Sunday, July 16, 2006

On Birthdays and other such stuff

Today is my 59th birthday. It was really nice having it celebrated at church this morning. One woman said it was nice to see someone happy about their birthday for change. I am happy that I was born and my birthday is the celebration of my birth. Now that is something to be glad about! And turning 59 is just fine, as will turning 60 next year will be. This year has been full and rich, complex, difficult, funny, happy, sad, and lots of times, just rolling along okay!

The more I understand about my spirituality and my creativeness, the more I can understand why it is so important to be able to be in the moment. This comes relatively easily for me. I am curious, easily entertained, and very grateful for all of the beauty around me. To be able to take moments to appreciate the shape of the clouds, the color of the sky whether it is blue or grey, the sound of the birds in my backyard, the colors that come out of my fabric dyeing...these are all such wonderful things. Take the time to recognize them, to revel in them, to enjoy them because that is what makes life really worth living. Connecting with the moment puts us closer to our God which has created all.

During July and August, our 10:30 service on Sundays has been moved to 9:30 because it is cooler and we are meeting in our "fireside" room rather than the sanctuary. Our services are not big...about 40-50 people with a bunch out and away for the summer. So we have a small table for an altar, our priest wears only her stole, our cup bearers are not in their robes, and we all sit in a semi-circle so we can see each other. We have developed a much stronger sense of community. Our service is much more informal but also far more personal. It will be hard to move back to the dark sanctuary which is covered in 100 year old redwood paneling...

My husband and daughter and her husband gave me a purple Tutto tote which is for putting your machine in wheels. I really didn't want it for my sewing machine...I want it for a carry on...when I do get to travel on an airplane to give a lecture and workshop, I travel with my computer and projector for my power point presentation. The computer has it's own bag but it is really heavy...the projector has it's own case which puts be over the limit when I have a purse also. So now, this tote will work great. It pulls from the end so it will go through the airplane aisles rather than requiring carrying. It will hold the computer, projector, cables, water bottle, food snacks, and some clothes and a book and magazine along with a project to work on. What more could I ask? (well some bookings would help!)

I am now deleting most of the posts on the list. It's really sad that it has fallen to this level...too much talk about TV, too much talk about who is right, too much offense taken, too much offense given. I learned some time ago that I cannot allow myself to be brought down by negative people and situations. I am now able to excuse myself, or ask that the situation be changed, or just not invite negative people in to my life. I have suffered from clinical depression now for 11 years. Unfortunately, therapy did not provide long term answers but medication has really assisted me in living a normal life. With a change in medications a year and a half ago, things got much better. But my mental health is too important to me to allow others negativity to effect it. So, back to being in the moment...when things get negative around me, I look for that something special somewhere where I can be in the moment with beauty. And thus, my art is generally about making beauty (at least from my perspective!)

I have been getting a lot of work done recently. Will try to get pictures up soon although some has been put on my website.

8 comments:

Gerrie said...

Happy Birthday - good and wise friend! If I had known, I'd have baked a cake and eaten it for you!! Even have blown out the candles and made a wish for you to have many special moments with beauty in them.

Deborah Boschert said...

Bravo! Now those are reasons to CELEBRATE!

Felicity Grace said...

I totally agree with weeding out negativity from one's life in whatever form that takes. QA used to make me so cross until I woke up to what it was doing to me. There will always be participants on the Jerry Springer Show and QA IMHO is not going to realise it's potential. Sad that so many artists can't make it something beautiful.

PaMdora said...

Happy BDAy! I know what youmean about negativity, I try to avoid people and thoughts that bring me down. When I first set up my studio, I found that being surrounded by lots of bright colors always perked me up no matter how bad I feel, so now I call it my "color therapy" room. Sometimes even if I don't have time to make art, I walk in there for at least a few minutes to let all those color rays wash over me. Oh yeah, and some cheerful music at the same time helps augment the effect.

Anonymous said...

Happy, happy, happy birthday to a wise and talented artist. Go out and have a grand day.

Rayna said...

Lizzie darlin' - happy, happy birthday!! Sounds like a lot of stock-taking and positive energy is moving you right along to a great year ahead. Sending a big b.d. hug and thanks for being my friend.

TALL GIRL said...

Happy Birthday, girlfriend! You, weze and I were all born in 1947. A great year for artists!!!

Jamie Fingal said...

Happy Birthday. The world is a better place with you in it. Surround yourself with positive and encouraging people.