Choose Wisely Grasshopper

Song - Fix You by Coldplay covered by Jamie Lim

I have been pondering what my "One Little Word" for the upcoming year might be.  I have a list of about 20 words taken from a long list of suggestions and for now, I have the list where I can see these words often and try to get an idea of how they feel-resonate for me during the next few weeks.  Usually one pops out for me!

In the past my words have been:

Intention 

Balance 

Light 

Thrive 

Simplify 

and 

Grace.  

If we own the story then we can write the ending. 

--Brene Brown

2013 One Little Word

Song - While My Guitar Gently Weeps by George Harrison

Wishing you A Very Happy 2013!

I still have a house full of "Christmas" because I am painting like crazy to get some new pieces ready for a show going up next week at the Lafayette Gallery "Tokens of Affection"!

It feels so wonderful to be painting again!!  Yippee!

Here is one of Sergio Romo on the final game of the Division Championship.  I still need to work on the rain, the shadow color under his arm and the background crowd a little but I just love the energy in this painting!

The GIANTS have clinched the NL Championship

I will show it to you when it's finished!



If you have never heard of "One Little Word", check it out on Ali Edwards site or on Big Picture Classes.

 

In 2010 I chose the word "intention" for me to use for the upcoming New Year. It turned out to be a great word as I would pause and set an intention (or game plan) before moving forward.  

Last year it was "balance" which ended up being too general of a word for me. 

During the last month,  I have been "feeling out words" for 2013.

I have narrowed it down to several which each has a pull for me.

Grace

Inspire

Lighten

Mindful

Purposeful

Serenity

 

 

 

But one word that is sticking with me is "Simplify".  As my life gets more and more complicated, simplifying feels like breathing room. 

A concious effort must be made to simplify anything - paperwork, household possesions, shopping, eating....every thing that piles up!

According to the dictionary -

: to make simple or simpler: as

a: to reduce to basic essentials
b: to diminish in scope or complexity : streamline <was urged to simplify management procedures>
c: to make more intelligible : clarify
 

 

‘In proportion as he simplifies his life, the laws of the universe will appear less complex, and solitude will not be solitude, nor poverty poverty, nor weakness weakness.’ ~Henry David Thoreau

One Little Word for 2012

In January of 2011 I chose a word to integrate into my life and that word was "intention". 

I loved having a single word that I could chew on and spit out, keep it in my pocket and ponder over. 

It is very different than making a New Year's resolution.  You don't HAVE to do anything.  But you end up wanting to make subtle changes.  That's why OLW works for me! 

Over the last few months I have been "trying on" several different words for the upcoming year. 

A few weeks ago the word "simplify" felt like it was my word. 

Mr. B and I tend to hold onto everything we ever owned and I don't even think we have been able to walk through the garage in over a year. 

Well, several of our boys have moved back in and out and back in again.  They also use the garage for storage of things they don't need right now. (Boy's if you are reading this, you better come over soon and clear out your things before I get out the Bobcat!)

OK - That's another whole story.  Moving on.........



I loved everything about the aspect of "simplify". 

But then three day's ago another word popped into my soul and I knew it would be my new word for 2012.

B A L A N C E.......

It's where I am at in so many aspects of my life. 

Physical............

Mental................

Emotional................

Spiritual..............

Financial.....................

Social............

Ellen in Monterey

I have always tended to be a black & white sort of person. 

You know, hard to see the gray areas - of which there are so many!  

It's either life or death ........hey - there's a lot of gray in between there!

Yes or no.....how about "I'll think about it"? 

Clean or dirty, open or closed, happy or sad.
Friend or enemy.
On or off, up or down.
Well, you get the picture. 

Life has so many beautiful, gorgeous gray's.....

Try to look for the lovely gray's in your life.  Just for today!

"Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony. " --Thomas Merton

Goodness - Stop And Smell the Roses

Some day's I just need life to slow down and that takes an effort on my part.  I get so caught up in the day to day busy-ness of things that I forget to stop, take a deep breath and move forward with intention. If you do it right this minute, trust me you will feel better!  Did you do it?  Well, try it..... breathe deep....three times....now focus (with intention) on what your day may (or may not) involve.  See, I told you that the pieces would fall together and you will have a much different outlook on your day!

The weather is finally turning it's head from gray days to sunny and warm. That helps my lovely garden to grow and it also gets me outside working in the yard.  My home is also beginning to feel more organized, although that is a never ending project!  Over the weekend, all of my boys came home and helped clean out a space under the stairway and built me a storage system for my paintings - Happy Birthday MOM! Thanks guys!!!  So today I will begin to go through my stash of paintings and decide what to keep, what need to go into upcoming shows and what gets tossed. 

Life is good.  Be happy - J

Double Delight - Grandpa Art's favorite

My friend-neighbor-computer-guru's red Harley.

 "An intention is a quality of consciousness that you bring to an action." -Gary Zukav

Intention in March

I am loving my OLW (www.bigpictureclasses.com) for this year. The word I have chosen is INTENTION.  Mmmm....or did it choose me?   For the first month or so, I wasn't sure it suited me but the more I explored the depths of this intriguing word, the more I have felt it resonates with me.  I have found myself to be more mindful during my days in both action and thought. Once that happens, people interact differently with you.  I feel more connected with myself, others and spirit.

“Then I remember, surprised

I could have ever forgotten,

that I am a part of everything

and everything is a part of me.

Our identities are inseparable.”

--Baxter Trautman “Spirit of the Valley” 

I N T E N T I O N

I have been away for awhile from my blogging as I have been taking painting workshops & traveling,



Tomales



 ...throwing special birthday parties for those I love.....



Calvin's place

and taking so many online classes that I can barely keep up with them (but wow they are so much fun!). Mostly it is because the "camera GOT me"!!  I received a new DSLR for Christmas from Mr. B and I have been exploring all of the joys of photography. 

 

Me and my new obsession



I am taking 3 online photo classes http://www.bigpictureclasses.com/ and one in a local camera shop.  I am also enrolled in Ali Edwards class "One Little Word" where you choose a word that you would like to explore for an entire year.  It is very inspiring to be around all of these incredibly creative people! And I almost forgot, I am taking a "texture" class from Kim Klassen which is teaching me all about Photoshop and texturing my photos. http://www.kimklassencafe.com/ 

My word for the year is "INTENTION" and for me it is about putting more thought and effort into each and every day, as well as setting goals and coming up with a gentle way of attaining them.



"And the day came when the risk it took to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."  --Anais Nin