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When Can Being Intoxicated Be A Good Thing?

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ConverSketch is intoxicated this week. No, last night wasn’t crazy, and , despite working from home, I haven’t started drinking early in the day (that's a joke, people!). I’m talking about a different kind of intoxication, and one that is a lot more productive.

This little post for you is inspired by the following piece by Hugh McLeod of GapingVoid Art.

As Hugh so eloquently puts it: You can be intoxicated by a lot of things. We like possibility.

This concept is nothing new, it’s the foundation of so many successful businesses. But somehow, this unorthodox way of stating a concept that these days often feels brittle and overused keeps me coming back to it. Thinking of possibility as intoxicating, as full of energy, new ideas and connections instead of overwhelming, unclear or unknown. And if you tend to get anxious and overwhelmed, you might enjoy this post on how drawing can help you move through overwhelm.

It's a craft to learn to tap into what you feel the moment you realize there’s a lot more to something than you originally thought. Which electrifies you. Suddenly hours have gone by, and there’s still more energy bubbling up from inside you.

There's a few things that have me intoxicated this week...
- Putting together and beta testing a new offering from ConverSketch to utilize my strengths connecting with and encouraging individuals to cultivate Aha Moments with folks one-on-one.
- Delivering prints of my watercolor paintings to the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery and Wolverine Farm Publick House to sell. (Note: The positive feedback I’ve gotten from you all with my painting really blows my mind. Thank you for giving me a resounding high five to continue pursuing and refining my fine art skills!)
- Seeing little vegetable sprouts emerging from tiny little seeds (how miraculous is that!?)

Click on the image below to see the larger version.

What possibilities are intoxicating you right now? Take a moment over a glass of wine or beer and doodle out some possibilities that are as enticing as a nice cool beverage on a warm summer evening.

What might be keeping you from taking a nice, big swig from that cup o’ possibility? What steps can you take THIS WEEK to move toward making it a reality?

Comment below so others can benefit from your wisdom. 

If you liked this tip, please sign up for my emails and if you'd like, I'd be so grateful if you shared it with your friends!

Once again, thank you from my heart and soul for your support, great senses of humor, brilliant minds, collaboration and what you're each doing to make the world a better place.

 
Cheers, Karina




What possibilities are you exploring with your organization or individually? Click that button to chat with me about how I can help you make it more effective, productive and fun with graphic recording.
 

Where in the World is ConverSketch?

Here's a snapshot from a graphic recording at a workshop with CSU's One Health Institute as the team worked with the talented folks at New City to develop a rockin' communication strategy moving forward. People, Animals, Planet. Heck yeah. 

How does a creative entrepreneur who enjoys predictability relax?

One of my favorite ways to wake up in the morning is the sound of birds singing.

Especially the sweet, gentle sounds that pull me gently from my slumber, but even the more, shall we say, insistent ones right outside my window are welcome to my ears. 

Why? 

Birds are a reminder for me of the importance of trust.

They trust that when they take their first flutters from the nest, they will be able to take flight. They trust that the sun will rise and they will sing their songs. They soar through windy skies, zip between tangled branches, or over steep ledges, because they trust what they are meant to be doing.

Wanting to have a pretty solid idea of what is likely to happen in the future is human nature. Some of us are more uncomfortable with not knowing than others, and of course practice makes progress.

I am one of those humans who generally enjoys some level of predictability. 

If there's one thing you can do in life to eliminate said predictability, I'm pretty sure that's to be a self-employed consultant. Add into that the fact that for many of my graphic recording jobs, I am not really sure what's going to happen during the session, but I will be expected to hand over a beautifully finished chart by the end of it. Uncertainty much?  And I must really enjoy this lack of control thing as I've recently delved a lot deeper into painting with watercolors (check the end of this email for more deets). Which tend to do what they want. 

Cue increased heart rate and impulse to reach for a glass of wine. 

Instead of letting my mind worry (a misuse of imagination, according to Dan Zadra), I take a few deep breaths and focus on trusting that everything is working out exactly as it's meant to.

And the birds can help us humans out too. Listening for as many different bird songs as I can is a fun practice that helps me get present and relax.

Then it's time to take action! Because as much as I trust that everything is unfolding divinely, you gotta do the work too.

Click on the image below to see the larger version on the blog.

Do you have any tips or tricks to share that help you focus on trust? Share in the comments below so others can benefit from your wisdom. 

If you liked this nugget of wisdom, please sign up for my emails and if you'd like, I'd be so grateful if you shared it with your friends!

Once again, thank you from my heart and soul for your support, great senses of humor, brilliant minds, collaboration and what you're each doing to make the world a better place.

 
Cheers, Karina



Need someone you can trust to capture the essence of your next event? Click to get in touch about your next meeting or event that could use a touch of graphic facilitation magic.

Where in the World is ConverSketch?

This month I've been working on my watercolor painting skills, leading to the creation of several Colorado wildlife paintings including this little flammulated owl.  If you'd like to see more paintings and work in progress shots, give me a follow on Instagram. If you like what you see and you're interested in purchasing fine art prints or greeting cards, let's chat!

The Zen of Spring

The Zen of Spring…does this sound a little contradictory? Spring is all about growth, new life, “springing ahead”, right? Yes, absolutely! By the way, Daylight Savings is this weekend…

And for me, it’s also about this itty bitty word that starts with a “p”…Patience. It’s about this time I start to get the itch for spring, despite Colorado’s habit of dropping snowstorms like it’s her job. I love snow, but when we have weeks where it’s warm and sunny, and the daffodils start poking out, I start daydreaming about backyard cook outs, garden treats, and river trips.

With all these summery visions dancing around, it can be easy to be distracted or feel the grass is always greener in the spring…which it is I suppose…but the point is that each moment is what we make of it. So we can choose to delight in the unpredictable, and find joy in the little signs of what we’re hoping will come, and the zen of patience.

Somehow that makes all the difference. 

Do you have any tips or tricks to share that help you get zenned out and radiate patience? Please share in the comments below so others can benefit from your wisdom. 

If you liked this tip, please sign up for my emails and if you'd like, I'd be so grateful if you shared it with your friends using those handy links below!

Once again, thank you from my heart and soul for your support, great senses of humor, brilliant minds, collaboration and what you're each doing to make the world a better place.

 
Cheers, Karina










Need someone to hold the Zen for your next event? Click to get in touch about your next meeting or event that could use a touch of graphic facilitation magic.

CU Boulder hosted a spring Diversity Summit in February. There were some difficult and honest conversations about diversity and inclusion on campus. Here is a graphic recording of  results from a survey and ensuing discussion.

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A Simple & Surprising Trick to Make Your Ideas Crystal Clear

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Hey hey, it's Wednesday!

And you know what that means...time to get your weekly dose of Visual.

This week's trick to clarify ideas is using white space intentionally. 

What comes to mind for you when you hear "white space"? For me, two things pop up. 
1) Mental clarity
2) More literally, intentionally leaving part of a graphic recording or painting untouched

I find that when I give myself time to clear my mind or step away from a project, even if it's just a few minutes, I'm then able to come back to it with more clarity and focus. And it turns out I'm not alone in that...here's an article from Fast Company about practicing mindfulness even when it feels like you don't have time.

In art, white space can be used to draw the viewer's attention to what is most important. In graphic facilitation, I find using white space helps the audience see the flow of information clearly, and makes the drawing less overwhelming when lots of information is being presented. 

Often when I'm working live graphic recording gigs, there will be so much fascinating and important information zooming around, before I know it my paper is filled to the edges. It is a continuous and conscientious practice to be sure I'm capturing what's most important and not over-crowding the chart. 

How can you use or create white space to be more effective and creative at work?

Here are some ideas for the office...
- Think you're all on the same page? MAKE SURE...write it down, draw some boxes and arrows, then leave some white space on the page so people can add, or by waiting a moment before speaking again to allow time for people to process, react, etc. This is often when the most creative or powerful idea emerge, when we allow a moment before responding (note to self...remember this!).
- If you're working collaboratively, leave a space in your document or iPad sketch to allow yourselves to add to later...who knows what new experiences might happen tomorrow or in the 5 minutes after the meeting that could illuminate a new path or idea!

If you feel like there are too many things flying around your mind to be able to focus, try...
- Taking at least five minutes to meditate -- sit quietly and focus on your breathing or take a stroll outside and try to count how many different bird songs you hear.
- Do a "brain dump" by writing down EVERYTHING that comes to mind. You can create a mind map, a list or just write stream of consciousness until everything is out.
- Grab an adult coloring book and spend some time in the zone. Don't have one? See the drawing below for some DIY ideas!

Remember to give yourself some white space so you can be crystal clear on what's most important for you, your team or your family...and sneak some creativity in to supercharge your day. 

If you liked this tip, please sign up for my emails and if you'd like, share this with someone you think would enjoy some white space!

Once again, thank you from my heart and soul for your support, great senses of humor, brilliant minds, collaboration and what you're each doing to make the world a better place.
 


 
Cheers, Karina

Where in the World is ConverSketch?

Last week I did an annual "Facilitation 101" training with undergraduate students in an environmental conflict management course at CSU. We focused on tools and techniques the students could use in stakeholder engagement processes as they move beyond their education and into internships and jobs in the environmental field. 

4 Wisdom Nuggets from A Creative Entrepreneur Celebrating 4 Years in Business

ConverSketch’s 4th birthday means a present for you my Readers!

This week it is my pleasure to share a moment of gratitude that ConverSketch has been alive and growing for four years. I couldn’t be more delighted or appreciative for the support from you: my friends and clients who are the reason I get up and pour my heart into the work I do every day.

Encouraging more effective and collaborative communication, sharing creative inspiration, and seeing you and your teams work through and move beyond challenges are what keep me going every single day.

So to thank you for being clients, collaborators and partners in disrupting the status quo of workshops and conferences, I’d like to share with you 4 insights and related tools that have helped me grow a successful business. I hope these reflections and tools can help you continue to convene meaningful groups, think critically and creatively, and every single day ripple your amazing ideas and actions outward to change the world.
 

1. Know Your Why and Practice It

Okay, getting meta here. There have been many blogs, books, and videos on this idea made popular by Simon Sinek’s TED talk that people don’t buy what you do, they buy WHY you’re doing it.

What makes you jump out of bed in the morning? Think deep here, not “My cat that wants to get fed and jumps on my head” but what about your work really resonates with you? Is it seeing people’s faces light up when they try your new recipe? Is it helping someone navigate a website to find an answer? Is it having a spontaneous, meaningful conversation with a co-worker by the coffee-maker? Figure out you WHY and make sure it permeates what you do.

Graphic Facilitator’s Expert Tip: Now backing down to a super simple yet effective concept that can make or break a meeting whether it’s 15 minutes or 3 days: Have a clear goal or purpose for the meeting and make sure everyone who’s attending knows too. Otherwise, you’re more likely to go in circles and nobody will know why you’ve met or when you’ve finished. 

2. Listen Real Good

This is what I do for a living. I listen. And then I write and draw like lightening to capture those key ideas visually. In such a fast-paced world, it is important to pause and listen deeply and presently to those you’re working with to really make the most of your time and energy together. More on this coming in the next newsletter…stay tuned.
 
Graphic Facilitator’s Tip: When having a conversation, when the other person finishes a thought instead of jumping right in, wait three seconds to see if there’s something else they want to share. This way, you’re truly listening instead of waiting for your turn to speak, which can allow for deeper and more meaningful conversations. Cred goes to Marie Forleo for this one.
 
Bonus: This works well with loved ones too!

3. Manage That Time

It’s what you have, so make it count. Work hard, and also take breaks mentally and physically. In a culture that stresses…well, stress. I hereby formally give you permission to take time for yourself and to disconnect. It’s how I find inspiration as someone who’s expected to be creative always.
 
Graphic Facilitator’s Tip: If you want to geek out with me on this, I recently published a post on how I’ve been more productive day-to-day, and my top tip remains to start your day with something other than the computer. Whether that’s taking a few minutes to sketch the view from your window or writing stream-of-consciousness, I’ve found beginning my day with a pencil and paper leads to a more productive day.
 
BONUS Graphic Facilitator’s Tip: To make the most of your time and that of the group you’re working with, write down goals where everyone can see them. If you’re working through a challenging process, draw it out or make a mind map. 

4. LOVE Thyself and Thy People! 

Yes, I couldn’t help it. Valentine’s Day is coming and although I generally dislike the focus on mindlessly buying jewelry, flowers and chocolate (okay, the chocolate is pretty alright), I DO love taking the time to show and share my love. Any day of the year. Come on over if you need a hug.

Expressing love has been both a phenomenal area of growth and a strength for me as I’ve launched ConverSketch.
 
I’m good at letting people know I appreciate them. I’m great at being supportive and kind to groups I work with. I love the work I get to do every day.

But you know who I’ve had to practice loving through this business ride?
 
Me.
 
Yup, one of my biggest challenges has been loving myself as a business person. What I mean is that as I’ve been learning the ropes of entrepreneurship, being a self-directed professional, and working with many clients all over the world, I have developed a better sense of the immense and long-term value that my services provide my clients. Owning that value and learning to articulate it clearly to those I’m serving has been a continuous learning loop, one that I expect to iterate and improve forever…because these things don’t reach a definitive point of perfection.

And that’s one thing I LOVE about my job: I always get to keep learning.
 
It’s also incredibly important to take time to acknowledge the people you work with and the Heart and Brain Power they’re putting into what they’re doing. It takes a very small amount of effort to say a quick thank you, send a note or take a moment to express gratitude at a weekly meeting.

And it can have massive, positive repercussions.
 
Graphic Facilitator’s Tip: Smile a lot. It A) gives someone a boost and B) makes people wonder what you’re up to.

(Hint: click on the image below to see the larger version)

If you enjoyed this, please sign up for my emails and if you'd like, I'd be so grateful if you shared it with your friends!

So thank you once again for being a part of the ConverSketch community. Here’s to four more years of creativity, critical thinking, good humor, innovation, vision and action. 
 
Cheers, Karina










Need help exploring your Why? Looking for an expert listener to visually synthesize your next event? Click below and get ready for take off!

Where in the World is ConverSketch?

At the end of January CSU hosted a grand meeting of leaders and minds across all of the Colleges and engaged community members to discuss the One Health Initiative. The energy was almost tangible as ideas whizzed around focusing on how human, animal and environmental health are related. Although I'm proud of my charts, I'm even more proud of the enthusiasm and critical mapping each of the nine groups showed during the workshop.

How to Improve Your Memory In A Single Meeting

Hey hey visual people!

Before I get into the simple beauty of drawing connections and boosting memory, I want to share a little somethin'. 

I meant to snap a photo of my 2016 Vision Board for you in the last newsletter and just spaced it. So here it is for you today! I hung it on the wall by my desk where I can see it every day.


Right. On to the memory boosting goodness!

Have you ever been taking notes in a meeting, and things are really getting good, your team is grooving and getting creative. Then someone says something that totally relates to that idea you were just talking about...who said that? I could swear I just wrote it down here...

And then it's lost. 

That insight, that connection nobody had seen or thought of and you did, just floats away because you were trying to keep your idea in mind, find what it was that it connected to in your notes, and also trying to follow the conversation that continued to move on.

Today I want to share with you some visual tools you can use to draw connections, both on your paper and as a frame of mind. 

By using the simple shapes below, you can transform your notes into idea-connecting, memory-boosting, creativity-enhancing gems that will help everyone be on the same page and remember what you talked about.

When I was in college, before I knew about graphic recording, I learned about taking notes using mind maps. You start with a central idea in the center of the page and draw a circle or rectangle around it, then write sub-topics around it, connecting them to the main idea with lines. Each sub-topic had supporting ideas, written around them, etc. At the end of an hour-long class I'd have a page full of notes in a web, with concepts connecting through lines and circles. 

I'll never forget the impact this had on my studies. One day during a test, as I read a question, I could literally see in my mind the part of the page the answer was written on. I was able to visually recall the information in the mind map, which I had never been able to do taking normal, linear notes.

Now, imagine getting even more creative and venturing beyond circles and lines. What kind of mental and emotional impact could that have on your meetings?


(Hint: click on the image below to see the larger version)

I also want to challenge you to be someone who is looking for connections, trying to see larger patterns and how ideas fit together. Think critically. Take chances -- you won't always get it right, but asking those clarifying questions will make your team's ideas all the more clear and strong.

Do you have other memory-boosting tips that have worked in your meetings? Come on over to the blog and share in the comments so others can benefit from your wisdom. 

If you liked this tip, please sign up for my emails and if you'd like, I'd be so grateful if you shared it with your friends!

Once again, thank you from my heart and soul for your support, great senses of humor, brilliant minds, collaboration and what you're each doing to make the world a better place.

 
Cheers, Karina










Want a professional Idea-Connector in your next meeting or event? Click below to get in touch!

Where in the World is ConverSketch?

One Health OHSAC January 20 2016_small.jpg

Tomorrow and Friday I'll be working with CSU's new One Health Institute to develop a purpose and decide where to focus as the institute takes root and grows at the University. Here's a glimpse of what the Strategic Advisory Committee discussed to prepare for the event. 

My Top 3 Tips to Rock Your Work Day in 2016

Hey there!
 
I don't know about you, but I'm feeling rejuvenated and energized for 2016. Yes, it seems like everyone is posting online about how kickass 2016 is going to be, how excited they are and what big plans they have in store for us.

You may be thinking along the lines of "Yes! I've been planning and 2016 is going to be spectacular for me too!" Or, you might find yourself wondering "How is everybody so brilliant and productive around the holidays? What will 2016 hold for me?"

If you feel like you're asking those questions, here's a post I wrote about the benefits and tips for creating a Vision Board. (Pssst! Just because it's not January 1 doesn't mean it's too late!)

To be honest, toward the end of 2015 I had a difficult time staying motivated and focusing on important work from day to day. The beginning of a new year is an intuitive time to look back on the year, learn, visualize and plan for success, so I decided to take a hard look at what I was doing (or not doing) and how to shift my daily practices to better reflect the love I have for my work. 

So here for you, lovely readers/doodlers, are the fruits of my self-reflection and observation: The 3 top tips that have helped me refocus and rock the first couple of weeks in 2016.

3) Your Daily Top 3. Each evening, I take a few minutes to write down my top 3 projects or to-do's for the next day somewhere I can see it clearly. This tip is from Marie Forleo (if you haven't checked out her weekly business Q&A videos I recommend it). Taking time at the end of the day to prioritize and organize helps me jump right in instead of flopping around the next morning trying to decide what to do when. I've tried this in my phone, on my computer, and on a note-pad on my desk, but for me, I've found that writing it on the corner of my Ridiculously Enormous Graphic Recorder-Sized Whiteboard is most helpful because I can see them all day and cross them the heck off when I get them done! It's the little things, right?

2) 15 Minute Bites. Sometimes the hardest part of a project is starting it, and Ariana Friedlander of Rosabella Consulting shared this tip with me to overcome that barrier. I like to set a timer for 15 minutes and tell myself to just focus on the task at hand for that long. It's such a short chunk of time I can ward off the typical procrastination techniques...I can wait 15 minutes to get a snack, or check my email after I've done 15 minutes of work on a project...hold on, my timer just went off...

And my #1 Tip for staying focused and rocking on the daily is...

1) Start Analog. For me, this means not turning my computer on first thing, but sitting down with a pencil or paintbrush and doing some sketches or painting (for at least 15 minutes!). I find that once I get going, even if it's just for a short time, my momentum from that carries me deeper into the art or inspires me to move on to the next thing on my list. That feeling of having completed something, even if it's just a small sketch, is incredibly powerful in setting a productive tone for the day instead of getting sucked into the wormhole that email can become. 


(Hint: click on the image below to see the larger version)

There you have it! I hope these tips help you kick some ass and inspire those around you to crush their days too. With your powers combined, anything is possible! 

Do you have any tips or tricks to share that help you rock and roll on the daily? Share in the comments below so others can benefit from your wisdom. 

If you liked this tip, please sign up for my emails and if you'd like, I'd be so grateful if you shared it with your friends!

Once again, thank you from my heart and soul for your support, great senses of humor, brilliant minds, collaboration and what you're each doing to make the world a better place.

 
Cheers, Karina










Now that you're crushing your work day, click to get in touch about your next meeting or event that could use a touch of graphic recording magic.

Where in the World is ConverSketch?

Here's a behind-the-scenes look at my set-up for filming explainer videos. This one is for Creek Consulting describing deliberative facilitation and how it can help your organization. Check my YouTube channel later this month for the finished video!

Cheers to 2016 from Karina!

May 2016 be filled with many blessings, bright laughter, and glowing creativity.

From my heart to yours, Karina

 

 

 

 

 



Want to create something awesome together in 2016? Give that button a click!

ConverSketch Challenge: What's Your Vision for Success in 2016?

Hello ConverSketchers!
 
This is my last email to you beautiful people…for 2015. This year has been beyond what I imagined and I want to take a moment to appreciate each of you for your support, for pushing your drawing comfort zone and giving one of these doodles a try, and for your big hearts and kind words. ConverSketch would not be what it is without this amazing community and the work you’re each doing to make the world a better place. Cheers to you!
 
2015 has been a big year for ConverSketch for a number of reasons...
- It's my first full calendar year being 100% self-employed as a graphic recorder
- I got to graphic record en espanol for the first time in Mexico
- 2015 has been the most abundant year yet for ConverSketch financially...
- ...And partially because of that, Spencer and I were able to buy a house with a sweet office space!
- And, quite importantly, ConverSketch now has a full-time Muse (read: fuzzy, pencil-chewing, typ99999999999999e enhancing snuggle buddy).
 
One of the ways I love to ring in a new year is a family tradition we always did as far back as I can remember: Creating a Vision Board for the coming year. 

In my experience, things that I focus my energy on tend to be drawn to me. So why not DRAW what you want?! As 2016 approaches, I challenge you to take a few minutes or a few hours by yourself or with loved ones, to think about what you want to create for yourself in 2016, and make a Vision Board.
 
Here are some tips to get you started:

You may be thinking "Karina, I can barely draw those little squiggle people". My family always used what I fondly call mixed media -- magazine photos, drawings and labels, text hand written or snipped from an old magazine...Anything you can find. So use whatever media is most appealing to you...maybe it will even get 3D!

"How big should I make it?" We used all sorts of sizes, it doesn't really matter as long as you can see and read your ideas when you look back on them throughout the year. Anything from a notebook sheet of paper to a 2x3 foot piece of poster board works!
 
"What should I do with it afterwards?" I always enjoy hanging it in a place I get to see regularly so I can be reminded of my goals, a trip to a beautiful place I want to take, or feel relaxed by nice words or pictures I've put on it. Again, for me having a gentle reminder to focus my thoughts and energy on positive goals is fun and helpful.
 
"Vision Board, huh? Seems a little woo woo." If a Vision Board isn't your thing, that's cool. If you enjoy setting New Years Resolutions or Goals, try writing them on a nice piece of paper and give them a couple doodles to spice it up and make you smile. Hang it some place visible as a reminder to stick to your goals throughout the year.
 
***One of the most integral parts of a Vision Board for me is having fun and not being hung up on exactly how things will work out. I use it as a time to focus my goals and energy, then trust that it will unfold exactly how it's supposed to.***

(Hint: click on the image below to see the larger version)

Do you have a New Year's tradition to visualize the next revolution around the sun? Have you had an idea from a New Year's goal or vision manifest itself unexpectedly? Share it with us in the comments below! I'll be posting my Vision Board in the next email and would love to see yours too.

UPDATE: Here's my 2016 Personal Vision Board! It's about 9x12 inches and I hung it on the wall by my desk where I can see it every day. 


If you liked this tip, please sign up for my emails and if you'd like,  I'd be so grateful if you shared it with someone who might enjoy this 2016 Vision Board Challenge!

Once again, thank you from my heart and soul for your support, great senses of humor, brilliant minds, collaboration and what you're each doing to make the world a better place.
 
May your Holidays be filled with love, laughter, joy, warmth and blessings.
 
From my heart to yours, Karina



If you've put something along the lines of "My team is productive, collaborative, and completely out of this world awesome in 2016" on your Vision Board, click that big ol' button below to chat with me about how I can help make it a reality! 

Where in the World is ConverSketch?

I've been busy working on a few projects in Fort Collins, and you have been busy too! You're Doodling All-Stars! Here are a few awesome drawings I've gotten from readers and ConverSketchers over the past few weeks. Have a doodle you'd like to share? Send it my way and I'll show it off in the email!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year to Remember...

Hello folks! 

This time of year many  of us are focused on the upcoming holiday season, whether we like it or not (Black Friday anyone? Here's what Spencer and I were up to.). This time of year is also a  wonderful opportunity to remember what's most important in life. For me, that's doing things I love (hooray visual facilitation!) and spending time with important people in my life to show them I love them. 

But let's also be honest: I really enjoy giving and receiving gifts too, despite my desire to avoid obsessing over material objects. It's really fun to see someone's face light up with surprise, or to unwrap a gift from someone special. 

So I'm not going to get preachy about shopping, instead I'm going to share an idea inspired by our peachy new kitten, Moxie. (Note: I, Karina Carty Mullen Branson, hereby swear not to make every newsletter about the cat. Maybe just a few of them.)

Moxie loves to play. She'll play with just about anything, and although there are feather toys and catnip mice to frolic after, Moxie enjoys chasing a ball made of crumpled foil or exploring a paper bag just as much. 

I'm sure you can see what I'm getting at with that little snippet -- fancy things do not always equal happiness. So during this Most Wonderful Time of the Year, I encourage you to think about what is really important for you, and set time aside for it. Maybe it's a simple hand-made card for someone special, or a voucher for a picnic with your sweetie, or a few photographs printed for your friends to put on the fridge. And, maybe get them that special something they've been hoping for all year too. Figure out how you want to show your appreciation, then go for it! 

Now, here's my take on doodling some presents...because even if it's a voucher for time together, there's nothing quite like opening a package just for you:

(Hint: click on the image below to see the larger version below)

What goes well with giving quality time? Appreciation!  Click here for a post I wrote on the attitude of gratitude at home and in work. They're even better together than wine an chocolate...although appreciating those things with a friend really creates a win-win here.

Now I want to hear from you!

What's the best non-material gift you've ever given or received? What inspired you about it?

Come on over to the blog and upload your story and Sketch in the comments section to share your unique style and inspire the community! And of course, any questions, epiphanies, and requests for future ConverSKETCHes!

If you liked this tip, please sign up for my emails and if you'd like, share this with people you know who give great gifts!

Thanks for tuning in! Keep drawing and making your beautiful, authentic mark on this world!

Cheers, Karina



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Where in the World is ConverSketch?

The newest ConverSketch video is out now! The Fort Collins Museum of Discovery is not an ordinary place, and so, of course its' Annual Report should be anything but ordinary as well! In this short hand-drawn video, find out what the Museum offers, how it's growing, and who helps support this incredible community resource. Head over to the Explainer Video page to see the full thing!

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