Joy List Monday and some other thoughts

this necklace sold last night!

Joy is a funny thing. It comes and goes without much provocation. After last week's early elation, I hit a bit of a wall. And that was ok. I've found that it's important to listen to myself when that happens. I put aside my painting, frustrated and discouraged, and picked up my crochet.

Later, I found that the painting that was so disappointing when I'd been working on it, really wasn't disappointing at all.  It had simply been an exercise of painting play in my sketchbook, choosing colors that you like and slapping them onto the page.

Why play had become frustrating, I do not know. But I do know that I should listen when that happens.

I think I should listen a lot more to what the universe is telling me. Lately there have been quite a few slow drivers in front of me on the road. I am not a slow driver. But I think getting stuck again and again behind people who are driving slower than the speed limit (why would anyone want to do that?) is the universe telling me to slow down.

It sure seems as if the universe was yelling at me to slow down when the other day, working on that Joyful quilt of mine,

I had a bit of an accident.

I know that little bit of broken needle doesn't look very big. But, it seems huge when it's been broken off in your finger. OK, I'm paying attention now.

And I'm feeling Joyful. Even though my crochet needs to be put to the side for a bit and even though my quilt is going to remain unfinished for a bit longer. I can draw and write and go for walks and take photos (and type!) with nine functioning fingers. An accident with my sewing machine is a lot better than an accident with my car.

I hope you are having a Joyful Monday!