Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.

Ashley Smith

Thursday, May 15, 2008

At Last- motivated to write again!


Keyform number 2: The bowl INVITATION
This is my receiving bowl, woven as part of my Weaving a Life leadership training. (It is upside down in the photo, so that you can see the shapes that make it a bowl!) It is a symbol representing my intention to welcome into my life the opportunities that will help me grow in the direction I desire. It was an exercise in trusting myself, as I am a consummate rule-follower and kept checking and re-checking and checking again, sure that I was doing something wrong! Finally, I was able to let go of my idea of perfectionism and just enjoy. As you can see, it all worked out. Another important life lesson- Trust in yourself.



Keyform number 3: the Doll
INSIGHT

This has, by far, been my favorite keyform to create! She is the image of me as an old woman, complete with the wisdom and knowledge gained through a lifetime of experience. I use her as a confidant, to ask questions, to share secrets. When I told my husband that she and I talk, he asked, with a concerned look, "do you really think she is speaking to you?" I think he was worried that I slipping into insanity!! I explained that it is really a form of play directed at helping me process my questions, experiences, etc. It is funny how different people perceive different things, because when I told my mentor/teacher the exact same thing (about how my doll and I talk) she said, "great! and do you listen to what she tells you?" I love it! The diversity, the chance to look at things in different ways, the ability to take it all in and sift through to keep what I need for me. Beautiful...

One more photo:
this is last spring, but it gives me hope for the upcoming months!

Anyway, what motivated me to write again was a comment by someone who read what I had written before. It is true for me, in my life, that outside motivators are often the things that get me doing what I want to be doing anyway. I often refuse myself the time to do the things that fill my soul (like writing and weaving, painting and gardening) unless I can "justify" it by claiming an obligation to someone besides myself. At times this is frustrating, however I am becoming more creative in figuring out more and different "outside obligations"! A different approach to my time constraints!!

Still working on convincing myself that "me time" has as much value (if not more) as any other activity...