Shape

Earlier this month, my husband and I visited Longwood Gardens, for their “Autumn Colors” display. Longwood is just over an hour’s drive and a world away from us with its incredible horticultural displays both indoors and outdoors. Outside we were delighted by the ginkgo draped in yellow. Inside chrysanthemums trained into bonsais and topiaries captivated our imaginations. The time with plants was balm for our spirits. There is just so much pain, ugliness and destruction in the world that sometimes I need bold reminders of beauty.

The gardens certainly provided that, including inspiration for a gratitude project I’d been working on. The project was to do a small abstract watercolor to represent a gratitude each day for two weeks, letting the feelings guide the process. After visiting Longwood, I was feeling grateful for the plants and trees. As the watercolor took shape, the word “shape” came to me. Then I looked for a quote to accompany my image. What synchronicity to find the perfect gem of wisdom from Albert Schweitzer!

It’s that time of year when we talk a lot about gratitude and gratitude journals. I was nourished by taking a new approach to this practice. I hope this month, you find creative ways to nurture and give expression to gratitude. And, as always, I’d love to hear from you about where and how gratitude is showing up in your creative life.

Yours in spirit,

Sandra