the simple life

Thoreau said, "a man is rich in proportion to the number of things he can afford to let alone." And this is a sentiment I think about often....and am reminded of often given my fiance is constantly quoting Henry David. But, consumerism, capitalism, materialism and all other -isms associated with the American way, can be difficult to untangle yourself from. It's such a part of our every day life that sometimes we can get to the point of not even recognizing how far from Thoreau's ideal we are living.

Several years ago I visited the Kripalu center for Yoga & Health (in Stockbridge, Mass) for the first time. That initial visit was what I can now identify as the beginning of my true path, an awakening, untangling myself from those -isms, from ego, from societal demands and pressure...and from everything else polluting a simple, authentic existence. Part of that experience was the overwhelming feeling that came over me as I stood in the bare-walled, decoration free room with a wool blanket covered twin bed that I was assigned to in this glorious building that was originally a monastery and then an ashram (read: VERY low key and simple). I stood there feeling the most peaceful, content and free I'd ever felt, thinking to myself that I could leave all the Pottery Barn furniture, Coach purses, and Anthropologie clothes back in my San Francisco apartment, not caring where my belongings ended up, because what I'd been searching for in that extravagant lifestyle, in that expensive city was only being buried under my attempts to find it. What I needed was within me and would thrive and shine in places like Kripalu, because the layers of those -isms evaporate in such simple, real, and inspiring environments.

I have since emancipated myself from a job I held onto merely for the big paycheck, instead opting to live as an artist; moved out of the city that, although gorgeous and lively, made me loose myself in the opulence; and I no longer feel the need to outfit myself with every new piece of clothing or accessory on the market. And wouldn't you know it....I am content, peaceful and feel as rich as ever because I have learned to leave so much alone.

It was these very thoughts that were swirling through my head the day I drove through the Omish farm country of New York state (pictured above....I've been away on vacation for the past 2 weeks). I admit, it takes work, at times, for me to remain on my simple path and not get sucked back into my former love for inanimate objects...especially since I moved from one pricey zip code to another (the Gold Coast, CT). But, witnessing these Omish farmers hanging their clothes from clotheslines, bailing their hay, riding down the road in actual horse and buggies, and totally unaware of any pressure to be any other way....well, it quickly centered me that day and reminded that I am still rich in all the areas that count.

"Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without." Buddha

"m" is for mantra

Being an artist can sometimes leave me swimming in self-consciousness due to the immense amount and level of sharing I do with the world around me. Of course, I can be no other way, because what makes me an artist is my intense and unwavering desire, need and drive to express and to create. I could write for ages about what that means to me....but, I'll save that for another day.

What I'm thinking about today is the spectrum I bounce up and down pretty regularly. On the one hand I cannot live without expression, because it is the ultimate release for me. I find myself lost in "being," uninterrupted by thought, worry or outside opinions. It's blissful and magnificent....I wouldn't give it up for anything. And the final leg of the process (and joy) is being able to share my expression or end products with the world...or perhaps even just one person. This is what I live for, what I get out of bed in the morning for (fyi: expression and creation includes love in my world, just another form of art as far as I'm concerned).

But, sometimes it hits me: I'm out here, exposed, naked, soul on display, imperfection and beauty dancing together for all to see. And that can be terrifying.

This existence of mine isn't always easy to live. It has dramatic ups and downs, and my creative ability and talent ebbs and flows along with those ups and downs. Knowing this, I have a toolbox full of survival techniques. One tool that I pull out every day is the power of mantra (and affirmations, which I find interchangeable). I have a list of mantras I have created for myself and repeat constantly, I have a list of mantras created for me by others, and I admit that I also love the Affirmation app on my iphone (it's amazing and free, check it out). But today, I remembered that I have a pile of Yogi tea tags that I collected and forgot about years ago to use for a mantra art project....hence, the new prints shown above.

The words you repeat to yourself daily are a more powerful tool than most human beings realize. As Buddha said "we are what we think." So why not make those thoughts a vehicle for positive change and the life you've always dreamed of?

To that end, I am working on a few projects for my Etsy shop. I will be adding a section devoted to positive words...a visual reminder. One such example is my collection of mantra prints shown above. These will be sold in sets, and also individually. They will also be printed on canvas. Look for them soon!

www.lolarain.etsy.com

clay happy

I have always loved clay, and truth be told, I always thought I'd get into making pottery. Perhaps someday, but in the meantime I will continue to collect inspiring pieces from other artists. I am not sure if it's the connection I feel to art or the connection to the mud of the earth, or something else entirely, but eating, drinking and decorating my home with handmade pottery makes my day so much brighter.

Here are some of my favorites:

Chirpy Birds Sugar Pot by Julia Smith

IMAGINE Earthy Latte or Soup Mug by Crop Circle Clay

Lotus Flower - Breathe- Mug by Terra Works

Two Tumblers by Mud Stuffing

Royal Blue Mug by Darrielle's Clay Art

Five nesting lotus bowls by Whitney Smith

the gems of life

When I was a little girl, my mother would send my sister and I outside with a set of Audubon field guides from time to time so we could keep ourselves busy trying to identify trees, birds, plants and rocks. Some days we'd take the books into the forest in back of our house and look for edible plants to dig up, some days we'd watch the birds visit the bird bath outside our kitchen window, other days we'd collect leaves from the many trees on our property...and then there were the days I was convinced I would split open one of the rocks I had collected to discover it was really a gem.

This anecdote quite obviously provides a glimpse into the roots of my nature-loving ways, but it is the less obvious piece of my existence that can be gleaned from the tale that actually called this memory up for me today. Those Audubon books suddenly came to mind when I picked up the hunk of amethyst that sits on my bedside table (one of many gems that sit there). I recalled all the times I sat in my driveway, by the side of the river, or in my backyard, splitting open rocks and hoping to discover its guts were made of gems instead of stone. What warms me is knowing that no matter how many rocks disappointed me back then, I always believed I'd find my gem eventually....I believed in finding beauty inside otherwise ugly or plain pockets of life, I believed in finding whatever it was my little heart was looking for at any given time, and no amount of disappointment or failure ever kept me from believing.

The image of that little girl with her rocks is so precious to me, and she has never left my soul. It is that little girl piece of me that has allowed me to manifest all my dreams into reality. I continue to live my life in search of the gems I know I will find along my way, and over the years I've begun to find them more quickly and more frequently. In my experience, it is the strong ability to "believe," regardless of failed attempts or other people's disbelief, that leads to a life filled with gems. And the interesting thing is, I still appreciate the rocks that are simply made of stone, because they are just as important.

It's no wonder that I have decorative vessels filled with both (rocks and gems) placed throughout my house....a subtle reminder to appreciate all of your experiences and all of your attempts, all the while maintaining your faith in life, in yourself, and in the realization of dreams.

xo

the emotion of politics

Yesterday was another exhilarating day at the House of Representatives in Hartford, CT, bookending my experience since I first attended on opening day of session this year. And I have to say, the excitement level, dizzying pace of action, and pulse of this colorful alternate universe, were utterly palpable.

It's not surprising, given my personality, that what affected me most about the day was the emotion. There was the unexpected humor when session opened with superlatives being given out, such as "best dressed representative" and "best facial hair of a representative." There were the countless bittersweet moments as longstanding members took their final bows and voted on their final bills on their last day in session after decades in office. There was awe and admiration in moments of recognition, such as applauding the 99 year old man who has worked counting the ballots on every election of his working life...he will turn 100 next week (and still work the coming election).

Like anything else "human," yesterday was an experience of shared emotion. And although I was merely an observer in this strange world, I can liken it to watching a sports game: you don't have to be a lifetime fan or even watch the game from the beginning; you can simply find yourself sucked into the crowd by the contagious quality of the experience. You feel a vicarious sense of triumph, excitement, exhaustion, and camaraderie...you feel part of something.

cupcake

I'm looking at my pile of photography gear today thinking "I really miss my buddy!" There is simply no end to what Cupcake and I can create together and that is something I could use a dose of right now. Sure it's important to grow, motivate and create as an individual artist, but working with someone who has just as much passion as I do, in addition to a steady stream of new and interesting ideas....well, it's just incredible. It's the artistic version of a high. I feel completely present and pulsing with life, my true essence freely available and lit up. It's an experience that feels completely real and completely right. Anything is possible...

Well, I sure am looking forward to my week of adventures with Cupcake this summer!