The Path Behind Us

I couldn't move.  I couldn't go forward.  I couldn't go backwards. Moving left or right to go around the cars in front of me was not an option.  I had to wait. There were so many cars in front of me on the road that I couldn't see what was up ahead. That "running 10 minutes early" that I had going for me earlier was now undone and quickly changing into "running 10 minutes late".  I sighed a very audible sigh.  "Great", I thought, "I made preparations to be ahead today, and now I am behind.  I can't see how long this line of traffic is up ahead of me.  I can't move forward and must just wait where my car sits."  I smile and snicker to myself at the irony of my predicament.  My lonely "getting nowhere" situation seemed to match the mood I was in with the current affairs of my life.  Feeling like God has left me all alone and I'm not moving forward, for all the work I'm putting in.  Feeling like I'm not getting anywhere and virtually standing still in my life.  I also noticed I felt very alone in this sea of cars, which seemed similar to what was happening in my life that day. Feeling like God had left me all alone.

Ahhh, another long sigh.  I turned up the radio to push away the negative thoughts and feelings that were mounting in my mind.  Those familiar feelings of feeling like I am treading water all alone and that I am completely failing at all I am trying to accomplish.  I reached for the dial on the radio again, as it just wasn't loud enough to drown out the negaitve inner monologue and lonely feeling I had building.  

I sat there completely immobile letting myself be carried away by the song on the radio.  It was a great song by Britt Nicole, called "All this time". (Song included at the end of this blog.) I had never really listened to the words before, but today the words hit me in a particularly different way.  Her song is about how God has been there all of her life and that she has never been alone.  That He has always been right beside her.  In the joys and the pains of life. Her whole life.  

I looked up at the rear view mirror and adjusted it.  The road behind me was so long.  The infinite line of cars glittered in the mirage of watery heat from the pavement.  In fact, the road behind me went on and on and on.   

My mind returned to Britt Nicole's melodic voice on the car radio..."You were always there.  It was just You and I. You've been walking with me all this time...." 

Sitting there looking at the path behind me and listening to the prophetic words of the song, triggered a shift in my attitude. 

So much of our lives we are told to always look at the road ahead of us and not look back.  Though, when we are stuck, in a holding pattern, or feeling like we are getting no where in life, maybe that is when we need to stop looking ahead. Maybe that is when we need to look at how far we have come and that we were never alone in our journey.  Looking behind at the long road, it struck me how far I have come in my life.  All that I have overcome and accomplished.  Britt Nicole's song hit's close to home for me, as I can remember being "that" girl who had "that day" in her bedroom with no one to turn to trying to be strong.  He was there that day and everyday since.  I could see it all...as I looked behind me.

Sitting in the middle of traffic on an idle weekday in Phoenix, I let the words of a song soak into my heart and permeate it in the deepest fashion.  I thought over all that I was currently dealing with and it was nothing compared to all that I have come through. Each past difficulty and each amazing joy I have had, He was there.  No one else may have been present, but He was there.  Even in the days when I refused to come to Him.  He was there. Look at how long and beautiful the path is behind me!  I was never alone.

Such deep thoughts for a random moment in the car while sitting in traffic.  Right?  But this is exactly what I try to write about...Artful Living.  In our most common of moments, He is there with us and speaking to us. If we can just open ourselves up and listen closely, He is speaking to us in the ways that reach us.  

Eventually, the cars in front of me started to move and I was moving forward, but with a renewed appreciation and a more positive outlook.  Even when I think I'm alone and getting no where, I have only to look at the long well accomplished path behind me and see and that I have come through so much...and He was there at every turn.  

That is Artful Living!

THANK YOU!

A big "thank you" to my amazing creative sister, Alyssa Finney Chew, for taking the above photo of the path for my story!  You rock!  Check out her photography at Lifeology Photography. 

This week:

Take some time this week and see if you are able to see the extraordinary in the ordinary.  What lessons are the small moments of life trying to teach you?  Try listening for God's direction in the common moments of life. 

"God will show me the path of life." (Psalm 16:11)

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105)

"I trust in the Lord with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding.  In all my ways I acknowledge Him and He directs my paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

(Thought you might enjoy hearing Britt Nicole's song, "All this time". Lyrics are below.)

Britt Nicole - "All This Time" Lyrics

I remember the moment

I remember the pain

I was only a girl

But I grew up that day

Tears were falling

I know You saw me

Hiding there in my bedroom

So alone

I was doing my best

Trying to be strong

No one to turn to

That's when I met You

All this time

From the first tear cry

To today's sunrise

And every single moment between

You were there

You were always there

It was You and I

You've been walking with me all this time

Ever since that day

it's been clear to me

That no matter what comes

You will never leave

I know You're for me

And You're restoring

Every heartache and failure

Every broken dream

You're the God who sees

The God who rescued me

This is my story

This is my story

All this time

From the first tear cry

To today's sunrise

And every single moment between

You were there

You were always there

It was You and I

You've been walking with me all this time.

I hear these people asking me

How do I know what I believe?

Well I'm not the same me

And that's all the proof I need

I felt Love I felt Your grace

You stole me heart that day

The True Beauty Within

I can just picture him.  Dusty, thin,... the orginal "starving artist".  Looking harried, pensive, and a bit wild eyed as he walked through the marble mines of Carrara, Italy.  His hands caressing the ancient hardened earth. His eyes moving over the surface looking for the purest block of stone.  No veining.  It had to be unblemished and smooth, so as to represent the skin of the Holy beings he wished to release.  I imagine him mumbling in prayer to God.  Asking HIM to direct his eyes and hands to the "one".  The block of marble that held within it, a masterpiece that God, himself, desired of this sculptor to release.  The moment must have been exquisite when he found "it".  The "one".  The true form in that block of earth, the Lord of Heaven masterfully asked of Michelanglo to release.   I have read of the massive pully systems that were built to bring these giants of stone down from the mountain.  The men that strained under the weight of God's will, that worked through a dirty stubborn man.  Michelangelo would often build a shed around the rock, to conceal his work.  Every time he committed himself, body and soul, to the "taking away" of the excess, to release the beauty within.  He was known for praying over his task, asking God to direct his hands to release HIS truest form that had always been within the block of earth.  It had only to be released by the guidance and love of a masterful God through the hands of a skilled sculpture.  Many times, after months of eating only stale bread and barely bathing, Michelangelo would remove the walls of the temporary veiling structure.  The sculpture that his God had known was always there was revealed.  The true "beauty" that God had created for this unlikely piece of earth.  The "excess" had been chiseled away and the true identity born for all to see.    

Michelangelo, preferred sculpting marble to any other form of art.  He did paint beautifully, but is quoted in letters to his father that he preferred the marble to any other form of art, because of this "taking away" of the excess to reveal the "true identity" God had created.  A deeply religious and obviously spiritual man, he felt God guided his skillful hands and eyes in the inward searching of every sculpture.

Many of us go through life not being our true selves.  I've been there.  It was exhausting living up to others expectations, or my own unrealistic expectations, and trying to be something I was not.  I lived cloaked in fear and doubt.  When I decided that the facade was too much to keep, the taking away of the excess was akin to breaking apart.  My chiseling journey is still not complete, but far enough along that the truer figure is emerging. The process that Michelangelo used to carve marble is amazingly similar to the process of excavating the true self and knowing ourselves as God sees us.  If you are someone who is exhausted and desires to free your authentic self, here are a few questions to get you started.   

Are you currently living in your true identity?  Your true beauty? Who God created you to be?

What "excess" have you acquired in your life? 

What do you need to chisel away and break down to find the truest form of yourself?

What have you put around your true self?  What form does your cloaking come in?  The form of fear? Anger? Sadness? Denial? Others Expectations? Your High Expectations? Protection? Your past history?

Can you visualize yourself without this/these? 

What would you look like if Michelangelo chiseled away the heavy  facade? 

This week:
Try a visualization exercise, wherein you try to see the "excess" falling away, and see your authentic self emerging.  Once you see it, what do you look like?  Act like?  Can you remember a time when the facade was not in place?  When you were your authentic self?  What action steps can you take towards excavating your true beauty and living it out loud?  Repeat the visualization as often as you need.  This exercise is great inspiration for yourself!

"Our daughters will be like pillars carved to adorn a palace." - Psalm 144:12

"Am I now trying to win the approval of men or of God?  Or am I trying to please men?  If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ."- Galatians 1:10

"You are a light of the world like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see.  Don't hide your light under a basket!  Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all." - Matthew 5:14-15

"For we are God's masterpiece, He created us anew in Christ Jesus so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."- Ephesians 2:10

Is God my personal chef?

I stood at the island in my kitchen in front of a line up of plates, realizing I was probably making my million and 71st peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and my billionth bowl of Campbell's Lightening McQueen's chicken and noodle soup.  When had I become a "chef"?  (By the way, that term is used loosely in this particular example.)

My next thought was a bit nasty.  "I did NOT go to college to become a cook."  My mind traveled back in time and I quickly ran through the six years I spent in college, just to make sure.  I thought of my numerous presentations of thought provoking and cutting edge designs for the "crits" in design school.  The inspiring discussions late at night with my fellow studio mates on our design theories.  (Sigh).  Yes.  I thought so.  I definitely had not gone to college to become a "short order cook".  Whew!

See, here's the deal. My daughter only wants peanut butter, my son wants soup, my husband wants something tasty and healthy, and I just want to skip dinner and go straight to dessert!  Some days I feel like between all of the taste preferences, I could be standing in that kitchen non-stop!

I can't always prepare what they want because it is not always what is best for them. 

I need to make sure they are getting healthy food, and that I am not spending my life in the kitchen being a "short order cook" and becoming a burnt out wife and mom.  Now, with all of the thoughtful catering and tailoring, of snacks and meals, and careful consideration for the health of my family, invariably, one of them walks past what I have prepared for them and complains, "I never get what I want!" (or) "You never care about what I want!"  This day was no exception.  I personally was trying quite hard to keep the anger and lack of appreciation in my heart from building to a level where this mama got "snappy" with her dearhearts.  I stood there grumbling under my breath sentences like, "I did not go to college all those years to be your personal chef!" Or, "This family just doesn't appreciate what I do for them!"  (Yes, this is the nasty me.)

Then it hit me...I wonder if this is how I treat God?

Am I running from what has been prepared for me?  Complaining, "I never get what I want!" And, "You never care about what I want!"

First my thoughts went to how must God feel when I treat him this way?  I know he stills loves me, just as I still love my own children, even when they are ungrateful and turn from what I have prepared.  He comes to me over and over with HIS perfectly prepared moments of life and I can only reject, complain, or accept HIS offerings begrudgingly.  I think how much it hurts me when my family does this to me, and yet I do this many times to my Heavenly Father.

Why do I think I know what is best for me?

Just like my children, I know only what I want to eat for that moment.  Or what my tastebuds are craving...in the moment.  I am not thinking about the bigger picture or down the road.  I can only see here and now.  Just as my children have to trust that I know what is best for their meals, I too must trust God in his choices and timing in my life.  Just as my children think they know better than I, what is the best meal for dinner; I do the same with God in life choices and the time table of life events.  So I guess, the next time a prayer is still not being answered or something happens in my day that does not fit my schedule or is in my plan, I need to remember to humble myself and thank my Father, who loves me unconditionally, for His perfectly prepared buffet called "my life".

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." - 2 Corinthians 4:18

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.  As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." - Isaiah 55:8-9   

Waiting

'Was I waiting on Him or was He waiting on me?'  This was one of the myriad of thoughts I was having as I stood on top of a telephone pole that had a top the diameter of 10"!!  I was taking part in the Leap of Faith exercise at a women's retreat.  My next thought was a curse word.  Literally!  Some one later told me that I said it out loud...I thought I had said it in my head!!!!  Hmmmm, saying a curse word at a Christian's Women's Retreat...well, there is raw and authentic for ya!

So, my next  thought was, 'How did I get here standing on top of a very tall pole in Prescott, Arizona?'  I was getting ready to jump off and out to a bar about 10 feet in front of me with the scenery of Northern Arizona outstretched before me.  'Hu?'  Everything looked peaceful.  The breeze through the pine trees, the rolling hills, the bird fly...ing...past...my...head?  'Hm.'  But I was not so peaceful inside.

I started trying to visualize.  This was in an effort to stop the emotions running rampant in my head.  I tried to imagine the 10" circle I was standing on as a whole floor outstretched around me. Inner monologue: 'Imagining....imagining...uh...not gonna work.  This is a Christian Retreat, I'll just imagine ethereal music playing with God and his flowing robes, arms outstretched....yeah, that's a bit of a stretch.  Ok, let's try practical.  I'm harnessed and hooked up to a cable that will catch me.  It's all good!  It's .... ALL...good.'

The man below who held my rope yelled, "Ok, I'm gonna start counting."  I think I may have yelled out a sassy comment about having waited 1 1/2 hours from the last group that did the Leap of Faith.  I was last in line to do this from an earlier group in the day, and they shut the exercise down right before my turn...leaving me to wait through the employees lunch and break until I could try it again.  So, I said I would count myself down.  "Ooooonnnneeee.  Twwwwooooo."  I squatted for my jump.  Swang my arms back...and....yeah... those feet weren't goin' anywhere!!

Inner monologue: 'Ok.  Gut check time!  I know why this is difficult for me!  If I don't jump, I will feel horrible about myself and will not have chipped away at this core issue this exercise is bringing up for me.  TRUST.  That's it.  I have to jump.  I have to trust.  I have to let go of the distrust I have been holding onto like a precious treasure.  That's right, Girlie!  A precious treasure!  I have to choose...to have faith in the distrust or the trust?  I need to let go of the baggage of distrust! It's time. This jump is a moment for me to get back a piece of trust that had been taken away as a young girl.  Ok, Big Guy, this exercise is a huge metaphor playing out for what is happening everyday in my life.  I see where you are going with this, God.  Point taken.' (Sigh.) Inner monologue quiet.

Earlier in the day, before getting up on that pole, I waited 1 1/2 hours for the exercise to reopen.  Enough time to really think about the whole thing, and get really nervous.  In that time I thought to myself, 'Yo!?  Big Guy!?  Why you always makin' me wait?  My whole life has been a waiting game.  Really Dude!'  (Don't you love how I capitalize all my names for God?)  I realized that I was so nervous that I was not sure if being around my female friends was the best idea.  I mean after all, it was between God and I, wasn't it?  I could do it on my own!  Ok, I didn't need them around to witness that!  I'd just walk up there and do it!' So I had started to walk towards the Leap of Faith pole.  And theeeeen....I had started to walk back towards the cabin!  I texted some friends that were still at lunch,  "I think I may need some encouragement for this."  They texted back, "On our way!"  The next thing I knew I was telling my friends a multitude of emotions.  I had realized this exercise was a living metaphor for what I have trouble with...trusting.  I was being presented a moment to challenge me, as an opportunity to grow and learn. I felt honored and fortunate.   I so realized the significance and enormity of the moment for myself that I was overwhelmed with emotion.  I couldn't hold back the tears any longer.  I came apart.  (Good grief.)  The exercise was another layer in my healing from childhood sexual abuse.  I have come so far, and every once in awhile, I take another layer off that has been hindering me in my healing process.  Can you believe jumping off a pole was another layer?  I don't really remember much of what I said to my friends, while crying, only that I had diarrhea of the mouth with my feelings at that moment.  I just remember saying, "I'm gonna do this.  But I'm gonna do this messy."  This was a big thing for me.  I needed to let the emotions flow and honor the moment for myself.  I had earned it and I was going to reclaim a piece of something that had been stolen from me.  I needed to let myself cry all the way up the pole.  On the pole and after the pole.

And so I did.  I cried and cried and cried.  I really did feel quite a bit better after I let the tears flow and absorb the moment.  And as I stood on top of that pole having cussed, absorbed the scenery, visualized, put practical thinking to use, ...a new thought entered my mind, 'I really want to get off this pole.  And the only way off... is to jump.'  I remembered in my 1 1/2 hours of waiting, I prayed to God and told Him I understood that he wanted me to turn to Him and NOT do this alone.  He wanted me to reach out to Him.  He wanted me to come to Him and let go of my distrust and embrace the trust that He offers.  I realized my friends being there was making me feel better.  Their words of encouragement from below were helping.  (Ok, an 'ah ha' moment ...riiiiight...abooouuuut...here!)  So, I guess my lesson was that I try to do too much on my own and don't ask for encouragement and support enough in my life.  Sometimes I need help.  God wanted me to know that he is there to help and that my friends are still there too.  He was showing me I need to work on trusting and letting those that love me, in more often.

I felt the warmth of the sun on my back like a reassuring hand.  For me, when I visualize the essence of God in me, I visualize a light.  So knowing the sun was to my back, let me know He was there, and the heat of the sun was the transference of His strength to me.  At that moment I knew everything was going to be ok.  Not only was I going to be ok in jumping, but I would be ok in other areas of my life.  I just needed to trust the plan and purpose for my life and trust that He would always be there.  I needed to let friends and other loved one's in more often and open myself up to trust , no matter what.  (I always pray for "neon signs" from God, and I think the Leap of Faith counted as that.)

I didn't want the guy below to count, even though he had offered twice.  I had tried to count on my own and that didn't work.  So I said out loud, "I'm ready." I knew I needed someone else to count and motioned for my friends to start the countdown.  The sound of their voices would feel so supportive.  So, I had God,...and I had my friends.  And I knew it in my heart and soul.  I was ready.  "ONE.  TWO.  THREE!" 

I jumped.

I didn't catch the bar, but it was the jump that mattered most to me.  I was lowered down and my friends hugged me.  I realized that He had not made me wait, but that He had been waiting for me.  I chose to be last in line in the earlier group.  I chose to take awhile on that pole.  I had been choosing to just trust Him with my head and not my heart and soul.  I had been only dipping my toe into the waters of friendship and not truly diving all the way in.  I had not been surrendering to trust.

One of my friends brought my phone over to me to show me the pictures she had taken of me and said, "Erin, you have to see this photo."  This was the photo she took of me before I jumped.  I was overcome.

There is the sun, the reassuring warmth at my back. Wow!  I even got confirmation and a bonus awesome souvenir photo out of the deal!!

I write alot about making choices and attitude changes in the moment. The good news about making choices is that we are 'co-creators' in our lives, alongside the Big Artist in the sky Himself. We choose what our life looks and feels like throughout many moments on a daily basis. Sometimes these moments can be profound and even soul changing.  What is even more awe inspiring is when there is something bigger than ourselves at work. When everything lines up in a pin point moment in the universe and we have our 'Ah Ha!' moment; on every level I know of, that is Artful Living!

To my KC Ladies: Thank you for your encouraging words, hugs, and the final countdown.  I'm so glad I got to share such a special moment with you.  Thank you for the opportunity...it was life changing!

Many hands make light work

So,  I was reading an article in a magazine awhile back about a group of 6 friends that rotated helping between each other's creative decorative home projects.  As a former Interior Designer and a current Life Coach this doubly peaked my interest.  I loved that they were pitching in their creative talents and skills and then supporting one another and connecting.  Here is what they would do: One person in the group would have a project that they needed to complete or finish.  They would then buy and organize all supplies for the project and provide food and drinks for everyone helping.  The friends were invited over, each assigned a task and the project was finished in a day or weekend.  They then would rotate to the next person in the group, a month or 2 months later, that wanted their household project done.  The the same thing was done for that person.  This is such a great concept!  I mean as women in the season of raising children, these types of things on our "to do" list sit on that list for years!  We think, "How can I get this done all by myself?"  There is always the kid room to repaint and organize, dining room chairs to recover, baby's room to prepare, kitchen to clean out and organize, and garage sale to orchestrate.  This idea would be great for any and all of those, and could be utilized for any similar scenario.  More than anything, I love that they took work and looked for a way to make it easier on themselves individually and then also ended up making it fun and connective.  I am sure there was alot of laughing, talking, and bonding in friendships.  This is definitely the "Many hands make light work" approach in action.  These ladies took something that was potentially draining work and transformed it into efficient, fun, and connective time with their friends.  That is Artful Living!

Questions to ask yourself:
- What in your life is draining you and could be transformed into being easy, fun, and/or connective? How could the negative be turned into a positive?
- Is there something in your life that you are needing to ask for help on?  Is it hard for you to ask for help?  What could move you past the hangups for asking for help?  What action steps could be taken to move you to ask for help?
- What are the new possibilities on an old issue in your life?  Do you need an attitude shift on an old issue?
- Could the "many hands make light work" approach be utilized somewhere in your life?  Where?  What could that look like?  What are the steps necessary to move forward with putting it into action?

Getting Out of My Own Way

So I got out of town, this past weekend, for my 20th class reunion back in Indiana.  Now, I'll be honest all those old insecurities did resurface.  Darn it!  I felt uncomfortable.  But I quickly changed my attitude and got out of my own way and decided that if I felt uncomfortable, that it was worth it.  Anytime you are uncomfortable there is opportunity for personal growth...right?  Well, to alleviate some of the uncomfortableness I admit I shopped for a great outfit to feel good in...hello, I am a woman!  Plane tickets...check. Great outfit...check.  Party reservation $ sent...check.  Bags packed...check.  Positive, confident, fun party girl attitude...check!  I was ready! 

Or was I?  Would I be judged?  Would anyone talk to me?  Why did no boy in my class ever ask me out? Would the popular girls even engage in conversation?  Would that old crush still be devastatingly handsome?  Would the boy who had a crush on me be there?  Would the smart kids have these amazing careers and look down on me?  Would the prom queen be the most beautiful one in the room?  Will the cheerleaders command the dance floor and I'll be left looking like I'm dancing with my hip thrown out?  Did I wrong someone all those years ago and they are going to rip me a new one right there in front of everyone?  How old do I really look?  Can anyone see how much my boobs are sagging?  Will spanx really suck in my baby pooch?  Would I be able to get my mind and insecurities to quiet enough to have any fun? Aaaaah!!!

As soon as I showed up, it went nothing like I thought.  At first it was overwhelming to the senses to see so many familiar faces that now were all grown up.  It became a game of sorts, and a ton of fun to see what we all looked like!  But after I got into the groove, I started to let go of all of the questions and insecurities I had running through my head, and got out of my own way.  I'll admit it wasn't easy, but I did it.  I became present and let myself receive all that the night had to offer.  I found that I myself was not alone in this receiving mode...most everyone was right there with me.  They just wanted to get reacquainted and enjoy the fun interchanges.  I found my heart just melting as the night went on and felt so much love for everyone there and love in return.  Now I have heard others who have gone to their reunions say they felt like they were right back in high school and nothing had changed.  There is a little truth to that. I mean my old crush still looked devastatingly handsome.  The prom queen still had her queenly beauty...maybe even more!  But what I realized was that I was the only one letting the outside influences cloud up my mind with the inner monologue of questions from earlier. I was the only one keeping me from being me and open to the joy that was possible for the moment.  So what did I do?  I got out of my own way and completely enjoyed the entire evening!  I had a blast and left feeling filled with joy.  That is "Artful Living".

Lesson:

"Getting out of my own way is the the adjustment needed for my own freedom and ultimate joy." 
- Erin Finney Myers

Mama's Cup of Goodness

Yes, this really is my actually cup!  Love this cup! 

 

A couple of weeks ago, my husband and I decided to get out of Phoenix for the weekend.  We packed up our children for an overnight stay up in the pine trees of Flagstaff.  We focused on just spending time outdoors, with the kids, with each other, and fitting in at least one activity on everyone's wish list.  My activity, of course, was browsing in a fun girly boutique that is the, "I've always wanted to go in there, but never have the time", type of shop.  Our first day in town was a windy day in old town Flagstaff and there was just enough chill in the air to chase us inside to a local coffee shop for mochas, and hot chocolates for the kids.  The weather had everyone a bit cold and grumpy.  As I waited for my mocha to be made, I saw "my shop"of choice across the street from the coffee shop.  Girlfriends, it was one of those trendy little shops that make you feel youthful and sexy all at once.  It's window displays appealed to my artsy side.  I mean we're talking sweet looking wedge shoes, pretty little dresses, and 'to die for' hand bags.  I leaned over to my husband and said, "Oh, that shop over there looks cute !"  He then suggested after I get my mocha, that I just head over there and browse and he would sit with the kids at the coffee shop while they finished their drinks.  Score!  Seeing my opportunity and the support of my husband in action, I wasn't going to let this go.

Finally, my mocha was ready.  Now, you have to understand something about my mocha's, coffee's, tea's, hot cocoa's,...well any hot beverage for that matter.  My relationship with them is very serious.  There is something about a warm beverage that jump starts me into slowing down and being present.  I love to pamper myself in this way.  My family now calls my cups of hot beverages, "Mama's cup of goodness."  It is so long standing, that if I'm in a bad mood, sad, or stressed my husband is the first to jump in and suggest that he head out in the car straight to our local coffee shop and procure "a cup of goodness."  I think it really appeals to his old cave man instincts of going out and hunting something down and bringing it back home to provide for his woman.  Can you hear the chest thumping?  Hey, if my man feels better, all the better for both of us. 

So, anyway, I headed across the street and stepped into the shop and let the wonderful feeling of having a moment to myself, wash over me.  I took just a second to be very present.  Mmmmm.  I had no children tugging on me, or repeating, "mom, mom, mom," I was standing in a shop oozing with trendy cuteness, and I had A CUP OF GOODNESS in my hand!!!  This was a great way to love on myself..."self care" if you will.  I took a deep breath and instantly exhaled.  My contentedness must have been audible, as one of the boutique's staff commented on how lovely, cozy, and peaceful I looked with my coffee in hand.  I giggled and said, "I feel good with it just in my hand.  I sometimes think I wouldn't even have to drink it and it would have the same affect on me."  The sales lady laughed and said, "Oh that is so true!"  As I browsed I thought about what I had just said, some more.  In being very present, and letting my senses take in everything.... the 'to go' coffee cup with it's little raised lid and earthy/urban cardboard sleeve hugging the white paper cup that gave off the perfect amount of cozy warmth.  The colors and textures within the shop.  The silence.  I was fully appreciating this small moment and all of the beauty it had to offer.  An attitude shift was slowly taking place.  I had't even had a sip of my mocha!  Then, I had to think back further, maybe this attitude shift had actually happened back at the coffee shop itself.  The intoxicating aromas wafting from the coffee shop were what had lured us in in the first place.  Was that the shift?  Oh, and not to mention that coffee shops in themselves are always a visual with their trendy cuteness.  Maybe my mental shift had taken place at the coffee shop?  After all what FINALLY prompted me to seek out the boutique I had never gone into?  Was it the aroma of the coffee beans that started my mental journey to a different more positive place of possibilities in my head?

Now keep in mind the cup of coffee, the aroma, nor the trendy shop, have the power to change my attitude.  But I do.  There is an association however with that cup of coffee of good feelings.  The shift that took place from feeling cold and grumpy to contented and happy was all within me.  A choice. I chose to take a small moment for "self care", to be present, and enjoy God's beauty through my senses.  We choose, whether or not we see God's beauty in everyday life.

As a former Interior Designer, it was well known in my business, that one's environment can have an enormous impact on one's mental well being.  In my experience as a designer I always asked my clients to pick a favorite 'thing' as an inspiration piece to jump start the design process.  Many times they would come with pictures and treasures that were from past vacations.  No matter the object, the reason was always the same; the object elicited a particular feeling.  There was a mental shift in the presence of their favorite object.  As a designer I used that in their home so that the feeling could be all encompassing in their everyday life.  You can do the same on a much smaller and more affordable scale with what you have around you.  What a great way to pamper yourself! For example: I once remember making a list of everything that spoke to me in positive ways and helped make a change in my attitude.  The list included things in the physical world that took me back to a memory or triggered a good feeling, by just seeing, hearing, feeling, tasting, or smelling them in the day.  They were things that would engage my senses in my everyday life.  They made the daily grind a bit sweeter.  Here are a few things that were on my list:

Wind chimes ( keeps me present and in the moment)
Favorite song or cd on the ready (a get up and move song is great for a grumpy mood)
Coffee or Tea (calming)
Quotes/ Bible verses that mean something to me (great for perspective)
Pictures of my family on vacation (calming and helps me let go of the moments when I'm ready to turn in my wife/mom card)
Fresh Flowers (beauty always brings joy)
Pumpkin spice candle for the aroma (reminds me of Autumn back home in the Midwest)
My Children's Artwork (this returns me to the 'awwww my kids are so adorable' attitude when I'm ready to sell them to the gypsies)
Pictures of the Ocean (peace and perspective)
Favorite Family Heirloom (helps me feel connected to my roots)

These are several off of my list and I have many more.  But, I would challenge each of you to make a list of things that you could put in your everyday world that resonate with you.  God comes to us through the smallest of moments and through those things that sing to our souls.  He wants us to take good care of ourselves.  Taking a moment to pamper yourself, getting present, and choosing to find beauty and joy in the littlest of things...that, is Artful Living!