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Blog: News and Information HOW TO ADD TO THE BLOG For those who are participants in the Kelowna program Sage-ing With Creative Spirit, your entries and photos from your volunteering and/or your works and their stories. For others entering this site please share your stories about how the call to create has urged you to sage. The growing community of those who dare to create and share will set a foundation for change. As humans move forward in understanding the gift of creativity to our health and well being we will be the sages our spirits intend. CLICK HERE TO START. The username is new Password is care This blog is intended as a sharing space for all who enter. "Within each of us is nature's life-giving energy intended to be released through creative acts. Art unites us to reveal "All is one". Authentic acts of creation are essential to individual and community growth and wellbeing." - Karen Close Entries will appear in inverse chronological order as you submit. Right Brain, Creative Brain Since "happening" on the RCA a year ago, while wandering the streets of Kelowna, after moving from the hectic life in Toronto; I found the answer to the continuation of my art endeavours!! This wonderful facility, with an open studio on Tuesdays, full of Karen's follower's, was the food for my soul!! This summer we have had the wonderful (words cannot express) opportunity to paint to a live pianist and opera singer, both amazing local talent. The creations produced where truly from the creative juices that flowed within us. Saging with Creative Spirit truly allows the heart and hand to rule with the brains logic system laying dormant. Thanks to you all who believe in this journey and I hope we keep going for months to come!! Jaine Buse 16 Aug 2010 Participant art project Cale, Eslin and Aisha had a fun time this afternoon working on their foil art project. Aisha even managed to get two painted. One was for Mom and the other is for Dad! Theresa 09 Mar 2010 Participant Storytelling with Devon Hi, I was one of 4 who took part in Devons Storytelling time. Devon opened our minds to creativity. Some of the work accomplished, could have been published! Devon sees Storytelling as a lifestyle, as a release, as entertainment. I am looking forward to see where we go next Tue. Theresa 30 Jan 2010 Participant How to Change When Change is Hard Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard is the new book from Chip and Dan Heath, who wrote the wonderful storytelling guide, Made to Stick.    Here’s the premise: It’s really hard to change organizations, communities, people and ourselves. We all know that. But why?   Because of the way our brain works. We are literally of two minds: the rational mind and the emotional mind - that compete for control. As Dan writes, the rational mind wants a great beach body; the emotional mind wants that Oreo cookie. Or as I think of it, the rational mind is the one that sets the alarm for 5 a.m. when I go to bed so I can get up early to work on my novel before I leave for the office. The emotional mind is the one that hits snooze and puts a pillow over my head when morning comes. (Which is why I’m still only halfway through my novel, two years in.) These two minds can doom efforts at compelling action and achieving change, but guess what? They can be overcome with three methods, used together. These principles apply not just to your personal resolutions - they apply to getting people in your office to adapt a new approach, to persuading people to eat healthy, to galvanizing people around actions that advance your cause. The wonderful news is these three steps are not gigantic. In fact, the solutions to your big problems are often small and simple when you approach them with a clear understanding of how people think. As the book notes: Big problems are rarely solved with commensurately big solutions. Instead, they are most often solved by a sequence of small solutions, sometimes over weeks, sometimes over decades. But change usually feels big and unweildy - like steering an elephant. Your rational mind is like the wee little driver perched atop this gigantic, emotional, recalcitrant beast. The Heath brothers’ three-part framework tells you how to get the elephant moving: Direct the rider: Provide crystal-clear direction. You may think you’re encountering resistance when in fact you’re encountering confusion. This principle deeply resonated with me, because I believe so much of nonprofit work falls down over poor, unclear or overly complex calls to action. We tell people to stop global warming when we should ask them to switch light bulbs. Motivate the elephant: Engage people’s emotional sides to they cooperate. Self-control is exhausting, and people need emotional energy to embrace and adopt change. Shape the path: A “people” problem is often simply a situation problem. Put people in a different situation if you want them to change. 28 Jan 2010 Administrator Creative Process with my Niece The Arts have always been a big part of my life.  As a young child I would produce skits and dramas for my family and neighborhood friends.  Then throughout high school I was always involved in the school drama productions and competitions throughout Saskatchewan. For a time I even taught art classes in Saskatoon School District before we moved to Kelowna.   However, my personal interest as an artist did not surface till  I retired after 25 years as the Artistic Director of the Fat Cat Children's Festival here in Kelowna.   At that time, I had the opportunity to house sit on Mayne Island for a month to contemplate my future, and while there I had this compulsion to paint on driftwood.  From that point on, I have let myself drift in the direction that feels most comfortable in developing my art, and as a result a whole new world has opened to me.  HeART Fit has been one of those channels that I have followed and I would like to pass on this flow of energy to my niece Teagan who also has a love of the creative process.  I want to expose her to the joys of letting the energy you feel flow onto the canvas or other art forms. She on the other hand passes on to me her vibrant, youthful energy which I hope can sustain me, energize me and inspire me in the years to come.  We can learn so much from each other and I thank HeART Fit for this wisdom and opportunity to share. Maureen Lejbak/Teagan MacDougall.  27 Jan 2010 Participant The creative spirit The creative spirit abounds in our life ... if we'll just let it.  Toss away the weights of expectations and societal conditioning ... and just play.  It's good for all ages.  It's great fun.  You'll be surprised who actually will ramp it up, even though they repeatedly state, "They're not creative."  3 generations of my family splash about paint, and other mediums - either for fun, bonding, or healing during tough emotional times.  Try it, you won't forget it ... and neither will they. HeARTist, Mary Jo Schnepf 26 Jan 2010 Participant Me Creative? Fear......try it anyway Judge.....there are no mistakes Product......process.     Look; love; allow; rest; remember:  safe timelessness. Fear....choice Judge....what do I like Product...for who?    Curious, at ease, playful, trusting, connecting - my mirror, my healing Someone's coming....courage, Let it go; on wings of its own. Bridges forming, new possibilities, and I thought I knew. Me Poet? Thought I knew After treatment for breast cancer I was gently encouraged by a friend to join a group called heART FIT, meeting at The Rotary Centre for the Arts in Kelowna B.C.  I did not consider myself creative or think that painting would ever be a part of my life or be a part of healing, but I gave it a try. It was humbling, humorous and honest. I have learned that getting heART FIT means regularly allowing the creativity within me to express itself.  I am amazed by the way painting makes me feel more settled, calm, free and happy. I marvel at the ripple effect that pieces of art can have as they go forward. In our family, the art encourages conversation, opinions, connections, humility, laughter, questions and love. My teenagers and their friends, my nieces and even my husband are joining in and discovering their creativity.   Yes, I feel that this process has been one of the ways that has helped me heal from the whole ordeal of having cancer.  I have discovered more about myself on the canvass and can see the parallels with life.  I have become less concerned about the judgment of others, and more attentive to my own understandings, and desires. (Healing)   I feel that in some way my paintings are also leaving my "mark" in the world to be remembered by, and hopefully have had a positive effect.  These realizations, to my delight, contribute much more freedom and confidence while painting, and as I walk through life's challenges and joys.  Yes Healing. Brenda Valnicek RN, BScN. IMG_1634 Art by B. Valnicek Brenda Valnicek with nieces Hanna and Danielle MacKay 26 Jan 2010 Participant Teens Creative at Home My teenagers were very creative as young kids since then we have not spent much time with this. After joining HeArt Fit I began painting at home. To my delight my teens and their friends are joining in. Great fun, creativity, laughter and connections. 24 Jan 2010 Participant Nieces Keen to Visit Kids are so excited to visit now that we always do something creative together. Tempra painting in the snow was so much fun and everyday I am reminded of the fun we had. Brenda Valnicek 24 Jan 2010 Participant Sculpting with Bonnie Anderson Wow- We had a great afternoon learning to sculpt clay with potter bonnie Anderson.  She introduced us to sculpting in a fun and unusual way.  We each worked on a piece of clay' while looking at a model, and then passed it to the left.  Then we started adding to someone else's piece for a minute- then again passed to the left.  When we got our own piece back everyone had added something to it- lots of laughs and a very relaxing way to spend the afternoon.  We then gave our work the finishing touches!  Thanks so much to Karen and Bonnie for organizing the afternoon... A very right brained activity.  Susan  20 Jan 2010 Participant Friends through heART Art in Mexico - My husband and I were spending the morning poking in little galleries in Bucerias Mexico- when I bumped into a friend.  I had met Kathy, from Edmonton, when she joined heArt for a few painting sessions at the RAC -and here she was taking lessons at a tiny gallery in Mexico.  Small world!  We had a great visit - admired the colourful art then went for lunch overlooking the bay- the humpback whales were putting on a fantastic show for us...a wonderful memory of our holiday   Susan D. 18 Jan 2010 Participant Art Reception Hi, drop by to see my art display and a chat. At Blenz coffee shop Westbank near Canadian Tire Wed. Jan. 20/10 7-9pm. They are looking for more artists to display. Theresa 18 Jan 2010 Participant Culture Change in Nursing Homes The "culture change" movement represents a fundamental shift in thinking about nursing homes. Facilities are viewed not as health care institutions, but as person-centered homes offering long-term care services. Culture-change principles and practices have been shaped by shared concerns among consumers, policy makers, and providers regarding the value and quality of care offered in traditional nursing homes. They have shown promise in improving quality of life as well as quality of care, while alleviating such problems as high staff turnover. Policy makers can encourage culture change and capitalize on its transformational power through regulation, reimbursement, public reporting, and other mechanisms. The culture-change movement is a broad-based effort to transform nursing homes from impersonal health care institutions into true person-centered homes offering long-term care services. The movement encompasses almost three decades of consumer advocacy coupled with legal, legislative, and policy work aimed at improving both the quality of care and the quality of life in nursing homes. Health Affairs journal presents an article, Person-Centered Care For Nursing Home Residents: The Culture-Change Movement, on the movement by Mary Jane Koren, assistant vice president, Frail Elders Program, at the Commonwealth Fund in New York City. The text is available here: http://www.healthaffairs.org 17 Jan 2010 Administrator Tues. Sage-ing class Mary Ann did a great job to inspire our class, to create using tin foil. I really enjoyed it. I will frame my finished piece. Theresa Fougere 09 Jan 2010 Participant New Program This program looks very stimulating. I am looking forward to attending. Theresa 01 Jan 2010 Participant Home : About : Classes in Kelowna in Kelowna : Blog : Contact