I am putting together a small album I can carry with me where ever I go to remind me to keep living forward. I am including comments and anything that will remind   me as I go on my way that life is for living. The first two pages are pictured here. No big surprise a peony and a gentle reminder to never give up.

      Finding a new way to paint this week has involved moving from my beloved easel to a table. It was like saying goodbye to  a dear friend. I love my easel . It is the "Bridge of my Startrek Enterprise".
But it was causing too much pain to reach so.........
I moved it  to the side and made adjustments.
These adjustments will include painting less, working in shorter periods and stretching often. I will be reunited with my easel soon.

What I have learned so far:
      Adjustments have to be made. But they do not have to be black or white. Stay in the middle ground where all things are possible if you let go of the way you have always done things. Be flexible and keep your goals within reach and never , never ever give up.

Other adjustments include
1. Yoga
2. A roll pillow
3. Heat wrap on the neck
4.Deep breathing
5. Not allowing any room for negative thoughts. They are not allowed. When they appear they are sent back to their home like naughty children. Be gone!

Spoiler Alert. This year all my people are receiving cookies from Junes Bake Shop . You can see more of her work here
She is truly an  artist. I found her through my artist friend Kara Bigda who can be found here.

What I have learned so far:
When people are working at something they love and giving it their best efforts it is something to applaud and share with others.

I have started a series of paintings of food. The inspiration for this came from Michelle Green who has a website called the biz of baking which you can check out here.

Michelle has a great book about how to run your small business . She talks "cake" but her strategies apply to any small business endeavor.
In September of this year I signed up for Michelle's 30 days of awesome. Each day for a month Michelle sends you a task to do or think about . I did it and my friends commented on my physcial change. They said I seemed transformed in a positive way. I could feel this happening  too.
The best part is after the 30 days are over you can recycle and start the whole process over again. It has evolved into a way of thinking and living that is helping me be more positive on a daily basis.

What I have learned so far:

Just because your business is painting doesn't mean you can't learn from a completely different vocation. Stay open and search for teachers who speak your language . In this case the language is buttercream and frosting translated into tubes of paint and watercolor paper.

As Grouch Marx once sang....Hello I must be going . Google it . The song is hilarious.
But how will you know where to go and what to do in 2017 ?
If you purchase the Jo Mackenzie Watercolor wall calendar you will know for sure who you are and where you need to be.
That's a promise. To purchase yours click here

What I have learned so far:

Writing everything down is the way to help memory. Visual memory is stronger for some of us so seeing the month at a glance and being able to write down important numbers or contact information can keep you from  feeling of being overwhelmed on a daily basis.