Starting now, not waiting

Three things to focus on while making a bucket list (or whatever new years thing you do) for this year is what I need, what I want and what I need less of. Perhaps that is better than making a resolution, which I’m having a hard time seeing the difference between that, things like the idea of repentance. (I should use a dictionary more often) Granted it would be better to try and be better, yet why wait?

Waiting a whole year to make a change can be kind of ridiculous in some cases. Partly because my list would be full of things I have already trying. Like I didn’t have to wait to start going on a diet, working out, or do something like dating. But there are certain things like hanging out with friends that is much easier during times like this, or in the case of it for a new job, it is maybe an easier time for a big change like that.

Which is why I decided to make a bucket list (which could be nice to get done in a year or less) instead of a New Year’s resolution. And there are three main categories I was able to come up with, and everything that will be on that list, (if it’s not already there) Will be filtered into those three categories. Then one of the first things going on it is boundaries, as I need to set up boundaries for myself, and for life. Even in my own diet I need boundaries, what I can eat and what I can’t. Other than boundaries, I want to expand something’s, mainly what is good, or what could be good! Such as relationships, it would be nice to reach out more to the people who read my blog, or Instagram, or develop my relationships with the people my life more. Yet maybe I can use a few more relationships as well.

Right now that means I have a new friend, that has fur. It is a new pet, a baby guinea pig, who I just came up with a name for. Perhaps my friend also felt that I needed a new furry friend, which might’ve been the reason she bought it as a gift this holiday season. In any case I’m very thankful, as that had just been something on my mind that I might not have time for myself. There will be the chance now to name the pet, as I had planned to in a four block post where I mentioned I wanted to name animals after artist. Perhaps this guinea pig can become a class pet, and if she does it will be good if she has the name of an lesser known painter. Which is why I am naming her after a portrait painter from World War I, named Tamara De Lempinka. Basically I’m going to just call her lem, or Pink yet I thought that artist had a fun last name, and unique story too. Yet that could be a good way to start off the New Year.

Other bucket list things that are already being checked off is trying a new kind of church. I will be revisit some a friends church, as I had visited them over Independence Day, but haven’t had the chance to go back until now. This church is a but different, as it does not have a building, rather they meet in a persons house. Also known as a House Church. Basically though there are a few things I’ve been wanting to do the help me grow in my faith, and also that might help me to step out of my comfort zone, and a comfortable way. Which is not always the case but I am glad for the few chances it can happen comfortably.

Until next year,

Juliana

Spared Again

This summer I had a weird incident where a was jammed into my tire, then the next day my 20 minute commute tripled due to the bus commute (I had hopped on the wrong bus. Whoops) Somehow, I was able to stay safe, get my car fixed pretty quickly (the next day), and even have a few laughs at the oddity of the situation.

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Today was like that too, as something happened to my car that drove me again to the repair shop, yet before any big problem could occur, it was already in safe knowledgable hands. Oddly enough I was driving through the same area of town, as I had been when the key puncture my tire. SO WHAT brought me into the repair shop, a light needed to be reset. Which light? The check engine light.

The engine is still fine, and the check engine light too, but it the car sensor needed to be resent. That engine light inspired me to get some other repairs done before they could become a problem, which is something I wish I would do more frequently. In both of these short stories, I am very thankful that overall things are fine, and that little problem stayed little. This attitude is what I am using to write out some goals for the New Year, which will be my next blog post. That blog post may be short like this post, but that does’t mean that the story or message isn’t important.

My goals will be small too, but if I keep at it, it will have a big impact. If I can do things like being aware of potentially hazardous situations, then I can spare my self a trip to the repair shop (wait is this a metaphor?😉) Or if some small problem does happen, then I can learn from it.  That is the whole reason of sharing though, to have either small or large impact, by sharing something that happened. In this case, The impact I am hoping for though is to inspire, to teach, or encourage, not just document my life. Like they story of this little guinea pig  I hope to share soon, but I hope to find the best way to say it. That story may be more encouraging then talking about a car story, but hope both stories (and the New Years post,) can inspire, or encourage.

 

Happy holidays,

Juliana

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Holiday Mix up

1st of all! Happy Holidays, and happy New Year! Hopefully there were times that you could feel joyful, thankful and blessed, no matter whenever however you celebrate.

My Holiday celebration was mostly during Hanukkah, as I was able to visit my family during that time. Most of my Christmas was spent alone (minus a few hours at church, or having dinner with friends,) which had made me feel kind of off.

I was not really alone though, and maybe no one really is! Outside of the few activities, I was still able to talk to friends and family, and do holiday stuff. There were even gifts exchanged! That loneliness is something I want to change though.

There can be much more joy then there was, but even during tough times, there is enough joy that can be shared. The nativity story show this the best, as people were hoping for a hero, a king, or a messiah, but instead they there was a baby born into questionable circumstances. Yet some walked away saying they could die peacefully (Luke 2:28-34.) We might not get to see God the way they did, yet the opposite is true too, as our encounters are miraculous too. Whether we are celebrating the holidays at church, with family, or elsewhere, we are having encounters that can build us up. Nothing I have seen has built up a person like an encounter with the true God. And that is my hope that I want to carry.

There have been days when I was much worse then just lonely, and that is a story that I am still trying to tell more publically. Yet like The man in Luke 2:28, or the woman that follows after, I am very grateful for the encounters I have had during that time. That peace that came from those encounters is what makes these end of the year celebrations not a time for joy, but a time to rejoice; because Christmas (and Hanukkah too) are eclipse be greater things that are still to come.

That eclipse is a different story of redemption. Both winter holidays kind of tell a story of hope that can carry us to redemption. That is something I want to share more of, not just because that is part of my hope, but because salvation is near.

 

Happy New Years too!

Juliana

 

ps: I questioned if videos may be a better way to share the things I hope to share, or if I should be writing more, yet I do hope to share post more frequently. Yet if you want to find me on other parts of the web, you can search for @lovefromjuliana on twitter or instagram, and I am also on other sites like https://www.superprof.us

Feel the beat

After last nights blog post I wanted to add some additional info, on how I would take that personal life lesson about music and use it as a teacher. Mainly I want to add the fact that having music in the art room was one of the highlights of the art class growing up, and it seems to be very beneficial too. It wasn’t until recently, when I was listing out some of the most impactful songs for my life, that I was able think a little more broadly about other uses for music (Like in the classroom, or for emotional support.) Since that time I have started listing background music that I thought could be useful for other things too, and I think I may eventually share those list.

Before that list is complete though, I would like to share another classroom dream I have, of having a quiet area, kind of like these reading corners but for art. Perhaps that quiet area can be used with the music to better focus the classroom, or maybe to control the classroom volume. But in any case having this stuff is also useful outside of the classroom as well. (Currently that quiet space is my car, which always has the radio on.)

These thoughts may develop further, and they will probably be developed into a bigger project, but for now it can serve as an idea on how inspiration can be carried over into different parts of life. Or something like that.

On a related note, tonight is the first night of Hanukkah, and I am planning a holiday post about it. Hopefully that will be out before the 20th (the last day of Hanukkah,) but that idea is needs a little more inspiration.

Happy Chanukkah,

Juliana

Sprouts of hope🌱

Has there ever been a song you sing to yourself? Or is there a song that you listen too that changes your attitude? If not maybe there’s a quote or something else used to impact your mood. Personally there has been a number of songs that I have passionately been attached to a period different parts of my life. Some of those moments of time lasted for a long time, yet there seems to be little things like these few songs listed below that were helpful. Some days they give me hope, other days they help me to smile, or maybe they were just encouraging!

Now i am thinking of making a collection of those songs, maybe just going back to the songs and seeing if they still have the same impact. In some cases they don’t, and that might not be the same for all the songs. In any case that has made me passionate about the power of music, and of words, which I hope to adapt into future classrooms, and into my own life different ways. When it comes to other people I am curious about how music does more then fill up a quiet room. The band Housefires is one of those groups I can really show how powerful message with a beat can be. If you watch their music videos and you see the seemingly countless people around them join in the song and sway to the beat and there is a five that songs can and body a lot of a motion, which could be good or bad! In any case I hope that if you don’t have a song that you are passionate about, maybe you can find one, and I hope you do.

❤️Juliana

Lost in wonder

Finding ones way can be hard, especially when the direction are hard to understand. That is probably why I over-rely on my GPS when driving to unfamiliar areas. Somehow though, I have the same behavior when it comes to other life events that also make me feel that same way.

My career has been one of those things, that makes me feel lost; as balancing art and education can be hard. Granted teaching can be hard to, but there are moments that make me say ‘wait what,’ or ‘should I have…’ Faith, adulthood, and other things can be like that too. In all those cases, even driving, I try to continue on to reach my goal.

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So now my biggest wonder is what I do with my career, and my art? Since I am currently diving back into the job market, and art is TOUGH! So maybe the first question is, are they separate things?

I teacher art, and had planned to for 3 plus years, then before that I wanted to be an artist. Maybe careers and jobs are like investments. Like what kind of future am I building. But then why work for a paycheck? This is a back and forth debate I am having (mostly with myself,) but no matter what happens art and teaching will be a big passion. Which is why I am writing part of this debate here online, instead of keeping it private. My worries are human worries, and they are not deadly. Which is why I have asked several artist and teachers this question.

I have gotten some awesome inspiring answers! Then a few even helped me answer a few of the smaller questions I was debating, and how to explain the thoughts I didn’t know how to voice. All that helped to create a new road map that I am still trying to fill out. Which is why this ad for an event, which is currently an imaginary event, was created.

The end goal is still to have a career in art education, that is filled with more passion then stress, yet how I will get there now looks a bit different. Then when I get there I will probably say something like, I am not as bad of a driver as I thought!

Just joking, this isn’t a car it’s life, and I’m trying to keep living. Maybe jobs don’t matter, art doesn’t always feel like it matters. Jobs, which we spend so much time trying to do feel important, and so do the activities we are passionate about. Somethings matter, somethings don’t. It all seems to require a bit of energy though, and for me that seems to mean I’ll invest in it. That investment will maybe be an emotional investment, yet even this blog has an emotional investment. IN FACT, even the song I have been listening to all week has been an investment, and so has the bible verse that is stuck in my head. (that verse is James 1:27)

With love and prayers always,

Juliana