Good morning! May life be good for you. May peace find your heart. A bit of abstract here. It is a Shibui. Today I am starting off with water. I am surprised to be drinking water. LOL. Today’s excitement is visiting my son today!

~Thoughts for the day!~

Yesterday was wonderful. The group I went to was filled with eleven individuals who wat the same kinds of things for themselves, we all feel a strong connection although we did not know one another. We know we affect one and other and the world by being who we are. I had always felt this should be true but having what I am finding in this group affirms it.

I have been reaching out to people such as in the grocery store and saying “Hi! That’s a pretty jacket! (It was gorgeous!) and we ending up talking for quite a while! Exchange phone numbers. Part of our conversation was what is happening in the world. What was really interesting to me is more and more I learn people feel things will slowly change and that it will be a bumpy ride. When things get so bad it really hits us! We can’t ignore it! What’s happening now is something that has been piling up like forever!

How we understand one another and communicate makes such a difference. We can communicate and be different in many ways.

The point I want to make is finding these people more and more is exciting!

I have been asking how I can affect the world around me through what I love, and that is art and writing. Doing what we love gives us a wonderful opportunity! To find others like us. This is something that is happening to me! Others are taking the risk to know me, as I am them. Allowing my intuition to check things out. There is room for causation. Meeting others requires boundaries. Having a boundary when a relationship is new is important. It’s like “This is what I want you to know at this point.” The other person is feeling the same. You spend time learning about one another. The skills of good communication come into play. You listen, observe and respond, sometimes with boundaries such as saying no in some comfortable “for you” way. We depend on good communication. It’s not just talking! It’s seeing! We observe the other person. What is the message they give us as they talk. Is it a mixed message? We listen for tone of voice? We look for direct eye contact. There are other things too. Like feeling their vibe. Their smile, their sad face. And what they risk telling about themselves. If you feel safe the both of you will share.

What has been truly wonderful is this willing to allow someone in enough to get to know one another. Despite what has hurt us in the past. One commonality is that we wish to understand and not feel alone with our experiences. It takes time to build trust and belief in one another. It is a great compliment to be liked and even loved. In time we may learn to love who someone is. If we feel good about the connections, we make it feels like a bond that we are loyal to. People become important to us.

It makes me feel happy to find such individuals. All of the people in my life are dear to me. But there are others too whom I watch and wait to see if they change up their demeaner.

Our time is not just about friendships as we do have to work, do chores and errands etc. Living life is a very complex thing. Meeting others has given me hope, joy and a sense of balance by being ok despite what is going on in my life.

Reaching out is something I promised myself I would do.

~In The studio~

I am still working on the stippling pen and ink. I will be looking what I will do next. The next step will be to gather the materials for that. Leaning towards my collaboration project with two other female artists.

I “finally” felt a “hot” idea. I knew something would hit me at some point as being hot, meaning exciting! I knew that I would experience something that would gel up my thoughts about the connections we have with one another and other life forms that we associate with here on the earth!

The group I have mentioned today which I go to; a new friend from that same group, is delightful to know! When I talked with her husband he spoke of his connection with plants! He is a landscaper; they both have been landscapers! They are right up my alley! A gift to help me put my puzzle together!

They love the earth and their own relationship is organic. Enjoying being in their company I can see how to bring about my ideas.

The questions come: I know how I feel, but what do others feel I ask myself. What does it mean to others to have a connection with other people, and what kinds of other things do people feel they connect to. (What do they connect to beyond the family pet. Do they love trees, a certain kind of animal?) How can I convey that through art. I am happiest when problem-solving art or writing.

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~Pearls of Wisdom~

Be kind to yourself. Don’t over complicate your life by over thinking. Take time for yourself. This is challenging for a mom, or dad. “The Be Happy!” song is in my head. Not sure if that’s the title.