Today's Color

Today was a colorful day! I received two letters in the mailbox from two friends on the west coast. One friend in the continental United States one in western Canada. The first letter I carefully opened which came in the form of a perfume tube. How creative! How colorful! Popping off the lid I found several pages of handwritten notes and wrapped in those papers was a domino. Yup, one domino. Cool! I proceeded to read my friends letter and found out that this domino lived in a movie set for Steven King. Now, really cool! I read the letter holding this domino that traveled thousands of miles to live with me. What caught my attention was not the fact that a domino was mailed to me, or that this trivial memento lived on a movie set, but that the number on the domino was 3, my favorite number.

Onto my second letter...

I carefully sliced the top of the handmade envelop and took out two sheets of paper and what looked like a repurposed playing care. I turn the card over and quickly realize that it was a playing card. That isn't what gave me goose bumps though. Upon more careful examination I realized that my friend recreated her playing card into an ATC (artist trading card) for me. That isn't what gave me goose bumps either! What gave me goose bumps was the chosen card my friend selected. She sent me the 3 of hearts! Two letters from friends who live thousands of miles apart from one another and thousands of miles away from me both sent me the number 3. Goose bumps galore! And I am mindful that it is also the third month of the year and the date is 3/30! I hope that all these number 3 appearances bring me some good luck in the near future.

So, today was my day filled with colorful inspiration and revolved around my favorite number 3!

Happy Friday!

Updates and New Blog

It is now nearing the end of March 2012. I cannot believe how fast time has gone by. I have had the pleasure of getting involved in a movement called Mail Art; the art of sending mail as art! I have perused several sites that promote and support the idea and have found a couple that have become a lifeline to me. I have taken the initiative and put pen to paper (or in my case calligraphy pen to paper) and wrote to some strangers on the given lists. At first I was writing, writing, and writing some more only to get no responses back from the recipients. Ok, I thought, maybe that was the point of this. In the back of my mind it didn't really make sense to write to unknown friends and get nothing in return. Investing time into the letter and time into the art piece only to get nothing back seemed unfair. Well, one day one of the best mail art blog and website keeper decided to update her list of willing writers and since then many have obliged and responded to letters.

Mail art is not my idea and has been a movement for many years. I claim no responsibility in this idea whatsoever. But I am a willing member of the movement. It is my understanding that those of us who actually put pen to paper, write to strangers, and create handmade envie's helps support the United States Postal Service. We all know how the postal service is operating these days and slowly but surely the postal offices are closing right before our eyes. It might be hip and trendy and with the times to go electronic but there is something romantic about taking the time to write a letter to someone. In my case, many of my "friends" are people I have never met, who are both high and low profile people, and come from many parts of the world. Scary? No. Using your filter to figure out who you might connect with on a personal level is key. Some people I clearly do not connect with but we exchange small art pieces, others however, have become good confidantes in this place called life.

The names of those that I correspond with will never be shared. But late one night I was sitting in my small studio reflecting, analyzing, and thinking quite deeply about my world and those in it. This time prompted a new idea for another blog. I am currently working on the purpose of this blog, what the message of this blog will be and meaningful ponderings to share. I am excited to eventually launch this idea because I believe there is more good in the world to share than what is already being shared.

I look forward to keeping this Color of Inspiration blog rolling as I toggle between this and the new blog. My purpose in life is to reach out and add good back into the world.

Until we write again...

Much Joy!

Ok, Ok...

Two posts in one day after taking several months off from writing....

What I realized is that I miss writing here. I write. I am an avid blogger and reader of many inspirational blogs that have opened my eyes to new ways of looking at an old life. I keep a journal of sorts. I've always been nervous to write down my deepest darkest confusions and frustrations on paper for someone else to accidentally trip over and read. No doubt feelings would probably be hurt and ideas altered. But what I do keep is an Inspiration Journal. I don't read anything, watch anything, or listen to anything without that notebook and pen sitting right next to me. I started this idea way back in high school and have been in and out of writing things down. After having a very difficult couple of years, I needed to do something to get clarity and to get the dust to settle. Keeping this type of journal has been a Bible to me.

I've also adopted a new passion. Mail Art. I've met some fantastic people through the old art of writing letters and creating unique envelopes to send to people. A skeptic at first...now a believer. One of these days I will share the pieces I've made and received. Finding things that bring happiness and calm into my life is how I wrap up my day. I mosey on down to my studio and pop off my calligraphy pen top, take out some pretty paper and I write. What do I write about? Whatever I feel like at the time. Some days a long-penned letter is in order but other days a short postcard with notes of humor. I let my creativity dictate what I do and not plan what I am going to do. It is that weird way of artist thinking before paint hits the canvas. Real artists let the paint and canvas dictate what comes out of the artist...that is how I see Mail Art.

Happy Writing!

Hello 2012!

It has been a long time since I wrote on my blog for a variety of reasons. The state in which I live is very strict with the blogosphere (from what I have read and experienced) but this morning I read one of my favorite blog posts. To me she is an angel and doesn't try to show an image that really is only found in magazines. She speaks from the heart, she writes from the heart, and she is a perfectly imperfect model of what it means to practice being human. The person I am speaking of is Rhoda from Southern Hospitality. If you have never seen her blog, pop on over and get reading. She will inspire you with her decorating, recipes, and story.

We all have a story. Some stories are just beginning and some are ending. Some stories are in the midst of changing the course of their life. We all have them. My 2012 is going to be a life-changing year for me. I am a dreamer. I aspire to have goals. I am passionate about many things. I have fear. Fear has been a major brick wall for me in accomplishing the things that I dream of doing. I don't know what I am afraid of but I know that I am afraid. In my 20's fear didn't exist in my mind. In my 40's life has happened and has gotten in the way of me being able to see my own life clearly. This has to change in 2012. I feel lost and don't know where I went off track in promising myself that I would always put myself first. People in the world have changed my perspective of how things are and have altered stereotypes of what I think is right.

I don't know where 2012 will take me but I am looking forward to making some positive changes.

(Goat Island Lighthouse, Goat Island, Newport, RI)

If...and When

What is the most important things to you right this very minute? Without really taking time to think would you be able to rattle off three things that were the most important to you? I can probably assume that you would not say my computer, my Blackberry, and my car. Are you being honest? While I like to think that you would answer in a more humanistic caring way we all know that family and friends top the list at #1 and #2 and #3 is probably a bit more of personal nature. While those are the politically correct answers that everyone wants to hear but are they really, I mean come on, are they really your most important things to you right now? I don't think that if there are other things more important to you than family and friends you would admit to it. Why? Because it would make you look bad to other people as if you weren't caring or loving enough. But in all honesty, there are people out there who are materialistic and who do not put family or friends at the top of their internal lists. I think that they would put money up there, their status within the circle they associate (even if they are friends with them...), and their place on the corporate ladder. The kind of car they drive, the style of clothes they wear, the restaurants they frequent, the pool or beach clubs they join or are part of, who their kids play with are all other contenders on the top three list.

I have known a few of these kind of people over the years. I think we have all known people like this, maybe you are one! Despite what they would put on their top 3 list I know that I am happier than all of them. I don't think that money buys happiness. As a matter of fact there are a lot of people I know who have a lot more money than I and are not happier. Yes, they have a bigger house, nicer cars, better clothes, frequent their hair stylist routinely, eat out frequently but they are not happier. What are they missing? They fill their life with things that are trying to fill some other void. They are looking for validation for their life. I recently heard or read something somewhere (I am a big reader) that many people look at their house as a reflection of their success in life. Almost as if it is an award they bought to show off to other people (of whom they either don't know or don't care about) what they have. I wonder if they ever thought about "us other people" not caring what they have? I wonder how they would react if we were face to face and they asked this question and I responded "I don't care". What would they do? I just wonder. Money and acquiring material things is supposed to impress people but, while I do admire their homes, I don't care. I feel sad for them because somewhere something in their life was sacrificed. Maybe they were not there for their kids...or their spouse...or their parents. They invested all their time in their career that they missed what life was giving them the entire time and when they realize it, often, it is too late to get that time back.

I like to look at my life as a series of checks and balances. I am always taking inventory of what is really important to me today. When tomorrow comes, I reassess what is important to me today. Each day the important things differ slightly but for the most part it is who I have in my life and who I am supposed to be here for are the important things of the day. While I want my career reestablished and I would love to be contributing to my family financially, what I am giving to my family right now does not have a price tag on it. Time is of no value because there is only one. You can't buy more time. You can't make up time. You can't replace what once was. You just have to focus on each minute of each day and make sure you are happy with that moment. Women have a hard time readjusting their priorities when life hits like a brick wall. That is me. I still struggle with giving up a piece of me for my life now but I know I am young enough to establish a career later on but old enough to have wisdom to proceed successfully. I know what to look for and I know who to avoid.

If...and when my life is to change I hope that I am equipped enough to keep the balance that I have worked hard to achieve with my family. I believe that I am a good person (I know I am) and I pray that good things will come my way as I proceed with caution.

Thank you for visiting stranger friends! I appreciate your looking!

It's Funny...

I've taken a couple days away from writing to go look at houses in another state. Looking at homes on a realtor's website is one thing but to actually go drive by the house is a completely different story. I honestly wished that Realtors didn't try to deceive the potential buyer with staged homes and rooms because it is exhausting to leave one state to go look at homes in another state only to know that the house you liked online overlooks a storage facility, office park, or garage. Just because there are new hardwood floors and a pool doesn't make up for the fact that the house sits on a side-street cut-through to a main thoroughfare. I like neighbors but not when they are that close or when they can see you jump in your own pool. House hunting yesterday was exhausting. And I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A REALTOR WITH ME! I need to make a priority list even though in my head I "know" what would work for us but at the moment of truth I don't want to forget the nooks and crannies of what will make me happier in a new-er home.

The funny thing is that as I was driving around from home to home I came up with fantastic topics to blog about only to sit down tonight and have writer's block. Yup, I know "write it down before you forget" but it is hard to do when you are trying to look for a street number, a street name, a cop, follow the speed limit, shift (I drive a standard), and make sure that I stop at all the intersections with lights! Finding a pen and my notebook (yes, I keep one in my purse for these exact times!) was/is not an option. So, once I got to my destination my "idea" had slipped away. I would associate this to taking a shower. The absolute best thoughts and conversations happen in the shower only to turn off the water, dry off, dress, to realize everything you planned on saying or doing has relocated to another part of your brain. Frustration sets in and then you stumble for the right words to say to get your point across. I know, we all have those moments whether you admit to them or not. I love blogging and am looking into doing more of it in different venues with the hopes of making some change but for now I need to be able to hold onto my fantastical thoughts and ideas I want to share and come up with a way to jot them down when I am not in the car!

I hope to have a better blog topic tomorrow because they are in here somewhere!

Thank you for visiting and feel free to jot down your thoughts. I appreciate your visit even though you may say nothing. On that note, have a wonderful rest of your evening!!

Detour = Dead End - I am HOME!

Hi friends. I am back for a little while until I can get the hang of WordPress. I am struggling with managing that page and for now (since I am not into technology) I am going to continue to post here. My struggle over there...I can't find the plugin tab "to the left" and "download" despite the easy directions to follow on their own "help" page. Bonkers. I tell you, it is all bonkers! so instead of getting so stressed out right now, of which I am not, I decided to welcome myself back here for a while longer. I hope you don't mind that I returned for a stay.

On that note I stumbled upon another blogger of which I posted her link. Today she had some really inspiring quotes that move her and they touched me as well.
http://rebeccacooperbuttons.blogspot.com/

Today they said that 40 is the new 20 and I have to say that I am just not feeling like I am 20. As a matter of fact I don't even feel 30 never mind 20! My body does not react well to stress and since the day I found out I was pregnant stress has been part of my life, or some part of it for a multitude of reasons. I am at a point where I need to really look long and hard at what I want in my life and for my life and how I am going to achieve that. I honestly have taken a back seat and have focused on caring for my family but I need to learn to focus on me. I commit myself to whatever I need to except that my name is always last on the list and if it is first it always gets bumped. I don't know what I do that but I do. I need to remove the stress triggers in my life and replace them with more positive actions and events that will yield a better me. I am not unhappy, I am actually quite happy, but the last 5 or so years of my life have been a challenge. There have been many life events (major events mind you) to deal with (or not) that has impacted and changed the course of my/our life. Some expected, most not. As a result I am not in as good of shape as I once was or need to be. I exercise but what I need to do is to get my mind thinking in a new direction, I need new opportunities to come my way, I need to be able to "see" an opportunity when it arrives. What I will not do is sacrifice the happiness of my family and the functionability of how my family works. I think I am getting closer to what it is I need to do and where I need to do it but I still feel like my compass is spinning out of control. I try to stay positive and do what I can each and every day to make the day the best day possible.

So I leave you with this quote from Rebecca Cooper's blog page:

Life

is not about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain.