mind | body | home
Photo by: Harli Marten @harlimarten
Enjoy where you are in this moment. Count your money no matter how much or how little you have. It’s yours. Forget the debt for now. Look around you, do you have food, a place to sleep, people you love, a pet and a window? Be still with what you have and where you are. This practice will cultivate gratitude and growth will take place naturally. Be patience and kind to yourself.
Photo by: Pawel Czerwinski @pawel_czerwinski
Creating a financial plan is gobbledygook wrapped in gibberish to a right brainer. I cannot confess how many times I’ve called a financial institution and prefaced my call with an apology and a warning that they are dealing with a creative person, so they will need lots of patience.
Of course the goal is to be debt free, have an emergency fund, a retirement fund, investments, property(ies) and spend less than you earn, oh yeah, and don’t forget to pay yourself and donate a percentage to charitable causes. Did I get it all? It should have been imperative to learn healthy financial management in school. Sadly, it’s a life skill could save lives, literally. Going dark for a minute. Financial issues contribute to a high number of suicide deaths each year. We learn our money management skills from our upbringing. If our guardians had poor money management or used limiting terms such as; “we can’t afford that,” “what do you think I’m made of money,” or “money doesn’t grow on tree.” If you’ve heard any of those statements growing up and developed healthy financial habits, then you should be very proud of yourself. You broke a generational cycle that could have plagued your descendants.
The most important first step in creating financial wellness is to understand your relationship with money.
How it makes you feel, what does your inner voice say when the topic of money arises in conversations and how does money impact your life on a daily basis?
What words surrounding money did you hear as a child? Are your behaviors with money self-sabotaging or did you make a hard pact with yourself as a young person to create wealth and never worry about money?
Do you see money as an energetic exchange?
Writing out these answers will help to work through any residual mental money issues. The answers that come out on paper may surprise you and most likely expose some areas that need fine tuning on your financial planning. Financial wellness is a work in progress regardless of how much you currently have or not. Find gratitude for everything you posses in this very moment and know that your quality of life is not defined by your bank statements and upward facing arrows. It’s rich in the love you have for your family and friends and the memories created. Yes, money makes life easier, however, if you’re happy, you’re happy rich or poor.
MORE GOOD STUFF:
Financials for Creatives is a financial coaching website I found that deserves further exploring. I love how Jenny gears her financial coaching toward the creative entrepreneur.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-8255 available 24 hours.
Photo by: S O C I A L . C U T @ socialcut
Can you push just a bit further on your career, fitness or personal goals? Can you take one big stride to move past your comfort zone? How about walking or jogging until the next tree and then decided if you can make it farther to the next one. Before you know it, you will have exceeded your goal without stress or premeditated pressure. What “goalposts” can you push out a bit further to slowly increase your productivity? Imagine the sense of accomplishment you’ll have when you ease into the next level toward you achievements.
natalini’s COMMUNITY ART PROJECT
Abington Art Center Art Fair Saturday, April 17, 2021
The Abington Art Center Art Fair was held in April and provided an opportunity for artists, creators, musicians and brewmasters to showcase their works. Residents of Montgomery, Bucks and Philadelphia counties had a pleasant spring day to stroll the grounds of the Art Center while meeting local vendors selling items and treats for humans and pets while sipping on libations from a local brewery.
community art project
For some creators, this was their first time showing and selling their works in public. I’m sure they will return since art events are a casual yet intimate way to connect with people one-on-one. As a seasoned art event vendor, I was excited to participate in Abington Art Center Art Fair for the first time. It is an absolutely beautiful property filled with works from local artist.
I shared great moments with talented artists, wonderful people and even connected with distant cousins.
Each person I had the pleasure of speaking with made an imprint one me along with providing some laughs, including, “not my cup of tea” lady, haa. No, my work is not for everyone and that is perfectly ok. I design for myself and like-minded individuals, not the masses (at this point at least).
A few weeks before the art fair, I had an idea to create a community art project where anyone who wanted to participate could add their creativity to a canvas. Each artist is given a credit below. The highlight of the day for me was seeing so many people of all ages participate in the community art project. Art brings out a child-like playfulness in all of us. Seeing how so many people responded to the setup made my day. I truly hope this experience inspired people to get back into creating something that brings them some joy and freedom. I’m already looking forward to next years Art Fair.
For this week’s Weekend Design & Wellness Project, create a community art project of your own. Think of a creative outlet you enjoyed as a child or something you’ve been curious about recently. Invite family, friends, neighbors, the mail carrier and the amazon delivery person to add a little something to your project. There are two incredible parts to a community project; the human connection by building on what someone else has created and the one-of-a-kind finished piece created by people who where living in the moment and expressing themselves. Create a special experience for your community.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the community art project. There were many wonderful people who participated that did not to leave their name and contact information. I hope they somehow find this to see the final outcome. If I have misspelled any of the names below, please let me know and I will make the correction.
Nataly Munive-Liv, age 12
Brooke Sanchez, age 10
Sergio C, age 4
Ben Sanchez, age 2
Rosie Stalletti, age 50
Nick Rahn, age 31
Joan Abrams, age 76
Gillian Weilerstein, age 85
Zoë Hansell, age 19
Lisa Hansell, age 52
Hailey, B
Cathy Cole, age 63
Derek Glebe, age 64
Timothy Dolan, age 26
Henrietta Mergen, age 7
Ellen Myers
Dale Van Sant
Photo by: Robina Weermeijer @averey
The amygdala is responsible for the “fight or flight” response that triggers anxiety, stress and fear in the limbic system. The body releases stress hormones including, dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine and serotonin. Meditation is a great way to tap into the amygdala to calm anxiety, stress and many emotional imbalances. The limbic system is a central processing center for emotions and survival responses. It is important to know where physical and emotional responses stem from in order to know how to calm them when chaos ensues. Meditations such as; mindful meditation, chanting and EFT (tapping) are used for reducing anxiety and fear.
Amygdala Meditation to relieve anxiety, stress and fear.