Hello! Welcome to my website and blog.

When used as an Italian idiom, per caso implies a wonderful process by which stuff comes together to create an opportunity that is seemingly by chance.

There are many other words… luck [when preparation meets opportunity]; courage [putting what’s important to you above your fear]; karma, destiny, fate….

I like these concepts because they encourage us to increase our awareness and live in the moment.

Please enjoy my site… it challenges me to acknowledge my courage and prepare for my luck!

Katherine Zimmer
Artist • Writer • Coach
Marketing Diva

I received two books for Christmas this year. One is The Gift by Lewis Hyde. In my home, Christmas is more of a celebration of love and gratitude than a religious ritual or consumer lust fest (although I think that’s probably more of what Jesus had in mind… the celebration of love and gratitude bit) and our gifts are tokens of that appreciation. We try to be thoughtful about giving something that will be truly meaningful or joyous for the receiver.

Back in the day, you were affluent based on what you gave, not what you were able to consume. Artists were esteemed for their inherent gifts and the role of benefactor was revered as a nurturing gift. I’m only into this book a few pages, but I’m already fully aware of how truly meaningful it is to me. I have recently renewed my hope for our social evolution with the renaissance of the concept of giving and this book is validation of that hope.

I applaud Bill Clinton for his book Giving and the exposure he brings to this timeless value… and for Vintage Books for publishing the 25th Anniversary edition of The Gift, and Oprah, and all of the silent unknown givers out there… please keep moving the gifts forward.

My gift to you this day is to share my belief for the importance of “place” which is eloquently spoken by Italophile author, Frances Mayes:

“Where you are is who you are. The further inside you the place moves, the more your identity is intertwined with it. Never casual, the choice of place is the choice of something you crave.”

The second book is an amazing first edition of a 1905 book by Neera called The Soul of an Artist. This gift exchange gratefully offers me many fruits. Translated from Italian, this unconventional book of its day was written by a woman, translated with an investment of heart and published at risk by a visionary press.

The copy that I have contains the signature of its original owner along with his highlights and thoughtful side notes. It was waiting in a used bookstore for someone close to my heart to find it and move its gifts forward to me.

From the foreword: “The author of Anima Sola who signs with the nom de plume Neera, in private life is Anna Zuccari, wife of Signor Radius. She is a Florentine by birth, a Milanese by choice.”

“Anima mia, mio asilo!” – My sole, my asylum!
(Where you are is who you are.)

Happy New Year!