I have a story for you today.
I just returned from an incredible trip in New Mexico, and I’m inspired to share a post I made yesterday on social media because it seems to have struck a chord with lots of people.
If you’ve painted with me, you’ve probably heard me say: Remember to work with what’s already working.
What I’m sharing today is also a story about choosing to focus on what you have vs focusing on what you perceive to be lacking. Only this time it’s about life.
And yes, Earthships and convertible Mustangs are involved 🙂 I hope you find it helpful!
xo flora
A couple of months ago, I was talking to one of my dearest and oldest friends, Tara Morris, about the specific, often tender trifecta of not having a partner, not having kids, and not having (well and/or living) parents… all in the context of being in our mid-forties.
It wasn’t a conversation of complaints, but more of reflection and camaraderie. The truth is, I just don’t know many people who are in this particular boat right now, so it’s super comforting to have a friend who really gets it.
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As we talked, cried, and acknowledged the myriad of feelings associated with our current “untethered” life circumstances, the conversation eventually led us to focus on what we DO have. And what we came up with was… FREEDOM.
Before we were off the phone, Tara (in all her spontaneous glory) had booked us a convertible Mustang and a groovy Earthship outside of Taos, New Mexico.
Our “celebrating freedom tour” was ON.
I just returned from said tour, and WOW. There are so many moments I’ll never forget…
Cruising through the desert with the top down, blasting our favorite songs, soaking in magical hot springs, meeting amazing characters at every turn, marveling nonstop at our Earthship, laughing until we cried, and letting the desert colors and stars take our breath away.
For us it was a trip about freedom, but really it was a trip about celebrating what we HAVE vs focusing on what we don’t have… and, really, we have so much.
The “grass is always greener” thing is so real and can be so tempting, but “working with what’s working” (as I often say in my painting classes) is definitely more FUN.
As Tara said this week, there is no bucket, there is just now. ✨
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