Listen

 

"You're not always going to agree with everything you hear, but you've got to start by listening."

 Will Guidara.

I'm reading a great book at the moment called Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara. It's about his life in the restaurant business, but a lot of the lessons he has learned are applicable to daily life. I particularly liked this quote. If we all just listened more, we might find we actually agree on more than we think we do. Don't decide beforehand, but listen without judgement and without jumping in with your own comments. It is one of the most precious things we can do for each other, to truly listen. Even if we don't agree, the fact that we have listened shows that we respect the other person no matter our difference of opinion. And the world could do with more respect.

New piece

 

I'm posting less at the moment as things ramp up in the bookshop and Christmas approaches. That doesn't mean that I'm not arting as much as usual, though. This is another A3 piece as I find that I'm really enjoying working at this size at the moment. They're more detailed than my journal pages, and I love how 'clean' the border makes them look. Sometimes I create a border on my journal pages as well, but often I just jump straight in with the colour :) Talking of which, I'm really pleased with this palette. I've pulled some leaves out of the garden that have these vivid reds and oranges - so bright they almost don't look real - and they make me smile.

What colours are making you smile at the moment?

Stepping stones

 

Stepping back from this page I could immediately see three sets of stepping stones, all different. Stepping stones allow us to go from one place to another over difficult terrain.

Are you like me - unsure of your footing so you take anything like stepping stones really carefully? Or are you one of those people who hops from one to another like a mountain goat, perfectly assured of your athletic ability? Sometimes, though, when the stones are a bit further apart, you have to take a chance, let go of your doubt, and go for it. 

Hoops

 

Jumping through the hoops. 

There are times where it feels like you're having to do ridiculous things; things that feel superfluous or obvious or a downright waste of time. But you have to jump through the hoops if you want the system to work for you. Things go more smoothly if you follow through on all the steps and don't try to take shortcuts. So my advice is to fill in those forms in good time; don't leave it until the last minute.

Here comes summer

 

Here comes summer. How do I know? A 38C day, that's how. Thankfully the next day was back down in the low twenties and a cool breeze blew through the house when I opened the doors and windows. Thank heaven for screen doors.

I still find it strange that we are ramping up for a hot summer when everyone else is cooling down for Christmas. 

Focus

 

Don't lose sight of the main thing.

It's easy to do. We focus on the small details and miss the really important thing. 

Sometimes we do it because we become sidetracked. 

Sometimes we are avoiding the main thing. 

It helps to step back and check that you're still focused on the right point and not going off track.

A bit of a week

 

Well, it's been a busy week, and I haven't done a thing in my journal, which is exceedingly unusual. Can't remember the last time that happened. Anyway, making has been happening, just not in the journal. Above are some journals I've made, and below, the fabric of my husband's new clerical shirt. We refer to it as his pirate shirt :) Can you spot the pocket? I was especially pleased with my pattern-matching on it, she says, polishing her nails on her lapel.

Hopefully back in the journal next week.