Mama Renew

by Sarah

When I was in my early twenties I got really excited about the idea of painting watercolour covers for all my cassette tapes.  Dozens of tape cases and a few paintings in my journals later, I set the paints aside recognizing that i had no great talent or skill in this particular art form.

Here’s the catch:  I really enjoyed it.

And yet I set it aside.  I allowed my thinking brain, my inner judge, to bring an end to an activity that had brought me great delight.

Now, almost twenty years later, I am painting again.  This time on canvas with acrylics.  While dancing.  Yes, I am dancing and painting! My dear friend Sybille offers a Dance Your Painting workshop.  Once a week we gather in circle and she shares our theme for the morning, exploring the energy of each of the 7 chakras.   She guides us into movement and so it begins.

There is no need to stand puzzled before a blank canvas or to come with a brilliant artistic inspiration.  My thinking brain is set aside and as I dance, the images come to me.  When I am ready I pick up the brush and begin.  My paintings are filled with strong colours, swirls and curves.  Each time I feel stuck or begin to Think, Analyze or Judge, my hips begin to sway to the music and I set down the brushes to allow myself to simply feel the painting.

“Don’t try to paint what you feel.  Feel and paint.”

- Michelle Cassou

My days are full and the to do list is long.  Once a week all this is set aside.  The movement, the colour, the unknown of what each dance and canvas will bring.  I am enchanted.

Now for the truly brave moment – here are a few of my works of art for your viewing pleasure!  Grab some wine, crackers and cheese and enjoy my very first gallery opening…

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I got lost recently.  Wandering on a university campus and trying to find my way, I asked first one, then two, then three passersby for directions.  Not one of them could help.  Discouraged, I gave up on asking, somehow believing that if they couldn’t help me then nobody could.

Still wandering 15 minutes later, I took a deep breath and asked again.  This friendly woman shrugged as she pointed to a path and told me to “go down the path through between those 2 buildings and then ask again.”

What a gift.  She helped me as much as she could and ordered me to ask for help again.  In a brief, random encounter she modeled the essential life skill of asking for help, and asking again if needed.

While we grow up hearing the phrase “if at first you don’t succeed, try try again,” when it comes to asking for help sometimes even the first attempt is daunting. How often as a mother do you need help, but hesitate to ask?  Or you ask once, and then give up and move forward without the help you need?

When we ask again, we are stepping more fully into the reality of our need, and believing that the support we need will be there for us.

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Do you need help with something?

Have you asked once?  Twice?

Still need help? Go ahead – ask again!

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