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Peter and Antoinette exhibited at the Lane County Senior Resource Fair on September 18th, and they handed out “small wisdoms” on handwritten scrolls tied with string.

When we were planning our table for last Friday’s Lane County Senior Resource Fair (AKA SPIN Fair), we didn’t want to do what everyone else typically does. A bowl of candy. A “spin the wheel and win” game. A pile of stress balls or magnets or pens.

We wanted something that would draw the eye and make people curious, but we didn’t want just to attract the swag baggers (and there were plenty—people whose primary purpose in life is to pick up as many free tchotchkes as they can carry, often without even speaking to the people at the table).

We had our three stickers right out front, which were a hot item for anyone who paused long enough to talk with us. Everyone seemed to like the umbrella one best.

And the thing that seemed to grab attention more than anything else were our books. People (especially seniors who grew up before the internet) are always curious about a book.

But what I really loved about our display—and wished more people took advantage of—was our Small Wisdoms chest. Each drawer in this little chest held one small scroll, on which was handwritten a small treasure: an insightful quote, a pearl of wisdom, or an inspirational shot in the arm.

We found this fabulous little chest in an arts and antiques store on the Oregon coast. When we saw it, Antoinette knew immediately it was the perfect “pick a tiny giveaway” vehicle for an exhibit hall like the SPIN Fair.

It looked great in our display, but it sat a little back so that only a dozen or so people actually took a scroll. I was happy, though, that they all dropped it into their bag to read later. I don’t know which ones they got, which is part of the fun for me.

We created 59 scrolls for the event and brought paper to create more if necessary. (It wasn’t necessary.) Some of course were repeats. Here are just a few of the scrolls we wrote. Sorry the image is so crap. When I took it, I was just documenting for my own sake and didn’t expect to share. But here we are, so 🤷🏼‍♂️

One of the things I loved about creating these is the reminder that most of today’s revolutionary insight is actually ancient wisdom repackaged and branded for sale as proprietary frameworks. Much of today’s innovative wellness thinking isn’t really that innovative. A lot of the neuroscience being done today affirms the bits of ancient wisdom that have survived through millennia.

The trick with all of these, though, is that they are most effective when you encounter them at exactly the right time, in a way that you can be changed by them.

That’s what I find most fun about this little chest of drawers and the randomness of what people receive. Part of me believes that the ones who stepped up and selected a drawer were being drawn to the message they needed to hear that day.

What Do You Need Now?

I help people make the most of every day. I help people live creatively, lead confidently, and care courageously. I am no wiser or smarter than the ancient gurus and sages, but I am a skilled and experienced practitioner of synthesizing all that wisdom into a version that is most useful to the person sitting across from me. That’s a skill based on innate talent, perpetual study, thousands of hours of practice, and a long, deep, rich life of diverse experiences.

If you want to tap into that, grab time on my calendar. Let’s talk.

Other Things to Do

Download a free chapter from one of my books. Or, learn about workshops and trainings that Antoinette and I provide for your staff, board, or club.