Author Archives: Camilla

Latest News: Sixth Annual Lillian Presentation

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Lillian’s birthday and the dawn of a new school year are upon us. This was the sixth annual “Lillian” presentation to her classmates. It began in the first grade because her classmates kept asking me “why” questions about Lillian. I figured why have them wondering and drawing erroneous conclusions and choosing to judge her when I can try and help them understand.

The presentation went GREAT! I got lots of questions and one sweet young man bought a copy of my book, D iz for Different, for his aunt. He has a cousin with 22q-. So sweet!

I like to share my presentation publicly because so many other parents are curious about this and some want to take the plunge and do their own presentation. Please use it as you need. I only ask that you let people know where you got the idea or information.

These are my raw notes for the presentation. I add to or skip information as I feel needed.

Lillian and Being Different

“If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.” – Henry David Thoreau

(Slide 1) Chocolate Candy Recipe ~ Each chocolate has a recipe – all use cocoa, and dark or milk chocolate

What ingredients make chocolates so different?

Fruit – Cherries, Coconut

Nuts – Almonds, Cashews, Peanut, Hazlenuts

Flavorings – Vanilla, Orange, Strawberry

We are like chocolates – we each have our own special recipe with special ingredients that make us DIFFERENT, UNIQUE, BEAUTIFUL AND AMAZING.

Chocolate recipes are usually in a book or written on paper or even in someones head. Our recipes for our bodies are in our genes.

Genes are our recipe for our bodies and they decide:

(Show book … “You’re Full of Genes” by Claudia Zylberberg Ph.D.)

Brown or Blue Eyes
Short or Tall
Straight or Curly Hair
Need Glasses or Not
Have Freckles or Dimples
Have small feet or big feet

Genes decide EVERYTHING about you and your body and how the parts should work. If some genes are missing or duplicated this decides whether something with our body doesn’t work.

Another way to explain is that genes are all of the instructions the human body needs to function.  All of our bodies genes are organized into structures called chromosomes.

(Slide 2) Let’s look at this like a Chocolate Candy Cookbook.  If the recipes are genes, then each chapter (Chocolate with Nuts Chapter, Chocolate with Fruit Chapter) is like a chromosome.  The chapters, or chromosomes, make up the book – in our case, the book of life.

(Slide 3) Chromosome, DNA, Gene Slide

(Slide 4)  There are 22 numbered pairs of chromosomes, plus two sex chromosomes (male or female).  Each chromosome is numbered and each chromosome has a waistband.  The waistband separates the short arm (p) and long arm (q) of the chromosome.  (slide 4)

(slide 5) Lillian has a very unique recipe (genes) unlike any of you.  A section of her recipe is missing – deleted (called a chromosome abnormality).  A piece of her #18 chromosome is missing – the short arm of her #18 is deleted, so it’s called 18p-.

What happens if you leave out an ingredient for a recipe?

(slide 6) Lillian has to work harder at doing many of the things that are easy for you. She’s had to do this since being a baby.  Things like turning over, holding her head up, crawling, walking, making sounds, cutting with scissors, eating, writing, talking.

Lillian’s mouth has to work so much harder to chew and swallow and speak.

Her hands have to work harder to do things like writing, cutting, make crafts, opening packages.

Her body has to work harder at walking, running, and staying balanced.

She’s very nervous, startled and scared about loud sudden noises (thunderstorms, fire alarms for drills, helicopters)

Lillian uses an iPod Touch with an application installed that allows her to type in what she needs or wants to say and press a speak button. Talk about Proloquo2Go. She can also simply type what she wants to say in the notes section or texting section of the iPod. She doesn’t really use P2G as much as she did when she was younger.

Lillian has all the words and things she needs and wants to say in her mind. She has problems articulating it (saying it) clearly.

She is just the same as the rest of you in many ways. She likes to read (mysteries, non-fiction books and friendship books), loves listening to a variety of music, she likes french fries, hot dogs, meatloaf, donuts, and she loves going for walks, taking pictures, and telling and listening to jokes.

Lillian loves the stars, moon and sun (astronomy) and loves dancing and just being silly. She’s passionate about the weather. She tracks the weather every day!

I want to share some ideas and thoughts with you on how you can be awesome, supportive, and helpful friends and classmates to one another and to Lillian! I want to make sure you understand I’m not solely talking about Lillian with how to be supportive. This is for all of you.

Encourage one another if you see any of your classmates or Lillian having a hard time.

Lend a helping hand if you see one of your classmates struggling.

Be patient with Lillian if you don’t understand what she has just said ~ encourage her to use her iTouch to tell you what she’s trying to say or write it down or verbally spell the word for you.

Be patient with one another too.

Take that first step and ask Lillian what she did over the weekend or about her likes, dislikes ~ questions you would ask your fellow classmates and friends.  You will have to wait longer for an answer; but the good feelings you get from showing kindness and friendship to someone who is a little different will outweigh the amount of time it takes Lillian to respond.

This goes for any of your classmates. If you see a classmate all alone, take that first step. Go over and start a conversation with him or her. Also remember to respect if that person chooses to be left alone. Some times we just need alone time.

(Slide 7 & 8) Team TLC and Different iz Good

Now, let’s switch gears a bit and talk about being different. It’s okay to be different. It’s okay to be YOU.  We all, at some point, feel like we don’t fit in and feel like we are different. That’s because we are. We are uniquely us, we are just as we were meant to be.

Most times we chase after trying to fit in. Fit in with the cool kids, the loud kids, the fun kids, the popular kids, the crazy kids. You may not understand this now, but chasing after trying to fit in comes back to haunt us later in life. It becomes a habit and then we chase after friendships, relationships, careers. The easiest and most fun route to take in life is to just be YOU and be grateful for whatever it is that makes you YOU!

Before we can accept and be kind to others and to those with differences, we must first accept and love ourselves. We must be kinds to ourselves and know that we are awesome and special … each and every one of us has something that is special and unique about us. Some of us are just shy about sharing it with others.

When I was your age I was uncomfortable with my name because no one could pronounce it right when they first met me or when trying to pronounce it for the first time. It made me stand out and I was not comfortable with that. I was also always the tallest kid in my class and I had these ginormous lips! Don’t get me wrong I love my name, my height and my lips as an adult; but when I was your age I was uncomfortable with my name and I got teased about my lips. That didn’t feel good at all. I sure would have handled it better if I’d had someone sharing this message with me when I was your age.

Different is okay. Different is Beautiful. Different iz Good. The more we let our differences and our uniqueness shine and share it with others, the more we encourage others to be themselves. We create a ripple effect that spreads further than we even know.

Let me give you an example of how to accept and love yourself …. Look in the mirror and say out loud .. Camilla, I love you. I love your crooked front tooth. That tooth allows and helps me eat all kinds of delicious and nutritious food. I love your kind heart. It helps to brighten the day of other people. I love your vericous vein covered legs. Those fabulous spider vein legs help you get where you need to go, take you on beautiful nature walks, allow you to drive your car, and most especially they help you to dance!

If this doesn’t feel comfortable you can always write a letter to yourself saying the same things. Gratitude for our own self and body allows us to spread kindness and non-judgment to our classmates and friends.

I believe in a world where we all empower each other, a world where we are each other’s biggest supporters and our greatest cheerleader, a world where we are taught to celebrate one another’s gifts and differences, not to be threatened by them. I believe in a world in which we use our energy to solve the world’s problems and inspire others to do the same, where we recognize one another’s limitless potential.

How boring would our World be if we were all the same? It’d be like living in a World full of only Milk Chocolate …. No chocolate with nuts, no dark chocolate, no chocolate caramel, no chocolate with fruit …. Boring!

(Slide 9) Different iz Good . . . . . Spread the Word!

Slides:

Parent letter provided to teacher to email or send home with kids:

September 10, 2014

Dear Parents:

My name is Camilla Downs.  I am Mom to Lillian Darnell, one of your child’s classmates in Jane Doe’s class. Today I gave a presentation to the class about Lillian and her differences. I began giving this presentation in 1st grade as Lillian’s classmates were asking me questions about her.

I figure why have them wondering and drawing possibly erroneous conclusions about Lillian when it can be somewhat explained. I have changed it a bit every year to keep pace with the increased knowledge and understanding of the students.

I talked with them about how different ingredients are used to make chocolate candy taste unique, and how each of us is made up of different “ingredients” that make us unique. We discussed how each of us has “ingredients” or qualities that make us different and how, specifically, Lillian is unique and different.

Lillian has a rare genetic disorder called 18p-. She is missing a portion of the short arm of her chromosome #18. The main way this manifests is that Lillian is speech impaired – her speech is hard to understand. She uses an iTouch with an application installed that allows her to input what she wants to say (AAC Application called Proloquo2Go – Yes, they make an app for everything!).  She presses the “speak” button when she’s done inputting her sentence/thoughts and the iPhone speaks it. **Update** Lillian used to use this very often. She now prefers to try to be understood verbally by spelling out each word if it is not understood by the listener. She can, however, use the iTouch notes feature or any other feature that allows her to type the message and then show it to the listener.

I also wanted to let you know a bit about Lillian so you can possibly help your child understand in case he/she asks you questions about Lillian’s differences.  Lillian is a very bright young lady; although, she does have problems grasping math due to18p-. She’s also a bit slower and awkward doing just about everything.  Her body just doesn’t move as fast as the typical child.

I ended the presentation with a message for all of the kids that in order to accept others and their differences we must first accept ourselves and what is unique and different about ourselves. I shared my personal experience as a young child and shared the message that Different is Okay and that Different iz Good. I shared my view that we are all perfectly flawed and that is what makes each one of us the unique person that we are.

I also take this opportunity to share about non-judgment and compassion for one another. I give the students ideas about how to support one another.

If you are interested and would like to see the presentation, it is posted on my blog at the website listed below.

Please feel free to email or call me if you have any questions.  If you and your child want to learn even more you can visit www.Chromosome18.org.

Thank you!!

Camilla Downs

The recipe idea for the presentation was adapted from another Chromosome 18 Mom, Melanie Gorrell. She uses cookies in her presentation … I LOVE chocolate, so I use chocolate. The parent letter is also adapted from Melanie’s parent letter.

Latest News: If You Lived Here – Houses of the World: Book Review

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“If you lived here, you could see the sunrise from your bedroom window, feel your house rotate, and later see the sunset from the same window! Using two steering wheels, you can turn your floating house to get a different view. When you want to get ashore you just scoot over on a twenty-foot-long metal gangway.” -from the book, If You Lived Here: Houses of the World

This was Thomas‘ favorite house; the floating house which was inspired by traditional Dutch houseboats.

All Team TLC members loved it. We read it before bed for about 3 nights in a row. We got to learn about homes from all around the world and see how people used to live and still do live today.

Each home has a colorful description by the author. He also lists facts such as house type, materials, location, date, and a fascinating fact.

           

My two favorites were the dogtrot or possumtrot log house and the Venetian palace. Oh, Oh … and the decorated houses of Ndebele in South Africa!

The illustrations are a learning opportunity too! The author is also the illustrator. He used intricate bas-relief cut-paper collages involving many states of drawing, cutting, painting, and gluing. They are certainly visually pleasing! The illustrations were one of Lillian’s favorite features of the book.

If You Lived Here: Houses of the World is definitely a book worth checking out from the library or picking up from your local used book store. I can see how this would spark an interest in learning more about different cultures and how we and they live!

What do you think? Does this sound like one you’ll put on your “must read with kids” list?

We would love to hear about it! Go here to share your comments.

Heartfuly Inspired™,
Camilla
See It. Share It. BE IT … Spread Love Everywhere You Go!

Go here to subscribe to my blog to ensure you receive new posts delivered right to your inbox! Right here!

Have you ordered your copy of my book, “D iz for Different”? It’s available in paperback and Kindle (Kindle device not necessary). Go here to learn more.

(To help support my blogging I will include an Amazon link to items I use or you will see google ads from time to time. I LOVE sharing my journey and choices with you and this just helps to keep me going!) 

Latest News: Can I Interview You?

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In early April 2014, I received an email from a Success magazine writer. She had discovered that I taught and facilitated the Success for Teens/Blogging class at High Desert Montessori through my blog post titled, “Success for Teens and Blogging”.

Her email said something like, “I’m a writer for Success magazine and I was wondering if I could interview you in regards to the class you taught covering the Success for Teens book.” After calming down from the excitement I messaged her that an interview would be great!

The interview titled, “Multimedia Mash-Up“, appeared in the August 2014 issue of Success and is on page 32. It’s the issue with Jimmy Kimmel on the cover. If you have an online subscription you can read it on the Success website.

Here are a few excerpts from the article:

  • ” ….. but, doing this as a creative expressions class, I was kind of creating it as I went along – while tapping her skills as an author, blogger and landscape photographer.”
  • “Discussions helped students get a handle on their reactions to the book’s content. For instance, in Chapter 7, “You’re Always Learning,” Downs told the kids, “This has been a learning experience for all of us … The more things you learn that you don’t like [by exploring a wide variety of topics], the closer you get to what you do like.”

I augmented the content from the book with teaching the students how and why to blog. They blogged about our discussions during class, guest speakers and assignments. In addition, I brought in almost weekly guest speakers from the local community to tie in with the theme for each week. Lastly, I weaved a few art projects into the program as well.

We concluded with creating vision/dream boards and a performance by a local band, CRVSH. One of the members of the band attended HDMS and it was the perfect conclusion to the class as they performed their song, “No Givin’ Up”. The last chapter of the book is titled “Never Give Up” …

In their own words, here’s what the students shared they had learned:

  • Being Positive
  • Focus on Goals
  • Doodling is Good for the Brain
  • Learn More About Myself and How to Handle Things Differently
  • How to Make a Difference
  • Patience
  • I am Awesome and I Can Blog
What the students may not know is that they taught me as much as I taught and shared with them.

I’m extremely grateful that I got the opportunity to teach this amazing group of middle school students at HDMS and that Betsy J. Simnacher reached out to me and wrote such a beautiful article about the class.

*** How did I even end up teaching this particular class at this particular school?

First, my two kids, Thomas and Lillian, attend HDMS. I am so in love with this school and the Montessori theories. In Summer 2013, I could take it no longer. I wanted to be a part of the school.

I set up a meeting with the principal and the assistant principal in which I put forth absolutely everything I had knowledge about and was skilled in doing. Blogging was one of the items I mentioned as well as the Success for Teens program. I had known about it for several years as I facilitated a scaled down version for the self advocates at either the 2011 or 2012 Chromosome 18 Conference. I believe I initially discovered the program in an issue of Success magazine.

The principal suggested it to the middle school team as a creative expressions elective and in Spring 2014 I completed the program. Then came that surprising email from Betsy!

H♥rtfuly Inspired™,
Camilla
See It. Share It. BE IT … Spread Love Everywhere You Go!

One Magical Ingredient to Peacefully Experience Life Lessons

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I am abundantly grateful for life’s uncomfortable lessons and the masterful teachers disguised as those whom we choose to let push our buttons.

In mid June I got to have a fabulous two days of learning in the classroom called “life”! Love is indeed a magical thing!!

It was a lesson coupled with complete and total release. I awakened to the knowing that I only have love in my heart to give, knowing I come from a place of love, and knowing with peace, calm, and compassion that I am no longer tempted to engage in drama. What a beautiful and bright place.

I overflow with gratitude for all the amazing people who have been on this journey with me since moving to Reno in December 2006 … friends and family who are there to remind me of all the things I have been teaching myself for the last 17 years.

One night in 1997 I couldn’t sleep and got up at midnight, turned on the television, and Stephen Covey was on talking about his book, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. So began a 17 year journey of devouring many, many similar books to what I read today … Wayne Dyer, Neville, Deepak Chopra, Bruce Lipton and others like them.

It’s no coincidence that during this time of having my “master teacher” in town, I was re-reading the specific section in Wayne Dyer’s, There’s a Spiritual Solution to Every Problem, based on a line from St. Francis, “Where there is hatred, let me sow love” … I didn’t plan to be reading that section at that time. However it was perfect.

Dyer suggests that unkindness from others directed towards us is love going in the opposite direction and from people who feel unloved. This is how I handled it and will continue from this point forward as it was a release, surrender and healing for me. You may not be able to verbalize this in your situation but you can certainly silently convey the same message.

I attempted to keep myself in a place of love. I was silently sending blessings and love to everyone. I did not engage in defending my current or past actions. The oncoming negativity stopped when I said, “You’re right about that”. Amazing how that deflates things. I wasn’t agreeing, just lovingly letting the other person relax into feeling they were right.

After a friend reminded me, I begin to see this person viewing me as I would like him to view me. I also kept repeating that I only come from a place of love. That was always my response. And, ended by lovingly telling the other person that I was sorry that he felt so unloved. After all of this the atmosphere and attitude completely changed.

If you are in a similar situation, perhaps you could begin seeing the disgruntled person as viewing you as you would like to be viewed. Silently send them love and blessings.

And absolutely don’t take what they say personally. See them as fellow souls who simply feel unloved.

Life lessons presented as uncomfortable situations, aren’t always in the form of people and relationships. At other times, it may be a situation or event we find ourselves in the midst of. This same method can be applied, rather “lived”, whether it is a person, situation, event, or place.

Why am I sharing this? Simply that I feel this may be helpful to others. That’s all. Perhaps if you’ve landed on this post on purpose or through a random search, it is exactly what you needed to hear or you know of someone that would benefit.

I choose to live my life knowing that all we must do is “Let Go”, knowing that love is the one magical ingredient to peacefully and joyfully experiencing lessons in life. What about you?

H♥rtfuly Inspired™,
Camilla
See It. Share It. BE IT … Spread Love Everywhere You Go!

Have you ordered your copy of my book, “D iz for Different”? It’s available in paperback and Kindle (Kindle device not necessary). Go here to learn more.

 

Latest News: 16 Memorable Maya Angelou Quotes

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In honor of a wonderful and amazing woman, Maya Angelou, I’ve gathered 16 of her most memorable quotes. Honestly, everything I’ve seen that she has spoken is memorable. These stood out as deeply meaningful to me.

Maya Angelo shared her heart and soul with others through her written word and speaking. She shared her life experiences in a strong, beautiful, and graceful manner giving hope, encouragement and love to those who needed it.

Maya Angelou …. April 4, 1928 – May 28, 2014

The below quotes are from the Maya Angelou Quotes website.

“Because of the routines we follow, we often forget that life is an ongoing adventure. . . Life is pure adventure, and the sooner we realize that, the quicker we will be able to treat life as art: to bring all our energies to each encounter, to remain flexible enough to notice and admit when what we expected to happen did not happen. We need to remember that we are created creative and can invent new scenarios as frequently as they are needed.” –Maya Angelou

“The intensity with which young people live demands that they “blank out” as often as possible.”― Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

“We are only as blind as we want to be.”― Maya Angelou

“My life has been long, and believing that life loves the liver of it, I have dared to try many things, sometimes trembling, but daring, still.”― Maya Angelou

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take buy by the moments that take your breath away.”― Maya Angelou

“I would like to be known as an intelligent woman, a courageous woman, a loving woman, a woman who teaches by being.”― Maya Angelou

“You did the best that you knew how. Now that you know better, you’ll do better.”― Maya Angelou

“If you don’t like something change it. If you can’t change it, change you’re attitude to it.”― Maya Angelou

“We write for the same reason that we walk, talk, climb mountains or swim the oceans — because we can. We have some impulse within us that makes us want to explain ourselves to other human beings. That’s why we paint, that’s why we dare to love someone- because we have the impulse to explain who we are. Not just how tall we are, or thin… but who we are internally… perhaps even spiritually. There’s something, which impels us to show our inner-souls. The more courageous we are, the more we succeed in explaining what we know.”― Maya Angelou

“Let nothing dim the light that shines from within”― Maya Angelou

“If you’re always trying to be Normal you will never know how amazing you can be.”― Maya Angelou

“‎The desire to reach the stars is ambitious. The desire to reach hearts is wise and most possible.”― Maya Angelou

The following quotes are from the Brainyquote website.

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” -Maya Angelou

“Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with deeper meaning.” -Maya Angelou

“We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.” -Maya Angelou

“You are the sum total of everything you’ve ever seen, heard, eaten, smelled, been told, forgot – it’s all there. Everything influences each of us, and because of that I try to make sure that my experiences are positive.” -Maya Angelou

With much gratitude and blessings to you Maya Angelou …

H♥rtfuly Inspired™,
Camilla
See It. Share It. BE IT … Spread Love Everywhere You Go!

Earth Art: Reno Spring Sunset

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I mentioned in an earlier post that I would be sharing my most popular photos with you. You’ve already seen this beauty, but it’s the photo that started it all!

Sunset in Reno, Nevada’s Damonte Ranch area in March 2014.

This photo is available on a gallery wrap canvas (ready to hang or ready to frame) or matte finish.

If you have interest in purchasing this print, you can comment here or use the Contact page.

H♥rtfuly Inspired™,
Camilla
See It. Share It. BE IT … Spread Love Everywhere You Go!

Go here to subscribe to my blog to ensure you receive new posts delivered right to your inbox! Right here!

Have you ordered your copy of my book, “D iz for Different”? It’s available in paperback and Kindle (Kindle device not necessary). Go here to learn more.

Mindful Living: A Love Letter

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My 8 year old son, Thomas, just aches to receive his very own mail. I remember being young and the thrill of receiving a letter or card from a friend. It’s one of the best feelings in the world!

He asked me the other day if he could mail a letter to himself. I told him that sounds like a GREAT idea. So, he wrote himself a letter and included a Hal sticker from Live Gracefully.

He didn’t just write himself a letter. He sent love to himself. I’ve mirrored to him and taught him that self love is the most important aspect to loving others. Once we truly know that we are self love, life becomes what it is meant to be. And that will be different for each person.

We must “know” this in our heart, not just our mind. Speaking as a recovering “living from the mind” person, I can with authority say that there is a difference. Ever since my childhood I have been an analytical thinker, solving almost all life issues with my mind. Now, in my 40’s I have awakened to a different way.

Thomas received his love letter this weekend! He opened it as if he’d never seen it before. He quickly tore a piece of the paper and wrote a note back to himself. He’d like to mail that too!

What an amazing inspiration this young man is to myself and others?!

Just think, what if I had told him he couldn’t mail a letter to himself? He wouldn’t have received a love letter in the mail, I wouldn’t have gotten joy sharing the love with others on facebook, and you would not be reading this “love letter” from me.

How about you? Would you like to receive a smile, a hug, or even a “how do you do” in the mail? I’ll be the first to raise my hand!! I would!

Latest “Mindful Living” Articles:
[catlist name=inspired-living]

H♥rtfuly Inspired™,
Camilla
See It. Share It. BE IT … Spread Love Everywhere You Go!

Go here to subscribe to my blog to ensure you receive new posts delivered right to your inbox! Right here!

Have you ordered your copy of my book, “D iz for Different”? It’s available in paperback and Kindle (Kindle device not necessary). Go here to learn more.

Latest News: Wild and Electrifying – Prints and Photographic Scribe

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Happy Spring to everyone!

I have been pursuing my interest in landscape photography. I love capturing the simplicity, beauty and mystery of nature. Some of my photographs share the simplicity of nature. Some are mysterious and invoke the how, what or why within you. Some are simply beautiful in that the colors of nature are captured layered together in a 2D format. I like to call it Earth Art!

The above photograph is one of the most popular to date. Sunset in Reno, Nevada’s Damonte Ranch area in March 2014.

I share the photos on instagram at instagram.com/CamillaDowns. I’ve had much interest expressed by others who would like to purchase prints. I am researching how to best approach this for y’all. I’ll let everyone know when I’ve got it nailed down.

In the meantime I’ll be sharing the most popular photos on my blog. If there’s one that captures your eye, please leave a comment or message me. This will also help me in determining which photos to use for shows and placement in local businesses here in Reno! Kinda of like giving me a thumbs up so I know what speaks to everyone!

In the near future, you will also have the ability to create a custom made monograph of my photography. YOU select the photos you want included and we will take over from there! Want specific quotes included to pair with the photographs? You’ll be able to do that too! These are meant to be personalized for the recipient whether the book is for you or you are giving it as a gift. Stay tuned for more details on this too.

In addition, I am available on a commission basis as a photographic scribe. I will creatively capture the beauty of nature inspired life events. Have you ever been in nature and a view of the landscape brought tears or caused you to be breathless … in a good way? I can capture that view for you! Who says you can’t make time stand still? Here are some examples of what I can create for you.

  • Do you have a favorite nature spot? One that you wish you could keep with you wherever you go? I will photograph your favorite place. You can choose your favorite(s) for printing on gallery quality canvas and/or choose to create a monograph. You will always have your favorite nature retreat with you for those times when you can’t get there.
  • Are you building a new custom home on your dream land? I can capture the entire process from the raw land to completion. You can choose to print your favorite(s) and/or create a monograph.
  • Already have your dream home on a breathtaking farm or ranch with an amazing view of nature? I can capture your favorite views for printing or creating a monograph.
  • Do you have an outdoor based business, organization or nonprofit? I can capture the uniqueness and beauty of this for you too! I have just recently been photographing Center for Adaptive Riding’s facility and grounds. So beautiful! Will share those soon as a blog post. (That’s my son, Thomas, in the white helmet on the front page of CAR’s website! I did not take that photo.)
  • I’m a think-way-out-of-the-box kinda person, so shoot me your thoughts about my services as a photographic scribe. We’ll see if we can make it happen!

Lastly, I am working on wrapping my arms, brain and “heart” around what truly inspires me. With that, it is my intention to pull it all together with the name of Heartfuly Inspired (H♥rtfuly Inspired). It’s currently coming together and I will share as a blog post when it’s all finalized. I intend for this to inspire you as well! xoxo

What do you think about the sunset photo above? Do you have any thoughts to share about this wild and electrifying announcement? Y’all know I LOVE hearing from you!!

Heartfuly Inspired™,
Camilla
See It. Share It. BE IT … Spread Love Everywhere You Go!

Go here to subscribe to my blog to ensure you receive new posts delivered right to your inbox! Right here!

Have you ordered your copy of my book, “D iz for Different”? It’s available in paperback and Kindle (Kindle device not necessary). Go here to learn more.

 

Mindful Living: Embrace It And Feel So Alive

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(I created this doodle drawing back in March 2014 after watching the movie Deja Vu
with Vanessa Redgrave. Hope y’all enjoy it!)

What gives you the greatest joy? What makes your entire body buzz with an aliveness when you are doing it? What fills your mind and moves your imagination to dance with creativity?

Whatever it is, embrace it. What does that mean? The best way to explain that is to explain what not to do. Don’t push against what you don’t want. When you stop pushing against what you don’t want, the way will be cleared for what you DO want.

  • Feeling tired? Don’t focus your thoughts on NOT wanting to be tired. Instead accept your tiredness, relax into it, be kind to it. This is your body speaking to you. Listen. Don’t argue. Before you know it, your energy will have returned.
  • Feeling confused? Same process. Accept that you are confused. Relax into it. Perhaps you are confused due to pushing against and focusing on something you don’t want. Once the confusion is accepted, clarity will return shortly thereafter.
  • Stuck in a state of lack? Once again, follow the same process. Don’t push against the lack. Instead see it as just is. See it as where you are supposed to be in this moment in time. Accept it. When we push against something, we focus on that “something” and bring more of it into our life. As we choose to accept these “somethings” just as we accept that the wind blows sometimes, these “somethings” dissolve.

Is there something that you would like to embrace that your aren’t? Is there something you’re pushing against that perhaps should be accepted to make way for what you DO want?

**Note: WOW! I opened this “new post” to share with y’all a new development in my life and the above is what came flying out of me and my fingers! So …. I’ll click the ole “new post” button again and share about my love of landscape photography and being Heartfuly Inspired in a future post!

Latest “Mindful Living” Articles:
[catlist name=inspired-living]

Heartfuly Inspired™,
Camilla
See It. Share It. BE IT … Spread Love Everywhere You Go!

Go here to subscribe to my blog to ensure you receive new posts delivered right to your inbox! Right here!

Have you ordered your copy of my book, “D iz for Different”? It’s available in paperback and Kindle (Kindle device not necessary). Go here to learn more.

(To help support my blogging I will include an Amazon link to items I use or you will see google ads from time to time. I LOVE sharing my journey and choices with you and this just helps to keep me going!) 

Mindful Living: Friendship Is Magic

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Friendship is Magic

I do not judge for decisions you make
I have lived through similar experiences as you
I made different choices than you
I do not understand choices made by you, that is not for me to understand
I do not judge as I do not walk in your shoes
I am your friend

I see you openly peeling back layers of your outer self to reveal your inner self
I see you take steps forward, shining your beautiful light and love for all
I see you take steps backward, withdrawing into the comfortable habits and ways of thinking
I see you trying to understand the silence of friendships that are no longer, that is not for you to understand
I am your friend

Yes, I am your friend
I love you
I support and encourage you
You are YOU and on your OWN journey
You choose to do it different
You choose not to do it the way others would do it
You are YOU and I am your friend

I am your friend
I see YOU, not the concept of you
I love you unconditionally.
©2014 CamillaDowns.com

Do you have a friend you would like to share this with? Please share with all my love and all your love. I would love to hear about friendship poems or quotes that move you! Go here to share your comments.

Latest “Mindful Living” Articles:
[catlist name=inspired-living]

Heartfuly Inspired™,
Camilla
See It. Share It. BE IT … Spread Love Everywhere You Go!

Go here to subscribe to my blog to ensure you receive new posts delivered right to your inbox! Right here!

Have you ordered your copy of my book, “D iz for Different”? It’s available in paperback and Kindle (Kindle device not necessary). Go here to learn more.