Season’s Greetings and Happy Holidays to all “A Kiss Of Bliss” followers.
I want to redirect you to my Hearts That Care blog as that is where I am currently active. I deeply appreciate your readership and hope you will follow me over to Hearts That Care for my latest positive messages and expressions of my heart. Thank you so very much!! ♥ Dr. Angi
Share joy and sorrow alike.
~ Duke Shanxiang, Zhou Dynasty
People, especially those who are close to you, want to be a shoulder for you to cry on when you have sorrow, just as much as they wish to share in your joys. Do not feel you are a burden to others when you have trying times in your life. Let others lift you up. As they lift your spirits, their own hearts are lifted. You are empowering them and giving them a sense of value and purpose. Share your joy and sorrow alike.
All rights reserved. ©2015 by A.K.Orobko
Too often we put limits on ourselves as we try to define who we are. In an era of branding ourselves, I believe we are putting limits on who we can become. Last month I focused on “New Beginnings” and did many art instructional videos…see link… as I explored various art techniques.
Although it was fun to make the videos, it was also confining and limited me. I became remiss in keeping up with my writing and other activities that I enjoy and wanted to do. This month I am going to break my mold, as I expand and spread my wings to see how magnificent I can become. I encourage each of my friends, family members and followers to do the same. Time to cut loose the ropes (brands/definitions) that bind us and test different waters.
As we kickoff a new school year in my hometown, I like to give myself a clean slate… A NEW BEGINNING. Starting Monday, September 1st, I am challenging myself to create consistently and regularly in many areas of my life. I will be expanding my imaginative spirit in art, writing and grate-full living. I plan on documenting my progress this year in writing, in expressive art, in photography and video.
The THEME I have chosen for SEPTEMBER is NEW BEGINNINGS; and the prompt for week 1 is: EXPLORING LINES.
As I embark on this creative journey, I will share my writing and grate-full living experiences here on A Kiss of Bliss; and, I will share my artwork and art techniques on Blissful Art.
You are invited to join me. You can share your progress in the comments here on my blog or join my Facebook group – Art, Buddies And Creativity: www.facebook.com/groups/ArtBuddiesAndCreativity. You can also subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/AKOrobko where I will be posting videos of my journey. Here is the link to the kickoff video of this challenge: http://youtu.be/YCODHqqsi-I?list=PLoCvvdbjmEyUfbBSUEXvqHU4v1uRSTGHm
Ringing In The New Year by Dr. Angi K. Orobko
Celebration! Commemoration!
Joy-FULL-ness Activation!
Praises be made! Tonight and everyday!
We are the ones to PAVE the WAY!
Anchor the moment with festivities!
Delight in ALL your PAST activities!
Honor the OLD, as you anticipate the NEW!
That is the very BEST thing to DO!
MORE importantly EMBRACE the moment at present!
Truly experience it; make it a GRAND EVENT!
Learn from it, enjoy it, give it your undivided attention.
It is those moments together that build our intention.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
♥ I am off to celebrate…
more to come in 2014. ♥
Counting my Blessings!
a poem by Dr. Angi
(Angela Kowitz Orobko, Ed.D.)
I am blessed to be alive,
to have all ten fingers
and to have all ten toes.
I am blessed to have
the gift of sight and
to smell wonderful fragrances
with my beautiful nose.
I am blessed to have
two sturdy, supporting limbs
that are attached
to my nearly perfect feet.
I am blessed to have
the gift of a caring heart
that is healthy and warm
and never skips a beat!
I am blessed to have
two strong arms
to hug and embrace
and carry a load.
I am blessed with
two wonderful hands
that allow me to wave,
to paint and to write this ode.
I am blessed with a great family:
supportive parents, a loving sister,
and an amazing husband.
I am blessed with all the people
in my life, from all over the world, the internet
and in my community whom I consider friends.
I can go on and on with an inexhaustible list.
But I know you get the idea that I FEEL so very, very blessed!
I am profoundly grateful for choice. Did you know that a person always has a choice in anything, whether one chooses to see it that way or not? Choice is defined as a thought process of judging the merits, worthiness or quality of multiple options and selecting one of them. Funny thing is that every person always has at least two choices: to act or not to act on any given issue or situation. The challenge lies in seeing the choices when one is feeling stuck. Other challenges with choices include having to make a hasty decision and fear of making a choice because of possible unpleasant outcomes.
How can one work through the challenges surrounding choices? One obvious solution is for a person to decide NOT to choose, select, decide or opt at that given moment. A person has the choice to sit with his or her selections in order to weigh his or her options until he or she can make the best choice for his or her situation.
How does a person find more choices? An individual will need to take a broad look and view his or her situation from a different perspective in order to see more choices. It is only then these selections become apparent. Case in point, one is challenged with a new policy at work with which he or she does not agree. Most would see as having no choice.
There are actually multiple choices presented here: 1) comply with the new policy; 2) ignore the policy, apologize and face the consequence; 3) speak with the policy-makers and see if the policy can be amended; 4) seek supporters against the policy and file a petition; 5) seek new employment and resign with a two weeks notice. After stepping away from the issue or challenge where one feels he or she has no choice, many apparent options begin to emerge and present themselves when one uses his or her objective lens.
Sometimes a person just needs to have faith that he or she will be making the right decision. One needs to face his or her fear of the outcome, take the risk and make a selection. Examining the worst case scenario and deciding that it is not so bad after all can be an excellent way to decide and choose. I deeply appreciate choice and having the wisdom to see the multiple choices I have in my life.
I deeply appreciate hugs! A hug is like ice cream or candy for the heart and soul! It is that delicious, warm and loving embrace that displays the affections of another compassionate and caring being. I feel that hugs are best when they are unexpected. Incoming…..surprise hug! Those really make my day!
Hugs do not have to be reserved for other people. You can wrap those lovely arms around yourself as well as others and squeeze! Go ahead. Go on! Do it right now!!! (((BIG HUG!!!))) You have been virtually hugged by me! (Big grin) How did it feel? Virtual hugs feel almost as good as the real thing.
Have you ever spontaneously hugged someone you do not know? I have. Those are the best because there are no expectations attached and because it was unexpected. That is what I call a double blessing. I challenge anyone who reads this blog to hug at least one person they do not know before the New Year. I bet it will be appreciated. Go on and be a hugger (and not a bugger). Hugs!
I am extremely grateful for music. No matter what my mood is music will alter it, usually for the better. It never ceases to amaze me how music transcends all languages; furthermore, it has been said that “music has charms to soothe the savage breast. ” This phrase was coined by William Congreve, in The Mourning Bride, 1697. Here is the original verse from which it came:
Musick has Charms to sooth a savage Breast,
To soften Rocks, or bend a knotted Oak.
I’ve read, that things inanimate have mov’d,
And, as with living Souls, have been inform’d,
By Magick Numbers and persuasive Sound.
What then am I? Am I more senseless grown
Than Trees, or Flint? O force of constant Woe!
‘Tis not in Harmony to calm my Griefs.
Anselmo sleeps, and is at Peace; last Night
The silent Tomb receiv’d the good Old King;
He and his Sorrows now are safely lodg’d
Within its cold, but hospitable Bosom.
Why am not I at Peace?
Incidentally, William Congreve (1670-1729) was an English playwright and poet. He wrote some of the most popular English plays of the Restoration period of the late 17th century. By the age of thirty, he had written four comedies and one tragedy, The Mourning Bride (1697). (From: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7008439-the-mourning-bride )
Back to the topic of music…in my own experiences with music, I know that when I have been tired, music re-energizes me. When I am anxious, music calms me. When I am sad, music makes me happy. When I am restless, music relaxes me.
Lullabies have been used to lull babies to sleep. Music has been used to set romantic moments. Music is magical. That being said, music can also stir negative emotions, like fear and sadness. Some music can simply get on your nerves. However, I am certain much of that has to do with preference, as well as, state of being at the moment.
I deeply appreciate music. As we approach the holidays, music plays a significant role in setting the tone of the season and illuminating many joyful memories of holidays of yore. What effect does music have for you? Do you have any favorite tunes for specific times in your life?
There is something special about receiving a hand-written note.
~ Dr. Angi K. Orobko
Hand-written notes and letters are such a gift! I feel that the person behind it took that extra special time to scribe it just for me. Handwriting is becoming a lost art as more and more of our children are learning keyboarding instead of handwriting. I am aware that many school system’s no longer require and/or include cursive writing in their lessons anymore. I feel that is quite a loss.
With the dawning of computers and hand-held digital devices, more and more of us are typing and text-messaging (texting). Our own language cannot even keep up with the new verbs we are creating as we type messages on our mobile phones and other electronic devices. Furthermore, our words have been reduced to acronyms. LOL (laugh out loud) Am I the only one finding it hard to keep up with all of this digital-techno-speak?
Oh, please do not misunderstand. I do appreciate the convenience of being able to communicate any time I like, 24/7 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week); but, it does seem just a tad bit less personal. Don’t you think? The internet is certainly an amazing source for information (and misinformation).
Most questions can be answered at the tip of our fingertips by doing a Google search. Has “google” become a verb? I googled it and Wikipedia states that the Oxford English and Merriam Webster Collegiate dictionaries have added it in 2006. Really? And yet, my spellchecker has it red-lined. Hmm!
Let me get back on the topic of hand-written notes. On the one side, I love receiving them. I deeply appreciate and I am grateful for the time and effort that went into a note or letter that has been handwritten. On the flip side, I love to write them. Why? When I hand-write a note, a letter, or a journal entry, it allows me to slow down and take time and reflect. It can be quite meditative.
One of my favorite gifts to give others especially around the holidays are hand-written messages (in their holiday cards). I believe these messages are deeply appreciated, even though many of my loved ones do not reciprocate this. I usually get a Merry Christmas and a signature. It saddens me to think that holiday card exchanges have been reduced down to a chore. This is a golden opportunity to scribe a special message to share how much we appreciate our family and friends with hand-written messages.
Consider taking the time to reflect and appreciate your loved ones this holiday season by sending a hand-written message of love, appreciation and blessings. Why not make it a new Thanksgiving tradition to gather the family to hand-write notes and messages of gratitude to include with your holiday cards? I am certain these notes will be well received. That is what I intend to do this year.
A Kiss Of Bliss 