I share my cozy cottage studio in Sherman Oaks, California with my two rescues, Wally, the mini poodle, and Dudley, a poodle mix that only sees with his heart. I affectionately call them “my boys” as if they were my children because they are! My passion and love for rescuing senior and special needs dogs started seven years ago with my precious Moose, a one-eyed, blind Shih-Tzu, who now resides in heaven but whose memory and spirit lives on in my heart.
I believe that dogs can teach us so many life lessons, just as mine have. We all know that they are experts in giving unconditional love and that their loyalty is worth every dog hair. But, there is one other quality they have from which we can learn from, and it is on living mindfully.
“Everything you need is already within you.”
—Anonymous
Mindfulness can be explained in so many ways and means different things to each person, but to me, it means paying attention to the present moment and connecting with who we are. It is having awareness while slowing down our mind and just observing, non-judgmentally. The present time is the only time we are truly alive and the only time we can express any emotions of love. If you think about it, dogs live this way every moment of every day. To me, they are the perfect role models for being alive.
Having my boys come to “work” with me in my cottage studio means having the opportunity to cultivate mindfulness. When I am creating, whether it is styling products for my small online shop or making an idea that currently lives in my head so that it can come to life in my hands, my dogs’ presence is a gentle reminder to take a mindful pause, step outside and enjoy the beautiful sunshine of today.
I find that putting intention into practicing self-love is the best way to tend to our overall wellness. One of the ways I practice self-love is by simply lighting a few candles, sitting down with a cup of tea and writing down my thoughts and ideas into a journal. Simply putting intention and making the time to do this for me can feel both rewarding and therapeutic. It is also a great way to stay inspired.
There are of course times when I am trying to be my most brilliant and creative self, but nothing feels right. It is the dreaded creative block that all creatives struggle with from time to time. I have experienced this many times and know the feeling all too well. I have found that the best way for me to break free from this creative block is to completely disconnect and walk away from whatever it is I’ve been feeling stuck with and just keep myself busy with the most mundane tasks. There is so much beauty in the little things we do daily that seems like nothing, and this is often, surprisingly, where I find inspiration. I also love to capture the little things in my photos, as this is one way that helps me to stay centered and grounded.
Journaling is a new ritual that I have been practicing, and it has been an effective way for me to free my brain from the clutter of thoughts that can cloud my mind and prevent new inspiration from flowing in.
I share my cozy cottage studio in Sherman Oaks, California with my two rescues, Wally, the mini poodle, and Dudley, a poodle mix that only sees with his heart. I affectionately call them “my boys” as if they were my children because they are! My passion and love for rescuing senior and special needs dogs started seven years ago with my precious Moose, a one-eyed, blind Shih-Tzu, who now resides in heaven but whose memory and spirit lives on in my heart.
I believe that dogs can teach us so many life lessons, just as mine have. We all know that they are experts in giving unconditional love and that their loyalty is worth every dog hair. But, there is one other quality they have from which we can learn from, and it is on living mindfully.
“Everything you need is already within you.”
—Anonymous
Mindfulness can be explained in so many ways and means different things to each person, but to me, it means paying attention to the present moment and connecting with who we are. It is having awareness while slowing down our mind and just observing, non-judgmentally. The present time is the only time we are truly alive and the only time we can express any emotions of love. If you think about it, dogs live this way every moment of every day. To me, they are the perfect role models for being alive.
Having my boys come to “work” with me in my cottage studio means having the opportunity to cultivate mindfulness. When I am creating, whether it is styling products for my small online shop or making an idea that currently lives in my head so that it can come to life in my hands, my dogs’ presence is a gentle reminder to take a mindful pause, step outside and enjoy the beautiful sunshine of today.
I find that putting intention into practicing self-love is the best way to tend to our overall wellness. One of the ways I practice self-love is by simply lighting a few candles, sitting down with a cup of tea and writing down my thoughts and ideas into a journal. Simply putting intention and making the time to do this for me can feel both rewarding and therapeutic. It is also a great way to stay inspired.
There are of course times when I am trying to be my most brilliant and creative self, but nothing feels right. It is the dreaded creative block that all creatives struggle with from time to time. I have experienced this many times and know the feeling all too well. I have found that the best way for me to break free from this creative block is to completely disconnect and walk away from whatever it is I’ve been feeling stuck with and just keep myself busy with the most mundane tasks. There is so much beauty in the little things we do daily that seems like nothing, and this is often, surprisingly, where I find inspiration. I also love to capture the little things in my photos, as this is one way that helps me to stay centered and grounded.
Journaling is a new ritual that I have been practicing, and it has been an effective way for me to free my brain from the clutter of thoughts that can cloud my mind and prevent new inspiration from flowing in.
