Chaos isn’t just around us. It can also come from inside us. Some of us have the mind that never stops, never rests, never sleeps. Whether looking back to critique something that could’ve been better or looking ahead at goals and dreams wondering how to get there. The busy mind doesn’t seem to want to take a break, or maybe it has no idea how to rest (outside of sleep).

There always seems to be a shortage of time. For all the things there are to do. Finding time for play almost sounds wasteful, doesn’t it? Or maybe the better word is indulgent.

Don’t wait for some point in the future to pursue what calls you. Want to pursue a passion? There is no better time than now.

I mean, how do you show up? Every day, every morning, at work, at the gym, to your family, to your friends? How do you show up?

Being flexible in life, riding the wave instead of fighting it. Going in whatever direction life may take us, feeling into it.

The pandemic has helped to slow the world down a little, but pre-pandemic I found myself saying I was ‘busy’ all the time. When stress levels took themselves to higher heights I knew I needed something to offset that feeling of anxiety.

I read ‘The Artist’s Way’ by Julia Cameron and challenged myself to 12 weeks of writing 3 pages a day.

Ever want to escape? Just the thought of the tropics, the sand, the palm trees, the water…..makes me breathe a little easier.

A busy background is my typical starting place. I have to get this chaos out of my head and put it on the canvas…unload the burden of my very active brain. My day is rush rush rush…rush to get out of bed, to accomplish all that is ahead of me from the responsibility as a parent, spouse, job, sometimes my writing practice helps, but it’s still a struggle to find peace….

So scratch the New Year’s resolution lists and just find some joy in your day…repeat that for 365 days.

My daughter was REALLY into Frozen. Elsa was everywhere. So, when I started painting faces, I had three we put up in my daughter’s room. One white, one black and one girl who was a combination of both. My goal was simply to reflect that beauty was in all three.

A pure energetic force, full of jokes, dance moves and her moods go from one end to the other in seconds - ‘Joy and pain are like sunshine and rain - WOO’.

I wake up on the early side....between 5-6am typically. What gets me out of bed is knowing I have about 30 minutes to an hour of alone time. Alone = peace and quiet. I love my solitude. I have traveled alone before and enjoyed myself immensely. I could eat dinner out, sit by myself and be completely content. Doesn't mean I don't love my family or friends, but I often savor the alone time.

So, when I started doing art, attending classes, learning new techniques, color combinations, working with different mediums...I simply had to have all these supplies. Could I really be an artist without all these supplies????

Graphite pencils, TwinTone Tombow, Faber-Castell, Micron, Uni-ball-Signo, Sharpies....that is only the pencil and pens and only half of what I have!

There is just something about color that lifts me up, changes my mood and allows me to feel explosive! I get happy almost instantly. Not sure what it is, but I start a painting and it's overrun with color. Once my background is done.....It's color OVERLOAD. Is that possible? Just too much happy? Too much of anything just is TOO MUCH.