Other than the bright blue skies on those magical clear days, Wellington is not a brightly coloured city. That’s not to say that the town is colourless, rather that Wellington specialises in a fine range of muted tones. The combinations are often subtle, but often very beautiful. There’s also a rich fusion of Victorian and more modern architectural styles – it’s terrific – very inspirational.

As I walk around hunting for the elusive shot of the day, I wonder what the stories are behind the façades and windows. If this building was in use by time travellers, is this the light fitting they’d use?

Manifesto
36. Every day be still. Connect to your inner being. Listen and be guided by it.
41. Every day use your mind. It is the greatest technology ever created.
45. Every day you are a different person.

I like the punga – the tree fern – that lives on the no-man’s land between us and our neighbour. It could be growing on our land, or theirs, or maybe – in fact, probably – is growing on its own land. Punga are one of those essential New Zealand icons. Probably every homesick expat has an image of a punga and a bright blue sky stored somewhere in their memory, even if they don’t have any real memory of a punga. The image is part of the collective consciousness.

What I like about ‘our’ punga is that it defiantly leans into the prevailing (and powerful) westerly gales. This fern – the soft, delicate fern – points its head into the wind. Sure, the fronds are not as perfectly symmetrical as those effete pungas that live in the shelter of the Botanical Gardens; but here is a punga that not only takes on life head on, it thrusts its head right into the full force of the gale.

What confidence! What an inspiration.

Manifesto
26. Every day take action. Every small step counts.
27. Every day pain is a sign of growing.
48. Every day there are things you can’t change. You can change the way you think about them and deal with them.

Just be who you are, calm and clear and bright. Automatically, as we shine who we are, asking ourselves every minute is this what I really want to do, doing it only when we answer yes, automatically that turns away those who have nothing to learn from who we are and attracts those who do, and from whom we have to learn, as well. – Richard Bach

You might as well stand out in the crowd.

No, really, you might as well. If you can, you should. Every day we’re surrounded with mediocrity, and now, with globalisation, we have transnational blandness and mediocrity instead of it being local and personal. Face it, we’re surrounded by drooping drips. That’s ok, just don’t go there yourself. Have a go. So what if you belly flop? It doesn’t matter.

“What’ll the neighbours/my family/friends/everyone think?”

Trust me, they don’t. And if they do, think that is, it doesn’t matter, they’ll be so exceptional, such rare individuals, that they’ll be there applauding you on.

Turn off your tv and do something that’s worth a damn. Doesn’t have to be big, just something that’s worth making the effort for. Strike a revolutionary pose and bust a move. Do something. Anything. Baby steps. Just make it good, very good. Stupifyingly good. With a bit of luck your idea will be picked up by somebody else and – thanks to your inspiration – they’ll do the same. We just might start to see some wonderful changes going on around here. You can be the little yellow flower, who’s fluffy seed head ideas and actions will float away on the breeze, away from the drooping drips, to start a new circle. Please. Start. Now.

Thank you, in anticipation.

Manifesto
12. Every day love yourself.
23. Every day retain your personal power. It belongs to you. No one else.
28. Every day you will be tested.

Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue, and the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true. — Lyman Frank Baum

I was talking to my Mum tonight – we were talking about getting things done, dreaming dreams, thinking thoughts, and of a better day tomorrow. Mum is like that – working today for a better day tomorrow. Mum’s 92 years old and she’s got it going on. A complete inspiration to me. We were talking about what happens when things (usually people) conspire to step on your dreams – rain on your parade – call it what you will.

‘Oh’, said Mum, ‘Just tell ‘em, “You can jump in the lake! And if it’s not big enough, jump in the sea!”‘

I laughed. I haven’t heard that expression for years. Suddenly, after the struggle, everything popped back into proportion and things were going to be ok again.

Mum’s always encouraged us to dare to dream just a little bit bigger dream, all the while keeping our feet on the ground. It’s a difficult acrobatic trick and sometimes it comes off, and other times you come away a bit battered and bruised. After the time out it’s time to dream again, to plot and scheme, to stretch and try. And if anyone comes between me and my dreams, well, they can just jump in the lake.

Manifesto
04. Every day is an opportunity to cultivate the promise of the future.
16. Every day looking at the order of things gives you power.
21. Every day seek the support of others. You are not alone.

This little light of mine,
I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.
– Gospel children’s song written by Harry Dixon Loes

This morning as I opened the curtains I was taken aback by the colour of the rhododendron flowers that greeted me. They shone so brightly that I had to take notice of them. It was as if I was seeing this beautiful pinky red flowering plant that grows outside our dining room window for the first time. This  rhododendron has been there the whole time we have lived in this house but this morning I couldn’t ignore it even though I was looking at it through the sheer curtains and the fogged up windows.

I started to think about us as individuals and how we tend to hide our light and not let it shine. Why do we do this? Is it self-protection (from what or who I wonder)? Is it because of fear – are we scared of what might happen if we release the passion within? Is it because we are not aware of what we’re capable of and therefore don’t know how to access it? Why do so many of us hold back?

Let’s do something about this. How about if we all go out there and be amazing – stop hiding and let’s start shining. I know I want to. There are so many things I want to do and achieve – so many things … I want to write. I want to photograph. I want to create and produce things. I want to work with others to help them share their stories. I want to excel at my job. I want to do further study … the list goes on and on. There is a fire burning inside (it is so much more than a light – it is years of smouldering) and the time has come to stop stifling that energy and using it productively to make my dreams come true.

As Nelson Mandela says: “As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same”. He certainly let his light shine.

It is never too late to give this a go. So let’s go out there and be the best we can be. Let’s find our passion and let it radiate from our being like a blinding light. Are you up for it? It is better to have given it a go rather than saying, “I wish I had …”

Check out the new Telecom advertisement for a little inspiration. I saw this on TV tonight – talk about synchronicity.

Manifesto
13. Every day be better than you were the day before.
25. Every day your light shines for others to see.
38. Every day be brave and give things a go. Use fear to trigger you into action.

For the first time in years I visited the children’s section of our City Library. I remember so vividly the many visits my children and I made to this wonderful place when they were younger.

I knew exactly the book I was looking for – “The Dot” by Peter H. Reynolds. I was worried someone might get to it before I did. I had checked the online catalogue earlier to see if the library had a copy of this book and was thrilled to find they did. I was so relieved when I spotted the large orange dot from the front cover glaring straight at me. As I picked up the book from the shelf I was tempted to sit down right there on the floor and read it. Unfortunately the adult in me said “wait” and I dutifully did. How boring is that?

When I got back to work I tucked the book into my bag and didn’t look at it again until this evening.

I love reading children’s books. I tend to find their simply written messages are ones we as adults could learn something from. I decided to read the book  out loud so my husband could enjoy it as well.

“Just make a mark and see where it takes you.”

Vashti says she can’t draw. Her teacher thinks she can. She knows that there’s a creative spirit in everyone, and where there’s a dot, there’s a way …

Source: Back cover of “The Dot” by Peter H. Reynolds

The girl in the book, named Vashti, believed she couldn’t draw (now where have you heard that before?). Vashti ends up jabbing at a blank sheet of paper to prove her point to her art teacher. That dot becomes the beginning of a journey where Vashti discovers she is creative after all. This story encourages us all to be brave about expressing ourselves and to start small and explore our ideas to see where they might lead.

Are you wondering what prompted me to go looking for this book in the first place?

The first reason is I discovered that September 15th 2009 (15th -ish!) is International Dot Day. Since today is the 16th I figured that is very much 15th-ish and I wanted to celebrate by going dotty.  Peter Reynolds wanted people to: “Spread the word… Dot Day… read The Dot, wear dots, eat dots, draw dots, frame dots, connect the dots, splurge on art supplies, try a new medium – a new instrument, write a poem, rearrange your furniture, reconnect the dots with an old friend, make something, make something with a friend, share your creativity with the world. No strict rules on how to celebrate!”

I realised that Fresh New Day could be our way of celebrating Dot Day. Lynsey and I are sharing our experiment in creativity with all of you.

The second reason is to do with Wellington’s old City Library which is now our City Gallery. For almost a year this gallery has been closed due to renovation work being undertaken. At the end of this month the gallery will re-open with a solo exhibition by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama. This artist is well known for her fixation with repetitive patterns and forms and her iconic use of dots. In preparation for this exhibition dots have appeared on the outside of the City Gallery. The entire front of the building is currently covered by scaffolding and a transparent orange cloth. Behind the the cloth you can see dots of different colours and sizes. For weeks now we have watched from our office window workmen carefully positioning dots according to a prepared design. Every day more and more dots appeared. I can’t wait to see what it is going to look like when the scaffolding and cloth has gone.

It would appear that going dotty is a popular activity at the moment. Tomorrow is a Fresh New Day. Why don’t you try and do some dotting of your own. Have fun.

Manifesto
09. Every day learn something new.
25. Every day your light shines for others to see.
30. Every day use all your senses. Touch. Smell. Taste. Hear. See.