Friday Faves – Edition 42

Friday Faves.

They say that time waits for no one.

I see the evidence of this every day. I wonder where my hours have gone and yet I know that they’ve been full. And then, I wonder how it came to be Friday already. Then I wonder how we have arrived on December 1st. The end of 2017 looming near.

I watch as the number climbs each Friday when I type in the edition line. And I marvel at the fact that for 42 weeks, I have shown up to this day to reflect on the highlights of the week. I am in awe of those who show up to read about this glimpse into my life.

Edition 42.

So welcome to Edition 42!

Exercise.

After taking off so much time from the gym around Thanksgiving, this week made me recognize my absence.

I could feel every bit of those push-ups and plié squats from Pilates. Not to mention that my abs ached every time I laughed or coughed. I was pleased to see that my 3-mile run was still strong (strong for only having tried running for the past 3 months). It’s all relative! Yesterday, my body needed a rest from the strenuous. Instead, I took Maverick on a walk through the neighborhood. I live toward the bottom of the hill (mountain?) and the loop we took was a steep climb. That cold air gets my lungs every time, but it was good to mix it up.

Today, I headed back to Pilates.

When I stepped up my gym time, I realized I didn’t have quite enough clothes. I usually dress in neutrals, but I just loved these leggings. They make me feel happy as the winter is beginning to set in here in Virginia.

Organization.

Amongst my crazy week, I discovered that an important document had obviously been misfiled in my paperwork. I knew that it wasn’t “lost” (as in, needing to be replaced), but I spent hours digging through my files to find it. That digging led me to realize that it is once again time begin purging. Some of the files that I was digging through had no reason to be saved. They weren’t important and they brought me no joy. What they really did was suck up my time, being in the way as I searched for the document.

As I was nearing the end of my files, I came upon the small file of items I’ve saved from middle school through early college. Mostly poetry and some stories. But I also stumbled upon this drawing.

Perspective.

I only took art for one year. 8th grade. I was 12. I asked not to be placed in art because I had no natural skills and was the type of perfectionist who cared more about my grades. Somehow I still was placed in the class. And I loved it. I remember having the hardest time with this drawing. Trying to wrap my mind around how to place the ruler in order to create the perspective of distance. While there are many flaws evident in the end result, I was proud of this piece. I loved the concept of perspective. When I saw this drawing, it made me think about how I am very conscious of perspective in the composition of my photography. I don’t always properly execute my vision, but I am always considering it.

And do you know what else I found in this folder?

The document that I was seeking.

Synchronicity.

This was not the folder that it ever should have been placed in. I believe in synchronicity. Perhaps it was to find this drawing and reflect. There are also three other pieces that may have been the synchronistic moment. Or perhaps they all were meant to be found. One of which was a letter from my grandmother, dated Wed, July 29 (1998) and written at 4:30 in the morning after she had awoken from a dream about some of the issues surrounding my life at the time. They are words of deep guidance and wisdom and a treasure each time I stumble upon them and see how far my journey has come.

Perspective is an interesting thing. Sometimes things are not as we think they are. Take the next drawing for example.

Big Mr. loves to draw. I am always impressed by his skills. Sometimes I wonder if his teachers are as well since they end up with his drawings and doodles on the papers he turns in. Yes, that is a Physics sheet. However, he’s made it to his Senior year in high school without one complaint.

Art.

But about perspective…what do you see when you look at this drawing?

Likely, you see a bull’s skull with shapes and designs. Which it is. When he first showed me this drawing on his phone, I thought it was a dancer. I thought that was somewhat strange as he typically draws mountains and trees and such.

My thoughts were that it was very abstract and wondered why he made the head so small. I thought the horns were uplifted arms and circles around the jaws were indicating a twirling movement. I told him I thought it was nice, which I did (albeit not his normal style).

When the hubby came home and said he liked it (in an enthused way) I was surprised.

I was even more shocked when he told me that his best friend wanted to use it as a tattoo!

The next day when he asked if I liked that drawing of the bull… I was like “huh?” and then it clicked and all made sense.

Perspective is very important.

Today is December 1st. Today is the day that I begin my December Challenge. I can’t say that I’m too disappointed to see the end of the November Challenge, but I’ll address my thoughts on that challenge next week.

Prompts.

The prompt for today is beauty.

While it’s likely I won’t address the prompt each day, today being the first day, I thought I would. For the prompt, I chose to take photos this morning. I will probably also journal about more topics of beauty and gratitude this evening.

But for now:

Gratitude.

I am grateful for the beauty in nature.

As the fall turns to winter, I have to look harder for the beauty. Not yet the blanket of beautiful white snow, but past the vibrancy of fall colors. But if you look, it can be found.

The leaf above was on a patch of moss in my backyard. Directly in the center. The only leaf fully on the moss. The other leaves are on the hard clay surrounding this patch of moss. I was reminded of a quote that I recently read:

In a forest of a hundred thousand trees, no two leaves are alike. And no two journeys along the same path are alike. -Paolo Coelho

 

I have a penchant for trees and for the way light plays across nature as the sun begins its ascent higher into the sky. I love this group of trees in my front yard. They are all separate and yet bound together. They make me think of family. Each person having their own identity and yet a cohesion and bonding that holds it all together.

---

The song that I’ve chosen this week I was certain that I’d shared before. So certain that I had to go through my archives to check, but didn’t see it (guess I need a better note system for song sharing).  The singer is Leo Stannard out of Leicester in England.

I hope that you have a peaceful weekend and perhaps you’ll find a new way to see something. We will be heading out to find our Christmas tree and begin to create this year’s December memories.

 

Let your light shine!

Amy