August, 2025
I’m a bit of a latecomer to Mel Robbins, and not everything hits with me, but there is a
back episode #296 that talks about body image issues in a way I have never considered before.
Think about this – humans are not engineered to see ourselves as much as we do. Originally our eyesight even dimmed and gave us gentle images of ourselves and others as we aged. We were built to look at others, to assess them as threats or opportunities for connection, but now with screens and reflections everywhere “tech is warping your body image”. We see ourselves everywhere and the brain that was supposed to use the eyes to assess others is not ruthlessly turned toward our own flaws.
There’s science, and research, and even some recommendations.
Worth a listen. Unless of course you feel great about your body, in which case I would love to know your secret unless it includes enormous amounts of self-discipline and the genes of a supermodel.
August, 2025
Last month I traveled to Paducah for some artsy-craftsy fun. Kristin Williams of Ephemera Paducah resurfaced with a great new workshop in collaboration with Mary Beth Shaw. Junk journaling, mixed media journaling, just general playing with paper, fabric, paint, etcetera, etcetera. Lovely location, lovely ladies, lots of creativity on display.
And the best part of all, in many ways, was two full days of not even thinking of looking at a phone or iPad screen for 8 hours at a time. That’s what art-making does for me – precious and rare intervals of focus.
With a project like this, how do you know when you are finished? I was all ready to let it go and call it done, then I filmed a little flip through and all I could see was other possibilities. Nine signatures of options. Spontaneously layering and layering isn’t necessarily my strength, but heaven knows I have enough bits and bobs to keep me going for quite some time. So, for now, it will have a place on the corner of the studio table and we’ll see how loudly it screams out for my attention.
August, 2025
Isn’t it great when you don’t even have to leave home to experience delight?
August, 2025
Mantras (repeated phrases) and mudras (hand positions) are not generally part of my meditation practices, but suddenly the time seems right to see if it fits.
Some years ago I was introduced to a practice called the Kirtan Kriya, which involves a coordinated series of hand movements and chants, sung aloud, then whispered, then repeated silently in cycles for 6 minutes, 12 minutes, or even more. It didn’t take then, but it has come back around for me recently and this time it seems to be sticking.
When I first heard about it, the benefits were described the same way meditation benefits usually are, but this time I heard something different. It’s not new, but it was new to me. Now, publications like Psychology Today and the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation are recommending regular practice as a means of lowering the likelihood of experiencing Alzheimers, and perhaps even slowing the progress.
It is not uncommon for people of faith(s) or wonder if forms of meditation conflict with their beliefs, so I’d just like to emphasize that the syllables that are chanted are not prayers to a deity. They come from a longer phrase, Sat Nam, which means Truth is My Identity, and is central to the practice of Kundalini Yoga.
Here’s what each word, derived from Sanskrit, signifies:
Sa: Infinity, or the beginning
Ta: Life and existence
Na: Death or transformation
Ma: Rebirth and regeneration
There are many resources and descriptions if you are intrigued. The Alzheimers Foundation offers this guidance for a 12 minute practice but as the Mediocre Meditator, I keep it even simpler. Some sources recommend a 15 minute daily practice, but I’m starting with 6 to see if I can stay consistent. If you’d like to try it out, here is a , here is a You Tube version you can use to sing, and whisper, and silently repeat along.
July, 2025
I took myself on an artist date to the museum this week. Well, to tell the truth to the museum store.
Found these sassy sticker books. Not suitable for kids, maybe not suitable for work, but it was a delight to see all my feels laid out there, page after page.
Highly recommend! My morning journal pages will thank me.
