The Secret Seventh - no longer a secret...

Well, that's not entirely true. The truth is, I gave the 7th journal to dear Katie Lee who brought it from O-town to Barcelona. What makes this journal secret is that it is the only one in which I did not write my last name, phone number, email address or blog address. Only at the very end do I put a mailing address and Claudia J. No last name. So, it's top secret to those who receive it - aside from Katie of course...Anyhow, before passing it on, she wrote her own message and so did her adorable 18month old daughter Mary! Following is Katie's amazing journal story:

"So we thought and thought about who and how to pass it on...Then in Heathrow we saw a group of people wearing shirts that said Charity Challenge on them. We finally stopped one of the men and asked what it was. Basically, Charity Challenge is a company that puts together events to help people raise money for charities. This group of people are all heading to spend 10 days biking across Cuba to raise money for their charity of choice.
Since Ryan was heading here to run a race to raise money for Team D, we thought it would be fitting to send it with others who are raising money for their charities. They were all SUPER excited about it and numerous of them will probably put in an entry. So the book is on it;s way to Cuba (or by now probably there)."

That's awesome!!! Thanks so much Katie & Fam - I'm inspired!

Lots of love,
Claudia :)

Where are Journals #1 to 11? Which one does Hawksley Workman have?!

Journal #1. Handed by me to Kate D. & Ben W. -- handed to a woman & her daughter on the NYC Subway by Ben W. -- wonder what the journal is doing now...

Journal #2. Mailed to my mentor in Vancouver, BC -- it arrived at her school

Journal #3. Mailed to a writing genius in Toronto, ON -- it arrived in his hands

(I only know the above thanks to the Purolator tracking system)

Journal #4. Still dawdling on this one...'tis almost complete -- sending this to Oprah!!! www.oprah.com -- gosh it'll be fun when she reads this, it's a 'Dear Oprah' letter, but in a journal - oh the excitement!

Journal #5. Left at CBC Radio in the studio after my interview on the morning of Feb. 4

Journal #6. Secretly left it on the kitchen counter at my friend Meghanne's home - she passed it on to her mother who brought it to Mexico!

Journal #7. The Secret Seventh - can't disclose anything more than that, but it's out of my hands

Journal #8. I gave this one to my brother, Peter!

Journal #9. I gave this to my acting students at St. Lawrence College on the last day of class.

Journal #10. I gave this to an old co-worker, Katie - she happily took it with her to Barcelona -
yahoo!

Journal #11. This was given to one of Hawksley Workman's band members, Dave, after an
absolutely fantastic show! This was their first show ever, with the new band
members - there were over 20 instruments on that stage - wow - Meghanne (my
dear friend who gave me a ticket for my b-day) and I both wrote messages in the
journal to Hawksley - I wrote the following (oooh...a look inside the journal):

Hawksley, "your beauty's rubbing off, your beauty's rubbing off on me - your beauty's rubbing off, your beauty's rubbing off on me...." Thank you. Claudia :)

So, I basically quoted one of his songs. Ha. What else could I do at his show? It was amazing. They're playing in Kingston next Tuesday - if I wasn't teaching, I would totally be there!

Hopefully Hawksley will send me a photo of himself w/ the journal - I didn't have my camera with me to take a photo. Thus, Hawksley will definitely send a pic for all of us to enjoy! :)

Everyone needs a beautiful journal like this!

This is Journal #8 - I gave this to my brother, Peter just over a week ago. For some reason, this particular journal seemed to radiate a special energy, even now when I look at this picture, it's as if it is glowing. I'm in love with all of these beautfiul pictures so far and am looking forward to receiving more pictures of the journals on their journeys! Tomorrow, I will dedicate my day to journalling!
Talk soon,
c :)

PS: Thank you to Karl for offering to take journals to Europe & Katie for Heathrow Airport & Barcelona! So exciting.... :)

PPS: Thank you Kathy Logan for giving me a lovely box of four adorable journals - I will be keeping those! One has become my 'songwriting' journal another has become my 'idea' journal, another will be my 'reiki' journal and the fourth...well, we'll just have to see now won't we?

I'm still here!

Just wanted to let you guys know that - lots to tell - will be back tonight or tomorrow!

Love,

Claudia :)

PS: I gave Journal #8 to my brother over a week ago...still dawdling on the one for Oprah...sending one to Switzerland tomorrow! ooooh....aahhhh...

PPS: Someone, anyone, please post a comment, whether you have one of the journals or not! Tell us what's going on with you!

Words of Wisdom from Sri Chimnoy

Good morning!

I'm just transferring the following quotes from an old blog (found these lovely cards at my favourite vegetarian restaurant, 'Perfection, Satisfaction, Promise', located next to 'The Garden of Light', where I buy my journals)

Dream, dream, dream!
You will never
Have time to suffer
From despair.

To silence enthusiasm
At any moment
Is absolutely wrong.

Do not blame the world,
Better it. How?
By bettering yourself
At every moment.

Turn your Wishful thoughts into
A powerful
Will-power.

Do not be afraid of tasting
The bitterness of failure.
Be brave!
The sweetness of success
Will before long
Befriend you.

Break your bad habits
By dropping them.
Strengthen your good habits
By treasuring them.

How can one get
The greatest joy?
Not by possessing,
But by sacrificing.

True humility
MeansGiving joy to others.

Truth is in all
But love is all.

To serve
And never be tired
Is love.

By seeing the past
I gain nothing.
By knowing the future
I gain something.
By living in the present
I gain everything.

First be sure
That you know the truth,
Before you talk to others
About the truth.

Be happy.
You will get
What you like most.
You will be
What you like best.

If you do
The right thing,
Eventually
You will inspire others
To do the right thing.

The Ninth One...makes a dramatic exit...

Today was the final day of a four week 'Acting for Film & TV' intensive that I was teaching at St. Lawrence College in Brockville.

Above are five of the ten graduating students in the 3 year Music Theatre Program. Each of the ten students will add their thoughts to journal #9.


This is Jeff - he will be the first one (after me) to write in la lovely journal above...and then, who knows where it will go...

The Sixth One: signed, sealed & delivered!

You can't see me...

This is the last journal of the original six...

...but the second last to be passed on

(still have to finish #4 for Oprah!)

The lovely journal that you see above was given

to my best friend, the raging bull or the bull

who doesn't rage...(just trying to make a 'clever'

connection to the beautiful bull that you see on the back!)

Best friends often get gipped 'cause they are 'the best friend'
(which means that they are unconditionally there for you),

so while she would obviously receive a journal, it didn't

become obvious to me until I experienced a little personal drama.

I have since heard that this journal will be travelling to Mexico!!!

A Photo of The Second Journal

This journal arrived in Vancouver, BC on February 5...
but before I let it go, I took this lovely photograph.


I wonder what's inside...

Seeking Journal Sponsorship!!!

My journal writing comes with a price...uck...I just called someone at Paper Blanks (the first six journals happen to be from this company) to see whether or not they'd be interested in sponsoring this fantabulous journal adventure...well...it turns out 'David' (da man in charge of saying 'yay' or 'nay') will be out of the country until Friday or Monday (darn, he could have taken a journal with him)!!! Fingers crossed. Out of journals. Need more. More journals will come my way...they will...

Thanks Universe!

love,
c :)

PS: The most up-to-date info for each journal:

Journal #1. Handed by me to Kate D. & Ben W. -- handed to a woman & her daughter on the NYC Subway by Ben W. -- wonder what the journal is doing now...

Journal #2. Mailed to my mentor in Vancouver, BC -- it arrived at her school yesterday

Journal #3. Mailed to a writing genius in Toronto, ON -- it arrived in his hands yesterday morning
(I only know the above thanks to the Purolator tracking system, ha, ha...but I do wonder about their reactions)

Journal #4. Almost complete -- sending this to Oprah!!! www.oprah.com -- gosh it'll be fun when she reads this, it's a 'Dear Oprah' letter, but in a journal - oh the excitement!

Journal #5. Left at CBC Radio in the studio after my interview on the morning of Feb. 4

Journal #6. Completed - just need to give it to the recipient...stay tuned for that info...dun, dun, dun...

Travelling Journals inspire the Green Party!

Ok, I'm not trying to stir up a political discussion on here...but I believe that whatever our beliefs (aside from those that harm others), we should follow our hearts - see message below...

"I heard your interview on CBC Radio this week and thought your idea for the "travelling Journal" was fabulous.

You made a comment on CBC that you welcome others to try your idea. I thought of a special way to try it, but I would like to ask your permission first.

I'm involved with the Green Party. We just started a process out in Stittsville to talk to ordinary people in small settings to find out what they think about politics in Canada, and what is important to them. We don't have money to do polls, and frankly it's not really our style. We wanted direct interation to make sure we were properly interpreting what the message was, not just processing data.

What I'd like to do is try your idea on a very local scale to allow some people that don't normally feel confident enough to express their opinions on politics to have an opportunity to do that.

We would only circulate a few of them locally in west Ottawa (Kanata, Stittsville, Almonte area), and would be careful to preserve your message and theme of hearing what people have to say, not navigating them with questions. You would of course be welcome to see and hear everything that come out of this, if you wish.

If you would prefer we don't try this we will respect your wishes, and hope you the best with your project." ~ Murray Reeves

Murray,
thank you for your message - I think that's a fantastic idea - one of my points about being creative is NEVER STOP THE CREATIVE FLOW - I don't own this idea - my goal is for these journals to inspire other people - and I'm glad to hear that it's already working!

Best of Luck,
Claudia :)

PS: If anyone is interested in helping out for the above mentioned project, Murray is always looking for volunteers! Just post a message here.

Wanna hear about the journal story on CBC Radio?

Then click here: http://www.cbc.ca/ottawamorning/archives.html
Thanks Doug! :)

Ben & Kate

in New York City...

































...with the first journal.

I am the first one... (by: Kate D.)

I am the first one…

Recently I took a leap of faith, decided to take time off from my job and really examine if I was living my life fully enough, or was feeding my soul the way it needed to be fed. I have surrounded myself by inspiring and creative people, have been writing non-stop and even planned a trip! WOW! I booked a trip to NYC with my new “friend” and thankfully, Claudia agreed to drive us to the airport in the wee hours of the morning. As she dropped us off, she hastily handed us a gift bag and said not to open it until we were on the plane. Now, I knew about Claudia’s idea of the traveling journals but had no idea that she had selected us, to be the first writers.

I opened the bag promptly, like a kid at Christmas, as soon as I buckled in to my seat and there, wrapped in purple tissue paper, was the journal I had fallen in love with, when Claudia had first showed me her collection days earlier. I remember wondering how Claudia would select her writer and my heart sinking when I thought my words might not be chosen for the book. Boy, fate has a funny way of intervening.

Inside this beautiful journal was a note to Ben and me, wishing us well on our trip, along with a crisp $100 to spend as we wished in NYC. What a generous offering and we were both speechless. It’s not often that you receive a gift from someone just out of the blue, no strings attached…. Just a gift…As I sat there quietly during take-off, all I could think about was what I would write, where I would write it and who would get the journal next. What a big responsibility to be first! Would I write somewhere significant, like at Ground Zero, or would I write after church in Harlem? What if I also wanted to write about how incredible I thought this new man in my life was? Would he read it when he wrote in the book next? Don’t be guarded, Kate… let it be… you will know when and what.

The first need to write, hit me as I sat at a diner on Staten Island, and the next, as the sun poured in the open window of the hotel room the following morning. After 5 days in New York City, I had learned so much about myself and about people in general. I had learned that I had fallen in love with random strangers for how they laughed or how they sang and praised God in church. And the pen touched the paper, the words poured out and I was truly happy

Claudia had given me another gift – it was as if she had said, “Kate, your words and thoughts are important … Please share them.” And I did.

But I also came to the realization that all the words on those fresh white pages are gifts not only to ourselves, but to those who follow and read them…and we don’t need a special journal to be gift-givers. We can give of ourselves; truly, every day… through actions, words… we can’t be selfish with our love. We need to love fully, live truthfully and let the song in our hearts sing loudly.

I passed the journal on to Ben, and he wrote on the subway. I was amazed as he sketched a woman who stood solemnly across the way and was eager to know if he had read the words I had written earlier. I was also secretly eager to learn what he wrote.

We passed the book on to a mother and daughter who sat tiredly on the subway as we rode. Ben handed the book over and said, “Here, this is for you.” The young woman’s face lit up; as I’m sure mine did when I first opened the gift bag. “Really?” she asked with a bit of shock in her voice.

And we quickly hopped off the train, to head home and end our journey…. Funny…. just as the journal was about to start its own journey.

May you all fully recognize the greatness that exists in each of you.

Be generous.

Lovingly,

Kate

"This is the woman who received the journal through the subway door.....

It's mysterious that only we know her face... and others will only know her words....

What is she thinking as she holds it in her hands?" ~Kate D.

What I learned by talking on CBC radio today...

One thing I 'realize' on a daily basis is this: BE ON TIME CLAUDIA! I go through life being chronically late Claudia - and everytime my intentions are good, ie: gonna be on time this time... But no, I was late for my interview - the stress in my belly is never worth it - they ended up switching my slot with Alvina Ruprecht, a local theatre reviewer. Prior to leaving this morning, I started to write into Journal #5 (to be left at CBC) and got so engrossed in it that I forgot about the time and the commitment I had for 8:00am...Claudia, Claudia, Claudia, when will you ever learn?! Seriously. This has got to stop. Then of course, I'm on the Queensway in rush hour traffic with a 'donut' tire that doesn't even allow me to drive faster than 100km/hr.
Uck...Then I parked the car, no problems there...until I get onto Queen St. - where is the building? I'm on foot, walking up and down Queen, helpful pedestrians directing me in opposite directions...I'm breathing heavy, I don't have their phone number, feeling like a shmuck (what does this mean exactly) and finally... I see it. Sigh. Breathe. Breathe. Breathe....
The interview itself was fine, my voice had no sign of the previous anxiety, but after all was said and done, I wished that I would have said more. When the host asked me about the purpose of the journal, I didn't mention an important point: I want to make the world a better place, one journal at a time. We have something to learn from every person who we encounter, every experience, no matter how small, that we have, every success, every failure. Writing is therapeutic. We start to write and what comes out is always a surprise. I learn something about myself everytime, whether or not I know it at the time or not. Thank you for reading, thank you for writing. Life is a gift. We can share it with one another. Love, Claudia :)

PS: I left the 5th Journal in a gift bag in the studio where I had my interview, a few minutes after I left, Al called to tell me I forgot something...ha, ha...he didn't open it. I told him that was done on purpose...'Oh, well you should tell us these things.' No I shouldn't! I suggested he open it...reaction: 'Oh, I see, I'll pass this on to Karla.' Funny. He could have read it...but...the individual's hand that the journal ends up in, is the one who is supposed to get it.

PPS: Control is a bad word.