Friday's Special Moment of Gratitude

This is a pastel I did at class on Monday.  I feel like it is a collaborative piece since my instructor and I worked on it together in so many ways.  On Wednesday I wrote that I knew I would be inspired by the picture I took of the sky and when I looked at my painting I realized that I had been because the mountain reflected so many of the colors that were in the picture.  It was a great reminder to me of the importance of being aware at all times of the beauty that surrounds me.

On Friday it has become my practice to share with the world what I am most grateful for this week.  This week it is again for the people who have come into my life.  I know that I have written about my husband's illness before.  The medicine he has to take has serious and very unpleasant side effects but he is committed to doing whatever he can to feel as good as he can so he never misses a dose.  He has talked to many wonderful health professionals about what he could do about the side effects but nothing has worked.  The other day he had a call from someone new to check on him and he again explained what was happening and asked if this person had any advice.  And they did.  Something as simple as rinsing out his mouth after taking the medicine has made a huge difference. I am of course so grateful for this person and their knowledge.  I am also grateful that they took the time to listen and had the ability to understand what was happening.

It think this is such a great life lesson in so many ways.  It reminds me that if I have a problem I should never give up trying to find a solution.  It reminds me of the importance of finding the right person with the right answer.  It might not be the first, second, or third person I ask but eventually I will be able to find the answer or at least some type of information.  It also reminds me of how important it is to listen to someone and how if I can offer just a simple solution to their problem I can make a huge difference in their daily life. You never know when the information you share will have the power to change someone's life for the better.  I hope that you have had a great week and will share what you are grateful for experiencing this week.

                                         
                          I have linked this post to Paint Party Friday and Creative Every Day.

Friday's Special Moment of Gratitude

 

 

 

This week I don't have a new painting to share but I do have a painting that I did a long time ago that I wanted to write about.  When I first started painting I was very self conscious about what I was creating and I can still be but I'm getting better about this.  When I painted this girl, I knew there were so many things technically wrong with the painting but I still liked it.  No one else in the class said anything about it (good or bad) and it didn't matter.  I just liked it so I framed her and hung the painting where I could see it but not really in a prominent place where others may also enjoy it.  Because of the comments many of you have made over the course of the time I have been visiting Paint Party Friday, I think I'll move her where others can see her.  I've come to realize (because of your comments) that my work doesn't have to be perfect for it to mean something to someone. One painting I posted reminded someone of a lake they went to when they were young.  The same painting reminded someone else of the ocean and how much it meant to them and a third person a river they sat by when they wanted to relax. They all saw the same painting, they all saw something different, and they all were reminded of a place they loved.  If my paintings, whether they are technically correct or not, connect with others and remind them of something special, or peaceful, or exciting than I am very very happy and I have accomplished what I have set out to do. 

I am very grateful this week for so many things but I am just going to mention just one.  It's fall.  The weather is cool in the morning, warm (not hot) in the afternoon, and cool again in the evening.  It's my favorite time of year and I am going to enjoy every moment.  How about you?  What makes you smile this week? 
        
                             I am linking this post to Paint Party Friday a very special place.

Wednesday's Walk

Jamie Ridler of Jamie Ridler's Studios posted this on Facebook today.  I thought it was such a great reminder that I wanted to share it with everyone.

         Osho Zen Card - Success - Enjoy every drop of happiness and take the future as it comes 

                                     without regret. 

                                                   

As I go through life I realize that every day comes with great challenges which turn into great opportunities all of which can lead to great success.  It is the small steps that we take that lead us to interesting adventures and exciting journeys.  The important thing for me is to actually notice the difference that each small step makes in my life.

Several years ago I began taking yoga.  I was by far the oldest in the class, the least flexible, and the most self-conscious.  But with a wonderful and caring teacher and lots of practice and dedication, I now feel that I can truly call myself a yogi.  Yesterday, I had the privilege of working with two women who are new to yoga and together we had a wonderful session.  It is amazing what opportunities for growth life offers us if we are open to new ideas. Yesterday was really exciting for me and I hope for the others. 

With a lot of hard work came success.  At the end of the session, I truly enjoyed a great feeling of happiness that I will call upon the next time I need to do something new and challenging.  As you go through each day, take the time to notice the small challenges and accompanying successes that you are experiencing.  And then take a deep breath and experience the happiness that accompanies the moment!  It feels great!

Sunday's Quote and Reflection

 

 

 

Last week I took a short break from blogging.  It was an unintended break but a break just the same.  Today I realized I missed blogging.  So I am back and excited about writing again.  Sometimes just a short break from something, even when we love doing it, is just what we need to get the creative energy flowing again.

Last week I decided to also take a short break from pastels.  I thought I would try creating a zentangle.  I read a little bit about them and thought that they were made for me.   I was a great doodler in high school and still love to draw.  In the short amount of reading that I did, it said the purpose of the drawing was to relax you, thus the name Zentangle.  I enjoyed working on this tiny piece of art but soon realized that I was taking my zentangle just as seriously as I did my pastels.  Since I am studying to be a creative coach with Jill Badonsky, I decided it might be just the right time to put into practice what I am learning.  I stopped trying to make my zentangle perfect, took a deep breath, and enjoyed the time I spent creating.  If you too have even a little bit of perfectionist in you, and who doesn't, maybe Jill's quote above will help you too.  I hope everyone has a great week filled with special moments and creative endeavors.  Talk to you again on Wednesday.