LEAVING THE ACCUSTOMED

Sometimes the familiar becomes different.  I hate to say it, but it's true.  You frequent a place for years and meet lots of interesting people.  Then one day you realize that your regular routine is no longer sparking joy.  Maybe the energy in that place has changed or perhaps you have changed.  Perhaps you have grown and outgrown that place.  Perhaps in order for your life to progress, something needs to change.  This is exactly what happened to me.

I was frequenting a place that had become my second home.  My biz office without the cost of rent.  I had been going regularly for 9 or so years.  But as I started to work on myself, both mentally and physically in order to better myself and manifest that which I desire/deserve, a shift happened.  The familiar was no longer the same.  It felt like the familiar had not grown with me. 

Making the decision to change the familiar was not easy.  In fact I experienced feelings of grief for a few days.  But I persisted, knowing that I needed to to this for my own personal growth.  In doing this I ended up having three dreams that told me (in so many words), that everything would be great. 

This then led to Saturday, where I was able to draw without feeling blocked.  I did not paint, but I drew, and drew and drew.  Now I have some drawings to paint. 

FEBRUARY EVENTS

If you are interested in learning more about landscapes and plants, then these events are ripe for you.  Please note that I am just sharing these events for you to enjoy and attend.  I am not directly involved in any of these events other than sharing them.  These events are also local to southern California. 

Tree of Life Nursery Events:
Feb. 9th - Attracting birds to your native garden.
Feb. 16th - Container gardening.
Feb.  23rd - Starting a native school garden.

Orange County chapter of the California native plant society:
Feb. 21st - Conservation solutions on our California island.

If you know of any other landscape events going on this month and would like it to be added here then email me and I will add it. 

STRUGGLING TO WATERCOLOR

Sometimes I know exactly what I want to paint and other times I struggle to even pick up the pencil to start drawing something.  Anything.  This is a temporary obstacle that is overcome by allowing the obstacle to just sort itself out.  You may not have the groove in that moment but soon enough you will.  You see, in life there are two main types of obstacles.  The ones that you can immediately control and the ones that you cannot control, that will sort themselves out if you are willing to be patient. 

Since I had no mojo to draw I decided to watch some videos on YouTube.  After about an hour I picked up the pencil and drew something.  Not something I would be totally proud of but something.  Something is better than nothing. 

I look at this much like life.  You will always have obstacles.  Fear, doubt, lack of trust, eating unhealthy etc., but you do not need to keep those obstacles.  You can consciously choose to change and rid those obstacles from your life.  And if there are ones that you cannot control then you can ask God, the universe and your ancestors to help you. 

This is a prayer that I say to myself when I am in need to be calm and still.  "In the name of Allah most gracious most merciful.  May I have the serenity of mind not give two shits, about that which I cannot control.  Control that which is within my grasp and the wisdom to know the difference.  My I also have the compassion to treat others with kindness and respect, regardless of how they treat me."