Gratitude Journal – Day 30 – July 30, 2014

Paint Nite 

Now there’s a lot of things that I am gifted at, but I can honestly tell you that it is not painting. Well, that is unless you are talking about taking spray paint to a rescued chair from the side of the road.

Put a room full of ladies together (and one brave token man), paint, brushes and a glass o’ wine (unsweet tea for me) and you have a party in the making. It is so very interesting to watch the interpretation of instructions on how to paint a pair of dragonflies (or as Ranee put it, suggestions) as we began with the base coat. Begin with brushing the canvas with water to make everything flow and blend better, then apply green with a dash of yellow mixed in for highlights. If you’re a Type A personality, you may need to really put your mind to just letting go and enjoying the moment. Immediately we all began to see how each person is unique, yet beautiful through their canvas which mimics our foundation in life.

Next, take the chalk and freehand beginning with the wings before you start painting. If you feel that you would like to change the outline, just wet the paper towel and wipe it away. What are your plans in this life? Do you need to change part of some of your plan? You can do it with the proverbial paper towel. It really does work, but you have to have an alternate vision or dream and put the chalk back to your canvas.

Now, fill it in with big brush strokes for the wings, and smaller details for the body and head. These are the experiences we have during this wonderful, wacky life of ours, even with the occasional curve ball thrown in. The details can be soft, hard, intricate, simple, funny, sad, serious or whimsical, some chosen on purpose and others because that’s where the brush landed.

We laughed the @Paint Nite away, each creating a unique canvas to take home to remember this night. As I walked in the door, I said ‘Hello, I’m hoooome!’ and wished upon a star (well, OK the light in the entry way) that myDarlin’ Robert Kenui Pope would say ‘Welcome home Baby, did you have fun?’ Then, I remembered that he had done the same activity several years ago during a Team Building event for managers and went downstairs to our ‘gallery’ in the laundry room to look at his canvas hanging above a row of guitar cases.

One that day, years ago, myDarlin’ called me to say that he was going to a Painting Team Building and didn’t think that he would like it at all, but had to go nonetheless. He sent photos along the way and about 30 minutes into it, it was evident he was really enjoying himself. Two wine bottles, one each with our names graced this canvas titled Vintage. The bottles weren’t perfect, but neither is life. The details are perfect, as our names accompany streamers of joy on the labels. The wine glass reminds us to drink and taste of our life’s experiences. He brought it in that afternoon, telling me how much fun he had and that he was proud of his accomplishment.

Tonight I am filled with gratitude for this canvas of life, the plans we make in chalk and the details we fill in every day. Some never learn to ‘paint’ and spend far too long staring, paint brushes in hand, at their blank canvas wondering what to do. Just do it…. I promise you’ll be glad you did.

#KeepLookingUp