Reflections

Knowing When It’s Time

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There’s a saying, “All good things must come to an end.” Well, maybe not all good things, but surely, some. Coming to an end this month is the better part of my French Bulldog art business.

Inspired by so much appreciation of all the illustration I contributed to Just Frenchies magazine, I embarked on a small business on my website, selling French Bulldog cards. As time went on, I expanded to a shop on Etsy, where I’ve sold everyday blank note cards, holiday/Christmas cards, and a journal.

Little by little, I introduced new designs, and gained a small but loyal band of followers who loved and purchased my art. But then … I couldn’t seem to muster the excitement I once had for drawing these adorable dogs. I wanted to, but it wasn’t happening.

There came a point when I realized that I couldn’t see new additions being a reality, and then further on, a kind of guilt every time I’d be in my studio, looking at all the boxes of these lovely cards I’d created. It was time.

For a while now, ideas of something new have been twinkling in my brain. I realize how far I’ve come from the opening of my Etsy shop, and I need something now that sparks my excitement, that will utilize my talents in art, photography, and writing. I don’t have a clear idea of what they will be yet, but it will excite me. And I want it to touch, inspire, and excite others.

But the first step? Let go of what no longer resonates with my heart and make room for what’s to come. THIS is what is exciting me right now – making room for the unknown.

I’m doing that with a 60% off and final sale of all my Frenchie cards (journals, above, will stay). If interested, please stop by in my shop and share in my last hurrah with me.

When Pen and Paper Heal

/ still a dreamer / 2 Comments

Journaling is a highly underrated tool in the toolbox of wellness. Do you write daily?

There is something about putting words to your thoughts and emotions that can not only lift your spirits and lighten your mental load for the day ahead, but also provide insight into so much of your life.

Once written down, the words offer us, now or later, a chance to get to know ourselves better, to find ways to heal and become more of who we’d like to be. Journaling is actually pretty powerful.

I’ve been journaling faithfully every morning for decades. There are days when it feels like a much-needed dump of the clutter in my head, but more often, it’s a way for me to sort things out, see where I am and where I’m going.

All you need is a journal or notebook and a pen. What’s to lose?

Fearless

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Look at that little guy … a young praying mantis, sitting next to Pumpkin (R.I.P.), one of the most fearless animals I have ever known.

How is the mantis so brave? Is this innate to his species, or an individual who takes risks or is just naive and inexperienced?

Looking at ourselves, if we aren’t fearless like the mantis, how did we get this way? Perhaps the bigger question is can we become more brave?

I believe there are two core emotions – fear and love, the opposite of one another. To become fearless, or start heading in that direction, we need to love ourselves more, to tip the scales. We need to let go of things we were told that we were. These often had nothing to do with us, but more to do with the individuals that told us. Think about it.

Many of our behaviors that make us unhappy today were once developed as children because we needed them in order to cope or survive, whether to make others happy or comfortable or just to leave us alone. But we can look at ourselves now, at our fears, our outer coats of beliefs that no longer work in our lives, and release them.

It was Socrates who said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Looking and seeing who we are underneath those once-needed layers, we can love and accept ourselves for what we find, forgive ourselves for behaving in ways we have not understood. And we can change. It takes time, and it’s not always easy, but we are capable of change.

We are always braver than we believe.

p.s. As for the yet-unnoticed, young praying mantis … I called Pumpkin over to my back door for a snack, and the little one, apparently having made his point (to me), quickly disappeared.

The Advantage of An Older Sibling

/ still a dreamer / 9 Comments

There are often advantages for a younger sibling having an older (in this case) brother or sister. The one I’m writing about has had an unintentional and lifelong impact.

We grew up in a family of readers. It made perfect sense that we would be read to as children. Where the older-brother-advantage came in was when my Mom would read to him, I was also on her lap. I was likely only about 1 year old then, but I looked on, taking in every word on the pages.

As we grew, I continued to soak up the words and stories meant for an older child. I was three years old when he was seven, the reading level of the New York Times. The amazing and unintentional result? My Mom realized that, at the age of 5, I could read a newspaper! She was very quick to point out that it wasn’t with full comprehension, lest I get a “big head” about it, but the truth is, without my older brother, that never would have happened.

My point here? Never underestimate the ability of a child to learn at an early age. If you have kids or grandkids, keep the youngest one(s) close by while you read to their older siblings because they, like me, will soak it in and get a head start on both reading and learning.

Let’s always read to the little ones at bedtime. It’s worth making the time, even for one story. It undoubtedly helped that my brother and I were both read to each night before we drifted off to dreamland.

It also helped that our family were readers. Our parents and grandparents were always reading novels and/or newspapers. They were my role models. Do we really want our kids having the idea that the only way to read is on a phone?

Having a membership to the local library is invaluable. Bring the littles along whenever possible. Let them experience the magic of so many books at an early age, to feel the joy of `what do I want to read now?’

As I move along in life, I become increasingly aware of what our future needs. One of those things is adults who can think and reason, learn and have compassion, all of which are inspired by an early love of reading.

p.s. Did you know that reading picture books to children is proven to develop compassion? Read more here.

Room for Growth

/ still a dreamer / 13 Comments

You mean personal growth? In a drawer? Yes. Here’s how.

In the far back of this drawer were several bundles of tableware that I had not so much as looked at in all the years I’ve lived here. Service for eight, plus an odd assortment of spoons and serving pieces. I decided to see if they were worth anything.

After appraisal, there was one lone spoon that was sterling silver, for which I got $33.00. That was nice. I let the rest go.

The next payoff came in my taking everything out of the drawer; thoroughly cleaning it all, plus the interior of the drawer itself. With the extra space, I did some happy re-arranging.

Now my life is not just cleaner, but lighter, and has more room. When we let go of what no longer serves us, even in small ways, we have more room, and that’s when we grow.

What have you been doing to allow more room for growth?