Clean Slate

I haven’t posted in a while. June was a month of “what the hell have I done, and what am I doing” combined with some emotional setbacks that I couldn’t have anticipated. With each day comes new lessons learned. Enter July, a vacation, and some online learning courses that have resulted in my photography getting exponentially better!   I have finally let go of the corporate world (it took way longer than I anticipated). My goal, for now, is to improve my sense of self and also to improve myself. I joined a Queen Bee half marathon training group at Fleet Feet . I signed up for Pilates cross-training at Pilates Center of Cincinnati . I have my first session on Tuesday with their physical therapist. This studio mandates new students to take eight one-on-one sessions, and the first is with their on-site physical therapist. He will tell me what my strengths are and what to watch out for. On Wednesday, I’ll have my first Pilates one-on-one with an instructor who will know exac...

I am so thankful to have picked up this book . I NEVER tarnish my books by folding pages, dropping them or bending them too far out that the spine comes undone. This book changed me. A few reasons why: A deep sense of love and belonging is an irreducible need of all women, men, and children. Letting go of certainty is a challenge.   Letting go of comparison is not a to-do list. if creativity is seen as a luxury or something we do when we have spare time, it will never be cultivated   Take a class. Risk feeling vulnerable and new and imperfect and take a class   You never know where you’ll find your creative inspiration. And these words are only halfway through the book.  

Yesterday, to fuel my creative energy, I drove to Columbus, Ohio for their annual arts festival. I saw this digital art, and it made me laugh.  I don't know if this is the kind of artist I want to become, but it made me reconsider my perspective! Old-time family photos with pet heads. I regret that I didn't get the artist's name. I missed the Cincinnati arts festival, Summerfair, last weekend, because Saturday, I attended my cousin's daughter's wedding (Doesn't she look so happy?).  It was an early June wedding, but the weather was like summer. I was so tired that I just wanted to sleep in and rest on Sunday. I wish I could have bought everything that inspired me, but here are the artists that inspired me enough to remember them. I encourage you to visit their sites! Moon Rabbit Press   I bought this signed and numbered print from the artist. Eye Candy Jewelry Aimee Petkus Jewelry   Cavatica Design...

The butterfly show was so much fun, but it was humid. By the time I left, I needed a hairdryer. I got a few butterfly kisses during the hour and a half I spent there.  After yoga today, I spent the day editing my images – finishing the process. I sent 51 images to be printed and will pick them up tomorrow. Below are a some of my favorites:

At the end of this sabbatical, my goal is to be my best self, and re-enter the workforce as a stronger woman. I will know more about myself and what I can offer to the world.  Today, I began my focus on health. It was the first day of my summer yoga practice. I'd never been to this particular yoga studio , but I have taken hatha yoga classes in the past.  Most forms of yoga in the West can be classified as Hatha Yoga. Hatha simply refers to the practice of physical yoga postures. The word “hatha” can be translated two ways: as “willful” or “forceful,” or the yoga of activity, and as “sun” (ha) and “moon” (tha), the yoga of balance. Hatha practices are designed to align and calm your body, mind, and spirit in preparation for meditation. There were about 20 students in the studio, and I was happily surprised to see a former coworker! When I saw her, I knew I'd made the right decision to practice at this studio. This woman regularly practices yoga and was always at the Fri...

Two weeks ago, I resigned from a company where I worked for 20 years. TWENTY YEARS! It was not a decision that came easily. I was finding that I was constantly exhausted; coming home from work and not having the energy to do the things I used to love to do. I was letting work take over my life, and I was thinking about my projects even when I wasn't working. With the help and support of people who love me, I am now taking a sabbatical. I’m going to further my education this summer around things I LOVE to do. Life’s too short not to figure out what you love to do and then go do it! Goal: become my best self. So, what am I going to do with so much free time on my hands? Scary and exciting question! Over the past two weeks, I was frantically finishing up my job, trying to compile processes, and collecting all working files, etc. so that the next person would be set up for success. I was working so hard, up until the very end, and what kept coming up in the back of my head, was...