Good morning one! Good morning all!
It’s time for a chit chat about the real goingons at present around these parts.
I am stressed out. And my stress is folding in on itself.
I have allowed myself to plant seeds of stress in my heart and soul. I have created stress for myself.
I have grown it. I have watered those nasty little seeds and tended to them.
I’m wrangling those stress seedlings right now,
cutting them down,
one by one.
They’ve grown so tall and gangly in the past few weeks that I’m feeling the manifestations of stress in the form of physical illness. I’m not talking about a head cold, I’m talking about something bigger, but I’ll spare you the details.
I suppose I’m writing this because I need to say these things out loud here so that I can release myself from the expectations that may or may not exist. I’ve been spending more and more time on three hour walks and runs in the hills, to find peace, to eliminate the turmoil that’s building in my heart and soul. I’ve been taking the time to cook meals. To carefully and beautifully prepare lunches and breakfasts. I’ve been taking time to relax with books and movies in the evenings or to lay on my side writing in bed while the sun sets. All of these things are stress busters for me but taking the time to do these things takes time away from the business side of The Noisy Plume as well as the amount of time I’m able to spend creating in my studio which makes me fall behind on just about everything work related which causes…you guessed it….stress.
I feel full of sterling ideas.
Brimming.
And frustrated by my pace;
by my physical body and the limitations therein.
So I suppose what I’m trying to reveal here, is the fact that things need to slow down even more for me, even in the creative realm. I recognize this and I’m claiming this for myself. And knowing that you know this is going to help me release myself from the stress that The Noisy Plume generates this time of year which will in turn help me to take the time I need to take to kill this stress and this illness where it stands. I’m telling them both to be out of town by sundown and to never show their faces round these parts again.
Hopefully sundown comes sooner than later.
I want this space to be an inspiration.
A source of beauty, gladness, grace and love.
To do that I need to be well.
To be well I need to know that I can spend a handful of hours reading the Psalms in the shade in the front yard beneath the scent of the iris patches or simply set out with my camera and photograph my neighborhoods for a few hours in the evening light…when I create I want to do it with joy and without tension. I want life to flow and right now it’s feeling barricaded and tight.
I want to feel healthy.
I need to be realistic about what I can get done when I’m shouldering the full load of responsibility here at The Gables for the next 5ish months.
And to manage the load successfully means I need to cut back AND I need to not be frustrated with myself when I fail to meet all of my daily goals. I need to know that when I am tired at night it’s ok to lay down and refresh my physical body with sleep instead of pushing on for a few more hours of computer work or studio work or yard work or WHATEVER!!!
I just needed to tell you and tell myself here and now.
I needed to make a record of it for myself and declare it.
So there it is.
Ringing solidly in the air.
Ringing solidly in my mind.
Singing smoothly into the crevices of my life
and blooming there in the place of those noxious stress weeds I just ripped out of the flower beds of my soul.
This said, if it takes me a while to respond to an email or Etsy convo you now know it’s because I’m taking my time
because I need to and have to.
Thank you for reading this and thank you for hopefully understanding this.
I’ve never felt so fragile and delicate;
like I’m made of wind and glass.
Here’s to a swift and joyful recovery!
Love:
There are times when we realize we need to stop watering our weeds and extend nourishment and love towards that which we need to grow. Take your time, plant your seeds this summer and harvest your blooms.
Wishing you an ebb of calmness and a joyful heart during this season wherein you hold down your fort and keep the home lights burning. Take care.
Very wise of you to know when you need your respite. Praying for you in your fragile state that you will come out stronger than ever! Take your time my dear.
sending you energy for health, calm and centeredness.
there is a limit to what one person can do..your health is priority to all else.
if some things need to be turned loose for a time then let go, knowing that most all things can be taken up again when you are stronger.
Wishing you peace.
I know that stress that you cultivate in your life. I am there. And it is choking my creative spirit. I am glad that you are recognizing it for what it is, taking steps to improve upon it, but not abandoning all that you have and all that you will have.
Again…wishing you peace.
Enjoy the day!
Erin
Oh Plumella,
I hear ya. We hear YOU. And I think that we have all felt this way at one time or another, perhaps we are feeling this way at this very minute! (Though my stress has never been expressed so beautifully…!) So. We know you're a genius. And we know that you are a real person who has crests and valleys, sunshines and moonshines of inspiration and output, and that the best thing we can all do for ourselves is to take care of ourselves, and nurture our fragile, tenacious, precious little souls, because they are the ULTIMATE gift, the most important gift we have every and will ever receive. So tend to your soul, and if that soul manages to share a little of its magic with us, wonderful! And if that soul, imbuing your hands and heart makes something magical in silver and stone, and we get to marvel at it, and maybe make it ours, then that's just the icing, no, the sprinkles on the icing on the cake.
So shout it out baby!!
X! O!
Alls i can say is: GOOD!
love&light,
-lu
Feeling oh so similar, but uable to put quite as poetically as you have…words escape me these days.
Wishing you serenity and a weed- whacker.
e.
Feeling oh so similar, but uable to put quite as poetically as you have…words escape me these days.
Wishing you serenity and a weed- whacker.
e.
Feeling oh so similar, but uable to put quite as poetically as you have…words escape me these days.
Wishing you serenity and a weed- whacker.
e.
I know what you are feeling, it happened to me. I didn't listen to that little voice inside me saying "slow down"…
Go nourish your body and soul dear one!
Sending positive healing energy your way…………..
Much health and happiness to you,
Angela
sometimes it takes living in the middle of the weed garden. feeling the height and depth of the stranglers. winding and twirling themselves around our souls, our very beings. then our season of life changes and we come to realize it's time to get out whatever weed-whacker works for us and rid them at their roots.
sounds like you are doing what works for *you*….
much love, peace, prayers to you, dear jillianfeather.
I think I can speak for a lot of readers when I say that although we love to read your lovely words, and although we adore your jewelry, we've also come to care very much for you, Jillian.
Feel whole and healthy again.
Lizzy
Wishing you serenity for your soul; strength for your body; love for your heart. Well wishes and prayers.
Oh little pal, I love you so much and want you to take care of your body and soul completely and wholly(I know that always looks as if it should sound like "wally")… a rollercoaster ride this season is, lovely and gentle and fiery and, ephemeral. may that cool water sluice and bubble about as you gently separate the chaff from grain. loveslovesloves to you farm girl.
take your time sweet Jillian!
give yourself the permission to slow it down. life can become so fast-paced we forget to tend to ourselves.
so breathe.
play outside.
lay in the shade
be well! π
you are a beautiful soul
xoxo
now go relax!
-Lynsey
what did i tell you? these ladies really love you, genuinely. and it warms my heart to swim in this knowledge. i hope it buoys you up to know there's so much understanding here. you can be real and people affirm it so kindly. take all the time you need. no one begrudges you. isn't it a wonderful, sweet freedom?
and anyone who feels otherwise…well, you already know what i think about that. and i won't sully this beautiful comment thread by saying it out loud π
i support you always, from near and far. the pocket-you i carry in my handbag is sprigging around my desk right now and pretending to ice skate on my mousepad. it's quite a sight to see. i love you and i love seeing you take care of yourself. so much grace emanating from you today. let the wellness come.
Take care.
Take time.
Be peace.
Be well.
Know you're loved.
As you are, all ways you are.
xx
D
Thanks for all of these kind, kind comments. I'm following your advice and soaking up your encouragement today.
Lovelove,
J
So sometimes when I feel similar, after the pretty meal on the best china and a bubble bath, I put on music that gets the "funk" in me moving, jumping, spinning and shaking. I turn it up loud and just dance with everything I have. All over the house. sometimes the whole CD (beastie boys is one). Sounds weird, but it works for me. I laugh at myself, I laugh at my dog because she tries to dance with me, and I laugh with the music. It is some of the best medicine for me.
Clean out the funk with "funky" music…even african drum music is great. It is powerful in releasing tension in the form of tears and sweat. But in a good way.
soon you'll be strutting your stuff again bird! you know it. I know it.
toodles, xo
A merry heart, doeth good like a medicine, but I broken spirit, dryeth the bones…
Your honesty today is a blessing to everyone here who has witnessed it. God bless you.
You really are so vibrant, and so special.
You will be well again.
We should all take the time to just breathe.
Each and every single day.
Sending you many, big, big bear hugs Jillian π
Breath, breath, and you will do well. You're a wonderful woman, and like all wonderful women you need to take things slowly from time to time. Refresh, recharge & know that we all love you — stressed or not, here or not, there or not.
With love. And lots of it.
And in the words of my daughter: "Luhh yew!"
Do enjoy your home and puppies and kitten and the mountains out your window and the flowers in your garden as you better your soul. Bake some goodies, read some books, and watch some good movies.
You deserve to breathe in and be.
Wishing you all the very best and a happy, relaxing weekend!
<3<3
P.S. thanks to your love, Molson had his fins up and met me at the glass today. π i think he's on the mend!
Massages sooth the soul π
Rest well my friend!
-R
δΈηε₯½η΄―ε¦οΌηηι¨θ½ζ Όθ½ζεΏζ ~~~ε θ¬θ¬ε¦!! .................................................................
:O) nourish-breathe-relax-breathe-love thy self-breathe-relax-bake-read-walk-hug Judith-kiss penelope-stroke farley-breathe and hug thyself at least hourly-XXOO We love you more than you will ever know – take time to enjoy the moment :O)XXXOOO- Sal
ah yes, stress took such a toll on my body that i got really sick, and only then did i realize that i actually cannot always do everything i say i can. take your time and replenish and you'll come back stronger than ever.
I just returned from a VERY hot, sweaty walk in Arizona and I am going to take Janel's advise – cool bubble bath, loud music – I think I will put on My fav relaxing music by Patrick Ki as loud as I can stand it and just soak up the moment!! Jillian, I'll race you to the bubbles!!! And by the way, check out Patrick Ki if you want to relax, he's wonderful. I discovered him in Sedona years ago and have been collecting his music ever since. XXOO hugs, Sal
gasp.
your soul is so sexy in the summer.
without any condescension, i say quite seriously that I am SO darn proud of you.
teaching yourself how to have leisure time is of paramount importance.
Everybody needs beauty
as well as bread,
places to play in and pray in,
where nature may heal and
give strenght to body and soul.
– John Muir
you are in my thoughts and prayers beautiful soul,
love
I knew you would all understand.
I'm so glad I took a moment to
address the state of the Plume-Union.
Thank you for hearing me so graciously
and for helping me fight for a stress free life (as stress free as possible).
Love you for it.
Love you all.
Jillian
Take time to bloom. Take all the time you need. Breathe deep. Let it all go. Send the stress away like dandelion puffs. Gone. Relax. Remember that you are loved and that you are not alone. Stand up tall and be you. You're amazing.
America says she wants to see long lost Uncle Farley. Tahoe in a month, along with a Mt Whitney day hike, Cabelas Reno for a day if Suzy can stand it. It's all about half way?
Until then San Diego has lots of sunshine. The camper is all yours for as many weeks as you'd like. I'd say have at the couch for weeks, but I think Farley already claimed it?
Sean and Suzy
loving you, jilly bean!
Thanks and love to you all.
x