Sunset over Lake Ontario, Rochester, NY – August, 2019
Cherish the Moments.
As the sun sets
and closes another day,
collect moments
to cherish as memories
on this page…
in this chapter.
For this time…
in this season.
For every day may not be good,
but there is something good in every day.
Find it.
Hold on to it.
Cherish the moments.
Treasure the memories.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
View from our window Sunday morning at one of our favorite “retreats” – Conneaut Lake, PA June 2019
Open.
Open your eyes
to the beauty of a new day.
Open your ears
to the music of nature.
Open your mind
to others’ ideas and beliefs.
Open your hands
to offer support and kindness.
Open your heart
to love and be loved.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
The Only Way.
The only way to fully embrace
Your life…
The only way to move forward
and see the beauty all around You…
is to have the strength
and the courage
and the wisdom
and the love for yourself
to let go of the things
and the people
you cannot
change
even when it goes against
what you think is “right.”
Let go of the guilt.
Let go of the burden.
Own your truth.
Own your dignity.
Own your worth.
When you do,
you will find peace.
You will discover You.
It’s the only way.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
“Anticipation” Cliffs of Moher, Ireland Watercolor Painting by Jodi McKinney 11×14
Anticipation.
As we walked the path
and climbed the hill
anticipating what might await us
from the top,
nothing could have prepared us
for the beauty.
I lagged behind a bit
letting hubby get a head start
anticipating the joy
I knew would show on his face.
I snapped a photo,
but wanted to paint the “feeling.”
I struggle with painting landscapes
so I was excited to happen upon a YouTube video by Angela Fehr
introducing an online course called,
“Heart-Led” Landscapes.
It was exactly what I was looking for,
and I love the freedom it has given me to try a new approach.
This was my first attempt at a
“Heart-Led” Landscape.
It is not meant to be an exact duplicate
of the photo.
It is meant to reveal my heart and emotions
when I look at the photo.
Not knowing where my heart would lead,
this painting speaks “Anticipation” to me.
Can’t wait to do more!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Fuschia, Mars, PA – June, 2019
This is your Time.
It is your life,
your decade,
your year,
your month.
It is your week,
your day,
your hour,
your moment.
Unfurl your beauty,
stretch your limits,
reach for greatness,
Blossom and bloom boldy!
This is your time.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Only One You.
There is
only one
YOU
out there.
One
in
8 billion
is
pretty
special!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
A little more inspiration from HEAL. Have you watched it yet?!
Healing.
Healing
begins
with
gratitude,
compassion,
and
love.
At the urging of one of my besties, I watched a Netflix documentary called “HEAL.” HEAL takes us on a scientific and spiritual journey where we discover that our thoughts, beliefs, and emotions have a huge impact on our health and ability to heal. The latest science reveals that we are not victims of unchangeable genes, nor should we buy into a scary prognosis. The fact is we have more control over our health and life than we have been taught to believe. This film will empower you with a new understanding of the miraculous nature of the human body and the extraordinary healer within us all. HEAL not only taps into the brilliant mind’s of leading scientists and spiritual teachers, but follows three people on actual high stakes healing journeys.
I was highly and very personally impacted by this film on many levels – emotional, physical, and spiritual. I thought of friends struggling with cancer and chronic disease and the various issues I live with. I thought of my childhood and how parental relationships have affected my life. I thought about the power of prayer and my spiritual beliefs. I will be thinking about this for a while, and I am so glad I watched it.
Have any of you seen it? Would love to hear your thoughts.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Abundance.
Abundance to some
is about wealth and possessions.
A truly abundant life
is about love and joy and peace and contentment.
It is about knowing
We are enough.
We have enough.
We do enough.
It is about cherishing the moments
that ultimately add up to an abundant life.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Comfort.
Sometimes we need
to be comforted.
Sometimes we need
to give comfort.
Both are
equally important.
We need to be both
a giver and a receiver
of Comfort.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
The Happiest Happy of All
I know we live in a world
that says do what makes you happy,
and I get that…
But the happiness you get
from making someone else happy
might just be the happiest happy of all.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
P.S. This photo is a section of a 3-foot tall piece of art I created for a special young lady who has a few of my other abstract pieces in her home and asked me to make another to complement them. I can’t wait to give it to her and then see how it looks in her home. I sure hope it makes her as happy as it made me creating it for her.
the creative life in between 