Seek Joy

This is perhaps my favorite little painting I've put up this month.  Do you ever feel like everything about  the buraucracy of education is trying to suck the joy right out of teaching and learning?  I feel that way almost every single day.

It just means we have to work harder to seek joy for ourselves and our students.  We must be more cleaver in the ways we teach children to seek joy.

I'm hoping soon to get back to sharing some of what has been happening in my classroom this year.  For now, I hope these other bits of art might lift your spirit and invite you to seek joy!

I'm in the midst of sharing a series of little paintings I've created.  I've titled the series "February Defrost."  I'm trying to get my creativity flowing and inspire folks just like you while I'm at it.  All of the original pieces are for sale in my etsy shop.  Please share with anyone you think may be interested. 

Reflect

Reflect on all the positive stuff you have done and are doing, and it will overshadow your doubts!

Becoming

Are you becoming exactly who you are meant to be?

Are you helping your students become exactly who they are meant to be?

I'm in the midst of sharing a series of little paintings I've created.  I've titled the series "February Defrost."  I'm trying to get my creativity flowing and inspire folks just like you while I'm at it.  All of the original pieces are for sale in my etsy shop.  Please share with anyone you think may be interested. 

Will It Still Snow In Summer?

So Sam just asked me if it would still be snowing in summer!  I'm starting to wonder about this myself!

Today I'm posting a little painting that just screams, "Think Spring!"

This one is Bloom 2

 I'm in the midst of sharing a series of little paintings I've created.  I've titled the series "February Defrost."  I'm trying to get my creativity flowing and inspire folks just like you while I'm at it.  All of the original pieces are for sale in my etsy shop.  Please share with anyone you think may be interested. 

So what are you doing to keep your spirits up and hopeful at this bleak time of year?

Courage To Fly

I think it takes sooooo much courage to take flight as a teacher these days--so many rules and laws and musts and shouldn'ts.  So this is a challenge for you, amazing teacher!!  What are you going to do this week that will take some courage and feel like you're taking flight?  Think something amazing for your students, coworkers, yourself or your family.

On your mark.
Get set
Go!

{I'd love to know what you do.  Please leave a comment or email me!}

I'm in the midst of sharing a series of little paintings I've created.  I've titled the series "February Defrost."  I'm trying to get my creativity flowing and inspire folks just like you while I'm at it.  All of the original pieces are for sale in my etsy shop.  Please share with anyone you think may be interested. 

Peace

I'm in the midst of sharing a series of little paintings I've created.  I've titled the series "February Defrost."  I'm trying to get my creativity flowing and inspire folks just like you while I'm at it.  All of the original pieces are for sale in my etsy shop.  Please share with anyone you think may be interested. 

February Defrost Update

Here are the latest paintings in my little online show I'm running all month. . .

Love the quote I shared on the Brave Teachers website to go with "Fully Alive"

Little quote for this one, too.

Read some of my thoughts here

This little one is a great reminder to  me about the imperfection of love

I'm hoping you feel love--with all the imperfection and messiness that entails.  

I'm in the midst of sharing a series of little paintings I've created.  I've titled the series "February Defrost."  I'm trying to get my creativity flowing and inspire folks just like you while I'm at it.  All of the original pieces are for sale in my etsy shop.  Please share with anyone you think may be interested. 

Simplify

I already have big plans for my summer.! I'm going to start out my summer by simplifying the amount of stuff that exists in my life.  {You know I must have a really good friend if she has already said she will do this with me!}

It takes conscious choice and intentional action to simplify anything in our lives.

I do believe the rewards are amazing.

You can see more of this super simple little painting at my estsy shop.

Change

Change is so easy to talk about.  It's so simple, really.  It's so difficult to actually do.

I've lived long enough to realize there is only one person I can change.

I am my own full time change project.

Why are we so afraid of change?  Or am I the only one?

You can check out my little painting "Change" at my etsy shop

What is changing with you today?

Bliss

What is bliss?
For me it's a state of complete and total contentment while I am total present in my life.

{Do I need to add that I don't spend much time there?!}

But I have experienced it enough that I know it's something a desire to return to.

You can check out this little piece of "Bliss" at my esty shop

What does bliss mean to you?

Bloom and Think Spring

So I don't always have internet access, but I will catch up on the number of posts when I get back to it.

Today's February Defrost painting is titled "Bloom."

I love the texture you can see of the paint on the canvas in the closeup!  This was one of the first mini canvases I painted during the summer of 2013, but this seems like a perfect time to share it with a bigger audience.

See more photos and details at my etsy shop.

I don't feel like I'm blooming, but I do feel like I'm germinating lots of rich deep goodness.
Are you blooming or germinating today or just in a state of dormancy?

Today's piece of joy

Would you like a little piece of joy?

Over at my website I said it's always a good day for joy!  Read it here

Check out my "Joy" mini canvas at etsy

Blessed

What makes you feel blessed?

Transformation

Here is the February Defrost painting for today

You can see more pictures or purchase it HERE.

This is a season of transformation for myself and my little family.  It feels pretty messy if I'm honest.  

Part of what is giving me lots of anxiety these days is the whole teacher accountability piece of education.  The whole thing just feels like a spiritual sucker punch to me.  

And then I sent my son to a Waldorf school, and I was blown away by the contrast between what he is receiving in PK and my students receive in 4th grade.  His day is not filled with bells and whistles, but teaching and learning in a beautifully human and ordinary way.  I'm struck by the fact that he is expected to have a higher level of personal responsibility than we expect from 9 - 10 year old.  

It's started to sink into the core of my being.  There is an in insurmountable chasm between teacher accountability and student responsibility.  Will politicians ever figure this out?  Probably not because there is not lots of money to be had when we just do good old fashioned learning and teach kids to be responsible members of a democratic society.  I think that would be transformational education

Dream

What are you dreaming about today?

A career move?
Warmer weather?
Better health?

Whatever it is, dreaming is a healthy and important part of living a full life.

If you're a dreamer (or wish you were) HERE is a blessing for you today.

Today for February Defrost I've posted a little painting titled "Dream" at my etsy shop HERE.

Whatever you may be experiencing today, KEEP DREAMING!

February Defrost

I feel like I've been silent for so long, but life has continued to hurry along.  There have been many changes in family and schedules, school, and what not.

One thing has not changed--February always feels like winter may never end!  This seems especially true this year.  So I've decided to have a little fun with some of my little paintings.

I am making one original mini canvas available at my etsy shop each day this month.

Today you will find "Be The Change."  Enjoy!

What are you doing to chase the cold desolation of winter away from your spirit?