8 Ways I Restore Myself

Magpie Girl is asking this week: What are 8 things that fill you back up when you’re feeling empty, depleted, drained?

And so, I submit my 8 Things Fill-’er-Up List!

1. Fresh Air! Green! - To really feel whole, I need a lot of fresh, flowing air and good doses of time spent with trees, flowers, mosses, and other green growing life.
2. Inspiration in Moderation – Learning about and absorbing amazing, beautiful, daring, and just plain nifty projects others are doing is great for filling me up with my own ideas and energy. I add “in moderation” because, thanks to the internet, it is easy to overdose on this. Too much viewing of and reading about other people’s projects can end up draining my energy or overloading me with too many ideas. Either state results in me not actually doing my own stuff! Inspiration is exciting! Inspiration Overload is not.
3. Movement and Breathing – Regularly stretching and moving and breathing deeply makes a huge difference. Seriously huge. The most powerful, delightful form of this for me has been Kundalini yoga.
4. Time with Loved Ones – For me, this is time with my partner and our cats. This is vital. Enough said!
5. Creative Experimentation – Trying something new (a new paint or paint, a new art technique, a new instrument, etc.) can be a great thing for getting me out of ruts that I’ve worn deep and that are wearing me down!
6. Fabulous Books – This one can be tricky, because often you can’t plan this and have to stumble on these literary treasures. But when I find a book that is wonderfully written, that draws me in and enthralls me…that’s a wonderful, nourishing thing.
7. More Time Offline – This intermingles with so many other things on my list, but I typically spend way too much time online. Too much time online exhausts me and totally drains me.
8. Timeless Time – I saved this one for last. I think it is probably one of the major keys to filling myself back up and to feeling good in every part of my life. I need long stretches of time that are not limited by having to watch the clock so I make some appointment, or limited by the regular and unending dread I feel about the next day I have to go to my hated job, or limited simply by doing too much and so having to only spend a few minutes here before moving on to a few minutes there. Time that feels open and available for either active creativity or doing absolutely nothing at all is a very precious thing.

What fills you up?

 

Posts to Note

It’s time again to highlight some of the wonderful posts I’ve recently noted…

Tips for a Green Kitchen at Chocolate & Zucchini – Lots of creative and interesting tips for your kitchen (check this out for new ideas, not just the usual fare).

the not good enough lie by Jen Gray – A quick, lovely kick in the pants.

The Dogwood Tree at Posie Gets Cozy – A visual feast.

5 Rules for the First Hour of Your Day at BlissChick – Getting your day off on the right foot.

Feel free to share some more in the comments!

 

the familiar must move towards the fantastic

Reminiscent of African ceremonial costumes, yet similarly connected to haute couture, Cave’s Soundsuits are physical manifestations of his energy. He has said, ‘I believe that the familiar must move towards the fantastic. I want to evoke feelings that are unnamed, that aren’t realized except in dreams.’

Click to see these amazing creations!

 

Faithful Kindness

I want to share a the little story of someone I remember.

For a number of years when I was a child, we attended a certain church. There are many things that could be said about this church, but that’s not what this is about.

Piousness and the path of love
are two different roads.
Love is the fire that burns both belief
and non-belief.
Those who practice Love have neither
religion nor caste.

–Abu-Said Abil-Kheir, trans. Vraje Abramian

There was one member of this church who I’ve been remembering lately. I don’t recall her name and I can’t picture her. What I remember is her kindness.

If it was you birthday, you would have a handmade card in your church mailbox from her. Every time. If you were sick, there’d be a handmade Get Well card or a note.

Maybe an encouraging note would surprise you when there was no known occasion.

She made cards and notes and other kinds of papery kindness for everyone. She did it faithfully.

My religion is very simple. My Religion is kindness.

–the Dalai Lama

This is the best message I carry with me to this day from all those Sundays. I don’t remember the sermons or Sunday School lessons, but I remember this kindness.

 

A Bit More Inspiration

Well, I have just been dazed and gibbering this week. Not a lot of posting going on!

I promise to have more new stuff here, soon. The good news is that I have some inspiration to share with you today.

Let’s start with a video Rebecca shared with me quite a while ago. Quigong Swimming Dragon. Give it a try!

And I want share this beautiful post from the Farm Sanctuary blog. It’s about a rescued sheep named Lucky Lady, healing, and forgiveness.

 

Beautiful Moments

This morning, I want to share some links to recent beautiful posts I’ve enjoyed. I think you will enjoy them, too!

Connie at Dirty Footprints generously shares some Mountain Top Bliss with us…

Centria talks with us about asking nature for advice at Opening the Door, Walking Outside…

And Jen Lee shares a podcast on love, family, aging, dying, and missing – this is powerful stuff…

Thank you to all the wonderful people who share their thoughts, hopes, fears, beauty, and silliness with us all!

 

Blog Overload

I currently subscribe to 224 feeds. They are all blogs that I follow.

It’s time to end the madness.

I am going to try and cut this down to maybe 20 tops.

That’s kind of scary!

And the fact that it’s kind of scary is kind of scary to me.

I don’t need that much ‘inspiration.’ After a certain point, it stops being inspiring and starts taking the place of…oh, I don’t know…DOING ANYTHING ELSE IN LIFE.

So, time to start cutting back.

What about you? Is it time to trim back what you observe and start creating more of your own stuff?

 

Fabulous Links

Guess what?

A certain friend of mine tagged me as someone with a “Fabulous Blog!” Thank you!

I don’t feel like going through the (simple, quick) process of the meme, so I’m just going to highlight some great blogs – possibly ones I haven’t mentioned before.

First of all, I want to mention that the friend who tagged me is in the midst of posting a series of music videos, like I did here recently. Go and check it out!

I think I’ve linked to this blog before, but I’d like to highlight today’s Night Sky Awareness post over at the Difference a Year Makes blog.

Next up is a really remarkable year-long blog project called Opening the Door, Walking Outside. These are the beautiful photos and words of a friend who committed to stepping outside and exploring nature every day – and then blogging about.

And finally, the new blog by artist Marcy Hall – Ordinary Enchantment! If you love bunnies, you’ll especially want to go visit this lovely blog.

I hope these links lead you to some good, bloggy inspiration!

 

Contests and Giveaways!

I have a few opportunities to win fun stuff to share with you!

First, my buddy Paul who writes the Toy Bender blog is hosting a big contest at the moment!

If you donate a toy to Toys for Tots this season, you can enter to win fabulous toy-based prizes for yourself or the G.I. Joe / Star Wars fan in your life.

Go here for full details!

Next up, today is Day 1 of 3 days of massive giveaways over at the Modish blog!

Each prize is a package of tons of handmade goodies. You’re definitely going to want to enter. Go here!

And one more today…

Visit Christine Mason Miller’s blog today. If you’re new to her art and writings, you’re in for an inspiring discovery.

Plus, today you can enter to win one of her mini collaged canvases!