Recently, I’ve had a hankering to make more florals with rusty bed coils. Perhaps it’s because the first one has been repinned on Pinterest time and time again. I named this floral delight “Sweet Betty” after my sister-in-law’s mom, Betty, and made it to cheer her up after the loss of her lifetime partner and …
Cayucos: A Refreshing Travel Excursion
Have you ever felt like a frayed rope about ready to snap? If so, you might need a travel excursion to a picturesque place. Recently, some of the women in my family ventured to Cayucos, California for a weekend trip full of rest and relaxation. READ THE ENTIRE POST...
Chapter 3 PRACTICING CREATIVE SELF-CARE
Creativity begins with healthy self-care. When we artistic types take care of our particular self-care needs, our creative capacity expands. Each person is unique and has particular self-care priorities. For example, an introvert needs alone time to refuel, whereas an extrovert refuels from others. This chapter of my book, Refrain from the Identical: Insight and Inspiration …
Ode to My Brother
I’ve indirectly learned many of life’s important lessons through watching my older brother stumble upon them first. READ MORE...
Hopelessness
Will you still believe when the darkness descends and the enemies of your soul babble in your brain? Will you hold fast when despair circles overhead like a raven in search of treasures to steal? Hopelessness grates upon serenity until all that remains is depression. Yet, this dark place is where faith stretches—when you trust …
Treasure-hunting Tuesdays
I call our weekly outing Treasure-hunting Tuesday. The concept is quite simple. The women in my family get together every week or so to explore a quaint antique shop, and then to have coffee, tea, or dinner. Not everyone can go every week, and sometimes we need to cancel. We might just switch the day …
Lady of the Night
“Mom,” my daughter says as she nestles next to me, as if a chick under the mother hen’s wing. She couldn’t possibly get any closer. “I wrote a new poem. Read it.” Elya drove an hour on a Sunday afternoon to draw strength from being around family. She hands me her phone and I read …
Life Pauses
When life pauses, rather than fill in the silence, become someone you can be proud of. Sometimes life pauses—forces you to be alone, suspended in a season void of purpose. You go through a divorce, lose a job, encounter an empty nest, or have a friend move. At other times, a life pause is as …
Become a Hermit for a Day
I often wonder when I became a hermit. Not, actually, in real life, mind you, but in my heart’s home. I used to be an extrovert, drawing energy from the crowd. Now, I sip on a sunrise and savor the silence. A day alone delights me. Even though my husband is off to work on …
JoDee Luna Art 