Today was a very slow day at the clinic, unusually slow. So I started my day off early with an hour of yoga, and then took up some art for another friend. She had shown me a tapestry she liked with dragonflies on it. Knowing she likes colorful things I did a similar, but more colorful image using watercolor paints. I spent 5 hours on it, framed and delivered, and left the office to go give a massage for the return half of my trade. It was a welcome day of enjoyable rest, especially since my weekend may be full of sorting my father’s belongings in prep for his final move.
May you have enjoyable creative time. May you have just enough rest when it is needed. May you have stress free days. May you find everything works out splendid. May you love what you are doing nearly always.
Siva Hir Su
I will leave you with the completed dragonfly image. 8×10 watercolor on Bristol paper.
I’ve been talking about finding common ground more frequently, especially in sessions where clients want to focus on current events. I feel it is vital and necessary for the unity our world needs to expand in positive ways.
I did the images for the friend as a thank you, but in my choice of imagery I was reaching for common ground. I aimed for topics of known common interest. I also aimed for a pick-me-up knowing that everyone needs that sometimes.
The trouble is we all have different needs in the details. What seems like a good idea might not always work for another person. In my specific example, I’m hoping my guess is received well, but it makes me think about my own self too.
Additionally, I’ve had a run of people reading old posts from when Katherine was conceived. It was a rough time, I wasn’t sure I would make it through. I could have used a pick-me-up from a friend. Instead I had only myself to rely on as usual. I went through an angry spell with a fair amount of depression and frustration, but then just decided to work it off. Quite literally I worked 7 days a week during the entire pregnancy, took 5 weeks off and jumped straight back into full time.
It distracted me from problems and helped to ensure that finances wouldn’t be a big problem. Yet, my pick-me-up ended up just being to make myself do mantras, even when I was doubting if they would actually do me any good. Almost 3 years later we are in a much different place, and I know things are gradually improving even more.
However, now I’m in a new set of conundrums and trying to figure out my new pick-me-up. The mantras still help, but there is more to life than mantras and I’m really enjoying the artwork I have been doing. Most of it is for myself to begin with. I think that is a huge factor.
At this point, I have ideas for images to tell the story of my guide, that divine influence that has been in and out of my life since very early childhood. I also have ideas for images that would help with my path to body improvement.
I took this picture yesterday, enjoying wearing an outfit on my day off, which hasn’t been worn since our last camping trip 6 years ago. I was much bigger then, but it’s not often I get to run around in a halter top and sarong.
Anyways, this picture stirred a desire to do digital mock-ups of my desired future self. I think that will help.
But what does that have to do with the original topic?
Just because I think I have found something that will work for me and hope that I guessed at something that might work for a friend, doesn’t mean either would work for others.
People find joy in many different things. Personally I wish more conversations centered around thing we find joy and happiness in.
Have you asked friends, co-workers, acquaintances what they enjoy or like doing? Do we ever take time to savor and share with others those things we like doing? Why isn’t more of our world attempting to find those things out? Why don’t we encourage each other to reach for fun more often? Why don’t we want to know what keeps our fellow humans going?
May you have good conversations finding common ground of joy and enjoyment. May you know what your friends like. May you help others successfully find pick-me-ups. May you know your own paths to buoyancy. May we all find the common ground of finding improvement and reaching for a better life.
