Week 25:Sit Back, Relax and Enjoy

The year has turned its circle,

The seasons come and go.

The harvest all is gathered in

And chilly north winds blow. 

Orchards have shared their treasures,

The fields, their yellow grain,

So open wide the doorway ---

Thanksgiving comes again! 

Old Rhyme

Oh how I LOVE the week of Thanksgiving! All my kids are home for the week, safe and snug with me. We bake and cook and play games and go to movies. We spend time with family, laughing and remembering Thanksgiving past. All just seems right with the world:)

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This year we are taking Wednesday to bake all the pies. I know we'll listen to Christmas music, watch a few movies and be all cozy in our home. Nothing makes me happier. It truly is the little things I love best.

Thursday my Mom and her friend Roger will be over for dinner and games. That night we will go see a movie. Friday my kids are going shopping in Kansas City...I think I'll stay home and create!!:) 

Saturday we are up BRIGHT and EARLY as we are headed to the Rams Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri!! Our High School Football Team made it to STATE for the second year in a row!! We will be cheering our Spoofhounds on Saturday afternoon!!

Girls...take some time to just enjoy your life this week. Your family, your hobbies, a few movies. 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

Week 24: Your Personal Abundance

"The creative process gives back tenfold. It is by definition abundant and unending."  -Cathleen Rountree, Artist and Writer


There are some days I wake up with a chip on my shoulder. I whine and complain at just about anything. It seems the more I complain the worse I feel. Sometimes I get myself in such a tither I become paralyzed with fear and sadness. I can take one think {like our lack of money} and turn it into we are losing everything and my life stinks and what did I do to deserve this? When my attitude gets this bad it not only makes me sad but I feel physically sick and drained of all my energy. Who can create with that bad attitude?

In her book "12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women", Gail McMeekin says this...

"When we are in touch with our true Abundance, it permeates the fabric of our lives. It includes passion, both romantic and creative; positive relationships, life experiences you crave and enjoy; personal and professional challenges and growth; and individual moments to savor."  



Did you read that??

Personal and professional challenges and growth.

Hmmmmm....I am guessing that without my struggles and set backs there wouldn't be any growth. Soooo...all of this is good for me??

"Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they're supposed to help you discover who you are."  -Bernice Johnson Reagon, Musician

Honestly I couldn't agree more with Gail and Bernice. I KNOW from experience that when we are at our darkness moment...if we just keep the faith and tell ourselves we CAN get through this we will. I can't tell you how many times a week I wake up whiney then say to myself..."Les, you have sooo much to be grateful for. You have SO MUCH." Then I repeat this phrase to myself..."I live a life of Abundance. I live a life of Abundance." I say it over and over again sometimes. How ever long it takes me to calm down and begin to see what I DO have.

McMeekin goes on to write...

"Creative freedom is the backbone of prosperity. Knowing yourself, believing in your inspirations, and making the touch choices to follow your inner knowing necessitates fortitude. Engaging with your creative self is a joy unto itself. Painting a vision on a canvas has it's own special reward. The question of whether or not it sells is a different issue. The glory of bringing that painting into existence in the first place is what truly matters. Creativity has its own payoff...."

For me that payoff she talks about is MY OWN PERSONAL Abundance. I am filling myself up, making my fears and concerns about my life a thing of the past. I am living in the moment with gratitude for my creative inspirations.

A heart leaf I found on the farm

This week let's think about our OWN Personal Abundance. I want you to write a paragraph about what Abundance looks like in your life. Who/What are your most precious possessions, relationships and experiences? Are you living a life according to what's most valuable to YOU? What needs to change in your life? How are you using your gift of time? What underlying values are reflected in your experiences of living? What sparks your creative power?  {taken from McMeekin's book}


I know there is a bunch to be learned this week!! Get out your journals and create your paragraph. Girls, I think from now on I will post our weekly challenges on Tuesdays. Mondays just creep up on me too fast!!! Also if you are behind...NO WORRIES! Do this at your own pace. Here is the link:) 

Week 23: Our Holiday Absolute YES List

Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time. 
-- Laura Ingalls Wilder


No, this isn't a Christmas post...it is a bit too early for that:) However, it's NOT to early to begin feeling overwhelmed and stressed by our Holiday To-Do Lists. There's Thanksgiving dinner and traveling, Black Friday shopping {if you go}, Christmas dinners and parties and more shopping and decorating and being of good cheer. Whew...how in the world are we supposed to do all that and still have good cheer?? 

This week we are talking about our Holiday Absolute Yes List. Remember Week Three's Absolute Yes List?? Here is a reminder from that week from Life Coach Cheryl Richardson...

"The truth is that WE control where our Time goes. Time is finite. We only get a certain amount 168 hours a week, 52 weeks a year; and that's if we don't die first. Time is a gift that most of us take for granted. We get so caught up in the busyness of our daily lives that we rarely stop and take  serious look at how we're spending this gift."

I think during the holidays this couldn't be more true and so a Holiday version of our Yes List is a MUST!

So this week...take time and list all of those parties and plans you have for the next 6 weeks or so. Then take that list and break it down and think to yourself what TRULY matters to you. What is TRULY speaking to your heart?

Here is my Holiday Absolute YES List for 2013.

1. I WILL stay on my Curves Complete Plan and  say YES to living a healthy life.

2. I WILL take time to honor the traditions in our family...cookie making with Grams and the kids, watching Christmas movies on the couch, Thanksgiving at our home and Dave and I's shopping trip to Kansas City.

3. I WILL mail out Christmas cards this year along with a family photo.

4. I WILL have a Christmas party for my Institute class before finals week.

5. I WILL try my best to keep our home clean and comfortable so we can enjoy being home.

That's it. That's my List. I know that those five things will happen this season. There are a few other things on my mind...but honestly...if they don't happen..it's ok. I have learned through the years that simple is best. I love Christmas!! I love Thanksgiving! I refuse to get all stressed out!

So girls...take time this week and decide what is on YOUR List. Create a page, journal your feelings...is it hard for you to say NO to things during the holidays?

 I would LOVE to hear what important things go on YOUR list!! Please share below or on our FB page...Mind.Body.Soul.

Week 22: Rejection

The effects of rejection can either kill your muse or change your life. (Jane Champagne)



Week 22 and I am evolving and growing and LEARNING!! I hope as you take this journey with me you will be kind to yourself and KNOW that there is no timeline...no right or wrong. We are all trying to be and do better!! Be NICE to YOU!!!

This week we are talking about the awful, scary word...REJECTION. Ugh. Just hearing this word makes me cringe a little. For me...fear of rejection is probably the one thing that keeps me from doing more with my dreams of publication, teaching and selling my work. I take rejection sooooo personally. As in...if someone doesn't like my work it equals them not liking me. I know..I know...silly...but true. And I wonder how many of us feel the exact same way??

We keep going back, stronger, not weaker, because we will not allow rejection to beat us down. It will only strengthen our resolve. To be successful there is no other way. (Earl G. Graves)

Whenever I am at an art festival with my work...every time someone stops and looks at my work...it takes my breath away. I almost don't want to be there. My heart races and I say to myself...What in the heck am I doing here??

This week I want you to make a list of all the rejections you have felt in your life. Notice I said felt not had. How many times have we just felt that way when in reality that is not what was intended at all??

Anyway...back to your list...Who rejected you? Were you attacked with harsh words? Was the rejection mean or was it constructive...where you could learn from it? Have you healed from these rejections or are they still open wounds? Do these past rejections affect your life today and all that you hope to achieve?

When it comes to your creative work...what are you MOST insecure about? As a person what are you most insecure about? Do they overlap? What might you do to overcome these insecurities??

"You've got to take the initiave and play your game...Confidence makes the difference."  -Chris Everett, Tennis Star

A month or so ago my face book friend Sheri put a call out for artists to teach at her Beach Retreat in South Carolina. I LOVE to teach...it's my passion and really, really wanted to go. However...I was scared to death and decided not to contact her. A week or so went by and it kept nagging at me...let her know you are interested. Finally I sent her a message and class ideas and she accepted!! Sooooo....guess what girls?? I am TEACHING at my first art retreat in South Carolina this October 2014!! I am BEYOND excited and can't believe this is happening!! I took a risk of being rejected and am so grateful that I just did it!! Despite the risk...YAY me!

Rejection is part of the job description for anyone in the arts... one must have a sense of purpose... of where you want to go with your art, and no one decides that but you. Seek relevance instead of approval. (Jackie Knott)


Let me know how YOU handle rejection!! Leave me a comment and let me know. Be sure and stop by our FB page Mind.Body.Soul too. Oh and if you haven't started on your Being Me journey yet or just need all 22 weeks in one place you can find that here. And the Art Retreat I am teaching at Art Beach Retreat is here.

Have a great week!!!