REFLECTIONS OF LOVE

THIS SWEET LITTLE GIRL

THESE GORGEOUS POPPIES THRIVING IN MY YARD

THESE SILLY LITTLE FROGS WITH BUG EYES, LEFT BEHIND BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER

All these things are part of what I find wonderful each day. They are reflections to me of what love is about. It's about family. It's about the beauty that surrounds us each and every day. It's about the small gifts we find tucked away under a bush somewhere (this can be viewed literally as well as figuratively.) It's about what reflects back at me when I think about what I love and who loves me back. Reflections...in them I see a little bit of you and a little bit of me. And hopefully, you can find some great reflections in your life each and every day. So many layers of love. So many different ways to look at things. Each is an opportunity to peel away the layers.

Debbie Ford says that "our shadow thrives when we have secrets....we have a public persona we show the world and a secret life we keep hidden. We construct a secret life in order to hide the parts of ourselves that we're most ashamed to face." (Page 109...The Shadow Effect). I imagine that is true for me as well as other people. I pride myself in being truthful and yes, sometimes I have hurt others by saying what is on my mind. But, if the truth be known, it was always out of caring. Perhaps my intentions were good but the way that I went about it was not. Into the shadows I sank, I suppose.

But, as I took these pictures this morning, it was all about light, not shadows. It was all about love, not hate. It was all about beauty. Sometimes I just  have to remind myself about the core of things in my life. These are the things that really matter to me. Does anything get accomplished or resolved if you don't come out of the shadows? It's those secrets that we think we need to keep hidden that can sabotage our lives. Debbie's solution? "...to free ourselves from the unmanageable compulsions that cause us to live a secret life, we must find healthy ways to express our repressed aspects so that we can be safe from behaviors that can sabotage our life."  Gardening anyone?

GRATEFULNESS

 Sometimes, it's easy to see gratefulness right in front of your very eyes. Here is a bread company at the Farner's Market that has Grateful right in their label. It's hard not to appreciate something this wonderful when before you even open up the packaging, your senses are already preparing to be "grateful for this daily bread".

And who can walk by without wanting to sniff some nice coffee beans. Each day, it is so simple to just be grateful for the fact that we have opened our eyes and get one more minute or day to savor. Top it off with a fresh brewed cup of coffee, some toasted bread, and whatever else is in your cupboard and it is an amazing thing to witness. Life, on so many levels, is miraculous and wonderful. Gifts like these from the Farmer's Market, take the appreciation up a notch or two. Enjoy whatever you have in front of you today. What a gift!

LUCKY ME!

Yesterday I had the opportunity to work for a friend of mine. Now, most people would not think that working was a "lucky" thing (unless you are absolutely in love with the job that you do). But, for me, yesterday was a wonderful chance to work for a piece of art.

My friend, Anthony Maki Gill is an accomplished artist. He most recently is featured in a new cookbook that features his ceramics as vessels for food in a most artistic way. The cookbook is called "The Art Real Food" by Joanne Neft and Laura Kenny. Joanne Neft writes this about Anthony in the acknowledgements: "This book is all about art: the art of preparing, presenting, and writing about food. Paula Amerine enthusiastically focused on produce and illustrated it; Anthony Maki Gill made unique ceramic serving pieces; Keith Sutter captured the recipes in photographs."

Yes, I am a lucky person! Not only is Anthony a good friend of mine but he gave me this serving platter in trade for me helping him organize and clean his studio and work space. You see: Anthony is going to be interviewed by Rob (of Rob on the Road) on Thursday. We will be able to see his studio when they air the show sometime in the future. Until then, I get to look at my beautiful piece of art each day. I'm not sure I want to actually use it to serve food on yet. I just might have to get over the fear of breaking the piece that is so special to me.  Thank you Anthony! I am one lucky person!