shame-free zone…

Even after all these decades of living, I’m still learning about shame. About the power it can have over us. About how it can get tangled up with guilt, and embarrassment, and how we might not even recognize that what we’re truly feeling is shame.

But one thing I know is this: shame can be destructive and devastating.

When I started to realize how, far too often, I felt shame (even when I thought I was feeling embarrassment or guilt instead), I started to become more intentional and deliberate about being on the lookout for shame – and not giving it a foothold.

As a reminder to myself and others, I took a photo of a small part of one of my much-larger canvases where I play with acrylic paint, and I made a shame-free zone printable.

It’s yours if you’d like to print it out. As with the other printables on the blog (you can find those here – be sure to go back to the “older posts” to see them all) there’s no charge, nothing to sign up for, no strings attached. Just download and print as you wish. The file is in .pdf format, which you can resize to suit your needs.

The link to get it is here.

Or just click on the printable’s photo below to get the file.

Treat yourself – and others – with kindness and gentleness and grace… not shame.

 

breathing a moment of joy and peace…

A few days ago, a weekend morning, I spent time with my husband at a small park we like to visit.

The sky was a somewhat hazy blue, and a gentle breeze kept us company.

We walked two times around the not-very-long path, with me being able to walk without holding onto to anything – not my husband’s hand, not a walking stick. (Walking unassisted while out ‘n about has been a challenge the past few years.)

Then I took a seat on one of the benches as my husband made another round on the walking path.

I took a few photos while sitting there. The above picture is one of them. Sunlight through branches and green leaves, the rolling hills in the distance.

I felt relaxed. At ease. At peace.

I felt joy.

And I breathed it in.

 

the distance is nothing {freebie}…

This freebie downloadable/printable is a Jane Austen quote that hits me every time I read it:

The distance is nothing when one has a motive.

As with the other printables here on the blog, there’s no charge and nothing to sign up for – just download and print as you wish.

The files include one pdf file (you can set the size when you print), as well as jpg files for sizes 4×6, 5×7, and 8×10. These are high quality, 300dpi, suitable for printing to frame, or put on a bulletin board, or use in an art journal – or just have somewhere as an inspirational piece, a reminder, a motivator, an encouragement: The distance is nothing when one has a motive.

Get the pdf file here.

The 4×6 jpg file is here.

The 5×7 jpg file is here.

The 8×10 jpg file is here.

More freebies are on the way, so please check back or follow the blog (you can do that here) so you won’t miss them . Or (this is a new option here!) subscribe to receive blog posts in your email inbox – this link will get you to place to sign up.