The Secret Lives of Water Drops

Written by Jim Skiba

Watch readings of Books 1 & 2 by friends and collaborators.

Please enjoy this reading of Book One by dear friend and colleague Marilee Sonneman Kostadimas, CMP, DMCP. Founder and Creative Director of Spotlight Sojourns. Click on the photo below to enjoy part one of her reading.

Thanks to Marilee, who has been an inspiration for me and hundreds of others, as a leader, mentor and teacher. I am very grateful for Marilee shining the “spotlight” on my new book. -Jim Skiba

To enjoy part two of Marilee’s reading, please click on the photo below:

We are not alone – we are connected to many others who care about us.

For over six months we’ve been facing unprecedented challenges. And yet, we continue to build, and maintain our lives. 

 The ebb and flow is like the ripples in a pond.  Some things improve and others become or continue to be a challenge. And in this ebb and flow, we find our resilience compromised. We often feel too tired to pick up the fragments and be thankful for small things, to even smile at others. 

 The strain is often discovered in our relationships – we miss seeing, talking, hugging, sharing meals and celebrating together. 

We’re concerned, wondering if we’ll be able to find and maintain strong connections during these difficult days.

 Even water drops have challenges – in this episode Lily reunites with her mother after being separated. And in the midst of their joyful reunion, another challenge presents itself. 

Just like in our lives, ebb and flow. 

 With this reading, Diana and I hope that you all will maintain meaningful connections with those in your life.

 We are not alone. 

 We hope all find the energy to pick up the fragments and be thankful for small things, to smile at others. 

 We shall continue to find resilience, to celebrate the joys and persevere through the many challenges.

Former First Lady Michelle Obama recently talked about her struggles with feeling down, a kind of low grade depression. Not just because of the quarantine, but because of the racial strife, the leadership of our nation. 

Mrs. Obama’s sharing of her story helped me to feel connected to her and others. And brought to light how sharing stories with one another is a very simple and useful way to cut through the sadness, to pause, to foster connection. 

I’ve invited a long time collaborator, Actor and Teaching Artist, Diana Brown to record a reading of episode one in honor of all of us and of our struggles with feeling down in this time.

We’re inviting you to enjoy the pause that happens as stories are shared and hope you’ll enjoy Diana’s reading with someone you care about. And we hope you feel a sense of connection, positive energy and hope.

This reading of episode one features Ranjan Dey restaurateur, entrepreneur and storyteller. With this reading, I’d like to honor all those who work in restaurants, hotels and hospitality around the world. To learn more about Ranjan please click on his name.

With this reading of Episode One, I would like to honor all of the actors and actresses that have worked with me during the past 35 years and also those around the world who are currently under-employed with so many venues being closed. More…

My reading of Episode One is dedicated to my sister Judi Bruske.

Episode Two will be available sometime this summer

Watch author Jim Skiba read the first episode:

Watch a new reading of Episode One by Ranjan Dey here

Episode One: Lily and her adventures in Costa Rica

In the twinkling sunlight in Costa Rica, water drops quickly change shape as more droplets appear, the music of their arrival like a symphony. Dozens of droplets arrive simultaneously on the same large papaya leaf, almost as if they have appointments. Or perhaps they are waiting for the morning train to some distant land. Of course, here in Costa Rica, the trains are very limited and could certainly not travel to several different countries as one might when taking the fabulous trains of Europe. Nonetheless, each droplet has many stories to share about its own strange and extraordinary journey before arriving on this particular leaf on an exotic fruit tree in the middle of the jungle.

For example, Jaguar tells that he had dropped off of the wing of a passing toucan yesterday in the late afternoon. He brags that he had barely cleared the hillside on a wild ride as they followed another toucan before being shaken off here.

Marigold describes being swept up into in the dizzying heights of a rain cloud out in the Pacific Ocean for three whole days.  She dramatizes her landing on this very branch in the middle of last night’s storm and hanging on for dear life as the wind shook the leaf hoping to avoid the long fall to the jungle floor. Marigold begins to tell stories about several of her many friends and shares that she is sad for her friend Iris, who is missing after the lightning storm. Sadly, she doesn’t expect to see Iris again.  She continues talking…at length…about her many adventures on various islands across the Pacific during the past four years. As she goes on…and on…some of the other droplets on the leaf start to shy away and start their own conversations, but a few are trapped in the corner of the stem and become the unlucky recipients of Marigold’s lengthy banter. Continued…