Sedona-a big part of my storyboard

I'm taking an on-line class by Jeanne Oliver titled:  Reflections: Paint Your Story - An Art Journaling Workshop.  It is a self-discovery journey.

One of the early assignments is to create a storyboard.  It's about gathering all kinds of stuff (photos, images, quotes) things that you love or things that will help tell your story.   From the past, present, and future.

I started my storyboard with a photo of me sitting at the top of Cathedral Rock in Sedona, AZ.  John was honoring me some quite time to sit and meditate.  (Thank You, John)  Sedona has a very special place in my heart.

It's interesting...  I have come to realize that I have not really given myself permission to dream.  I mean, I know there are things that I want in my life but dreaming and dreaming big I just haven't done it.  Maybe it has to do with my  past and living in "a lack of" atmosphere for the majority of my life.  Yet the truth is, it is vitally important to dream.  DREAM, DREAM BIG and not be concerned with how those dreams will become realized.  JUST DREAM!

Living in Sedona, Arizona would be one of my dreams.  (There I said it out loud!) I  am imagining  my art studio being spacious with enough space to create and teach classes.  It would have french doors opening up to a porch facing the beautiful red rocks where I often spend my time simply being.  John and I would spend our morning hours climbing the rocks, looking out to the beautiful land.  I would be filled with inspiration.  Oh my!  I'm excited now!

Here is the beginning of my storyboard.  As I said earlier, I have just begun.  I'll show the rest of it when I'm done.
 I am discovering I love creating using muted colors.  I enjoy working with different materials, my favorite right now if joint compound.  I love lace and dollies.  Even incorporating them into my art.   The family portrait is me and my sisters & brothers.  This marks a time in my life when I wasn't a happy kid, which was the case for most of my childhood, yet when I look at my face a little closer I see the glimmer in my eyes.  I was very introverted which in hindsight I see that it served it's purpose as a form of self protection.  Ms. Linke was the Principle of our school and, also, my 1st grade teacher.  She saw something in me and rescued me from what could have been a horrible life.  Because I was so introverted I had a difficult time talking.  She put together of team that worked with me.  I , very slowly, came out of that shell.

This is getting rather deep.  Isn't it?  I'm sharing info because this blog is about sharing my creative journey.  This happens to be part of that.  Stay with me.  The best is yet to come.

Sedona calls to me

John and I recently returned from our annual Sedona, AZ trip.  What a place!  We love it there!!!  So much to see and many trails to take and to feast your eyes on Sedona's beauty.  John is always commenting on when you look at the red rocks and walk even a short distance away you can see something different.  

Every morning we put on our hiking boots, walking sticks in our hands, and we are off for an adventure.  My daughter still has a hard time believing I actually do hike and climb as much as I do.  There's something about Sedona that brings it out of me.  The first morning out was a chilly one.  Our choices were to climb in the shade, Doe Mountain, or in the sun, Bear Mountain.   Because it was so chilly I opted to climb in the sun. (in hindsight I should have thought about it just a little bit more.)  Doe Mt. vs. Bear Mt.-you can guess where this is headed.  Can't you?  We are walking and climbing, walking and climbing.  I looked up and thought "this isn't going to be too hard".  Boy was I ever kidding myself.  What I was looking at was a small hill.  There was a wee part of me that wanted to talk John into turning around.  I had to turn off the chatter in my head so I started to see this hike as a metaphor of life -  just keep putting one foot in front of the other, stop and take a breath if needed but just keep going.  In this photo we are not even half way up to the top .  Little did I know that getting to the top was a very steep incline.  But butt and my legs were burning by the time I got to the top!  

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL VIEW IT WAS FROM THE TOP.  We were so high up that we were actually in some clouds.   We later learned that Bear Mountain s 1,800' up and is considered one of the most strenuous hikes.  It took us 3 hrs. to get up there and 1 hr.  45min. to come down.  

Bear Mountain will forever remind not to look at how difficult something can be just break it down into manageable pieces and get on with it.  The view will be worth it from the other side.  After that hike we went straight to the hot tub!  

The next day we climbed Devil's Bridge which was very beautiful, too.  It was like one big photo shoot. Everyone up there took turns walking out onto this narrow rock formation that resembled a bridge.  And whoever was on the other side would take the picture.  We met people from all over. 

My ultra favorite spot is Bell Rock.  We usually save this until the end of our trip because it is so special to me.  I climb  about two thirds of the way up  to sit on"my" rock and meditate.  John continues up further while I just sit in silence.  Oh what a peaceful feeling, I can't even explain it.  Down below on the flat landing was a woman who was doing a spiritual dance and another group of women doing yoga.  I can close my eyes right now and my heart & soul is transported there.

Our trip to Sedona

John & I just returned from another wonderful time in Sedona, AZ.  There are so many things I love about Sedona.   The scenery is breathtaking!  I'm more at peace when I am there.  It is one of my goals to own a home there with a studio overlooking the red rocks.   One day it will come true!  In the meantime, I continue to enjoy our annual trip.  I lived in Arizona for approx 1.5 years and in that time I became more in touch with my spiritual side.  That may be why it  feels "right" to me. 

Each day in Sedona John & I we would rise early and hike, often times we would be climbing the red rocks.  One day we started on this path called Lizard Head Trail, it was not a well known trail to the tourists, it was one the locals would do. We were thinking it was going to be on low land.  Well it wasn't, it was quite high up.  It was probably one of the most strenuous hikes we had done.  I was getting sorta scared at what was ahead until we met Brian.  He was a local guy sitting at the top of a boulder.  We stopped him to gather some info on where we were and where this trail was headed.  John got the fine details from him but I believe I got a greater message.  He said to let the mountain teach me.  I was not longer concerned, I was more focus on learning the lessons. 

Here are a few the things I discovered.
*I can do alot more than I give myself credit for

*When a can't do attitude creeps in realize I have a choice and it begins with the good attitude
*There are many paths to take, just know where I am going and choose the right path
*Enjoy every step of the journey
*I have John's support
*Celebrate your victories
*HAVE FUN!

I was, also, very fortunate to meet up with a long time friend that I haven't seen in about 16-17 years, Jeanne and her husband Steve.  Jeanne and I worked together for several years at a doctors' office.  She has a contagious laugh and I loved hearing and seeing her laugh again.  I remember there was a time that at lunchtime would buy carnations and go downtown and randomly give them to people and wish them a Happy Day.  That fell in line with the random acts of kindness.  Now that our husbands have met, I sure hope we see reach other again.


The last part of what Brian said the day on the mountain was to have fun.  So I pushed myself out of my comfort zone.

I had fun!