Archive for ‘Inspiring Links’

December 27th, 2011

The Top Posts for 2011

{discovered on Pinterest. originally from lokal54.com.}

We’re sliding into 2012. But before we go, I thought I’d countdown the end of the year with a countdown of my top 10 inspiring posts. Great for the new The Inspiring Bee reader and for those who’ve stuck around when my blog was just a free little thing called 2inspired. Since then I’ve made a whole lot of new friends, had my tweet published in this book, got a new column for The Writer magazine on inspiration, had my articles published in magazines, gained new copywriting projects including writing for Walmart Labs, was made associate editor for Psych Central, and all in all just been tickled pink and filled with gratitude for all social media has brought me. And they say it’s nothing, but a waste of time.

Thank you for all who stuck by me, commented here and there and supported me when I was just starting out. And Happy New Year! May your 2012 be even brighter than 2011.

1. When You’re Feeling Uninspired

Don’t let the 0 tweet counter fool you. This one was by far the number one post ever. Maybe there’s a lot of you feeling uninspired now. It’s a timely one to read before the end of the year to help shake you out of your rut for 2012.

2. Commit No Nuisance

I wrote this one on my way back from London where I was fascinated by their use of signs like this one. Don’t you love it when you find a parallel between what’s going on inside to what you’re finding outside in the world?

3. How to Invite More Possibility and Synchronicity in Your Life

This is one of my favorite posts. And I guess it was yours too. It reminds me about how magical life can be, if we only take the time open our eyes and see. If you’re feeling hopeless, this one will fill you back up with hope.

4. Fear is a Common Denominator in Following Your Calling

Talking about synchronicity, a big one fell into my lap after reading a book called Callings by author Gregg Levoy. I truly heart that book and after reading it, I was curious about the author. A 5-minute Google search later and I discovered he was going to be giving a talk 15 minute minutes away from my house the next night. I jumped at the chance and wrote about the experience here. It inspired my first and only callings event listed below.

5. Callings Group Event

This is the event I talked about with my biggest comment count ever. I thoroughly enjoyed helping out a fellow freelancer in this post. And if you follow her on Twitter, then you know how well she’s doing half a year later.

That’s my top 5 wrap-up. Have a good one!

October 22nd, 2011

Weekend Update: A Creative Class in Meaning

Hi guys! I’m working this weekend and just thought I’d let you in on a secret. I’ve been taking a course taught by creativity guru Dr. Eric Maisel. He’s authored 35 books, one of which {A Writer’s Paris} took me all the way to Paris.

I’m just a handful of weeks in his new course taught at Entheos Academy, but it’s proving to be more influential than any course I’ve taken thus far.

The class is called Your Best Life in the Arts and talks about some of the shadows that accompany creativity. Things like negative self-talk, anxiety and a lack of meaning and identity as a creator. It’s adding the psychology aspect of creating that not a lot of people address.

I am so excited about this course that I signed up to be an affiliate. This essentially means that if you sign up too by clicking on the icon on the bottom right, I get a small commission in return. The best thing about this class is that there is a sliding scale so you can choose how much you can afford. Great for creatives and the budget-minded.

I love sharing things that inspire you to keep on creating and hope you don’t mind me sharing it here. Have a great weekend!

July 21st, 2011

If You Can’t Say Anything Nice, Don’t Say Anything At All…

So I won’t (say anything not nice, that is).

In fact, I’ve only got love for my Twitter followers, Facebook friends and the special few who hop on this blog every once in awhile.

This post is dedicated to mushy (a word a college friend used to describe my favorite topics) love stuff.

A Pinterest photo

Looking for the Jewels

Every now and again, I like to scope the web for new fodder. I’m like one of those crazy folks with their metal machines digging for gold in the sand. Except instead of a fancy machine, my little hairs on my arm stands on end and I get all tingly inside with excitement.

Granted, the jewels have been even more rare these days with all the new blogs out there.

That is until I serendipitously fell into these two love-at-first-sight blogs.

 

Two Rubies and One Diamond

 

99 Red Balloons via Pinterest

This Blog Makes Life Better, Sweeter

I can’t get enough of Sarah Wilson’s inspirational pieces of wisdom on life and living with an autoimmune disease. Wilson’s an Australian media personality, journalist  and blogger, and former Cosmopolitan editor with a fiery spirit that makes you want to nod your head in agreement or shout “heck yeah!” when you read her posts.

  • This post in particular is about TM or transcendental meditation.*Especially for those on the road to better meditating.

A Springboard for Creativity and Awareness

A bunch of fabulous writer Tweeps recommended Melissa Crytzer Fry’s blog. It came with so much rave reviews that I had to take 5 to hop on over her sight. In a few seconds, I knew why they were so in love.

Fry intertwines between photos of her hometown with words of writerly wisdom. My favorite combo. Love how she finds meaning in the ordinary.

Making a Difference

My third find is not a blog at all, but a mission.

A writer friend gave me the heads up on a new way to make a difference that’s not just about philanthropic, but an investment too.

Kiva is a nonprofit organization with “a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty.” Essentially, Kiva helps people get loans and helps donors not just donate money (for as little as $25), but invest in an individual. It’s quite inspiring.

It’s hard to believe that knocking off your daily coffee expense could help fund a small business. But it can. Go here to find out how it works.

Find any blogs lately that have you drooling in their deliciousness?

Are there any charitable organizations that inspire you?

Share the goods below.

April 15th, 2011

Friday Reflections and a Life Changing Freebie

Reflecting on one of life's greatest mysteries, Stonehenge.

Yesterday, I wrote about synchronicities. And I just had another BIG one last night!

By now, you probably know that I am a huge fan of author Gregg Levoy’s book Callings: Finding and Following an Authentic Life.

If you had any doubt, here are all of the blogs I wrote about that included quotes from his book:


I Followed My Calling

I’ve been meaning to google the author because I was so enamored with his book. I finally listened to the “calling” and was astonished to see that he was going to be in my neighborhood.

“Aw,” I said to myself. He already came.”

But then I checked the date and realized he was talking about his book tonight! There was no way that there would be any tickets left, but I called the office just in case.

Guess what?

There were tickets and the woman there would hold it for me.

I couldn’t believe my luck.

I just got back from the event. It was 2 hours and a half and I not only got my book signed (rabbit bitten and used), but I had a chance to tell the author how much I admired him and his book.

I’m still smiling from all of the synchronistic events that had to occur in order for me to be in this moment.

  • I had to have gone to Portland’s famous bookstore Powell’s two years ago.
  • I had to have found that used $7.95 book in the mash of many stories of books.
  • Then, I needed to read the book, search for the author’s name by yesterday, not today.
  • And there had to be tickets left to see the event.

Whew!

The universe is working hard.

I wrote a book load of notes and will share it with you next week.

But until then, I just wanted to end with a thought.

If you open yourself up to the possibility that you can co-create your life, that if you bring your whole self and desires to play, you can have everything you want and more.

A Freebie

I also wanted to end with this. Oprah.com’s sharing a Martha Beck life coach’s Five Level Improvement Program. Go to that link and you can begin discovering more about yourself, your wants and your goals.

Have a great weekend!

x0x0,

Brandi

Follow me on Twitter

And talk to me on Facebook

November 6th, 2010

Check Out What’s Going Around TIB

I used to blog about DIY, easy peas-y, affordable, crafty items over at not2shabby. But after a year of blogging, I couldn’t keep up with all that craftiness and decided to add it as a feature to my new blog The Inspiring Bee.

What you see here is a compilation of everything I am passionate about from inspiring interviews to fun, DIY crafts.

But with the holidays coming up, I just couldn’t resist getting back to my creative roots. And so I’ve temporarily updated my crafts link to Holiday Crafts.

I hope you’ll check it out for fun Thanksgiving and Christmas ideas and get inspired. Cheers!

October 15th, 2010

Inspiring Links for Friday

I get so oogly googly-eyed excited when I randomly click on a new website that’s inspiring!

It’s another blog to visit. Another inspiring post to read.

I started sharing a few on my Facebook page, but decided to share them with you here too.

Then, I thought, why not do it every week?

So I’m starting a new series of post which features blogs and websites that are doing something fun, creative and exciting. And I hope you’ll join me by posting your own favorite website links in the comments below. And pick and choose and explore like we did in Paris just a month ago.

Here we go:

The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur – Isn’t that such a great title? It caught my eye for sure. But what lured me in for good was all the goodies (some free) for entrepreneurs. There’s lots of fun stuff here like a 3 minute video called, “Deciding How to Blog.” But my favorite is this, “55 Ways on How to Find Your Hidden Talent.” This guy’s got a book to back his stuff up. But entrepreneurs take note! He’s also got a unique spin on being a “toilet paper entrepreneur” that’s fun and factual. A winning combination that makes people interested, entertained and wanting to come back.

Creative Thursday – This is me being a bit selfish. I love this blog because it is creatively inspiring. It’s visually attractive and I love her tagline, “I believe everyone is creative.” It got me thinking, “Why didn’t I think of that?!” When your eyes get tired from reading too much text (sorry if it’s cause of me) then go here for much needed R&R for the eyes as in lots of eye candy!

74 Lime Lane - Kellie of 74 Lime Land had me at: 74 Ways to Be Inspired. Her series caught my eye because I’m all about the inspiration. Here, she interviews various artists on what they find inspiring to help creative entrepreneurs.

Martha Beck’s blog – If you like your inspiration handed to you quirky style, you’ll love my favorite author’s blog. Her videos are hilarious and yet always end up inspiring me.

That’s it for now! Have a glorious weekend!


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