Taking risks

 

“Our stories are not meant for everyone.

Hearing them is a privilege,

and we should always ask ourselves this before we share:

 "Who has earned the right to hear my story?"

 If we have one or two people in our lives who can sit with us

and hold space for our shame stories,

and love us for our strengths and struggles,

we are incredibly lucky.

If we have a friend, or small group of friends,

or family who embraces our imperfections, vulnerabilities,

 and power, and fills us with a sense of belonging,

we are incredibly lucky.”  

― Brené Brown

 

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Unconditional love

Those who have accepted their innocence

 have nothing to forgive...

 

I will recognize in everyone, my dearest friend...

A Course in Miracles

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Intimate relationships with others

“We cultivate love when we allow our most vulnerable and powerful selves to be deeply seen and known, and when we honor the spiritual connection that grows from that offering with trust, respect, kindness and affection.

Love is not something we give or get; it is something that we nurture and grow, a connection that can only be cultivated between two people when it exists within each one of them – we can only love others as much as we love ourselves.

Shame, blame, disrespect, betrayal, and the withholding of affection damage the roots from which love grows. Love can only survive these injuries if they are acknowledged, healed and rare.”  

 

― Brené Brown

 

 *****

The little things in life

The most significant gifts are the ones most easily overlooked.  

Small, everyday blessings: woods, health, music, laughter,

memories, books, family, friends, second chances,

warm fireplaces, and all the footprints scattered

throughout our days.”  

 

― Sue Monk Kidd

 

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In the stillness

 

Every human being on the face of the earth has a steel plate in his head,

but if you lie down now and then and get still as you can,

it will slide open like elevator doors,

letting in all the secret thoughts that have been standing around so patiently,

pushing the button for a ride to the top.

The real troubles in life happen when those hidden doors stay

closed for too long.

 

Sue Monk Kidd

 

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Life is good

 

I realized for the first time in my life:

 there is nothing but mystery in the world,

 how it hides behind the fabric...

of our poor, browbeat days,

shining brightly,

and we don't even know it.

 

Sue Monk Kidd

 

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Good self-care

making Xmas ornaments...

 

"The hardest thing on earth is choosing what matters"

- Sue Monk Kidd

 

*****

I have spent a lot of time this holiday thinking about my mom and how grateful I am for things she taught me...things that I had previously judged her for.

 

Mom wasn't a people-pleaser. She did what felt right for her. It takes great courage, especially for women, to be true to themselves. Most of us were taught to please others first. Even as mom neared death, she made her own decisions. She did not listen to the doctors who wanted to get more aggressive with treating her lung cancer. She told me that she had lived her life fully, done everything she wanted to do, and now she was ready to go. Even in death, she left her wishes...no funeral, no fuss...

 

There have been many things I didn't understand about mom that I do now. I not only understand her, but have great respect for her ability to be authentic. Mom wasn't fake. She said what she felt. She did what she wanted. I thought she was being selfish, but she was actually practicing good self-care.

 

I think about all the years I've wasted trying to be someone I am not...not having the strength or courage to be more real...how I denied myself so much because guilt infected my decision-making. I put more focus on getting acceptance from others than I did listening to my inner needs. What was I thinking???? 

 

 My goal for 2014 is to continue to work at claiming my authentic self...to stop all people-pleasing...to accept myself...my uniqueness...my wishes and desires...my right to live a life that feels right for me...to make decisions that embody self-care.

 

Although my mom is not here, she will be my role model. Thank you, mom!!!

 

Happy Holidays to everyone.

 

******

 

Being real

Authenticity is a collections of choices....

it's the choice to show up and be real.

 The choice to be honest.

The choice to let our true selves be seen.

 

Brene Brown

 

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Inner beauty

People are like stained-glass windows.
They sparkle and shine when the sun is out,
but when the darkness sets in,

their true beauty is revealed
only if there is a light from within.

~ Elizabeth Kübler-Ross ~

*****

 



A life that glitters

Fabric, glitter, paint, and a little imagination...

“I want a life that sizzles and pops and makes me laugh out loud.

And I don't want to get to the end, or to tomorrow even,

and realize that my life is a collection of meetings

and pop cans and errands and receipts and dirty dishes.

 I want to eat cold tangerines and sing out loud in the car

with the windows open

and wear pink shoes and stay up all night laughing

and paint my walls the exact color of the sky right now.

I want to sleep hard on clean white sheets

and throw parties and eat ripe tomatoes

and read books so good they make me jump up and down,

and I want my everyday to make God belly laugh,

glad that he gave life to someone who loves the gift.” 

 
― Shauna Niequist

 

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Soft petals

 

 

“I prefer by far the warmth and softness to mere brilliancy and coldness.

 

Some people remind me of sharp dazzling diamonds.

 

Valuable but lifeless and loveless.

 

 Others, of the simplest field flowers,

 

with hearts full of dew and with all the tints of celestial beauty

 

reflected in their modest petals.”  

 

― Anaïs Nin

 

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Learning about life

“I wanted a perfect ending.

Now I've learned,the hard way,

that some poems don't rhyme,

and some stories don't have a clear

beginning, middle, and end.

Life is about not knowing,

having to change,

taking the moment

and making the best of it...”  

 

― Gilda Radner

 

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Opening your heart

I am writing this to remind you of your 'essence beauty.

 This is the part of you that has nothing to do with age,

occupation, weight, history, or pain.

This is the soft, untouched, indelible you.

You can love yourself in this moment,

 no matter what you have, or haven't done or been.

See past any masks, devices, or inventions that obscure your essence.

Remember your true purpose, WHICH is only Love.

If you cannot see or feel love, lie down now and cry;

 it will cleanse your vision and free your heart...

 

― S.A.R.K.

 

*****
 

A positive attitude

Ever heard of paper clay? It's wonderful...very similar to paper mache,
 but not as messy. All you need is a styrofoam ball, some clay,
and your fingers.

The snowman is almost done. The bunny has to dry....

 

“There are painters who transform the sun to a yellow spot,

but there are others who... transform a yellow spot into sun”  

 

― Pablo Picasso

 

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Shame

 

Pippi playing hide and seek....

“The way to fight shame and to honor who we are is by sharing
our experience with someone who has earned the right to hear it.”  

 

“Shame hates it when we reach out and tell our story.
It hates having words wrapped around it- it can't survive being shared.
Shame loves secrecy. When we bury our story, the shame metastasizes.”  

 

 ― Brené Brown

 

Being real

" Harley" the  grungy snowman

 

“Vulnerability is not weakness...

Our willingness to own and engage with our vulnerability

determines the depth of our courage and the clarity of our purpose;

the level to which we protect ourselves from being vulnerable

is a measure of our fear and disconnection.” 

 
― Brené Brown

 

*****

 

Giving and recieving

I love the love-worn primitive look
and the lovely smell of cinnamon
after I bake them.

 

“One of the greatest barriers to connection

is the cultural importance we place on "going it alone.

Somehow we've come to equate success with not needing anyone.

Many of us are willing to extend a helping hand,

but we're very reluctant to reach out for help when we need it ourselves.

It's as if we've divided the world into "those who offer help"

and "those who need help."

The truth is that we are both.”  

― Brené Brown

 

  *****  

 

Being vulnerable

 

“To love someone fiercely,

to believe in something with your whole heart,

 to celebrate a fleeting moment in time,

to fully engage in a life that doesn’t come with guarantees –

 these are risks that involve vulnerability and often pain.

But, I’m learning that recognizing and leaning into the discomfort

 of vulnerability teaches us how to live with joy, gratitude and grace.”  

 

― Brené Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection

 

*****

 

Feeling worthy

 

“Like a Columbus of the heart, mind and soul
I have hurled myself off the shores of my own fears and limiting beliefs
to venture far out into the uncharted territories of my inner truth,
in search of what it means to be genuine
and at peace with who I really am.
I have abandoned the masquerade of living up to
the expectations of others and explored the new horizons
of what it means to be truly and completely me,
in all my amazing imperfection and most splendid insecurity.”  
― Anthon St. Maarten

******

 

Making changes

 

Making primitive dolls is time consuming 
because there is a process to making
them look old and love-worn.
It's called "grunging". You mix coffee,
cinnamon and vanilla together,
spray either the material
or the finished doll, then bake it in the oven.

Before and after

We can't be afraid of change.

You may feel very secure in the pond that you are in,

but if you never venture out of it,

 you will never know that there is such a thing as an ocean, a sea.
Holding onto something that is good for you now,

 may be the very reason why you don't have something better.”  

― C. JoyBell C.

 

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Creative healing

 

 

For me, creativity is great therapy, as well as, fun. 

I love experimenting with colors and techniques.

I love the challenge of learning something new.

I love the way creativity nourishes my spirit.

I love how the solitude nurtures my soul.

Everything I create pushes me deeper...

 into my imagination and determination.

Creativity teaches me to take risks...
and to let go of outcomes.

It teaches me to be okay with making mistakes.

It teaches me to accept disappointment.

I don't always end up with something I'm happy with.

When this happens, I just put my the project aside...

and often come back to it later with a new plan for it.

 
I enjoy the anticipation of what's coming next...
though I usually have no clue what it will be.
 I guess I'll have to wait and see...
 

*****