Day 359 - Ski

I am so tired from teaching skiing all day that I am grateful I was able to finish this painting tonight. 6 drawings/paintings to go and Voila! Alles ist getan!

Day 358 - Help

From griefshare.com

I like this post from griefshare.com as it seems to sum up the year I've explored through this journey. My constant prayer during the year was "Oh God, help me."

Here's the post:

"A woman said, 'Where was God when my son was killed during the war?' And a wise, spiritually mature friend said, 'He was where he was when His own Son died on the cross for our sins.' God knows all about your problems. He wants to help you, but in your anger and resentment, and oftentimes hatred, He cannot help you. It is only when you say, 'Oh God, help me,' in a spirit of humility, that He envelops you with His love, forgiveness, and grace."

God knows your deepest fears, hurts, and needs.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

Day 357 - Closing

My year of working through the grief over the loss of my husband is almost at a close. I am reflecting much these last days of 2010. The year has ended, for me, on a very high note. My son is happy and doing great things, I received tenure at my job, I have good friends and family by my side, I published a book and a calendar, and I am off to Germany this summer. Wie ist das! As I finish these last paintings, I am already looking forward to the next project, especially now that I will be visiting Auschwitz this summer. I hope to include my trip in my visual project. Much to thing about and plan. 2011 will be an exciting year, no matter what comes my way.

Day 356 - Eve

It's Christmas Eve and I still have so many paintings to finish! At least I'm done with the sled! Merry Christmas!

Day 355 - Struggle

I am trying to finish my blog, Christmas shopping, wrapping, and all the hustle that goes with the holiday season...on top of the flu. I think it's time to maybe just BE.

Day 354 - Journal

Keep an Art Journal

How do you start an art journal? I have several for different uses. I have one for watercolor, one for drawing and one for quick sketching and notes. I record quotes and sketch moments in time. An art journal is a great tool to motivate you to do larger projects because they are simple and not concerned with detail. I even use my journals to set artistic goals.

An art journal allows you to look, see and be inspired. It's about the experience, not the final product.

Day 353 - Tonight

Tonight I am playing catchup! End of semester was quite a bit of work, but today is the first day of winter break and I am relieved but also sick with the flu! I didn't create a painting or drawing today, but a flash movie for my sister who's son was stuck in London due to weather conditions and didn't know if he'd make it home for Christmas. He arrived by a miracle yesterday so this is for him (and my sister's relief!):

janetoneil.com/mike/mike.swf

It has music and takes a bit of time to load.

Day 352 - Finish

I am almost to the finish line and the race is almost complete...but not yet. I still have several paintings to finish and a few to start before December 28, my official starting date one year ago. This journey of painting, drawing and creating has been an incredible experience but is only the beginning. This week, so close to the finish, has been a turning point for me in many ways. I feel energized about my work, professional development and future. It feels good to be close to the end of the marathon.

Day 351 - Home

From Oprah's "What I Know for Sure":
Former World Bank economist Eleni Gabre-Madhin returned to her native Ethiopia in August 2004 with the goal of establishing the Ethiopia Commodity Exchange, which would allow small farmers to more easily buy and sell products and store their surpluses rather than waste them. Gabre-Madhin's vision is that the exchange, which opened in April 2008, will help Ethiopia feed itself.

In 1984–85, the year of the famine that killed nearly a million Ethiopians, I was an undergraduate at Cornell. At dinner one night, other students started throwing food. And suddenly—shocking myself—I got up on a chair and I screamed, "Stop doing this! In my country people are starving!" In that moment, I knew that I owed my country something.

Anywhere the struggle is great, the level of ingenuity and inventiveness is high.

We spend most of our lives cutting down our ambitions because the world has told us to think small. Dreams express what your soul is telling you, so as crazy as your dream might seem—even to you—I don't care: You have to let that out.

Day 350 - Loser

I never watched "The Biggest Loser" before a few weeks ago on Hulu and am captivated by the people and challenges they face. They are incredible inspirations to me and I love the trainers and how they help the contestants. I know it is a reality show, but it is by far the best one I have seen. Lives are transformed and I can't stop applauding.

Day 349 - Snow

Make it Snow by George Wither

So now is come our joyful feast,
Let every man be jolly;
Each room with ivy leaves is dressed,
And every post with holly.
Though some churls at our mirth repine,
Round your foreheads garlands twine,
Drown sorrow in a cup of wine,
And let us all be merry.

Now all our neighbors' chimneys smoke,
And Christmas blocks are burning;
Their ovens they with baked meats choke,
And all their spits are turning.
Without the door let sorrow lie,
And if for cold it hap to die,
We'll bury it in a Christmas pie,
And evermore be merry.

Now every lad is wondrous trim,
And no man minds his labor;
Our lasses have provided them
A bagpipe and a tabor.
Young men and maids, and girls and boys,
Give life to one another's joys;
And you anon shall by their noise
Perceive that they are merry.

Rank misers now do sparing shun,
Their hall of music soundeth;
And dogs thence with whole shoulders run,
So all things aboundeth.
The country-folk themselves advance,
For crowdy-mutton's come out of France;
And Jack shall pipe and Jill shall dance,
And all the town be merry.

Ned Swatch hath fetched his bands from pawn,
And all his best apparel;
Brisk Nell hath bought a ruff of lawn
With droppings of the barrel.
And those that hardly all the year
Had bread to eat or rags to wear,
Will have both clothes and dainty fare,
And all the day be merry.

Now poor men to the justices
With capons make their errands;
And if they hap to fail of these,
They plague them with their warrants.
But now they feed them with good cheer,
And what they want they take in beer,
For Christmas comes but once a year,
And then they shall be merry.

Good farmers in the country nurse
The poor, that else were undone;
Some landlords spend their money worse,
On lust and pride at London.
There the roisters they do play,
Drab and dice their land away,
Which may be ours another day;
And therefore let's be merry.

The client now his suit forbears,
The prisoner's heart is eased;
The debtor drinks away his cares,
And for the time is pleased.
Though others' purses be more fat,
Why should we pine or grieve at that;
Hang sorrow, care will kill a cat,
And therefore let's be merry.

Hark how the wags abroad do call
Each other forth to rambling;
Anon you'll see them in the hall,
For nuts and apples scrambling;
Hark how the roofs with laughter's sound,
Anon they'll think the house goes round;
For they the cellar's depths have found,
And there they will be merry.

The wenches with their wassail-bowls
About the streets are singing;
The boys are come to catch the owls,
The wild mare in is bringing.
Our kitchen boy hath broke his box,
And to the dealing of the ox
Our honest neighbors come by flocks,
And here they will be merry.

Now kings and queens poor sheep-cotes have,
And mate with everybody;
The honest now may play the knave,
And wise men play at noddy.
Some youths will now a mumming go,
Some others play at Rowland-hoe,
And twenty other gameboys moe;
Because they will be merry.

Then wherefore in these merry days
Should we, I pray, be duller?
No, let us sing some roundelays
To make our mirth the fuller.
And whilst we thus inspired sing,
Let all the streets with echoes ring;
Woods, and hills, and everything
Bear witness we are merry.

348 - Skating

Some of my favorite childhood memories are of skating. I can still skate pretty well and hope to do so this winter. The trick is to find a good outdoor pond. Even though there are tennis courts where my beloved pond once was, I still refer to it as Bowden's Pond. I can always go home again in my thoughts.

Day 347 - Simple

Keep Christmas Simple...Ideas from Cheryl Richardson that I really liked

Be an anonymous elf to those who feel forgotten.

Write down the things I would like to let go of (judgment, fear, sadness, etc.) on paper. Rip them up and toss them away.

Holidays are holy days of love, light and hope. Make a point of smiling at everyone you see and send thoughts of good will.

Simplify, simplify, simplify! I cut out EVERY thing that is not necessary. Minimal decorating. Bake only a few kinds of cookies, instead of 10. Say no to things. Suggest a "get together" in January instead of trying to cram everything into December.

In the spirit of Christmas and the New Year, reflect on something new that you would like to bring to light this year.

~*~

Day 346 - Anxious

New Living Translation
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

Day 345 - Winter

Favorite poem:
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

by Robert Frost (1923)


Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Day 344 - Camus

In the depths of winter, I finally learned that within me lay an invincible summer - Albert Camus

Day 343 - Waiting

It is always difficult to wait for answers, things, experiences.

<< James 1:4 >>

New International Version
Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Day 342 - Catchup

I fell behind in my painting and creative work, but this weekend I caught up!

Day 341 - Chickens

I love to draw, look at, collect, and paint chickens. No idea why.

Day 340 - Roots

I love these two quotes. I am fortunate to have come from strong roots.

I want to show how strong I am from my roots.
Edward James Olmos

I wanted to share my life story and honor my roots. I am very proud of my family and mother.
Rocco DiSpirito

Day 339 - Problems

Purposeful Problems - from Cheryl Richardson

"Bad times have a scientific value. These are occasions a good learner would not miss." --Ralph Waldo Emerson

A problem may cause a setback, hurt feelings, enormous amounts of frustration and stress, or feelings that are so overwhelming that it makes the situation appear insurmountable, but in the larger scheme of life, if you handle them right, they rarely cause irreparable damage.

Second, I've learned that where "things" are concerned, I'm better off spending my time and energy on the solution rather than rehashing the specifics of what happened.

Finally, the most important lesson of all has to do with finding the power in the problem - an opportunity for growth.

This week, when faced with a problem, use this simple recipe:

1. Stop! Take a step back and enjoy a deep breath. Remind yourself that your sanity and character are far more important than the situation at hand. Rant and rave if need be, stomp your feet, or vent to someone who cares, but do so for only five minutes. Then, move on to #2...

2. Ask yourself "What needs to happen to straighten this situation out with the least amount of damage to anyone?" If you're not sure of the answer, ask for feedback or ideas from others (even those not involved). Then, stay focused on dealing with the solution rather than the symptoms of the problem. What can you change?

3. Finally, look for the gold. What are you being challenged to learn or practice. Does your current problem require you to use a whole new level of creativity? Are you being given a chance to practice patience? Is there an opportunity for you to care more about people than getting the job done? How is this problem providing you with the perfect opportunity for the evolution of your soul?

Day 338 - Prayer

My brother-in-law is not feeling well, so my day was spent praying for his health, recovery and comfort. The Chhristmas/holiday season is a good time to reflect on what is important.

Day 337 - Kind_2

"Choose being kind over being right and you'll be right every time."
-- Richard Carlson

Day 336 - Kind

GOD'S WORD Translation
"Be kind to each other, sympathetic, forgiving each other as God has forgiven you through Christ."

We need more kindness.

Day 335 - Hurrier

"The Hurrier I Go, the Behinder I Get"

I've heard this saying numerous times throughout my life and if you think about it logically, you should be getting ahead if you are proceeding in a speedy fashion. I think what it really means is that if we hurry through a task, we will create poor results and then we have to redo and redo until we get it right.

Have a plan, make a list, prioritize and do the top two things on your list first and then let go of the rest. Stick to the list and make sure you take your time completing the most important tasks for today. The turtle always seems to win the race in my book.

Day 334 - Diversity_3

“There never were in the world two opinions alike, no more than two hairs or two grains; the most universal quality is diversity”
Michel de Montaigne (French Philosopher and Writer. 1533-1592)