Author: Dawn

On Being Good to Yourself

On Being Good to Yourself

Just a little reminder that, while you are going through life and trying to do good things in your world, and being considerate of others and taking care of your responsibilities, that you also need to be good to yourself. I don’t necessarily mean being good to yourself in the ‘I deserve this cheesecake/ pair of boots/ new golf club” kind of way. More like taking time for you because you risk burnout! We push and strive and work and sometimes we end up beating ourselves up when we’ve spread ourselves too thin and can’t manage all the things we think we should be able to accomplish in a day or a week. Instead, be a friend to yourself, cut yourself some slack and remember that you’re only human, not a full-time superhero!

There may be days when you will physically or mentally be unable to truly cope with all that’s on your plate. So do your best to accommodate your need for space, for rest, for renewal. Realize that you can’t continually pour out of a vessel unless you pour something back into it once in a while! Running on empty doesn’t work for long. Stop pushing yourself for a bit, allow some time to relax the body, to let your minds wander and dream, and just pull away from the everyday and slow down for a bit. Your mental and physical health will thank you for it!

Rosemarie

Rosemarie

A year ago today you slipped away from us, to a place where you no longer suffer and are at peace. It’s hard to believe it’s been a whole year. Time does seem to fly the older I get.

I can still hear your laugh, if only in my mind. I miss it. And I miss Sunday afternoons at the farm and trips to Sarnia, making strawberry jam together in the spring. Visiting you at the trailer. Your hugs. Your no-nonsense advice, whether I wanted to hear it or not. Your stubbornness and determination to not only fight your battles, but to win them. It’s a strange thing how we take for granted how fleeting our time here is. Life persistently keeps marching on, never holding still, even while we are grasping at the wisps of the past, to try to live once again in a moment long past, that only exists in the mind or heart now.

I’m reminded of you often. When I pull out the bakeware you passed on to me when you and Dad downsized from the farm to the riverside apartment. I don’t go a day without handling a kitchen item that your hands once held. I finally lost some weight and can now wear the choker-like dichromated glass pendant you gave me the year you retired from the bus company. I get a lot of compliments on it; I wear it 3-4 times a week. I’ve always loved it but now I love it more.

Everyone is doing well. Dad is well and he’s met someone. I like to think we’re both glad he’s moving forward with life like you wanted him to. The kids are doing awesome, me and Paul are great and I wish I could tell you all about the stuff I’m doing these days. I like to think that you’d be proud to see me reaching for my dreams. I missed out on so much when I was heavy and unhealthy. I feel like I’m making up for lost time but I’m enjoying every moment of it. Maybe my ship will truly come in this year! Maybe it won’t, but I’m making the best of my time and resources and having a good time. I’m happy, truly happy with my life.

Now, I know you wouldn’t want us to be a weepy and melancholy bunch on account of today being the anniversary of your leaving us. But I think each of us who knew you will likely mark the occasion in our own way. We will smile, perhaps through some tears, and allow our hearts to touch the memories we hold dear of you, our Rose. Miss you ❤️

On Limits…

On Limits…

I saw this meme this morning and it’s so true! Don’t listen to the naysayers. Don’t let them try to keep you in the same box that has become the limits of their own lives. You just do you and keep working at those dreams and goals, even when you’re misunderstood. Your time to shine will come!

Bonus Video This Week!

As you may or may not know, I tend to publish videos to my YouTube art channel on Mondays and Fridays, but this week, there’s a bonus video coming out tomorrow! So check out the channel with the link below, whether today to see what’s already there, or tomorrow when the latest demonstration goes live!

Indigo Bohemian Art with Dawn Stilwell on YouTube

Here is sneak peek of the poured painting I’ll be doing in tomorrow’s video!