art & play

claim your 15 minutes, now

As we take on the important have-tos of the day like project deadlines, clients, meetings, taxes, kids and the rest; don’t forget to sprinkle in bits of fun and laughter. When we choose to add joy even the most tedious project can become playful, and play is vital. It is essential to our lives because play helps us to release stress which is a very destructive force in our bodies causing a cascade of hormonal shifts, inflammation, muscular tension and longer recovery periods.

Today, give yourself permission to have 15 minutes to claim as your own creative playground. Share some laughter with a friend, make a little artsy project for yourself or a loved one or just take a walk and dream. It is up to us to nourish our creative center, to keep our imagination flowing.

In 15 minutes, anything is possible. 

practice play

We have to find moments to share laughter and joy because it is in these little spaces that our hearts begin to open. Without these little moments, connections between the deepest parts of ourselves weaken and unravel. These are not petty frivolous moments—they are the foundation of our connection to our hearts and each other.

Even in a packed, full day, when I give myself permission to enjoy a smile or laugh, I notice how those moments actually strengthen my determination and my ability to deal with stress. I have to practice giving myself moments to enjoy being imaginative or maybe even unproductive. Play can inspire solutions, allowing us to see possibilities and experiment with what is in front of us. It cultivates curiosity and wonder.

There will always be a to-do list so it is my responsibility to find ways to get things done and feed my soul at the same time. It is not impossible, but it does take practice. Practicing play might sound funny, but I find that I can easily get into the mindset of needing to be serious to get things done. However, play helps keep me giggling and when I am giggling, all my work flows better.

Our lives are full of lists to do, things to accomplish, errands to run. Just play anyway. Infuse all of your doings with a sense of play and laughter, your spirit will lighten and you may even find your playfulness inspires those around you.

 

write it down!

The new year gives me a chance to reset, to refocus and experiment.

I took some time to write down a few big intentions for the year on a bright golden yellow piece of paper. Both the list and the color energize me every time I peek at it. I am excited to reread the list over the year to see how these items have progressed, grown and changed. Once I write things down, there’s power behind them. (Voicing an idea is the first step, writing it down takes it a step further. Match those written words with the muscle of your heart’s intention and you have a powerful combo that will magnetize opportunities and help in the unfolding of your intention. It is amazing!)

For me, it’s not so much about making resolutions. I know that in order for some of my big dreams to come true a few routines will have to change, so I will let that happen naturally and concentrate on the dream, not the little details that may stand in my way.

Making a list requires a certain amount of responsibility. This isn’t just about writing a list that gets lost in a week; it’s a list to mold my future months, to set the course of my work and life. This is a list that needs to connect with my heart and stir a sense of wonder in my spirit. The responsibility lies in listening to my heart and being brave enough to write down intentions that will stretch me and allow me to grow and shift over the year.

I must decide whether the intention or goal is even what I truly want. There are things out there that many people say "should" be done, but do they really need to be done by me or are those items just adding extra weight and dragging me down? This is a chance to break free, to expand and dream big—whoo hooo, let’s go!

all at once

With extra time to get all the work related things done, I want to get it all done  n o w .

I have been racing around some days so much that even though my body has arrives to pick up our son from school, my mind continues to race on — checking off to-do items and getting things organized. I can be a crazy multi-tasker.

I was just dashing out the door to go meet our little guy and it finally hit me that I have been acting as if I could get everything done at once and actually judging myself accordingly. Maybe there is a part of me that thinks the list won’t fill back up when I get these little items checked off. But it doesn’t work that way and I could finally see this belief I held staring me in the face.

Things take time to simmer and develop; learning unfolds at a perfect pace. So I wonder, why do I go on acting as if things can be done in an instant and holding myself to that impossible level of perfection?
I hadn’t taken time to acknowledge the changes that I have made lately, the growth that I have been experiencing, and most importantly, the amazing family that has been supporting me through this journey.

Of course I want and need to get everything done on my list, but maybe I can slow down just a bit to enjoy the projects, savor the process and relish the prefection that is right now. I am trying to make smaller lists for each day and designate priorities. Lessons always have a way of weaving back into focus just when I need to strengthen certain skills. As always, I say heartily, a million and one thank yous!

 

 

pause please

 
I go zoom, zooming by to get all the things on the list complete, sometimes racing all day to finish just a few items. After a few days like these stack up and I find ways to rebel and drag my feet. I know that my heart knows best asking for a moment of play but sometimes I feel like it has to all get done now, right now. That is when it becomes most important for me to listen and put the list on pause, if only for a few moments.

When I think about it, there is always a space to infuse a bit of play or rest in between the lines, especially when it means that without it I will be denying my creative spirit. It’s not just about taking a lazy, I don’t want to do anything attitude, it’s about taking time to refill myself, to soak up some of the beauty that surrounds me so that same beauty can be infused with all the projects I have in front of me. The list is always going to be there and I am always going to be adding new things, so why not add inspiration as well?

Sometimes I sneak a few deep breaths in before pouring a cup of chai, grounding my feet and stretching arms and torso upwards. Or leave a few minutes early to pick up our son so I can walk around the block an extra time before heading in. It’s amazing how 5 minutes can restore my balance and perspective.

simple.

 

Life. There is so much to notice, and many things to do, often it's hard to keep my priorities in line.

And then, as I peek at my list  of things to do, I have to question, what is important. Am I taking breaks to enjoy life, family, friends, the birds chirping. What are the risks I am seeking, where are the challenges I am willing to conqueor?

Every moment is a blessing, a chance to breathe the infinite. Am I noticing, being, living authentically?

Please, stand up and live your heart. That is what we are meant to be.

climbing along

Reviewing for my last pathology exam this morning with Korbin by my side, I have been reminded how incredible this journey of school has been. Some days more intense than I would have liked and all the days, fabulous. Maybe not a get up and dance type of fabulous, but a deep, still fabulous from knowing that all these days I have been so totally supported by my family (friends, community—all family). None of this would have happened if I had not learned to lean on each of them and let go. Thank you all.

Now, off to more reviewing and a bit of quiet time before the exam.

guided by a whisper

the other day we were having dinner with another family, relaxing out in the cool summer air. The question came up about the next day's plans and I mentioned that I wanted to go get cherries from the farmer's market. As I spoke these words a little whisper came from my heart that I would see my good friend there (a friend that I haven't seen for over a year). This idea made me excited, I wanted to go even more.

The next morning rolled around and K came into our bed oh, so, early (okay, it was only 7:30 but still...). I didn't feel like heading out to the market any more. We rested for a few more minutes and then it hit me again—I was going to see my friend — I needed to get a move on in a gentle way. 

Korbs and I rounded up our things and made our way out. The morning was still peaceful and heading downtown at this hour is one of my favorite journeys. We grabbed some coffee first and then off to his oatmeal, stopping to talk to the salmon fishermen, to peek at all the flowers, and to taste blueberries. 

We found a little patch of grass to stop and snack. I still knew I wanted to see my friend, but there was so much more to enjoy as well. I let the whole idea of running into her escape me. I didn't want to spend the whole morning looking for her and forget to look at all that was right there in front of me.

Music was playing, kids were running around, so many people had come out to enjoy the sun and fresh food. K and I plotted our strategy to find our last few purchases and then make our way back home to papa. As I looked up to see which stalls were around us, I glimpsed my friend. Ha! Perfect! 

frosty white mornings

There was frost all over the ground today, in fact, all over everything. It was so beautifully quiet this morning and frosty white it made me wish for snow days. I also got really excited about spring, wondering when the last day of a hard frost would be and when I could get those beans in the ground. I want to taste fresh peas again!

This was the first year I have taken the time to write on my calendar anything about the frost or cold. I have usually left these things up to my friends to keep track of. I have to admit these past few years of gardening have been a bit of experimentation, wonderful experimentation, with lots of tasty treats. And isn’t that what it is all about — start slow, learn a bit as I go, and keep going.

However, there are quite a few days before those bean sprouts can take root in our garden, so I will let those thoughts go and concentrate on moments like these hanging right outside my window… 

walks around the block

walking around the neighborhood these past years has given me a chance to become acquainted with the flowers and trees around me. In the past I have never lived in a place long enough to watch so many seasons pass. And as I have become more familiar with the plant's changing cycles, I have learned to mark time by the blooms or lack there of. Just as I am saying good-bye to one, another amazing transformation is happening right in the next garden.

Today a giant rain shower opened up and pored fourth from the sky. I haven't seen the rain come down so hard in a long time, well, at least since March or so... And so it goes, a subtle, wet reminder that the rain is coming and the blooms of summer are about to come to a close. Autumn is right around the corner, time to get cozy with lots of knitting. 

These are one of my favorite blooms, a late summer arrival. Just as about everything is withered from a long dry bout of heat these beautiful lovelies raise their long necks and dance in the sun, with a fragrance that can knock you off your feet!