Thank you to all the amazing Art Journalers that are celebreating Art Journal LOVE with me this week! It has been a huge pleasure to see all the goodness you have been creating!
And if you are here at Dirty Footprints Studio looking for the party...just go HERE.
But I'm going to be honest....
The last few days have been kind of challenging.
And this week so far has felt like the world caving in on me.
Thinking this would help...
I pumped up my yoga practice--
sat longer in meditation--
and even indulged in extra pieces of chocolate here and there.
But I still find my mind racing to figure things out...
my body straining to deal with the stress...
and my heart sinking into a darker shade of grey.
So yesterday, I just decided enough.
I cried enough.
I talked about it enough.
I journaled, painted, and reflected upon all this stuff
enough.
And instead of doing more things that kept me centered in my issues
I instead decided to pick up my camera
and grab Nyla and off we went for a walk.
My plan: to take a photo safari--
something I've seen many other Artists online do--
but I never "officially" have given it a whirl.
So that's what I did.
Nothing fancy.
No real theme or big purpose behind my photos...
just training the mind to focus on the
here and now.
The present.
The beauty that surrounds me.
Even the peace and serenity that is always there.
Always a breath away.
And for an hour or so--
I merged with happiness once again.
I found stillness in my mind once more...
and all the yucky stuff that has been plaguing my spirit...
it melted away like butter.
And I realized it's not the photography--
it's not even the dip into my blissful creativity--
it's simply telling the mind what to do.
Insisting on another path for it to take--
So you can get back in touch with the truth of who you are--
the truth of what this life is about--
the fact that no matter how difficult things are--
stillness, peace and happiness exists
at that moment as well.
It's just the matter of giving yourself permission-
to change directions--and leave the drama of the mind behind.
16 comments:
Beautiful post Connie. Love the photo safari and getting to see what you see when you go outside. Walking in the forest is my reset button - and last week I needed a great BIG 2 hour reset. Calms the mind, soothes the soul, feeds the spirit, satisfies the body.
Love and hugs to you
Barbara
ah yes...feeling this.
i think it's important to allow ourselves these deepenings...but even more important to separate what's ours and what belongs to the world-junk...
...and then to choose joy.
walking the dog is my favourite form of recharging...
xo
Yeah....
Thanks for sharing your walk, Connie
Just back from a misty walk in the woods myself.
One foot in front of the other....
xxx
I feel it. Yesterday, life was too much and I just wanted to go to bed. I was tired of the brain living and reliving.
But I went to the paint instead.
And it was glorious.
And the rest of the day ... better.
this is something that i also do and you expressed it beautifully.
a simple easing and release while also an embrace. much love,martha
Connie,
this was a great thing to do! It's great that you find the right things for you to do to break the spiral of annoying blah blahs in your mind! We all should do that a lot more! And if the end result is not only that you feel better but also a bunch of beautiful photos, even better!
Hugs, Yvonne
It is another aspect of our practice ... that we can choose how to respond and that we can hold all this heaviness within us AND be light and spacious at the same time. Life is not either/or ... we just try to squeeze it into tidy categories.
I am extending a personal invitation to join Cowgirl and myself and declare yourself to be a Joy Warrior. Come on over ... and don't forget your favorite bubble wand ...
xo Lis
Beautiful!!!♡♡♡♡♡♡
Inspirational.
I always say, ya gotta feel your feelings and then move on. Sounds like you did just that.
There is a lot of truth in this post. You really do have sit down with your own mind and tell it, enough is enough, we're going positive.
I've found myself doing that quite a few times in my life and I know I will have to in the future too. Sometimes you have to force your thinking to go another way and get back to all the beauty in life
Oh, Miss Connie! We're on the same wavelength again. I just wrote a whole piece on this topic for Roots of She and offered up a "photographic meditation." >> http://www.rootsofshe.com/2011/02/darrah-photographic-meditation.html
Photography is my way of meditating. It's the way I remember what's most important and just how amazing my life is - even on the hardest days.
Thank you for sharing your world with us. Thinking of you. xoxo
I came to this post just as I needed it. Thank you for such a gentle and beautiful reminder. Sometimes the really big stuff binds us up but focusing on the here and now keeps things in perspective.
Oh, sweetie, I'm glad you were able to do something to relax. I know things have been extra-drama-filled for you lately, and you're right -- we need to leave it behind, move on, ya know?
Always here to chat, hun! Just a phone call away. *hugs!*
Connie, Your post really resonated with me today. Good for you. Leave the drama behind and don't look back. Sometimes I think I bring the drama on myself because I over think it and dwell on it. Best wishes on your journey...keep creating - I love it and it must be good for your soul. =)
Sherry
i think this has been a hard week for a lot of us. i'm glad you found a way to find some peace. take good care of yourself - you have a lot on your plate right now.
You remembered. How important it is to Be Here Now. Your lovely photos show such serenity. (((((HUGS))))) to you, my dear. You are FEARLESS and BIG!!
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