Dear Amazing You,

It's Friday.  It's the last day of July.  This week the inspiration emails have all been about change.  Change is one of those tricky things we have been conditioned to fear.  I like today's quote in part because when we just let go with change we suffer so much less than when we fight it the whole way.  I'd love to here what kind of change is happening with you and how you are feeling about it.

And now for the Friday Challenge.  I'm inviting you to practice "the art of elimination."  So the challenge is responding with action to the question, "What can I take away so that my life is calmer, simpler, and more what it was meant to be?" I read a great little blog post HERE about this topic.   Miachaelangelo said that his David was in the stone clamoring to be freed.  What part of you and your life is just clamoring to be freed from the material or emotional or social or financial stuff that is trapping you and keeping you from being a beautiful masterpiece?  I would honestly love to hear your thoughts on this!


Have you seen what Brave Teachers is up to these days?  
I'd love to have you join in the fun! Check these out:

• Personalized Professional Development is having a HUGE sale.  For Individual Subscriptions go HERE.  For Whole School Participation go HERE.
• I am scheduling school consulting and coaching dates as well as workshops for all of the 2015 - 2016 school year.  Email mail, and we will connect about what I can do to best support teaching and learning in the upcoming year at your school.
• Brave Yoga:  Breathe, Stretch, Relax continues at ACoT for a few more weeks on Tuesday and Thursday, 9:30 - 10:45, $8.  
• Every Saturday, 9 - 10 a.m. I'm guiding yoga at Grace Loyal Oak UCC, 3285 S. Cleveland-Massillon Road, Norton 44203  for $8
• Kids Yoga Adventure at Columbia Woods Park, Wednesday, August 5, 10 am.  Kids and their adults are invited to join games, stories, and creative adventures.  Suggested Donation $5.  Bring a yoga mat or beach towel
• Saturday, August 8, I will be in my studio from 10:30 - 6 p.m. as part of BAM!  Barberton Art Mart.  Vendors and musicians and artists will fill the street and ACoT in downtown Barberton.

Have an amazing weekend filled with wonder,

Brave Teacher Mim

Dear Amazing And Courageous You,

Who doesn't love a little Jane Austen to inspire them on Friday?  My favorite part of this quote is that the will of others does scare me, but that fear no longer stops me.  Courage is moving me forward, and I hope it is moving you, too.

Now onto the Friday Challenge. The challenge today is. . .SPEAK TO YOURSELF WITH LOVE AND KINDNESS!  Let your internal voice be the way you speak to the people you love and cherish the most.  When negative thoughts arise, have a standard answer.  Something like, "Darling, you know that isn't the truth.  You are loved and precious.  Own it."  Remember this is a journey so honor the process.  Are you up for the challenge?

Exciting Brave Teachers news!  

I wanted you to be the first to know that Brave Teachers is offering Individual Subscriptions to Personalized Professional Development.  Betcha' this will be the best investments teachers can make in the upcoming school year.  Get all the details HERE. {There is a special price through August 8}  This would make an amazing gift for any teachers you may know!

Whole School Subscriptions are available HERE 

• This week I'm hosting two art workshops at ACoT--Papermaking on July 28, and Book Art on July 30.  These are going to be so much fun, and I would love to have you join us!  Get details or sign up HERE
• See several pieces of my art at the first anniversary show at Nine Muses Gallery.  Opening reception, this evening, July 24.
• Brave Yoga:  Breathe, Stretch, Relax continues Tuesday, July 28, at ACoT for $8 per class.
• Saturday, August 1, 9 - 10 a.m. I'm guiding yoga at Grace Loyal Oak UCC, 3285 S. Cleveland-Massillon Road, Norton 44203  for $8

Have a wonder-full and adventuresome weekend,

Brave Teacher Mim

 

I love how much I learn about myself and the world every single time I step outside my comfort zone.  I spent the weekend painting at the Lakeside Plein Air Festival, and this was my third year.  See more of what I made HERE.  I was almost as uncomfortable as I was the first year.  I feel very inadequate and not enough and judged.  {Basically all that internal junk we project out onto others so we don't have to really own it.}

Then I had the best little conversation with a customer at the paint sale at the end.  We were talking about the little box canvases I paint.  Most of the work I created this weekend and was showing today was 
4 x 4 x 1 inch or 4 x 12 x 1 inch.  This is an unusual size and shape, and my work doesn't look particularly "plein air," if you know what I mean.

He then said something like:  So you don't even fit in with the artists!  Now that's saying a lot!  We were laughing about that, and then he said, "I hope you never fit it.  Your style is great!"

This made me realize that if I was feeling too comfortable I probably would not be true to my own style,  Above all the weekend was a great reminder that even in art the art of staying true to yourself is a rare and precious treasure.  We are the masterpieces, and what we create just flows from that.  

This is powerful stuff, people.  I'd love to hear from you {yes, I sincerely mean that} about how you are being reminded to stay true to your uniqueness.  

I'm sending you courage for the week ahead that you may stay true to yourself and frequently practice the art of nonconformity.

I have grown to love painting outside or, as the French would say, en plein air.  It's funny to think that a couple years ago I didn't know if I could do it.  I certainly don't see any other artists adopting my techniques, and I'm okay with that.  

This Friday, Saturday, and Sunday I will be painting in one of my absolute favorite places--Lakeside, Ohio.  This year I am adopting a go smaller approach.  I will be focusing on small scenes with my 4 x 4 and 4 x 12 canvases.  I hope to also paint a couple 16 x 20 pieces.  I can't wait to get there and see what will inspire me this year.