a conversation about awesome with dallas clayton

I absolutely love Dallas Clayton's books An Awesome Book and An Awesome Book of Thanks. My kids and I like to sing his books rather than read them. The words and images are beautiful. 

Creativity, innovation, and truth-telling can be very vulnerable in our culture which is why we often feel deeply inspired when we see it. I asked Dallas a few questions about how he finds the courage to share his authentic self and his work with the world. His definition of vulnerability took my breath away.  

1. How do you define vulnerability? Vulnerability is one of the last things we share with people, yet one of the first things they try to recognize. 

2. What role does vulnerability play in your work? I try to make things for people who are vulnerable in the most basic sense in that they are young, and therefore unaware of how vulnerable they are. This makes them at once vulnerable and without artifice. What a rad group to make things for. 

3. What does authenticity mean to you and how do you practice it in your work? Do what makes you happy. Use that to make other people happy. That's pretty much where I'm coming from. 

4. Is perfectionism an issue for you? If so, what’s one of your strategies for managing it? I can't even draw a straight line.

5. What inspires you? People who play unpopular sports. People who play instruments nobody cares about in genres of music that no one listens to. Anyone and everyone who wakes up every day and does something amazing just for the sake of doing something amazing.

6. What’s something that gets in the way of your creativity and how do you move through it? I don't have enough hours in the day. Need more arms.  Developing robotic arms to help combat issue.

7. Describe a snapshot of a joyful moment in your life. 3am with your friends all on the floor, laughing so hard that you can't breathe and your stomach hurts and the thing you are laughing about doesn't even make sense.

8. Do you have a mantra or manifesto for living and loving with your whole heart? We're all going to die. 

To celebrate the holidays, Dallas, and these wonderful books, we're giving away three copies of An Awesome Book of Thanks!  To enter, leave your name in the comments section and tell us one thing that you're thankful for today! I'll draw the winners on Monday.

I encourage you to check out these books! They're great gifts for kids and adults and the perfect book to donate to a classroom. We could all use a little more awesome in our lives! 

Connecting with Dallas: Website  |  Twitter  

Update on Tuesday, December 13, 2011 by Brené Brown

Congrats to Linda Kay, Heather S. and Sara A.! 

Comments

[Heather J]

I am so thankful for my kids. They have changed me and my priorities in awesome ways. I am so grateful to have them :)

[Jessica Shultzaberger]

I am thankful today is my last Wednesday of being unemployed. I lost my job 2 years ago, finished school and went on a journey of self enlightenment (where I discovered Dr. Brene Brown of course). I start work again on Monday, 12/12 as a stronger, healthier and whole hearted person. The lay off was the best bad thing to happen to me.

Jessica Shultzaberger

[Debi]

I don't want to be considered for a book - I would love to think that giving up my chance increased someone else's who wants to share it with their child or child's classroom - but do want to take a moment to say thank you to YOU, Brene. I've been on a two-year journey of transformation that started with a difficult life decision and some good advice from a friend. He turned me onto Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way, which led me into a delightful vortex of growth and change. The hardest thing I've had to do was relinquish control and accept help and guidance from all sources. I've learned to wait and watch and accept. I've been in kind of a lull for the last few weeks, wondering what my next learning steps should be. Just as I completed a "big project" (going to Japan to meet my new grandson), I saw one of your talks making its way through facebook. Without going on too long I'll just say there has been so much synchronicity between your message and those I've learned from so far that I know you are my next teacher. Thank you for being there when I needed you!

[becky]

I'm thankful for the ability to spend time each day with the people I love (my husband and kids). It might be hours on a weekend, or just a little time between school and bedtime, but their smiles and hugs light up my days.

These books look awesome!

Becky Maclean

[Anna]

Today is my Birthday and I am THANKFUL for my mother. Today she celebrates me, but I actually celebrate her. I don't celebrate her because I was three weeks late and gave her a terrible labor experience, but because she raised me to constantly strive for things that are amazing. LOVE YOU MOM!

[Mary Ellen]

I am thankful for so many things but today I am deeply aware of the gratitude I have for my grown children who are amazing adults!

[drea von moonshadow]

I am thankful I have finally found a way to love myself.

[Jules Torti]

I love reading stories about those who have surrendered to their percolating passions.

This post reminded me of a moment in Venezuela, walking along a dried-up river bed near Angel Falls. As we picked our way under an outcropping where a waterfall usually crashed down on the rocks below, our guide stopped us and pointed out a brilliant indigo blue poison arrow frog no bigger than a strawberry (and not a California hydroponic variety). It was sitting idle under a rock shelf, its electric colour hidden in the crevasse shadow.


"How did you ever see that?" I asked the guide, stunned.
He replied, "because it was there."

Seems like something Dallas Clayton might say.

Today I'm thankful for those who wake up every day and share their amazing "somethings." Just because they are there. Sometimes talent isn't tangible, it can be a powerful insight that comes from a stumbled upon blog post.

Thank you!

[Arlene J]

I am so thankful for being able to watch the magic in my 6 year old granddaughter's eyes as she experiences new things - awesome!

[Kelli Hogg]

I am thankful that I took my life into my own hands and quit a job that was torturing me mentally, spiritually and, the final straw, physically. I then move to a new city and make a fresh start on becoming the person I want to be. Sometimes I wonder what on earth I was thinking, but I'm thankful for whatever it was that gave me the faith and confidence to make a better life for myself.

[Kim]

I am thankful for the opportunity to conceive a baby and for the amount of people that are living lives filled with gratitude and abundance. Thank you for inspiring me!

[Jenn]

I am thankful for the life and work of Dr. Seuss.

[Michele]

I am thankful for my beautiful family and that I don't have to struggle this holiday season (or really ever for that matter, I have it pretty darn good).

[maria meagher]

Today I'm so thankful for heated seats and my giant cup of coffee! It's the small things...

[Juli]

I'm thankful to have a family that supports me in all of my endeavors, whether they "get it" or not. They help me stay my authentic self!

[Debra H]

I am thankful for my children, who show me resilience, joy, spontaneity, kindness, honesty and authenticity every single day, just by being who they are. I am thankful for having been given the gift of sharing life with them.

[Dave R]

I am thankful for so much...for new intimacy and honesty with my partner, for being given the opportunity to be a father to two amazing children, for the determination to take better care of myself physically and emotionally, and for the love and support of the most incredible friends and family imaginable.

[carl med]

I'm thankful for another day of life. :D

[Michelle]

I am thankful for my eating disorder and for my mildly autistic son. They have opened my eyes and my mind in ways nothing else ever has.

[Debra Benfield]

I am thankful for my clients. When they become vulnerable in my presence as they tell their stories, they pry my heart open. Their courage to push forward and through their fear inspires me every day. I am energized by my work, and for that, I am truly grateful.

[Mallory Meyer]

i'm thankful for my body and the opportunity to experience so much in life because of it.

these books are wonderful! thanks for sharing so much AWESOMENESS!

[Michelle]

thanks for the opportunity to share this lovely message with my kids. I am thankful for the opportunity to learn with them everyday!

[Mary Young]

One thing...I can only pick one thing??? I am thankful for many things. My friends, my family, another beautifully sunny day, coffee already made, support from coworkers, a warm moring kiss from my dog, seeing the sunrise on the Rocky Mountains....oh and so much more. Gratitude in front, behind and all around!!

Mary Young

[Stacy]

I am thankful for friends who share their kids with me, as I do not have any of my own. I am the lucky Auntie of many, both related and unrelated. My time spend with these kids fills my heart.

[Martha Martinez]

I'm thankful for the courage to trust life, to heal, to let go
.....and to keep trying when things don't go my way because the path to change takes longer than the first attempt.

[Linda Kay]

I am so thankful for the many people in medical research technology and the excellent electrocardiologist and nurses that I help place a pacemaker in my body so that I can run, dance, massage 5 clients a day and still have the energy to chase after my 18 month old grandson!

[Kelli H]

I'm thankful for grace. From God. And from others.

[Gay]

I am thankful for this time to explore--everything!

[Linda J.]

I am thankful I have tomorrow off to go to a women's conference and get to hear you speak. I am really looking forward to the day, which is my Christmas present to myself! I live my life every day with gratitude and would love a copy of this beautiful book to share with my children.

[Robin T]

Today, and every day, I am thankful for my husband who knows me so well. I am thankful for all that is yet to come.

[playcrane]

I am thankful for my dental hygienist. I may not like going to the dentist but I sure like clean teeth!

[Kim]

What a great interview! Wish there were more people like Dallas in the world. Just out of curiosity, how do you go about finding all of these inspiring people to interview and hang out with, Rene?

[Susan]

So thankful for my son and that my husband and I have enough to provide for him.

[Alma M.]

I am thankful for my husband who works hard so I can stay home with our kids, who are awesome!

[Elizabeth]

I can't wait to hop over to Amazon and check out these books. Thank you for sharing.

I am grateful for many things in my life, but mostly I'm just happy to be here. I'm grateful for my doctor who followed his intuition and threw logic out the window. He saved my life and that of my baby. I am forever grateful to him.

[EmJay]

I'm thankful for my awesome kids and loving husband. It is a joy and privileged to be their mom and his wife.

[evie b.]

I am grateful for my hilarious 3-year-old niece, who likes to imitate Steve Coogan imitating Michael Caine.

[Sarah]

I am thankful for the life I have right now. There are too many things to name, but I am in a very good place after a difficult journey. I am so grateful to be right here.

[Jet Harrington]

I am thankful for the teeth in my mouth, for candles on the table, and for the opportunity to work with teenagers. ~Jet

[Jason O'Dell]

I'm grateful for the changes in my life that I am making. It's been a long road coming, but now I feel some real improvement. The greatest blessing is the renewal of love that is entering the relationship my wife and I have with each other.
Jason

[Jess]

I am thankful for my students, everyday they bring renewed love and caring into my life. They make me a better person every single day I am with them.

[Shannon]

I am grateful for the clear skies and cold sun; I am grateful for the ability to read clever words that push my thoughts further, better; I am grateful for the amazing kids in my life that remind me of what it means to be awesome.

[Paige Orloff]

I am thankful for the love I feel for and from my sweet family. I'd never heard of Dallas til this post, so thank you, and indeed, the books look AWESOME. And I love his response about perfectionism. What a joyful reminder to just let go of that burden!

[Paula J.]

I am thankful for the wonder of my amazing husband and daughter.

[Emily]

thankful for my high class problems and my ART, and for having stumbled across your work those many years ago.

[Jen]

This books looks "awesome"!! I would love it for my students. Today I'm grateful to know my friends would do anything for me if I needed them too!

[Jen]

to not "too". ::))

[Julie]

I am thankful that I became strong enough to leave an abusive marriage. I am also thankful for having experienced all that I did during that marriage. Without that hard and painful experience, I wouldn't be who I am today: a less judgemental, happy-to-be-imperfect person endeavoring to live an authentic & conscious life. Brene, through your book, you played a significant part in my story. And so I'm also grateful for you and the work you do. Thank you.

[Jennifer Kley]

This man has truly discovered his passion. And is WORKING it.

[Molly G]

Thankful for my work, my family, my husband.