Seedlings
I have great faith in seeds.Convince me that you have a seed there,and I am prepared to expect miracles.— Henry David Thoreau What joy when I went to water dirt Wednesday morning and discovered tiny, delicate, determined plants. Those bits of green reminded what a marvel gardening can be. Last autumn, narcissus bulbs were buried in a nearby, community planter. How delightful to ride past and see those yellow flowers atop the green stems, keeping their spring time promises after months of winter. Here are more thoughts on seedling magic, It’s good to leave each day behind,like flowing water, free of sadness.Yesterday is gone and its tale told.Today new seeds are growing.— Rumi Once in a golden hour, I cast to earth a seed,And up there grew a flower,That others called a weed.– — Alfred Lord Tennyson I would like to believe when I die that I have given myself awaylike a tree that sows seed every spring and never counts the loss,because it is not loss, it is adding to future life.It is the tree’s way of being.Strongly rooted perhaps,but spilling out its treasure on the wind.— May Sarton Every moment and every event of everyman’s life on earthplants something in his soul.For just as the wind carries thousands of winged seeds,so each moment brings with it germs of spiritual vitalitythat come to rest imperceptiblyin the minds and wills of men.— Thomas Merton We cannot change the past, but we can change our attitude toward it.Uproot guilt and plant forgiveness.Tear out arrogance and seed humility.Exchange love for hate—thereby, making the present comfortableand the future promising.— Maya Angelou While some start seedlings in December, time remains. Here are some how-to videos: Succeed and Soar! Sandra Gould FordPresenting arts experiences to encourage, refresh, enrich creative thinking and inspire. Journals Record your dreams, hopes, plans and achievements in these beautiful, inspiring notebooks. Details: 6” x 8, spiral notebook 120 pages, ruled on both sides Art printed on front Cover is thick paper stock.Back cover is medium gray Inside front and back covers have pockets for storing extra paper and pens View All Notebooks Thanks for shopping!
1st Path to Joy 2023, Simplicity
As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler – Henry David All “Illustrated Wisdoms” in this 2023 Paths to Joy were created by splattering viscous Dylusions shimmer spray on 11×14, 98 pound, Canson mixed media paper, then spritzing with water to see how the colors would run and gather. When dry, the above quote was evoked by drawing stars with fixed shapes and energy fields the bottom. Thin strands spiral away from these stars, eventually becoming the golden dots floating free My understanding of this Illustrated Wisdom will change as the art reveals itself in new ways. What do you see? Write me. PS Art is available with and without the quote. Shop Sandra’s Galleries. There was a story I heard once about a Mexican fisherman. He spends every day working hard on the water, searching for the big catch, and living on the ocean. One day, a CEO of a company comes to Mexico and goes fishing with the local man. He talks about how many hours he has had to work and things he has sacrificed to get where he is today, all so he can retire one day and move to Mexico and fish. — Anonymous In an old book of inspirations called The Treasure Chest., page 117 contained “The Twelve Rules of Happiness.” In 2020, Succeed and Soar explored them as “Paths to Joy.” Three years later, they’re revisited, enriched. What is joy? Theopedia says that it’s, 1] A state of mind and an orientation of the heart. 2] It is a settled state of contentment, confidence and hope. 3] It is something or someone that provides a source of happiness. According to The Treasure Chest, the First Path to Joy is: Simplicity. Simplicity is the nature of great souls. – Papa Ramadas Simplicity is not the opposite of wealth. It is the door to the riches you already own. – Alan Cohen If you will stay close to nature, to its simplicity, to the small things hardly noticeable, those things can unexpectedly become great and immeasurable. – Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet Nature is pleased with simplicity. And nature is no dummy. — Sir Isaac Newton As Henry David Thoreau wrote, “Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify.” How? The Huffington Post’s “15 Ways to Live a Simple, Happy Life,” include, Do what you love Don’t let stress rob you of your birthright to be happy Walk in nature Here are more E. F. Schumacher said, “Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius — and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction.” There, Minimal Ray says simpler lives can be happier because there are fewer complications. Deeper connections to others can be built by: Reflecting on what matters to you most Avoiding comparisons Working for a life, not for a living Read more Write me. How are you building your Path to Joy by simplifying things? This charming, 7-minute video shows how one woman cultivated a feeling of abundance while living simply. Click here to view. also see How I Make A Living, Affording My Country Cottage Life. [8 minutes] View here. This Month, Shop Sandra’s Art on Mugs As well as tote bags, tee shirts, journals, puzzles, phone cases, ornaments, face masks, towels, blankets, cups, pillows, shower curtains and more These unique, sturdy mugs are: Ceramic Dishwasher and Microwave safe Two sizes: 11 oz and 15 oz Prices, $15 and $18 CUSTOMIZE. Use tools with item to: Enlarge, reduce size of art Change placement of art and text Choose background colors Purchase this cup Shop All Posters & Art Collections HERE. Depending on Browser, Puzzles may be a stand-alone category or listed in Lifestyle Section. Thanks for shopping!
Path to Joy: 10th of 12 – This Moment
Write it on your heart that each day is the best day in the year. – Ralph Waldo Emerson The Tenth Path to Joy is “This Moment” which is, as Francis Bacon said, “sparkling like a star in our hand.” While researching the concept of ‘time,’ I found a video on how time travel works. Although revisiting the past or imagining the future can be easier than making the most of the moment, here are reasons to stick with what’s actually happening, right now: The present moment is the only one we control Each moment is a gift [because we don’t know how many we have] Staying out of the past and future improves mental, physical and emotional health. Read more. Although piling up time travel frequent flyer miles can be tempting, here’s help for staying present: How to Stay in The Present Moment 4 Tips to Stay in The Present Moment Feel Happy and Stress Free, 7 Steps How Being Present in The Moment Can Increase Well-being: Seek joy and stay safe! A Path to Joy Art Meditation: #10 This Moment Find your eternity in each moment Henry David Thoreau What I like best: The circles contain the numbers one through twelve, as though they are clock faces. Yet they make me think of jellyfish floating forward, effortlessly. Why I like the image: I like how the ‘jellyfish’ suggest that each second can be experienced in many ways, as time drifts, bounces and rolls forward. What the picture teaches: Every second offers many opportunities. The insights gained: These words of wisdom make me smile: The future is always beginning now. Mark Strand The art of life is to live in the present moment, and to make that moment as perfect as we can by the realization that we are the instruments and expression of God. Emmet Fox My last defense / Is the present tense. Gwendolyn Brooks The here and now is all we have, and if we play it right it’s all we’ll need. Ann Richards Note: These ‘Paths to Joy’ are adapted from The Treasure Chest, an old book I found years ago. Page 117 contained “The Twelve Rules of Happiness.” Of special delight is using paints markers and ink to illustrate meditations inspired by this wisdom. The technique is adapted from the book Visual Journaling, Going Deeper Than Words, by Barbara Ganim and Susan Fox. The Illustrated Wisdom: For information and to purchase the Paths to Joy art, visit Sandra’s Galleries.