Empowerment.Vitality.Evolution.
Each morning we are born again. -Buddha
This tree blew me away yesterday.
This tree is obviously not doing well, and hit hard by a recent storm in our area… but it struck me as BEAUTIFUL.
Even in suffering there is beauty. If I can recognize the beautiful moments in a bad day, month year (be honest! We’ve all had them), it gives me the courage I need to keep moving forward.
I don’t know if this tree will live to see another season, all I know, is in that moment I saw the beauty instead of the suffering… and that gave me hope.
My Affirmations lead to
My Gratitude, which leads to
Me: Rising from the Ashes of FEAR.
#artjournal #openandbrave
Spring Walk pictures inspired watercolor Journal Entry.
My Five Minute Journal keeps me focused on Gratitude… something I desperately need these days ❤️.
#livecreatively #openandbrave
Me social distancing 😁
Taking a walk with beloved teen and crazy dog. 💕
As always, I love outside. New to me: outside is not always kind to me… finding balance in all things.
#allergictooutside #asthma #balance #gratitude #lovesunshine #openandbrave
I always start my day TRYING to focus on Gratitude. For I’m a firm believer that no matter how lost I feel, there is always SOMETHING to be grateful for.
I was looking at the gallery for my daily gratitude journal (I use the Five Minute Journal App), and realized how many quotes there were. Some weeks are more pictures, others quotes. This week has been heavy on the quotes.
What I see: I’m searching for inspiration. Things that make me laugh, think, find gratitude, or motivate me.
We’ve been in quarantine/social distancing mode since mid-March. It’s getting harder. I miss people. I miss interactions. I miss all the weird, funny, crazy that comes from BEING out in the world.
I don’t know how long it’s been for you. Maybe you’ve never been stuck at home because of your profession and long to be in my shoes. Maybe the social distancing experience is different for you because of your circumstances or personality.
Personally… I’m getting to the point of hysteria. I’m introverted, but I also like people. The first three weeks weren’t bad. I liked being cocooned at home with my family.
My daughter is thriving in this environment: she’s loving virtual schooling and has been successful at getting everything done. She’s happy to video chat with her friends and has little to no desire to go anywhere.
My husband is more stressed. He’s the one who works outside the home. He does the shopping and errands. He worries about me. I have asthma, so I’m higher risk for infection and he feels grateful that I work from home and prefers that I stay home.
Me: I’m wanting to be outside, on the rare nice day… but the allergies and asthma have forced me to stay in-doors. I miss seeing clients and caregivers. I miss interacting with the world.
In the meantime, I’m using my Art Journal as an outlet for expression and finding quotes to keep me inspired and motivated to keep moving forward.
The Five Minute Journal app by Intelligent Change has helped keep me positive and appreciate life more.
https://www.intelligentchange.com/pages/five-minute-journal-app
#gratitude #openandbrave
I want to be clear: I am not making a political statement.
I am working on a #100daychallenge2020 using Art Journaling as a self-care measure and expression. This project is a way of keeping consistency during this time of Social Distancing, stress/anxiety relief, letting my experience of Art Lab Classes continue through trying new things, and letting the Art take me where it wants to.
So, on Thursday, I took a piece of an old book (bought at a library book sale) and I made it into something new by seeing what words “spoke” to me. The funny thing about this day’s project is this: the page is taken from a gardening book about different types of flora and fauna from an English garden. Yet from this gardening page came a sense of patriotic pride I didn’t even know I was feeling.
The words that popped out too me were: exquisite, kingdom, It’s name is America, the great. From these words the art took me to a place of honoring the ideas and beliefs our country was founded on: land of the Brave, home of Freedom, land of opportunity (which can lead to success).
Though this is not a Right vs. Left point if view piece, found myself feeling afraid of how others would view and judge it. I was afraid that others would SEE it as a statement of one view or the other. This made me realize that I needed to put it out there. I needed to share my feelings about it… and let others do the same however they need and want to.
I believe these statements to be true of America:
Is America perfect? No. Are Americans the best people? Not always. Like any country, anywhere in the world, we have our flaws and our strengths, our great people/great minds, and our evil people/dirty minds.
I’m not casting aspersions on any other country. You may live in another country, and hopefully YOU are proud to be a citizen THERE. I hope that where-ever you live, you are proud to be a part of that country and community.
I’m not a proud of every American, I am proud to BE American. I’m grateful that I was born in a country founded on autonomy and freedom. Where we can be who we choose, and let others do the same. Where differences of opinion are allowed, if not necessarily accepted. A country where individuals have the freedom to take opportunities, or not. No one must stay where they start, nor does the government tell you who you are or what you must be.
Don’t miss understand, I am not saying everyone here lives their best life here. My own life has had its share of personal tragedy and setbacks, but I have a good life. I am not a millionaire. I’m not a captain of industry.
Even now… during quarantine and having sustained a severe second degree burn a week ago today that is driving me crazy, I am happy.
I have a good life:
When I look at this list, I realize how grateful I am to be where I am. I’m not Rich or powerful. Then again, those were never my goals.
My life goals were to have a home, have a family, have a job where I help people. I have these things. Do I have everything I want? Heck, No. That’s what goals are for. To keep me striving, learning, growing!
In closing, this journal piece represents to me: opportunity, freedom, and bravery. The things I am always striving for❤️.
#possibilities #openandbrave
Originally posted December 2018
2018 has been a year of highs and lows for me. As this year comes close… as I’m thinking of the highs the following come to mind:
1. I was immersed in school, learning new, challenging information and skills.
2. I overcame my fear of science!
3. I made several amazing NEW friends.
4. I made High Honors every term.
5. I completed Medical Office Professional program.
6. Reinvested in an OLD friendship.
7. I transformed my perspective (work in-progress)
I am incredibly grateful for all of these wonderful experiences, and the friends and family who have supported me on this journey.
There were downs, of course, but these were either motivators for something good, or lessons I needed to learn.
Looking into 2019:
1. Continue Perspective transformation.
2. Work on continuity in my habits.
3. Self-care: gut health, strength of body and spirit, and better sleep.
4. Career: a meaningful job.
5. Financial freedom.
What are your highlights for 2018? No matter how tough it was, there were good things: bring the good stuff with you! Leave the rest in 2018.
What are your intentions for 2019? I like to think in terms of intentions rather than “Resolutions.”
WHY? Because intentions are on-going. Intentions are “progress not perfection.” Resolutions are pass/fail.
#goals #openandbrave
April Showers bring May Flowers!
Some years this is true… some years, not so much.
I’ve lived in New England for 20 years. In that time, there have been years we’ve seen Spring at the end of March, then there have been years there was no sign of Spring until June!
I am so grateful THIS YEAR we are seeing Spring flowers in April. With Coronavirus leading to quarantine and Social Distancing, Nature has been my saving grace. Bringing blue skies, cool breezes, and new blooms giving me a reason to hope, a reason to smile, and a tick on my gratitude list.
#openandbrave
My Girl one FIRST PLACE at today’s State HOSA Conference.
Her first Conference!
Earlier this month she took a Veterinary Exam to place in competition for the conference. I was so proud of her for taking on the challenge. She had to take on extra study on top of an already rigorous school/study schedule of all Honors classes.
She’s working so hard toward her goal. She wants to go to Cornell for undergraduate and veterinary school. She knows how fierce tithe competition is and she’s set her sights high.
This quote by ??? Resonates with me. I love people…. but I especially love the “off-beat” ones. I’m drawn to artists, motivators, comedians, history buffs, sarcastic people, wounded people, healing people, mystics… the list could go on.
It’s not about the outside trappings: race, religion, age… it’s about the person who sparks something of interest in me: something I need or want to learn, life experience different from my own, points of view that make me think or question where I stand on any issue.
I guess I am basically curious by nature. What makes a person who they are? And… What can they teach me about the world and it’s people?
Also, I am admittedly a Square Peg… so to all those who think differently, feel like the outsider in a group, feel out-of-step… WELCOME 💕
YOU ARE MY PEOPLE!
#openandbrave
Empowerment.Vitality.Evolution. 