I’ve learned that I can live pretty basically. I wouldn’t have known this a year ago, being a comfort seeking homebody sort, but life sometimes shows you different sides of yourself, which I’ve definitely seen lately.
Three things that I have appreciated on this meandering journey have been One: my iPhone (of course), my little pocket computer/camera/library etc. Two: My giant metal cup (it’s not a famous Stanley brand, but the same idea) I fell in love with hot coffee, tea and heavy cream in abundance and now I’m pretty hooked. Third, I’d pick my(our) Jeep. I adore that little vehicle. It feels like freedom and comfort in the best measures. I named it Jenny of the Roses after my latest favorite song by Hiss Golden messenger. I miss driving around on heated seats listening to loud music and exploring places unknown…So phone, cup and Jenny Jeep
What experiences in life helped you grow the most?
Sometimes I need to hear something a million different times and in a million different ways to finally HEAR it.
I probably need to see and experience things a million different times to change my perception.
So I guess maybe it’s just that one more time that makes me go OOOHhh!
So I was painting a closet this morning and I heard it. Often when I hear something, I can’t unhear it and this time, I really hope I don’t forget it.
It’s funny how whatever experience I’m in, it’s always, in a separate seemingly unrelated way, teaching me something about myself. It’s never about becoming something else as much as it is about healing and letting go of some part of my own self that isn’t serving me. Is it true that a door has to close before another one opens?
The issue is never the problem, it’s a symptom of something bigger. In other words if I want to become better at something, I have to let go of what makes me struggle with it. If for example I wanted to be a better batter, I would have to first stop batting like I have been. Maybe I would have to hold the bat differently or take a different stance. Maybe I would have to change what I thought about as I swung. But maybe it’s not all about batting at all. Maybe I have some deep beliefs about playing ball or being a player or who knows. Maybe I have bigger concerns to let go of. Maybe hitting is a metaphor. (Or struggling on social media)
I guess what I heard was to step back and pay attention to the broader picture. In order for me get out of my own way, I need to consider more than just the symptoms of what I think is the problem. I want to be a whole and healthy person rather than simply a success. I might need to consider something deeper than my Instagram skill set.
On one hand maybe I do. Wasn’t Bobby Orr destined to play hockey? Or Whitney Houston to sing? Or Robin Williams to be a comedian ? Some people seem to be destined to be doctors or engineers or whatever. How else can we explain say, Elvis?
But then…
I can’t help wondering if we aren’t just born with talents or attributes, maybe into families who support or don’t support our abilities. Plenty of super talented people don’t go on to become well known or successful. Plenty of child prodigies fizzle out before they become adults.
What IS the magic component? What caused Michael Jordon to become Michael Jordon?
Could it have something to do with love and devotion and quite possibly a huge amount of passion for something? Maybe it has more to do with falling in love with what we are doing and doing it a lot because we love it, and less to do with just being good at it. Unless being good makes us love it all the more?
I hope it’s love…
This QR code will take you to Amazon to Peaceful Hearts
Awhile ago I read Joe Dispenza’s two latest books. He’s a good speaker and writer, and he seems to explain quantum theory pretty well.
Today I ran across a couple of new podcasts that Joe D. was on and I heard him say clearly and twice that “if we can learn to self regulate.” “If we can learn to recognize when we are dysregulated and selfregulate…”
I know some people who’ve attended his workshops. (The day I finished one book I actually ran into a friend who had just attended one). Our conversation wasn’t as dramatic as I might have expected. I can’t really recall much of what we talked about. My friend is already doing well. He’s a healthy and successful happily married father of five. Joe’s seminars are upwards from $15,000 for a week and often appeal to people with chronic health issues. They are so popular there is a waitlist to even sign up. I don’t see myself signing up or waiting to, but, I enjoy what he has to say.
If you have read or listened to Joe, he does get you thinking, with all his brain scanning and evidence that he might be onto something.
What I like hearing is that meditation is not as hard a sale as it used to be. People accept that they can change their habits by paying attention and being aware. Its common for his followers to take a step back from being dysregulated by something, to just breathe. He says if you want to change your behavior, you first have to change your energy.
What used to be something people had to be convinced of, is becoming common knowledge. Our brains are elastic. We can self regulate. Recognizing dysregulation and knowing what to do is a helpful life skill. I feel like there is a lot of good news here
In this fast paced, opinion driven world, feelings can get intense. Learning to regulate will not only benefit us personally, but also everyone we associate with. Bringing a calm, confident self into any situation will only make it better.
I’ve seen this happen with children.
Art after breathing, turning ‘can’t’ to ‘can’
They used to say people can’t change. Now, using focus and intent we have proof that we can. We can change in a moment and we can change in our life. We can, as Joe often says, become someone else. Science suggests that we do anyway, but what Joe is saying is that we have some creative control in the process.
Describe a phase in life that was difficult to say goodbye to.
So many. I don’t love goodbyes, but how could I have lived so much life without closing this door or that?
I once belonged to a artist group. We all had studios in one location. We got along, we supported each other, we went to shows together. There was music, long lunches, comradary. It was a fun time. Lots of productive artistic hours…
That I needed some writer friends to bounce my query letter off of. I’ve read all the online suggestions. I got my word count down. I sent it through a bot to correct spelling and punctuation, but this feels huge, like I need help!
Where can I find a writers group? Hmmm
Oh wait, silly me. Right under my nose!
You ARE ALL writers! Maybe you won’t care to read this
But we are a big group. Surely one or two may have some feedback for me. Here it is:
Dear Sandra,
I chose you because I trust your opinion and expertise. As an avid reader of everything, I usually agree with you. You know this business better than all of the agents I’ve researched. Plus, you practically live down the street and we both know ——.(my author friend)
Please allow me to introduce you to my latest project.
Query
‘Beatrix Butterfly’ is a bright and colorful picture book that tells the dynamic story of one easy-to-relate-to butterfly named Beatrix.
Her cycle of transformation from egg to caterpillar to butterfly is a true to life, scientific story that is also a metaphor for change. As we follow along, we are all encouraged to breathe with Beatrix as she patiently spends time in each phase.
A friendly introduction to conscious breathing, Beatrix has taught children as young as two, how to ‘Butterfly Breathe’.
I coined this term for a simple breath-to-movement exercise that I learned from a specialized yoga instructor.
Breathing and moving in this conscious way has been shown to calm the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. It has also been used to regulate neurological dysregulation caused by stress.
Beatrix is a butterfly with a mission. I believe that teaching children to take deep, slow, movement-connected breaths when they need to feel calm and confident, gives them a helpful tool to grow up with. My years teaching in different places around the world have convinced me that all children can benefit from this simple practice.
I painted the illustrations for ‘Beatrix Butterfly’ in acrylic. My style has a playful, abstract quality that children seem to be drawn to. Beatrix is a Holly Blue Butterfly. Caterpillars of this species are sometimes pink.
‘Beatrix Butterfly’ follows a self published book called ‘Peaceful Hearts’. Also conscious-breath themed, it explores breathing while feeling emotions, aiming to introduce the concept to teachers, parents and children.
Beatrix suggests that each phase of life is helpful for different reasons.‘Beatrix Butterfly’ has already been enjoyed by many children as I have meandered along this writing journey. Seeing a two year old do the exercise I included at the end of the book, made her parents smile. My theory that anyone can practice conscious breathing, and feel better in doing so, has rung true repeatedly. Parents and teachers have reported positive results from their breathing experiments with children following reading either or both of my picture books.
A third book is being written and illustrated. It will incorporate nature and gratitude into breath-work for a visually beautiful and calmingly enjoyable finale to the trilogy.
Remember planning? I barely do, but on this lovely March morning, I’m quite ready to roll up my sleeves and get out my calendar.
First I’m going to list some of the things that I want to do before I leave for the East.
I want to read my book in a few of my friends classrooms and teach some different age kids how to Butterfly-Breathe. I want to send my query and the PDF of my book to my author friend to be referred to the agent I’ve had my eye on for years. (I read on her website that she was accepting referrals). I want to see Opening Day for Ponyball and also watch my granddaughter perform at the KFP Galla. I want to help my son pack and get ready to move. I want to spend the equinox with my friends who like to celebrate these quarter year marks. I would like my hair cut by my favorite stylist. I would like to start doing the beach stairs again and doing my kettle bell exercises.
Now I’m feeling a little overwhelmed by my own list. I’m intentioning for it all to fall into place perfectly, though some things sound scary and I hope everyone’s schedules coincide. That’s enough of this so called planning for now. I need to walk and probably breathe.
Genetics are crazy. This one looks exactly like I did at seven
If you could be someone else for a day, who would you be, and why?
Future Andie of course! Because I kind of know her.
If I had to spend the day being a completely different person, no matter how cool that person might be, I’d have to waste a chunk of time getting to know too many things, to get up to speed and get into character.
So I choose the person I’m evolving into, because although she’s likely someone else, we have some history together. I’ll have a hand in creating her, and you never know, anything could happen.
Describe the most ambitious DIY project you’ve ever taken on.
How hard could it be? People do it all the time…
Doesn’t it always start out with thoughts like these?
Of course my biggest project to date is this one. This whole write a book, illustrate a book, story board and format a book, write a query letter, find an agent, publish a book, get an online presence so you can tell people about your book. Good thing I didn’t have a clue about how much effort or how long it might take.
Ignorance is maybe not bliss, but it does get you started. I think I may be at the point of no return now, but initially, it was good to not know.
Now? Well since I’m this far in, since I’ve faced a fear or two and survived, since I do believe in what I’m doing at its core, since I’m still here. I guess I’ll keep going. Today I listened to a seminar about twenty mistakes writers make in their query letters. I guess that is my next focus.
Writing a query letter.making a decent reel. Sharing
Peace Kit 