Resistance

OK - the truth is I have 4-5 projects sitting in my studio that have been started and not completed.  This has been bugging me because I like to complete things.  Anyway...I am on a mission by the end of the year to get them all completed.  I just finished one and wanted to share it with you.  I have been working with joint compound and I am loving the process and the result.  Taking me out of my comfort zone because it is quite messy.  I find joint compound stuck to everything.  The good news is, it flakes off. 

I want my art to be about "Simple Truths/Simple Reminders" which means this piece sat around in my studio waiting for just the right words.  Then they came. 

I have diligently been working on several projects toward making my dreams come true and feeling like I'm not getting anywhere.   It is a bummer, too.  I sat down to watch Oprah's Super Soul Sunday where she was interviewing Steven Pressfield.  He defines resistance as "a negative force that arises whenever we try to move from a lower level to a higher level".  OMG it was like lightening struck!!!!!  As Oprah would say I had an A-Ha moment.

Steven Pressfield says resistance is as natural as gravity.  That made so much sense to me.  And when we can identify that what we are bumping up against is "resistance" then we are able to remove any judgement about ourselves and then push thru.  So... that's where I am right now ~ pushing thru resistance.  He, also, says..."take your ass where you heart wants to go".

Pay It Forward

Pay It Forward is a concept that I have believed in for many years. Hearing someone (Thanks, Jessie!) say it last night caused a light bulb to go off in my mind.  It was as if this was just the answer I was waiting for.


You see, I create these  little Angels that first came to me in a dream in the spring of 1993.  (you can read more of  their story by clicking on this link (http://www.teresacash.com/aboutlittleangels.html)  My intention was crystal clear then and it is the same today.   I wanted to find a way to warm someone's heart and ultimately bring a smile to their face that radiates from their heart.   We all know that when we smile the world smiles with us.

These little Angels are designed to deliver a special message from you.

Here's how the Pay It Forward begins.  You order a little Angel from my website http://www.teresacash.com/myshop/littleangels.html I will send the little Angel to whoever you want me to send her to.  Inside the note card she will carry your heartfelt message that will surely bring a smile to the someone's face.  It can be a message of gratitude, expressing your concern if they are going thru a rough time in life, or even just a simple "I'm thinking of you".  The point is you took the time to express your genuine appreciation for this person and you did it in a way that was unexpected.  How cool is that!

This is how I will help with Pay It Forward.  For every little Angel that is ordered I will donate $5.00 to a charity that will help another person.  If you have a favorite charity provide me with the name and it will be entered into a drawing.  During this time (from now until November 30, 2013) I will also remove the shipping cost ($5.00) for you to send your little Angel.

It's asituation.

I'm soooo excited about this.  I hope you will join me in this effort to Pay It Forward.  You can include your friends/family in this project, too.  The more the merrier.  Here's the link to this post  http://www.asmilemaker.com/2013/11/pay-it-forward.html

If you have any questions send me an email @ teresa@teresacash.com

courage

It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power.
Alan Cohen 

There has been times in my life when circumstances presented themselves and I chose not to do anything.  The main reason I chose to stay stagnate was out of fear.  Afraid of this or afraid of that.  When the situation(s) changed and I was forced to do what I had feared the most I was amazingly surprised how empowered I became.  Thus success followed.

I so want to get the point where I choose to fly from the nest instead of waiting until I am pushed to learn how well I can fly.  I feel the stirring of change rising.

Share your stories with me of times when you displayed courage.  

I really do want to hear them.

Sedona calls to me

John and I recently returned from our annual Sedona, AZ trip.  What a place!  We love it there!!!  So much to see and many trails to take and to feast your eyes on Sedona's beauty.  John is always commenting on when you look at the red rocks and walk even a short distance away you can see something different.  

Every morning we put on our hiking boots, walking sticks in our hands, and we are off for an adventure.  My daughter still has a hard time believing I actually do hike and climb as much as I do.  There's something about Sedona that brings it out of me.  The first morning out was a chilly one.  Our choices were to climb in the shade, Doe Mountain, or in the sun, Bear Mountain.   Because it was so chilly I opted to climb in the sun. (in hindsight I should have thought about it just a little bit more.)  Doe Mt. vs. Bear Mt.-you can guess where this is headed.  Can't you?  We are walking and climbing, walking and climbing.  I looked up and thought "this isn't going to be too hard".  Boy was I ever kidding myself.  What I was looking at was a small hill.  There was a wee part of me that wanted to talk John into turning around.  I had to turn off the chatter in my head so I started to see this hike as a metaphor of life -  just keep putting one foot in front of the other, stop and take a breath if needed but just keep going.  In this photo we are not even half way up to the top .  Little did I know that getting to the top was a very steep incline.  But butt and my legs were burning by the time I got to the top!  

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL VIEW IT WAS FROM THE TOP.  We were so high up that we were actually in some clouds.   We later learned that Bear Mountain s 1,800' up and is considered one of the most strenuous hikes.  It took us 3 hrs. to get up there and 1 hr.  45min. to come down.  

Bear Mountain will forever remind not to look at how difficult something can be just break it down into manageable pieces and get on with it.  The view will be worth it from the other side.  After that hike we went straight to the hot tub!  

The next day we climbed Devil's Bridge which was very beautiful, too.  It was like one big photo shoot. Everyone up there took turns walking out onto this narrow rock formation that resembled a bridge.  And whoever was on the other side would take the picture.  We met people from all over. 

My ultra favorite spot is Bell Rock.  We usually save this until the end of our trip because it is so special to me.  I climb  about two thirds of the way up  to sit on"my" rock and meditate.  John continues up further while I just sit in silence.  Oh what a peaceful feeling, I can't even explain it.  Down below on the flat landing was a woman who was doing a spiritual dance and another group of women doing yoga.  I can close my eyes right now and my heart & soul is transported there.

surprise in my inbox

I got a very nice surprise in my inbox letting me know that I was a featured artist.  What an uplifting message from the Universe coming in the nick of time when I am starting to feel a little (and temporarily) deflated.

Since 2002 I have read a daily message from this same book every year, Journey to the Heart by Melody Beattie.  Here are snippets of today's message,  "You are being guided.  You are being led.   Now is the time to practice what you know.  Trust.  Let go.  Let the journey unfold."

Head on over and read the article
http://www.artpromotivate.com/2013/11/teresa-cash-mixed-media-artist.html