Letting Go

As I write this it’s Monday morning. We are all grappling with the surge in Covid cases. Here in Michigan, as in many parts of the country, new restrictions have been imposed and the schools in our community are being shut down for a few weeks to try to reduce the spread. The downside of these circumstances is that we’re forced to juggle more. But the upside, at least for me, is the realization that I’m getting better at taking things in stride; at letting things go that I can’t control – which is pretty much everything except my thoughts and my actions.

The Best Way to Keep Up is to Slow Down

Henry was a bright student and attended Harvard, where he studied Greek, Latin and German. After graduating, he wasn’t sure what to do next. After a period of drifting, he founded a school with his brother, but the venture failed a few years later.

He subsequently met a mentor who introduced him to Transcendentalism, an idealistic philosophical and social movement. Henry began to think deeply and write about what it means to live a good life. Still a young man, Henry decided to retreat from the city—its noise and distractions—to live and work on land owned by his mentor outside of Concord, Massachusetts.

Henry, as you may have guessed, is Henry David Thoreau. His mentor, Ralph Waldo Emerson. In his masterwork, Walden, Thoreau describes what led him to pursue a simpler existence:

“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.”

LifeJay HarringtonNovember 16, 2020Finding Your Purpose, Experiences over Things, happiness, a happy life

A Moment in Time

This weekend our family went out to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park to take in the beautiful weather. We hiked one of my favorite hikes in Port Oneida, called Bay View, the trail leads you up a large hill, through an elevated and enchanting forest path that comes to a beautiful overlook of the dunes and Lake Michigan.

Every time we hike this trail I breath a little deeper and can feel myself slowing down and relaxing a little more. This time was no different. And the warm summer like air made the hike even better. As I took in the incredible views, I noticed my seven year old daughter doing the same. For a moment time seemed to stand still. She had stopped horsing around with her sisters to gaze out at the brilliant blue water. It was one of those sweet simple little moments, where you realize how fast time is going by, one that you just want to capture and bottle up forever. Despite all the hardships this pandemic has brought I’m grateful for the simple moments together to slow down. Because I know before long they will be gone.

The painting above is from the view looking out at Lake Michigan in Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes. It is titled “A Moment in Time.”

Want to Create? First, Create a Process

“Process saves us from the poverty of our intentions.” — Elizabeth King, Sculptor

I hear it all the time from people: “I’m not creative.” Because I’m an introverted, generally non-confrontational person, I simply nod in response. If I was bolder, I would say: “How do you know? If you never engage in the act of creative expression, on what evidence are you basing your self-assessment?”

Sure, some people may be born with creative ability, just as others are born with athletic ability. For whatever reason, we intuitively understand that athletic ability must be paired with hard work for great athletic performance to manifest. However, when it comes to creativity, we often assume that there is a magical muse, which only visits certain people like the tooth fairy, that is responsible for their creative expression.

LifeJay HarringtonNovember 9, 2020Finding Your Purpose, Experiences over Things, happiness, a happy life

Standing Strong

Last weekend, Jay and I were able to get away to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula for the first time without kids since last October. We stayed at a quaint house overlooking Lake Superior in Marquette. I’ve only been to Marquette once before but it is quickly becoming one of my favorite places to visit for its serene setting and natural beauty.

While there, we hiked through Presque Isle Park, a peninsula close to downtown Marquette that juts out into the beautiful waters of Lake Superior. We made our way to the northern tip of the park to take in the rocky landscape at one of the park’s signature spots called Black Rocks. As the name suggests, the ancient rocks are black with pops of other colors. The view from the rocks is amazing.

As I stood there taking in the moment, I couldn’t help but think of the strong rocks beneath my feet and the crashing waves in front of me. It felt symbolic of the time we are in, and I was reminded that waves will come and they will go but it is how you weather the storm that counts.

The painting above is of the view looking out from Black Rocks. It is titled “Standing Strong.” I hope you enjoy it!

We Can’t Control What Happened—Only What Happens Next

We all know people like this: When something bad happens, the first thing they do is blame someone or something else. It gets old, right?

But let’s be honest: We are all that person, at least some of the time— and probably more often than we’d like to admit. I certainly count myself among those who, despite knowing better, catch myself taking credit when things go well and looking for a scapegoat when they don’t.

LifeJay HarringtonNovember 2, 2020Finding Your Purpose, Experiences over Things, happiness, a happy life

Life and Whim Studio525 S. Union StreetTraverse City, MI 49684

Life and Whim Studio
525 S. Union Street
Traverse City, MI 49684