Pieces and parts

Sometimes even when I draw a string, it seems like there is no real pattern but instead just small pieces (or parts) of a pattern.  Almost like a sampler.  When I finished this piece, that's what it reminded me of.  Just a glimpse of some patterns.  But even though there is just small samples of the patterns, they come together and make a tangle.  I hope today, whatever you end up doing, at the end of the day you feel like everything has come together for you. 

How do you do that?

While sitting in the waiting room at the doctors office, I was showing my mom and sister how easy it is to Zentangle and how relaxing it is. We were having fun with the drawing and my mom saw elephant feet (although it would be a strange looking elephant with 5 feet), she wanted me to draw a trunk and then we added a spray of water.  It was a fun time!   I was also tangling over the weekend at a friends house and she was surprised how I could tangle while watching tv and visiting.  I can remember my mom knitting in the evenings when I was a kid and could never understand how she could concentrate on that and everything else going on around her - now I know.  I guess no matter what form of relaxation you choose, when you get pleasure out of it then it doesn't take alot of effort.  The awesome thing is you have something totally unique and original when you're finished.  That's the cool part!! 

Within the lines

Staying in the lines is hard sometimes!!  Saying that, I suppose it depends on what the lines are.  In some cases the lines are drawings we make (and those lines are REALLY hard to stay in sometimes - he he!) and other times the lines are surrounding our everyday life.  We have to decide what we will accept and what we refuse to except, and of course everything in between.  But life happens and the lines change which makes for more confusion!  I think that's what "thinking outside the box" is all about.  Moving your lines.  We move our lines all the time even though we don't realize it.  Mr. Thisorthat tells me all the time that he hasn't changed, but I can tell you after 30 years together HE HAS!!!!  Think about what you would have accepted when you were first married or when you first had kids, and then what you accept now.  Way different huh???  The important thing isn't that the lines stay the same or move, the important thing is that you're happy with where the lines are.  Today look at where YOUR lines are and smile.  I hope they are where you want them to be.  If not, take control and move them so you can be happy!!!!  After all life it too short to be unhappy!

Old and New

Sometimes when you start out doing something you're comfortable with, you end up pushing yourself to a new place.  That's not a bad thing!  If we all stayed right where we were then we would all still be holding crayons with our fists and scribbling on the walls.  We push our kids and grand kids to reach for new things - to try harder.  But sometimes as adults we want to take the easy route and then wonder why we didn't get the results we were hoping for.  Well, no matter what your age, you need to always remember to push yourself.  Whether its with your art, your cooking and housekeeping, your gardening, your exercise, your whatever!  If you don't push yourself you'll never feel like you've accomplished what you know you're capable of.  Today I hope you feel that sense of accomplishment.  Personal satisfaction means so much more when you know how hard you worked for it.