Sweet Pea is monumental despite smallness. Her expression, a reminder to keep an ‘arm around the shoulder’ of our little spirit, so we too can feel the comfort and the power of the collective ‘me’ – in all its forms and flaws and misadventures. Direct our lives from within (and before). All the while encompassing the full and blooming range of vital emotion that got us here.
Sweet Pea’s arrival story:
I’m on a swing between rage and exhilaration. Glad I have both or I’d be wrapped around a pole in chains. But I’m swinging high and riding through the back swing that has me face down in the dirt. Then legs swing through to the rescue. The sky opens and says;
‘Hello little spirit. Let go now Sweet Pea. You can fly …’
(J.Browne 2023/24).
Sometimes I Wish I Wasn’t Me .
This little soldier finally realised that being the fairest isn’t all it’s cracked up to be and looking up to stars can be dangerous – especially when they fall. And that ‘way up high’, ‘over the rainbow’ and ‘climbing the ladder’ are sometimes dangerous places to try and reach. And too far away to possibly get there on time.
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What if being different meant you’d never be alone again ?
Imagine…if those of us who felt different could be strengthened in our difference through the sharing of stories….which wouldn’t mean we’d all become the same ….but we might feel less alone in our difference….
(Art by Stormie Mills. ‘Clunk & Jam’ book – a collection of art and stories championing diversity and difference.) On-line and in shop Found, Fremantle Art Centre.
(Ash Browne).
This story (from 2009) reflects The Black Dog Project’s focus on the safety, well being and rights of children and young people – and the idea of making books and gifting them to young people in the community through sponsorship. Written long before the explosion of social media, the ‘Children were broken into. Things stolen.’ now also reflects the impact of Smartphones and social media on children and young people. Find this piece in Clunk & Jam book. Original story in handmade book, ‘Rock The Boat’, 2009. (Handwriting by Maggie).
And the Little Engine said; “I think I can. I think I can.”
‘The Little Engine That Could’ is a folktale originating from 1906 used to teach children the value of optimism and hard work. The underlying theme is a stranded train unable to find an engine willing to take it on over the difficult terrain to its destination. Only the little blue engine is willing to try and, while repeating the ‘I think I can’ mantra, overcomes a seemingly impossible task.
A good story to ride on when things seem impossible. And a reminder of the importance of little blue engines in life.
BOy Series, 2009. Similar posts in BOY Topic in Blog & featured in Clunk & Jam book. Reposted from June 2021.
Stories are at the center of everything. The most powerful and potentially debilitating being the ones inside our head. The stories we tell ourselves. The erosive stories we’ve been told. Stories formed from our experiences. That’s why it’s so vital we have access to and seek out alternative stories that give us strength and hope. Help us realise our full potential. Particularly our children and young people.
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