Fly

Today was such a gift. Though, so was yesterday...and the day before...and the day before. I've been toying with the idea of getting my art "out there." I have a friend who is going to help me do that. For a long time I drug my feet.

Our daughter, Caroline said, "Mom, are you afraid you are going to fail?" I thought about that a long time - - yet another one of my procrastination measures. tee hee.

As I thought about it, I realized I wasn't afraid I was going to fail. I was afraid I might succeed.

A new friend shared with me a Nelson Mandela quote today that really spoke to me.

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, "who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?" Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. You were born to manifest the glory of God that is within you. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Wow. As I've reflected on this and other thoughts I've come to realize that not working to excel in what are God given gifts is in fact a big way to dishonor God.

I've been very drawn to birds and nests all my life, but even more so lately. I've been drawn to bird's cages and free birds. We are born free birds. But in the midst of life, we quietly, complacently allow ourselves to be locked in a little cage. Oh, sure, we have to follow rules, laws, etc. But sometimes we lose our true self in the cage.

Today I was at It's About Time, my favorite store in Abilene, and got this pretty little necklace by Jo Carol Spurlock. She does such a fantastic job on these little nests. I love what the medallion says, too..."fly."

Well, okay, then.

I will.

How about you?
Lila

No Regrets

One of our residents stopped in my office today to chat. She's in her 90's. A perfectly lovely lady. Her family has shared with me that she can be a hand-full.

Anyway, as we were enjoying a lovely chat she shared that she had some regrets especially about some things when she was raising her children. She told me that she regretted to this day that she had not allowed her daughter to go to the University of Texas where she had wanted to go. She realizes now the reason she wouldn't let her go was silly.

She then went on to say that one of her daughters wanted her bridesmaids to wear hats in her wedding but she thought it was tacky and wouldn't hear of it. She now regrets making a fuss over it as it was her daughter's wedding.


I asked her if she had told her daughters about these regrets. She said she hadn't. I encouraged her to share with them what she had shared with me. She said they would be visiting soon and thought she would tell them.

We just do the best we can with the tools we are given at the time, don't we? Sometimes it's not very good and other times we do alright. But, how important to apologize and ask forgiveness when we recognize our shortcomings.

I'm thankful for the conversation I was able to share with this beautiful lady today. I'm thankful that God placed me in a place to get lessons from those older than me all the time. (I think he knew I was a slow learner and needed a lot of guidance. smile)

I don't want to ever look back with regrets, either. I've done some pretty bone-headed things, for sure. Let's take care of what we can with regrets from the past and then move on.

Movin' on,
Lila

Live Juicy

Here is another painting with a Sark expression. Sometimes the people who inspire the paintings are an amalgam of several different people. I painted this cute little lady without realizing she has a lot of our Activities Director in her. (I work in a retirement living community.) Renee lives juicy. She wears fun clothing and is always wanting to try something new. One of her children's friends told her she dressed like a French artist. She really does.

Why say, "yes" when you can squeal, "oooo la la?"
Lila