Beauty Matters

Lately I have been thinking about the importance of connecting with true beauty. How noticing the beauty all around us connects us to our hearts and reminds us of all the good in this world.

When I talk about beauty, I'm not talking about the manufactured "beauty" that we see in glossy magazines which involve a whole lot of make-up, lighting and Photoshop editing. I'm talking about noticing those things that we walk by every day. The dew drops in the morning, hanging off a spider web like pearls on a string. The first snowdrop unfolding, signalling the coming of spring. A smile on a baby's face as he looks with love at his mother. These little moments that we can miss when we forget to pay mindful attention. 

I miss these moments all the time. I'm walking along with my kids and they are doing something totally adorable, and I am just in my own head, focused on where we are going or making lists in my head. And then I notice a stranger smiling at my kids, because she sees them, really sees them. And I am reminded to tune in again. To be in the present with them, and to give them that attention that says "I see you", the kind of attention we all need.

Or maybe I walk right by the daffodils and crocuses that are popping out of the ground here right now. And I miss out on that connection, the amazing energy that connects us all to the earth. This moment of remembering my true nature of oneness with all things.

When we stop and open ourselves to beauty, we are reminded of the beauty inside of us. Much like the yoga phrase Namaste, which means the goodness in me bows to the goodness in you. We can offer that presence to a flower or another person. Either way it is a gift that gives back in return.

I don't know how you all are feeling, but I have been really overwhelmed lately by the negativity. Feeling so sensitive to the cruelty of the world, from the trend of cut-down commentary online to the horrible news of people hurting each other everywhere. It is so easy to become jaded and stop believing in goodness. But I don't want to live like that. So I make a promise (again) to stop and notice. Notice the smell of spring in the air, notice my baby's laughter, notice the kindness of neighbors. And remember that goodness is everywhere. We just need to see it.

Love, kindness and gratitude,

RAK Week Day 3: Selfish Kindness, or the Double Complete Rainbow

I wanted to have a word today about selfish kindness. Now at first that may sound like an oxymoron, but I am a firm believer in selfish kindness. Let me explain. 

For three years I ran a non-profit organization called Women Rock. Every year we held a benefit concert to raise money for a scholarship, which would go to a young woman who wanted to pursue a career in music. It was something I was really passionate about, and I thought that maybe I could eventually spin the non-profit into my day job and still make my music on the side. But what ended up happening was that the administrative efforts of running a non-profit, coordinating a major fundraiser event, and juggling all the bands meant that I was spending a whole lot of time doing work that I didn't particularly like. I'm a creative person, and I am at my best, and my happiest, when I am being creative. So after three years of running Women Rock (and managing my own band) I was drained. I had nothing left. Instead of spending most of my time making the music I loved, I spent most of my time being an office manager, web designer, graphic designer, email list manager, etc.

I made the decision to stop running the non-profit, and eventually dissolved the band. Because although I was very passionate about both of them, the thing I was really passionate about (making music) had become subsumed by a host of clerical tasks that took me away from my true purpose and joy.

When my son Gabriel was born, almost 6 years ago now, it was like a wake up call. Being with him I learned what it meant to just BE in JOY. Babies are the best lesson in mindful living you can ever have. And it set the bar for me. I learned that there was a difference between suffering and effort. Because although being a mother often is draining and overwhelming, it never makes me feel the way running that non-profit did. Because I love what I do (OK I could do without laundry and dishes, let's be honest). I love MOST of what I do, MOST of the time.

Now when I am planning a kindness mission, I look at whether I will enjoy the PROCESS, not just the PRODUCT. Today's kind act is a perfect example. Last week I found out that my son's school had a sad state of affairs in the art supply department. And as an artist, I just can't sit by and let that happen. So I made a little trip to the art supply store, otherwise know as my happy place. Getting to pick out paints and brushes for me is like a kid getting to go for a spree in a candy store. I was so high! And then the fun of taking that box of supplies and filling up a shelf with brand new paints... serious joy and satisfaction!

So when I say I believe in selfish kindness, I mean that I find ways to be kind that bring me joy. So if you are thinking of planning your own kindness mission, think first about what makes you really, really happy. Then find a way to do that and make someone else happy at the same time. Then you have a double complete rainbow baby!

Have a beautiful day!

Home Sweet Home

Welcome to my house! Grab a cup of tea and settle in while I show you a few of my favourite things...

(My Disclaimer: What you are not seeing is all the Superhero toys, puzzles and Lego strewn around. I'll leave that to your imagination).

 

This painting sat half finished for years, until my husband and I read "Smart Couples Finish Rich." The start of the book has an exercise where you each list your top 5 priorities, and this is our combined list. I love having on display to remind me what is important.

This is a framed scrapbook page. I switch out which image is in there according to seasons or my mood.

I found this pillow at Pier 1 and it so perfectly combined the colours in our living room. Love it!

Six years ago when we moved into this house, I commissioned this piece from my husband. It took him about a year to finish if I remember correctly, and I love looking at it every day.

One Christmas I found this fantastic card holder, and put it up on the wall, and it hasn't come down since. I put hearts on the tree for Valentine's, little flowers for Easter, and of course Christmas cards when the season comes.

I found this beautiful quote about Gratitude, and made up this little sign to hang over our dinner table. It reads: "We receive this food in gratitude to all beings who helped bring it to our table, and vow to respond in turn to those in need with wisdom and compassion."

Hope you have enjoyed the tour! Wishing you a beautiful long weekend, filled with family, food and fun.

Make a House a Home

 

Continuing the theme of home for this week, and wondering what it is that makes a house a home to you? For me, it is that my house is a reflection of who I am. From the colours to the artwork and furnishing, every piece of my home tells the story of my life.

I loved this post by Stephey Baker at Marked by the Muse this week. Here's a quote that really stood out to me:

Part of being human is to create. We are all Artists in this sense.

We are all creating our masterpiece called LIFE.

I have spoken to so many people who say to me "Oh, I'm not creative" or "I'm not artistic." But isn't it true that we are all creating our lives? Whether we cook, garden, or paint to express ourselves, it is all part of the same creative energy.

So while we may not all be able to draw or paint the way we would like, we can all look at something in our home and ask ourselves, how can I make this reflect my beliefs, my values, my personality? And I think we all do this, which is why I always love seeing someone's home for the first time.

On this theme, tomorrow I'll share some of my favourite places in my home.

Until then, hope you are having a beautiful day:)

Be Yourself

Just a thought for today.

For me, being myself means:

*listening to that little voice

*noticing when I am not being genuine

*choosing to spend more time around people

who make me feel good about myself.

Living my own life means checking in

before I make a commitment to do something

and asking, 

will this bring more joy into my life?

Am I doing this because I want to 

or because I think I should?

What does it mean to you,

to be yourself?

Dreaming Big (and small)

I have a dream.

A dream that one day,

I will be a great painter.

A mixed media artist,

like Kelly Rae Roberts 

or Misty Mawn.

Right now I am taking baby steps.

But I am taking them every day.

Even if I only get ten minutes of 

sketching in, at least I can say

I am working towards my goal.

And that feels really good.

Today, other dreamers

are posting at the Kim Klassen Cafe

for Texture Tuesday.

I can't wait to see 

what other beautiful dreams

are out there!

What are your dreams right now?

It doesn't have to be anything big.

I remember when my son was first born,

my big dreams consisted of

 a full night's sleep.

Whatever your dreams,

I hope you will join me

in declaring your dream out loud

 to the world.

There is power and beauty

in claiming our dreams.

Details

"The most precious gift 

we can offer anyone is our attention. 

When mindfulness 

embraces those we love, 

they will bloom like flowers." 

-Thich Nhat Hanh

Today look at the details.

Notice something you love

about someone you love.

The colour of her eyes,

the dimple in his cheek,

the softness of her skin.

It is in these moments

of mindful attention

that we truly love

another person.

finding your bliss

It's Texture Tuesday (just barely)

and here's what I am thinking about today.

I'm thinking about bliss.

Today I'm working on Crafting My Life

with Amber Strocel, and we are working

out how to map your life so that

you spend more time focusing on

your bliss.

And my thoughts are this:

that it is so easy to slide back

into living a life that doesn't

truly reflect your values.

That to live artfully requires

constantly checking in.

Constantly asking yourself,

am I following my bliss?

Or am I just doing what

I think is expected of me?

 I am trying to live

more artfully

more honestly

more authentically

more mindfully.

And it is a daily practice.

Sometimes I fail miserably.

Sometimes I stumble through

the day and when I sit down

to write my gratitude journal

I realize that I wasn't

truly present

at all that day.

Sometimes weeks go by

and I realize I haven't even

written in my gratitude journal.

Sometimes, even though I am

trying to eat healthier,

I take a chocolate eclair

out of the freezer and

gleefully scarf it down ;)

But every new day

I have the chance to remind myself

that I want to

live artfully.

That I want my daily life to

reflect my core values:

Family

Friends

Creativity

Spirituality

Self Care

And tomorrow is another new day.

P.S. For those interested in the technical aspect,

I used two layers of Kim's Sweet Tart texture

at 100% soft light to process this image :)

the laundry vs art

For this week's Texture Tuesday with Kim Klassen,

featuring Kim's Bent Edges texture.

Enjoy Life! (artful living, lesson two)

Welcome to another mixed media Monday!

Another spread in my happiness journal.

Consider it your invitation to fill

the blank pages of this day with joy.

Take a big, juicy bite of something sweet.

Whatever the day throws at you,

hold on to that sweetness.

Photo Friday: artful living, lesson one