Time to rally behind art by drawing a heart

And, just like that, we are off to support a local artist who has been spreading joy throughout the land.   My journey started during the month of February, when I wanted to create a vehicle to honor the positive actions of my kids and spouse within the confines of our home.   #OperationFebruary began, where we would write on heart-shaped paper, and put it in the respective member's envelope to read.

#OperationFebruary quickly moved out into the community.  It just had to, because we all can use a little more love in our lives, can't we?

This Valentine's Day, some members of our local beach community will be honoring an artist that has been creating chalk drawings along the cement sidewalk (AKA "Strand").  For the last couple of months, there's been an individual who doesn't approve of these drawings and washes them away.

Rather than give attention to the removal of art, the idea has been to celebrate the chalk artist, whose only intention has been to inspire.

Please read below what was posted on Mindful Beginnings® fan page on FaceBook, and see if you can join us!

Have you noticed all the joy that #Funism brings, via the chalk art expressions all around our beach community? "You are on the path to greatness" as you walk up the staircase where Hermosa meets Manhattan along the strand, "Not all who wander are lost" on the strand wall, or "Hug Your People" are just some of the visual play on words you may have witnessed.  

In celebration of Valentine's Day and the artist behind #Funism, I am declaring #OperationFebruary, where we continue to honor the love in our lives, and spread it even more. Funism could use more love and recognition.

Here's how we can help:

On 2/14/14, #OperationFebruary asks for you to grab your own piece of chalk. Walk, run, jog or skip down to the strand wall anywhere in Hermosa Beach, and bring your creativity.

Draw a heart on the wall, draw a heart on the strand sidewalk. Pinks, purples, blues. Yellows, reds and oranges. Pick your color. When you feel complete with your art, you can also add: #Funism or #OperationFebruary.
Do so any time of the day this 2/14/14.

Let's meet in a more formal way, with Funism supporters performing their own group operation. 22nd Street and The Strand in Hermosa at 10:30 a.m. Bring your chalk. Bring your smiles. Bring your gratitude for a kind of art that is temporary and fleeting, and the kind that saves lives when it lifts those who suffer from stress and despair. #chalkcanthurt 

If you can't make the 10:30 a.m. time, simply go down on your own at any point during the day!

See you soon!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!! 

"For sale" is the only sign we need

I once was with a group of women.  We were all sitting on the comfy couch of a friend, in her lovely home.  It really was a lovely home.  The sky painted blue through the window.  The wind blew enough that in the pauses between our words spoken, we could hear the tree's branches, as they danced to their own rhythm.   We were sipping tea, contemplating how one knows if she is journeying along the right path, and if there are signs to illuminate or validate the decisions she makes.

One woman shared her process of buying the home she currently lives in; the home we were all in, asking these questions from that same comfy couch. Feeling inundated, this friend wasn't sure if this home was the right one to purchase.

"Give me a sign," she kept saying, as she scrutinized whether to bum it an offer.  This woman wanted some kind of indication that she was on the right path.  She wanted to be jolted out of bed while sleeping, with the hand of God slapping in the face, while hearing the words, "Yes, this is your sign.  Go buy that house."  

No hand of God came.

No messages in her dreams.

Nothing.

This woman felt a surge of anxiety to the point where she wasn't moving forward with her decision to purchase this home.  Days past, and a wonderfully wise friend offered words she'd never forget.
This friend said, "You want a sign?  I'll give you a sign. The sign you are looking for is literally in front of you."  Her wise friend shared that the wooden, 'For Sale' sign pitched right in the front yard was the only "sign" needed.  The "For Sale" sign was the bridge for a new owner to make an offer, and await for its acceptance.

Huge sighs of relief came over my friend.  She was waiting for the lightning bolt, but finally realized that life doesn't always offer them.  She needn't look so hard, try so hard or be so hard in all aspects of her life.  The "For Sale" sign was enough for her to submit her offer, which then led to her ultimate home purchase.

What path do we take?  What job do we ponder?  To whom do we sit with next to sip herbal tea?

Sometimes the answers are right in front of us, and if we are looking too hard, we may simply miss them.

What "For Sale" sign have you been missing in your life?

I'd love to hear!

She thought she could so she did

"She believed she could, so she did."


Who's ready to fly?  We all can, especially if we believe we can.  January is a time to take stock and believe in ourselves.  It's a time to believe that we can, just like the little train that could.

My hope for you in this new year is that you stretch yourself, literally and figuratively.  Be kind to yourself.  Be kind to those around you.  Go for a walk when your body tells you running is too much. Sip some tea and sense how the steam feels as it enters your mouth and you begin to swallow the savory, blended herbal concoction.  Say please.  Say thank you.  Say no thank you, because you know it will hurt those around you if you do offer a note of thanks.

Laugh.  Cry.  Take out a piece of paper and doodle.  Doodle some more.  Doodle until you believe that doodle can turn into a piece of art to be hung on your bathroom mirror.  Hang it up so that it represents the life inside you that's screaming to come out and have a chance to introduce itself to the world.

Fall.  Get up and start over, and then start over again.  Write down your dreams.  Put shaving creme on the kitchen floor and "skate" barefoot.  Fill your bathtub with water and color the water with food coloring.  Put floating candles and create your own oasis of crazy.

Take chances.

Take risks.

I've done all of the above activities and I can honestly say I'm the better for it.  They may feel like they hurt, but the secret is -none of them do.

Happy New Year to all, and to all a good day.... a good night.... and a good flight!

See you in the sky!

Lisa