Small Victories

The past week hasn't yielded much in the way of huge life-changing events. The small things have been nuggets of pure gold though. I have relished in accomplishing small but significant things lately.

1. Running for 20 minutes straight. 

I do realize that is not a huge feat for a lot of people. But in the journey toward getting back in shape, running without stopping to walk for any length of time is noteworthy. Especially when you are me. I was waiting for someone to pull over and offer to take me to the emergency room. 

2. Visiting a Laundromat

I have been blessed to always have access to a washer and dryer. I have also always been blessed to have a mom who would take my larger items (ex. large bed spreads) to the laundromat and wash them for me. Call me spoiled. I am thankful though. However, this week, I became an adult. I took things into my own hands and went. All by myself.  Thank GOD IN HEAVEN ABOVE for the kind ladies who took me under their little laundry-washing wings and helped me because I was about 5 minutes away from creating a sitcom-esque scene in the local Suds establishment.

3. Having my Shattered Cell Phone Screen Repaired

This was a victory in two ways...I fought my cheap tendancies and the motto "if it still works, don't worry about it." and replaced the thing. I ALSO was without my phone for a solid 2 hours and found myself very productive. Double Score.

4. Scheduling Days Off Work

For the proverbial work-a-holic, this is huge.

5. Bathing Trudie Gray

This is a Battle. The will of a dog v. the will of her owner. And mine was stronger today because I could not deal with the smell of something dead that she must have eaten. It was absolutely wretched. Ergo, we did the bath dance. I grabbed her up like a 50 lb sack of dog food. She did the spread eagle stance...all four legs perfectly straight and spread out at 45 degree angles. At one moment, she did the splits with her hind legs on the edge of the tub. I was laughing so hard at her fight tactics, I could barely focus on the task at hand. Eventually, she got bathed, I changed clothes, and all was well.

Every day will not produce timeline worthy events. At least not in my world. Somedays, I need complete re-dos. But when the day is done and I can look back and see victories...even tiny ones...I rest my head and say "I'll take it."

Today's Pearl of Wisdom:

When a stinky dog or a giant confusing washing machine stares you down, stare right back. Give it the stink eye and don't back down.

Leaps of Faith

I am  well aware that it isn't even September yet. Maybe I'm rushing the season (that's what my mom tells me I do and have done since childhood. I tried to wear shorts to school in February. True Story.) Regardless, I am drinking pumpkin spice coffee right now with visions of tailgating treats dancing in my head. Fall has always been my favorite season because to me, it is full of color...and welcomes my Birthday, which happens to be my favorite day of the year. 

Over the weekend, I enjoyed a trip out of town to serve as a segue from summer to fall. It involved spending time on a lake with three other girls (Mighty Fine Delta Gamma sisters, at that) who I am quite certain could rule the world with their combined talents. Three days at the lake house, on the water and otherwise taught me a few things:

1. A good way to exfoliate a spray tan from your skin is to climb up a giant rock. Rinse by jumping fearlessly (okay...not fearlessly...I was terrified and said curse words...) back into the lake. Good things often are accompanied by a bit of fear.

2. I am talented at many things. Shuffling cards is not one of them. 

3. My business trips are really just vacations. Good things and ideas happen when I forget about trying to make good things and ideas happen. 

4. There are few problems in this world that cream cheese smothered in some jellied something (candied jalapeños in this case), a glass of sangria and a little girl talk can't fix. 

5. I'm still young. I still have energy and life. I'm not giving that up anytime soon. I don't have any plans to fizzle out. I intend for my friends to hold me accountable to my never-ending youth and not enable the part of me that wallows in the self-pity of aging. 

6.  There are still huge chapters of my life that I haven't started. I am excited about that. I like to wonder about what they will hold. I am glad that I have friends with which I will share those chapters. And moreover, I am thankful that God continues to provide adventures. I love how He continues to line up events in my life that help me discover more about myself and help me discover more about Him. Even if it is something simple like jumping off a rock, I am grateful that I am still inclined by His Grace, to take leaps of faith. 

I guess it is time to go make the world a prettier place, one painting at a time. Enjoy your Monday and remember to thank the One who gave it to you.  

Today's Pearl of Wisdom:
Jump in and aim to make a giant splash when you do. 
Oh...and always use photoshop on swimsuit pictures ;)

Welcome Back

After months of tossing around re-entering the blogging community, I decided to make it a reality. 

Re-entering. Yes. 

If you have looked around even a little bit, you noticed this isn't my first blog on this page. A few years ago, I used this as an outlet while I was trying to figure out "what in the world" I was suppose to be doing. I thought perhaps I needed to start a completely separate new blog to focus solely on business but my life and my job are tied so closely together that I decided just to continue forward here and carry on with what I started so long ago. 

This excites me. 

You can read back into where I've been. That's a little scary. But you'll learn some things. I did when I read back over many entries today. I remembered good days and bad ones. And ones where I was filled with insight and wonder that I don't even remember.

I'm not a formally trained writer. So please expect the continuation of this journey to be raw and transparent (and full of misspelled words.) I am an artist. So also expect color and life.  I have goals for this endeavor. I hope to post more work, more plans, more lessons learned here. And I hope you find yourself walking with me, laughing with me, crying with me, and growing with me along the way. 

I am dreaming a little bigger these day. And this blog is a huge part of that. 

Dream with me. 

Today's Pearl of Wisdom:

Don't quit what you start.