personal unity
March 14, 2010
There are days, weeks and sometimes even months, when the divide between all the worlds that I live feels so wide and stretched that it is easy to forget the reality. The reality being that in actuality, they are beautifully entwined. I am a wife and a mother; a cook and bottle washer; a worker bee in a beige environment of rule upon rule and within all that I am me, an artist and an athlete, a woman with a fragile heart made of light. I can often feel so stretched out that I see myself like the little matchgirl, face pressed against the window wishing I were on the other side of it all.
But if I let my eye catch the light just right and I turn my head sideways, I can find the golden glow when the picture comes together and the lemon sunshine melts into the green avocado of a life well lived. The beauty of truly living an artistic life, a creative life means that every household decision is an opportunity to create a space of inspiration and beauty. When I put my hands in the dirt, I create a garden of food that not only feeds my family but also grows poetry dripped from the sway of a lily and has me leaping up to grab my camera as the light casts floodlights across green spaces. I doodle pictures and pieces of poetry in boardrooms and attempt to find the creative space while writing words that are someone else’s passion.
I remind myself that it is not the life we live that determines our creativity but rather the life we choose to witness, to feel deep in our souls that creates the depth of our lives. The mundane is extraordinary when viewed with your true deep down beautiful self.
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To remind myself that living deeply in my life and being fully present to the depth of emotion that surrounds me as I make my way through life’s gifts and responsibilities, I made myself a little book called, “Garden Notes”.
“Garden Notes” is a small book that fits into the palm of my hand and is filled with little poems and dreams of fairies and the magical photos that live in my garden. see a glimps of it here in this little video.
I would like to gift one to one of the dear readers of Wish Studio. Please leave a comment telling me how you find the beauty in what is seemingly the mundane routine of life and through the magic of a random generator, a winner will be chosen on wednesday, march 17th and will be announced right here on this post.
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the winner of darlene’s garden notes is… heather!
you may email me or connect with darlene to collect your sweet little prize.
enjoy!
Really wonderful post! To me, being still and quiet really restores the magic to a world that is often too busy and frazzled. I love to lie in bed these days while my son naps. I close my eyes and don't try to do anything. I just lie there. It's amazing. For the first time, I know how to do nothing.
Have to tell you that you write so beautifully. I keep a notebook next to me at all times with my favorite pink pen. I turn mundane tasks into new ideas for the creative things I am doing at the time. I also think of how grateful I am that even though my days aremundane I am still living and breathing I can still enjoy the beautiful weather and the birdschirping along the way.Happy Mondayxoxox
I tend to find beauty in the mundane days of life through the lens of my camera. My camera asks me to stop and pause. To seek out the beauty in life. And to share it with others. It is amazing how different I see the world when my camera is in my hand.
Drawing helps me stay amazed at how beautiful the world is. But even if I don't have time to draw, looking observantly is an okay substitute. Hold your child in your lap and really look at that beautiful little ear. It's okay to nibble and kiss a little, too. love, Beth
i loved reading all of your words here. this is what fills my days with color and beauty… the amazing inspiration and magic that this community weaves! thanks to all of you for helping me find my way out of the beige. xo
I try to remind myself as often as possible: "Open your eyes! Pay attention! This is the only life you have!" I find that this hits my mental "refresh" button, and I suddenly see the world with fresh eyes.
I so, so very much *want* to live that way, but right now I don't. The only really magical moments that I capture come when I am playing with my girls. Over the weekend, they were drawing pictures that looked like scribbles to the naked eye, but they knew what everything they were drawing really was, and were so excited to share that with me. I know I had to stop and be present with them there. I only wish I could remember to stop and be present with them more often than that…and be present in the rest of my life too!
Look again.It always happens when I look again. We spend so much of our time rushing and not enough time looking again.ps- So excited to see you here! I read WishStudio on my lunchbreak and imagine my surprise when one of my favorite women of the internet shows up! ((hugs))
two things:cups of tea a walk in the woodsand i think of my father, and his mother, and how those same two things have made them both slow down and internally shift from places of restlessness to quiet contemplation. -Annie
when I first glimpsed this post topic, my brain read "public nudity" ! it caught my attention, and then made me laugh. that's the kind of thing that does it for me. being in a rush, and then stopping short at the curious or absurd. little transformations, little shifts. that's what finding a little magic in the random and mundane looks like for me.
I find the beauty in what is seemingly the mundane routine of life by discussing it with my cats. A wise sage, the cat is… ;)
I am working really hard right now to create a community garden for needy families…..I am growing vegetables and giving them to needy families….I know that I have neighbors who are in need of a little magic, a kind gesture, a smile….I feel blessed that I am able to help….thank you for your wise words…..I appreciate this "circle" and enjoy everyone's wisdom!!
By rising early in the morning, there is a small amount of time forpauses of gratitude, prayers for peace, plans for the day and savoring the beauty of family and friends. A cup of coffee and a homemade muffin can also be squeezed in for pleasure.
This is such a lovely post…and a gorgeous reminder for you to carry around!I started years ago trying to decide how my life was to be integrated. I felt the pull that it was somehow all one but didn't yet understand. "LifeUnity" was the name I came up with to provide me with some structure.It changes all of the time, but these days I find my unity, my peace, through Mindless Strength. Releasing the stress of thinking "I Should" yet keeping the strength to not go jelly-like on the floor, I keep moving…and find beauty in every step.Thanks for such a lovely offering.
i find beauty in the mundane when i listen closely to what people are saying & ultimately, something beautiful will come through. so often we think of this with children & pass on the dear things they say…i have also begun taking "notes" with adults.
i have read and then re-read and then re-read again all of these incredibly beautiful comments and my eyes tear over at the poetry you all find in ordinary moments. thank you for this gift, this gift of of sharing … hugs and love to all of you.