Self portrait #1, I Am Content!

                      

                        

Three Beautiful Things This Week

Three Beautiful Things This Week was inspired by a wonderful blog that Three Beautiful Things. Everyday, Clare writes about 3 Beautiful Things that happen each day in her life. It's a wonderful blog! I can only hope to imitate her in a very small way.


1) I just looked back on my blog and realized that I have been writing this blog for 7 years now.  That's really cool!!  At least, I think so!


2) I had a great time with friends on New Year's Eve!


3) I'm just glad it's not Monday yet.  Monday is going to be record cold!  It's been cold enough lately, but Monday will be well below zero for a high, I mean, like -20 for a low and -12 for a high.  Brrrrrrrrrrrr!

New Word: Joy

It's popular to choose a word on which you can focus at the start of the year, a mantra, so to speak.  For the past couple of years, I have chosen:  Hope.  I decided this year, I am focusing on more than hope.  I'm going to focus on having more joy in my life and being a source of joy to others.  I am hoping to recognize sources of joy for me.  I am hoping to feel more joy in my life.  I am going to look for more opportunities to develop joy in my life.  I'm going to focus on things and activities that bring me joy. 

For example, a nice walk on a warm winter's day will bring me joy.  

Working with glass gives me joy.  

Taking pictures gives me joy.  

Learning a new skill gives me joy, especially if it's creative.    

Dancing and singing give me joy.  

Having lunch with friends is a joyful experience.  

Video chatting with family and friends gives me great joy.  

Sleeping in on a cold, snowy day brings me great joy!

I want to share my joy with others. I want to make sure that others have a reason to smile when we are together, whether it's a chance encounter at the grocery store or chatting with an online friend. 

Joy is spontaneous.

Joy is contagious.

Joy is courageous.

Joy is laughter.

Joy is sharing.

Joy is now.

Joy is ...

You fill in the rest.  What does joy mean to you?  What is your word for the year?

Happy New Year!!! Welcome 2014!!!

Looking Forward to 2014!

2014 Here I Come!
Since there are rarely any chances for “do-overs” I will try to use every skill I have to overcome the challenges of 2014.

I plan to treat myself kindly and gently.

I’ll never give up.

I’m going to take more naps and read more books

I’m going to reach out to more people, with Pixie, through our hospice work. 

I’m going to do my best not to fall and break bones.

I’m going to write more.

Once my ankle heals, I’m going to walk 10,000 steps every day.

As I merge my muse back into glass, I’m going to work more with sculpture than in the past.

When I work with polymer clay, I’m going to make pieces that are bigger and might require some assemblage.

I’m going to be really careful so that I don’t fall in 2014.  I hope!

I’m going to be more open in 2014.

If colors were words, I will be more red and orange with my ideas, but blue and green with people.

I will balance my heart with my head.  I will balance my work with my rest.  I will find harmony.

I will try to be a source joy to everyone I meet.