The Art of....Learning a Lesson.

(((First, a little background:  Having always loved to write, and wanting to do something to affect a positive change in this world, I have decided to do a group of articles (if you will) entitled, "The Art of...," because I believe there is an art to living life well, and I believe I have something to offer to myself and others in this process of discovery and actualization.)))

The Art of ...Learning a Lesson

I find myself at the age of 41, just starting to wise up and listen to my life, to hopefully, finally learn the most important lessons....though I feel I should have learned them long ago.  Will it help to focus on that last fact?  No.  That's lesson #1:  Focus on the positive!!! 

It's a choice we make every single moment we are alive in everything we do.  When faced with negativity, in any form, it is always better for us to dwell in the positive.  Yes, there will be times where there is grief and distress, but if we have cultivated the habit of dwelling in the positive, we will be able to come through any situation more quickly, more easily, than we would otherwise be able to do.  Negativity is a ride that takes you on a downward spiral until you eventually end up in a bottomless pit.  There is nothing good that can come from it.  Once you realize this, it's easy to see that the path of growth lies in being an agent for the positive. 

Now, that being said, I know that everyone is different.  We have different circumstances, different body chemistries and so forth.  I myself have had a long standing relationship with depression, and I know only too well the toll it can take on one's life.  So....that leads us to
Lesson #2:  To live your best life, you must take care of your HEALTH!

So give yourself what you need to grow!!!



The less you take care with yourself, the worse you will feel, the worse your outlook on life, the more you will hide away, the less you will interact with the world, the emptier your life will be.

Yes, it's all so easy to say, and easy to understand.  Then why do we have such a hard time remembering and adhering to this principal?  Because we are out of balance.  Things have happened and we have been thrown off center.  Some of us are just slightly  out of balance...we hit a small rock on our skateboard, wavered, but caught ourselves before we ditched out.  Others of us hit a giant pot hole, lost all control, went flying up into the air about 3 feet, and landed in the only pile of rocks to be seen anywhere on the path.  In our haze of delirium, we wander and stumble around in pain, medicating our wounds with the temporary relief of poisons, all the while making a bigger and bigger mess.  Then we draw others into our mess...and no matter how few people we think we are harming....the world is a lesser place for the fact we are not wholly engaged with one another in it. 

Yes, everything we think and do...EVERTHING...has an effect on everyone else, the planet, the cosmos....everything else.  We have a collective consciousness and what we do on a personal level effects EVERYTHING that is. 

So what is the answer then for those who are most out of balance...those who can't see the forest for the trees?  Baby steps to balance.  Think about the things you've done in the past that have made you feel more balanced...was it yoga, meditation, walking in the park/garden/on the beach, getting some exercise, eating more fruits, waking up earlier in the morning, getting a good night's sleep.  Now start to implement the one that you think would do you the most good.  Don't pressure yourself, just do it.  That one thing...each day, a couple times a week, whatever.  Then see if you notice a difference.  Keep trying until you do notice a difference and let that good feeling propel you further in your quest for balance.

So...I have to get to 'living it' today!!!  I'll be back later with more little gems for you and for me, and until then, try to do just one thing this week that will add more balance to your life....and reflect on being positive in all you do and say:)  It'll make you a happier person, I guarantee!!!!

My Best,

Cynthia, OriginalCynDesign

A Good Night's Sleep

Resolution #3 - A Good Night's Sleep!!!

Hi there!  I'm still on the 'doing better' train:)  However, my sleeping is way off!!!  I think that at the heart of it, it's just another bad habit I've adopted that must be squelched!!!  So....I'm going to start doing some things to hopefully help me out!

Sleep is so completely important to our overall health, but it's something that is rarely considered.  In fact, good sleep will help you begin your day with a running start, whereas bad sleep (or little sleep) will put you at a deficit from the git go!!!

There are a myriad of things one can do to help improve their sleep, and/or get to sleep easier.

1.  Exercise

2.  Get up at a decent hour....by 8am.

3.  Try not to nap

4.  Do your nightly 'routine' (shower, face wash, brush teeth...all of that) a couple of hours before laying down to sleep. 

5.  Rid your bedroom of any and all lighting (digital lights, etc.)...you want it BLACK IN THERE!!!  If you have a digital light clock...set it and put a t-shirt over it.  Or get a good sleep mask.

6.  Rid your sleep area of any pesky noises that might keep you awake.

7.  Make sure you have a comfortable temperature in your room, get a fan or extra blankets, whatever you need to be completely comfortable.

8.  If you have issues with your back, or matress, you may want to invest in a new one, and perhaps try out a feather bed topping for your matress.  I used to have one, and I never wanted to get out of that bed:) 

9.  Get in the bed at least an hour before you want to be asleep, turn off the tv 1/2 hour before you wish to be asleep. 

10.  If you've tried all this and still have trouble, check into some melatonin from your local health food store.  It's something that occurs naturally in the body, and yours may be a little low!

These are some of the tips and tricks I could think of, if you have some good ones, please add them here in the comments!!!

Take care, I'm off to actually do some artwork, for it has been waaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyy tooooooo looooooong!!!!  I'm going into artsy/craftsy dt's!!!!

Have a wonderful weekend, all my best as always!!! And hey, take care of yourself, there's only one you and WE NEED YOU IN THIS WORLD!!!

Cynthia

Organizational Update!!!

Well, it's MIDNIGHT and I've been at it all day long...pretty much for 12 hours!!! 

For all the ladies out there....I just cleaned out the wreck that's been in my bathroom cabinets for a while!!!  It's so clean and organized now...it's beautiful, gorgeous, amazing!!!  And I threw out all the things I never use, yay!!!  I can't begin to tell you how great it feels to have organized closets, cabinets, drawers....clean doors, windows, and surfaces....everything tidy, fresh and neat!!! 

 A little shelf I bought long ago at the Salvation Army, repainted, hung in the bathroom with my Kandinsky set on top!!!  Love it!

Bath salts in a clear vase accent a corner:)

I've also been screwing in all the loose screws, fixing the wobly door knobs...all those little things that nag at a person, every day.

So, I'm tired, but it's a good tired.  I'm sick of cleaning, but I am also pleased with the results and inspired to press on.


P.S.  I juiced today!!!  I believe whole-heartedly in the power of juicing...the juice of raw, fresh fruits and vegetables full of enzymes, vitamins and nutrients....the true building blocks of health and wellness. 

Good night now all, how your day was as golden as mine:)

Original Cyn

Still Cleaning, But Starting to TCB, too!!!

So, Resolution #2 - 'Takin' Care of Business'

Yes, my oh yes, the cleaning is taking an inordinate amount of time....because there is so much sorting to be done.  But the trick is to concentrate on the final goal.  Heck, I'm even doing a little redecorating in the mix!!!

And with the continuation of the cleaning, I am taking care of important business that I'd rather put off til the end of the world.  Today's business concerned a doctor's appointment and a dental appointment.  Next, nagging bills/disputes, trying to get money from people who have sold my products but failed to pay as of yet, finding out about getting my masters in teaching...and some other similar stuff. 

It can be overwhelming, beginning an overhaul (if you will) of one's life.  But the sooner you start, the sooner you'll be in a much better place, living the life you deserve:) 

P.S.  Also playing Vivaldi in the studio today.  No tv + Vivaldi = Mellow Me!!!  And it's really nice.  I cannot truly concentrate and focus on the tasks at hand with that tv constantly going, and don't like how addicted to it I have become.  It's developed into a bad habit.  And I was just learning the other day from the great and wise Dr. Phil, that you have to replace a bad habit with a good one, preferably, one that incompatible with the other.  Like, chewing your nails and taking up knitting.  You can't do one while you do the other = incompatible.

Just one more thing to chew on while we embark on changing our lives!!!

 Ok, one step at a time, on moment at a time, one day at a time!!!

All My Best,

Cynthia

Happy New Year!

Starting the year off right!!!! 

Well, I am not that big on resolutions, because they always seem like empty air.  However...I've been in the spirit this New Year, of cleaning and clearing away all the excess in my life.  That is really such a great way to say it, because that's what I mean in every aspect.  Thus, it is in this spirit that I am making some resolutions....ones I actaully want to do and believe I can and will follow!!!

So what are these resolutions?  Maybe they're more like a list of things....

1.  Clean out a large portion of clutter.  ie...things that haven't been used in years and years need to go. As a mixed media artist, I have accumulated so many things.  And now that I have focussed my artwork more, the need is there to get rid of a lot of things that just prevent me from getting more done.  You know, every time I have to look through a bunch of stuff to find one thing....I'm wasting my life essence!!! 

And so it goes for everything in our homes and lives.  Let's gather the things we don't use, and we truly know we won't use...and give it to someone who will benefit, right?  Why not?  Why let those cans of food go out of date, why struggle through mounds of clothes every day trying to find the few that fit, why shuffle around all the "whatever it is" that's cluttering up your life when u could simply give it away to others who will be able to benefit?  So this is the resolution.  There is so much STUFF in my HOUSE that I just can't  be bothered with anymore.  It's stuff I'm hoarding (you could look at it that way, cause there's not the room) and it's not getting used!!!!! 

So on this one resolution alone, I have cleaned out my studio closet, ready to give a bunch of fun stuff to artists I've connected with here in Virginia Beach, ---a bunch of books which have just been collecting dust for years....I love my books and still have a bunch, but wow it felt great to re-organize them all and let go of so many that others will benefit from.  Next, my tiny bedroom closet.  I segregated the clothes and stored them away, threw some away, saved some for sewing projects, and donated the rest. 

For another fun piece to the organizing of my life, I cleaned off my old computer (just got a new one, but u don't need a new one for this cleaning exercise), transferred the pertinant files to the new one....and gave the old one to my hubby---which, it seemed destined for the dump b4 Christmas, and after my own overhaul of cleaning it out...is working like a dream!!! 

I still plan on cleaning off a ton of photos that are not necessary in the near future...I take a lot of photos for my ETSY shop, blog, etc....and there ends up being an extraordinary amount of junk left over.  I then get caught up in whatever and do not bother to clean it out.  Which, leads to more time spent sifting through photos when I really need them....ie...a waste of my precious time. 


Lesson Learned:  Clutter Devalues Your Precious Life!!!!!  

Detach from material things....all that comes can go...and oh so swiftly.  Once you start to clean and clear your life and your space....you will immediately find more peace.  More to come on life lessons and resolutions.


Much love,
Cynthia

Make your own CUSTOM CREATIONS with Supplies from Original Cyn Design!

I've used these and smaller ones in the Buddhist Shrines I've created!  Like this one:

Other materials here include photos, prayer flags, yarn, shells, amazing papers, and ephemera.  I'll also have great packets of fun stuff for projects available soon!  Stay tuned!!!

Much love,

Original Cyn

Fun stuff coming to my ETSY shop

for the Holidays!!!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/85750232/felted-cupcake-pincushion-ceramic-bottom

I have been wanting to make some cupcake pincushions for a while...in fact, I was going to make them with old sweaters....however, I am so hot natured, the last time I wore a sweater was when I lived in Canada.   Thus, any sweaters I might own are most likely buried deep in the downstairs closet.  Guess I'll get there eventually, but in the mean time I've got lots of felt and am ready to made a bunch of these little sweet treats!  Stay tuned for more fun stuff!!!

Hope you're having a great November and getting ready for Turkey Day!  Boy do I ever love Thanksgiving!!!

Look out for another giveaway ...I think it 'tis the season!!!

All my best,

and thanks for stopping by

Cynthia