The pickle hour!!!

Seems like a very strange title but, I couldn't sleep last night and instead of laying there listening to Richard breathing and snoozing away, I decided to get up and eat pickles. It's a strange behavior and I don't exactly know why....but I'm totally addicted to Clausen Dill Pickles. I eat up to six halves most nights. Now that's alot of pickles. It's not just pickles though.....I eat anything pickled or sour......saurkraut, pickled asparagus (Costco), pickled stringed beans, olives...the list goes on and on. I only do this at night, when it's dark. Richard worries about the salt and also about how all this affects my "sick" digestive system....but so far I don't think it's had any bad affects (I may be in denial here!!!). I don't think so anyway.

I'm disclosing this strange behavior, early on in my blogging career, not because it is so important but because the reason I couldn't sleep is important....phew!!!! I often find myself struggling with a very busy, frantic mind...where thoughts come and go, tumble over one another, stay for a while but usually lead to other thoughts....a swirling, twirling mass of color happening in my brain. I feel very alone when I get overwhelmed by all these thoughts and constantly struggle to just slow down, breathe and focus on just one thing.

This appears to be my own "spiritual hurdle" right now. It isn't horrible....but it is my current challenge. I'm working really hard to slow down and recognize the current moment, rather then fumbling, tumbling, rumbling toward the future or back into the past. To hold each moment fully and to experience the diviness if each single breath.....I believe that that is the key to my own inner peace.

As an artist (yes....I AM AN ARTIST!) my mind is always full of colors, images, textures. I'm always creating. As a smart woman in this fast paced world, I am always developing my to-do lists which include all aspects of my life. I have certain responsibilities and requirements that need to be attended to. Fitting it all in.....while being further challenged, at times, by health issues, can be a huge undertaking. However, I feel confident that it can be done with grace, breath and awareness so that moments don't slip away.

The sun is out today and it is beautiful as I look down upon the city of Bellingham. Even with minimum sleep I am feeling luscious and powerful. I am strong today and that feels awesome. How blessed I am to have arrived at day two of bloggness. It is going well.....I think!!! Be peaceful!!!!!