Your own way

Do it your own way.

We've been looking a little at the life of David at church in the last few weeks. The famous fight with Goliath inspired this page. David is dressed in Saul's armour, because that's how soldiers fight, right? But David is a shepherd, not a soldier, and Saul is head and shoulders taller than David. The armour doesn't fit, and David simply isn't used to wearing it anyway. Neither does he know how to wield a sword.

So David does it his own way, with a sling and a stone.

How often do we try to do whatever it is we're doing in a way that someone else tells us is 'right'? Really we need to be like David and know what works for us, what we are comfortable and practiced with. Of course there are times where we need to learn new things and not stubbornly stick to old ways, but let's apply some wisdom.

Breathe

Breathe in the pauses.

This page has two 'storms' with a golden space between, and made me think about how things sometimes seem to come in quick succession. We need to make sure we take the time to breathe in the pauses. Taking time to catch your breath is so important, especially when things seem out of control. Those few seconds of pause can make all the difference.

Leftovers

This page is made with leftover paint from some swatching that I was doing. I was just cleaning off my brush, but I was so pleased with how everything came together that I just added a few bits in black and white and called it done. 

We can make the greatest pages out of something that is just flung together without much thought. We can make some great meals with leftovers. Just think about bubble and squeak :)

So don't worry if you don't have the most expensive paint, or you only have copy/printer paper, or you have a couple of brushes but they're those big children's ones with plastic handles. Use what you have, because it is you that makes it special.

Expectations

 

Expectations. People have them. We have them about ourselves. But they can be very restrictive or even downright dangerous for us. I recently read Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson. There was a great quote about this, which is what led to this page:

"We adapt to our situation like water in a strangely shaped jug, though it might take us a little while to ooze into all the little nooks. Because we adapt, we sometimes don't recognise how twisted, uncomfortable, or downright wrong the container is that we've been told to inhabit.

    We can keep going that way for a while. We can pretend we fit that jug, awkward nooks and all. But the longer we do, the worse it gets. The more it wears on us. The more exhausted we become. Even if we're doing nothing at all, because simply holding the shape can take all the effort in the world. More, if we want to make it look natural."

Not being authentic to yourself is exhausting. We all know that, because we all mask to some degree, depending on the situation, but the more we can be ourselves, the more relaxed we can be. Let's try not to be poured into a jug that doesn't suit us.

On another subject, I've been having a go at amigurumi - crocheting stuffed dolls. Here is a sloth, from a pattern by Lauren Espy:

Celebrate!

 Celebrate! 

Take all the opportunities to celebrate, especially with others. Celebrating the achievements of others does not take away from yourself. There is more than enough 'success' to go round. 

I've posted about it before, but the Yiddish word 'fargin' – to wholeheartedly appreciate the successes of others – is a great one to live by. After all, if you celebrate with others, you get a lot more celebrating in your life than if you only focus on your own achievements. 

Yes and no

A 'yes' is also a 'no'.  

Whenever we say 'yes' to something, it means 'no' to something else because there is only so much time in the day and only so much that we can do with that time. As an introvert I am very careful with how much I say 'yes' to. There are people who may be upset if I say 'no' but I have to manage my energy. After all, they aren't the ones who have to live with me if I've over done it 😊

It is easy to feel that we should say 'yes' to everything that comes our way. Maybe it's something we'd like to do; or we don't want to let people down; or we don't want to miss out on anything. But running yourself into the ground isn't helpful to anyone. You may cause some disappointment by saying 'no', but in the long run it is better than saying 'yes' and having to pull out, or being so overwhelmed in doing what you said that you have no joy in it. 

Shade

Whose shade are you in? 

Stepping back from this page I could see a great big moon, shaded on one side. It made me think about how the phases of the moon are due to the shade thrown across it. Do we throw shade across anyone? Or are we standing in someone else's shadow?

Being the person behind someone else, a support, is not a bad thing, but it can be done without being cast into the shade yourself. Being a behind-the-scenes person is one thing, but neglecting your own needs is quite another. 

And let's make sure that we don't push others into the shade but make sure they get what they need even as they support us. There's enough light for all of us.