A friend and I recently visited the de Young Museum in San Francisco to see the “Monet in Venice” exhibit. As always, Monet’s art touched something inside me. This day was no exception. Maybe because I’m focused on savoring my life, I noticed things I hadn’t before. The curator’s notes discussed Monet’s “enveloppe” concept of painting. As Monet himself put it: “I want to paint the air which surrounds the bridge, the house, the boat — the beauty of the air in which these objects are located, and that is nothing short of impossible.” Monet recognized that the object isn’t where the aliveness is — it’s in the envelope around…
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Morning Musings: A Chocolate Scented Candle and My Aha Moment!
My typical morning begins early and quietly. A cup of hot, strong coffee, a candle (mine is chocolate scented), my journal and a book. I meditate—10 minutes is my max these days. I write, read, review my day, and finish up with Wordle and Connections games. These are my good habits which move me positively into the day. I have a “not so good habit, however. This habit makes me tense and erodes my self-confidence. A clue is in the title of the book: Finish, Give Yourself the Gift of Done by Jon Acuff. I start so many things with enthusiasm, but I am bad at finishing. Really bad! My…
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Morning Musings: What Direction are You Facing? Perspective Matters
Early this morning while enjoying my first cup of coffee, a friend texted me a photo. She had just taken it from her East-facing kitchen window. A stunning fire-red sunrise. Facing west at my kitchen table, I saw a sky of gray clouds. So I grabbed my iphone and headed outside and looked East. This is what I saw. Spectacular! My quick take….. Sometimes a change in perspective will have beautiful results. We rarely see all the possibilities.
