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.

Friday, August 25, 2017

Get up. Get Dressed. Paint.: The Power to Choose

As I embarked on my last week of summer vacation before returning to the classroom, I found myself becoming anxious and angry (I still have no idea where or what I am teaching). All summer I have been working on mentally leaving the dysfunction, ineptitude, and constant inconsistency behind but this week it has begun gnawing away at me, disrupting my sleep, invading my thoughts and creativity.

I found myself inspired by a reading passage in Stephanie Dowrick's book Choosing Happiness.

Message: "Choose to pay attention to the positive rather than the negative..."
Admittedly, it is going to be tough.

Have any advice? I would love for you to share it in the comments below.

Joining in at Paint Party Friday; What color paint is on your fingers?

6 comments:

Valerie-JaelAugust 25, 2017 at 9:01 AM
Try to stay positive even though it's hard, art is always a great consolation. The school authorities here were just the same, the 'call to duty' sometimes came at the last moment too, very frustrating. Happy PPF, hugs, Valerie
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craftytrogAugust 25, 2017 at 9:30 AM
A beautiful page and great, positive words!
Happy PPF!
Alison
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Linda KunsmanAugust 25, 2017 at 11:20 AM
such a beautiful page-positive message and happy colors. It can be difficult to stay positive in such anxious situations. What has helped my hubby is when your negative thoughts begin-say "stop!". Out loud if you are able to. It also helps if you have someone else in your household to remind you too. If I'd hear my hubby start up I'd just quietly say "stop" to him. That and continuously reading positive affirmations-and putting them to your art journal :) Worry and negativity are joy robbers- don't let anything take away your right to joy. Happy PPF!
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BrownPaperBunnyAugust 25, 2017 at 11:21 PM
Wonderful textures and I love how it all came together. Happy PPF!
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DVArtistAugust 26, 2017 at 1:36 PM
Wonderful art and positive message. I find that positive or negative energy is contagious. So for me I make sure I surround myself with positive people. People, who look at a bad situation and still sees some good in it and then works off of that. It is how I try to live my life and believe me it is a daily "choice"
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Beth NiquetteAugust 26, 2017 at 4:19 PM
Beautiful, and such wise words.
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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

Friday, August 25, 2017

Get up. Get Dressed. Paint.: The Power to Choose

6 comments: