Embracing Life

He who has so little knowledge of human nature as to seek happiness by changing anything but his own disposition will waste his life in fruitless efforts.  ~Samuel Johnson

I have been doing a lot of cleaning around our home. And when I clean I think. 

Lately all I've been thinking about is where I am going in life.

Me, this morning.

It seems I'm not alone...which has made me feel like I'm not so weird after all.;)

My mentor Melody Ross {please click on her name and read her post. It is wonderful!}  and friend Leanne from "Chaos Comes Happiness" have been wondering the very same thing. 

In my last post I wrote...

"Trying to 

decide

what's best 

for me 

at this

very moment in myLife.

Where am I going?

What am I supposed to do?

What do I want to do?"

Cover of March/April Cloth.Paper.Scissors

I KNOW I want to be BOLD. I want to let loose and have some FUN!!!!

My doodle I created last night.

I want to stop worrying about what I'm gonna paint next or if it's good enough to sell. I want to stop over thinking every time I sit down to work on a piece in my studio.

My friend Megan left this comment the other day...

"those sure are the hard questions! hope you get it figured out! or not, is it really so bad to do what you want in the moment and not worry about what's going to happen in the future?"

Oh boy, Megan!! Your comment hit me hard!! It has had me thinking all week long.

Is it so bad to just BE?

Is it so bad to not know what the future brings?

I just want to enjoy the process. 

Be free. 

Be spontaneous!

From one of my favorite layouts.

This was me 2 years ago in May...

Mother's Day 2010

I LOVE this picture of me...why? Because I had worked really hard and was on my way to losing 15 pounds. I see this photo and want to be there again so badly.

I have gained nearly all of it back. 

I have been in a funk.

From shutting our business down in December to family issues and financial struggles now, I have eaten myself back up to a size 14.

NONE of my clothes fit. And right at this moment there is absolutely NO WAY I can buy any new ones...

I started the New Year promising myself that THIS would be MY year! 

 My Word is Story and each one of my goals revolves around the Story I want to share once I reach each goal.

I had been doing so well with my clean eating plan in January but saw very little results. By February I was like..."Who cares, it doesn't matter anyway" and began eating my way through my days. That along with a family issue my body went crazy and all my stress put me in severe pain daily.

I have been in depression but just didn't want to face it.

Until now.

I decided...

ENOUGH!

Mt Brave Art~2011

With God all things are possible. 

And I KNOW I have faith. 

And when we have faith and go to the Lord

 He will always help us....

always.

So that's what I did. I prayed and prayed and asked for His help.

I cast my burdens on Him. 

And you know what?

I got answers.

I did.

And I went to the Doctor and was put on migraine prevention medicine.

I went back to my old chiropractor.

I began walking outside for an hour in the afternoons.

I stopped watching TV all the time.

I stopped beating myself up so much.

I stopped my negative attitude.

This is the Personal Manifesto canvas I made for myself in December. It is filled with Words and Phrases I want more of in 2012.

My favorite image is on the left...the girl holding the snow heart. Isn't she sweet?

Girls, 

I am taking my days back.

I am taking my time 

and spending it better.

I may not know exactly where I am going...

but that's ok.

“Life is a journey, not a destination.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

To celebrate my new found energy to get my life back I am offering YOU a FREE 6 week challenge called...

6 Weeks: Mind.Body.Soul.

This challenge will be filled with ideas to help YOU be your BEST self this year! It's not too late!! We will combine the healing power of ART with life skills to help YOU be the YOU you were meant to be!!

More details to come soon!!:)

Starts Monday, March 12th.

Question: What is your Word 2012? Are you living it? Please share!

Story in My Heart

I woke up this morning thinking about my WORD for 2012...STORY.

I kept thinking am I really sharing mine? Do my friends and family and readers really know me?
My story.

I promised myself and you that throughout 2012 I would share pieces of myself as I journey towards health, art and peace. This is the year I MEAN it. I am going to be true to you and true to me.

Here's what I wrote in the front of my Gratitude Journal December 19th.

'My year of Story. Stories full of grace, light and hope. Stories of my Life. Stories of how we made it through 2012, on our new path filled with gratitude in our hearts. This is my year of Story."

It's been nearly 2 weeks since the new year began. 2012 has been different. I have been kinder with myself and others. I have charity growing in my heart.

Today I am working on my Body Journal for the class I'm currently taking from Brave Girl Melody Ross. It's called Body Restoration and girls can I just say what a story this is gonna be. I have a wonderful feeling that issues I have had with my body since I was in 3rd grade may just start to melt away. Melody worked miracles with restoring my soul...I can't wait to see what miracles await me and my body image.

There is still time to take this course. It's $99 and let me tell you from experience...Brave Girl classes ROCK. Not only are they art but they are soooo healing. Melody puts her heart and soul into each lesson and piece of art. Love it!

Do you have any artsy plans for the weekend??

It's Show Time!!

This has been a long week and I am so ready for Friday and the weekend. Lots of good, good things that need to get done!

I have 2 art pieces with a deadline...I guess I better get busy:)

You know as I was thinking about what to write today it occured to me...I don't think I ever posted my show photos. And while this particular show wasn't so great sales wise...my Mom and I had a really good time and my courage muscles grew a little bit more.

The show was in a big pole barn...super cold and not very festive as you can see the drab wall behind my table.

Since it was Christmas I used a cheery red table cloth and sprinkled silver tinsel and bows all around.

I like it!

Looking at your work when it's all together like this is so cool. I am really proud of my work.

My Mom snapped this photo of me. I was so happy to be there...yet just a teensy bit worried I would not sell a thing.

By the end of the day I had made my booth fee back plus a bit more. Disappointing, yes but like I said earlier...a learning experience. The kind woman to my left was from Kansas City and had been doing shows for years. She said the crowd at this show just wasn't the right fit for several of us there.

I agree.

I had a chance to do a really nice show here at home in February...I called about a space, shared my work and all that. But when it came down to committing to it I decided not to. A bit crazy maybe but I promised myself I would focus on my health and the Body Restoration class I am taking over at Brave Girl's Club. There is no way I would be ready for a nice show by February along with working out, cooking clean meals and working on my class. There will be other shows and by then my art will be even more amazing!!!

Speaking of Body Restoration...there is still time to sign up. Click here to learn about this class!!

How have you flexed your Courage Muscles lately??