Room for Growth

It's funny how symbolic things become when transformation is apparent in one's life.  I've been noticing how the little succulent plants I bought over a year ago were outgrowing their ceramic pots. They didn't have enough soil to grow in and the taller ones started listing and I propped them up with pencils.  The soil mark was way to low and I could see the new growth on the bottom of the stems coming in.  .After months of noticing this, and unfortunately ignoring the nurturing they needed,  yesterday I finally re-potted them into larger pots and as I did I felt connected to them.  Ignoring them was like ignoring myself and my need to change and grow.  Though I had been watering them, it was not enough and I could tell they were uncomfortable...and squished.  It felt so good to take care of them, and give them larger pots and a space to grow in...they were instantly happy. 

Roads & The People Map

We all have roads and people maps and on them are people pointing us in the direction of our dreams.  Sometimes, it's a story they share that reminds us that's where we want to go too. Sometimes, it's a suggestion or a bit of advice.  I feel  like the quintessential "grasshopper" of sorts and have several "masters" lending their wisdom and insight, which is a great thing especially now, when I feel somewhat embroiled in the muck.  One of the hardest things for me to do, is to stop doing. I pride myself on being driven and tenacious. However, I've reached a point where taking a break of sorts, resting and regrouping, is a necessary ingredient to the well being of my life. 

Today I had lunch with my photography mentor and good friend Aline Smithson.  I told her a bit about what's going on, or not going on, personally and professionally and she suggested that I start keeping a journal, actually, two journals... one for ideas and one for me to share thoughts and feelings... as in The Artist's Way.  I used to do this a long time ago, but I knew that as soon as she said that, that it was time to do it again...    I was telling her how I felt inflicted by too many ideas and she suggested I write them all down while concentrating on a couple.  Sage advice... and crucial reminder because I was beginning to feel like the mad scientist, all alone in my laboratory, devising formulas but never knowing which one to actually experiment with and move forward with.

I just got back from purchasing two journal books... I even bought a few "special" pens to write in them with.  Soooo much better than therapy... not to mention a lot less expensive.  We both agreed that this "bump in the road" is a necessary part of growing and living, there are steps I can do in the meanwhile.  I can begin to get some clarity in how I will move forward in my life and what that looks like.  After all, there is art and there is life and there is love... and it is combining these  ingredients that I strive for.

 Aline also suggested that I start blogging in a more intimate manner, sharing a little more of my life... so here it is.  And here's to whoever reads this... may you be led to amazing people on your people map too.  Thank you Aline!

Click here to see the beautiful work of Aline Smithson
 Lenscratch - Crucial Blog for Photographers

Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman

If you haven't read this book, you are truly missing out.  It is one of my favorites and not just because Beth is also one of my favorite women, but because it is so moving and powerful.  I didn't want it to end... and now I wait patiently, hoping there will be a movie made of this beautiful story of growth and all its processes. 
http://bethhoffman.net/home/

Buy it on Amazon!

Confessions of a Word Game-Aholic

Today, I resigned from all the games I was playing in Words with Friends and Scramble with friends on my phone. It was becoming an addiction.. or Hi, my name is Robbie and I am a word game-aholic.  Besides my husband letting me know how annoying it is to always see me on my phone playing word games, I was beginning to get annoyed at myself as well.  Wow, I thought, I spend a lot of time playing these games... in bed, when I first wake up, in the middle of the day... it was my new drug of choice.  Having an addictive personality, I have to be careful of these things and while escapism is ok sometimes, I can get addicted to that too!  Good thing that one of my addictions is Caesar salad, at least, it's good for me!  Today, the synchronicity appeared when I began a meditation on the activities I participate in during the day, led by a leader from Deepak Chopra.  I started doing the 21 Day Meditation Challenge, 11 days ago.  There it was... and I smiled as I listened to the meditation about the activities I chose to do and as soon as the meditation ended, I resigned from playing word games with friends and deleted the apps from my phone.  I kept Scrabble for those times I consciously choose to play.  I let my "actual" friends know that I am taking a break... and just resigned from the anonymous players I was playing with... as I know, they will find others easily enough to engage in a game.

What will I do with all the minutes or even hours that I won't be playing games?   ... breathing deeply I hope... and letting my consciousness expand and allow all the love and creativity I can hold, to enter my being.