Going Forward in every direction all at once

Brian Eno

A stack of intriguing cards sat on Ellen's table. The simple format: black type, one sentence, on heavy white card stock grabbed my attention. My friend Ellen told me to pick one, instead I pulled them all out and read them one by one.


Brian Eno

This one was my favorite.

I think it will become my new motto. It reminds me of the saying: "Bloom where you are planted."

Brain Eno

Every story has two sides, and often many pages in between. But it is not always necessary to read the fine print, over and over again. Closing the book can be the best thing to do in order to move on.

Brain ENo

Disconnect from desire….

….or at least chocolate peanut butter fudge brownie cake.

Brian Eno

The box of cards were created by Brian Eno (a famous music producer from England in the 1970s.) They are called the:

Oblique Strategies

Brain Eno

How often I forget that simplicity is best and to trust that.

Brain Eno

Forgiving isn't it.

Brain eno

ALWAYS. Cook with handfuls, jump in without looking back, lick your fingers and if what you are creating doesn't turn out…rename it declaring it a delicious lesson.

Brian Eno

Probably. In which case singing could bring on dancing.

Brian Eno

Brian Eno

Brian ENo

This one brought back a memory of when I was learning how to drive a car…

My dad was giving me a driving lesson. We were on a back road in Willows. We were approaching a turn in the road. He told me to turn, I said I couldn't, he insisted. I said no telling him that I was afraid! He yelled, "Turn! Turn! Turn!!"

Instead I drove straight——-

through the fence,

and into the field.

My dad did not get mad at me. I was mad at myself.

Embarrassed I reversed the car and turned back on to the road. I asked my dad why he wasn't mad at me for running through the fence and scratching the car…for not listening to his advice.

My dad said, "Oh because I resemble that."

Brian Eno

Brian ENo

Brian Eno

Brian ENo

Running through a fence can be healing.

Brian Eno

Brian Eno

Brian Eno

…and the last card, made me laugh out loud…. Decorate, decorate that one was made for me.

I kissed Ellen and Frank goodbye. I shed more than a few happy tears as I got on the plane, and of course I did not have a kleenex, so I had to use the back of my hand…. I am always happily amazed how true friendship extends over time, carries you on, holds you dear and lets you go forward.

I love you Ellen.



Comments

30 responses to “Going Forward in every direction all at once”

  1. Ed in Willows

    Wow, now that you are in the states, you’re blogging at a different time. I’ve never been the first to comment. Unfortunately, I don’t really have a comment tonight. Just wanted to be the first to say, Good night and hope you have a great weekend.

  2. My favourite of the oblique strategies is “Honor thy mistake as a hidden intention” – good advice!

  3. My favourite card:
    Do the words need changing?
    Your comment:
    Probably. In which case singing could bring on dancing?
    My comment:
    I am singing…I’ve started to dance.
    I want to keep on dancing. Feel so good.
    xoxo

  4. Ellen Cassilly

    So fortuitous that we stumbled across those cards. I hadn’t seen them in about a year – since we moved. Corey, you are a joy and a bright light illuminating life so we all look at it in a new way. Safe travels, give a big hug to your mom for me. Love and a safe travels to you.

  5. Ellen Cassilly

    It finally stopped raining.

  6. Disconnect from desire…….
    How much time do we waste on desire? Desiring that things would be different, desiring “things”….on and on.
    – Suzanne

  7. Off to the next adventure. How exciting!

  8. Great cards. The one about “Look at a very small object look at its centre” reminded me of a story we read for the English class I teach. It was set in the early 1900s and a student wanted to be a biologist. His famous teacher gave him a fish (dead but preserved) and told him to study it for hours. The first day and then the second and then again. The point was, each time he thought he had learned what he could about this dead fish, he learned more. And that self learning stuck with him forever better than someone telling him to look at this and notice that.

  9. Ah, you must be headed to Ga. now…hope Savannah isn’t getting all the rain that we are in Macon. Have a safe and wonderful trip!
    love,
    angela

  10. I like “Use an unacceptable color.”
    Here’s hoping your bags stay with you every step of the way.
    PS – I got a lesson in Chti French from Lieselotte and FH’s comments yesterday. Too funny! I’m always learning something here. 🙂

  11. Such thought-provoking cards: I really like them. Wishing you well on the next leg of your trip (kleenex or not!).

  12. Din’t loose your suitcase , again !!!
    Love this game

  13. i feel so honored to travel vicariously. thank you for all.
    my favorite card is “you don’t have to be ashamed of using your own ideas”.

  14. beautiful thoughts – sometimes the simplest thing is the hardest thing.

  15. “You don’t have to be ashamed of using your own ideas”. Too often I seek other’s opinions regarding an idea before going forward. Usually this involves home repair, decor or gardening and I end up using my idea.

  16. I’ve been studying your poetic commentaries… like a small stone and at it’s centre is some small wonder, that reminds me…”As small as the world and as large as alone” E.E.Cummings.
    Or is it the other way round? Your transcripts of life, shared yet intimate, remind me that each drop is part of the pool on which it ripples… as your words resonate within and beyond… echoes the cosmos in this tiny sphere

  17. Lovely words that conjure wonderful thoughts. Thanks!
    Marilyn
    in Oregon

  18. Your friend Ellen must be a very wise woman to have found those ” Keep it simple ” – sentences and applying them in her everyday life. Everyone can pick the one he /she needs to make getting through the day easier. I will try out the one I picked for myself ! Thanks, Corey

  19. I think I’m going to need tough love and a twelve step group to let go of that chocolate peanut butter delight Corey!
    Thank you for this thought provoking post. And for explaining the one, “humanize something free of error”. I was like geez, what the hooha?! With a throbbing headache this morning and no chocolate peanut butter delight, my gray cells are having a hard time of processing anything.
    Looking forward to your further adventures Corey …

  20. Those are great. Had to search eBay and there are a few sets available. I also saw a completed set, 1st edition and signed that sold for US$500 ! Looking forward to reading the rest of your adventure in the states.

  21. How very loving of your friend and thank you for sharing them too. Your dad, well, he sounds just wonderful. I love my dad, very much, but I did nearly the same thing you did trying to learn to drive at 15(he was the teacher) and he chewed me out. He apologized profusely later but it kept me from learning until drivers ed class. But, I have to say, I tend to resemble him too at times. We live, we learn.

  22. Corey the card “be dirty” struck me. I just went fishing with my husbands 87 year old grandfather. After catching the first fish he told me to hold the fish to get the smell on my hands so when I bait the hook it will smell like fish, not my lotion. 🙂 I wanted to rinse my hands off so badly in the cool water but Grandpa kept saying don’t do it, you will wash the smell off. I didn’t do it. I was dirty. By the way, I caught my limit in just 2 hours! To “be dirty” works. Blessings, Kimberly

  23. Disconnect from desire … the directions to nirvana.

  24. Julie Ann Evins

    So thought provoking. I too am confused with US blogging time.. I have been to Lille today and will be in Bonnieux all being well by Wednesday so am v satisfied with my French fix. We have a special treat lined up for Saturday lunch in Aix…Jx

  25. jend’isère

    “Humanize something free of error” makes me wonder how perfection is subjective. Eno’s music is challenging as these words.

  26. I love Decorate, Decorate!

  27. Aweee…
    Tis is such a wonderful post.
    “Bloom where you are planted” has been my mantra ever since I first heard it, from Hilary Clinton. For some reason, I think of this quote at least a few times on a weekly basis!

  28. Less is definitely more, Corey. Great post.

  29. I love these cards! Totally something I would come up with! I loved the “use an acceptable color” one. it should say “ESPECIALLY in your professional email signature” on the inside.

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