A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of participating in a Pointed Pen workshop with Jim Fedor at Hallmark and I loved this quote he shared with us. I have been practicing, and one of my goals for the new year is to really spend some time on pointed pen. Be on the lookout for a post about my progress, I know even sharing this will help keep me accountable. Have a happy Friday!
The Power of Now
Currently, I am almost 75% of the way through The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle. It has been awhile since I shared a book here on the blog, but when I found myself once again constantly making notes as I read I knew I had to document a few takeaways.
This book is only new to me, having originally been published in 1997. One of my favorite podcasters, Jess Lively, recently had an episode recapping her experience attending a retreat with Eckhart. After listening I knew that I needed to dive into his books to fully appreciate her experience. Immediately after starting I realized that this book might take some time to fully process, and may be one I could gain even more from reading again sometime in the future. Tolle focuses on the importance of misidentifying with your mind, and constant thinking, in order to experience enlightenment. The key step in this process is fully embracing the present moment, whatever it may bring. He believes that:
“Thinking is only a small aspect of consciousness. Thought cannot exist without consciousness, but consciousness does not need thought... All true artists, whether they know it or not, create from a place of no-mind, from inner stillness.”
From there the book begins to unpack this key concept, and keeps returning to the idea of narrowing your life down to this moment. While I am not quite finished reading, I have already gained so much and found many connections to the guided meditations I have tried through Headspace. I'm excited to see what new insights I will have upon finishing the book, I may even have to extend this post! For now, consider reading The Power of Now if these concepts pique your interest, and if you have any book recommendations for me please don't hesitate to share!
Favorite Christmas Inspiration
Patagonia Packing List
Hello, friends! In just a few short weeks I will be jetting off to South America with my family. We have never taken a post-Christmas trip before — let alone to Chile! Here a few items I will be backing for the Patagonia portion of our stay. I'm not quite prepared for what the weather and circumstances will be like, but I can't wait! Be on the lookout for lots of travel photos come January. I've already been wearing my new Patagonia around town and it is much warmer than it appears! I also have been trying to break in the Kodiak boots. Their quality is beautiful in person, I'm happy that they will serve me well outside of my travels, too. Are any of you headed on post holiday travels?
Diptychs 10
Southern Weddings V9: Chapel Charm
I'm so thrilled to finally be able to share details of my contribution to Southern Weddings Magazine V9! I created lettering and paper goods design for their "Chapel Charm" feature, and I absolutely love how the shoot turned out. Head over to my portfolio to view the entire story and to see who all contributed to this lovely article. Take a look at Southern Wedding's blog post about the feature here, and behind he scenes photos here. I hope you love it just as much as I do!
