Be the light ...

“Light is to darkness what love is to fear; in the presence of one, the other disappears.

 Marianne Williamson

I have posted this collage on my P.O.P. site (society6 and Redbubble) and I will donate the entirety of my portion of the sale of this print, 'be the light ... ' to UNICEF to help the children in the Ukraine.  

print on society 6:

https://society6.com/product/be-the-light6628744_print?sku=s6-23296111p4a1v45

Print on redbubble: 

https://www.redbubble.com/i/art-print/be-the-light-by-Virginiacreate/103391524.1G4ZT?asc=u

Click here to go directly to UNICEF's site to donate directly:

www.unicefusa.org

When I sat down yesterday to create this month's collage for my #virginiacreates monthly calendar - this collage came quite clearly to me.  I didn't struggle with it or question it, which usually happens with most of my work.  But this piece seemed to flow. 

 I was listening to an interview with the lovely and talented Anne Lamott (see link below) and she was speaking about the importance of being the light - especially for creatives - and so I named this collage, 'be the light ...'  However as I was putting together my March calendar page I started seeing that this piece speaks to the heart-breaking situation in the Ukraine.  

As I do with many of my collages I cut shapes from  pages of different foreign text.  I am always picking up foreign books when I see them!! Unknowingly I used pages from one of my book that is in a Slavic language.  This particular book seems to be about Walt Disney and is in some East Slavic language though I am not sure which language. I love to use text in my work and especially text using different alphabets.  I find lettering/text/language so inspiring and beautiful of many levels.  

 

Also when I first sat down to make this collage I felt the need to stamp a peace sign, something that I don't always do, but yesterday it felt important.

I mention all this because I really wasn't consciously thinking about the Ukraine crisis, but as I look at the finished collage I feel like it speaks to the crisis, peace & light with a slavic text sprinkled around.  And this is an idea that Anne Lamott talks about, that we, as creatives, need to be open so that we are receptors of the world and that it what feeds our work.

A Conversation with Anne Lamott - 2007:

Best-selling author Anne Lamott returns to San Diego with more hilarious tales of her life as a mother, daughter and writer who is drawn to the struggles of imperfect characters. The humor of host Dean Nelson puts the normally reclusive Lamott at ease and the two keep the audience laughing throughout this edition of the 2007 Writer’s Symposium by the Sea, sponsored by Point Loma Nazarene University. [4/2007] [Show ID: 12220]

https://youtu.be/PhP5GmybvPM

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Cultivate an attitude of gratitude and Just say no to stress!

If the only prayer you ever say

in your entire life is 

thank you,

it will be enough.

Meister Eckhart

As stress and anxiety can wreck havoc on your immune system, I am of the belief that being mindful of your stress and anxiety levels is as important as washing your hands.  

Below is a link to an article about managing your fears and anxieties around the coronavirus from Harvard University.  This article offers good information as well as some concrete ways to manage one's stress or panic.  

One of the suggestions is an all time favorite of mine: 

GRATITUDE!! 

Below are links to an old post from this blog about being grateful, and the practice of using a gratitude journal, as well as links to other sites that sing the praises of being thankful!!! 

Practice a mindset of gratitude.

Spend time each day thinking about three things you are grateful for. Picture holding these things in your open hands.

Managing Fears and Anxiety 

around the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

from www.harvard.edu

In this blog's post from 3 October, 17 I speak of some of the power and benefits of being grateful:
 cultivate an attitude of gratitude ...

"A few years back I heard the amazing Louise Hay talk about thanking the universe when anything good, big or small,  happens.  She continued with this example, 'if you gave another person many gifts but that other person never ever said thank you, then you might not be so excited about giving that person anymore gifts?!'   She then said, 'why not say thank you to the Universe, or to Mother Nature, or to God or the Goddess or whatever larger power that you believe in?!' For me that idea resonated and since hearing her theory, I thank the universe constantly, throughout the day.

When I find my keys ... "thank you universe"; when I get the 'walk' sign when I am in a hurry to get to work .... "thank you universe"; when I have a moment to sit on my front step and watch the setting sun ... "thank you universe"; when my girls are both under my roof,

safe and sound for the night ....

"THANK YOU UNIVERSE"

Of course when you are having a bad day, or you are involved in a natural disaster or violent act, to think about being thankful may seem like a sick joke, and I am not saying it is easy, at all.  But I have come to the conclusion that it does not hurt me to be thankful.  Even when it seems absolutely impossible to believe that there is anything for me to be grateful for, something happens when I just start to consider being grateful, there is a ever-so-slight inner shift, and I find something small or everyday that I am thankful for and I seem to stop that negative spiral."  

 one of my journals frommy Redbubble shop

A tried and true method to bring more gratitude into your life is with a gratitude journal. 

".. the most popular practice is to keep a “gratitude journal.” As ... studies have traced a range of impressive benefits to the simple act of writing down the things for which we’re grateful—benefits including better sleep, fewer symptoms of illness, and more happiness among adults and kids alike." 

Tips for Keeping a Gratitude Journal

Here's a way to be thankful all year long. by Jason Marsh, November 17, 2011 

The Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley

peace and be well!!

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May this dress remind us to act BIG!!! XX

https://www.redbubble.com/people/virginiacreate/works/28818368-you-are-the-universe?asc=u

“Stop acting so small. 

You are the universe in ecstatic motion.”

Rumi

today act BIG!!

love, mom

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May this dress help us to trust the process ...

Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness. 

How do you know this is the experience you need? 

Because this is the experience you are having at the moment. 

Eckhart Tolle 

trust the process! 

love, mom

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Remember to have some angels in your life!!

(this print will be available on redbubble)

The way people come into your life when you need them,

 it's wonderful and it happens in so many ways. 

It's like having an angel. 

Somebody comes along and helps you get right. 

Stevie Ray Vaughan

Today's post is inspired by some dear angels that helped me this weekend!!
THANK YOU dear friends!!

Make sure you have some angels in your life!!
love, mom

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Carpe Diem!! it's Monday!!!

“When you arise in the morning 

think of what a privilege it is to be alive, 

to think, to enjoy, 

to love ...”

 Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

love, mom

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relax ... just be who are you are!!!

Tension is who you think you should be. 

Relaxation is who you are.

Chinese Proverb

click here to see calendar on redbubble

Also ...  if you are interested :)

you can purchase a 'dailydress' calendar from redbubble.

And today they are offering 25% OFF everything with

the code: BONUSDAY

Time. Is. Running. Out. Get 25% off everything. Use BONUSDAY

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cultivate an attitude of gratitude ...

use this sticker to remind yourself to be grateful

Yesterday I went to a meditation class and the teacher announced that in light of recent tragic events that she was going to lead us in a gratitude meditation.  

It was a good class.

There are numerous studies and articles about the transformative power of gratitude.  Below is a link to a wonderful article from www.huffingtonpost.com called The Transformative Power of Gratitude, by Dr. Randy Kamen.   The article speaks to the power of being thankful, listing the benefits of gratitude, suggesting some strategies and exercises to help one cultivate a grateful attitude, and even offers a gratitude meditation.  

a possible 'gratitude journal'

I have personally experienced the power of gratitude and consciously practice being thankful every day, especially when things are hard and it would be easy to spiral into anger and despair. 

A few years back I heard the amazing Louise Hay talk about thanking the universe when anything good, big or small,  happens.  She continued with this example, 'if you gave another person many gifts but that other person never ever said thank you, then you might not be so excited about giving that person anymore gifts?!' That made a lot of sense to me.  She then said, 'why not say thank you to the Universe, or to Mother Nature, or to God or the Goddess or whatever larger power that you believe in?!' For me that idea resonated and since hearing her theory, I thank the universe constantly, throughout the day.

When I find my keys ... "thank you universe"; when I get the 'walk' sign when I am in a hurry to get to work .... "thank you universe"; when I have a moment to sit on my front step and watch the setting sun ... "thank you universe"; when my girls are both under my roof,

safe and sound for the night ....

"THANK YOU UNIVERSE"

Of course when you are having a bad day, or you are involved in a natural disaster or violent act, to think about being thankful may seem like a sick joke, and I am not saying it is easy, at all.  But I have come to the conclusion that it does not hurt me to be thankful.  Even when it seems absolutely impossible to believe that there is anything for me to be grateful for, something happens when I just start to consider being grateful, there is a ever-so-slight inner shift, and I find something small or everyday that I am thankful for and I seem to stop that negative spiral.  

One gratitude exercise that the article recommends is keeping a gratitude journal.

some 'gratitude' swag ...

• Keep your gratitude journal by your bedside and each night list 3-5 positive experiences from the day. Elaborate on one of these ideas.
I believe you have heard me mention a gratitude journal, once or twice?!? I have been suggesting that your Grandmother Gommie start one :) Again, I have experienced a lot of benefits from keeping a gratitude journal. There is something reassuring about ending the day thinking about some of the good things that had happened during the day.

I appreciate that this all may sound a little too 'mom crazy' for you two, however it can not hurt to try being thankful.  

And I speak from experience, you will lose nothing and you will gain so much

 when you cultivate an attitude of gratitude.

love, mom

p.s.  In case you didn't know, 

I am so so so grateful, beyond words grateful, for you two, 

my two amazing daughters!! xxxx

The Transformative Power of Gratitude,

by Dr. Randy Kamen.

CLICK HERE to go to ARTICLE

www.huffingtonpost.com

p.s.s. and if you are hankering for some 'gratitude' swag ...

you can find this journal, t-shirt and other fun products 

(displaying Meister Eckhart's wise words) 

on my Redbubble online shop.

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