“We Are Worthy,” Collage Art by Suzette R.
As she took the journey back to her wings, she embraced the truth that she was worthy and that she was enough, just as she was, imperfections and all.
Who Sent It? This gorgeous collage postcard was crafted and sent by my pen friend, Suzette R. She sent this one about four years ago. She shares the inspiration for this and two companion “We Are Worthy” pieces on her blog: Notes from the Road. Have a restful weekend!
“Find Joy,” Monica C for Global heART Exchange
Hello there! I am dropping in with a quick reminder for the weekend:
Find joy in the small things.
Life isn’t meant to be grand all the time, and it isn’t wise to spend our moments seeking or waiting for the grander ones.
Participate fully in the small.
There is always joy in the small moments–the way the sun paints the sky just before evening falls, crisp fall leaves crunch-crunch-crunching beneath our feet, a child’s infectious laughter, warm hugs, holding hands while walking and talking through the woods, an unexpected visit or call from a friend, a cozy fireplace, an afternoon nap.
Each day holds many opportunities for joy. Don’t let the “ordinariness” of the opportunities cause you to miss them. In fact, look for them. Joy is certainly there.
About the Image: The “Find Joy” handmade postcard above features the work of Monica C. She was one of my “receive from” partners in the September Global heART swap. Her postcard arrived on a gloomy day, the only piece of mail in my lonely post office box. The card was made with chalk pastels, ink, and a whole lot of joy. Thank you, Monica!
Are you familiar with Danielle LaPorte’s #truthbombs? On 4×4 white cards–in beautiful black script–LaPorte offers pithy bits of wisdom, encouragement, and in-your-face truth. Every now and then, I pull a random card out the elegant encasement, and think, “Whew! Now, that’s a word!” The cards offer perfect journaling prompts and discussion starters. [Click the link above for more information, see sample #truthbombs, and download the app. For the record, this is not an ad].
Before heading to work yesterday, I grabbed a handful of random #truthbombs from their box and dropped them on my bag. I thought they would complement the sunflowers I’d planned to share on the blog, but yesterday did not turn out as I planned: By 9:00 a.m., I was annoyed with no less than three people. By 10:00, the number had increased to five. By 1:00, I had a searing headache that made me want to pack up and go home. When I finally arrived home just after 5:00, I wanted only my bed and a good book. When today began to feel like yesterday, a couple of short walks and three of the #truthbombs became the medicine I needed:
Those three sentences “can preach,” as they say. For me, they were a call to pay attention to my responses.
Yesterday, I was extremely disturbed by individuals who acted selfishly and lacked compassion. When it comes down to it, this was no different than any other day. Almost every day I encounter people who look out for themselves and show little regard for others unless they can benefit in some way. Of course, by the end of the day, I’d pretty much gotten over it and pushed the experience out of my mind. I realized I had to cut those folk some slack. They are human after all, and like me, they deserve room to be just that–human–and perhaps there were good reasons for what I considered their not acting with the decency I expected under the circumstances.
But I was still bothered by my own reaction: Why was my response so different? Why did I allow myself to become so uncharacteristically entangled with other individuals’ attitudes and behavior? And why am I again feeling out of sorts and bothered?
Annoying people, gloomy weather, frustration over lecture notes I can’t find. All of that is superficial, the easy things to focus on because the real thing–the underlying thing–is big and scary and too much to handle at the beginning of a packed work week. The #truthbombs were a reminder to pay attention to my feelings and not just stop there. I had to get to the root. And I did.
I miss my sister. Her birthday is tomorrow. There will be no celebration.
Thankfully, the sunflower provides light…in the darkness of the cave in which I have to dwell for a moment.
About the Image: The watercolor sunflower is the work of my Love Notes friend, Martha S. She was one of my exchange partners in Louise Gale’s Global heART exchange. It was a pleasant surprise to find a postcard from one of my snail mail regulars in my mailbox. Thanks for this gorg sunflower, Martha! It has brightened my days and will soon find its place my the sunflower wall.
See this whimsical pink flower?
The snail mail gods are warming up to me. I received a few pieces of mail in the mailbox over the last couple of weeks. One piece—just retrieved from the P.O. Box today—is this “flower friend” Amy N sent for the Global heART Swap, hosted by Louise Gale.
I joined the swap after an unplanned years-long hiatus. I usually miss the signup deadline, but this year, I actually had a moment to read Louise’s email announcing the swap before the deadline and was excited to see the swap theme: “Summer Blooms.”
I had just completed a bunch of floral postcards during World Watercolor Month, so I decided to print some of the flowers and join the fun. Perfect, right?
In return, I found two beautiful, artsy blooms in my mailbox. A third one should be on the way.
This sweet little friend–one of three Amy released into the world–seems to be caught up in some serious dance moves. Look at her sway–indicated by the bend in her stem–and those leafy arms dancing in the wind. Her expression says it all.
Later, folks!
“Bloom,” Crafted by Cricket P.
This elegant poppies postcard was handmade by my Love Notes pal, Cricket. She designed it for “Beautiful Blooms,” the latest Global heART Swap, but kindly sent one to me in remembrance of Lori. The tiny black dots in the “green painted vases” are poppy seeds from Cricket’s garden. In a few weeks, we will plant them–in Lori’s honor–just outside my home office window. They will bloom in the spring.
The intimate notes Cricket sent to Lori and me during her struggle and the one she included with “Bloom” are among those I will forever cherish. I will reserve the most intimate details of her notes for my own eyes, but it’s fitting to close with some of the words from her “Blooms” note:
Thank you for including all of us in this journey–for making Lori alive in our world. That we can share in the love and the grief of virtual strangers is a phenomenal thing. It gives hope in/to a troubled world and should be celebrated. Lori touched us all and we’ll forever hold her.
Today’s Kindness Prompt: Be kind to yourself.
When I began “Kindness Week,” I knew the prompt for the last post would focus on kindness to self. The words were in my spirit, but tonight as I was typing them, I realized the words felt familiar because I’d already written the post a year ago! I started to scrap the topic, but decided the words bear repeating. After all, even the kindest among us has difficulty being kind to ourselves.
Here are the words from last summer’s post:
The common misconception is that loving ourselves is self-centered and weak, so we pour all our energies and kindness into others and leave little or nothing for ourselves. Many of us typically miss that the fine point in the “second great commandment” is to love others as we love ourselves (Mark 12:31). If we reserve only scraps, disapproval, and unkindness for ourselves, eventually this starvation of self-love will manifest in our acts toward others.
Hollow and mechanical acts of kindness don’t always feel like kindness. So love yourself. Be kind to yourself and you will find that the kindness naturally spills over into your interactions with others. —Pics and Posts, June 20, 2017
Kindness to ourselves often requires changing the language we use to speak to ourselves. It requires taking care of our minds, our bodies, and our spirits.
Marelisa of Daring to Live Fully offers a list of ways to get started: 17 Ways to Be Kind To Yourself. You can also find a lot of ideas on my self-care board on Pinterest: Take Care. Just recently I encountered a young blogger, a college student, who features a self-care post almost every Sunday. You might want to check out her blog too: The Introvert’s Escape Maneuver.
Earlier this week my son suggested that I close out the seven days of kindness with the message, “be kind to everyone.” It really is that simple.
I encourage you to live with a spirit of kindness. Walk with it. Breathe it. Look for the good in people. Help people in need, including the disheveled stranger who asks for a dollar or two. Drive with courtesy. Give the benefit of the doubt. Forgive easily. Love freely.
Make kindness more than a habit. Make it part of your character. And remember–we can be heart and light to others only if the inner light is glowing.
Note on today’s image: The postcard above was made by Terry L. who participates in both Love Notes and the Global heART Exchange. She sent the card in April, shortly after receiving happy heART mail from me. Her message is clear: “Be kind to yourself. You are amazing! You’re good enough. You are worth it!”
Previous “Kindness Week” posts:
Have a “kind” week!
Today’s Kindness Prompt: Take care of Mother Earth.
The first job given to mankind–after populating the earth–was to take care of it. As we’ve advanced, we’ve found more ways to damage the earth than to maintain it. Let’s do our part to change that.
One of the things I absolutely loved about my son’s Montessori School is that the school focused on the development of the whole person as a citizen of the world. The children were taught how to care about all people and how to care for the earth. Ziploc bags, disposable utensils and containers were not allowed. Lunches, including yogurt, milk and juice, had to be placed in reusable containers. There was a no waste policy. The director and teachers taught the children to conserve water when washing their hands and brushing their teeth and many other tips for saving the environment. The children learned that the little things we do as individuals add up to a world of difference.
Through my son’s early education, I became more intentional about my role in taking care of the earth. The idea of single-handedly conquering the varied “earth” issues is absurd, but there are many little things we can do to preserve our planet for future generations.
Starting today, let’s be kind to the earth. If you don’t know where to begin, here are a few simple suggestions:
If you already do these things, kudos! Now, it’s time to step up your game. There’s always more that can be done.
Note about today’s image: The gorgeous painting above was created by Lori-Anne C, one of my Love Notes pals. She created this for the latest Global heART Exchange. The theme was “Nature Quotes.” The back of the painting is just as beautiful as the front.
Just joining Kindness Week? Be sure to check out the previous posts:
Jusqu’à demain…
It’s almost time for Louise Gale’s next Global heART Exchange, so get your paintbrushes, distress inks, watercolors, and/or camera ready!
I last participated in the swap in February. I think there was an April swap, but I had too much going on to participate. I received three cards from the February swap, and they’ve been craving some attention:
“Sun Flower,” by Lucile
Lucine, of the Netherlands, re-purposed a postcard and doodled me a sunny postcard. If you look closely, you can see the design of the postcard beneath the white paint. It adds a little something to the doodles. Doesn’t it?
“You Are Enough.” Made by Maria R.
“You Are Enough” comes from Maria R. of Richmond, New Hampshire. She made the card with watercolor and cutouts. Her message on the back solidifies the theme illustrated on the front:
Write your own story! Love yourself!
Jackqulynn W. of Columbia Falls, Montana cloaked her postcard in an envelope that was almost as beautiful as the contents inside:
Envelope Front, Made by Jackqulynn W.
Envelope Back, Made by Jackqulynn W.
You really have to see the card in person for the full impact of its beauty.
“Heartful.” Made by Jackqulynn W.
Jackqulynn included a quote she found on the Facebook page, Butterflies and Pebbles–something to keep in my heart:
Just a reminder in case your mind is playing tricks on you today. You matter. You are loved. Your laughter is a beautiful thing. And your presence on this earth makes a difference whether you see it or not.
The theme, as you’ve guessed by now, was “love.” I’m thrilled that even though none of the senders had a clue about who I am or what I like, they all sent favorites–sunflowers, typewriters, hearts, words, and music.
The signup deadline for the next heART exchange is May 27, so step out of your comfort zone, be a kid again–as my colleague suggests–get messy, make something, and show it off!
Here’s the link: Global heART Swap.
“Thankful” made for the Global Art Swap/heART Exchange by Lori K.
What separates privilege from entitlement is gratitude. –Brene Brown
A couple of posts on Instagram resonated with me this morning. One, I might share another time, but the post by my IG friend, @gallionista, bears repeating today. We live in a world where people feel they are “entitled” to this and that, so her message is timely.
[…] To be content is a privilege and a delicate matter that must be curated and planned and protected. Show gratitude for all the [stuff] that makes you happy: say thank you; tell a person; write about it; paint a mural; cook a meal; hug for five seconds longer. Just show that you understand the complexity of what is temporary, fragile, or gifted. [Emphasis mine].
When we realize NONE of our comforts are guaranteed–none of them are ours by “right,” that all of them are privilege and fortune and gift and blessing and grace, that “here today, gone tomorrow” is a reality for many and can be for us too–we’ll begin to grasp what it means to be thankful, to be grateful for ALL we have.
Take a moment today and begin a list of all your privileges and whisper a prayer of gratitude for each.and.every.one.
It’s time again to sign up for the Global heART/heART Exchange swap! The theme for November is “Thankful,” perfect for the last weeks of the year when many of us are counting our blessings and working on gratitude lists.
The card below was made by Connie F for the August round. I received it some time after I’d blogged about the other postcards, but I was happy to add this fanciful piece to my “Live-Laugh-Love” collection. I also appreciated the note Connie included about her recent trip to South Africa and its impact on her life.
“Live-Laugh-Love,” Art by Connie F.
Louise Gale, the swap coordinator, inspires artists, collects and coordinates participants’ information, and assigns partners. For the exchange, participants create art based on the assigned theme and send to three partners; they also receive art from three different partners. The art can take any form–drawing, collage, sketch, photography, mixed media, coloring, watercolor, stamping, and so much more.
The only rule is that you create with your heart open and include a positive note for the recipients on the back of your postcard or as a little love note inside. –Louise Gale
The swap provides an excellent opportunity to exercise creativity and share a heartfelt message. If you’re worried about your art skills, take it from me, this swap is about heart, not about masterpieces.
What are you waiting for? Head on over to Louise Gale’s site for the details. Sign up ends November 12, so hop to it!
Pics and Posts 