The people that I meet when I'm painting on the street

Hi Friends!

Since I spent an incredible week at the beach in March watching the flow of the waves, I thought I'd blog about Flow.  It's not just a metaphor for life, it IS life - the continual ebb and flow of change, sometimes massive, sometimes barely noticeable.

The view from our beach house in Eastpoint, Florida

I don't know about you, but life since COVID has been anything but a return to "normal" for me.  In April of 2022, I resigned from a job that I specifically relocated to Marietta, Georgia for.  Shortly thereafter, my parents moved here to be closer to me, my husband developed a form of blood cancer called non-hodgkins lymphoma, our dog Layla passed away, I've learned how to balance caregiver responsibilities with taking time to paint.  And, as I write this, I'm in the process of learning whether the newly-identified lump in my right breast is cancerous or not.  That's really a lot of stuff to "flow" with in a matter of 3 years or so!

But, I'm not complaining, just reflecting.  How does one flow from one major thing to another in life without being consumed by them?  Well, one learns to surf - to catch a wave, ride the wave as long as one needs to, and then go catch another.  It's called, "Going With The Flow."  It doesn't happen effortlessly - it takes solid mental, emotional and physical fitness to get up on that 'surf board' time and time again.  And, yes, sometimes the wave knocks me off and I feel pummeled by it.  But, I get back up, again and again.  How?  Keep reading!

Okay, let's get down to brass tacks.  Metaphors for life like "go with the flow" are great, but how much do they really help you, right?  Here's how going with the flow helps me.

Sunrise printout from our back porch!

First and foremost, I have FAITH and HOPE.  Not the kind of hope that leads to a positive outcome.  No, I'm talking about hope as in the kind of hope that makes me feel like I'm never alone, that there is always a divine presence with me, flowing through me and around me, guiding me and carrying me.  Some might call this faith, and the two really are closely related.  But, faith to me is more about my belief and devotion to this divine hope.  This hope exists, whether I believe in it or not.  It's there.  My faith is my belief in it.  And, this is critical because in those dark times, the dark night of the soul, as some call it, when it would be easy to lose my faith, I remember that I am not alone and this gets me through.

On the left is the sunrise.  On the right is the full moon.

But, this is not necessarily a blog about my spirituality, so let's move on to a few other tangible things that help me keep on keepin' on and going with the flow.  FAMILY and FRIENDS.  While some of us may be introverts, we as humans were not meant to flow alone.  We were meant for connection and love and support.  And, in those times when I throw up the white flag, these are the peeps who come to my rescue.  Everyone's got them.  If you don't, cultivate them!  Seriously - it's vital that we not only ask for help, but that we have people who we can ask and who will also ask of us.  We are all interconnected, and the sooner we realize that, the better off we are.  So, first of all, get comfortable asking for help - recognize that we can't do it all on our own or else we'll die trying.  (Trust me, speaking from experience here!). But, also, even if we might not need help at the moment, recognize when someone you know needs it.  Most people don't use the words, "Hey, I need help."  They usually mention something in passing, and they may not even realize they're doing it, but they may very well be asking for an arm around the shoulders.  Be that arm.  Be on the lookout.  Be a friend.  And be in the flow.

Roomies and close friends in Florida!

My adorable husband Craig

Dear friends from high school (Franklin, PA), and my sister, sporting a "beach" shirt.

Now we're really coming down to the nitty-gritty - WORK OUT and EAT RIGHT.  Come on!!  This is not new news!!  But, how many of us choose the banana over the piece of cake?!  I was with my parents last week having lunch, and we had finished the main meal and had a choice of a banana or a piece of chocolate mousse cake.  Guess what all three of us chose?  Yep, the chocolate mousse cake.  And, that's ok every now and then - life is short, so we need to eat the cake.  But, we cannot ignore the banana repeatedly or it WILL catch up with us.  I eat a light breakfast of Cheerios or Muesli with oat milk just about every morning before I head out for a mile or two walk with Heidi, our Aussie.  This sets the course for my day - because I'm off to a good start, I try to keep it going.  I don't always succeed, but I don't always fail, either.  It's ok if I eat chocolate mousse cake at lunch with my parents because my I know my husband will cook a very nutritious meal for dinner (thankfully!!).  I go with the flow with exercise and meals throughout my day, and it tends to work out pretty well!

My mom and dad, and my Aussie Heidi.

Last but not least on my list of brass tacks is to FIND WHAT YOU LOVE AND DO THAT.  Easier said than done, because the pressures and responsibilities of life can threaten to consume every waking moment.  But, we must and must carve out our own personal, private time in which we don't check texts, email and social media, we don't answer calls that aren't urgent (and very few are truly urgent), we don't clean the house or run errands.  My personal, private time is for me and me alone.  I may paint, I may draw, I may frame my paintings and clean up my studio, but it's my time and I protect it at all costs.  Without it, I would go insane.  And, in fact, when I'm doing what I love, I am literally IN THE FLOW - there's no effort in trying to go with it, I just do.  I lose all track of time and feel total joy.  What do YOU love?  What do you want to spend your hard-earned, carved-out personal time on?  Then, as Nike says, "Just Do it."  And, if you don't know, figure it out and make it happen.  It's truly essential to our mental and emotional health.

Some of my recent paintings.

A shark that they caught right where I was painting on the beach!  (They let it go.)

That's it, my friends - That's how I go with the Flow.  That's how I keep my head above the ever-rising tide without getting eaten by the sharks.  And, I hope you do, too.  The Flow is an incredible place to be - riding that wave on top of the board, feeling the wind in your face and the smooth water underneath you.  It's where I try to stay every day, and I wish that same state of being for you, too.

HUGS!!

Until next time,

Maria