Unfolding My Potentials

Last night commenced a new round of Visual Journaling, held in a new space. Today, I am reflecting on the night, and process. I return to my pages. I read, observe, accept, and soak up the images until next week's group... I see fluid communication with words, images, colors, layers, compounded by pages. Can't define them to understand, must open heart to FEEL in order to understand. The group, the process, the products are not linear; therefore easy to define.  Such as life... There's something about Visual Journaling in a group... Sharing time, space, creativity with other individuals.  Arriving, with or without a plan Being surprised. Laughing. Connecting with others.  Finding safety.  Healing. Current events, motherhood, childhood, art processes, metaphors Coming together. Community. Being part of a greater whole.  Delight. Offering pieces of ourselves. Being welcomed. Unconditional love amongst family, friends,...

Hey there! If you follow my Instagram or Facebook, you may have noticed that the Visual Journaling group is starting back up! Last fall, it took place weekly at Art Exchange in downtown Long Beach, then it hibernated through the winter to begin again this upcoming Monday April 23rd in its NEW home at Inspyr Arts on 4th Street. *Please see the bottom of this post for the when, where, and how info.* This group is very special to me.   I love it because it supports adult "artists" AND "non-artists" in a creative self-care  practice . One cannot hope to "finish" their Visual Journal in one day, and that's also not the intention of keeping any journal.   The intention of this process is self-care.  Adding a page.  A page is a part of the book.  It is not the whole.  It can help us to acknowledge that self-care is ongoing bits and pieces, occurring here and there.   I believe this helps take the pressure ...

I wasn't sure what I wanted to write about today.   Feeling scattered.  I know what's technically on the day's agenda: Attend meeting with a group of amazing, creative, entrepreneurial females. Go to work for a few hours. But there's always more than that on my mind and in my heart.  Mind: Light a candle, do laundry, vacuum the apartment, wash my hair, feed myself, write grocery list, buy groceries, read a book, check agenda items off list, connect with other humans... Heart: Compassion, excitement, fear, wonder, determination, love, and so much more, in varying amounts and combinations.  And more and more. I'm feeling busy, but not at ease in it. I have worry of being swept away; not grounded; losing connection with my Self; becoming lost; forgetting something... These happened in my past when I thrived on being "busy", therefore, "productive." But, I define these words differently now... Lastly, I'm ack...

I've been having conversations with friends in the last week, and a theme has emerged: A seemingly simple realization.  To focus on living life moment to moment.   Choosing to incorporate consciousness. Mindfulness.  Acknowledging each moment as it comes. Staying curious, with a sense of humor.  Stopping despite the momentum in our "busy lives" to find the sacred. Not wanting to look back on this moment with longing/regret. Listening to the tiny bits of information received from the universe.  Reaching out to connect with others when we feel the urge. Saying thank you . Saying I love you . Saying I appreciate you and I'm thinking about you , when we feel the urge.  Giving freely; with no expectations to get something back in return.  "Living in the moment" has become a bit clich e ́ . Maybe there are certain ideas about what this looks like: Giving up everything to travel the world. Going bungee jumping. Facing external fears... ...