remembering who you are, exciting news (and some inspiration)

Do you ever feel as if you're forgetting something very important? Sometimes it's something that you've forgotten to do. Sometimes it's something else. Just on the tip of your tongue.

It's so easy to get caught up in the day to day. The to-do lists and schedules. We're carried along on the swiftly moving current of time itself. (Where the heck did June go?). It's something that I constantly fight against, but I know it's not something I can win.

Moving so fast and being so focused (and having our focus fractured into so many pieces) makes it easy to lose things along the way. The other day I realized that I haven't been filling the house with little flower arrangements. It's something that I always used to do during the summer months. I told myself, oh, it's because there aren't many flowers yet. Although I am still waiting for a lot of plants to start blooming, there are flowers. There are always flowers. I just hadn't been taking the time to put together arrangements.

I quickly rectified that. They don't have to be fancy. They don't have to have a lot of flowers.

A stem of roses and a couple stems of herbs will do. Or any combination of this and that. A single flower, even. Cutting the flowers. Bringing them inside. Finding the right container. Setting it in place. The entire process is joyful. It makes me slow down. It makes me pay attention and be present and enjoy the moment.

And I think that's my problem. Not slowing down enough to pay attention to these days. Some things help. Writing in my journal. Taking a walk through the garden first thing in the morning. Tasting. Touching. Smelling.

It's constantly a work in progress. And I need to remember to be easy on myself, too. That can be so hard. It's so much easier to let the negative thoughts flow. Again. Work in progress.

How about that exciting news?

Are you an Uppercase Magazine reader? The newest issue just came out. I'd seen the flip-through on Instagram and I was excited for my copy to arrive. Even though I'd seen the flip through, when I sat down with my copy I got a big surprise.

Yes, there I am!! It's an ad for the forthcoming B volume of the Uppercase Encyclopedia of Inspiration. B for Botanica. I've mentioned the Encyclopedia of Inspiration in another blog post, when I was sharing the first volume. I did know then that I was going to be included in the third volume, but I think I was afraid of jinxing things if I mentioned it. Now it's official!! My work will be featured in the book!!!

(Enough exclamation marks you think?).

The second volume is also out and it's really inspiring, too.

Such a diversity of creativity. That diversity of creativity is what makes Uppercase Magazine and its publications stand out. I was so grateful to have my 2x2 Sketchbook project with Dana Barbieri published in the magazine and I am over the moon to be featured in the Encyclopedia of Inspiration, too!

Here's a bit more inspiration for you today:

• Dream it and do it. I'm so proud of my blogging friend Carla. She just unveiled the new website for her flower business! Truly, if you have a dream, go for it. It will take a lot of hard work (and it certainly won't happen overnight), but it will be worth it. I'm always so inspired and so filled with joy when I see people working toward their dreams.
• It's reassuring to know that I'm not the only person struggling to remember to fit the joyful things into my speeding days. Amanda Blake Soule of the Soulemama Blog recently wrote this post about walking through her days instead of running through them like everyone around her. Imagine if we were all do that!
• I often talk about wanting to find balance. And I know I'm not the only one who feels like that. Recently Kelly Rae Roberts shared a post on Instagram about going with the ebbs and flows and letting go of the "myth of balance". What a freeing thought that is. Do you agree that balance is a myth?
• July is World Watercolor Month! What a perfect time to pick up your brushes and paints! There are so many ways to celebrate. Take a class (like one of mine on Skillshare), join an online challenge, just paint on your own. Dick Blick, one of my favorite places to shop for art supplies is having a challenge with some big prizes. If you're a US resident, go take a look to see how you can enter and what you can win. 
• Back in February I interviewed Lisa Estabrook. One of the things that we talked about was her Soulflower Oracle Deck. I was fascinated by it and when she was having a sale I bought one for myself. I know it might sound a little wacky to work with an "oracle deck", but in truth, I've really gotten into the groove of it. I try to choose cards each day and spend some time in my journal writing about those choices. It's a good way to slow down. It's a good way to take a look at myself, my life, my days. I've found that usually the cards I pick are just what I need to hear, and even if the don't seem the right choice, there's something there that I can learn.

I hope you're having a joy-filled week! I'll be back on Friday with an inspiring Artist Interview. You won't want to miss it.