At Some Point…

Art Journal Page – July, 2010 – “At Some Point.”

(click on any photo to enlarge)

I have been working with a life lesson this past little while.

It comes from when you draw a line in the sand and judge someone else’s behavior as “wrong”.

I have learned that when you do this,

you make the world harder not just for that person, but for yourself.

I learned that it just feel wrong in me to judge others.

I am not saying that I have perfected this lesson at all yet. ;)

I also learned  that when you apply LOVE in the place of judgment,

you sure can live with yourself a whole lot better.

I hope I develop that muscle in my Heart over time,

so that one day, when someone does something that feels “wrong” to me,

I will prevent myself from shooting flames of anger, judgment, punishment in their direction.

And instead,

realize right away that what they need

is an extra big dose

of

LOVE.

*********************************

I had an extra sweet visit from my friend Kim, The Bodhi Chicket. It was so nice to have her here in my home and let her see how and where I hang out.

Today is about getting some art time in, a quiet Tuesday with nothing on the agenda but time in the studio and a good walk with the Pooch.

Then tomorrow, I will begin the prep. for my wonderful guests arriving on Friday !!!!

  Oooh, I can’t wait to have this Baby Girl boogying at my house !

Happy Tuesday, Beautiful Ones !

And when in doubt, remember that LOVE is the answer to any question !

Girl in The Glass - SP Wednesday

The Girl in the Glass

When you get what you want in your struggle for self,

And the world makes you queen for a day,

Just go to the mirror and look at yourself,

And see what that girl has to say.

For it isn't your father or mother or friends,

Whose judgment upon you must pass,

The girl whose verdict counts most in your life,

Is the one staring back from the glass.

You may be like Jack Horner and chisel a plum,

And think you're a wonderful gal,

But the girl in the glass says you're only a bum,

If you can't look her straight in the eye.

She's the one to please---never mind all the rest,

For she's with you clear to the end,

And you've passed your most dangerous difficult test,

If the girl in the glass is your friend.

You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years,

And get pats on the back as you pass,

But your final reward will be heartache and tears,

If you've cheated the girl in the glass.

Author Unknown

Check out - Misty Mawn & Co. - Self-Portrait Wednesdays

Monday Morning Mixed Bag

FOR TODAY (Monday, May 4, 2009)...

Outside my window...the maple trees are stretching our their new, bright green leaves, separating me from my annoying neighbors yard, finally !


I am thinking...that I need to get outside as soon as possible today !


I am thankful for...my new multi-focal contact lenses ! Bye, bye readers !


From the kitchen...a smoothie with cantaloupe, strawberries, raspberries (frozen), 1/2 c. low fat plain yogurt, splash of orange juice.


I am wearing...black yoga pants, black hoodie and my Mer-Kim apron !!!!


I am creating...pages in my art journal, not pretty pages but "process" pages


I am going...to the post office to mail out some arty stuff to a friend down South.

I am reading... too many self-help books ! I need to focus !


I am hoping... that I come up with a sweet gift idea for my mom for her birthday/mother's day


I am hearing...the quiet in the neighborhood and my house when everyone has gone to work on a Monday am

Around the house...there is dust that needs dusting and dust bunnies I am thinking of naming.

One of my favorite things...the new electric yellow Icelandic Poppy I bought on Sat. to plant in the garden - it is full of furry, crazy buds and blooming in it's pot right now.

A few plans for the rest of the week: meditation tonight, gettting some stuff done in the studio to bring up to Montreal when I go there this Friday, figuring out and purchasing or making a giftie for my mom, wishing my mom Happy Birthday on Wednesday, having dinner and a sleep over with my pal Andrea on Friday night in Montreal.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

A Parrot Tulip from my garden - it gets more and more beautiful as it spreads its bloom.

Next in the mixed bag are some recent art journal pages. Kelly at Soul Humming has joined French Toast Girl in a challenge called "Everyday In May" where you work on creating something everyday for the whole month. I want to commit to things, I really do. But May is not a good month for me to commit to creating something every single day. I have many birthdays, a couple of trips to Montreal involved also and I just can't say I will get the time to do something daily. So I have have committed to "Everyday That I Can In May" challenge. Not as catchy a title, but all I can handle this month !


Here is a page from May 2nd, "You are What You Think" :

and a detail with the saturation and brightness fixed up a bit :

And here is a page from Sunday, May 3rd, "The Last Judgement" (click to enlarge):

And a detail :

In my meeting with my counselor last Thursday, there was a moment when she looked me straight in the eye and said : "Stop judging yourself."

It was one of those moments, you know the kind that stay with you for a long time, maybe forever ? I am the meanest, cruelest, most unjust judge of myself imaginable. I would never, ever judge anyone else with the same set of standards or set of eyes that I use on myself.

The idea that I could learn to not be that type of judge anymore....that I could live without feeling those impossible standards hanging over my head anymore...was such a freeing and hopeful thing. I can't even express the relief I felt when I finally realized that this may be possible !

I have a long way to go to break the cycle I have been in for most of my adult life. But guess what ?

I may just be able to learn to be my own best friend after all ! Now that is hope, my friends !

What is one thing you would like to stop judging yourself for ? Maybe by shining a light on it, the judgement could ease ?

Shine those lights, my Beauties ! Happy Monday !