dream board full of art and words to inspire!

This whole dream board thing is pretty new to me. I have always kept stacks of inspiration in folders, on shelves or in binders but, never on a pin board. Boy, have I been missing out. I created my first dream board this fall and propped it up above my desk but, it was a bit too high to really look at it every day. So, I decided to hang the board on the wall right next to my desk where I can clearly see it. Man, is this cool! I can take in the art and words daily. So much better then having them tucked away in a binder.

Art and words to inspire me:

"There is a story inside you that only you can tell."

"Give your dreams the wings to fly"

"Dream what you want to dream, go where yo want to go, be who you want to be."

I have a ceramic pot very similar and want to add a plant to it just like this.

 

More art and words to inspire:

"Love who you are"

"Love is all that matters"

"Art is the voice of the heart"

"Lucky"

"Live in the moment"

 

 

Quote to inspire:

"I like living, breathing, better than working ... My art IS that of living: Each second, each breath is a work which is inscribed no where, which is neither visual or cerebral, it's a sort of constant euphoria." ~ Marcel Duchamp  

I come from a long line of gigglers so that art is here to remind me to have fun and giggle! My goddess gratitude journal from Goddess Leonie is on here too.

Here's  a Buddha full of love, mandala inspiration and a beaded necklace in turquoise and red because I love that color combo so much.  

This board is ever evolving, as new imagery and words inspire me they can go up and things that no longer serve me can come down. I am really excited about this simple pin board of inspiration! 

Do you have any visual reminders and inspiration in your work space?

quieting the bully

Leah, over at Creative Every Day has been writing some very inspiring posts about this month's theme, Body. This one really struck me today: How to be gentle with your body and your art.

In her post about being gentle to your body Leah talks about her inner "drill sergeant" that barks orders about everything from her body to her artwork. I certainly have one of those. My inner "drill sergeant" or "bully" barks orders to me about success, freedom, health, parenting and following my dreams of being an artist and what that means (some days it means one thing and other days completely different). These orders often leave me feeling confused, unfocused and like a failure. Because I am a Jill-of-all-trades it makes it that much harder to become a master of any of them. Although my inner "bully" demands that I be. I tend to push forward in many areas of my life all at once and then am left feeling sad, angry and unhappy because I am unable to meet all those goals all the time. I want to grow and learn and I also want to just be and enjoy the small wonders in life. My desire to grow and learn ends up bulling my gentler needs for serenity and living in the moment. Leah goes on to say how she has found a gentler approach to her body and creativity and offer suggestions on how we can all do so. Taken from her post:

So how can you take a more gentle approach to your art, your body and life in general?

• Give yourself permission to do it imperfectly
• Check in with yourself, notice what you your spirit is craving.
• Have a dialogue with your inner drill sergeant (aka your inner critic)
• Take your to-do list down a notch and simplify what you plan to do. Make it doable.
• Celebrate your accomplishments. Make an already done list!
• List the things you're grateful for.
• Treat yourself.
• Notice what delights you and add more of those experiences to your life.
• Play with being gentle as an experiment, see what happens.

The list goes on. What would you add to it?

I have done many of these suggestions since I began my path for being a more peaceful being yet, I struggle often. It was amazing to read on her blog comments that so many other creative people comment that they feel the same way. They too had an inner "drill sergeant" that disrupts there lives and stifles creativity. It’s hopeful to hear that I'm not alone and I too can learn quite my inner bully and enjoy a more gentle life where I can accomplish my dreams and be kinder to myself in the process.

Wow, thanks so much for your post, your honesty and openness, Leah.

meditation: phrases of loving kindness

I have been (very slowly) reading Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness by Sharon Salzberg. Throughout my life I have embraced meditation. I have never practiced it regularly instead, I have turned to it in times of stress or anxiety or sleeplessness. I was first introduced to it as a teenager and practiced it before bed. I think incorporating meditation into my life will have a profound effect on my overall well-being. That is why I included it in my new years goals for 2010. At the end of each chapter in the book their are exercises to try. Here is the one I'm currently practicing.

Excerpt taken from the book Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness by Sharon Salzberg

Exercise: Phrases of Loving Kindness

In doing metta practice, we gently repeat phrases that are meaningful in terms of what we wish, first for ourselves and then for others. We begin by befriending ourselves. Classically there are four phrases used.

• "May I be free from danger"
• "May I have mental happiness"
• "May I have physical happiness"
• "May I have ease of well-being"

Sit comfortably. You can begin with five minutes of reflection on the good within you or your wish to be happy. Then choose three or four phrases you most deeply wish for yourself, and repeat them over and over again.

The author goes on to describe each of the four phrases meaning in detail, with some alternate options or you may choose your own 3 or 4 phrases that are significant to you. I choose to coordinate the phrase with my breath, it's easier for me to move from one idea to the next that way but you can do it anyway you like.

Let me know if you try this yourself and what you thought of the exercise :)

gratitude journal - week 4

Keeping this up has become progressively harder. I actually had 2 days this week when I didn't write anything in my journal to be grateful for. I felt guilty after each day I missed but, looking back at it now I realize it was silly to feel that way. Missing a day here or there just ... is what it is. No reason to dwell on a misstep when the whole point of this journey is to see the positive in life.

Here is what I felt grateful for in week 4 ...

• this journal ~ free from SMoCA, I'm happy I found a good use for it.
• kiddie hugs and kisses ~ many of these from my boys
  
• miss Laura ~ having a safe place our kids enjoying go every day for care and preschool means so much
• books ~ I love stealing a little quiet time to read
• cloudy days ~ these are blissful days in the almost always sunny the desert
• coffee breaks ~ wonderful time to sit, relax and chat with friends
• homemade sauce ~ Bert makes delicious tomato sauce from his grandmother's recipe.
  
• imagination ~ with marker colored arms Hudson declares "I want to be superman!"
• nature walks ~ strolling the neighborhood with the boys and observing nature
• good friends ~ thank you Carla for lending your ear and encouraging me to grow
• yard full of birds ~ they are enjoying the bird feed and we enjoy watching them
  

gratitude journal - week 3

Gratitude journal week 3 occurred while I was on vacation. Although I brought along my journal and intended to write in it that went out the window pretty fast. It seems I have an unspoken "No thinking on vacation" rule that needed to be adhered to. So, instead of writing daily on vacation I summed up the moments I am thankful for overall. Here they are ...

• tying the knot ~ I am so happy to have been there to see my sister get married
• family time ~ having so much of our family in Jamaica to celebrate with my sister was amazing and lots of fun
• cousins ~ second to seeing my sister get married, hanging out with my cousins was the best! I moved across country when all of them where really young. Being together with them for couple of days and getting to know them was really awesome.
• my best friend, Bert ~ I can honestly say this man is my soul mate. I could not imagine embarking on this long strange trip to another country with any other. We traveled 18 hours together going and coming with many stops along the way and through it all we had the best time. Once in Jamaica we truly enjoyed each others company. We spent quality time together and apart moving freely about our days and every bit of it in complete happiness. This is so, so much to be grateful for.
• relaxation ~ quiet time by the Caribbean Sea under the palapas
• Jamaica ~ seeing this entire beautiful island

an open heart

An Open Heart: Practicing Compassion in Everyday Life by Dalai Lama XIV

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book was right up my alley. It is a great book to turn to for advice about compassion in your daily life. After reading Yoga Body, Buddha Mind I was interested in learning more about Buddhism. This is my first read by Dalai Lama. He's good at explaining overall Buddhist principles. The Dalai Lama's explanation about compassion, meditation, the mind/body connection, as well as what karma is and how it affects this life and the next are all worth learning. Compassion in everyday life is not common practice in our western society however, it is something we all should be reminded of and will lead to an enriched life.


View all my reviews.

gratitude journal - week 2

Continuing on my journaling journey for happiness, here are some things I have been grateful for in week 2 ...

• yoga ~ my mood, balance and well being are better for it
• chirping ~ sitting quietly and listening to birds converse
• sundays ~ there is something peaceful about sundays that makes me happy
• golf ~ i enjoy when Bert does something fun just for himself
• surprises kisses ~ from Ethan and Hudson on separate occasions!
• freedom ~ thank you to the many men and women that risk their lives for us
  
• dropping a size ~ moving on down to a large instead of x-large!
• healthy children ~ having them be alive and well is a blessing
• mama support ~ the support system we moms have in one another is priceless

gratitude journal - week 1

As you may know, I began my gratitude journal last week. I plan to journal for 30 days. I have a small book next to my bed and I jot down 5 things I am grateful for each night. Some days it's easy to note 5 things; some days not so much. If I really can't get 5 I settle at 3 or 4. I would rather not try and force gratitude just to get to 5 things but, I do think on it a bit before settling for less. I wanted to share some of my favorite entries.

Last week some things I have been grateful for are ...

• my family ~ Bert, Ethan and Hudson I love you so
• sharing a hobby with the kids ~ like making model race cars
  
• baby snuggles ~ with Hudson and Chloe were oh so sweet
• the way Bert looks at me ~ he always makes me feel beautiful
• creativity ~ the ability to express my pain and joy creativity leave me forever grateful
  
• bedtime stories ~ my most favorite memories are made then
  
• lizard push ups ~ Bert & watched outside our window and had us a good laugh
• laughter ~ loud laughs, belly giggles, snorting in all
• videos of our kids ~ having snip its of them in action is awesome
• rain ~ so beautiful and much needed; rain cleanses my soul
• coats in spring ~ Ethan insisted on his coat & hat to play in the rain & it was 95 degrees out!
• lazy mornings in bed ~ being silly before starting our day
• outbursts of happy energy ~ by none other then mister Hudson

This has been a great exercise so far. It is helps me see what things make me happy each and every day. It will help me focus my life on those things that are important to me.

loving thoughts

In loving memory of Nyah Shanti Mar.
December 6, 2006 to May 21, 2009.

Beautiful little Nyah, may the sweetest memories of you shine through the sadness. I created this drawing as a way to express my feelings and give a gift of loving thoughts to her family.

The flower is a pansy which signifies "loving thoughts". Pansies have long been flowers of remembrance. They are also a symbol of togetherness and union, and perhaps this is why they are so appropriate for remembering those who have passed from our lives. Keep pansies around you when you wish to remember the fond memories and kindnesses of loved ones.

weekly reflection

To gain awareness of all the things that make life great I joined Serene Journey in starting a gratitude journal. The second I read about the gratitude journal I knew I needed to keep one. I want myself and our family to live a simpler and more enjoyable life. Seeing the good in life creates a shift in thinking to the positive. Gratitude makes us happier.

What is a gratitude Journal? Here is how Serene Journey defines it:

A gratitude journal is simply a journal you use to capture gratitude. It can be sexy and luxurious or as plain and simple as you want it to be. You can use a simple notebook, some white paper or a diary.
Once you have something to write in you will write 5 things that you are grateful for that day. You can do this right before bed or in the evening sometime. These don’t have to be big earth shattering revelations, as most things you are grateful for are not. These entries are what matter to you and what you are grateful for. This is a very personal venture.

The only 2 rules with a gratitude journal are:

1. Everything in it must be positive and;
2. You can only list something you’re grateful for once - no repeating entries.

I have always kept a journal but, in the past I have used it as a way to vent frustrations, work through issues and occasionally record our lives. This journal is different. It will make me see what things make me happy each and every day. I began my gratitude journal this week. I have a small book next to my bed and I jot down 5 things I am grateful for each night.

If you are not keeping a journal like this I invite you to join me!

"When You Feel Like you Just Don't Measure Up"

Over at a blog I read - Modish Biz Tips - there was a great article I read today and wanted to share: When You Feel Like you Just Don't Measure Up

I needed this. I always need this on Fridays so, I'm glad I stop to read this today. I've had a tough start to this year, as many have, and it has me questioning myself, my goals, my self worth in all different ways. Thanks to Modish for saying that it's okay, we all have times like that and even so we are fantastic in our own ways!

vote today and everyday

I VOTED. The energy surrounding this election is like nothing I have seen before, I have never been one for politics but, as I get older and have a family of my own I care more about what goes on in the world around me.

Everyday is voting day. We get to cast votes for many important issues on a daily basis. Everyday we vote with our hard earned cash. Are we we supporting conscious, safe, and sustainable companies and products? They way we shop, eat, live matters ... we are casting a vote in support of that product and that company ... are you voting for the people and things you want to be? I know I still have some work to do to truly vote they way I want to be. We have lots to consider every time we make a purchase ... we vote everyday for the world we want.

I just finished reading Above All, Be Kind: Raising a Humane Child in Challenging Times by Zoe Weil in which the author speaks of how to strive to live with respect for our environment, all species and all people and make humane choices for ourselves, our children and our world.