December 10, 2012 by IdealisticRebel

On a Gray Monday

My Pond in Autumn. Avon, Ohio. Photo by Barbara Mattio

On days like this, you can get depressed or you can fill yourself up with beauty. It isn’t always easy. The branches are bare and the Gardens are empty. Darkness comes so early in the day.The grayness feels unending. What I do is visit the inner landscape which is always bright with color, filled with scents and filled with the love of the Divine.

I turn also to color; happy memories; warm, savory food. I often try to paint but my creativity seldom flows on these days. More’s the pity! Balance the gray with what is joyful and happy in your life.

I advise reading poetry; dancing around your house to your favorite music. Meditation and chanting is a good counterbalance to gray days. Looking through old photo albums; perhaps learn something new. I also like to stretch and move my muscles around to get the blood flowing and raise my metabolism up which also makes you feel better.

I am going to share some of my photos which brighten my spirits.and puts a smile on my face. I hope you enjoy some of my photos and I wish everyone a wonderful day.

June roses

Climbing roses

Costa Rican Rainforest
Photo by Barbara Mattio

Sunset. Photo by
Barbara Mattio

Eagle poses. Photo by
Barbara Mattio

Western North Carolina
Photo by Barbara Mattio

Western NC. Photo by Barbara Mattio

Cedar Point, Ohio
Photo by Barbara Mattio

Downtown Houston, Tx.
Photo by Barbara Mattio

Have a wonderful week everyone!

June 28, 2012 by IdealisticRebel

Still-Life

Monotone acrylic still-life painting #2

Painting by Barbara Mattio

So the human race is on a journey. We walk along learning lessons, facing challenges, enjoying experiences, falling in love, and falling out of love. We work in our professions and we live very fast busy lives. We vacation and play racquetball. We visit the mountains and the beach. We attend theatre, opera, baseball games, and book clubs.

Each event in our lives moves us along the path of our lives. It isn’t a smooth path. Not at all like the people movers we use at airport terminals. There are hills and valleys. Change is always happening and sometimes we can control the changes. For instance, we come to a fork in the road, and must choose which way to go. We are always choosing our path because even no choice is a choice. We look at the fork and try to peer down the path as far as you can see. Which one? Which one is the one for me. Which one is the one I need or want. Could they both be wrong? One path looks as if it has been used more frequently. Is this something we should consider? A very good question. The lesser path often holds the answer to our deepest needs.

If we stop and still life, it will continue to flow around us. People will detour around us and they will be busy living. The journey is the flow of life. If we opt out and stand still, are we really living? Are we embracing life or hiding from the rich vibrant experience of our lives. It can be a scary world and a violent world. The option is to stand still in our lives and miss out on the beauty of this gift we have been given from the Universe. Life is a beautiful gift but it can be really harsh. It can break our hearts as well as giving us such joy and contentment. There are times when standing still appears to be all we can do, but pluck up the courage and embrace this amazing gift and live it. Live it with gusto and know that we never walk alone. We carry Divinity within us during our entire journey and that is the ribbon on the gift. So, as we sort out the events and emotions we experience along the road of our journey, live, walk. Just don’t be still in life.

June 20, 2012 by IdealisticRebel

The Way Back Home

I have returned from my trip and it was wonderful and fun. Part of it was spent at the beach but I am very glad to be home. I love to travel and spend time with friends and family. I love going to new places and see new art and meet new people. I have been often sad after returning from a trip. Missing the people I left, missing the experiences I had. This time I am thrilled to be home. I am excited to pick up the threads of my endeavors and feel good about my direction. It is good to go away but coming home gives you the opportunity to incorporate the new impressions, people and experiences into your current life.

My life is flowing along and I feel strongly that it is going in the correct direction and I am doing the things I am supposed to do at this time in my life. I have a good energy and am looking forward to each moment as I continue in my journey.