SubscribeI saw this video on Karen’s blog, Chookooloonks and I instantly melted. It does not help that I have been extremely sensitive for a while. Just about anything that screams connectedness, love, or cherish makes me melt. This was put together by Katherine Center for the upcoming Mom 2.0 Summit. I will not be attending, but I heard it is definitely worth checking out. Enjoy.
Nature often holds up a mirror so we can see more clearly the ongoing processes of growth, renewal and transformation in our lives. ~ Anonymous
Love this quote so much right now. I have not been creating a whole lot of art lately. But, before I hit a dry spell, I started creating a series of pieces where hearts dominated the artwork. I am going to share those over the course of the next few days along with a quote or two that resonates with my spirit. Enjoy.
Compassion literally means to feel with, to suffer with. Everyone is capable of compassion, and yet everyone tends to avoid it because it’s uncomfortable. And the avoidance produces psychic numbing — resistance to experiencing our pain for the world and other beings. ~ Joanna Macy
Something about this quote speaks to me. It is the part about being uncomfortable. Lately I have noticed that people do not like being out of their comfort zones. Doing so means they no longer have their usual safety net or standby routine. It is when you come out of your comfort zone that true growth begins. I have been living outside of mine for a few months now and describing it as uncomfortable does not seem to do it justice. Sometimes, it is downright painful. I feel exposed and vulnerable because I am putting everything on the line. There is no physical shield for me to hide behind, nor do I want to hide. This exposure, this openness, while extremely raw and uncomfortable is where I am growing. It is like being in a valley and while the valley is dark and often times lonely, there is a lesson there. For one, I realize I am not alone. For two, I have learned to truly give my burdens over and not carry the weight of them around. For three, being uncomfortable has taught me to have more compassion.
This week, one of the things I am working on is loving the sinner and not the sin when I interact with people. None of us is perfect. No, not one. This message was driven home in the sermon I listened to at my church Sunday. As was the message that our sins have already been paid for and we are washed clean as snow; all because of Jesus. Now, those of you who frequent my blog know I do not hide my love of the Lord. I have no intentions of starting now. My tribulations this year have proven one thing. That I can not be defeated when I stand strong in my faith. I am reminded of the flexibility of a palm tree. In a storm, the palm tree takes a beating. It bends from side to side, touching the ground as the storm rages around it, but in the end, it does not break. Strength without flexibility is stubbornness. There is no power in being unmovable in thought or feeling for the sake of being right. For some people, it is more important to be right and to judge. That kind of thinking and stubbornness profits no one. So, I pray everyday to be a more compassionate person. To treat people as I desire to be treated. Because this world can use a little more compassion. In fact, it could use a lot more.
I must admit, posting everday is a challenge, but I knew I could do this if I was mindful and stayed true to doing it.
Why is it people feel life owes them the easy way out of everything? When something does not go as we planned, we get offended or pissed that life did not go our way. That kind of thinking is so damn arrogant. Nothing in life is 100% easy. The things you want the most, you have to work for. Even if you do get exactly what you want, you still have to work to keep it. There are forces at work ready to pounce on any area of vulnerability in our lives and rip it to shreds. Our job is to be aware of those forces. Awareness is no joke. When you have it, things can be so clear it is almost painful. Clarity can be blinding with the truth it shows, but would you really want to have it any other way? Would walking around unaware be a better choice for living your life?
Through awareness comes growth. There is always a lesson to learn or some new insight to gain. Be it into yourself or another, the lesson can be life changing. If the change is a positive one, the path to awareness will always be the one I choose.
How long should you try? Until. ~ Jim Rohn
saying no to:
negative thinking
the cookies and ice cream calling my name in the kitchen
buying all the cool holiday magazines that are out now
giving in and giving up
holding on to the past
saying yes to:
trying new things
being open
a good idea
the cookies and ice cream calling my name in the kitchen
yes, just because
giddy about:
books
bad ass boots and skirts
music that stirs me deeply
writing a daily haiku
new beginnings
reisling
scared of:
the dentist
being in limbo
living paycheck to paycheck
open water and my inability to swim
deeply inspired by:
soul stirring music
self-exploration
photography
seeing new places
the smell of the ocean
obsessed with:
pretty paper and fabric
rice krispie treats
all things Prince
bad ass boots
sunshine
magazines
in love with:
flowers
my family
my friends
the idea of love
a good glass of reisling
a really good ink pen
journaling
haunted by:
things I have said that hurt someone
things I did not say to people
bad decisions
saved by:
unconditional love
the hugs of my little people
simple acts of kindness
faith
and you?
This post was inspired by Dancing Mermaid and Mocha Momma.
I have been noticing a theme in my journal pages lately. Lots of yellows and reds. After doing some research, I found that yellow is associated with joy, energy and happiness. All things I have been feeling a lot of lately. Red is associated with energy, strength, determination, passion, desire and love. Again, all things I am feeling right now. So, I understand how and why they keep showing up in my journals and my paintings. Colors and the energy behind them show up in your life when you need them the most. Kind of like people. These are also qualities I want to radiate outwardly. Being passionate is something I own proudly and I don’t try to hide it. Without passion, there is no purpose.
Another theme that keeps showing up is Change. This particular journal entry sat blank for months. No words and no title, just the background. Then one day, it came to me and I journaled quickly, almost to the point I could not read what I had written the thoughts were coming so fast. Yesterday, while reading Foolsgold by Susan G. Wooldridge, I came across a passage in the book where she speaks to change:
“It can take courage for us to realize we’ve had the wrong idea and made wrong decisions and need to change midstream. We might be in the wrong city for us. The wrong relationship. The wrong life. Writing the wrong book. If we have to be right about everything, we won’t allow ourselves to change, and to free our creative natures.”
Well now! That speaks volumes, doesn’t it? Change can be scary for a lot of people and because of that, we would rather be miserable and right, then admit we were wrong. We think it too late to make a change, using our age, current circumstances or society’s views as reason to stay in our situations. What I would like to know is, when do your excuses start getting on your nerves enough that you are willing to be courageous and say, “Hey, I was wrong about this,” and try something new? Failure is not failure if you learn from it. I tell it to my kids, I tell it to myself because I believe it. I would rather make a mistake than be stuck in a mistake wishing I had simply taken a chance. So, don’t wait. If all of these recent very public deaths remind you of nothing, it is that life is short and you should live it fully every single day. No regrets.
Related Posts:
“That which you create in beauty and goodness and truth lives on for all time to come. Don’t spend your life accumulating material objects that will only turn to dust and ashes.” – Denis Waitley
How true is that statement? Do your “things” accurately reflect who you are? I can say many of my things do not accurately reflect who I am now. Maybe they did a few years ago, but not now…hence my constant need to purge. Clutter suffocates me creatively. I am not one who particularly likes bugs, but I would rather be out and about in nature because it is what it is.
One of my many goals for the rest of the year is to purge all the material things I have accumulated that do not thrill me or represent who I am right now. It is not easy letting go of things, but it is necessary if you want something better to come into your life. I for one, love new experiences, relationships…stuff. It makes me giddy. And, I have to tell you, letting go is not that hard. We get caught up in the sentimental value of our possessions or we allow other people to tell us what we should be thinking or feeling instead of following our hearts. So, I choose to follow my heart. It has not led me wrong so far and in the end, I have no regrets. That’s a huge bonus.
Related Posts:
“As we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence actually liberates others.” – Marianne Williamson
Love this quote and the message…
Many things going on, throwing me off center and making life rather exciting and unexpected. I am going with the flow. Seeing where the flow takes me and being ok with that…no matter how scary it seems at first. Wondering if being off center is a bigger blessing than it may seem at first. I like to think it is.
Related posts:
I closed the comments a little while ago and used a random generator to select the winner of the session with Chris. Number 15, Suzanne! Congratulations. I am going to forward your information. Enjoy!
