LOVE MONTH: DAY 12: “It is good to love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is well done.” ― Vincent Van Gogh
Every day I read these quotes to see what I feel like writing about. Sometimes I think I know how the piece is going to go, based on the thoughts I had when I gathered the quotes.
Other times, it is going to go where I am that day, or based on conversations with sponsees or friends. It is always a surprise to realize that once I start writing, it goes where it goes. I have very little say over that. I usually like the results. Sometimes I don’t really like what is written, but I let it be anyway.
This is an old friend, this quote. For, I have had SO many different loves in my life. Always animals…since early childhood. And reading…and sewing. I designed my own doll clothes and made them many years before I knew how to really sew. I was quite precocious with that. I figured out how to put a button on something without knowing how to thread the needle.
Then I fell in love with monkey bars at school and could spin faster than anyone around those. I also fell in love with cooking. I remember the first time I got to cook something mostly by myself. Loved it! Still do. I find that cooking is one of the most creative pursuits I have ever been into. Learning to cook new types of cuisine and foods is an ongoing love of mine.
I still sew, and have expanded that love to include quilting and many, many types of very intricate needle work. I have a beautiful quilt I began many years ago that is an astonishing piece. I don’t know if I will ever complete it, because it is a work of my lifetime. It is ongoing. I embroider and tat and crochet and do beautiful handwork.
I love to garden. That one came to me a bit later, as I learned to do something with the mud pies I used to make as a little girl. I loved flowers and trees and growing them turned into learning the intricacies of organic farming and creating beautiful garden spaces that accommodate whatever land space I have to work with. My yards are my loves too. As is my home.
Decorating is something I did when I was a very little girl. I moved my furniture around so much in my room when I was 3 or 4 that my mom finally gave in and helped me, because I always tipped over the dressers when I tried to move them myself. I have a very strong sense of energy movement, and it is the art of what we now call Feng Shui. I love to decorate spaces. I think (really!) it is the reason I have moved 77 times in this life (so far!)
I love to teach. I have done that one-on-one and in groups for many years now. It is my gift, I think. But I see all of these loves as gifts. I love to be outside, I LOVE nature, the ocean, dolphins, hummingbirds, trees, flowers, growing food, writing…omg! Can we talk about how much I love this???? I do it every day, with only a few misses, because it feeds MY spirit.
I love conversations about healing and God, Life, Truth, Recovery, any of it! And don’t even get me started on 12 steps! And I love dogs and cats and hedgehogs and pollywogs and birds of all kinds, but especially owls and hawks and eagles. Sea otters…sand…skies…rocks…I have a lot of rocks around me that I move all over the place. My home is full of them, as is my yard.
I love typing. I can type 100 wpm…and love it very much. My hands are happy when I type. I love to drive, and I love my car and I love to go new places, or old places. I love to travel. I love shoes…you all know that one. And I love little toys that wind up…have a bunch of them. I love yoga and movement and focused breathing and meditation.
I love recipes, although I seldom follow them. I get creative. I love walking and hiking and running. I love doing H+I work and hugging trees. I love art and other creative spirits. I love tea and key lime pie. I love food of all kinds. I love antiques and refinishing furniture. I love tools and all my toolboxes. I love learning how to do new things that are creative and empowering.
I love maps and plotting new courses on them. I love sailing and speed boats and canoes and kayaks and being on any body of water. Seeing dolphins and whales and all kinds of sea creatures makes me so happy. I love the sun and the moon and all that in-between stuff. I love motorcycles and riding them. I love leather and the smell of it. I love singing and music and Christmas and birthdays. I love Medicine and studying healing modalities. I love ancient lore and tradition. I love learning how to live in harmony more, every day, on this beautiful blue marble.
I love so many things. It is a great day to think about them and be grateful for all the things I have learned and loved in this life. I really love this quote, because I get to see that my many, many loves are teaching me to become a bigger person every day. How about you?
Dolphin Hug 