🔎 read time: 5 minutes 

Discovery and Delights

Discovery and delight definitely seems to be the theme for what I have to share with you here. I think you might enjoy this! So pour a cup of cozy, and let me fill you in on my latest artventures...

A Book Hunt with a Happy Ending 📚

Two weeks ago I had lunch with my father for the first time in a very, very long time. We caught up on life in the hour that we had. At some point in the conversation we got to talking about health and longevity, and he mentioned that he's been wanting to get his hands on a book called "Living Long, Living Good" by Shigeaki Hinohara, a Japanese doctor who wrote the book when he was 90 (in 2001), and lived to be 105!

Whenever someone mentions the word "book," my antennas immediately perk up—because in my head, I hear treasure 💎. Especially if it’s a rare or hard-to-find book!

The moment I got home, I started searching online. The only copies I found were of the Japanese Edition, but then—I stumbled upon one listing that had pictures of the inside pages… in English! It was confusing, because it was also labeled as a Japanese edition - I took a chance and ordered it anyway, paying about five times what it would normally cost, but to me, this felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—to gift something special to my father.

And this week, the book finally arrived… and guess what? It is in English! 🎉

I didn't want to mess with the pages - I like to keep them crisp and new - but I couldn't help looking inside. I'm inspired to up my game health-wise. Dr. Hinohara was 90 at the time of writing this book, and taking stairs two at a time! Want to try that with me today? Ahhh... Anyway, in case you're curious, here's a peek at the contents page. 

Music That Feels Like Time Travel 🎶🕰️

Oh, another thing mentioned in the book above, is that the author started a music therapy association in Japan. I looked it up and it seems to still exist - and flourish! How cool is that? I never experienced music therapy - until this week! Well not therapy exactly - but it was therapeutic. Calming and energizing.

For my "soul-date" I took myself off my regular route on my weekly trip to my mom and sis in Brooklyn. This was prompted by the day's "Soul Note":

I finally made it to The Morris Museum! I’d been meaning to go forever, and today was the day. Honestly, I just needed a change of scenery—and sound. Working on my books and art is great, but hours of solo work? I was craving fresh inspiration.

The moment I looked them up, I saw they had an automaton exhibit, and that was it—I had to go! I’ve always found wind-up toys and intricate gear-driven machines (like the inside of a fancy watch) totally mesmerizing. If you check out the museum’s page, watch the videos! One of them features a clown automaton—kind of spooky, but super fun! 🤡🎵

But what really caught me by surprise? These stunning, ornate music cabinets that play tunes from metal discs! I’d never seen—anything like them. The sound transported me to another time.

Ooh how I wish I had one in my life! Did you ever come across one of these before?

I had to go hunting (again!) - and I found some discs on Ebay, which led me to discover this blog post where you can hear the disc play  I'm just so excited for you to watch and listen to it in action! 🎶  The website is Olde Engine Works, an antique marketplace in Stroudsburg, PA. I may need to visit there next. (Wanna road-trip with me?) 

Well, that was my little dose of music therapy for that day, and I’m still carrying it with me—so I had to share! 🎶✨

Another Book Popped Into My Life… Oops? 😆📖

Speaking of Hope—did you see my latest post? Aside from my poetry book, another book decided it needed to be born. I know, I know… another one? But this one’s just a wee 32 pages—like a children’s book, but for adults (and young adults, or anyone who’s ever had a heartbreak).

It came to me in a day—scribbled onto napkins, then typed up a week later. The doodle sketches, though? Those take time. Maybe I should let the grandkiddos do them—they’d probably be better at not overthinking it like us adults tend to do. When did we start second-guessing ourselves instead of just playing?

Anyway, I’m releasing a page a day! If you want to read it, I made a page for it here—as part of #the100dayproject. I'm revealing a page a day, as I sketch. Just doodling along, singing my song, and one day this year G♡D willing, it’ll be in print. Exciting! 🎉 Warning though - it gets a bit 'dark' midway - (maybe too much?) -  but not to worry, I love happy endings - don't you? - and so it shall be!

And… drumroll please 🥁—

Here’s the latest cover design for the poetry book! Huge thanks to everyone who gave feedback! It’s a Canva Pro design that I tweaked in Procreate (aka my fave iPad app ever). Yes, I could have started from scratch, but I love it, it’s done, and now I can move onto the final details - back cover, inside introduction, and listing it. It's a process... one page at a time, right?  And when I need a break I move onto a painting I started for my son and daughter-in-law, which they asked for (oh, happy tears). More on that soon! 💕🎨 

A Question for Your Creative Heart 💡💖

While going through a course by Amy Porterfield, I came across this quote she shared. Since I love kaleidoscopes, it caught my eye. It made me stop and think—I thought you might appreciate it too!

So let me ask you - after reading this—do you still feel like you must have an "original" idea to start creating?  Have you been wanting to write your book, start a painting, or create something but feel unsure? 

Those doubts? Totally normal. I've had them a bagillion times over. But I can also tell you—they can be busted. At some point, mine went Poof! And now, when new ones show up, I just take a baby brushstroke or a single word at a time and keep going. Or if I feel a bit 'stuck' - I take myself to a museum :)

So—what creative spark is waiting in you? And how can I help? Let me know what you'd love for me to share next—whether in a post or a one-on-one chat. 

 Reply to my email or drop me a note here. The world needs your light.

Until next time, Live Uplifted! 🦋🎈🦋🎈

💜 Leia’Leh

 

Cover photo by Ashin K Suresh