8×8 print or print on wood available — here —

Hi Friend,

Over the years I have often found myself in transition or dealing with change. Sometimes it’s relationship changes, or job changes, or financial changes…. and the tides of life toss me around, leaving me feeling like I can’t catch my breath.

I know now that when I start to feel that, that overwhelm, I need to stop, and find my self, my happy place, and come back to what I know. Come back to God. Come back to listening to the still small voice inside me. Come back to the kindness that is usually a standard in my heart. Come back to those in my inner circle and rest there in their comfort and reassurance until I get my strength to continue on the journey.

I need to restore the calm and peace, that gives me inspiration to paint, courage to risk, and the compassion to love.

It’s soooo very important, for me to take that time to rest and restore my spirit.  If I don’t make that effort, I end up angry, grumpy, frustrated and with a lonely heart.

I can get caught in the going and the working and the doing that I don’t even realize how depleted my spirit is until I snap and something that would normally be no big deal, becomes “the world is coming to an end”!

So my friend, maybe you find yourself there in that place, just empty, and feeling like you have nothing left to give, to yourself or anyone else.

Take the time to restore, rest, relax and regain your joy.

It’s not easy if your surrounded by angry and unhappy people, coworkers, or whatever it might be at the time.  BUT DO IT! IT’S NOT SELFISH. It’s self care, which will allow you to do everything better.

Take a nap

Take a walk

Go to the gym

Go out to dinner with those who know and love you in spite of yourself

Take a weekend trip

Disengage from the gossip at work

Put a beautiful poem, picture or something inspiring on your desk

Put up twinkle light in your bedroom, kitchen, studio, office anywhere to make that space feel beautiful

Stay in your pajamas all day

Bake your favorite dessert

You get the idea, whatever it is that will allow you to care for your soul and feel rest and delight.

Then once you feel rested and restored, take some more time to do an inventory of what takes you to that place of weariness and see if there is a way to change it, small steps or maybe big ones.

My friend life is to short to be caught up in the worlds dreariness, drudgery and overwhelm. I see coworkers everyday slugging around, punching a time clock, with out a drop of joy and it make me sad. It also wakes me up, to say to myself, don’t you dare become that! If I have to punch a time clock then I want to be able to do it with a sense of humor and joy it my heart, and if I can’t do that, then it’s time to make some changes!

Just remember you are worth the time it take to be restored!

Love and Hugs=Shawn

8×8 print or print on wood available — here —