton, took the stage, I knew this was no ordinary event. Candace energetically and humorously got everyone to witness, participate in, and enthusiastically dance to the Flash Mob video of The Black Eyed Peas birthday gift to Oprah, "I Gotta' Feeling."
Apparently, I needed to produce more seratonin.
Each speaker that came up, from Dov Baron, to Susan Biali, as well as a Prosperity Panel and a Nia dance instructor, pointed to the fact that a woman holds intrinsic value, regardless of circumstances. The empowering movement of dance, exercise, sound movement and humour injected at points throughout the day was testimony to WOW's founder, Christine Awram. Christine shared her own grief with us, her challenges, her sadness and success in preparing for the annual event. She had what she described as an Annus Horribilusin 2009.
Annus horribilus doesn't mean Bad Ass.
It means horrible year. In the light of my own circumstances, I had a fabulous year in 2009. We welcomed my beautiful son, Adam, into our family. We bought a house. We got two cute Morkie pups. I founded my brand design company, Ideas In Bloom, and had GREAT clientele, and fantastic projects. However, underneath it all, a post-partum depression was developing that I pretended wasn't there. Well, in the thick of it, I needed something more than my own will power to make it through this emotionally "Annus horribilus."
Torsten stood in the shadows during a major part of the day as my biggest fan and Super Dad to Adam. He is a gifted and intuitive life partner. He brought our bubbly boy to to me for a periodic nursing, and enjoyed overflowing sampling of comfort foods during the event.
Brita won WOW Leader of the Year 2010!
In a room full of almost 800 women, and about 5 unsuspecting men, I was able to support Brita. She humbly and ultimately won Leader of the Year. As they called out the names of the 15 finalists in all categories, my name was called. I was stunned. Here I was, praying to make it to the end of the day in a positive space and help Brita to celebrate her success. I was a cheerleader, and getting happier and more infused with energy by the minute.
And, then something happened. Brita was clapping and pointing at me, pointing at the stage, and her face registered a pleasant surprise.
My name was called out as one of the award finalists!
A couple of days later, I emailed Christine Awram to ask her about the nominations. I asked her to send me the nomination letters she had received.
In spite of a terrible family tragedy one day after the event, Christine offered to send the nominations to me. Humbled, I reflected on the award criteria:
WOW of Spirit, Success & Soul Award
Taken from thewowevent.com website, Each Woman Of Worth award candidate leads a successful life by:
Valuing and respecting herself, as well as others.
Acknowledging her true power from within, and leading through inspiration.
Cherishing ALL her relationships, and appreciating their purpose.
Experiencing challenges, and moving through them with fortitude and grace.
Embracing her vulnerability, as well as her inner strength and courage.
Celebrating life, and bringing much-needed kindness and radiance into our world.
Criteria of a successful nominee: In addition to the above 6 elements, the recipient enriches her community and/or organization through the mentorship of others. She has a strong connection to the core of her spirit, and champions the potential to fulfill personal dreams. Her skillful use of compassion, motivation and facilitation empowers the lives of others.
Door Prizes were later announced and given to the attendees, and something magical happened. My name was called out in succession for two major prizes. I stood up with a gritty, sparkling smile on my face, and said, "Share the love. Give the second prize to another one of these ladies." Later, a woman approached me, thanked me for being generous, gave me a hug for the Deepak Chopra package she had won, and shared with me how much it meant to her to receive it.
So, hubby and I get to spend three days in a $2000 Couples Workshop, courtesy of Corequest Counselling Group. Yay for us! Yay for Torsten!
He has no idea what he's in for...bless his soul.
Somehow, somewhere, the Universe knew what I needed this past weekend, exactly at the moment that I needed it. When we think we can bear no more, relief comes in an unexpected package. I started out the weekend wanting to be invisible and hiding from the world. I ended the weekend full of energy, spirit and a love for the empowerment of women, and more connected to women around me.
A new day was dawning. Everything was OK.
The feel-good boomerang that I had sent out last December (not expecting anything back) had landed at my feet. I never expected that the goodwill I had shared with others would one day help me get back on my feet. I was humbled and grateful, and ready for a new day.
Those of you who know me know that I am passionate about helping others. This was especially true when I joined forces with Brita McLaughlin and Denise Wooten to co-host last December's Glam & Glog, supporting families through the South Fraser Women Services Society.
I did it because Brita and I connected in our desire to empower women in a time of need. I did it because I was once a single mother, struggling to make ends meet. I did it because I cared.
I did it because it felt good.
Time rolled on. My then 3 month-old son, Adam, grew and grew. My business continued to prosper. Contracts continued to roll in, new clients called. Then, something happened. One day, I woke up and didn't want to get out of bed. Extreme fatigue, depression and burnout had overtaken me, and I was physically incapable of performing my basic daily functions. I was heading for burnout and suffering a post-partum the likes of which I had only heard about in baby magazines.
What the hell was going on?
Here I was in the midst of a joyful life with an awesome mate, surrounded by beautiful kids, operating a successful business. I was on my knees. I could not will myself out of this state of mind.
Mother's Day came, and I was at my lowest. My husband handed me a card, and two tickets toPatch Adams 65th Birthday Partyfell out. I couldn't see how this was going to come to fruition. I mean, I had to actually drive to Seattle? Was he crazy? I couldn't even bring myself to take a shower, let alone dress up for an event.
I wanted to stay home under my covers. My doorway had scratch marks, and I had slivers of wood under my nails as we made our way to Seattle last Friday afternoon. My husband was giddy with the prospect of seeing Patch Adamsagain. (He had two opportunities to clown as "Torte" with Patch in Germany with the volunteer organization, MediClowns.)
What good was a clown's birthday going to be?
We arrived at the Fremont Studios in Seattle at 8 pm, and walked through the doorway. I was tired, and just wanted to be at home in bed. I expected this to be an event whereby Patch Adams would be addressing the crowd of attendees from a podium. What we walked into, however, was a party atmosphere, much like an awards after party. People were milling in the lobby, live music was playing from the stage, greeters were directing us to the bar and lounge area. And, of course, there was a dance floor, complete with clowns in full garb. Every one was happy, damn them.
"Torte" pointed out that Patch was among the people in the lobby. I was stunned. One of my iconic heros, a fighter for the cause, in full costume, was shooting the shit with his guests. We approached him, and I addressed him by saying,
Hi Patch, we'd like to introduce you to your inverse.
Our son, Adam Hunter Lenk, isyour name in reverse." Patch proceeded to take Adam from my arms and hold him up by one hand like a beacon on the bow of a ship. We took photos, we laughed. I laughed. Hmm, something was happening.
The night continued, folk music played, and I sat quietly, trying to be invisible on one of the lounge couches. Patch took the stage after dancing like a 20 year old college student. Remember, the boy is 65, right? He invited all of us in the audience to come closer and sit on the stairs of the stage. He asked us into his circle of love, his down-to-earth passion for the cause of good, peace and laughter. He said that birthday means dance to him, and asked us to dance with him.
So, we did the hokey pokey.
We laughed, we talked with other partygoers. Adam partied with diehard clowns dedicated to laughter and the joy of simple things. We ate handfuls of cake, because Patch never cuts his cake, he dives in. Yum.
The night was young, and my intuitive hubby approached me while he saw the light of a smile on my face for the first time in a long time. He gently inquired, "I think we can go home now?" I agreed. As we left the party, I reflected on the vision of Dr. Patch Adams to inject humour into healthcare, how it is just as important to healing as traditional medicine. I was evidence of the power of good feelings and a smile.
