“A woman has three hearts… one that she shares with the world, one that she shares with her family, and one that she shares only with herself.” It’s an old Chinese proverb. I’m taking Christy Tomlinson‘s She Had Three Hearts workshop, which is about sharing those hearts differently with different people. Sometimes we hold them in and not share them. Each of the three weeks of the workshop covers one part of the proverb through art journaling. (Read my post about the heart I share with the world.)
This post is about the heart that we share with our family. Christy “only” posted 17 art technique videos for this week, about alcohol inks, creative doodling, hot glue, photo tinting, faux batik backgrounds, and so much more. By the way, I’m not taking this class live in “real time.” I purchased in back in August and I have a year to complete it whenever I want.
More yummy new supplies. Hee hee.
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“Family” for me means my husband and daughter, as well as my parents, my younger brother and sister, and their spouses and children. These are the most important people in the world to me. (I also include a couple of very close friends in there too.) They are worth anything and everything. I know that what we share is often determined by our past experiences. I’ve been thinking about what I might be holding back from them and why. I don’t know if I’ve shared my creative self with my family very much. Certainly my daughter sees it the most and with her, I try to let her run the show and unleash her own creative whims.
My husband and daughter often get the type-A side of me. I plan and organize the household and our activities… who needs what and when. I am trying to be more playful. (Last week, I said “yes” to a picnic dinner in my daughter’s closet!) I want to simplify and keep our days uncomplicated.
A main goal is to be more AUTHENTIC. In my home, I am trying to be better about that and really be more transparent. I love that my daughter enjoys all the art projects that I work on and wants to do them right alongside me. I sometimes hide my work because I know she’ll want to paint with me and I want to avoid making a mess. Plus, it’s very difficult to do my own work while also managing and helping her. Also, if I don’t quite feel like pretend playing, I am honest and say so… so far it hasn’t been the end of the world.
My husband reads my blog and keeps up with what I’m doing and feeling. My favorite times with him are when he listens to what I’m focused on creating and cheers me forward.
Finally, I’m looking forward to reading SoulSpace: Transform Your Home, Transform Your Life — Creating a Home That Is Free of Clutter, Full of Beauty, and Inspired by You
Tell us what you do/don’t share with your family and why you think that is.
You can see more “Behind the Art” posts here.
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I just love how you took each part of the image and explained it. That is so cool. I feel the same way about my family – they are very important to me. I have one sister who reads my blog and one dear friend who reads it, but no one else that is in my inner circle.
What challenges me with family is those things that are sometimes left unsaid that get in the way of us relating as well as we can. There are times when I know that something is wrong, but I don’t know what it is. Something just feels wrong. When I ask about it, they say that things are fine. I think that family is challenging, but they also know me better than anyone.
Amy Putkonen recently posted…Nothing is Softer Than Water
REALLY??? I’m surprised that so few of those you are close with read your inspirational words and thoughts. You have so much knowledge! Do they even know that?? I sent out an email about a year ago to some people who don’t subscribe to my blog, basically telling them that I don’t want to toot my own horn but that they might want to subscribe to the blog… just letting them know it’s out there. And for the (very) few that DID subscribe, I feel so much closer to now, like they KNOW me and what I’m up to. Does that make sense? It wasn’t so much for them but for me. That surprised me. And yes, family is a complex phenomenon. 🙂
Yeah, it is funny to me too. I have told them about it, but I think a lot of people think they have to be a Taoist or something to read it. Sad.
Sounds like a great class. Your authenticity comes through my blogging friend 🙂 That is why I enjoy your writing so much.
Thank you, Stacie! You made my day.
I NEVER liked pretend play! I’d rather clean the toilet.
Wow, mom! Too funny.