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photos by w. holcombe
Some of the best teachers of mindfulness and ‘being in the moment’ are animals.
– Richard J. Brewer
I love you Daddy. December 23, 1932 – June 30, 2016
I’ve decided to do something a little different. Every Monday I’m going to try to share a mindfulness quote along with a photo, drawing or other creation of mine. I hope you enjoy. If you’d like to join me in posting on Mindfulness Mondays, I’ll be happy to link to your blog so others can view your Mindful Quote and feel inspired.
“Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don’t even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child – our own two eyes. All is a miracle”
This photo symbolizes what I need to do…
STOP.
Stop and listen to what my body says.
Stop and look, really look at everything.
Stop and smell, and see, and taste…
Stop and breathe.
Remember to STOP and be mindful.
this was part of the Chronic Pain and Illness Photo Project 2016
The theme for today was Mindfulness.
This is the final week of the Chronic Pain and Illness Photography Project I have been participating in for the past 3 weeks. Facilitator Stephanie Blumensaat did a marvelous job putting this project together and keeping the group running smoothly. What a wonderful group of creative people who were willing to share so much of their art, their lives and their souls. Simply amazing. Stephanie has a blog, Chronic Pain Life, that you just might want to check out. She will be putting together future projects that some of you might want to participate in, I know I will.
I hope you enjoy these photos and insights into me….
Day 15 – Gratitude. – posting a day late
One dream I always had was to go to Disney Land, not Disney World, I wanted to go to the original.
Right before I got very sick, I was able to go. This is the land of dreams….a place where dreams come true…..the photo is the refection of the castle. I think this photo is very symbolic of my dreams today, they are very vivid and beautiful, a little wavy, and sometimes a bit upside down….that doesn’t mean I’ve stopped dreaming.
I still have many dreams, some are short term, some are long term, some are very attainable, some probably aren’t. And that’s OK. I think healthy people have the same kind of dreams….not all come true.
This prompt was very hard for me. If I were able to really get up and out and create a new photograph for this prompt I would have done something different.
How do I Identify myself now? I’m still Wendy.
Take more risk…..overcome fear….first step!….walk out the front door…..
Day 21 – Invisible
Invisible Illness and me
“You look so good!”
Just beneath the surface
no one can see
the cracks….
the cracks…..
Day 22 – Music (bonus prompt)
As most of you may know, I’m deaf. My chronic illness took my hearing. I haven’t been deaf long, and music is still in my head and I still sing and love music…I just can’t listen to it. (I have Cochlear Implants and can hear some music but not like I used to. Hopefully, I will be able to hear it better in the future, but for now, not so much.)
When I relax I often hum, when I’m up I often sing, my husband and I often make up silly songs and laugh…..the silly songs are wonderful, they make me feel normal, and keep up my spirits. Music can be very therapeutic.
Today I wanted to share something different with you.
A few years ago, right before I lost all of my hearing I sat down with a friend of mine who is a sound engineer and he did a pretty good recording of what my tinnitus sounds like. These are the sounds I hear all the time. I don’t hear the worst of it all the time, but I do hear some of these all the time.
One day recently I suddenly didn’t hear anything and it scared me. I felt completely alone and was terrified. It didn’t last long. These sounds can drive me crazy at times, but they can also be very soothing.
This is my music….my Sounds of Silence.
Day 23 – Art (bonus prompt)
I use my art to help me with my chronic illness in many ways.
Here you will see where I have three expressions of me.
Silly loving Me.
Chronic Pain Me.
Natural, Strong Me.
I try to create something every day….drawing, writing, photography……anything creative…..
My art helps me heal, even if I’m just doodling, creating heals my soul.
(sometimes when I can’t voice my pain, I can show it in my art)
The Chronic Pain and Illness Photography Project is over now. I’ll be returning to my regular scheduled programming. 🙂
I’m sure my regular readers are curious about my hip replacement surgery recovery. I’ll give you a thorough update in the next post….here’s a little spoiler….my hip is doing GREAT!
See you soon. I’m off to Duke for visits to my doctors tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day….. Yay!!
Picnic with Ants 