- Aug 19
- 3 min read

Rainbows & Ladybugs

Hope you are enjoying the podcast interviews on mindset. We'll be back with some regular episodes soon!

While Gael and I both continue to deal with the life and “Adulting” issues that have crept into our summer, I am continuing to try new things and listen to what my inner voice tells me is most important. Late last week, I felt a push to visit some friends on a whim. They have busy lives – and often a houseful of guests.

But as luck would have it their schedule and guestroom had space in them for me just as I felt the urge to go for a visit. So off I went for a couple of days to do much of nothing with two friends who allowed me to simply BE who I am. It was awesome.

On both mornings, I awoke to a magnificent sight. More jaw-dropping than a sunset, rays of every color in the spectrum bordered the door to my room, creating the appearance of a rainbow-rimmed portal. It was breathtaking and in line with a lot of drawings I’ve been doing involving rainbow hues and the energy of healing light. (See last post). What an affirmation of the trip and where my creative journey has been leading me!

Then, last Friday, I enrolled in a different sort of adventure – a mixed-media art class. If you’ve been reading this blog, you know I’ve been coloring and drawing as a meditative practice. More recently, I’ve begun to think of it as a way to channel healing exercise for myself and others.

Still, taking an art class is a big leap for me. In the past, I've done some artsy activities with friends or a significant other but have often felt stressed by the experience. I'm not sure why doing visual art (aside from taking photos or playing around with rubber ducks) around people I know causes me anxiety or why I am fearful of their judgment. However, these negative feelings have often kept me from exploring my creativity in this way. Thus, I went to this class by myself, which while easier, was also an act of courage for me.

Thankfully, in a space where I knew no one, I felt like I could allow my own judgments of myself to drop and I could step into a different identity. In a room filled with complete strangers, I could be a confident experimenter. It also helped that the planned project was something I resonate with - a ladybug. Besides being a symbol of good luck and prosperity, "Ladybug" is also the name of my cute, little, red Mazda 3.

Another bonus: the instructor and other students were in the class to focus on learning and creating art rather than drinking and socializing. There's definitely a time for rolling out the vino, and perhaps it helps some folks to relax. However, the last event I attended where people "wined and designed" had a totally different vibe to it and did not result in a piece of art I would be willing to hang anywhere.

By contrast, our instructor provided focused, helpful suggestions and tips throughout the evening. When I was squirming with uncertainty about a particular directive, Claire, a woman across from me, wisely advised me to “trust the process.” Claire also kindly showed me photos of a few pieces that had caused her stress at the moment but turned out beautifully. Her words and example gave me hope, so I took a few deep breaths and kept going.

In the end, I was really happy with the result. My ladybug looks real enough to leap off the page and pretty enough to hang on the wall. Truthfully, I see a few things I'm planning to touch up, especially one leg which is a bit too skinny... But even if she stays exactly how she is right now, I am excited about the way this Ladybug flitted into my life and am curious to see what new adventures she will lead me on!