Issue 2 - 2002-04-03
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SARK's E Letter (e stands for energy)
Astounding April 2002
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"I wish that life should not be cheap, but sacred…the days to
be as centuries, loaded, fragrant."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Welcome to my monthly e letter! The "e" stands for energy.
My intention is to infuse you with new energy, and nourish
you with quotes, book recommendations, fresh insights, and
places I am floundering. I wanted to connect more often than
once a year when I write a new book, or briefly in person on a
book tour.
In fact, I felt so inspired by your responses that we are starting
a guest book soon where you will be able to leave your
writings for me, and others to read.
My vision is to have this turn into a forum, a place to
converse, a salon where we can EXTRAVAGANTLY
LOUNGE together (if you want that right now, go to the
"Lounge and Chat" link
http://www.campsark.com/pages/lounge.php.)
I loved having this dialogue with you! I received so many
scrumptious, thought-full responses to my March e letter
"Virtual Tulips" (to read that letter right now, go
http://www.campsark.com/pages/catchup.php where it is
happily archived.)
DOING TOO MUCH/OVERWHELM
I frequently find myself in the thickets of doing too much and
feeling overwhelmed by my choices, even when they're
exciting things! I then sometimes feel crabby, panic stricken
and filled with anxiety. What I've discovered is that I'm often
motivated by an interior critic that is called "The Pusher."
The pusher doesn't care about health or sanity or unplanned
time, it just pushes ahead, no matter what.
In the midst of writing and creating my books, traveling,
speaking, running my business and tending to my elder
mother's care, I also need time to lie in the sun and eat ripe
plums, watch a big Blue Jay hopping on my roof gathering
berries, and time to hear my 5-year-old friend, Chelsea,
describe her birthday plans to me, including a
"barDbeequed" in her backyard.
Most of all, I need time to experience loving myself!
For me, doing too much also fills empty spaces and distracts
me from feeling profoundly lonely. If I'm "busy," then I must
be worthwhile?
I am committed to continuing to practice doing less and
experiencing UNDERwhelm as I navigate through my life. I
want to spend more time grinning, gazing and gathering
scattered parts of myself, and turning eagerly to eat more of
the ripe fruit in my life.
Let's spend more of our lives in the soul-full times.
THINGS TO TRY About Doing Too Much and Overwhelm
=~= See if you can detect a "pusher" part of yourself that is
making choices about how you spend your time. Think of a
place in the world that the pusher could go to work and get
out of your head. A refugee camp? An ecological mission?
=~= See if you're assigning everything equal importance.
It is very tempting during times of overwhelm to see the tasks
as equal, when they're really not. Gently take them apart and
re-assign a particular order of importance.
=~= Re-Vision Time
Choose a new time perspective that reminds you that time is
not linear like steps or a ladder, but elastic, circular, multi-
layered. What looks pressing in the distance may just be a
speck when you get there.
=~= Practice RDC
Rest, Delegate, Cancel
When you find yourself doing too much, ask yourself the
following questions:
-- Have I rested?
-- Have I exercised?
-- Have I eaten nutritious food?
-- Have I given/received love?
If you are missing or lacking any of those 4, it is time to slow
down and gently reorient yourself. See if you can stop and
rest, ask for help, cancel or reschedule some things.
MAY WE ALL
-- Be human beans, not human doings
-- Create new resting places for ourselves
-- Experiment even more with imperfection in how we live
I SEND TO YOU:
A winding path that leads to a gate, which leads to the sea.
You arrive to find a tea party all set up, and you're the first
guest to arrive. You look closely at the table, and there are
name tags for all your "inside children" at all of their various
ages. There is a tiny cradle, a high chair, a hammock and big
comfortable stuffed chairs.
You feel profoundly rested and refreshed by this vision, and
notice that there is no sense of time, or urgency or anything at
all to do. You realize that this expansive state is your natural
birthright, and you lie down in the soft cloth hammock which
is surrounded by lavender, and fall into a deep, helpless
nap…
TAKE ONE DEEP BREATH…
Recipe for cinnamon toast
From my childhood memory…
Wonder bread with piles of butter, clumps of cinnamon and
plenty of sugar. Gobbled cheerfully by the light of television.
My cinnamon toast today:
Omega bread with plenty of rice butter, pure cinnamon (still
in clumps), no sugar needed.
Caution: cinnamon in quantity can activate copious sneezing!
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RESOURCES
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Books:
"Prosperity Pie" by SARK
"Brave on the Rocks" by Sabrina Ward Harrison
"Embracing the Inner Critic" by Hal and Sidra Stone, Ph.D.
Websights:
www.another.girlatplay.com (correction to March e letter)
www.forthelittleonesinside.com
www.realastrology.com
www.howmuchjoy.com
Music:
Sutras by Donovan
Songs of the Spirit II by Karen Drucker
(www.karendrucker.com)
Tea:
Numi Tea – "Honeybush" flavor (www.numitea.com)
I will be touring most of April and celebrating my (April 19)
birthday all month(!) I would love to share some laughter
and gorgeous moments with you along the way.
Blonde Voyage!
SARK
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SARK SIGHTINGS
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"PROSPERITY PIE" 2002 BOOK TOUR
In April, SARK will be journeying around the country,
reminding us all that we are enough, we have enough, we do
enough, regardless of what outside circumstances may be!
SARK events turn into kindred spirit parties where shy and
outgoing people meet and sign each other's SARK books.
There is a rumor that SARK may be giving money away too!
SARK will speak, and sign, and then nap. Special welcome to
all Succulent Wild Woman and Man Groups. If you aren't
able to attend any of the events, please join us telepathically.
MADISON, WISCONSIN
Wednesday, April 3, 6-7:30 p.m.
UNIVERSITY BOOKS, 1-800-993-2665
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
Friday, April 5, 7 p.m.
TRANSITIONS, 1-800-979-READ
AUSTIN, TEXAS
Tuesday, April 9, 7 p.m.
BOOK PEOPLE, 1-800-853-9757
ATLANTA, GEORGIA
Thursday, April 11
BARNES & NOBLE, 770-953-0966
CORTE MADERA, CALIFORNIA
Tuesday, April 23, 7 p.m.
BOOK PASSAGE, 415-927-0960
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
Wednesday, April 24, 7:30 p.m.
A CLEAN, WELL-LIGHTED PLACE FOR BOOKS, 415-661-
6670
TEMPE, ARIZONA
Friday, April 26, 6 p.m.
CHANGING HANDS, 480-730-0205
PORTLAND, OREGON
Tuesday, April 30, 7:30 p.m.
TEMPLE ALEXANDER CHURCH (site)
In Other Words, 503-232-6003
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
Wednesday, May 1, 7 p.m.
THIRD PLACE BOOKS, 206-366-3333
SEE SARK ON TV! – SARK is one of the facilitators on Cheryl
Richardson's new documentary series "The Life Makeover
Project with Cheryl Richardson" premiering on Oxygen,
Sunday, April 21, 2002. Check your cable listings and
www.oxygen.com.
PORTLAND, OREGON -- SARK will be in Portland, Oregon,
May 8, 2002 as keynote speaker for the United Girls' Summit
2002, Oregon Convention Center. Girls ages 8-20 and their
supporters living in Multnomah County, Oregon are invited.
Admission is free; preregistration is required. For more
information go to:
http://www.girlsinitiativenetwork.org/summit%202002.html
or call (503) 493-3955
SARK presents "Where Are Your Creative Dreams?" in
SAN FRANCISCO – Learning Annex, June 19, 2002 (evening)
NEW YORK CITY –Learning Annex, June 27, 2002 (evening)
(more details in May)
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ORDERING SARK'S BOOKS
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We have made it possible for you to order all (11 total) of
SARK's books online at www.campsark.com. Just click on the
Magic Cottage Store Books link
http://www.campsark.com/pages/books.php where you
will be able to order each and every one of SARK's books
there by through Amazon.com.
As always, you can find SARK's books at your favorite
bookstore.
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ORDERING SARK'S 2002 CALENDARS
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So many succulent souls ordered them, they're sold out for
2002.
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ORDERING SARK'S PRODUCTS
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At the Magic Cottage Store Gifts link
http://www.campsark.com/pages/gifts.php, you will be
taken to Femail Creations or call them at 1-800-996-9223.
Impact also carries many SARK products, but does not have a
websight. Call them at 1-800-322-4810 for a catalog.
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SARK'S MARVELOUS MESSAGE BOARD
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We have a most vibrant, succulent community of souls on this
board. Please feel welcome and free to participate. Some
regular MMB users are putting together some FAQ for SARK,
which we will post on the websight to make it even more
user-friendly than it already is.
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SARK'S INSPIRATION LINE
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"A Place to be How You Actually Are" Celebrating its 10th
Anniversary, this line welcomes more than 5,000 people per
month from all over the world.
415-546-3742 (epic) 24 hours
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CAMP SARK INFORMATION LINE
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415-397-7275 (SARK) 24 hours
SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
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THANK YOU!
Copyright (c) 2002 SARK. All rights reserved.
Permission is granted to reproduce, copy or distribute this e-
letter so long as this copyright notice and full information
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Delicious Campsark: http://www.campsark.com
