Attack of the SHOULDs

So, I see it's been some time since my last post. You would think that after I was laid off my job at the end of May, that I might have had a little more time to post to my blog, and you would be right. However, I think I've been avoiding it, just as I avoid cutting the grass or doing the dishes (I'm avoiding the lawn mower as I write this post). This shouldn't feel like a chore, right? Not that anyone is holding me accountable to post, that's all me.

That's me in the guilty chair.

All me.

Like how I feel that I should my household under control by now (I don't) or have found a job by now (I haven't) or slimmed down and gotten healthier (not yet). Seems to me that my life is full of SHOULDs right now. My 40th birthday is in 23 days and I feel like I SHOULD have it all figured out by now (I don't).

What I need to do is give myself a break - it's not like I'll become a superhero in 23 days, capable of turning myself into a swirling ball of energy and tying up all my loose ends and finishing all my unfinished projects so I could start my 40th year fresh and in control (though, that would be awesome). I have limitations and need to set my goals and expectations back to the human setting (not superhero setting).

I'm also not likely to win the lottery (I don't play), so I don't think my financial woes will be resolved in 23 days, either. I may find a job in the next 23 days, but if I don't, I'm not a failure, I just need to be persistent, stay positive, and keep trying.

I created this digital art journal page to remind myself of what I SHOULD be doing:

And since it's the first cool day, non-rainy in my neck of the woods, I have to go cut that grass!

Art Journal page....Words of Wisdom - My Dream Bookstore

Took me all night, by I completed one of the weekly assignments for the Art Journal Caravan that I'm working on over at Scrapbook Graphics with Tangie Baxter and Amanda Sexton. I've added a tab for my digital art journal pages as well, in case you're interested. This week's itinerary had us focusing "Chasing Down your Dreams".

It's long been a dream of mine to own my own bookstore...surprise, surprise! In the era of the super bookstores (should I mention that You've Got Mail is one of my all time favorite movies?), the little bookshop I dream of is not likely to fly....so, I've created this one....come on in, sit down and grab a cup of coffee and a book off the shelf and stay a while....

Papers: Art Stomp, Tangie Baxter and Roben-Marie Smith, Every Life Has a Story, Digichick Designers
Elements from Studio Manu, Viva Artistry, Faith True, Gunhile Storide, Fresh Outdoors Collab, Impressions of the Sea Collab, Jen C Designs, Libby Weifenbach, Connie Prince
Bookcase: Dustybear, Sassy bookcase

Greatly sorry if I missed any credits

Don't refuse to go on an occasional wild goose chase -- that's what wild geese are for.
Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.”
~Vince Lombardi