Paint Party Friday and life's curve balls

This morning, as i went out for a little drive

(and picked up a coffee at the same time!)

i was thinking about what my life was like a few years ago

and how different it is today.

Based on all the cheerful, sparkly, yellow paintings

you've seen here on my blog,

some may think i live in la-la land.

That my life is always beautiful and peaceful

and pretty.

Well... it's not.

I face the same issues many of you face

on a daily basis

I just make a conscious choice

to focus on the good things.

I think this is the key to a happy life.

It may sound like denial to some

but it keeps me sane

so it's all good to me. :-)

In the past few years,

I've lost a job,

my mother was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer,

my father had a serious heart attack,

good friends of ours lived through the painful experience

of seeing their son paralyzed in a car accident

and a dear friend of mine left this planet

way too soon,

leaving 2 beautiful young boys

who miss her deeply.

It's not what happens that matters,

it's how we look at it.

Each of these experiences

forced me to face

the important questions

and as cliché as it sounds

made me a stronger person.

My issues are minor

compared to the issues of so many others

and yet

i allow myself the space to grieve when it is time.

 I do this mostly through art and writing

as many of you must do as well.

So there is truth for me in the words:

Art saves

And there is still so much goodness

in the world...

my son's smile,

a good book,

conversation with a friend,

a walk on the beach,

morning coffee,

...and the chance to win a new car!

:-)

Try to notice the good things

in your day today.

...and don't lose sight of them,

regardless of the chaos around you.

xoxo