I am feeling a little dizzy this February.....and don't really know what to say, so I shall just show you another of Camille Hayton's beautiful collages that relates to the heart. May it keep you inspired on your journey throughout 2011!
Dream a little. Plan a little. Laugh and love a little. And follow your heart! Happy travels everyone!
Emjoy!
You can see (& buy) more of her artwork at http://camillehayton.blogspot.com/search/label/Artwork.
Some days we just have to allow our hearts to say good-bye so that we can find something new...let it weep a little and before you know it, something bright and unexpected will come your way!
I met the creator of this collage today, Camille Hayton. This piece of her magnificent artwork strangely and accurately reflects a number of conversations I have had personally and professionally this week so I thought I would share...
Here's the thing....we are always 'En Route' whilst here on earth! You'll never be in the same place for long. So take heart and remember to forget....and run with the good! Let go of everything that holds you back or that makes you feel small. Life is too short to focus on other people's perceptions and opinions of you, especially if they are destructive. Shake them off and you Go Girl! Here's the truth - they don't know what you know! Trust yourself, you can do it.
You can visit Camille's blog at her blog www.camillehayton.blogspot.com.
You can see and buy Camille's creative work at http://www.etsy.com/shop/camillejaval?ref=pr_shop_more.
Thanks Camille Hayton for summarising it all perfectly in such a gorgeous picture!
A friend wrote in his first book..."The fulfillment of our dreams needs the input and support of others. The effectiveness of our achievements is dependent on the influence of others. Only 10% of our destiny is within us. The other 90% is brought to us through our relationship with others. Life is built on and around relationships."
He was of course, referring to the work of Dr David McClelland, from Havard University who spent 25 years of his life researching 'success and achievement'.
This was (still is) a huge discovery. What it means is, that no matter how much potential you have, no matter how gifted you are, you need other people if you are going to maximize it! Why is this so?
Simply because the people you spend time with become your reference group. As you associate with them, you glean from them and will soon find yourself sharing their lives. Some people will limit you, others will help you fly! Search ardently to find friends and associates who take you up, not down! Who support you and are generous of spirit! Choose wisely! Invest in them and see what you can achieve together!
Photo - A good friend - Paula Taylor (glasses).
One of the hardest things about breaking off a relationship with someone you had hoped might like you (alot and forever) is that it brings back some of the pain associated with other relationship disappointments you've had to overcome. That's normal and okay. Go easy on yourself. Sit with the pain and let it pass! Late last year, unfairly finding myself in that situation, I stumbled on a few past 'Notes to Self' that helped me understand the size of it.....
At 35 years of age, four months after mum died of breast cancer, I wrote the following....
Tonight I've shed tears....a lot of tears....I am missing mum. I seem to be missing a family too. My family. The husband and kids that I thought I would have by now. The milestones I thought I would have arrived at in my late 20's and early 30's.
By now, I thought 'I' would be 'we' and 'we' would have a home to share with the world......a child or two..... a garden, a neighborhood, a kindergarten, a primary school that would surround our lives and dictate most of our daily activities....
I imagined......waking up to the pitter patter of little feet in the hallway.......... I imagined blowing bubbles in the bath.....making faces and laughing over the change table....putting bandaids on scratches that didn't need bandaids...putting silly bows in the hair....those sorts of 'ordinary' delightful things.
I remember often finding my mother in the kitchen late into the night sewing and cooking for our 'special occasions'. I can still 'see' the 50 lovingly molded clowns she made sitting on a tray on top of our television and then placed on little fairy cakes for my four year old birthday party at kinder! They were an exquisite thrill and created a memory for me that will last a lifetime! It represents the life I had been hoping for and was capable of....
The notes included a copy of the prayer I prayed that night....I prayed that I would see how I could give away something of myself.....in a small way and just bring a little bit of comfort and light to someone or something in this world. I prayed that I would be able to spread the joy and love my mother knew so well to those about me...I asked for Inspiration, for Love, for Joy, for a son, a daughter, for a life that we may give.....and ease each other's pain (it was the 24th August, 1999). I had forgotten about this prayer until today. It stands almost alone as there are not many prayers in my life that remain unanswered. But quite a few years have passed now....so I am wondering if perhaps it's time for me to take it back (just in case God catches up with the back-log!!)?
Life is full of beginnings and endings, endings and beginnings!
When Sarah and I became friends in Grade 2, I had no idea it would result in a life-long friendship!! I am so thankful that we connected back then on so many levels. I've just spent the most wonderful Christmas with her family on their farm (below).
I believe in 'friendship' and I have invested in it all my life. People often comment on what great friends I have and reflect how they wish they had friendships like mine. That comment always takes me by surprise as I couldn't imagine meaningful survival without them...I couldn't live any other way. Giving and sharing is the essence of life. You give, you invest, you love and as a result you find like-minded people who can share experiences, memories, movies and stuff!! In fact we end up writing our own 'film' everyday, scene by scene, chapter by chapter!
I have happily and sadly found the following to be true.....
"One must be fond of people and trust them if one is not to make a mess of life." - E.M.Forster. Oh how true! One must find and cherish the things you have in common and make minor issues of the rest. That's a choice. "If you judge people you have no time to love them." says Mother Theresa. And I say........there's plenty to love if you're not busy judging!
Not everyone can trust and live so simply!
I know that I am truly blessed that I can.
I wish that blessing on you!!
Well it's that time of year again! Any New Year Resolutions brewing?
I am so looking forward to 2010! In fact, it's already started for me! I've spent 18 months trying to work something out in business and suddenly I have a whole new drawing board filling quickly with hope in my heart and resilience overflowing! What more could a girl ask for?
Every year between Christmas and New Year I read an inspirational book to refresh (& hopefully replenish) what's left of my grey matter and stir my soul. This always results in new enthusiasm for the year ahead and lasting connectivity between my activities and meaning. I think it started one year with a very enjoyable read of Caroline Jone's book, An Authentic Life (ABC's radio host of program 'Search for Meaning').
Whilst in this reflective mode, I choose a WORD that encapsulates what I would like more of in my life. It must be represented by only ONE word. I like to keep things simple! This then consciously (in the beginning), and ultimately subconsciously, becomes my theme for the year!
One year I chose the word “COLOUR” because I started by wanting more 'colour' in my life. I ended up unexpectedly attending a life changing conference called “Colour”. The year it was “ORANGE” I ended up in the middle of the Australian desert on top of one of the world's largest monoliths, Uluru. Another year it was the word “YES” and I was given an eight week old puppy with two hours notice. I said "YES!!" (I named her Molly and she is my darling ‘puppy’ who must never die). 2009's theme?.....Well of course, it was ‘ADVENTURE”. And adventures I have certainly had. My world is no longer the same. So much so, you will find me still talking about them throughout 2010.
If you want a good year...start planning now....it will be New Year before we know it!
Only......as Wendy (the chicken) so wisely notes up there on that board...............
"Watch out for that moon!" (smile)
And every now and again, he has a bad day too!! So be nice!
Picture taken from Gus Gordon's children story book "Wendy" (the chicken)
Giddy up Bob!
We all feel brave every now and again and muster up the courage to try something new. Of course the risk is that it doesn't always quite work out.....
It's on those days that I go to my 'Go Girl' (girlosophy) book and flick through until I find something that resonates within me...something that fortifies my soul at that particular moment...!
Something like "Go (girl).....Go Gently! Go Directly! Go Intentionally! Go Ahead! Go Get 'Em! You're Going Well!! Just Keep Going." At the same time, I remind myself that I am loved!
It's there that I find the strength to move on and be braver still, to try again!
Pictures taken from Australian author, Gus Gordon's new children's book, 'Wendy" (the chicken)!
