THOUGHTS & WRITING

This is not my original idea (“nothing new under the sun”),

but when I came upon it, I thought it was worth tucking

away in my psyche for areas of possible usefulness.

The underlying value seems to be that we overwhelm ourselves

with “TO DO” Lists, which can lead to a sense of never doing enough,

never enjoying a NOW on the list because there are 13 other items

that I we need to get on with.

So, no Freedom, no “psychic” space, no valuing of the present experience.

Just busy, busy, busy and the critter chattering on our shoulder saying.

“Get on with it . . . oh, and don’t forget . . . you need to also . . . be sure

that gets on the list, too.”

On it goes.

So the person positing this Don’t Do List thinks it helps clear things that are

no longer a priority, opening up space for perhaps new loves and curiosities,

and for sure more opportunity to enjoy and savor the already items that

have been prioritized.

When I read this, several items came almost immediately to mind.  I watch

(or sometimes just listen to) a particular Cable News program.  That can take

up my entire weekly evenings when I’m home.  I think I need to stay informed,

but this is going well beyond only being informed.  I mean there’s only so many

ways to tell us what “he” did or said today, and what our national and international

concerns might need attention.

The so much of that goes on my Don’t Do List.

One other one I’m entertaining is Don’t stay up until very late (opening up more

opportunity to get up earlier and have more daytime energy for the things I really

want to prioritize.

You can see how these two items on my Don’t Do List are related.

Well, I only offer this for consideration.  The idea may have no current value for you

in your Life.

I’m not going to go into it at this point, but one caveat to enacting this idea has to do

(for me) with establishing new neural pathways to accomplish this.  When I establish

a habit, seemingly even when it’s not serving me well, it’s a challenge to stay mindful

and focused to DO differently (like learning how to create feathers out of paper – see below)

Wabi Sabi

Namaste

There’s not much more I have to say other than what the Title instructs.

It’s up to you to Listen in the Quiet for what you already KNOW.

How’s that for Succinctness! And Individuality.

And so: HAPPY NEW YEAR 2023

It’s been a busy day (for me), and I don’t have any wisdom thought for you. I do want for you to make this year, again, a

time for you to be as aware as you can of who you are and what your “next right step” might be. I wish for you to be

kind and generous to yourself, because we all know by now the concept of Wabi Sabi, and even when things fall short of

whatever I, you, we think might be “perfect”, we can bless ourselves and each other and learn from whatever we’ve decided

and the results thereof, that we are but human and we will continue to learn and “grow”. It never stops, frineds, so we might

as well make peace with this.

Now, regarding the below pieces I’m sharing, they are by no means perfect, but I have learned a lot from these experiences.

One thing I’ve learned to do this month is to make and design “frames” for my pieces. Again, not perfect, but I’m continuing

to learn and enjoying that process.

Peace to All. And Namaste to each of you.

Amen – So Be It!!!

I’m still learning and experimenting. These are small efforts again, using ordinary materials.

I think I’m getting ready to work on larger items and venturing into my more “sophisticated”

materials. That means a few things: one, I don’t know how that’s all going to work out, and

two, I will probably only have one item next time. We’ll see.

It’s interesting to me to be venturing into (for me) unknown territory. But then, what have I

got to lose – paper, paint, glue, time, energy, effort, focus – HM. Well, it is a bit, but what does

one do when there’s nothing to do (I refer, in addition to paying bills, to attending to miscellaneous

responsibilities, (like the light going on telling me my tires need to be pumped up and

remembering to VOTE next week), and of course attending to the entire national and international

dilemmas of our time – this latter of which no one knows how to handle – ) . . . .

But I digress. The above are the ways I soothe my soul, in addition to music and writings and –

well, whatever else I think up to entertain myself.

Enough of my thinking out loud with you. Enjoy your DAY. Enjoy your LIFE. And for heaven’s

sake, VOTE, VOTE, VOTE.

Namaste.

Susan Alley

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