Art, creativity and finding our 'authentic selves'

[Michael]

I wanted to start a discussion whereby people could say what they enjoyed doing in a creative and 'self-discovering' sense and what they would perhaps 'like' to do. My wife and I are here to discover ourselves in an 'authentic' way, my wife through her ArtInsights business and Art Workshops and me through my meditation, soul path exploration, nature and my creative writing. If either my wife or I can help, guide or support anyone in any way we would be pleased for you to get in touch. Living in the now and being here in Panama, it is vital we live every moment of it in a positive way.

[Michael]

If anyone bothers to read this I just wanted to say how disappointing it is that sooooooooo many of you wanted to write and air what YOU wanted to say about finding your 'authentic selves'. Thank you all [no one] for sharing and taking the time [no time wasted here] to join in.

Take care and be well all of you :-(

Michael

[Susan B.]

Hi Michael,

I just saw this post (I don't visit this site as often as I could) and thought I'd share my journey.

I am on a spiritual journey to find a place of inner peace and tranquility. I have done yoga for the past couple of years and continue on this path here with a dear friend and her husband...my yoga buddies. Connecting breath to movement is a good way to enter the yogic tradition and gave me a place from which to start exploring different forms of meditation. I've found that affirmations are a great place for me to begin my meditations. My last is inhaling love, exhaling light, then the reverse...taking light into my heart and exhaling unconditional love to the universe. This puts a smile on my face every time and prepares me for vipissana meditation. The chatter is less and less each day, and it's deeply renewing and satisfying. It was a pitted and painful road that brought me to these practices, but I'm happy to have gotten here. My meditation has lead me to understand that giving of one's self is the truest path to happiness. I continue to explore different avenues that I hope will lead me further down this path and am open to new input, if others care to share.

Trying not to feel like I've just made my self the Shirley McClain of Boquete (thank you, doubt-monkey),

Susan

[sunshine]

we are all on a spiritual journey.

if I can discover authentic guinness in Panama, then I will quickly get in touch with my inner self.

[Michael]

You unfortunate soul you :-)
You will NEVER find authentic 'cold fill Guinness' here in Panama
Looks like your inner self will have to journey without you my friend and anyway, even if you could or did find some, how could you drink it with there being no Rugby Union here :-) ?
Walk tall, walk straight and look the world right in the eye :-)

[sunshine]

I will miss the 5 nations rugby tournament (now SIX nations), Michael. But my main sporting love is soccer (we call if football). I hope the english premiership is covered on some version of Direct-TV there. Pity about there being no cold bottles of Guinness there.

Yes, walk tall, walk straight and look the world right in the eye, that's what my mama told me, when I was about knee high......as sung by the great Val Doonican (Irish crooner to the unitiated).

[Bob Applegate]

any guinness is better then no guinness at all john
love- ringo

[sunshine]

tis true, ringo.

imagine no black stuff,
it's not easy though I try,
a big floor below us,
above us only stools.

[Elizabeth Worley]

Authenticity...that's a tall order...and so open to judgement. What I consider to be authentic, for me, is viewed by others as....well, fill in the blank. There are so MANY ways to judge others. The move to Panama, for me, was a culminating event that began when I took myself to Italy for a month, alone, for my 50th birthday. Out of that exploration of place and Self, came the courage to leave the US and begin the latter life stage journeys. I have not been disappointed. My life, since moving here, has changed dramatically on both the outside and the inside (and I don't really think the details of that are important for a public forum). But I can say, with complete honesty, that the changes and their accompanying challenges, have led me to live REAL. A piece that has helped me on this path, is the general openness of the community, both Panamanian and expat (though there are notable exceptions--primarily in the expat realm). Like many, I believe I came here to re-invent myself...no one knew me, and so had no preconceived ideas about who I am or who I should be. I was free to just...be. And that is a day by day, moment by moment challenge...to be, authentically, real, without guile or disguise. Art and creativity play a huge part in my life. Spiritual practices (which range from sporadic yoga, to journaling, to painting, to gardening, to all manner of tantric practices--LOVE these!!) inform each day. It's not easy being a full blown human be-ing. But omigod...the richness. Let's keep this discussion going...

[frank frumento]

i new to this ...i came to Panama NOV 26 trying to find me ..i want to live where i can talk to people in english i dont speak spanish its not good ..i am told there r lots of english speaking people there ..i going to come ther to find a place to live what do u think
thanks
ff

[Michael]

Where are you coming from? What expectations do you have? What are your needs? There are lots of questions you need to ask yourself before settling. Of course you should visit here if you can and look around, breathe and explore. We would of course help you wherever we could

[patricia kraemer]

I FOUND IN YOGA AND MEDITATION..NOW IAM TEACHING ON VOLCAN, AS VOLUNTEER, AT CHURCH, MONDAYS AND FRIDAYS, 900AM, FEEL HAPPY TO SHARE THIS PRACTICE WITH OTHERS..

[Michael]

Hi Janet,

Thank you for continuing this thread. It has lain here for quite a while now without notice so I have to say am disappointed in that reality.

Regarding your '5' questions', I have to say that this sounds like coming from a personal coaching regime the practice of which I deserted some time ago. Coaching in this way died both in the US and Europe some years ago. It reached a high about 10 years ago but then slowly sunk with little trace. True, there are still one or two followers but in the main it hasn't addressed what needs addressing for most people.

Authenticity comes more from inner awareness and emotional intelligence in my humble opinion. Many who are new to these concepts need guidance rather than asking them (or themselves) questions with which they will have difficulty.

I also write articles which touch and hint at issues and feelings like this one ~ http://www.escapefromamerica.com/2009/05/moving-to-panama/

There is much wisdom in the world but for many, they have to find that inner wisdom before they can ask question. In a funny sort of way, you need to be aware of the answers before you can the question.

Michael
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