Some days, it is so damn hard to focus on the joy.
Monkey brain greeted me this morning.
Hate that. Hate that. Hate that.
When I spoke to my mom, she reminded me that random acts of kindness are a great way to chase the negative thoughts away.
I also remembered that returning to that attitude of gratitude helps a great deal too.
It seems that staying in a joyful place is going to be work today.
But I am so grateful for the tools.
Kitty cat snuggles.
Finding beauty all around you like :
Johnny Jump Ups !
(What a great name for a flower so cute !)
and African Daisies.
All on my very own front porch !
Or finding beauty in my own studio
and my own creations…
A doodle
that slowly got filled in
with color
and the sweet spots
that emerged
when I took time be let my mind quiet and my Artist Self take over for a while.
(Art journal page, Pitt artist pen doodle drawing, filled in with some shading from a Pro Art Water Soluble Sketching pencil and a blending brush, Twinkling H2O watercolors, a white gel pen and Lettraset Pro Markers.)
An inspirational quote that resonates deeply with me
that landed in my inbox
from Christine Mason Miller’s newsletter
When it's over, I want to say: all my life
I was a bride married to amazement.
I was a bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.
When it's over, I don't want to wonder
if I have made of my life
something particular, and real.
I don't want to find myself sighing and frightened
or full of argument.
I don't want to end up simply having visited this world.
~ Mary Oliver ~
Excerpt from When Death Comes
Put onto a colorful page with a dip pen and some magenta ink
documenting a “particular” and “real” bit of my Self in every mark.
The tools to finding joy are so abundant.
Just have to remember to pick them up and use them, right ?
May the joy come easily to you today, Beautiful Ones !
Big Love !
![STJ_Thursday_web[2]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOuPU0lU6JeFCKmuRc3m4m4uViNc0Q4kFw1B6SXS6GOcitPvcfxN97h29Pt4ca_4DkgnwBH782U4pU0XAou2ev3hUdbx18ld6l7p6kSbuQ0VwyhuzrwgGFjs772YS3CPeF_MEgiAH-uCW/?imgmax=800 "STJ_Thursday_web[2]")
For more Thursday Joy, visit Meri’s Musings.
15 comments:
Yes, some days joy is hard to find, but I am sending you SO much joy. I hope you can feel it in your heart. You put so much joy out into the world, even when you are not feeling it yourself. JOY to you!
What a wonderful quote. I'm struggling through some things this week and also having a hard time keeping "joy" a part of my days. I think your blog post just helped me immensely. Thank you, and I hope you are able to stay focused on the little joys that make life better.
Hugs,
Brandy
Beautiful and fun photos. Colors and joy that beautiful illustration shows, the beauty of life.
Talk about turning lemons into lemonade! Wow girl! You did it.
I love your bright colors and that last quote is for me too, thank you very much for sharing!
Wonderful drawings and journal pages!
Make the rest of the day as bright, and my Henry says hi to your kitty, they could be siblings.
Just to let you know I am showing my gifts from you on my blog this Sunday! Be sure to peek in.
I always love coming by your post on Thursday. Your work is so amazing. I love the way you presented it to us. I followed as if I was the one doing it and was lifted up and inspired to get my arse in gear and finish my current art assignment before leaving for a week-end retreat for terminal patients. I will come home knowing my blessed I am.
QMM
When Monkey Brain decides to visit I say feed it bananas....whatever it is that works to dispel that fuge and be able to move forward. I like how you discover your joy and your gratitude and work through MB....you are blessed and you needn't "know" it every day -- but it's there just like the air you breathe. Love you much & miss you big time! ♥
My Queen, you are so right. The tools are there. They are abundant. It's not giving in to the lassitude that makes us want to just sit there and feel sorry for ourselves instead of picking the tools up and moving forward. For me it helps to know that everyone has times like these. Everyone! The color, the poem, so beautiful. Peace and love, xoO
You are such an inspiration...
working your path to joy
on any particular day.
Thank you.
Beautiful pages...and old name for Johnny jump ups is
Hearts Ease...isn't that wonderful!
Hearts ease to you dear Kim!
xxoo
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Monkey brain has been dodging met the last few days and is absolutely loathe to leave. I needed this post, this excerpt, your gorgeous pages!
Thank you!
i'm not sure what "monkey brain" is, but i feel your sentiment. i am always amazed at your will to look for joy and gratitude AND keep making art! i can't imagine to do one of those on bad days, much less both
I love, love, love the way you dealt with monkey mind and came back to center. Woo hoo!
i think you sent that monkey brain on a flying trip right out of your head....
as this is a beautiful post !!
love you !!
Great quote/poem. I just read the post below as well - it seemed to have slipped off my radar. I am glad you found your tool box. Life is a beach sometimes and you make beautiful art. Riley and I will need another big bag of rocks the next time you come this way. I am around this morning, perhaps I'll give you a call.
"married to amazement"
indeed
gorgeous spread gorgeous you
getting ready
looking forward
to you...
(ps: I have a little "what makes me feel good" journal, its my monkey trainer)
xox - eb.
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