Relief

For those of you who have found my blog through the Grow Your Blog party at 
2 Bags Full , welcome and I am so glad to have you stop by!  To my friends at Random 5 Friday, I look forward to meeting up with you every week, sharing our finds and inspirational stories.  I blog about my art journals, teaching, our pets, photography, and the ATC's, PC's, and journals I create for swapping on Swap-bot.  Along the right side I have several slideshows of journals and altered books which I created.  Enjoy your visit here at A Focused Journey!

Relief:

: a pleasant and relaxed feeling that someone has when something unpleasant stops or does not happen

:  removal or lightening of something oppressive, painful, or distressing

This week it came in a surprising form; I was laid off.  A flood of feelings came at me as I was sitting across from the principal while she was explaining the situation (none of which I heard as my mind was racing).  But after the initial bolt-from the-blue I was able to clearly see and feel a gladness in knowing I no longer had to deal with the frustration, and helplessness I had been feeling since being recalled. 

Now I need to really let go of this identity to make way for new opportunities.  It sounds easy but I am discovering it is not.  I still have boxes of books, lesson plans, and teaching materials that I am finding hard to let go of.  “I may need that!” plagues me as I go through it all.  On the opposite side of the coin, keeping it does not make me available to take the the next step(s) in the direction of my life’s purpose.  So this is what I will work on this next month; releasing my attachment to my identity as a teacher to allow new opportunities to present themselves.

Here are my 5 Random Finds:

1.        I made the leap and purchased another Dylusions Creative Journal, this one is strictly for play and learning new techniques.  I have a Pinterest board in which I have all these wonderful techniques pinned and I haven’t tried any of them.  Now i have now excuses  My intention is to recreate one pin in a week.This is my first page:

 

This is the tutorial I followed.

2.      The wind blowing my tall grasses caught Alistair’s attention.  This photo was too precious to pass up.  He was mesmerized by the movement of the grasses, eyes wide as if ready to pounce if only that stinking window weren't in the way!

 

3.      I love that I am taking more photos.  What I don’t like is that they are sitting in my computer in digital land. My goal for my one little word is to take ACTION so I decided to start printing the photos out and creating a book for 2014.

Page:  New Year's 2014

page:  Winter storm, January 2014

Page: Beauty after the storm

Page: Napping away the cold winter blues....

4.      Visitors had come, leaving their prints in the freshly fallen snow.

 

An unknown visitor

5.      Last night Mother Nature created this display.  I was taken by surprised at how fast it disappeared.   Because the wind was so cold I hesitated to get my phone and go outside but experience told me I would be disappointed if I didn’t.  Looking at these photos, I am so glad I did!

A final note:  With Glue it Tuesdays no longer running, I find myself longing for a place to share my art that I create for swaps and for myself.  I am in search for another party link/meme to take its place.  Do you have any suggestions?

Gratefully linking up with Nancy's Random 5 Friday and Grow Your Blog 2014.