how can abandonment teach us?

Abandoned. It has bad connotations at the start, doesn't it? I can say, I
have felt those feelings of being abandoned in a bad way over and over again. Sometimes those feelings were warranted, sometimes they weren't. Either way,

I learned something.
I've learned something.
I am learning.
More and more.

I've come to believe that abandoned is good too. Like abandoning my idea of what an outcome should be on the canvas, or off, in real life, too.

Holding too tightly to an outcome can turn into something that resembles trying to control the situation or person. This translates in to chaos. Destruction. Lack of peace.

Detachment, or abandonment of control in things and people brings the most personal peace. Something I've been working very hard on lately.

Realizing that I need to even abandon how I think about certain things. That's right, abandon or detach from worrisome thoughts or depressing thoughts.

To detach from my own troubling emotions. The opinions, thoughts, behaviors of those around me. To view everyone in my life as a teacher.

Karen Casey, in her book, letting go now, suggests that we look at each person in our lives as a teacher. And, that we are in essence either in the role of student or teacher in our lives.

To me, that brings peace and simplicity. In each situation I can be a student and learn, or I can be an example of peace. The choice is mine.

thanks for stopping by,

Anne

Linking up today with other brave writers at Kate Motaung's blog for Five Minute Friday (a little late!) Come on over to see how to join in and see what others have written on the prompt "abandon".

Welcoming myself to create

Welcome to my new blog! It's the dreaded first blog post. You know, the one that most people will not read because it's new and well, they may not even find it. The template will definitely be changing, but I wanted to start anyway. Otherwise, I might never start!

All things start small and unknown and that's just the way it is, right? Small and unknown doesn't take away the urgency of the ideas and words that I wish to convey. 

I've started to come into my own in the art world. Still struggling to call myself an artist, but after looking through my Instagram feed, and seeing that my top nine posts of 2016 were my art, I think I'm beginning to be able to call myself an artist.

With this blog I want to show you my art and the ideas behind why I created it. My passion is to explore emotional connection through my art. A connection that will resonate with you, and make a connection in your souls. That's you dear readers and friends! 

Some favorite themes are wholeheartedness, grace, worthiness and beauty. I gravitate toward mixed media, with favorite mediums being acrylic paints with collage papers, oil pastels, water soluble oil pastels and watercolor.  If the collage papers include vintage book pages or wallpaper then all the better!

However, I am constantly on the prowl for new techniques and mediums, so you never know what you'll find here!

I've discovered something in the past two years since I took my first Kelly Rae Roberts art class online. Art indeed does heal. It heals past hurts. It heals self misconceptions and also permits new ways of seeing ourselves that we may have not seen before. 

Starting that online class opened my soul in a way that nothing else had before. The first time Kelly Rae had us get our hands in the paint and just put "colors that delight you" onto the canvas, tears streamed down my face. 

I kid you not, I was bawling like a child. 

I think it's because my inner critic has been so loud in my life, that it kept me from creating anything that didn't pass as "perfect". 

Haha. Who am I kidding? I am anything but perfect, so my attempts at art have been anything but perfect. 

But, getting my hands in the paint that day broke open something new in me. It gave me permission to make ugly art, just so long as I was enjoying myself in the process. What???

PERMISSION!

Oh, the permission I've needed my whole life. And, I was finally giving it to myself, my creative self, to create without expectation of outcome. Without the need to be perfect. To create for the sheer joy of creating!

What a new concept for me. 

So, welcome! Look in the days to come, for posts of my art. How to purchase (coming soon!) and some of my highs and lows in beginning to create.

Until I get buttons added to my blog, please visit me at @anneartandsoul on Instagram and @AnneLandhuis on Twitter.

Blessings to you, friends,

Anne