A Focused Journey: Finding a focus on the other side of 50.

I believe everyone’s life has a purpose. We are here to discover that purpose then use whatever gifts were bestowed upon us to make this world a better place. Some of us are fortunate as we know at an early age what that purpose is. Others, well, we go along, often digressing from the road that will take us there. This is me. Now on the other side of 50, I am finding my way back to that road that will lead to my life’s purpose. Welcome to my journey.

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday

In the midst of working on my performance portfolio. No creativity here.

Creative work desk

It has been a trying two weeks. My teaching portfolio for evaluation was due last week and I found it easier to turn off the creative right brain and keep the technical left brain turned on until I got the portfolio completed. Sleepless, stress filled nights have now been replaced with restful, rejuvenated sleep. I wake up ready to create and work on my projects. Currently on my desk is the spring journal I am creating for a swap. I promise a full flip through once it is completed.

Over the weekend I completed my pages in the Your Turn in my Art Journal swap. This journal’s theme was Coffee or Tea. I used photos from my Monday Mugshots, a former meme I really enjoyed participating in, to create my pages then added coffee quotes.

My favorite is from Bill Cosby; “Like everyone else who makes the mistake of getting older, I begin each day with coffee and obituaries”.

Joining in on the fun of sharing our messing work desks over at What’s on Your Workdesk? Wednesday. Click on the link and take a peek at the amazing creativity taking place on people’s desks!

20 comments:

SusanneMay 7, 2014 at 7:59 AM
Bill's quote made me laugh. Your pages are splendid. Glad I stopped by. Susanne #62
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WinnieMay 7, 2014 at 8:27 AM
I hope your portfoliio gets finished soon so your stress level goes down. A lot of people don't realize all the extra work that goes into teaching and the time it takes. I have 2 sisters and a brother who teach and hear about it often. It is definately a calling. Love your layouts there! The funny Bill Cosby quote is my husband! He sits and reads them daily, and every once in awhile he leaves me one on the table for when I come home. Kind of freaks me out, but I find out of former neighbors or coworkers passings. Thanks for the visit today! Winine#50
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My name is CindyMay 7, 2014 at 12:36 PM
Great project. Glad you managed to get the 'hard' stuff done though I'm not sure I could switch off either side of my brain, in fact I do sometimes wonder if they are switched on. Great quotes. And yep, coffe is the thing! Happy WOYWW, Cindy #36
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fairy thoughtsMay 7, 2014 at 3:42 PM
great pages and I have to say much more interesting than your other desk... but I hope that goes well too.
happy Wednesday
janet #31
Ps if you want more comments from deskers I suggest you turn off word verification in your settings ..... if you get this one
janet
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ChrysalisMay 7, 2014 at 4:25 PM
Gosh, you are one busy person! The journals look great, and make a lovely relief for you from the other stuff! Have a great week, Chris # 47
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UnknownMay 7, 2014 at 5:54 PM
As a fellow teacher I know how you feel. Your journal looks great! Hope you can get your creative brain into gear again soon! Have a great week and thanks for sharing, Ela #90 x
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KatzElbowsMay 7, 2014 at 5:55 PM
You post all those great journal pages and all I really want to know is if the Secret Garden colouring book is as great as it looks. I should be ashamed of myself, but I so want one.

Happy WOYWW,
KatzElbows #92
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Sarah HuizengaMay 7, 2014 at 6:12 PM
Yeah the portfolio stuff doesn't look so fun.
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Bleubeard and ElizabethMay 7, 2014 at 9:26 PM
Too bad the portfolio papers had to get in the way of your awesome art. Love the tea and coffee pages, especially the MUG SHOT. That was clever. Thanks for your visit and happy WOYWW from #5.
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505whimsygirlMay 8, 2014 at 10:02 AM
Hi Diane,

I love the photo of the coffee mug with your feet kicked up! I especially like the quote from Bill Cosby. This may sound weird, but after my mom passed I started reading obits. That was over 20 years ago.

Congrats on getting your "work" out of the way so you can play. Thanks for sharing the pages in the Coffee/Tea journal; it was fun!

Thanks for visiting me already.

Happy belated WOYWW
Peace, Kay (17)
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NickyMay 13, 2014 at 4:40 PM
Sorry I am so late visiting not sure where the week had gone so having a quick fly round the desks before we start again, thanks for sharing - Nicky 11
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GlendaMay 21, 2014 at 6:41 AM
Thanks for sharing your pages! It's always good to finish your work so you can play! Happy WOYWW!
Glenda 53
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CaroleMay 21, 2014 at 8:24 AM
Love the Mug shots great journal...obvious computer skills to label the picture of your desk.
Thanks for sharing Be well Carole #52
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RobynMay 21, 2014 at 10:58 AM
Lovely journal pages, and as to the others , well, they can be creative too, in their way.
My first time here so I'm off to snoop around.
Thanks for the snoop around.
Robyn 30
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AndreaMay 21, 2014 at 3:02 PM
great jpurnal and some fab quotes I spyed along the way ,,,pleased to hear the stress is now behind you have a fab creative week crafty hugs andrea #'45
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ChrysalisMay 21, 2014 at 5:29 PM
Glad you survived the portfolio, and love the journal! Have a great week, Chris # 17
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Ali HMay 21, 2014 at 5:31 PM
Your spring journal is looking brilliant ! Glad the nights are full of repose now !! Ali #6
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AnonymousMay 21, 2014 at 6:14 PM
Happy WOYWW. I was reading the obituaries earlier! Only recently I have found myself drawn to those pages. Ali x. #34.
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TwigletMay 22, 2014 at 9:01 AM
Hi Diane - happy to swap ATCs - email your details to twiglet517 at hotmail dot co dot uk
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Thank you so much for stopping by. Please share your insights.

THE JOURNEY

One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice--
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
"Mend my life!"
each voice cried.
But you didn't stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do--
determined to save
the only life you could

The Dark Night Of The Soul
By Saint John of the Cross
Translated by A.Z. Foreman

Songs of the soul rejoicing at having achieved the high state of perfection, the Union with God, by way of spiritual negation.

Once in the dark of night,
Inflamed with love and wanting, I arose
(O coming of delight!)
And went, as no one knows,
When all my house lay long in deep repose

All in the dark went right,
Down secret steps, disguised in other clothes,
(O coming of delight!)
In dark when no one knows,
When all my house lay long in deep repose.

And in the luck of night
In secret places where no other spied
I went without my sight
Without a light to guide
Except the heart that lit me from inside.

It guided me and shone
Surer than noonday sunlight over me,
And lead me to the one
Whom only I could see
Deep in a place where only we could be.

O guiding dark of night!
O dark of night more darling than the dawn!
O night that can unite
A lover and loved one,
Lover and loved one moved in unison.

And on my flowering breast
Which I had kept for him and him alone
He slept as I caressed
And loved him for my own,
Breathing an air from redolent cedars blown.

And from the castle wall
The wind came down to winnow through his hair
Bidding his fingers fall,
Searing my throat with air
And all my senses were suspended there.

I stayed there to forget.
There on my lover, face to face, I lay.
All ended, and I let
My cares all fall away
Forgotten in the lilies on that day.

Pages

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday

20 comments: