thoughts

Get Real: Work & Creativity

Get Real is a 6 week series collaborated by a handful of bloggers, inspired by Tonya (Plain and Joyful Living) and Adrie (Fields & Fire), to open up the wide abyss of realness. The realness that lies behind the pretty pictures and face value of each and every one of us. The realness that we all struggle with at times. Get Real is a little peek behind the scenes; talking about what different areas *really* look like in our life, while juggling our families, work, and personal needs. We would love to have you share in the comments. This week’s topic:

Work & Creative Work

Often I have been posed with the question or comment of others wanting to know how I do all that I do. My answer took a long time to come up with, but at this point it is quite clear to me, and it is a one worded answer…intention.

I have most recently decided that I no longer will be living the stories that say “I can’t because” or “you can’t because”, that are so easy to tell at times. I want to live the life that I want to have…so I make it happen. I set intentions for myself…positive ones.

I could easily say I don’t have time to blog, write, knit, etc. I could also (just as easily) say that I love to blog, write, knit, etc and I am going to find the time to do what I love. And with that, my intention has been planted. Then, I need to water that intention in order for it to blossom into a piece of my reality. I need to actually create the time and follow through with my intentions so I can fit in all that I love into my days. I do this in a very simple way…I write things down…and schedule things in. I am a firm believer that by writing things down, plans are set into action…mere thoughts and ideas are enforced into existence. I write a list of what I want to do or have happen. I schedule it out on my calendar. In very small ways I create little bits of time for me and my creativity and what I need to do for myself.

So often I think, oh if I could only…go to yoga, or go do this or that…go somewhere away…

But then I stay, right at home, at the heart of it all, and find myself with small pockets of time that I can call my own. Pockets of time where I can look at my list of what I want to do and do it.

Writing

Writing is important to me. Having this blog is important to me. It started 5 years ago as a private journal of sorts, but then it changed and grew into what it is today. It has brought me to more and more writing opportunities both online and in print. At this point I have had my words published in several publications and magazines. Often the idea of writing and publishing my own book comes to mind. Maybe one on my families journey. We’ve been through a lot and I have big dreams on where we are going to go…with many details too personal to share in this public place, but perfect for a book. Someday.

Photography

Photography is my way of enhancing the innate beauty that surrounds me. I can capture it through the lens of my camera…infinitely. Something I see can then be shared…with others…in hopes that they too will be able to see the beauty it holds. Photography is like magic for me. My camera is my tool. I have been blessed to begin to see photography as a source of income over the past couple of years as well. And it all stemmed from this here blog of mine. I now regularly have my photography published in the magazine, Pathways to Family Wellness. Every issue they get their run down of what articles are being published. The designer will see what she thinks she can use me for. Sometimes it is making recipes and photographing them. Sometimes it is something more like capturing an idea or concept surrounding an article…attachment parenting, healthy lifestyle, etc. So I read the article to get a feel for an image and go from there. My very first project with this magazine happened to be the cover shot for their winter 2010 issue.

Writing and photography are both things just happen on a daily basis for me, whether they are being published or paid for or for my own personal enjoyment…they happen. I eat I sleep I write I take photographs. That is my life. I rarely have to think about how or when it happens. Usually it just all comes together. Sometimes I do have to say, “This project needs to get done. I need to make x,y,z recipe for the magazine and take pictures of it.” I make the time and do it, with all of my kids under foot and I wouldn’t want it any other way. After the shots are taken, I upload and edit, and do all that fun behind the scenes stuff. Then I get paid. What a happy end to the story. I am happy to be able to bring in a small bit of income while doing what I love and being with my family.

I also occasionally do private photo sessions. I started doing this a few years ago, and now life and a move later, I am finally pulling my act back together. Currently, in the works, I am also putting together a new etsy shop where I am going to put several of my photographs and sets of photo cards up for sale.

Aside from writing and photography, I love to knit, garden, and feel centered within myself. So about a month ago, I dreamed up a little daily rhythm for myself. It goes like this:

Wake
Drink warm lemon water
Sit down and do breathing meditation
morning yoga
Start preparing breakfast/kids wake up/eat breakfast
morning walk together
school work/play
lunch
free time/outing/outdoor play/naptime/crafting/gardening
dinner prep
dinner
kids’ bedtime
blog/writing/computer/me time
bed

So, I’ve got my list…and note there is no set times, just a flow. Not everything happens every day. Rather this is like my ideal/perfect for me kinda day. There may be two days out of the week where I get out of bed before everyone else and get to do a bit of morning meditation and yoga. There are also days where we all sleep in late and it slips on by. Maybe it is only once this week where we got to go on a long walk during the day, but that’s okay. The intention is there. With plenty of room for letting go of what doesn’t pan out. That’s fine. That’s life. The thing here for me, is that I have set my intentions. I have written it out and solidified it. As I work a little bit on it each day, week, month, year, lifetime; more and more unfolds of the good stuff…the stuff I want to have time for in my life.

Finding time for myself and my passions and creativity is so important to me. And learning to let go of what I didn’t get to fit into a day is equally important. The real goal is not squeezing everything in, but making sure everyone in the family feels nurtured when they fall in to bed each night. As mothers, we often forget that that concept applies to us as well. Mothers need to take the time to nurture themselves and their passions just as much as everyone else in the family.

For more talk on work & creativity visit: Heather, Tonya, Melanie, Aubrey, Kyce, and Adrie.

love & light always win

Life is like a yoga practice.

You stretch and contort your existence throughout your journey. At points. Often. You hit a place of discomfort. Pain even. It hurts. Unsightly feelings surface. They nag you. Deep. Within. You want to move. Get out. Quick. You panic. But. You stay. Still. Because that’s just a part of it. Instead. The only thing you can do. Is breathe. Slowly and steadily…you breathe. In and out. In and out. Deep breath in. Exhale.

Better? Yes. Suddenly. The discomfort subsides. And now you can relax just a little bit more. Just a little bit deeper. You have created the space for yourself. To embrace where you are and who you are. And release what you are not.

As you come out of your practice, you stand a little bit taller. With the crown of your head growing. Yes, growing. Up. Higher. Toward the sky. Toward the light. Toward God. Out into the universe and beyond.

I started running in 2^nd grade. I could beat all the boys (and girls) in the one mile run in gym class by a stretch. High school was where I soared though. It was fun. It was intense. I ran miles and miles. Almost. Every. Single. Day. I ran in the Penn Relays all four years of high school. I learned a lot about me and what it feels like to be free. To go. Full fledged. Like the wind. Just me. My thoughts. And the endless space and possibilities that surrounded me everywhere I went.

As a runner, training and competing are so deeply embedded in my heart. I know how it is; you find yourself drained mid race, yet you coax yourself on, “You can do it,” you tell yourself, “Because you’ve made it this far. Keep going!” You see that finish line and your legs feel like jelly but you hunker down for that boost of adrenaline to help you get there. Running is such a personal feat; a place to prove to yourself that you can do anything you put your mind to. Although I have run many a 5K, I have never run a marathon before.

Often, I would wake up early with my dad. We ran together. He came with me to almost every single meet and race I ever ran. He was my own personal track coach. I was pretty lucky to have him along for the ride. A few years ago, I figured it was time to start running again. This time it was time for me to take the lead with my oldest daughter in tow. We have run together in four 5K’s, me and her, side by side, with many more to come in our future.

Running is something I love. My heart goes out to each and every runner and witness to yesterday’s events. These were people who worked so hard to be accepted into this race. These were people who ran many miles with the wind in their hair, for the sheer sake of running. Not to win anything. But just to do it. Because they told themselves they could. And they poured their heart and soul into achieving their goal. And they did it. Almost.

“Like a scar across someone’s face, the bombing will now be a part of the Boston Marathon, but also like a scar, we have to remember it’s only a part.” Only a part. Yes. A horrible and devastating part. But if it is only a part, then what is the rest?

As bits and pieces of the news filtered it’s way in yesterday afternoon, I noticed something interesting. A lot of what people were sharing…was positive. Boston residents opened up their homes to help those marathon runners who had nowhere to go. Runners who saw what was happening and corralled others to run with them straight to the hospital to donate blood…after running 20 some miles! Restaurants offering free space and food. Random strangers carrying and helping people. “More than 4,000 people put their personal information on the Internet for everyone to see because they wanted total strangers to come over to their houses and rest and feel better.” Amazing and beautiful. The “rest” is clearly made up of GOOD AND BEAUTIFUL THINGS.

There is a saying in Tibetan, ‘Tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength.’ No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful experience is, if we lose our hope, that’s our real disaster. ~ Dalai Lama

And now. We see and feel suffering. What can we do? To help those affected? To protect ourselves?

We can be afraid…and fear…and stay shut up in our houses to avoid any possible catastrophe.

OR, we can do something completely RADICAL.

We can love, and support, and nurture, and inspire, and reach out and make a difference in the way that we live each and every single one of our days. We can rally for love rather than hate. We can rally for inspiration rather than fear. We can rally for peace rather than guns and ammunition. We can rally for positivity over negativity. We can come together and live peaceful lives! Do you hear me?

“When love fills your life all limitations are gone. The medicine this sick world needs so badly is love.” ~Peace Pilgrim

Runners are people who push themselves to the limit. Runners see a goal and go for it full speed. Runners are dreamers. Runners set high expectations and goals for themselves, and themselves only, and they don’t let hurdles get in their way. Runners take big strides. Runners fill their lives with what they want to be there. Runners are amazing. Runners try their very best every. single. time. They take a proactive stance in life in general. They don’t sit back and watch the world go by…they do something. Runners have no fear.

It is time to wake up people. It is time.

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of ‘disaster,’ I remember my mother’s words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world.” ~Fred Rogers

Thank you Mister Rodgers. Thank you to all of my friends who are constantly surrounding me with light and positivity. Thank you Dad for running right there by my side all those years. There is so much good in our world. Don’t ever forget that. I choose love. I will never lose hope. I will never lose faith. It is time to “be the change you wish to see in this world”. Love and light ALWAYS WIN! Thinking and praying for all those affected by this senseless disaster. Thinking and praying for peace. We owe to ourselves, our children, and those runners who never got to the finish line.

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