Positive energy

Cup, etched and and painted

During the last couple of months, I had some really good visits with some really good friends. My closest friends are people who surround themselves with positive energy.

The danger with being in a helping profession is that often we are drawn to people who need us and if we're not careful, this becomes are social life.  There is a danger of becoming trapped in co-dependent relationships or we don't take time to rejuvenate ourselves. We don't take our time to surround ourselves with people who laugh and enjoy life. We forget to surround ourselves with people who restore our energy and whose energy we can restore.

As the first month of this year closes I decided that my New Year's resolution should be to surround myself with more people who exude positive energy.

The Potatoes

Caroline's drawing of the Potatoes

My 13 year old and her close friends recorded a song or two and thought it would be funny to call their group "The Potatoes." 

Last night over dinner, she told me The Potatoes read my blog, so this is a shout out to them. I have to admit that I was a bit surprised since I wasn't gearing the topics of my articles toward their age group, but these ladies are not only very talented and creative, but they are also very mature for their age with good hearts and judgement that is well beyond their years. I know that when they go on to high school they will strive for and achieve much!

Thanks for reading my blog ladies!  

Boundaries

Nathan hosted a small get-together during our visit.  Between the laughter and hysterical stories Nathan and I had a moment to exchange stories about friends and boundaries. 

I think Nathan and I share our want to help people.  He and I shared stories about long time friends who don't respect our boundaries.  I found his story interesting as it mirrored my own.  We both have friends we try to help but who put us in difficult positions, asking us to place ourselves in financial or spiritual jeopardy and yet not understanding why we would say no. It was validating to hear him say that we have to do that, especially when our financial and spiritual well being is tied to our family's well being. I know a lot of people would agree with Nathan, but it's so hard when people you love don't understand. 

I realize people attract others who mirror themselves. I realize my long time friend reflects who I was many years ago.  What I wonder is does the fact that we don't see eye to eye on something as fundamental as personal boundaries mean that we've grown in different directions?

Amazing people

I took a break from my pots to visit a friend, Nathan, in Bloomington, Indiana. 

Sometimes I meet people who have it all together. Among those are Marva Jolly, Joyce Owens, Susan Gillespie, Nathan, and just recently Carol and her husband, Bill. Nathan introduced me to Carol and Bill and  I believe friends like these are a gift. They are people who feed your soul with their positive energy and their laughter.  

And while the after dinner conversation developed last night developed, I realized that if Chris and I can be like Carol and Bill when we retire, then we would truly be accomplished. Here is a couple who has traveled, learned, experienced, and in their retirement continue to love each other and to have adventures. And continue to laugh and enjoy. They are truly amazing!

Resilient Spirit continued

Soda fired vase

One of my friends is a very patient soul.  He patiently waits his turn.  He patiently waits for people to call him back.  He patiently waits for things to change.

But what I fear is that he waits for a relationship to become healthy.  He waits for a change in his significant other's demeanor. And he's been waiting a very long time.  And as he waits, his soul is exposed to such negativity.  And now I think he's become accustomed to his circumstance.  He's endured a lot in his life and his soul is resilient.  But I know a relationship isn't something you endure.  It's something you enjoy.

How do I know?  I was there once.  Waiting.  Being patient.  Waiting.  And enduring.

And what's the difference between he and I?  After four years, I got tired of waiting for things to change.  I got tired of not having my own spiritual needs not being met.  I got tired of never having time for my art because my needs were never acknowledged.  I got tired of feeling less than.  I got tired of enduring.  And I just got tired.

My friend is more patient than I am, but at what cost?

Chicago Public Art Group

Today, I had the pleasure of meeting John Pounds and John Weber from the Chicago Public Art Group.  Their goal is to bring communities together through the creation of public art. John pounds was an amazingly kind man with much artistic insight, while John Weber was just a font of information regarding Chicago history and civil rights. It was an amazing meeting that revolved around how art has grown to be a very public activity that brings together communities and helps to raise awareness about social issues.The meeting left me feeling very charged and very grateful about being involved in art. I certainly hope I have the opportunity to work with both of these amazing men in the future.

From the CPAG website
Title:  Bethel New Life 
Site:  Bethel New Life Center, 1140 N. Lamon, Chicago 

Resilient Spirit

I hate scraping kiln shelves.

But even the things we love to do can come with things we dislike. But if you keep doing a

Large soda fired bowl

process you hate, then it just becomes something you do, and eventually you don't think about it anymore.

This resiliency of the human spirit is something I've been highly aware of since my early twenties. All too often we become accustomed to living with difficult circumstances for no reason except that our spirit has accepted the circumstances.   But if we keep in mind the resilient nature of the spirit and examine our habits and circumstances, remembering that the only long term experiences we should endure are the positive ones, then our lives become more fulfilled.

It's something  we must remember whenever we enter into a new relationship, a new job, or a new habit, or else hurtful experiences can become part of our day to day lives.