Tag Archives: Helen Keller

To Attain Something Beautiful

31 Friday Jul 2015

Posted by in Mandala

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attain something beautiful

Another Helen Keller quote today:

Remember no effort that we make to attain something beautiful is ever lost. Helen Keller.

So I tried something quite different for me. Bigger shapes and just playing with color. I’m still figuring out techniques to best use the Inktense watercolor pencils and I learned a few more things today. I found it quite enjoyable, but I did overdo it and ended up with a little bit of eye strain. So I learned something else important for tomorrow. And I think I may hang this up in our newly remodeled bathroom! Have a beautiful day.

Big Girl Panties

30 Thursday Jul 2015

Posted by in Gratitude journal

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55 of 100

Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do. John Wooden

56 0f 100

I am only one, but I am still one. I cannot do everything but still I can do something. And because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do. Helen Keller.

I am curious if I will get some different traffic because of the title of this page, but it is definitely time for the big girl panties. What that phrase means to me is that it is time to gird my loins, pack my bags, brace myself, etc. The reality of the situation is that my double/blurry vision has continued to get worse. In the last 2 weeks my prism prescription has doubled for the second time since we discovered that I have Exophoria (difficulties to establish and maintain binocular vision). This may be another factor that could lead to a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis for me. I have been monitored for possible ms for about 4 years for a variety of health problems, but the main one is that I do have lesions in my brain. The good news is that they are not typical of ms and they have been stable over the past 4 years. I am currently between neurologists and these vision problems are freaking me out. That is what led to the need to put on my big girl panties and be the mature woman I know I am. I have lived with migraines every day for the last 4 years. I have lived with muscle spasm in my left arm and the left side of my face for the last 4 years. I have gradually come to terms with the fact that I can no longer work as a school psychologist.

Tonight I found a new Helen Keller quote when I was looking up the exact wording of the one I love because I have no memory anymore but I digress…

Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence, and I learn whatever state I am in, therein to be content. Helen Keller

I had already discovered the truth of this quote. When people see my art they frequently ask me where my ideas come from. I tell them that I spend many hours lying in a dark, quiet room because of my migraines and it is amazing what you can dream up if you give your mind that kind of space. I am feeling better already. Thanks for hanging with me.

Have a beautiful day.

Actually it was this blog post about Mandalas inspired by quotes on the 100 Mandalas blog by Kathryn Costa that included the first quote with the little watercolor flower (mandala 55 of 100). It reminded me of the second quote, by Helen Keller. It is one of my favorites and the significance of quoting an amazing blind woman when I can still see was not lost on me. I have decided I’m going to try to make art and blog about about as many days I can for the forseeable (ha ha) future. I can see today. I may not be able to draw delicate little details in my mandalas, but I CAN continue to explore watercolors and mandalas and maybe making them bigger will lead to something GREAT! (Puns are always intended, especially when they are accidental).

So, this is my new plan.