Wish Me Luck!

Tierra Del Sol Student

I read on Yahoo today that writing is one way to keep your mind healthy:

"To banish worries, put stressors on paper. Writing them down and stashing the note in a "worry jar" (or a drawer) makes it easier to compartmentalize and move on, says Andrea Bonior, Ph.D., a psychologist in Washington, D.C. Limiting anxiety is healthy. A surfeit of the stress hormone cortisol may lead to chronic pain, depression, cognitive issues and even heart problems, potentially shortening your life. Not to mention that constant worry is no fun." Yahoo News

I also read a comment from one of my readers today that said, "You inspired me to write today..." Now, I feel even better about writing my thoughts down for the public to read. As I went through one of the most life changing years of my life, I shared it with the world, and, now, I'm just trying to be mind healthy...

So, in other news, I am getting ready for an opening next Friday for the Tierra Del Sol group and, at the same time, getting ready to start my art classes the following week. I can't imagine what my life is going to be like trying to organize the classes and gallery simultaneously but I am so excited to be given this opportunity to grow. I just hope and pray that I can accomplish this successfully to grow even more. It's time to start what I have always wanted to achieve and if I don't succeed, which may happen, I can always keep my mind healthy by writing my failures down because someone once said to me that we won't realize our success without our failures.

Wish Me Luck!

TIERRA DEL SOL GROUP SHOW: Without Restrictions

This free invitation card made with Smilebox

Shades of Grey...

Kris Kan

As I try to settle into my house and my new life, I lose focus at times. I realize that I lose focus because I pause to think about what I want to do next... and how I want to do it...

And, as days go by, you realize that your marriage becomes what is in the books... the moments your parents had when you were little... the moments when your mom would curse at your dad under her breath, the moments of annoyance, the moments of wanting to pull your hair out and scream at the top of your lungs... but there are also those moments of waking up next to someone who adores you, eating cereal together before going to work, and waiting for the moment they come home each day. So, I take it one day at a time as I try to regain my focus on my life and everything it consists of these days...

And, as the days go by, I realize that even though life is clearer when it's black and white, there are always shades of grey, the areas that lose focus, and, it's okay to have those shades of grey because it's what completes the picture...

“Our lives at times seem a study in contrast... love & hate, birth & death, right & wrong... everything seen in absolutes of black & white. Too often we are not aware that it is the shades of grey that add depth & meaning to the starkness of those extremes.” Ansel Adams

Abilities with Disabilities

I have said before that I'm lucky... so I won't be boring you about that anymore. I can go ahead and express my feelings about the wonderful day I had yesterday, which was my birthday, and all the beautiful gifts I received, the great family lunch at the beach ending with a great big 7 layer chocolate cake... but... like I said, I won't bore you with all that. I'd like to express my feelings on something that I would like to share with you...

A few years ago, we went on a family vacation to Cabo San Lucas. We were laying out by the pool and my sister told me that if I put some lemon on the freckles on my nose, they'd go away. (If you haven't noticed, I have freckles on my nose and I have always wanted to get rid of them, somehow, obviously...) So, I believed her and did as she said... Well, the next morning I woke up looking like I had been in a boxing match. My eyes were swollen and somewhat slanted. I was horrified at myself and wouldn't go outside without sunglasses. I also remember it being my birthday that day too. I was so depressed over my physical deformity, I started crying and throwing tantrums. I even kept my glasses on in the plane on the way back home. After a few days, it was better and my face slowly went back to normal.

The reason why I'm sharing this story with you now is because I had a slight deformity for a few days and I couldn't live with myself. I realized that not everybody is built to handle emotional, physical, or mental disabilities. Which brings me to my next point... Modest Fly will be showing the work of a few great artists who are dealing with emotional, mental, and physical disabilities. The work of the students at Tierra Del Sol will be showing at Modest Fly for the month of September and I am very excited about this opportunity. I have so much admiration for these students and the absolute talent that they have. They're work is amazing, but don't take my word for it, come by and take a look at their great abilities, not disabilities. The show is titled "Without Restrictions" and it will be opening on September 2nd, 2011 from 7-10pm. It will be up at the gallery until September 30th, 2011.

Here is a little bit about Tierra Del Sol:

"Tierra del Sol Foundation began 40 years ago in Sunland, California and has grown into a recognized leader in developing innovative, accredited services enabling adults with developmental disabilities to realize their greatest human potential. Tierra del Sol helps more than 500 people across Los Angeles County overcome cognitive, physical, emotional or behavioral challenges resulting from developmental disability. Tierra offers a tremendous variety of educational opportunities for people to discover their own unique talents and abilities to contribute to their community and their family. Most importantly, we believe our community is stronger when all of its members are valued and appreciated. Through Tierra, people are supported to go to community college, to give valuable volunteer service, to create art and to build for themselves the lives that they want."

Steve Miller, Executive Director

http://tierradelsol.org/

I'm Not Alone...

I've been getting complaints about not posting... texts reading: "Why aren'y you posting on your blog??? What are you doing? or seeing me in public and saying, "Why don't you post up more honeymoon pictures?"

Well, honestly, I've been busy trying to get my life in order. I have moved out of my parents house now and am currently trying to make a "home." It's much easier said than done when you have an empty house to work with... no kitchen, no sink, no cabinets, bags of clothes without hangers, and much more... But, I have nothing to complain about because I get more done with each day and it feels like I am actually making a "home..." we both are... And, as we finish our chores everyday and go to bed in a silent home, I realize that it's just "him and I..."

The sound of the Food Network channel coming from my sister's room is gone... the sound of my dad's action movies is gone... and the sound of my mom yelling at him to turn it down, in the middle of the night, is gone... It really is just him and I... Laying there, in the middle of the night, listening to the silence, I realize that "him and I" are "us" now...

Now, it's "us" and "we" not just "him and I." Now, every time I get hungry, I have to see if he's hungry too... every time I wear my clothes, I have to make sure he's ready to go... every time I want to go to bed, I have to see if he's sleepy... every time I buy my favorite snack, I have to buy his favorite too... but every time I feel alone, I won't be...