the past week around here

 The days have been full of pumpkins, school parties and trick or treating over here...my sweet girl picks out her own costume now and, of course, it's all about the princesses!! Tara wanted to be Jasmine and she just brought her to life...what do you think?? All we needed was the magic carpet, right:) She is growing up waaaay fast...it takes my breath away and brings me to tears sometimes.But I am relishing all of our time together...tea parties on the floor of her bedroom, photowalks, singing, reading and baking. She is the jewel of our lives...truly.

My sweet girl and I...me being a witchy-poo:) I was going to be an Indian princess but it was just too much work to get both me and Tara all gussied up. Besides...only one princess allowed per house, you know:)

Loving the crisp (and sometimes very cold) Fall walks around here. The colors are simply breathtaking...stunning. And I love pointing stuff out to Tara...getting her out in nature under the blue gray skies...crunchy russet leaves under our feet.Bliss. bliss. and more bliss.

 

We celebrated Diwali this weekend. Truthfully...I haven't really done that in past years with Tara but as she gets older, I really want her to have a complete sense of the richness and complexity of her identity. I am starting to buy her a few Indian clothes (what's not to love...bright colors and sparkles???) and explain certain cultural aspects I'm proud of. As she gets older...I will explain more. And, of course, I want to take her to India one day!!!  

Loving loving loving my e-course with Brene. I am somehow processing way more listening to Brene talk  and answer questions than just from reading the book.She's sharing her own journey and life path with us and talks of the importance of creating the space to do our work...to do this work. She also shared (in this morning's video) the difference between striving for excellence (wanting to be our best) vs perfectionism ("what will they think???"). So many aha!!! moments, I can barely stand it!!!

xxx

letting go: embracing vulnerability and imperfection

This seems to be the theme around here lately...letting go...in all aspects of my life. It took me awhile to catch on, but I believe that's exactly how the Universe works...if you don't pay attention to the delicate nudges...they just get louder and louder! And so I am allowing myself to shed layers and guises, to let go of all that simply has no use in my life anymore. Here is a current work in progress...and I am letting go of what I want the painting to be to bring forth what it wants to be. I have no idea what that is right now...which is frustrating and exciting all mixed up! I am trying out new things and pushing mySELF especially where I sense resistance and tension.I am trying to be vulnerable in my art making, my relationships, my parenting...and it's scary! But, at the end of the day...is there any other way?

 

And...I am cleaning things out everywhere...especially my closet!  I have clothing that I haven't worn for years, that don't even fit me anymore (lifestyle and size!!!) and ...stuff I can't even remember ever buying or wearing!!! Eeeeek!  It was so time consuming to go through everything (I had been putting it off for ages!) but...I finally cleaned out the clutter. And can I just say what a huge difference it has made??? In a practical sense, it's so much easier for me to get dressed now because I can actually find things! But metaphorically...there is a huge sigh of relief, a clearing of space, a letting go of the old to make room for the new. I feel lighter...renewed, refreshed and change, somehow. I can't recommend it enough!

 "Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it. Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy—the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.” -Brene Brown

 And...my e-course with Oprah and Dr. Brene Brown started today. I am so ready for it...bring on the messiness! I read this book a few months ago and every single word/concept resonated with me...there were aha! moments and deep sighs of relief on just about every page. For so much of my life...I ran away from my story but at some point it simply became too exhausting. I had to sit down and gather up all of me; the shame and vulnerability, the hope and promise, the dark and the light. I simply had to be me!