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Holiday self-care: visions versus reality

Holiday self-care: visions versus reality

Image • Just Follow the Joy! • This entry was posted in humor, motherhood and tagged christmas, coffee, holidays, meditation, parenthood, self-care, stillness, stress, wellness. Bookmark the permalink.

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Well my husband is singing sea shanties and my daughter has already asked for candy approx 15x...holiday weekend vibes in full force! I took a walk to center myself in the midst of my happy family chaos (👏) and picked these lovely ferns! I’m feeling inspired to press them and maybe frame them if they turn out ok! It’s probably been decades since I’ve done this! 🍃 🌱 Any tips y’all? I thought you used wax paper but Martha Stewart tells me (via her website) to use parchment, and another website says if they are fresh (um yeah isn’t that the point lol) then you need blotting paper?! What is that and can I sub with generic brand paper towels instead? 🤔 😂 💐 Happy Easter and Passover to those who celebrate! . . . . . #pressedflowers #pressedferns #diycrafts #diyhomedecor #justfollowthejoy #mindfullness #gooutside

Loving the synchronicity of this! Read this quote yesterday after just having posted about how awe-inspiring it is to see tiny changes add up. 🌱 Whenever I picture big changes in my life I imagine the heavens parting and major momentous proclamations and sweeping changes... but it doesn’t work like that AT. ALL. 🤔At least not in my experience. For me it’s like, oh I guess I’ll try doing this thing that kinda scares me (in a good way, not a creepy clown sort of way). And all those mundane little things add up eventually but you can’t see it for a while usually. Don’t be defeated though. It’s all building toward something beautiful! 💭 So what #tinychangegoals do you have? Also that’s not a real hashtag lol. 👍 My tiny change goal is to not stay up until 1am watching @queereye however @janethevirginoncw is back (FINALLY!!) so this goal doesn’t bode well for me. 😂 Any other QE or Jane fans in the house? #inspirationalquotes #artistsway #growcreativity #justfollowthejoy #tinychanges #artistsoninstagram #juliacameron #artaslife #spirituality #spiritualpractice

Today was magical. Magical!! I got to hang out with a gopher tortoise; we chatted for about three hours or so...he posed and stretched in the sun and told me the latest happenings in the state park. I did some pen and ink studies and laid down in the grass about a foot away from him, trying to be nonchalant, like ‘no biggie, just sitting a foot away from a magical land tortoise.’ That only lasted so long. As class was almost over I couldn’t help it...I took some turtle selfies and he rolled his eyes and was like, we. Are. Done. Here. 😂 and went back to his turtle home. (I may have videoed that part too...I know, I know, someone hold back the turtle paparazzi!) I happened upon my turtle friend today because I was in the state park for my art class—we are practicing plein air drawing (French for “drawing outside while swatting at bugs”)—and I put in a request with the divine mother to lead me to one of her beautiful creations to inspire. Well Mother Nature delivered. (I also saw black racer snakes but opted to pass on snake selfies.) At the end of class our prof gathered us around to take what he calls the “dysfunctional family portrait” of all the art students, and I know I was beaming. It was only six months ago I saw these portraits hanging in the campus art studio and I felt pangs of jealousy and regret...oh these young people, studying art! If only! And guess what: I’m in the picture. I’m doing it. I’m probably going to enroll as a proper art major. Wow how crazy is that? I’m still pinching myself over the entire day (and itching mosquito bites). Not to get too cheesy with you all, but for real— don’t limit what you think is possible! I’ve learned that jealousy, regret show me where I’m not meeting my needs, desires and passions...and I’m starting to see all the tiny steps I’ve taken to meet my needs start to add up and gather momentum. Just keep following the joy! it will pay off tenfold. You might even end up with a new friend 🐢 #justfollowthejoy #creativityfound #artistsway #daretocreate #artistsofinstagram #gophertortoise #southwestflorida #choosejoy #pleinairartist #justkeepswimming

Why yes, you are seeing correctly, this is a picture of a forty-something-year-old woman climbing a tree! And having the time of her life! 😂 I’ve always loved climbing trees and there may have been a month or two or ten where my whereabouts as a child were unknown as I hid away in trees. I was up in trees like a little Jane Goodall! Drawing and dreaming and I’m pretty sure talking to tree spirits. (Psst don’t tell anyone but i still do!) 🌲 Why am I sharing this? Well, I’m currently on a quest to follow the joy because thats what my highest self wants me to do and I think it’s about time I started trusting her. I recently quit a job that was very lovely in so many ways but it no longer aligns with who I am. It requires me to put on a suit of armor I no longer want or need. So here I am leaping (climbing?!) into the unknown. It’s time to embrace my gifts. To share my medicine. To share my art and writing and my tree-climbing selfies. 🤔What do you think? What would you allow yourself to do if you decided to embrace joy a little bit more? 💃🏾💃🏼💃🏿💃🏻💃🏽 (New post with more about this on my blog!) #love #joy #healing #vulnerability #hope #spirituality #inspiration #blogger #awakening #creativity #treeclimbing #justfollowthejoy #courage #knowthyself #creative #energy #spirit #imagination #artistsway

I’m learning that my ability to give and bring joy is a huge part of my medicine. I needed this reminder today as I face some big leaps into the unknown. Why It’s almost like @leeharrisenergy posted this just for me! Thanks Lee! 😂 . What’s your medicine? Can you take steps to reclaim it? The world needs your gifts! You have a crucial part in the divine orchestra - it just doesn’t sound the same without you. (Unless you play smooth jazz sax. The world already has Kenny G ‘Kay?!) . . #divinemedicine #joy #justfollowthejoy #divinefeminine #feminineenergy #sacredmedicine #energyintuitive #sacredjourney #daretolead #daretocreate #ownyourmagic #selflove #vulnerability

It seems I’ve been HIDING IN MY SHELL. For like, a while. Months and months! It was necessary, this journey inward and focused on dealing with some life situations. But time to re-enter the world already!⁣ ⁣ So here I am, poking my head out 🐢tentatively at first but pretty soon I’ll be back in the swing of things just like old times, me and WordPress doing our thing. For now, picture me waving hello! 👋 ⁣ ⁣ What you been up to? Ready to take on March? I think good things are in store! Bye for now! But see ya soon! (PROMISE)⁣ ⁣ —>Adorable turtle model is courtesy of The Everglades Wonder Gardens @theevergladeswondergardens where your's truly took the photo. This dude's probably more of a metaphor for someone trying to bust loose from fences (internal? External?) but he’s just so gosh darn cute I had to include him. ⁣ ⁣ #justfollowthejoy #joy #writing #words #writersofinstagram #vulnerability #happiness #turtles #artistsway #creativity ⁣ #writerscommunity #artsy #create

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Just Follow the Joy!

Joy-seeker, mystic, artist, and wrangler of two old beagles, a highly spirited child and a husband who tolerates the crazy.

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