“Art, freedom and creativity will change society faster than politics. ” Victor Pinchuk
The photo for today is of an original artwork called Fire Walker which is available along with more of my art in the Espirational Gallery.
Something different happened earlier this month. The lake froze. Not that common around here, but it does happen.
I’ve never thought that much about ice. I try to avoid it as much as possible. We lived across the road from a lake before we moved here. It would freeze and people would cut holes in the ice for ice fishing. Other than falling on ice and putting cubes in my iced tea, that was about all I knew about ice.
But around here there is time. Time to walk and time to really look at things.
One morning while walking along the lake I looked down and noticed the water had frozen in waves as it reached the shore. Cool! Then I noticed that the ice was not all the same. Different patches where I was walking had frozen differently, creating different textures and patterns.
Copyright 2018 by R.A. Robbins
Later in the day I went back to the lake with my camera and took some pictures, focusing on capturing texture. The only thing I worried about in composition was how I included the ice.
At one point I went out on the dock, held my arm straight out over the water with the camera facing down and took a shot. The result was a stepping stone type of pattern in the ice.
Take a minute to really look at something you may take for granted. What you see might surprise you, it might even change you.
Yesterday I talked about how making changes can be easier than living with them. Today I want to talk to those who may be feeling forced to make changes for health reasons that you really don’t want to make. Maybe your doctor says you have to lose weight. Or that special diet to treat or prevent a medical condition is just too drastic for you to want to consider. Well I have experienced this one
Confession of a Drama Queen
Before I began the gluten free lifestyle I was convinced there would be nothing left to eat but twigs and tree bark. In fact there is a rumor going around that I was spotted in the front yard threatening to eat a tree. But the last 10 years of living gluten free have taught me that attitude really is everything and can turn what at first seems a huge negative into something that is actually positive.
Looking for the Good
It took awhile for me to see that not eating certain foods helps me live a happy and healthy life. It is a good thing. While learning the gluten-free lifestyle and making it my way of life took time there is no way I would cheat now. No bread, cookie or cake is good enough to make it worth the price of poor health.
Staying on the Path
Looking at my way of life as the way to healing and wholeness keeps me on the path. Focusing on and being grateful for the good in life, even if it means looking really hard to find one good thing, will make it easier to see the good that still exists in our lives and in the world. We may even be able to see what we saw as “bad” as stepping-stones or lessons.
Now for the free book — FINALLY! The Gluten Free Good Life focuses on keeping a positive attitude and gives tips for making adjusting to gluten free living easier. And today January 21st only, it is FREE! Yes, I said free. So go to the Amazon Kindle Store and get your copy.
If you have read the book, please consider leaving an honest review on Amazon. Remember to mention you received the book free if you took advantage of a giveaway. While you are there, click on my name and please take a look at my other books which are at regular price.
Want to see me in my kitchen making my naturally gluten free Sweet and Sour Chicken? Go to https://www.facebook.com/espirational/ at 11:30 am (Central Time) for a Facebook Live cooking demo. Don’t worry if you missed the live broadcast it will be available for viewing later.
This is the time every year when people are making changes. Some formalize this in the form of “resolutions.” We all know many of these resolutions fail. Most of us have experienced this personally. One of the reasons I believe New Year’s resolutions fail is because we can make changes, but we are not prepared to live changed.
Living Changed
We all know that making changes in our lives can be difficult. But living as changed beings can be even more difficult. It often takes time to settle in and accept the changes as well as learning any new skills that may be needed to live with them.
If that isn’t enough, there is no set time for the changes to click in and become who we are. It takes as long as it takes. Some may not make it through this adjustment period and slip back into old patterns, but to those who persevere a new way of life is waiting.
Change Doesn’t Always Feel Good at First
There have been times in my life that changes for the better have not “felt good” at first. I have been experiencing this during the past year. As I have been approaching my third year of living and practicing yoga I have been experiencing a few changes.
The constant adrenaline rush I used to live in is gone and I now live in peace and quiet. That was extremely uncomfortable at first. I was afraid without all that physical energy I wouldn’t get anything done. It took awhile to realize that life is about who we are and how we live, not so much about how much we do.
My body has also been doing a little remodeling and I have been losing weight. This is something I am not really comfortable with. There have been times when I did not know when to stop with weight loss.
I have to remind myself that this loss is not the result of dieting and extreme exercise, it is coming from a healthy way of life. There have also been many affirmations said and may lessons learned about dealing with well-meaning people during this time.
No Turning Back
Bob says I am a very determined person (some might call me stubborn) and I have a rule of “no turning back.” I know there is nothing back there in the old life that I really want and there is nowhere to go but forward. That doesn’t mean it is easy, it’s just the path set before me.
Hang in There
So if you are having trouble learning to live with positive changes in your life I encourage you to hang in there. Keep looking forward and don’t turn back. This is all a part of the process and you will get through it.
Please feel free to tell us about your experience with living changed in the comment section.
– The Dalai Lama –
“Reach out and help others. If you have the power to make someone happy, do it. Be a vessel, be the change, be the difference, or be the inspiration. Shine your light as an example. The world needs more of that.”
― Germany Kent
“Your life is a sacred journey. It is about change, growth, discovery, movement, transformation, continuously expanding your vision of what is possible, stretching your soul, learning to see clearly and deeply, listening to your intuition, taking courageous challenges at every step along the way. You are on the path… exactly where you are meant to be right now… And from here, you can only go forward, shaping your life story into a magnificent tale of triumph, of healing, of courage, of beauty, of wisdom, of power, of dignity, and of love.” ~ by Caroline Adams
