Riding the waves

“If you could say it in words there would be no reason to paint.” Edward Hopper.


Still on the subject of art....I'm now the proud owner of a wonderfully complete set of chalk based pastels. These were given as a gift to me by someone dear and belonged to that person's father. I feel more than privileged to own them and am very touched at the gesture to let me use them. 


Life's been busy the last few weeks and is due to get busier again. I can take the pace and am taking time to meet up with some wonderful people. What I would like to know though is, where is the sun? I think it's been playing hide and seek and forgot to find us. I hope that when I get a few days off, the sun will eventually return and I can look forward to another enjoyable pursuit - photography. 


I found this blog, which showcases some great photography. I like some of the work, especially that of Andrew Brooks. This picture of a boat on a rough sea...beautiful. 

Pablo Picasso cleverly said... 'The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls'.  
I hope that posting this helps a few more bits of dust to disappear....

I've just returned from a well-earned break in the south of France with my family. Extremely beautiful scenery, breathtaking heat and such strong winds that excite the trees and almost knock you off your feet! I love the differences that exist in Provence - so refreshing. Opening the window shutters after each nights passing was like gently opening a long, anticipated Christmas present. You know it's going to be good.     

I purchased a small set of oil pastels and a few sheets of paper as the views were inspirational. I got one image onto paper, however the rest stayed in my head or on the camera. It was a challenge to translate what my eye saw onto a small piece of paper. Yet, gradually as I relaxed and stopped worrying about the detail, my body seemed to translate what I was seeing into something close to an attempt at 'art'.  I suppose like a muscle, the more you practice, the easier it gets. That applies to relaxing too! I won't be posting my arty attempt, it will be kept as a personal reminder of why relaxing is good for me too.  

On my return I was browsing some images of the area on the net, when I stumbled upon a Scottish Artist, Jack Morrocco. I felt he had captured some of the extremes and beauty of the area extremely well.  Some real art to savour!

Jack-Morrocco Scottish Artist - book on Amazon - 'A work in progress' 

narrow margins

An amazing image of a new cruise ship being manoeuvred through the narrow Dutch waterways before reaching the North Sea.  It reminded me of our own narrow margins that we face every now and then. Whether we are late for an appointment or worrying in advance that we will not get something done on time.  If we make a sudden movement, it might change the course of history for us and our own journey. Taking the slower paced, though well-planned option might seem a bit safe, however it may be more profitable in the long run (as with the multi million pound ship, we are certainly worth taking care of). 

We usually charge through life, zooming here and there, and it's good to see our foot easing off the accelerator once in a while. 

I preferred schoolbooks with a wide margin. I disliked narrow margins as I preferred having room to doodle, relax and dream. A bit like life. 'All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy' How about you, do you prefer to cram everything in and deal with narrow margins or plan ahead?  

Peace is every step

In following up on some reading I am doing at the moment, I thought I would add a book reference to the blog.  

Peace is every step - Amazon books

A quote from the book reads: "I have heard many stories about parents who have hurt their children so much, planting many seeds of suffering in them. But I believe that the parents did not mean to plant those seeds. They did not intend to make their children suffer. Maybe they received the same kind of seeds from their parents. There is a continuation in the transmission of seeds, and their father and mother might have gotten those seeds from their grandfather and grandmother. Most of us are victims of a kind of living that is not mindful, and the practice of mindful living, of meditation, can stop these kinds of suffering and end the transmission of such sorrow to our children and grandchildren. We can break the cycle by not allowing these kinds of seeds of suffering to be transmitted to our children, our friends, or anyone else."

Amazon UK books - Peace is every step

I hear and see many people who have suffered because they cannot forgive their past or someone in their past. Maybe it is a parent. It is challenging for humans to let go of the past and to change.  I see my own journey over the years as part of the reason for who I am now. 
Feelings and experiences the concrete poured amidst the foundations of who we have become. Maybe if we look at it as mud that held everything in place instead of seeing it as concrete, it is less permanent? It is possible that change can be made and that the foundations can be flexible. 


We have a choice. We can start by thinking about and gaining an understanding of the relationship we had with others, particularly our parents or carers. If we get stuck (in the mud) and are unable to see how we might react to this knowledge, or that forgiveness is beyond our comprehension, we can turn to books like the one above or to therapy. Both of which give a different viewpoint, a different take on our inner chatter. 


Can you listen and begin to see how your thoughts on your own foundations (experiences and feelings) affect you now? How would you like to change? 

stress and eating

I have been aware for a while of a hormone in the human body - and from reading research information also observed in mice - which is triggered and affected by stress. It's not a newly discovered hormone, but one that has increasingly been studied in understanding depression, overeating and obesity. More research is needed, though at least hormones are being taken more seriously and gradually the stigma surrounding people with obesity will begin to fall away. I speak to many who are deeply ashamed (feeling of social stigma) and are personally unhappy with how they feel, their behaviour around food and how they look. More research is underway on the hormonal links, I'm just not sure how quickly that knowledge will filter down. Also whether a pharmaceutical solution comes into play rather than therapies like hypnotherapy, cognitive behavioural therapy or counselling which could all address the stress or depression in the first place (save taxpayers money in the long run too!).


If someone 'feels' depressed the depression itself may be organic (back to the old favourite 'mind body connection') so if we work on the depression, the 'mind' - then perhaps the hormonal balance might be tipped. That makes logical sense to me. I have seen some great results with my clients on balancing out their emotions as well as their eating habits. I help clients to tackle losing weight and to manage stress through individual or group sessions.

http://angiegiles.co.uk/

Rules for living, love and lifestyle?

I came across this today. I think it's wonderful!

The Dalai Lama's Instructions for life ...

Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

When you lose, don't lose the lesson.

Follow the three R's:
- Respect for self.
- Respect for others.
- Responsibility for all your actions.

Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.

Don't let a little dispute injure a great relationship.

When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

Spend some time alone everyday.

Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.

Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll be able to enjoy it a second time.

A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.

In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.

Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality.

Be gentle with the earth.

Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.

Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

By Dalai Lama XIV

Dreams being woven

'We all have our own life to pursue, our own kind of dream to be weaving. And we all have some power to make wishes come true, as long as we keep believing' (Louisa May Alcott)