Sermon to Self........Don't look back

Did you ever have the tendency to spend more time fretting over where you have been rather than enjoying were you are now?  I think we all do that from time to time. 

The past has its beauty, but so does today. The past also has its problems that can intrude upon the blessings of today if we so allow.

One is not better than the other. They just ARE.

We miss the gift of today when we spend our time in yesterday.

Take a quick look backwards if you must, then get with the business of THIS day.

One foggy day....or the rest of my life?

 Thinking is impossible on a brain fog day, just as visibility is decreased on a foggy, rainy day aboard ship in the Bering Sea.  The blessing on the trip is that foggy days were rare, and that most days were clear so we could easily see the glory of nature all around us...with no other people in sight. Birds, whales, and bear were on our list of scouting possibilities as we boarded Zodiacs for a day of exploring the shores along the cove.

As I make lists, pack, unpack, make more lists, try to clean, where IS IT???.......my brain has seemed to have quit working for longer than just one day.  Will this go away?? It always has before, but as I get older the mist seems to stay longer and longer.  Will clear thinking be a thing of the past? Oh, I certainly hope not. 

Tomorrow will be a better day.   Slow down, make lists, and do not worry!  Forget the chores and paint!!  Sounds great to me.

The things we do for love.......

Did you ever see a blue-footed boobie?  They are fun birds with (of course) bright blue feet.  The mating dance of these birds is fun to watch as they jump and move around trying to attract the mate of their choosing.  They live on rock islands in the Sea of Cortez and also in other areas of the world.

When I found these pictures of the birds in a magazine, I just had to cut them out and use them on a journal page.  The pages were first painted with acrylics and scraps of paste papers were added.  I have not yet written anything, but will do so when the time is right.

I smile when I think of our trip to the Sea of Cortes on a small ship. Every evening the naturalists would discuss what we did/saw during the day. One night, the Petersons came out with bright blue socks, long beaks tied to their heads, and tail feathers flapping.  They began the evening talk by doing the mating dance of the boobies.  It was a hoot.

Bye for now.....off to go shopping.   I think I need to find some bright, royal blue socks!

Tired eyes and a second look.....

As you can see in this photo of steampunk jewelry, I was careless with the liquid nails, the adhesive for this project in Brenda Mattson's class at Art and Soul.  I had no idea I had slopped the glue until I looked at this photo. Once I had a magnified, close-up view, I was able to clean up the mess.

I wonder how many details in our lives pass by us unnoticed. Do we really look closely at the things that fill our space? Are we really aware, really here?  Or do we run fast, blissfully ignoring the little details that could, if cleared up,  make our lives better?

What things in our lives could be improved, made more likeable, more appreciated if we took the time to look for the little things that clog up the gears?

Looking at the big picture is a good thing, but I hope to take a look into the nooks and crannies of my surroundings to see what can be improved.  I hope. Slow down. Become aware.

Bracelet made in another steampunk jewelry class with Brenda, Art and Soul, 2011