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Monday, July 30, 2012

Connections

Recently I had the opportunity to go to my 20th Highschool reunion. It was a surreal experience. Walking into a room filled with faces that I recognized but they belonged to people I didn't know anymore. As soon as I began to mingle it was as if the last 20 never happened. I was in the ladies' room with my three best friends from High school; talking about "Girl Stuff" while our husbands ordered drinks.


 The 10th reunion had felt like we were all trying to impress each other. That wasn't the case this time around. Maybe it was because of the energy I had brought. Even though the turn out had been small for the 20th reunion; it turned out to be a good thing. I got the opportunity to talk with people who I did not get to know in school. I was thinking to myself This person is so funny... Why did we not hangout in school? 


The answer is simple we are older and wiser now. Life had happened. Some of it good and some of it bad. There I stood in a room of people who wanted to reconnect. So exciting! The next day I was sending friend requests left and right on Facebook!



Life is short
 A few years back my husband came home from work and and gave me the bad news. An old friend had died in a fire. He was a brave fireman who risked his life to save others. This moment in my life changed me forever. I always thought that we had time to reconnect. I imagined meeting his family and him mine. Now he was gone and he didn't meet my family...we didn't get the chance to reconnect. How did I miss the warning...life is short.
Photo by Thomas Winarski

Inspiration
 After my friend's death, I felt the need to make something good come from this tragedy. My friend had been the kind of person who befriended everyone. I used to think he was nieve, because some of the characters seemed like bad news. I worried he would get hurt or be taken advantage of. He knew the risk and he connected anyways. He inspired me to stay in touch with friends and to call up those from my past. My 20th reunion was the perfect opportunity to rekindle those old but not forgotten relationships.

Excuses
It has been too long. They won't remember me. I think I was mad at them. They will think I am crazy. Those are some of my excuses that ran through my head. I can tell you that when I reached out; the other person on the other end was happy to hear from me. Those excuses were just ridiculous and they were holding me back. I urge you to find a way to connect and ignore the excuses in your head. Make new friends and cherish the old ones. 

Music in My Head
"Glad You Came" by The Wanted
"Do you Realize" by The Flaming Lips
"Same Old Lang Syne" by Dan Folgelburg





On the Canvas
Take some pictures of your friends. I used to take pictures in college and I take a lot of my kids. However I don't take them of my friends anymore. Have fun! Make a collage! Pretend everyday is a vacation and take some pics of your friends! Got to go...I need to set up a playdate for me and my girlfriends!


Till we meet a again my creative friends!
Jenni
Special dedication to Pioneer's Class of '92

Tuesday, July 3, 2012


Intentions

I recently started a practice of setting my intentions for my day. I have goals and To- Do lists but this is different. My focus is more on the state of mind or the way I want to feel during my day. Happy right...no matter what! (All my pessimistic friends just threw up, I know... I know just hear me out.)  Here is an example; I intend to be patient throughout my day. Then my kids started fighting over a toy.  My first reaction might be to yell, but then I remember my intention and breath. After reconnecting I can calmly and patiently guide them through their disagreement. This takes practice. Life will throw some doosies at you to see if you can handle them. Each day it gets a little easier.


Crisis

There is always a challenge and sometimes someone else's crisis can also become yours. Setting an intention for the day helps you cope with the unforeseen problems.  Maybe your boss will lay a stack of files upon your desk and move up your deadlines. Maybe a friend calls with their latest meltdown and needs you to clean it up. Suddenly your day is spiraling in an unpleasant direction. However if you set an intention then you have a place to go back to. Take a deep breath and realign your actions with the state of mind you want to have. If you don't set your intentions someone else will set them for you. Don't give up that power!


Choose Happiness

It is easy to give the power of happiness to someone else or to your inner bully. I have found that setting intentions has helped me to be happier even when the world seems to be falling apart around me. I can hear the crying of my kids in the other room and I can go in that room with a positive intent and change the energy by just focusing my feelings. You can't control the world around you but you can control how you react to it.

Music in My Head

Matt Kearney " Nothing Left to Lose
Snow Patrol “Chasing Cars" 
Ingrid Michaelson " Be Ok"


On the Canvas

Sometimes I sit in front of a blank canvas and I just think about the feeling I want to portray in my painting. I write an intention in a journal or across my canvas. Below is a painting I did with the intent of being a calm mommy. First I painted with serene blues and tranquil purple hues. Then on a sudden whim I wanted red! As the painting developed I think it portrays a fiery crazy outside world, but a momma who keeps her chicks under her calm energy.



Till we meet again my creative friends
Jenn