2 STAR art
I’m a slow learner.
Under the ‘better-late-than-never’ category, I have FINALLY learned that if I do one or two things on the ‘to-do’ list, then go up to my art room or work out in the garden for a bit, returning to do something else on the list, I’m a much happier camper.
It used to be that giving myself permission to do something fun was at the bottom of the list. I don’t know how or why that happened, but I realized no one gave me points for getting 5 things done on the list, rather than 3, and I ended up tired and feeling the days were passing me by. I tried to work harder and faster, thinking if I could finish the list, THEN I could happily play. The thing was, I NEVER get to the end of the to-do list. It continues to grow.
NOW I build something happy into my day – almost EVERY day. It might be just taking a few minutes to read. It might be playing with our dogs or cats, It might be having a chat with our goldfish (although they aren’t much for deep conversations.) It might be a longer play time of working in our veggie garden or our flower planters. If I have an idea rattling around in my brain for a new art project, I might spend some time on that.
I look at this NOW as a gift not only to myself but to others with whom I come in contact. My happiness seems to show, and I can pass it on to others.
If YOU are not doing this, consider giving it a try.
Filed under Attitude, Encouragement, quality of life
The Age of Enlightenment via Janet Melendez – LinkedIn
Filed under Attitude, Challenges, Encouragement
The Muse via Stephanie Youmans Wilson
Filed under Attitude, Encouragement, kindness
Wall Street Journal – Illustration – Brian Stauffer
“I think that life is difficult.
People have challenges.
Family members get sick, people get older, you don’t always get the job or the promotion that you want.
You have conflicts in your life.
And really, life is about your resilience and your ability to go through your life and all of the ups and downs with a positive attitude.”
Jennifer Hyman
Filed under Attitude, Challenges, Changes, Encouragement
Lettie De Winnaar – LinkedIn
Filed under Attitude, Challenges, Encouragement, Favorite Quotes
iStockPhoto
We go bowling every Monday (mostly) with long-time good friends.
I’ve heard the adage, “Practice makes perfect.” Whoever said that has not seen us bowl. We can’t even say we have ‘averages.’ Each Monday is an entirely new “bowl game” ( :0) ) with each of us being ‘on,’ ‘off,’ or somewhere in the middle. I’ve missed getting 100. I’ve bowled a 211. Sometimes I look like I know what I’m doing, picking up spares. Sometimes I would do better standing in the lane on either side of ours and throwing the ball like a baseball. (Assuming I COULD…) There is no rhyme, reason, or consistency in this pretty nice group of people.
We always go to Braum’s Ice Cream after we bowl. The ice cream may be for celebration of a good job that night, or commiseration that we embarrassed ourselves once again. We are all trying to lose the lard, so the ice cream is a really special treat. I look forward to my ‘one-scoop-of-chocolate-in-a-cup’ all day Mondays and plan the rest of my eating around that, since that one scoop is 16 carbs and I try to stay at 20 or under daily.
My sister-in-law, Mary Lou, got to the crux of it in an email Tuesday. “It’s really all about the ice cream, anyway.”
Filed under Attitude, exercise, Friendship
Josh Billings via Kelly Mizell – LinkedIn
Filed under Attitude, empowerment, Encouragement
Attitude of Gratitude via 2 Star Art
After a pretty long, awful day yesterday, my husband and I are doing a bit of resting today.
I’ve been up in my art room playing, and am about to go back up in a minute. I hope to be able to share what I’ve been working on with you.
Filed under Attitude, Encouragement
trendsandlife.com
On the way back from the grocery store this morning, I asked my husband, “Will you love me forever?”
He said, “Maybe not forever, but I’ll go for the next 1,000 years.”
I’ll take it. :0)
Filed under Attitude, Encouragement, Family
Jim Cody – LinkedIn
Things are slowly coming together as we try to repair or replace the things we lost since we were hit by lightning. We are actually discovering what is most important to us.
As far as I’m concerned, all the other little electronic gadgets my husband is trying to repair (or get new parts for) are just icing on an already nice cake.
So, We have done most everything we can at the moment, just waiting and looking at the stars….
Filed under Attitude
My Artistic Wonderland via 2StarArt
I spent a little over an hour upstairs in my art room yesterday afternoon and I had the BEST time. Sometimes things get so busy around here that I go for several days – or even weeks – without giving myself permission to play. Yesterday I started a group of note cards that I’ll list in my new shop on Etsy.
I love playing in the paint, experimenting with media and techniques, whether they work or not. The playing takes me back mentally to childhood, where I can imagine I’m playing with finger paint. It doesn’t matter whether what I do is ‘good’ or not. I just get lost in the joy of colors, textures, and dreams.
Though other things are pressing on me a bit today, I’ll make time to try to finish the note cards this afternoon, listening to some of my favorite music on my MP3 player, a hot cup of coffee in the warmer beside me… AHHH!
Filed under Attitude, playing in my art room
Psychologies
My poor brain is overflowing with good suggestions for how to make my new Etsy shop better. I’m feeling totally overwhelmed right now, not knowing which way to jump.
I’m going to go do something else from my ever-growing to-do list and then come back and choose ONE thing to do in my shop.
Filed under Attitude, Challenges, Changes, Dreams, empowerment, learning new things
Barbara Kingsolver via Lisa Bearnes Richey
Filed under Attitude, Dreams, Encouragement
For about a week and a half I’ve been viewing some videos by Renae Christine regarding selling handmade items online. She really got my attention when saying the several things you SHOULDN’T do – because I was doing ALL of them…. :0(
I have JUST finished creating a new store on Etsy called, ArtworthyNoteCards concentrating ONLY on selling my hand-painted cards, note card packages, and stationery packages. I am trying to look at what I’m doing in a new way, incorporating her ideas, and will see if anything happens.
Changing the way you look at things is really difficult. Maybe this difficulty is another thing that increases with age. Her videos challenged me, though, getting me get excited about trying her suggestions.
I would very much appreciate it if you would visit my new store and give me feedback on what you think when you have the time and inclination.
If the link above doesn’t work for some reason, here is the URL to my Etsy store –
Filed under Attitude, Challenges, Encouragement, learning new things, opportunities
We are celebrating today that WE ARE –
I –
I hope that YOU can enjoy a “celebration of NOT” today, too!
Filed under Attitude, Encouragement, Family, holidays
The Funny Beaver
I’m working on Day Four of doing what I’m supposed to do on my eating and exercise plan. I just put the fourth gold star on my calendar for the week, starting with Wednesday.
I’ve lost 3 pounds this week and have exercised every day since the magical Wednesday.
One thing I did that is helping me stay on track is re-sign-up with MyFitnessPal.com. There are fancier food and exercise tracking sites, but these people have the easiest food tracking system I’ve found. I don’t have to put in EACH ingredient in a recipe, for example. I can check-mark a repeated food each day without having to enter it again. I’m trying to stay under 1200 calories per day, but I’m combining that with recipes from my Keto book and other low-carb books, so I’m not as worried about it – just trying to keep myself honest about what I’m stuffing into my face.
I’m also trying to do
Both of these things make me feel I’m accomplishing something, plus keep me moving.
So far, it’s working.
I’ve lost 40.6 pounds and 43 inches so far. My goal, at this point, is to lose another 30 lbs. I want to be in the average range for my height (and I’m getting SHORTER, rather than taller) on BMI charts, and fit into some reasonable size at a regular department store for clothes, rather than having to hit the fat section of Walmart forever. I want to be as healthy as I can for my age (72) and not be restricted so much on what I can do without my body complaining.
One day at a time – today I’ve done my exercising, cleaned the back porch, and now I’ll head out to do some weed whacking.
I hope you’re having a happy day.
Filed under Acting Like a Grownup, Attitude, DIET!, exercise
The Age of Enlightenment via Janet Melendez – LinkedIn
Filed under Attitude, Encouragement, giving, kindness
Terrance E Stock – LinkedIn
Filed under Attitude, Encouragement, Family, Friendship, quality of life
“Just don’t quit all the way. You might have to quit a little bit. Just until you can breathe and find some space to move. This is not giving up. This is strategic self-care. Realizing you can stop when you want and start when you want builds trust with yourself. Also, try long walks, good books, and maybe chocolate. Or punching pillows. Whatever you need.” ~ Nanea Hoffman – Sweatpants & Coffee
Magdalena Korzeniewska – via Kathleen McGreal – LinkedIn
*Thanks to Kathleen McGreal who posted this on LinkedIn
Filed under Attitude, Blog Repost - Wonderful Posts, Encouragement
Nanea Hoffman – SweatpantsAndCoffee.com via Desiree Angelique Hackett
Filed under Attitude, Encouragement
psychologies
Feeling a bit overwhelmed lately with a longer and longer to-do list no matter how many things I manage to remove. It seems as if every direction I look has things saying, “Fix me next!”
I just moved heavy coats from our utility room hooks area to the front hall closet, since it had no space available and I was having to dig or move things to find what I was looking for, so I feel good that is done. But on the way to the utility room, I saw little wisps of dog/cat hair moving along with the breeze on the tiled area. And the poor fishes’ water is cloudy again, and the table by my chair in the living room is piled up….
So – I’m doing a bit here – which I truly love – and then going and doing something else on the list before I allow myself to return here. This way I’m having some fun between chores.
How do you handle too-long to-do lists?
Brian Tracy – http://www.pinterest.com
Filed under Attitude, Challenges
Elena-(Livia) D-LinkedIn
Today is a glorious rainy day here in Greenwood, Arkansas. I say “glorious” because the rain was timed perfectly.
Yesterday we had to buy a new tire for our little riding lawn mower. My husband got it onto the mower and did the first mowing of the season. The grass was a bit high, but he managed. Now it looks like someone actually lives here. :0)
Our garden also appreciated a nice drink without a lot of blowing or hail, too! (I’ll post pics in a bit)
So we’re spending the day being thankful we don’t have to be outside working in the rain and chill, happy to have a warm, dry house.
Anthony J. D’Angelo
Filed under Attitude, Mother Nature, Seasons
creativeartworksblog 