Patty Griffin has this fantastic song called Nobody's Cryin'. She says the song is about everyone hanging on during the weird changing times in our world. I can't get the song out of my head! I listened to the whole album over and over as I painted this one.
"...may the voices inside you that fill you with dread
Make the sound of thousands of angels instead"
Art is my therapy and here is another session. And something in me believes I am meant to share it. Secret Hope.
...happiness. I can create my own happiness was the lesson I learned during my trip to Greece over a decade ago. I remember the timing of the lesson well because of the precious photos that were taken on that trip. You could see it on our faces. I'm so grateful for the snap shots. Especially yesterday when I painted this one. I needed to remember. I need to share. That is why I am an artist. I need to re-create. Creating Your Own
Just finished another piece. I LOVE the words on her MIND.
adore
witty
happy
charm
flirt
clever
giggle
silly
home
family
fresh
adore
joy
sassy
dream
divine
quirky
yum
hope
smart
sweet
tiny
bliss
fab
hip
true
always
play
wonder
reach
guess
juicy
share
quick
very
wow
wise
lucky
friend
strong
sweet
laugh
live
love
smile
grow
Flirt
I just read this in an Eckhart Tolle newsletter and had to share it! This is for all the parents and teachers out there. Enjoy.
Inspirational Story
It is the little things that are really the big things.
This year I have been teaching kindergarten students.(5 & 6 yrs )
We start off each morning with a visualization so that we can find the
still place that is inside ourselves. When we find that place we can
get rid of all the silly stuff that has come in from the playground etc
and make room for all the great learning to find its place and settle
into our minds.
Throughout the day I ring my special 'peace bell' and we have a minute
of peace. Usually this is when the class is off task and getting out of
sorts. It also gives me a chance to stop still and gather myself
rather than losing my patience. Id rather that than feeling ugly, anger
is an ugly thing in the classroom.
When we have our minute of peace, I say 'freeze and breathe'. For a
minute we breath in and out slowly. At the end i ask them to cup there
ears ''Can you hear that? Can you feel that?' I ask them. 'Its
beautiful isn't it?' I say. The children agree. Then the best part, I
love to remind them, 'that's who you really are, beautiful, still, calm
and full of love and happiness. You know you can go there anytime,
anyplace'.
Perhaps it sounds a bit ideal. They go on to make a racket again in a
short time. But my learning is to accept that too as a teacher.
After a year of Mondays only on this class it is lovely to see that
children are starting to stop and breathe on their own now, when they
come to floor for lessons, standing in line etc and they say 'look at
me I'm taking my breaths'.
Imagine everyday having this in kindy and right through their schooling
, wouldn't the world be a calmer, more relaxed place to be?
Namaste,
Julie Pappas
Here is a preview to my work that can been seen at Arts on Douglas Gallery in the Small Works Considered show. Each piece is mixed media collage and is 8" x 8". The opening is December 3rd from 4 to 7pm and the show runs until December 31. I will be at the opening and I hope to see you there!
This is a question for you Moms out there. Remember when they were babies...the sleep deprivation...the relentlessness...when completing a thought, never mind a sentence was a small miracle? Well I guess I had forgotten it this morning because after 2-1/2 hours of painting, I had to stop and I got angry thinking "I don't even have time to think!" Well, after I asked myself that first question, I did remember that things have changed...a lot. The demands that come with raising a 4 and 6 year old are at times still relentless (and I mean relentless with the utmost affection.) BUT, and there is a but, is DOES get easier. Different and easier. Today I had 2-1/2 hours to think. I do believe in miracles.
Time To Think
