Each day I watch for moments that inspire a strong feeling of gratitude and joy within me. I mentally label the strongest such moment The Delight of the Day. The practice encourages what psychologists call “positive scanning.” I’m waiting for good things to happen and, when they do, I notice and celebrate them. The more I understand what brings me joy, the more I can drop into it.
I’ve been participating in Art Every Day Month. This week, I’ve been painting first and then writing a poem.
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When the paint pools on an edgeand I bring a dry brush
into the puddle the color clambers onto the dry strands only a ghost of what was remains When dark thoughts shout me down and I spread color across a blank surface the shadows scramble into past and future Only this moment remains |
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It’s early morning so the wide brush goes smoothly down in parallel strokes Later in the day the wobbles will set in Either way paint leaves tracks |
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I found myself wrapped round with a boredom that was slowly squeezing me dry… Who knew that all it would take to shake me loose was a wide brush? |
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Lately I’ve been wanting ink
uncompromising declaration that I am not afraid to be free |
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Three times today I tried to limit myself choosing only the six gray shades across the top of my paint palette. Each time I failed reaching, in the end, for brighter colors closer to me. Why be surprised? I have always been a creature of extremes. |