70

In This Bloutcher: Where Art, Life and Leadership Intersect

• 70
• Soul Mates
• Congratulations!
• Correction

70
This is going to be a bit personal.
I turned 70 last week.
I never thought I would make it.
My Mom died at 53:  Cancer.
My Dad died at 55:  Cancer.
I expected to take leave of this world the day after my 55th birthday.
I didn't exactly wait, but something was there.
Everything since has been a gift.
I received many birthday greetings last week.
Through U.S. Postal, emails, e-cards, Facebook.
Even voices singing Happy Birthday in my message box.
Land line and mobile.
Friends and family asked me what wisdom I had to share.
I don't know wisdom.
I know gratitude.
I did two things on my birthday.
I went to the gym and shot baskets until I was in a meditative state.
That's when this bloutcher entry came to me.
I also painted a timed 3 minute flash self portrait without looking at myself.
I wanted to leave an evidence.
And, yes, there was a third thing.
I gave gratitude.
I am still seeking this wisdom thing. 


Here's my flash self portrait:


 









Soul Mates
If you want to see why I believe artists and scientists are soul mates just look at these two quotes:

Nobel Laureate in science Szent Gyorgyi:  "Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what nobody thought."

Artist Paul Klee:  "Art does not reproduce the visible, rather it makes visible."

Soul Mates 

Congratulations
Congratulations to the first graduating class of The Coach's Studio.  We had a group of exceptional coaches, consultants and trainers participating in this unique program designed to "outrageously" enhance personal creative skills and turbocharge professional practices.  We are excited to continue to support these graduates in taking this work out into the world.  Here is a sampling of what they had to say:

• "I thought I knew so much about myself and my coaching and I kept getting surprised.  This program has allowed my spirit to lead the way."  Dr. Kerry Bennett, M.D., surgeon and life coach.
• "The design is outstanding:  independent work, group interaction, options for a 'buddy,' the website community.  The impact for myself personally and professionally is a deeper and quicker path to change."  Judy Skoglund, Executive Coach and Chief Learning Officer 

The Coach's Studio will begin another session in early October.  Keep your eyes peeled for further information and let me know if you may have interest.

Correction
In my last bloutcher I mistakenly listed Adolphe Menjou as the actor in Casablanca who said to Humphrey Bogart "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."  Thank you to Kathleen Bergeron for catching my gaffe!  The actor was, in her words, "the incomparable Claude Raines."