Wednesday, March 19, 2014

bEAUTIFUL sURPRISES

 

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This was one of my most visually satisfying wow moments of late…I was in the garden  collecting some flowers for a vase.  When I went to cut the rose I wanted, I also cut a small bud by mistake.  My sister had just bought me the most perfect set of chemistry vases to put small collections in and this tiny one fit my bud perfectly.

Not only was the scent of this flower astounding but also on viewing the next morning it had opened from a little bud and was slowly in the process of realising its true full potential as a rose in bloom.

It was pretty much opening before my eyes and injected me with so much light and love in my day.

The smallest mistakes can lead to the most joy giving experiences.

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Proud Flesh

This is my latest intuitive painting, the last layer was inspired by Matisse's Blue Lady.

I see a scarred body but nevertheless a beautiful body. In fact, the body is more beautiful and captivating because of the scars. It reminded me of the poem For What Binds Us by Jane Hershfield. and that's where the name of the painting, Proud Flesh, came from;

 "  And see how the flesh grows back
across a wound, with a great vehemence,
more strong
than the simple, untested surface before.
There's a name for it on horses,
when it comes back darker and raised: proud flesh,


as all flesh,
is proud of its wounds, wears them
as honors given out after battle,
small triumphs pinned to the chest"


I am grateful for my scars, as it means many of the wounds have healed. 
I am grateful to have proud flesh. 

Friday, March 14, 2014

Babylonstoren….time spent in amazing places.

 

It was a magical treat to take Julia out of school for the day (life is too short) and take mum, my sister who was visiting at the time, and Nev to this beautiful gardeners paradise in the winelands.  The lunch at the greenhouse was so delicious and fresh with tiny edible flower, blueberries and raspberries scattered about.  Nev received kisses from delighted koi in the pond, whilst Julia marvelled and absorbed nature all around, growing pumpkins, strawberries, lotus flowers.  I saw the most amazing presentation of tiny succulents covering and living on a tree trunk amidst a recycled rubber tyre set up of sorts..fascinating and creatively inspiring.  Grateful for this memorable day spent with loved ones in nature which is always so revitalising.

PicMonkey Collage

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Loving Hurts

Love might not hurt but loving with a open heart sure does.

Loving your child means you feel it intensely when their heart hurts.
Loving a loved one if they can't love you in return hurts.
Loving a loved one that has a huge wall around their heart hurts because you know they don't feel loved.
Loving a loved one when they are facing a big battle in their life hurts because you feel their energy sapping struggle when they get up in the morning to face another day on the battle field, not knowing how it will end.
Loving anyone with an open heart really really hurts.

But I don't want to love any other way.

It's only when I love this way that I can feel the intense, eruptive joy when my child is shining.
It's only when I love this way that I know I made someone feel loved, who might have never felt loved before.
It's only when I love this way that I can experience the intense connection when love is returned.
It's only when I love this way that I can be deeply inspired by a loved one who gets up every day, strap on their shield of courage and go to the battlefield.
It's only when I love this way that I can taste the deep relief and the exquisitely sweet, elated victory when their battle has been won.
It's only when I love this way that I can feel the love flow.

I am grateful for the courage to love with an open heart.

I am grateful to love with an open heart, even if it is really hurting right now.


Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Something Blue

In my quest looking for gratitude, I am looking with fresh eyes at my objects around the house, appreciating the beauty, colour, texture or memories it stirs.

Object #1 is my blue bottle, it sits on my dresser table with beads around the neck of it and I must confess I can't remember the last time I have actually noticed it. 

Today I am looking at the bottle with new eyes;
  • the exquisite cobalt blue 
  • the curvy shape
  • the contrast created by light reflecting and deflecting from its curves
  • remembering the friend that gave it to me more than a decade ago
There is gratitude in seeing beauty.

Monday, March 10, 2014

Tiny Dove with Sixth Sense




Just love this little dove you got me and to think we are both wearing it today, that's pretty cool!

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Upside Down House

I am grateful for a untidy house because it means I have a little five year old girl that's playing and creating.

 I am grateful for four loads of washing because it means we have fun, go places and get quite dirty.

 I am grateful for lots of dirty dishes because it means that I am cooking way more than before and that G and I are eating together.

 I am grateful that I have to do most of the housework now because it means that I am now a stay at home mom.

I am grateful for maintenance problems because it means I have a house and a garden and a pool.

I am grateful for G frustrating the living day light out of me at times because it means I have a daughter, and she has her own ideas.

I am grateful for all confrontations in my life because it shows me where I still need to grow.

I am grateful for my life, messy and hard work at times, full of ups and downs, but so very precious.


Saturday, March 8, 2014

Our Nevers and Our Nexts

There was a time I’d never written a book.
Spoken on stage.
Run a company.
There was a time I’d never been in print.
Been on screen
Been on air.
There was a time I’d never held a pose.
Taught a class.
Led a tribe.
There was a time I’d never been a dad.
Been a husband.
Been in love.
There was a time I’d never questioned anything.
Questioned everything.
Questioned everyone.
There was a time I’d never fought and lost.
Fought and won.
Fought at all.
There was a time I’d never held my daughter.
Known surrender.
Come second.
Or third.
Or last.
There was a time I’d never fit in.
Felt alone.
Loved.
Me.
There was a time I’d never risked soul.
Risked truth.
Risked life.
Never let your nevers keep you from your nexts.

I am grateful for what I have learned so far in my life and for moving forward, step by step. 

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Looking High and Low for Gratitude

I was struggling a bit this morning to find something to be grateful for that really resonated with me. Thankfully I read this post today by Andrea Scher on Superhero Life, Underneath the mess everything is marvelous - I'm sure.

This is an excerpt from her post: "For many years, gratitude practices eluded me. I didn’t feel grateful. I just felt ashamed… for all that I was blessed with and how sad I still felt.
What I was still able to do however was appreciate beauty. And this saved me. Those glittery beads of dew on the grass, the clouds I found in puddles of water, the inside of a dandelion. They saved me from being swallowed up by grief.
When we can catch glimpses into the marvelous, it is a gift. Be on the lookout today. And if you are in a place where gratitude is hard to access, see if you can find some simple beauty. For me, it was the most powerful kind of medicine."

After I read this post this morning I grabbed my camera and went into the garden to look for some beauty. I found joy and smiles and gratitude in Bella's ball, G's picture on the blackboard, flowering basil and tomatoes, light in shadows in my "four agreements" plant, magnificent colourful beads that I am wearing today. 

When I can appreciate beauty, gratitude finds me. And just like that, the whole day seems brighter.


Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Hooked on Nectar







































This plant (no idea what it is called) only blooms once in eight years after which it dies. A stem from which the flowers bloom literally shoots up by growing at least fifty centimeters a week, growing up to three meters high in about six weeks . When it starts blooming it is buzzing with visitors. It attracts many sugar birds (which I never see otherwise), bees and butterflies. It is a hub of activity every day as everyone tries to get their share of nectar. I am so very grateful to have a garden in the UAE.

Monday, March 3, 2014

Green Pickings















I get such a kick out of picking and using fresh herbs from our potted garden when cooking. I have basil, coriander, parsley and mint at the moment. We had watercress for a while and I loved adding that to sandwiches. The cocktail tomato plants are growing like crazy and have flowers now, really hope to see tomatoes soon.