Wake Up and Get Grateful!

Be Grateful.

Everyday.

When you start to get pissy or down on yourself, think about what you really do have. I've found that I get a lot further in my life and I'm a lot happier when I remember the things that I have than the things that I don't have. Make it a practice to write three things that you are grateful for EVERYDAY.

Today I am grateful for:

My Life

My Family

My Creativity

Actually, this would probably be my list everyday. I'm so blessed, just for the fact that I woke up this morning! Then I look into my children's eyes, and I know, no matter what, someone loves me. If I didn't have kids, I'd know that my friends loved me. And I am super grateful for my creativity. For ALL creativity.I imagine that there is an invisible energy stream running through the universe, to me it kind of looks like the Northern lights, but it's everywhere, and I imagine that this is the "Universal Stream of Creativity." Everyone can tap into this stream of creativeness, you just have to want it. Sometimes, you tap in at the exact time as someone else, and you both have the same idea- even if they're in another country! Anyone who wants to be creative, can be. 

So today, take a minute to think about what you are grateful for. And every time you start to say "Woe is me" come back to your list of blessings.

                                         

The Importance of Shavasana

As a yoga teacher I usually don't follow up my practice with Shavasana (Corpse Pose).  I always tell myself things like "I don't have time, I need to go check on..., I don't really need it, I'll chill later, etc" What I've found, however, is that I do need it. And it's kinda like I'm leaving my practice unfinished. For the past week, whenever I practice I've made myself  lie down and experience the asana. And I feel BETTER. Even more relaxed and energized at the same time. I sometimes notice in class when I get to this pose at the end, some folks are uncomfortable. I understand it's unnerving to close your eyes and let your guard down in a room full of strangers. Some people are reluctant to relax completely, afraid they may fall asleep, or snore, or even worse, be totally relaxed and fart. So they defeat the purpose by fidgeting, keeping their eyes wide open, barraging their brain with tasks and lists.

 Some things that I have learned since starting my practice years ago are:
I think you may actually be safest in the confines of a group of yogi's.It's a den of trust.
People are so worried about themselves they don't notice you and your noises.
Everybody snores and farts- EVERYBODY.
You need to take some time for yourself and relax. The reason you're so uptight? You don't relax enough!

Shavasana is helpful to you completely. Mind Body and Spirit. Some of the benefits of Shavasana are:

a decrease in heart rate and the rate of respiration, blood pressure, muscle tension
a reduction in general anxiety,a reduction in the number and frequency of anxiety attacks
an increase in energy levels and in general productivity
an improvement in concentration and in memory
an increase in focus,a decrease in fatigue, coupled with deeper and sounder sleep
and improved self-confidence

Why would you not want to feel better, look better, have more energy, sleep better, and walk around with your self confidence intact?!?

 So I'm challenging all you yogi's who skip Shavasana. Try it for the next 10 practices- at least 7 minutes of corpse pose. And then, see how you feel. It's remarkable!

Create for Woman

I am so doing this!!! I think women everywhere should sign up and create for equality!!

Not my entry, but something like it(I'm still working on the boobies)

~PROSPECTUS: UniteWomen.org is looking for art that speaks to, examines and explores the social, political and economic issues related to women's activism. We are seeking art (all media) that expresses the women's perspective on issues of women's rights, political rights, reproductive rights, the ERA and issues of societal control which can range from literal to poetic, abstract to representational, and psychological, to social and political commentary. Submit work that explores the concepts of being a woman in today's global society and how social constructs define your experience whether internal, external, imagined or imposed, and how it defines and shapes our identities, relationships, ideas and politics. Artists are encouraged to interpret this theme broadly; submit works that have resonance and meaning to you. UniteWomen.org will present these issues in visual form, creating a public forum for action, reaction, and informed discussion.~ 

I Surpassed- So Will You

So many of us have been victims in the past, and we harbor so much self loathing and embarrassment  as if we were somehow to blame for the way we were mistreated.

I'm here to tell you, this is

UNTRUE!

I am a survivor of sexual, mental and physical abuse...actually I'm a warrior of it. I have, through art, writing, and speaking about the bullshit, been able to re-strengthen my soul and repair my wounds and realize-

I AM NOT TO BLAME.

 This was done to me...I didn't ask for it , i didn't cause it, and I sure as hell didn't like it.

If you are a survivor of abuse- become a WARRIOR. Write about it. Yell about it. Paint it out. Run it out. Talk about it. You can heal, it takes a lot of work, and sometimes a lot of tears, but the healing process won't begin until you start the process. Grasp your truth, hold on to it tight, and share it. Your story will help others learn, grow, and heal. It may even prevent.

How I Settled Into My Skin

I'll be 37 this month and I'm really just settling into me.

I just wish that I worried more about who I was than what I was or what I could do to make others know me in my twenties and teens.

I was sexually abused from a young age, and then I allowed abuse through my teen years- giving of myself and being used up and tossed to the side for attention. Once I got to my twenties I was hard and cold...even after I had my son at 20~ I was un-affectionate and hard to read. My first husband and I split up at the age of 21, and I dated unsuccessfully for three years...cheating or being cheated on, falling for people who I knew were not for me, just because of the crowd I'd keep. During all of this time- I never accepted how unhappy I was, never was willing to accept the fact that I was being untrue, and down right mean to myself. My husband and I got back together when i was 24 and I was happy...in love...ME! For a bit...we got pregnant with our daughter and she was born in '01- I had someone who loved me truly, I loved them truly and we were honestly happy. Then he died. Two months after my baby was born, he had a work accident and died suddenly, during the day. I was devastated. Ruined. LOST.

FF through the doom and gloom to my husband of 8 years. Honest, soulful, beautiful. He was younger than me and accepting of a widow with two young children. Now~ I'm not painting this into a floral and rosy picture of joy...we've had our ups and downs...and for the most part the downs have been something I brought on...I never allowed my self to grieve- Grieve my childhood, my teen years, my first Husband...my innocence.

2005- I began to create...art, yarn, food, clothing.

 I had forgotten how much I loved to make things with my hands. I never took art, well not since the 7th grade. When I was little I would cut up paper and create elaborate structures, sometimes taller than me...I would get lost in a book and then spend the rest of the day recreating the story through my drawings. As a teen, I would cut out pictures of others and glue them in a sketchbook, writing through my anger and changing the images to suit my mood...never quite breaking through but always feeling a bit better afterwards.

So when I remembered my hands could be used to create joy, not just shield pain...I used them constantly. I painted, cooked, spun yarn, sewed. CREATED! Every new thing or task that I accomplished gave me a little bit more of my soul back. I became whole! A solid girl who was not afraid to be real, blunt and honest.

TRUE.

My family has always supported me, even when they didn't know what was wrong with me other than I was cold and angry and bitter. And my wonderful husband had my back and helped me in every way he could, as well as giving me TWO MORE (!) beautiful children.

Now- I'm happy, mostly, and when things set me back I get over them, knowing that everything will be better. I now have faith...in me and the world, in man-kind.

Now I create daily

I journal- writing and doodling my emotions all over pages in my books, working through my emotions without wearing them on my sleeve before they've been examined.

I meditate- Listening to me, getting deeper and deeper into my soul, sometimes I'm so deep I'm not in my body, just fully encased in my soul- able to understand what is before me.

I paint-Creating colorful shapes that may make no sense to others but to me they tell an intimate story of my past present and future...creation has become my art. Not the finished product.

I move- Everyday...Yoga has tethered me more solidly into my physical body and allowed me to feel at home in it. I no longer feel trapped in a place that I'm uncomfortable, don't like and am scared of.

I love- I allow myself to feel without the fear of being betrayed, hurt. I can control what affects me. Without feeling separated from myself, I feel whole. My family, children, husband, friends encase me in love and warmth and safety, and I am not afraid to return that love...I give freely of my emotions and except the world around me.

This is what I do and did to become me...I didn't start this page this way, trying to give my story, but I felt moved to be real and true. I have learned a lot in 36 years and I would not change a thing...I get to be me fully and make no excuses for it. I own my soul -LOVE,  ART and CREATIVITY have helped me see that. And now I know that my reason for being here is to help others who are hurting, or don't understand themselves fully, or are just stuck a bit- how to be TRUE. I teach truth and love through creativity and meditation and journaling. And I want to help everyone I can.

I hope that my story opened me up a bit for you...I honestly believe creativity can help you transform your life mentally and physically. And I want to help you...please email me at happysappytrees@gmail.com and I promise to try and help you with prompts and love. The classes I am creating will help us dig deeper into our souls and teach us that TRUTH is the way.

thank you for giving me a little of your time today...

Love,

Anastasia

Rooted

-WIP Acrylic on canvas-

I'm really into the idea of healing my root chakra and being more grounded...and all of these lovely earthy ladies are coming out of my head and flowing all over the canvas!!

I've got so many amazing projects a buzzin' everywhere! The minute I set my faith and trust into the Universe things have been happening at an accelerated speed! GOOD things! 

My friend Rachel and I are hosting Mad Hatter Paint Parties every Wednesday at Arts on Main in my hometown Gastonia NC. Please stop by and see us! We have a new painting every week and we also both offer private classes.

I still need quite a few votes to be eligible for the grant being offered by Chase and Living Social... Just go to Mission:Small Business log in and vote for HappyTrees Studio. Please! You would really be helping me create an amazing community in my beloved hometown.!!