So I got thinking.  The most natural post to write next seemed to be about how to breathe.  Afterall as far as I can tell when you are developing a new set of skills, or reapplying them to your life you need the short term solution, the medium and long term ones.  So discussing a tried and tested method seemed like a great idea.  Also showing off a little and blinding with science seemed fun, if I’m honest.  Making myself look good always seems like a nice option

My journey seems to be taking me on a completely different path.  were I ended up was with noticing.

I mentioned in the last post that my breathing through my mouth I was becoming more aware of not only how I was breathing, but I was becoming more aware of my movements.  Unconsciously slowing and moving in a more deliberate manner.

That sense of awareness has continued.  Probably also aided by a new set of glasses bringing life into new focus.  I live in a valley, surrounded by mountains.  Too often it is so easy to keep your head down, immersed in whatever life is throwing at you.  Lifting my eyes up, I find my breath stolen by the beauty around me.

I am also noticing and valuing friends more.  Suddenly more aware of the small moments of expressed friendship and gratitude. causing me to feel more loved.

Noticing… causing me to open my eyes.. causing me to see what I already have… realising that what I am seeking for is already mine… allowing me to feel alive, at peace and centred in a way I have been seeking for.

The power of simply breathing and being is proving to be amazing.

One of the reasons for investing time in the website, alongside promoting my art work, is to begin to explore another facet of myself. In everything I do my passion is to see people become who they were created to be. Long term I would like this, along with my artwork, to define how I earn money, how I impact my community, I guess how I live out my life.

In thinking about this I realise there is a journey which I am beginning to undertake. I need to revisit old, well known, well loved lessons and remember to apply them to my life. I also feel like I am heading into a journey of the unknown. No doubt this will be reflected in the images I create.

I am so very aware that in the middle of every day life, in the busyness, in the expectations I have lost part of myself. I think its more lost to my awareness than erased from who I am. How am I supposed to inspire and encourage others when I feel lost in a mighty sea?

I have a recognition that somehow I allow others opinions of me to define who I am and how I behave. I’m also aware that it is in my nature to nurture and to give, and somewhere in encouraging and enabling others to be who they can be, I have moulded myself to help them achieve that, rather than maintaining my own identity.

I need to reconnect with who I have been created to be. I need to be me with intentionality and not just a shadow of who I am capable of being.

I need to breathe.

I need to do what all the good artist manual type books recommend, I need to re-establish my personal quiet space. I need to re-connect with my God, I need to be able to define what it is that I want and need rather than putting everyone else first. I need to selfishly look after me. Something I’m not sure I know how to do, but something I need to learn to do.

It is time to Stop and Breathe