Y4 – Day 96 – Off the Grid Thought

Technology has me by the throat. I didn’t even know it. Try doing without it yourself.

I think I want to write, meditate, walk, be in nature and be creative but I actually waste valuable, precious time instead with media and interruptions.

I can see how people in the old days had time for all their chores. There wasn’t much else to do.

Leisure time has taken over creative time. I need to be making the space and time for creativity instead of avoiding it.

 We create when we are in a relaxed, open mind state. An empty, quiet moment is when ideas catch on.

But filling our brains with nonsense is just plain escapism.

Shame on me.

Y4 – Day 88 – Energize vs. Drain

Have you ever noticed that a great song on the radio will make you want to move and even sing along? I feel stronger and more alive when I am dancing to techno or ’80’s New Wave bouncy tunes. I get a kick out of bopping to uptempo “musique electronique”.

I am inspired when I start and tend a fire. I feel reflective and relaxed when I garden, write, meditate or decorate. These hobbies maintain my sanity and are as necessary as my breath to my very existence. God forbid I shouldn’t have pens and paper, paint and brushes, colorful makeup and markers, flowers outside in my garden and indoors in vases. Like food, my passions feed me and keep me balanced, so I tend to them, like little fires in the hearth.

On the other hand, have you ever known anyone who sucks the life out of you? Vampires really do exist and sometimes they are in the form of family members (no one reading this need be concerned).

What about a job that depletes you? I am exhausted after making a bed but love to wash dishes. I hate laundry duty but love ironing.

So, continuing with our inward journey in getting to know our authentic and unique selves; what puts a spring in your step? what interests make you lose all sense of time? AND also ask; What or whom or both makes your skin crawl or drains you? What tasks do you despise?

It’s good to know what we love but it’s also smart to know what we’re not fond of so we can avoid it or deal with later at a better time or place or delegate.

 

Y4 – Day 86 – Writing as From Above

Witnessing yourself, observing your behavior as if you were an outsider, a fly on the wall if you will, is an excellent mode of acknowledging your faults, your talents and your delivery.

The same goes for writing. When you get enough distance between you and a painful memory, it’s easier to expound on in an objective way.

Writing about suffering and grief with detachment and in vivid detail is the stuff of great memoir, as I have learned by reading quite a few.

By the same token, writing about something simple and ordinary in an extraordinary way as if it was unique and special is the stuff of great memoir as well.

From practicing our art, reading, writing, observing and being inspired by basically everything, we hone our creative expression, whatever way that exudes from our soul.

Y4 – Day 74 – Bonnet Comedy

My husband is hilarious and ordered a small bonnet and bib and of course my daughters had to try it out on our furry family members. Please read the quote underneath the last picture.

In order of appearances:

Cindi – Adelaide – Nightlight – CappuccinaIMG_0907 IMG_0913 IMG_0917 IMG_0925

As I stumble through this life, help me to create more laughter than tears.
Never let me become so indifferent that I will fail to see the wonder in the eyes of a child.
Never let me forget that my total effort is to cheer people, make them forget,
at least momentarily, the unpleasantness in their lives.
And in my final moment, may I hear You whisper:
”When you made My people smile, you made Me smile.” 
 A Clown’s Prayer

Y4 – Day 67 – Character Sketch

Lori has medium length, blond dyed, wavy hair that cascades off the crown of her head as if she had coaxed it into soft, loose locks. But the first thing you notice about her after you get past her glorious mane, is her beaming blue eyes that penetrate you with their steadiness and her luscious, painted, well formed pouty lips. Her eyes are evenly spaced and framed by accented lashes dipped in a mahogany stain. Her nose is romanesque and looks classic, perfect in its shape and placement. In short, she has a proportioned facade in the most pleasing of dimensions and colors.

Lori is taller than average and of normal weight. She wears her everyday clothes, jeans and t shirts, with genuine panache without having a clue why everyone stares at her.

Lori’s voice carries questions with its tilted up pitch. She speaks slow and with a sing song cadence like a Southern drawl. She frequently self examines herself out loud and you wonder who is she talking to? This is quaint and inviting without being the least bit annoying because her tone comes off so serious, as if she was chatting with her imaginary friend, once upon a time, in childhood.

Lori said once that she felt like she had two people living inside her, her evil twin Gretchen and the good and wonderful Lori, the angelic being she portrays to the world. When she feels her behavior is off-putting, irresponsible or hurtful to others, she blames the witchy woman, Gretchen.

Lori’s grandmother on her dad’s side was named Gretchen. She was indeed difficult to love. But Lori also inherited her mother’s kindness, loyal qualities, true heart and virtuous conscience.

Lori is a combination and balance of her yin and yang like we all are. Her weaknesses have become her strengths through solid therapy, self awareness, improvement exercises and other healing modalities. She is whole and confident.

That’s why it was out of the ordinary when……..

You want more? Let me know.

 

 

Y4 – Day 45 – Goddess Box

IMG_0734I am Loving my monthly Goddess Provisions Box that my husband gifted me. This is number one, themed: Self-Love . Raw chocolate, crystals, a bracelet to remind me to be thankful, cards I already used at yoga time this week and it was spot on and a heart chakra candle with a teeny, tiny piece of white chalk to write your intended motif for your meditation.

Plus, it was such a delight to share my “vegan cuts” box’s sample of perfume this month with my yoga ladies called of all things, “Yogini”.

I love these boxes of goodies!!! Even Cindi gets one!! 

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Y4 – Day 42 – ReDo of Bar Cabinet

I forgot to take a before picture of this cabinet. Imagine it completely brownish, inside and out, with ugly hardware. It will now house all of our TV and Xbox paraphernalia, I think.

I am painting the inside a bright coral and white because I love to look inside and be surprised, plus don’t you like a purse with a light lining interior as opposed to a dark one so you can see all your stuff better? I can never find anything in a dark or black, inner lined pocketbook.

I am probably about one fifth or one quarter away from finishing this, depending on how many colors it wants me to use and what techniques it has in store for me.  I can’t wait to see how it turns out, eventually.

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