Wednesday, January 15, 2014

JANUARY AWAKENINGS

"And now let us welcome the New Year
Full of things that have never been.
-Rainer Maris Rilke

Thursday, January 9, 2014

JANUARY JOY

"I am present, here and now, and put aside past pain and fear.  I let in the beauty that surrounds me, from moment to moment." DAILY AFFIRMATIONA-For Adult Children of Alcoholics.






JANUARY AWAKENINGS

"Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to all alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs." Step 12 form the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous-


I began my 12 step journey in 1991 in Estes Park Colorado. A woman I worked with at a downtown pottery shop ask me if I would like to go with her to a meeting of compulsive over eaters.  I went and I was amazed.  The people in the meeting shared about experiences with food, and until then I thought I was the only one who had such thought and feelings.


Since that time I have begun to study the twelve steps in a variety of meetings:
-I began to realize that I ate to comfort myself when nothing else could numb that hurt.
-I behaved controlling and was an over achiever because in my childhood alcoholic  home there was no organization, no cleanliness, no perfection!!
-I realized  I was trying to fix everyone around me, but not myself!


It was not until yesterday's meeting, a meeting of all addictions for women only, that I finally "received" the twelfth step.  It's like I had read and studied all the other steps but never really got to the last one.  Duh!


I read that I should not waste time trying to persuade an alcoholic, over-eater, or whatever to stop.  I heard that if he wants to quit for good he will go to any extreme to do so.  I read that the family should not hysterically plead with him to do so. Double duh!


The best words I heard, yesterday, were from another member with whom I have much in common.  She said,"Let God be in charge and I will show up differently!" Amen and namaste'.

Saturday, January 4, 2014

Friday, January 3, 2014

JANUARY JOY

"Affirmations are a way to wake us up-to make us fully conscious and aware of the daily choices we make." Rokelle Lerner/DAILY AFFIRMATIONS-For Adult Children of Alcoholics.

For me, one of the best things about January is beginning my little daily books, again, starting from day one.  It's not so much a New Year's resolution as much as it is a New Year's gift.

We began the new year cleaning deer skins and attaching them to old chairs that needed a seat.  The large one belonged to Ern's great-grandfather.  It was his fiddling chair.  Now isn't that appropriate.



We also worked on a small one for the little ones of the family.

 
While Mo worked a puzzle.
 
 
Bon jour & LOVE
Namaste'-

Thursday, January 2, 2014

JANUARY JOY-back to solitude

"The minutes ticked past.  As they did, the work drew her into it's comforting womb.  The place where the world beyond her and her art ceased to exist."
Jane Westbrook/SEE JANE DIE/Erica Spindler-

I am happy to say, I gave myself to Christmas joy and played and played.  And played.  And since Christmas I have painted each day.

 
I am reworking a piece I had done years ago and had left most of the wood showing, thinking I was desecrating its precious surface.  No more!  It looks like a birdhouse from this view but do not be fooled.  It is not.
 
 
I am trying to decide if the colors work.  I think I  will add more white and less green and we'll see.
It is fun giving you a peek of my work in progress.  I'd appreciate your opinion.

Namaste'-

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

JOY-We are one.






I am so grateful for the people in my life.  We are so different and yet we are really all the same.
Bonne Annee and bonne sante'-