Landscape

We can inhabit a variety of different landscapes, and I love living in environments where there is green, lush plants that give off delightful aromas.  In my own space I try and make sure that I have colour and many plants that bring their own scents at various parts of the day.  As an artist this variety enables my creativity to grow.  Living with the different seasons changes this environment but each one is there that stability in knowing that the changes will bring about a richer landscape.

This made me think about our hearts and what our hearts landscape looks like.  How we relate to others as we go through our experiences and what are we like as people to each other.....
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Are we indifferent, cold and uncaring...

Do we only have harsh words to say to one another, are our actions based on hurts and deep wounds that we suffered.....

Or are we encouraging, supportive and caring, being a blessing with what comes out of our mouths, with every word we speak we can either support someones dream or tear it down.

At the end of the day our experiences have brought us to where we are now and we have a choice.  Many have gone through a season of the different landscapes.  Do you remember those people who spoke encouraging words to you as you were growing up, or who are in your life now?

Let us be the people that others will one day look back and think he/she was really a blessing in my life......what kind of landscape are you carrying around with you?  

Keepsakes

My father passed away 19 years ago and there are many things I would have loved to have told him, shared with him.  Every now and again my mind runs on him and wonder how differently things would have been had he still been alive, in the sense of my mother and living and coping with the dementia, would she have developed it, would I have spent half as much time with her getting to know her now I am an adult.

When he died I didn’t want to get rid of anything of his, as my mum cleared his stuff out, I moved things into my then flat, I wanted them around me to remember him. Over the years, moving and having a son of my own, space became a premium and I had to decide what I wanted to keep, which now amounts to a few rings, cufflinks, and tie clips and they all fit neatly in a box which was also his.

He would have been 83 this year and when I look around at my possessions I wonder what my son would take as his keepsake to remember me when I’m gone, or are all those things I hold on to only of value to me!

Jasmine scented Cordyline Australis

The Jasmine plant is one of my favorites, producing an abundance of small white flowers.  It has an aroma that wafts into the house in the early summer evenings - just beautiful.  In my garden I had decided that I wanted it to be filled with sweet smells and vibrant colours, it has taken around 13 year to estabish, experiment and find a balance that would welcome wildlife and be a relaxing space to be in.

I planted a couple of Cordyline Australis ( Cabbage tree) around 8 years ago, they are native of New Zealand, and was lucky that I put it at the back of the garden.  They can grow up to 66 feet!  The best thing is the flowers they produce also have a gorgeous Jasmine smell and when you have the kitchen window  or back door open you get amazing smells coming through the house.

Often our journeys to where we want to be as artists takes much training, discipline, early mornings, late nights, learning new skills and techniques to enable us to reach the goals we aspire to. At any given moment there could be someone somewhere around the world waiting to be inspired and blessed by something that you say, write, create. It’s the simple things that bring so much joy, what are your favourite flowers?

Health

Just started back at the gym........ well, my payment for this month has been taken.

It’s very easy to get caught up with the stresses of life and neglect certain parts of our lives. It’s also easy to talk yourself out of getting fit.  My walking challenge began with so many hopes and dreams and I began to find even the smallest excuse as to why I couldn’t go that day, so I’ve pre-packed my backs with everything I need. 

I keep reminding myself of the steam room and what a post exercise treat this will be along with those pampering products, along with some other strategies to keep myself motivated... I’m hoping to go at least 2-3 times a week and add to the ‘me time’ I invest in myself, which will help with my creativity in the long run, and may even inspire some new ideas. Think about what small changes you can make to your health routines and maybe take that first step....