Art Journal: Soul Deep

Have I ever told you how much I love Art Journaling? I'm always singing its praises since I know how rewarding the process can be. And this 2 page spread that you see in the first image is no different. 

I did want to express the importance of having a good stash of art journal fodder on hand if you like the collage element of creation like I do. I recommend saving magazines, circulars, junk mail and anything that has images, text or designs that you like and pull what you're drawn to. I love doing this; sometimes when I don't want to paint but I do want to get into a creative mindset, I'll go through a magazine or two and pull what I like and stash it in my drawers for future reference. 

For this particular spread, I used several things from my stash, with my current favorite color (or at least one of them!) turquoise. I decided I also wanted to lay down some newspaper and tissue paper along with the magazine fodder to create a more layered look. And I achieved just that. :) 

I used gesso to prime the pages initially. Then I started to tear the newspaper in strips and adhered them with matte medium. Once I had that down, I tore bits and strips of the turquoise fodder, first one with a lighter color turquoise, then later I added the darker hues that included black from another image altogether. I added more gesso between these applications to tone down the color but to also add texture and visual interest. Gesso is great for that. I usually apply the gesso with a wide plastic palette knife initially then I switch to a more narrow palette knife when using it over layers. The second image is an up close of the left page. 

Once I had all the layers and gesso down, I also added some turquoise watercolor paint from Prang and added stippling in various areas for more design and for visual interest. I also added some black in various spots to highlight some of the black on parts of collage I used. Once I had all of this complete, I began to look carefully at the composition I created and realized it reminded me of being under water with the color turquoise. Deep under water. Water can also been symbolic of emotion. And emotions are in the soul. Thus the title, Soul Deep. So I stamped the words SOUL DEEP with upper case alpha stamps and again in smaller letters. I accented the letters with black, turquoise and white to define them. The third image is an up close of the right page. 

One of the things I wanted to point out with this Soul Deep spread; when we want to go deeper in learning more about ourselves, deep where those core emotions lie, it can feel a bit overwhelming, especially when we reckon with unexpected emotions of the soul. This is where we have to be nurturing with ourselves, so we don't end up feeling like we desperately need to come up for air. You know how when you go swimming and dive deep, the first thing you want to do, out of necessity, is come up for air. The same goes for emotional swimming. There's a place for seeking and splashing and discovering. But when it's time for air, we need to be flexible with ourselves, rather than exacting. Especially when we've made mistakes. 

Be willing to go deep--even soul deep. But Be Gentle with what you discover. But be ready to see what needs to change too, because that will come. But you'll be ready for it. 

And when you do come up for air, the air will be sweet and invigorating; and you will be changed--for the better. 

Enjoy your swim! 

(This post was originally posted on my Refresh Daily blog; I have posted it here for my subscribers. If you would like to continue receiving all of my blog posts, you're welcome to subscribe to Refresh Daily.) 

Copyright 2015 by Dawn Herring
Copyright 2015 Images by Dawn Herring Collection

THE FUN FACTOR

Did you have fun today?
I mean the kind where you laughed hysterically or experienced something that left you feeling refreshed and invigorated?

What do you think about when you hear the word: FUN?
Perhaps something you don't think you have time for?

Ah, that obligation dilemma always rears its undesirable head just when you're thinking about something FUN you want to do.

So, what is the definition of FUN?
How about this: Light Hearted Amusement. I like the sound of that. Light gives me the impression of not feeling the heaviness of things. Hearted means it brings delight to your heart so you feel good afterwards. And then there's the Amusement...that's where the laughing hysterically part comes in.

Have you ever noticed how good you feel after a thorough-from-the-belly-laugh? What makes YOU laugh like that? You need to inject some more into your daily existence. I know I do.

One of the things I've been doing on a daily basis to add more FUN to my day is a daily doodle (See Jani Frank's Unearth Ecourse at The Bubbling Well. In my opinion, I think Jani is hilarious and FUN; I often laugh out loud watching her videos.) Yes, Jani encourages a daily doodle for 7 days or as long as you decide to go with it. It really loosens up the expectations as an artist. You're just having FUN on the page instead of worrying about perfection.

So I thought about how I could incorporate this idea and decided that my daily Summary Word would be a great way to do so since it's every day. I have a journaling visual practice I use in the evening where I list all of the main events in my daily experience, and next to each one I put an X for something upsetting or annoying or a * for stuff that made me happy, excited or refreshed. And after doing this visual review, I determine what ONE WORD would appropriately summarize my day. Now instead of just writing it, I DOODLE it. And I am having FUN! It makes the whole expression so much more creative, intuitive and gives me an excuse to illustrate what that word really means to me. I look forward to this exercise even more now with my Daily Doodle. (Thanks, Jani, for the idea.)

Another way I have FUN in my day is, of course, with my art journal; I don't do this on a daily basis, but at least several times per week. (Maybe even 4 or 5 at this point.) I always enjoy my time in my art studio Playing and Exploring and Experimenting on the page. I love using watercolors, images (using image transfer technique sometimes), text either from newspaper or magazine or stamped text, and texture from using different items that create an interesting result on the page. I never have to ask myself if I'm having fun because I just DO.

Another area of life that injects FUN into my day is spending time with grandboy. His laughter, his smile, his adorable sense of humor, and his growing cognitive skills just make for a hilarious and interesting time. I especially enjoy looking at small plastic books with him. I usually end up singing a song to him or exaggerating words and sounds that always gets him giggling and laughing.

Another way I experience FUN in my life is through spontaneous time with my hubby. Whether it's shopping at the grocery store, going to book stores, taking a drive just because, or simply having terrific conversation, we have FUN together. (And we're celebrating 25 years of this.)

There are other activities I also enjoy, such a watching a funny movie, listening to musical auditions, perusing art journaling or collage related books and magazines, or watching something hilarious a friend posts on Facebook (this happens a LOT-Can you hear me laughing from here??).

One thing I would recommend you do to get more FUN vibes in your life is to write down one moment in your day where you laughed. You didn't have one? Well, then this Moment calls for Something that will.
Go! Do It! Then Laugh. Then you'll have something to write down. *Wink*

I give you permission to always include a FUN FACTOR in your day. Every. Single. Day.
You may notice you become more Aware of what makes you laugh and start pursuing it.
That's the idea! Yay! Go for it!

Then let me know. I'd love to hear about it. (And if you want to share how you have refreshed yourself with something FUN that helps you appreciate yourself for who you are, validates your emotions and feelings and nurtures your soul, please email me direct at journalwriter@sbcglobal.net.)

Did you have FUN reading this? I hope so. (I know I had FUN writing it!)
Now Go Make Some Fun Right Now. Really.  

Be refreshed!
© 2014 by Dawn Herring

My Year 2013: A Rewind

As I did last year, I wanted to do a bit of review of my year in 2013, to celebrate, share and consider what I've learned and accomplished, with the hope of making a meaningful mark in my world.

What I share in this post reflects my life as a journal keeper, an artist, host of #JournalChat Live, as writer, as a grandma, as a refreshment specialist, as a researcher, as an author, and as a newsletter creator.

As you can see, my life is very layered, multi-dimensional and rich! For that I am grateful.

So, without further ado, (drum roll, please! ;)) my life in 2013!

I shall begin with my life as a journal keeper:
I continue to enjoy engaging with my written journal, usually recording entries in the a.m. and p.m. and others when the situation calls for it. But starting in November, I began to take more breaks in my day and record in my journal three or four times per day, which has given me an even deeper clarity and insight into what I'm experiencing, thinking about, and determining needs to be done, especially with creating positive change--always vitally important! My journal gives me space to pay close attention to my intuition, my inner wisdom and to the divine spark given to me by the Creator.

I continue to use my dominant and non-dominant hand approach to my entries, activating both sides of the brain for a more holistic, logical and creative result. My journaling exercise, using Xs for negatives and * for positives, continues to give me visual clues for where I need more balance (key word here!). I also add a summary word that tells my day succinctly; that really gets me thinking in the big picture. Just a few months ago, I started using colored markers to write my entries, and I've written so much, that I need a new set already! Also, I even did a little of backwards writing as the suggestion of a friend (Thanks, Suzanna!) on #JournalChat. It takes a lot of concentration so I don't do that every day. It has also been fun to incorporate some other ideas I've gleaned from my reading and chatting on #JournalChat this year; that's always fun!

Now to my Authentic Refreshment with Art Journaling:
In January, it will be three years that I've kept an art journal; I am truly hooked!! I love using watercolors, oil pastels, crayon, tissue paper (for texture), colored paper (for collage), and rubber stamps to create messages as well as letters cut from magazines. In the latter half of this year, I've been experimenting with image transfers, getting the hang of working with gel mediums and creating layers on the page. Some of it has been a challenge, but I'm getting better and loving the process.

I always have so much fun going through magazines to pull images, text and color to work into my collages, my paintings and my pages. I love designing and combining different techniques to create fun works of art from the heart.

Also as a fine artist in watercolor, I did my first replicating rendering, using the stipple method, of a mocking bird, my adored bird you will find on my website, who delights my heart with his song and dance. It was such a delight to paint "In Your Element" considering my love for watercolor and for the mocking bird itself. I also continue to do intuitive paintings from my imagination and heart.

As an artist, I am absolutely delighted to have my Dawn Herring Collection Art Gallery available on my website, a long held dream of mine. It contains a page of my fine art paintings as well as my mixed media and watercolor bookmarks and message cards which are available for order! I love designing empowering message cards with favorite colors as reminders of who we really are and how we can make our meaningful mark in the world!

My whole website, Refresh with Dawn Herring, has been fully refreshed this year, featuring my empowering products and services, information about #JournalChat Live and Links Edition along with journaling prompts and resources for all things journaling that I've compiled from my reading and posting as host of #JournalChat Live on Twitter. There's a place to sign up for my now monthly Refresh Journal, which contains #JournalChat information, refreshing tips, music, and so much more, and to purchase my book, The Birthday Wall: Create a Collage to Celebrate Your Child, which had its one year anniversary of publication in March. My daughter, Sarah, shared her point of view on The Birthday Wall this year.

As Host of #JournalChat Live, I reached my two year anniversary in June with the structure of a weekly chat with new topic based on the journaling resource I choose for #JournalChat Pick of the Week. I even wrote a blog post covering all the resources and topics we covered for 2013 as a big THANK YOU for those who authored them and to those who participated. One big change that occurred back on October was the switch from Thursday afternoons to Sunday afternoons to hold the live chat on Twitter. And this month, another big change is being implemented in 2014, with #JournalChat Live being held the first Sunday of each month. Plus I've changed what was Pick of the Day to Dawn's #JournalChat Favorite and what was once Pick of the Week to Dawn's #JournalChat Choice to reflect those changes to once per month. I'm excited about these changes which I explain from the heart.

#JournalChat Live continues to be a source of fun, inspiration and ideas for journal keeping enthusiasts and we've had a lot of insightful conversation and support for our journaling community. Come join us the first Sunday of each month at 4 EST/1 PST on Twitter using the #JournalChat Hashtag in your tweet!

One of my good friends, Nathan Ohren of Write4Life, who has been a special guest on #JournalChat Live as well as an active contributor to our chats, interviewed me on his #JournalTalk podcast which was fun, interesting and fun! (When you listen, bear in mind that the time and day of #JournalChat Live is now on first Sunday of each month.) One of my favorite things about Nathan's approach to his podcast and his work in the world is his sense of humor (plus his heart). He has been a true supporter of my work with the live chat as well as my life as artist and refreshment enthusiast. It was a pleasure to work with him and to chat with him on #JournalChat Live. His podcasts with journaling experts are well worth listening to; I was glad to be a part of his series.

As a Refreshment Specialist, I've engaged in some refreshment research and have started a new blog called Your Authentic Refreshment, showcasing interviews with folks who engage in authentic refreshment which is something to help you appreciate yourself for who you are, validate your emotions and feelings and nurture your soul. Also new are my Refresh Sessions which I provide to work with people privately to help them discover what will refresh them and help them gain a fresh perspective in all of life's dimensions, thus loving themselves from the inside out and living empowered lives as a result!

As a writer, I have published several guests posts this year focused on journaling and refreshment on the websites/blogs of Kathleen Pooler, Karen Horneffer-Ginter, and in Outlet Magazine. I also continue to post on my Refresh with Dawn Herring blog (that you're reading now!) about once per month in addition to the content for Refresh Journal. I also have several longer works in progress, with one I hope to share in 2014.

As a grandma, I am deighted to say that my grandboy turned two! He is such a delight, always making Grandma smile and laugh with his chatter, his personality, and his love, always looking for hugs which I gladly give. We have so much fun together building with blocks, talking to his stuffed animals, doing sock puppets, and talking on the "phone." I just love to teach him all kinds of things, tell him stories, and just be plain silly to make him laugh. And Boy Does He Laugh! :D

When I look back on all of this good stuff, it really makes me want to do a happy dance; won't you dance with me?

My 2013 has been full, rich, insightful, and creative in many aspects and I look forward to what 2014 will hold.

My desire is to encourage folks to refresh themselves daily, keep a journal to record their special story for all posterity, and to love themselves heartily from the inside out.

I hope you will join me in this wild, wonderful journey; lets keep in touch in 2014!

© 2013 by Dawn Herring

A Rewind of 2012: My Life Dimensions

I find it such a joy to look back at this past year to see and remember all I have experienced both personally and professionally. I wanted to share my musings and rememberings with you, my dear readers!

My Life Dimensions of 2012:

As Grandma: I have had the joy of watching my grandboy grow and develop into the precious person he is and to know what a difference he makes to me and to my family. His laughter, his conversation, his point of view, his stepping stones, and his personality just light up my world adding wonderful, creative and insightful energy to my life experience which I enjoy sharing with friends and loved ones.

As Artist: I continue to immerse myself in the fun and fabulous world of art journaling, collage, and watercolor exploration. I have immensely enjoyed watching videos, reading and seeing art journaling/collage in living color on blogs, in newsletters and in books, and experimenting with my own layouts with new products and new approaches. Watercolor continues to be my medium of choice both solo and in my art journaling work (or should I say, PLAY!) I love its transparency, its versatility, and its vibrancy in my work as an artist. I look forward to every moment spent in my art studio in 2013 as I make time to refresh my spirit and soul in the process. It is my True Authentic Refreshment!

As Writer: I am delighted to share the publication of my first book, an e-book, titled, "The Birthday Wall: Create a Collage to Celebrate Your Child," a how-to book that shares our story of making a creative visual collage I put together for each of my daughters, and now for my grandboy, for their birthdays each year. It has been a fun journey to put the word out about how parents (and grandparents) can create a collage to celebrate their child's (grandchild's) birthday.

I was delighted to have my good writer friend, Sarah Bryant, share how The Birthday Wall helped her connect with her son for his birthday and beyond.

I have enjoyed sharing a fresh perspective in all of life's dimensions through my weekly Refresh Journal which coincides with my weekly #JournalChat Live for all things journaling.

When I have been impacted by a life experience that I find insightful and meaningful, I have enjoyed sharing these gained insights with you, my dear readers, right here on this blog, Refresh with Dawn Herring~For a Fresh Perspective. I appreciate all comments and feedback from those who have shared and with whom my message has resonated.

I also have had the wonderful opportunity to share and contribute to book tours. One was featured on my newest blog, The Birthday Wall, called, "Happy Birthday To You: My Childhood Memory," to spread the word about the book, Finding Emma by Steena Holmes. The other was featured on my #JournalChat blog, titled, "A Mom's Point of View on Mental Illness with Madeline Sharples," in connection with #JournalChat contributor, Madeline Sharples with her book, Leaving the Hall Light On.

I have written book reviews on Raw Art Journaling by Quinn McDonald and Creative Journal Writing by Stephanie Dowrick.

I have also published articles, "Finding Your Authentic Refreshment," (starts on page 25) in Outlet Zine, a online magazine focused on creative outlets and on All Things Healing.com titled, "Journal Your Way to Refreshment."

As Host of #JournalChat Live for all things Journaling on Twitter: I must say it has been a delightful, insightful and inspiring year of chatting with folks about the life-enhancing and life-changing benefits of keeping a journaling practice. Each week has been enlightening, fun and enlivening as we have shared personally about keeping a journal, asked questions, perused journaling resources from our #JournalChat Pick of the Week, and as we've encouraged one another to keep our practice as only We Can Do. Journaling is a Custom Creation of the Heart. MY THANK YOU.

As Journal Writer: I continue to benefit from a journaling practice that continues to thrive and grow and change as I do. This year I added a morning entry with no set page number where I can ready myself for the day, make plans, set goals, and remember what needs doing. I also write a nightly entry to help me summarize my day, write down my insights gained, and congratulate myself on a daily job well done. Journaling continues to help me appreciate, validate and nurture myself the way I need to each day, custom created by whatever approach, question, prompt I decide to use.

I have read many journal writing book titles to learn from other's approaches and read other's journal entries, and understand even more the benefits of journaling. There is always something new to learn from others who have kept a journaling practice and can share how they  have benefited; something I never tire of.

This has a been a delightful trip down memory lane as I've considered all of my wonderful life experiences; it has helped to give me a fresh perspective on all of my life dimensions and it fills my heart with gratitude for all I have been blessed with.

To my family, my friends, my network of artist, writing and journal writing friends, my readers and my subscribers, I wish a Fabulously Refreshing New Year of 2013.

May your year be filled with authentic refreshment that feeds and nurtures your heart and soul to enliven and enable you to make your very best mark in the world.

Don't ever forget to refresh yourself; from my heart to yours.

© 2012 by Dawn Herring

Competition or Complement?

Are you one to write a "to do" list each day to keep yourself on track with your goals and tasks?

If so, do you ever find yourself feeling overwhelmed by its sheer volume, as if you'll never catch up?

Do you find it difficult to decide what tasks or responsibilities should take priority over the others? Do they all seem priority and you don't know which one to do first?

Ah, yes. Those tasks can often seem to take on a persona of their own, as if they were people vying for your attention, competing with the other tasks, hoping to be noticed for how important they are. You might even hear them saying, "Don't you care about me? Why do you keep ignoring me? I'm IMPORTANT, aren't I???!!" Right?

When we take on this perspective with our tasks, we may find ourselves feeling defeated before we even start. You know the guilt, the criticism, the beating ourselves up when we think we're not doing enough.

This doesn't have to be a competition. 

No, it doesn't.

Perhaps taking a new view on each task will help you know what direction and process to take, one that is authentic, intuitive, and even rewarding for you.

Here's the key: What if you saw each task or responsibility as a complement to each other? You know, how they work together to enhance the function of each, kind of like how our body parts work together to help us breathe, digest, and assimilate what we take in and experience in our daily lives?

I have several dimensions of my life that I work with mostly on a daily basis; all of them to me are VERY important, not to just one area of my life, but holistically.

It would be easy for me to see each of these dimensions separately and feel a bit nonplussed on how to get it all done without feeling like I'm leaving something out.  

There's my study/writing time; there's the work I do online; there's my artistic pursuits; and my time for home and family. (Of course, my office work is always priority since there are immediate deadlines with much of it; our electrical contracting business, Bill's Quality Electric, LLC, is service oriented.)

Yes, it can seem overwhelming sometimes when it doesn't all get done in a way I'd like it to. Sometimes something will fall to the wayside, and I'll feel the effects of what hasn't gotten done. The effects can sometimes create fatigue or lack of energy or stamina. I find this is especially true if I don't make enough time for my artistic pursuits.

But when I see all these ingredients of my day as compliments to each other, it helps me to have a different view of these activities. Instead of them vying for my attention, I can see each one as helpful to the other.

When I write, then my artistic side is enhanced. If I study, then I feel grounded and centered for my writing. Life experience feeds life experience. So when I see each task as something that can enhance my well-being, I don't feel as apt to get discouraged when something falls to the wayside. It's more of an awareness than a criticism.

When I see my life holistically in this way, I feel better overall about what I do and when I do it and how much I do it.

Just a few minutes of creating a stippled rendering in colored ink can lift my spirits. Doing a bit of cleaning can help to clear out negative energy for a more healthful flow at home.

Listening to my intuition on what comes next helps me to see things naturally and organically, rather than competitively.

Yes, I sometimes write a "to do" list when I have things to do that I don't want to forget. But I don't write one every day. Most days, after an a.m. journal entry, I know the flow I'm looking for and aim to do what I know is best for the moment.

And I need to be satisfied with that. No Guilt. No Overwhelm. No Criticism. No Bullying.

Just a peaceful contentedness that all is as good as it needs to be with my world--in all of its dimensions.

© 2012 by Dawn Herring

Your Authentic Self

You can see it in his eyes.

When you ask him a question, he studies you as if looking for the answer; or maybe he just responds with a smile or a soft sigh.

He takes his time when trying out a new toy; he studies each piece and has to make a choice between one thing or another; he seems reluctant to let one go for the other; he goes back and forth then settles, satisfied--for the moment.

He remembers the song on his piano as you sing it to him; he smiles and laughs in recognition of the tune and even tries to sing along with new longer sounds.

He studies different fabrics, whether the softness of a blouse, the waffle-like pattern on a robe, or the string from a tie. He fingers them slowly, repeatedly as he absorbs texture, movement, color.

His laughter is soft sometimes, depending on what he is responding to; perhaps a repeated song or a question. Or when he is asked a question and given an answer with a funny animal sound or two, he laughs heartily, showing his growing, unique sense of humor.

He makes choices; when he goes too far from his center on the living room floor, he is called back. He turns each time he hears his name and decides what to do. Sometimes he's not sure and wants to keep going. Often he turns around to return to center where he knows he'll enjoy interaction and play with another.

He hangs on to his Nuk Sippy Cup, the one with the blue and orange handles, after he finishes chugging it in less than a minute, even when you suggest giving it up to be washed.

He is already experiencing what it is to possess something.

He also knows when something doesn't belong to him and you say no.
He cannot put other's clothes in his mouth; he cannot pull at necklaces and earrings.
He knows, with reminders, what  his boundaries are.
Sometimes he pushes them; other times he remains content to just be.

Choices. Memory. Response. Desire. Action.

All requirements to develop an authentic self.

He doesn't wonder if he is authentic in his personality; he just absorbs the love, the care, and the sincerity that surrounds him and grows naturally from that place.

Sometimes it can help to return to that natural inner child; the place of authenticity, of a new reality.

Each choice, each memory, each response, each desire, each action has potential to teach what is not known, to inspire to greatness, to reveal inner workings of the mind and heart, and to nurture what is true and lovely on the inside.

Listen to your heart; pay attention to what you are drawn to; love yourself; aspire to do your best with what you have.

Your Authentic Self will emerge and grow as you look to sincerely be who you really are.
In all of your beautiful, magical, creative, practical, and logical dimensions.

Let your Inner Child refresh you from the inside out...and watch what happens.

© 2012 by Dawn Herring

Every Little Bit

He turns his head from side to side as he wakes himself out of slumber. He scratches the fabric on his crib mattress, testing the texture with his fingers. His cheeks are rosy from the warmth of his skin. He moves his feet, flexing his legs, as he adjusts from his belly position, readying to lay on his side. He begins to hum and make bubble sounds as he absorbs his surroundings, looking up for a familiar face.

He finds one. He smiles as I talk to him gently, as I ask him if he's had a good shnootz.

He goes back to stretching his legs and begins to work his way onto his back for a better view.
I watch his every move as I take in his attempts to learn this new body movement, rolling, which could give him even more options if he knew how to get back to where he started.

Sometimes in the process, I hear him grunt with his efforts as he works different gross and fine muscle groups to determine what will work best to get him in the preferred position. Sometimes the move he makes is satisfying. Sometimes it's frustrating with the inability to change back and forth, a skill he has yet to master.

I tell him he's such a big boy, able to roll into those positions for a better view. He'll learn how to get back to where he started in time. And the time moves so very quickly.

Before he knows it, he'll be crawling at high speed and then walking from one room to another.

Learning a new skill takes patience, endurance, and even a little faith in yourself, believing and expecting your skills to increase and grow as you make the effort to learn whatever is necessary to get where you want to go.

We can't expect to learn new skills overnight. Practice, observation, and even learning from someone else who has been there can go a long way toward helping us achieve our goal.

It can also be helpful to take a breather from our efforts, knowing we've put our time in, getting better and stronger with each attempt.

Every little bit helps; every step we put forth gets us further along the path we travel.

He's not in any hurry as he tries these new steps toward new skills and, eventually, independence. But he doesn't give up either. He keeps at it until something changes: he masters the movement. Then he smiles wide as if to say, "I'm proud of myself!"

And he knows I'll be there cheering him on.
And sometimes, that's really all that matters.

© 2012 by Dawn Herring

Change It Up

I am finding a new approach to my daily work and home schedule that seems to be working for me fairly well. Of course, old habits are hard to break. But this change for me has made enough of a difference that I'm implementing it into all working aspects of my life.

I have a tendency to stay at a task for long periods of time; I get immersed and don't realize how much time has gone by. This can make for uncomfortable issues with posture, resulting in fatigue and reduction in attention span and mindfulness.

So I decided to change it up.

Instead of sitting for an hour or two working on one project at a time, I'm sitting for fifteen or twenty minutes and then get up to do something else.

For example, if I'm busy posting links for #JournalChat Links Edition, I take a break for a bit. I may work on some collage elements. Or add more to my current watercolor project.

Or I may just get a bite to eat and stretch or take a walk.

What's interesting about changing it up is not only are you getting the benefits of giving your body a physical break, you also get the mental recharge you need to stay mindful to your task.

I pay more attention to what I'm reading because I'm more alert and aware. Which makes the reading more pleasurable.

Actually this approach makes most things I do more meaningful and pleasurable because I am more mindful.

So when I take a break from one task to work on something else, my mind keeps working. But not in a cluttered way. It gives my subconscious mind a chance to ruminate on the things I am absorbing and learning and helps me assimilate the information better.

Plus, when I change it up, I have more energy to put out in connecting with my friends, readers, subscribers, and fellow writers, artists, and journal writers.

I also notice I get more work done overall. It may take a bit longer, but what I do has a higher quality. And I enjoy the process so much more.

When I give myself a break between tasks, this new approach gives me a fresh perspective and a lighter, more buoyant feeling.

Plus I have more time to chat with my husband and daughters and spend time with my grand-boy.

When you incorporate a change into your work habits or routine that makes enough of an impact to cause you to have more pleasure, more energy, and a higher quality of life, you know you've hit on something good.

So the next time you find yourself getting fatigued from working on a single task too long, give yourself a break. Change it up. Do something that gives you joy and more energy. And when you come back to that initial task, you'll have a clearer, more productive mindset, which can only enhance the quality of your work and your life.

Oh, and don't forget to give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done. You Deserve It.

© 2012 by Dawn Herring

Rewind

Stop. Pause. Rewind.

Remember those all-familiar buttons on those Sony Walkmans we used to keep on our hips for music portability? Of course, there was the all important Play button we used most often to keep those cool tunes floating into our headsets as we hung out in our rooms or walked the streets of our towns.

When we stop, we decide what song we will listen to.
When we pause, we want to hold the song in that very spot so we don't miss a beat no matter what may be interrupting us.
When we rewind, we just want to play that song again since it was so good the first time.

It is the same with life.
We stop what we're doing to decide what comes next.
We pause when we want to relish the moment rather than run right past it in our haste.
We rewind in order to go back to a previous time to rediscover our experiences and consider them with gratitude.

I'm ready to rewind the tape of my life that I've experienced in the year 2011 to ponder, pause, and consider with gratitude all that has come my way. I decided I wanted to share my musings with you, my dear readers!

Since my life is multi-dimensional, I thought I would approach my Rewind with these in mind:

First off, on The Herring Home Front, we welcomed our first grandchild, Jacob Lee, into the world, thus making me a first time Grandma! It has been a whirlwind of an occasion that has calmed to a very busy, active day-to-day experience, with lots of loving, burping, cuddling, talking and walking time as I interact with this new boy, this new person in my life. And the best part is he is always glad to see me, with those bright eyes and kicking legs showing his excitement. Oh, and then there's the conversation which seems to grow more interesting every day. He has so many stories to tell Grandma, and I am very eager to hear every one. What a blessing and joy he is. Indeed.

Next, is the Journal Writing leg of things.
For my personal journal writing practice of 27 years, I've recently added some new approaches that have really worked for me. I introduced Morning Pages (which you can read about in Julia Camerons' books), which is essentially a stream of consciousness approach to writing first thing in the morning. I also write my goals for work and home each day, clarifying with my Critical Six, the six things that will truly help me get where I want to go in all dimensions of life. (See James Ray's book, Harmonic Wealth.) I also added writing with alternate hands, first with my right, which is my dominant hand, and then with my left. This enables me to initiate the activation of both right and left brain, both logically and emotionally/creatively, in my journal writing practice.

Now for the more public side of journal writing. In addition to posting journal writing links each week, Monday through Friday, on Twitter, in June I began to host #JournalChat Live, a live chat for all things journaling on Twitter with a new topic to discuss every week. In conjunction with that, I introduced the #JournalChat Pick of the Day, which essentially is the post I choose from each day's links posted on Twitter (through my @JournalChat account and some on my @DawnHerring account), which I consider the one that resonates the most with my journaling experience or one that I feel has the most take-away value. Of course, there are days when I have several that I think are just fabulous, so I pick one or two others that I label "Runner UP" before posting the Pick of the Day.

In conjunction with #JournalChat Pick of the Day, I started the all new #JournalChat Pick of the Week which I select from all the picks I have chosen in the 4 days I post links on Twitter. Out of those four, I  choose one that has the topic I decide we will discuss on #JournalChat Live, which takes place each Thursday at 5 EST/2 PST on Twitter.

In association with #JournalChat and all things journaling, I also launched my e-journal, Refresh Journal, for all things journaling and refreshing. Included are links for Pick of the Days, a special section for Pick of the Week to inform those who plan to attend the live chat what our topic is with a suggested prompt for a journal entry as well as highlights from the previous live chat. I also enjoy sharing refreshing tips for home, work, kids, and yourself.  A column for The Artist and a song to listen to to get your week musically motivated are also included.

On the Social Network front: I have enjoyed connecting with all of my journal writing and writing friends through Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn as we share encouragement, our points of view, our accomplishments, and our dreams for the future. I have found myself smiling, laughing, and relating as I read Tweets, Statuses, and conversations/discussions in the social network sphere.

On the Blog front: It has been such a blessing to me to have subscribers and readers of this blog, JournalWriter Freelance~Refresh with Dawn Herring, where I have posted my musings, lessons learned, and point of view of daily life and what it all means to me. I have also enjoyed encouraging others to refresh themselves on a daily basis, which often initiates positive change in our lives when we take the time to nurture, validate, and appreciate who we are and what we're here for.

On the Creativity front: This year I decided it was time for me to venture into new artistic territory. I have been an artist since childhood, and there are things I have never tried before. So I immersed myself in reading books and trying out watercolor for the first time; boy, am I glad I did! It is my favorite medium, hands down. I have worked in pen and ink, acrylics, pencil, charcoal, and colored pencil up to this point. But watercolor is so vibrant and fun to use! I incorporated it into my new art journaling venture in mixed media which I started on January 1st and also have painted with just watercolor.

I also use and recommend that practice of collage, through image, text, journaling, and mixed media on the page. It has been eye-opening, resonating, and down right fun!! I look forward to my art journaling and watercolor on the weekends. I do hope to do much more of it in 2012.

This year has been a busy, active and learning time for me; I have so enjoyed connecting with artists, journal writers, and writers and other friends this year. You have been such an inspiration to me. Thank you.

I look forward to all 2012 has in store for me, connecting with my true self, my family, my friends, and my Creator.

Have a Super Fabulous, Most Refreshing Year Ever!!

© 2011 by Dawn Herring

A Butterfly Moment

It was completely unexpected, which is really the best kind.
A flutter of wings as if blown by an inspired wind landing on my knit shirt. I take in the beauty of its wing's design, noting just a small tear at the bottom edge of one, yet it still flies. I am grateful it is not a serious injury. I have seen those kind before.
I am elated to have such a wonderful, wild creature resting, at peace, upon me. I realize it's the first time I've ever had my absolute favorite insect alight on me directly, and I am enchanted.
I begin to speak to it, telling the creature how utterly lovely a moment it is to have such beauty in my vision, even if it's but for a moment.
Then I wonder if it would climb onto my hand. So I place a finger gently in front of its fine front feet. It feels the nudge and obliges me and climbs onto the back of my hand.
My smile grows wider, my eyes immerse in its beauty and grace. I continue to tell it how beautiful it is, how lovely to enjoy the gorgeous sunshine together.

Then it is off, in its winged glory. Again I am elated it can fly, even with that small tear in it's wing.

As I stand there, in the after effects of such a lovely moment, my joy lingers. My heart is full.
Then I move on to the plans of my day which include an artist date. What a wonderful preclude to what awaits as I look to fill my creative well.

A Butterfly Moment.
The perfect picture, to me, of beauty, elegance, wonder, and ultimately, freedom.

And when we keep ourselves open to these unexpected possibilities, we may be surprised as to what might alight upon us in the most ordinary of moments.

That fill us with elation, joy, peace, and hope.
And as we linger in the after effects, we carry them with us in our hearts, our souls, our lives, our world.

May each Butterfly Moment in your life linger long and well.

© 2011 by Dawn Herring

Smoke

Her ears are pointed down, perked, as she sits on the coffee table watching a stick of incense burning. She remains at a safe distance as she gazes intently at the burning glow at the end of the stick where the smoke slowly swirls up into the air and wafts in various directions from the wind-like force of the ceiling fan directly above.

She moves back a bit as the smoke blows a bit toward her face to prevent her whiskers from being singed or to prevent smoke from getting in her eyes.

But still she sits, fascinated, nose going up occasionally, twitching like a rabbit's, to sniff the scent of frankincense and myrrh.

A picture of Sophie in a full-blown curiosity moment as her senses come alive, her tail twitching as she hears me talking to her about what she thinks of it all. "Don't know what to make of it, do you, Soph?"

She reminds me of myself as I immerse my senses on an Artist Date, taking in the colors, scents, visuals, and textures of what is around me.

Or as I zone into a watercolor piece I'm working on, making decisions about color mixing, placement, intuition, and possibilities for design.

Or as I peruse a magazine to pull images for use with collage, not asking questions, just watching and intuiting what draws me in, what catches my attention, what sparks my curiosity, what activates my emotions.

Sometimes what I experience is unexpected as heightened feelings rise to the surface as much as they run deep to my core. And I don't always know what triggers those feelings until I put them later in context.

Which motives me to follow the thematic thread that emerges in my artistic and creative pursuits to discover more of who I am and what fills my creative well. Even when I don't know where it will lead or what it will mean for me personally.

Often I am intrigued by a new excitement with something I have just discovered. Or I question my reaction to an image or an idea. So I follow it until my curiosity is satiated.

Or until I'm ready to call it a day. Like Sophie does when she finally jumps off the table onto the rug below to curl into her customary, "I'm satisfied," position and readies for a nap.

And in time, I arrive home from my Artist Date, close my magazine pages, or clean my watercolor brushes and empty my watercolor containers until the next time.

And the incense has burned out, the smoke has cleared, ashes collected on the burner in narrow chunks ready to be shaken into the trash once cooled, scent lingering for a bit, with the residual undertones of appreciation for a job well done.

© 2011 by Dawn Herring

A Synchronized Center

I asked myself a question the other day:
What's the first thing that comes to mind when you wake up in the morning?

My initial answer was, "The day of the week, appointments to be kept, any errands to run. And housework. Always the housework."

Of course, when the day of the week springs to mind, I usually know right away the rest of the information I need without looking it up on a scheduler. That's the benefit of routine.

But is that what I really want to be thinking about when I wake up in the morning? Almost sounds heavy handed, nothing to get me excited enough to climb out of the cozy, soft covers of my bed. (Of course it always helps when my cat Sophie meows me awake in the morning, looking for a scratch behind the ears that initiates a purr fest.)

After some discussion with hubby, I realized what I lacked. I had the Wrong Focus.

Of course, keeping the house in order, taking care of errands, and being prompt for appointments are well and good. I will continue to be diligent with such matters.

But with all of these things it can feel as if there's is always Something. There doesn't seem to be a place to rest the mind when there's something else on the agenda that could or should be done.

Thus, a underlying sense of inappropriate guilt pervades the mind, like a nasty, creepy goo that stifles and chokes any possibility of joy or passion.

Something is seriously wrong with this picture. I have sensed this for quite some time but had not come up with a sensible solution, something that would really Work. And not just for me, but also for my family.

What resulted from this discussion for me was truly profound.

What I focus on each day becomes my center. If I am always centered on keeping my house in order, I will eventually burn out, fall behind, and thus, feel lousy about my perceived inadequacy with taking care of things like I should.

I didn't appreciate that picture, and neither did hubby.

So we decided to make some changes. Good Changes. Appropriate Changes. Synchronizing Changes.

Instead of focusing on things that are always ongoing Monday through Friday, I would instead focus on my responsibilities for our business, Bill's Quality Electric, LLC as well as my writing business, JournalWriter Freelance.

Of course, I have always given attention to these very important dimensions and responsibilities in my life, but I always felt my house duties eclipsed this focus, since there was always something that needed doing.

But now, I have determined, when I wake up in the morning, I think of what day it is, and I am excited, passionate, and peaceful about accomplishing the tasks of our electrical contracting business as well as my freelance writing business rather than feeling distracted, with my mind going in a million directions. I now have a focus and purpose to my day that I feel in sync with. And of course, giving my all to this dimension in our lives makes everything easier, for me and for Bill.

So that's a win-win.

Now you may be wondering, what about the housework? Ah, I was coming to that. ;) We certainly wouldn't just leave that undone there, now, would we?

We decided to make house cleaning a family affair: On Saturday mornings after a relaxing wake up/breakfast time, we would all chip in and work to get the house cleaned and organized for the week.

Now, in previous times, I might have balked at this idea since I had an inborn aversion to doing housework on Saturdays in connection with the residual boredom with which I associated such duties from my childhood days.

But now it feels different. It is appropriate. I appreciate taking a day on the weekend to focus on the home and put all of my energy into those tasks. (Of course, the smaller stuff like laundry and dishes I still do during the week days, tasks that don't overwhelm.) And whatever I accomplish for that day will be satisfying to me, since I'm not alone in this newfound approach.

I don't feel split in a myriad of directions which makes for a more calm, centered foundation to living and taking care of responsibilities.

Each day I know precisely where I'm going and what I'm doing, and I can put all of my energetic enthusiasm toward my place in the home and in the business world as well. And if something comes up I didn't plan on, I know it's OK, since the unplanned events don't need to be seen as an interruption but part of the bigger plan for the day or the week.

And of course, when I'm going about the tasks I've taken on the responsibility to do, I have the support and blessing of the Creator of the Universe to help me every step of the way.
My tasks then take on a multi-dimensional meaning. I'm not just cleaning the house; I'm caring for all that I have been blessed with and being a blessing to my family in the process with what I contribute.

It's a win-win for everyone.

Now that's something to be Thankful For!

© 2010 by Dawn Herring