A Wonderful Gift

Thought I’d put in another excerpt from Melody Beattie’s meditation book.  This one is about appreciating ourselves.

“It is time to stop the nonsense of running around picking on ourselves.  We have walked through much of our life apologizing for ourselves either directly or indirectly, feeling less valuable than others., believing that they know better than we do, and believing that somehow others are meant to be here and we are not.

We have a right to be here
We have a right to be ourselves
We are here.  There is a purpose, a reason an intention for our life.  We do not have to apologize for being here or being who we are.  Others do not have OUR magic.  We have our own magic.  It is in us.
It doesn’t matter what we’ve done in our past.  We all have a past, woven with mistakes, successes and learning experiences.  We have a right to our past.  It is OURS.  It has worked to shape and form us.  As we progress on this journey, we shall see how each of our experiences will be turned around and used for good.
We have already spent too much time in being ashamed, being apologetic and doubting the beauty of ourselves.  Be done with it.  Let it go. It is an unnecessary burden.  Others have rights, but so do we.  We are neither less than nor more than.  We are equal.  We are who we are. That is who we created and intended to be.
That, my friend, is a wonderful gift.”  – Melody Beattie

I sure wish I could write like that.  Although I have not and never have been in any sort of recovery/co-dependency, her writing touches my heart.  Picking this book up by mistake was, in fact, not a mistake in the long run.  It reminds me of how we are all the same in many ways.  We all want to be accepted and loved, don’t we?  We all just want our lives and the people in them to be good… I won’t say “perfect”… but “good” is good enough.

I’ll be back with some art very soon.  Work/life has been busy and consuming.. but stay tuned and come back.

Judy

Hurry up, patience..

Ok.. so picture this.. this is me…

I hunker down at my computer to catch up on some art videos on YouTube..  I begin to watch a tutorial on an art technique and the artists speeds up the process.. really fast.  I have about 10 minutes to go to the end, so now I’m getting a little impatient and I slide the bar faster so the video is done.. like.. right now.  Ok, got it.. that was cool, moving on.

What’s wrong with that picture… Have I no patience anymore.  Is being a mom, working full-time, chef, wife and artist making me more impatient? It think the answer is a bit fat YES.

The other day I tried doing Yoga from a DVD..  my first time ever doing Yoga… I was bored…but, I get why people love it.

When I go for my power walks, I have music that makes me move like nobody’s business… I just can’t go for a walk without music.  I have a purpose… go go go… get your workout over with and move on.  There, that’s done, thank god.

So with all my impatience and a busy life, like a lot of us lead, I thought I would share an excerpt my one of my favorite go to books, The Language of Letting Go, by Melody Beattie.

“The people who are most successful at living and loving are those who can learn to wait successfully.  Not many people enjoy waiting or learning patience.  Yet, waiting can be a powerful tool that will help us accomplish much good. 

We cannot always have what we want when we want it.  For different reasons, what we want to do, have, be, or accomplish is not available to us now.  But there are things we could not do or have today, no matter what, that we can have in the future.  Today, we would make ourselves crazy tyring to accomplish what will come naturally and with ease later.  We can trust that all is on schedule.  Waiting time is not wasted time.  Something is being worked out – in us, in someone else, in the Universe.  We don’t have to put our life on hold while we wait.  We can direct our attention elsewhere; we can practice acceptance and gratitude in the interim; we can trust that we do have a life to live while we are waiting – then we go about living it.

Deal with your frustration and impatience, but learn how to wait.  The old saying, “you can’t always get what you want” isn’t entirely true.  Often in life, we can get what we want – especially the desires of our heart – if we can learn to wait.”

Ahhhh… feel better?   Take care of yourself.  Pay attention to what you need and nourish yourself with it.  One step at a time.. breathe in and out.   Ya, right, who am kidding.. speaking of steps.. gotta hit the pavement.

No, seriously… I meant that… the part about taking care of yourself.

Thanks for walking by… really fast.

Judy ♥

Happy Birthday…

….to me.

Yes, today is my birthday.  I felt like leaving a little something here for us to think about.  I get caught up in my age as I get older and I have to stop and remember this…

“Don’t just count your years…..make your years count”
- Ernest Myers

This is so necessary… we can’t control it, life moves on and we must make it the best life we can… EVERYDAY!!

Surround yourself with loving, caring, non-judgemental and giving people that make you laugh out loud, that support you and are there for you when you’re down, cuz we all get down now and then.

Another quote from one of my favorite authors, who’s been through hell and back is Melody Beattie :

“Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude.”

Have a great week and make every moment count.

And, as always… thanks for stopping by.

Judy

A New Year.. Promise To Make it Creative!

Hey Blogsters…..

Happy New Year.  How long do we have to say that to everyone we talk to?  I think 2 weeks is time enough, don’t you think?.. and then that’s it.. alright, well, maybe just a few more here and there.

So, I hate the word “resolution”.  It’s sounds so demanding. YOU WILL RESOLVE TO GET THIS DONE.  How about just making promises to yourself?  Do things that you know would make you feel better and make you feel that you really have accomplished something.  Something that you know wouldn’t have happened it you just didn’t nudge yourself a little bit harder (or as they say in Boston.. “hahda”).

Course, my first thought is be more healthy and fit.  Ok, I said that one, so let’s move on to fun promises….  be more creative and do more art.  Ah, that feels like a promise I can keep for myself.  Reorganize and clean your studio/workspace  (ok, so maybe not so fun); donate what you don’t need anymore; give them a new life – you’ll feel the new energy surround you after you’re done.

One of my promises to myself is to learn how to video tape and load those videos on to YouTube or even in my blog.   With the help of my 15 hr. old daughter, of course.  It can happen.. it WILL happen.

Being creative just makes me happy.  When I’m working in my full-time job, I want to be in my studio.  When I’m not working, I don’ t get in the studio like I want to.  Why is that?  I own it, I know, my fault.   Ok.. I have a family to think about, yes.    Another promise – get in the studio; make more time and get in your creative bubble.

I’m keeping Melodie Beattie’s book next to my computer and I’d like to share another excerpt from her “Journey to the Heart” book.

“Let Your Creativity Blossom”

“Allow your creativity to blossom.  For too long you have held back.  For too long you have limited your natural creative learnings and talents….. You are creative.  You have a creative self within that wants to play, wants to be let loose, wants to create.  Set that part free!  Let yourself play – with life, with work, with projects. “

“Creating brings you into harmony with the universe…. yourself and the rhythm of life.”  – Melody Beattie

How perfect is that?  Very calming and freeing, to me, when I read her meditations.

Tell me what you want to promise yourself this year?

I’ll leave you with this beautiful winter early morning scene from the back of my house (not enhanced at all).  Love the teal sky.

Thanks for stopping by!

Judy

Next up… mixed media mirror frame.

Open Your Hearts

Hey Blogsters!

For the past few months, on my walks, I’ve found some interesting heart shapes I’ve captured with my camera………BUT…

… Let me begin here with a quote from Melody Beattie’s book “Journey of the Heart”. She does daily meditations that are so touching.  I thought this would be appropriate for my heart post.

“Let your heart open-gently, safely, surely and certainly.  Do not let others decide when or even if you will open your heart, when or if you will embrace love.  Those choices are too big, too important to let others make for you.  Only you can decide when and how.” ….

“Look around.  It’s not your location that makes you safe.
It’s where you are in your soul, your mind and your heart.
That place is good.  That place is safe.
Open your heart.
Embrace life.
Go joyfully on your way.”
- Melody Beattie

So………….. I share my hearts with YOU:

vine

puddle on ocean rocks in Maine – I know this is pushing it a little.. but can you see it?

stones off my driveway; at this glance it’s a heart of stone.

vine leaf coming through brick walk

heart rock

… and finally I reveal to you my wooden heart collage that I’ve been promising.

I just love this piece.  You could even say I put all my heart into it.

Size: approx. 18″ x 14″

This piece started out as an old wooden painting I found at a consignment store.   What I used:  spackle, caulking, molding paste, vintage papers, tissue papers, fabric lace, gold leaf, old jewelry, polymer clay (face and button flowers),  found objects, charms, gesso, acrylic paints, stencils, rubber stamps, metal hinge.. whew.. that’s about all I can think of.

I hope you enjoyed my heart post..  Would love to hear back from you.

Next up:  Two weeks vacation from work for the holidays.  I’ll be in the studio to share some fun projects with you.

I hope all you have a wonderful and safe holiday… 2010.. can it be?

Judy