Happy Friday to all…I’m off to rest and enjoy the weekend

I started thinking about the notion of taking some time out because we need it, not only because we would like to. Maybe even the yearning to do something is really the body and soul crying out for that kind of time? I guess we have to twist the words a bit and not say that we are taking time – as if taking away from something else – rather making the time. So much more positive, even if it’s just a little mind trick on yourself perhaps. It sure has a whole different connotation to it. It might only be 5 minutes, but let’s all go make time for ourselves! You can see below that sometimes I go my journal in the midst of working, when something goes awry! Afterwards I always feel better

How many logins and sign-ups do you have? I have my blogs, social media accounts, ning networks and even online shops. I feel like having them out there, even when I don’t have time to participate, really clouds up my attention. I need to purge. So I wrote up a list and evaluated why I’m a part of that community. Also, what do I get out of it for the time spent?

I realized there was a lot I could live without and a lot that I neglected anyway. Commence the delete account mission! It felt so good to just delete stuff from my “possible” responsibilities. Less obligations and a clearer mindset. I even went through digital files and deleted random downloads and junk mail – all those distractions on the sidelines. Of course, I went a bit too delete happy and messed up one of my blogs at the same time – but that actually spurred on an important housekeeping project – check out the splash page on tortagialla.com. You certainly have to be careful and delete with care, but it’s important to purge and make room for greater things every once in a while Whew! You should try it yourself…go on and delete something.

Since I grew up in Los Angeles, all these normal countryside views are new experiences to me. I love having nature all around me, the scenery brings up thoughts of happy, simple country living. Every time we drive past these hay spirals, I tell my husband how cool it would to run up to one and hug it. Take a few photos and try to roll even. Apparently he has rolled one down a giant hill before as a kid, so I guess I am trying to live out country childhood experiences now! Last night on the way to dinner, I decided to follow my fancy and go hug a ball of hay! We stopped by a field near our house and just hiked in to take a few photos.

I felt a bit silly at first, but I was also super happy to finally carry out my little adventure. Hug the hay, try to push it (too heavy) and take some photos. Instead of dismissing the whole thing as weird, I just went with it. Like when you were a kid and nothing seems bizarre to do, you don’t care – you just have fun!

It’s not like this experience has changed my life in a huge way, but fulfilling a seemingly silly notion felt great and it was fun and funny at the same time. Maybe we all need to get a bit silly at times…these little moments of life are so happy! I will have to go scrapbook my photos now because I think they are cute! This is the kind of stuff I love about living here in Italy…it’s okay to get a bit silly and just do what you want to do. Happy Friday, have a great weekend and hope get a chance to just be silly – ciao ciao!

Journalling is a great way to get things out. Or maybe you can dance it out or sing it out. Or take your rug out and beat it! LOL. Personally I’ve come to truly realize that our time here is so limited and I just don’t want to waste any second. I always have that feeling of wanting more time and feeling the urgency…the clock is ticking!

After moving to Italy, I’ve noticed how much happier and balanced I am overall. There’s still a lot to work on, but the culture of slow living has really opened up something inside of me. I see the positives even in a bad situation and I can concentrate more on the good things in life, rather than moping around about the low points. People are much more open with their emotions in this culture and no subject is taboo to talk about. It’s interesting that it wasn’t like that in Los Angeles…bizarre! Even during a really sad time, we can joke and laugh and cry together. Isn’t that wonderful? I mean, we have to deal with issues throughout all our lives, but doing it together in a healthy way and moving on to live happy lives and experience happy things…that’s la bella vita! We just have to find the joy in it all. Everyone has a sad story and I’m sure there’s always someone in a better or worse situation. Perhaps we just have to concentrate on finding the joy, all around us…get the right perspective! From little things like cold cup of iced coffee to a grand success in your career – all those lovely happy details in life, pluck them out and celebrate the joys in life. Huzzah!!!

Since the heat makes it difficult for me to stay indoors in front of the hot computer, or do anything detailed under direct lighting – also hot – I decided to go outdoors.  See all those rolls of hay in the distance – I love the sight! If it’s too hot to do certain things, there are always others things to be done that won’t be too stressful. That something for me is planning and brainstorming. I have no issues taking a notebook and pen outdoors in the shade with a cold drink. It can be relaxing as well. Maybe it’s brainstorming of ideas. Maybe it’s compulsive list-making. Maybe it’s just some moments of peace and quiet. All of that will do you good…

Here’s a photo of our black sunflower (yup, they exist!) just blossoming. I love how the yellow still shows with the sunlight shining through. Although I still have to keep my work deadlines, just a bit of shifting and a new perspective can help me make use of all my time in an efficient manner. I’ve found that planning is a good task in these moments…I just need the time to write, ponder, scratch out and rewrite ideas. When the temperatures cools down later in the day, I’ll be much faster doing whatever work I need to complete. So I think it’s a win-win use of time, you just have to rearrange it properly for yourself. I have to say this reminds me to be grateful for my open schedule, working from home and as a freelancer. The flexibility really improves the quality of my life, I think so! Hope you are staying as cool as possible, wherever you are! Ciao ciao!

It got me thinking about the Law of Attraction, that somehow our thoughts could influence actual events. Personally, I struggle with the topic because I want it to be true but at the same time think that it doesn’t make sense. I’m a worker bee type and there’s satisfaction in hard work leading to success. I know that I often feel it’s proper to do things from scratch, to earn it through toiling away, even if it wasn’t necessary. There was discussion of the Law of Attraction on the Spring Inspiration site and they also mentioned David Neagle’s Art of Success talk. I don’t know what came over me, but I suddenly thought perhaps I needed to seek guidance from an outsider.

Instead of watching TV, let’s say, should I invest a couple hours in his talks? At first it seems like it could be a bunch of hooey… and the fact that it’s all free makes me wonder if there is a marketing ploy at the end. Has anyone ever listened to his talk or perhaps similar motivational, sort of philosophical talk kind of stuff? Do you think pep talks are helpful? Perhaps the Law of Attraction simply means that we have to believe in the possibility, so that our mind is opened up to opportunities? Something like believing in  yourself?

To top it all off, Creative Thursday just posted a podcast about being a winner and success. More to think about. My mind is just swirling around these theories, thoughts and conflicts about success, winning, making it…I’ll be taking the weekend to ponder away. Have a good one yourself…

I know it’s probably been done before. These matroyshka dolls were all in trend and they were drawn, painted, collage and sewn probably a million times over. I found myself thinking that it’s been done, so I have to skip over it. But then I thought…what?! Nothing is original, right? Why should I personally miss out, just because someone else did it already. I mean, I can explore the topic myself and probably get a lot out of the experience. Let’s not rain on our own parades…don’t stop!

I would like to proclaim to the world with fisted-hand, “Oh yes I can sew leather – muhahahah!” Perhaps a bit dramatic, but it really got me thinking about breaking the rules. I don’t mean to put yourself in harm and if I break a needle and it flies into my arm I will be kicking myself, I’m sure (eek!) I mean for us to break the rules we’ve created artificially and to not follow the regulations just because it’s the norm. To go beyond expectations…that’s the only way we will grow and learn, right?

I want to thank everyone for commenting on my post yesterday – I was frustrated with a little drawing that didn’t go as planned and going along with today’s thought of breaking the rules, I realized that I created a random expectation for myself and going out of that regulated space made me feel uncomfortable. I like to draw little cute subjects and create a fantasy optimistic world of smiling little girls. Of course, that’s not the only subject that comes out of me and at times I can get angry and feel a bit down as well. There isn’t a rule or regulation about subject matter that should be directing my art…why did I insist on wanting to be the same? Break out of your own rules, I say! Funny how we box ourselves in at times…but thankfully we can also ponder ourselves out as well.