“This is so much fun! I want to do this every day!”
(Excuse me for a moment for quoting myself, but nobody else said it. Ha! ha!)
“Well, then, why don’t you?” someone shouted from the other side of the room.
Why don’t I indeed!
My exclamation was a joyous reaction to using Van Gogh as an inspiration to paint sunflowers. My friend Debbie Diestler facilitated the art class at Grace Place, a local restaurant. She supplied the instruction and materials for 20 students and painting the flowers supplied the fun!
Francie, Debbie, Gayle & Sunflowers!
But the shout-out supplied the ponder.
If, indeed, painting flowers is so much fun, why don’t I paint every day?
Why don’t I do exactly what I want every day–especially now, when every day is so precious.
I guess I do.
When I have energy, I do something.
When I’m out of energy, I rest.
Those are pretty much my two choices: I’m either doing one or the other.
What I’ve learned is that it doesn’t so much matter that I’m doing what I want. What matters is that I recognize that I’m wanting what I do.
So, have I painted again since Deb’s class?
No. I’m writing this blog post, I’ve been eating watermelon, I’ve been cleaning the cat’s litter box, and I’ve been resting. And I’ve enjoyed every one of them in its own time.
How about you? What activity do you love so much that you want to do it every day? Do you?
If so, you’re easily pleased.
If not, and you’re satisfied with what you do, perhaps you, too, have found the secret to contentment.
If not, and you’re not satisfied with what you do, perhaps it’s time. The secret is out!
What do I want to do every day…hmmmm. It’s hard to choose, Gayle! Let’s see, do some creative writing, be with my animals, just sit on the front porch and look at the Blue Ridge Mountains all around me and all the wildlife,sing (not that I sing that well!), be with or talk to good friends, work in the garden, read something inspiring…did I cover it all? I doubt it! Thank you for helping me look at all of this and make a determination to actually do it all, every day! Rita
Wow! If you can do all that every day, I want to shake your hand–and join you on that front porch. (Although my front porch isn’t so bad. The heading to my blog is a photo of a winter sunrise off our front porch–maybe you could join me!)
I could easily do Reiki and Sound Healing every day of my life. It brings me such joy to do something I love that also provides such relief and joy to others.
What a blessing! I loved the sound healing I received from you!
Gayle,
Everything you write makes me think. Jerry and I are in Amsterdam tonight and will go to the VanGogh museum in your honor tom’w. I love your sunflowers. And I think of you often. Love from Patra
My Boston cousin is in Amsterdam now, too. Maybe you’ll meet her. 🙂 I’ve been to the Van Gogh Museum–would love to be joining you there. Maybe you’ll make it to the West Coast one day.
I love your painting Gayle. I too am a painter. I enjoy it very much. I don’t do it as often as I would like because it consumes so much time. I also love to cook. I am content and very happy with my life.
Take Care. I also truly enjoy reading your blog.
Love Carol
What a lucky woman to be content and very happy with your life. Me, too. Isn’t it great!
I absolutely love your blog. It is life affirming for us all. You used to sing with my husband Roy in the Community Choir, but I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting you.
Thank you for your meditations on life and your incredibly beautiful honesty! Keep it coming when you feel it. What a gift!
Karen
How sweet for you to say such nice things! Thank you. I love Roy’s voice: I hope he sings to you often–and I hope you sing back!
Once again….very well put, Gayle. How I love the paintings. I have been very busy and I am hoping we can get together this next week. Maybe paint…maybe not.
I am doing something I love to do everyday…singing! Practiced today (Saturday) for tomorrow…singing with, “The Elements” (that is the name we have given ourselves)Sunday, June 23 at the Spiritual Center for Living…10:30 to 11:30am. Hope you can come…it will be very joyous and wonderful!!! Would love to see your beautiful face there!!
Love to you,
Karen Coffey
Hi Karen, Singing is one of the most pleasurable things on Earth. Glad to know you are singing. (Plus the fact that you have a pretty voice.) Keep it up!
Wonderful picture of you and your beautiful painting, Gayle…made me smile!
Hi Sandi, As an artist, you can appreciate the fun! Glad you smiled at my happy flowers!
I love your painting!! Glad you are able to do some of the things that you love.
Thanks, Nancy. My life is thankfully full of joyous activities–just not as many as usual. 🙂
ALWAYS an inspiration! I love you! kat
Thanks, Kat. I love you, too, and that darling man of yours!
Your inspirational writings always
Makes me think and look to my own self.I love very early mornings listening to the birds singing and grooming and exercising my miniature horse Kianga.I haven’t forgotten YOU trying to understand the weird weather.Your Sunflowers
Are delightful and look great.
Sounds like we love the same things–imagine that! Still looking forward to meeting Kianga.
Thanks for sharing this special time with all of us. Grace Place is a fun environment and I can see that is what you gals are experiencing. Your flower Gayle, does resemble a Van Gogh. Blessings to you.
I Peggie. I still haven’t seen your paintings. Hope you’re still at it!
Hi Gayle,
So glad you made it to that painting session. You had mentioned it last Time I saw you. They are beautiful, and show your joy in life!
You know I love to paint, but your thoughts made me look deeper. I love to take care of my yard and enjoy the animals that live with me there. And you know how I enjoy my cars. Friday cat goes in morning walks with me around the yard and visits my ponds with me to feed the fish. What a joy they are with my view of Mount Shasta. But most of all Gayle, after reading your Blog I also enjoyed cleaning the house again. I should be so lucky to have a roof over my head with a wonderful husband and all the friends that surround me.
Please let me know if you want another painting day- I would be glad to join you…
Lynda
Hi Lynda, Thank you for the day–and the flowers–and the fun! I looked up your website @ http://www.lyndanolte.com and hope some of my readers who enjoy art will visit it. I was happy to see your post about mixing blacks. I also like looking at your artwork. Keep up the good work!
Hi Gayle,
Thank you so much for taking the time to visit my site, http://www.lyndanolte.com/blog. Like you I too enjoy when people visit and leave comments and any suggestions. I enjoy sharing what I am working on and new discoveries. Isn’t that what life is all about! Hope to see you and others there soon.
Contentment! This is one of my favorite topics. You have nailed it. I guess I sometimes hit the mark and sometimes don’t. The sunflowers are spectacular and it’s nice to see you there also Francie… Two of my favorite people! Thank you for these wise and lovely reflections Gayle. I will be more conscious this day of enjoying where ever I find myself. Love Pam
Then your life will be truly blessed! (Even when you don’t hit the mark. 🙂
Hi Gayle,
Thank you for brightening my day with your thoughtful writing and beautiful sunflowers! You are such a talented and inspirational woman.
Today I did something that I love to do: I went hiking with friends. Even though it looked like it was going to be stormy, it was a perfect day to hike the Davis Gulch Trail at Whiskeytown. Everything was so green and fresh after the rain!
Hmmmm….now I should do something else I love to do, or as you might say: now I should love doing something I need to do! Pulling weeds after the rain is fun, right? That’s where I’m headed. My flowers will thank me for it.
Hi Jeannie, Glad you’re out on that trail that you love and in that yard that you love! Life always does look a little fresher after a rain!
what do i love to do? Today I love to put on picnic shoes and not even necessarily have a picnic but enjoy wearing the shoes because they feel like watermelon, shady trees and sunshine. I am sending all my love your way and then I am sending all my love your way. Guess what I am doing then? I am sending all my love your way! xxoxooox Liz
Picnic shoes! I’m looking for my pair right now! Then I’m going to get back to you with some of that love you are so freely tossing around.:-)
Hey I just found this last blog, not sure why it hadn’t come through so I’d commented on the support one again. Okay I am so glad you are getting to paint. I keep thinking I want to paint, but I put other things to do in the way. Everyday I have a lot on the “todo’ list, not giving myself the time to think what just it is I want to do. Hmmm….today I am going to Jacob’s Pillow, with my daughter and grandson. Most days keeping things up and doing some massage and energy sessions is what fulfills my desires. But, I am going to think more on this! You have inspired me once again!
Hi Sandra, You must paint! Your paintings are exquisite….. But then again, like everything else, when it’s time. Glad you’re doing your healing work as those sessions are exquisite, too. Hope some of my Massachusetts friends are coming to see you. Still looking forward to the time you come west to Redding and Mt. Shasta. I have a lot to share with you! Love, Gayle
Hi Gayle,
I love the painting! It’s beautiful. You look so happy. Keep smiling! Keep painting!!
Love Amy
Thanks, Amy! It’s easy to keep smiling when one is painting!
How fun! You’re a true inspiration, Gayle. I’ve been telling myself for over a year that it’s time to get back to water coloring, and drawing. What am I waiting for? A kick in the butt, I guess, and your blog was just what I needed. Getting my supplies out right now!
Love,
Canda
That makes me smile! Hope those water colors are flowing!