Pushing Beyond Our Limits

A group of ladies gathered at "Painting with A Twist" one Sunday and painted a beautful beach scene.  Each, in their own way, found their creative side, they dipped their paint brush in paint and colored a pure white canvas. 

At the end of the 3 hour paint session they all had created somethng beautful which began from within.  We all had our moments of weakness when one paint stoke didn't feel right, or a cloud wasn't what we thought it should look like, yet once the paint hit the canvas and we stepped back and reviewed what we had done, we realized, and started to see the perfection in it all.  

The not so great stuff, was exactly as it needed to be.  The aspects of the painting we felt good about, were better than we had thought. The beauty within each woman shined in their paintings.  We did it!  We painted a work of art and we did it as an experience together, laughing and struggling through the difficult moments.

Painting pushes people out of their comfort zone.  But, yet, there is an unmistakable rush when we do uncomforable things.  It helps stretch our boundaries. 

Our paint class aligns with the bigger picture of life.  There is always beauty and perfection in the things we perceive to be imperfect chaos.  The days that do not seem fulfilling, often contain opportunities for goodness and enlightenment. Our positive vibrations are always willing to shine when they are not discounted by negative vibrations. 

When life does not feel good, pushing through that particular stoke of life, alleviates the uneasiness and clarity quickly follows.  Our difficult choices suddenly become easier to make, because our natural instincts take over.  Our boundaries are re-established. 

There are days I wake up thinking my day will go one way, and I may feel uneasy about what lies ahead.  I embrace those feelings and allow the day to  unfold naturally.   When my head and heart are conflicted, I naturally allow my heart's desires to lead the way and my uneasiness disapaetes.  

That gut feeling people speak of is actually our heart sinking.  It's a sign that our actions are not aligned with our hearts true intent.  

When we continue to discount our hearts desires, we are not caring for ourselves, we become sad and soon after depressed.  It snowballs into a cycle of despair.   However, when we follow our intended path, listening to our inner voice, we trust ourselves with care and joys kicks in.  It's a myriad of good feelings, there is love and there is easiness. 

The picture is painted and we can step back and see the perfection life truly has to offer, from inside ourselves to the current circumstances of our life.  Is there something you'd like to change?  Than make the change.  Are there things you would like to enhance? Than make those choices to enhance your life.  Your good intentions are the first step to picking up the brush and painting a beautiful life. 

And once you have painted it, you can white wash it and start all over again.   How miraculous is that? 

                                When we continue to create we are choosing our freedom.

  

The Unknown

How often do we think:"  Am I invested in myself and in those around me?"  "Am I being sincere and true to my thoughts from deep within?"  Do we honestly care for and nurture our inner child each and every day?  Are we in tune and sensitive to those around us or quick to judge their differences?  

Are our choices in line with who we are and what we want out of life? 

Each day we wake up and immediately begin thinking, "What do I need to do today?"  It may be followed with feelings of excited anticipation or it may be followed by feelings of dread.  I immediately think, "How am I feeling today?"  Is the feeling positive or negative and if it's not a good feeling, how can I transform the bad Into something good.

Each day is an unknown, we don't know how our feelings will navigate us, but we can choose 

the best direction possible.

First thing in the morning, I will also consider if I am following my path of choice or someone else's expectations of what I should or shouldn't do.  (This can be rough when you feel no one else understands your choices.) And finally, I think about all the stuff I need to do that day.   It sounds like a lot of thinking, but it's all very instantaneous with sincerity.

I recently took a trip to New York to visit a friend who just moved from Florida to Long Island.  The weekend away had been planned for months, and we had a very busy weekend planned.  I learned a few weeks before my trip, that my aunt was having a huge family affair which I very much wanted to attend.  I ultimately could not attend due to timing and I sincerely did not feel good about not seeing my family.  I chatted with my husband about the situation, and we mutually agreed we would plan a family trip to New York during the holidays.  The thought of dedicating a holiday trip to my family satisfied my discontent and made me smile inside. 

When we have too many days when we question our choices, we also feel insecure and unhappy with our life.  We may feel unsettled, unappreciative, ungrateful for all the good already in our life.  This calls for some serious revaluation of how we are choosing to live each day.  Nothing is ever unchangeable.   

We may want more money, more time, more love.  We want less stress, less heartache, less work.  

More understanding, less judgement;

More vacations, less bills, more care, less resentment.

There is always something we want or don't want in our lives and it's a vicious cycle of Ying and Yang.  But, choosing to believe in the good and inviting more goodness into our life, instantly pushes the bad out. It's always a choice, we should choose to be happy, even in the midst of the unknown.

I have been looking for a ring the last few months.  A special ring that meant something to me.  I found one last weekend at the 69th Annual Shinnecock Pow Wow 2015 Native American Indian Festival in South Hampton, NY.  

The ring felt perfect. It will remind me each day to live well, be true to my feelings and to love carefully.  

Good things do come to those who wait, especially when we least expect it.

And through patience & care we discover, we can uncover The Unknown. -LN