Tag Archives: Art

A Look into My Shit Hole of a Brain

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! I am not in a good space to be writing this post but just want to let you that my brain is being a shithole right now. My brain is just going all of the place. Part of me wonders if taking a client to their dental appointment yesterday played apart in this but I am doing the best I can.

My brain is causing me some imposter syndrome and have mixed emotions around this. I feel like I am an imposter even though I am not the only that deals with this. My cat helps me keep my imposter syndrome in check.

After getting off work I have been doing some art. Specifically, I have been coloring. Coloring a book a friend of mine who is also a neighbor. My friend gave me a the perfect coloring book. While I coloring, I am listening to the podcast Philosophize This. I really get an education from this podcast. An education I never got in high school.

So that is that shit that is going on in my mind at moment. I do not have much more to say in this particular blog post. I do want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you do read my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Everyday Inspiration; Day 12: Critique a Piece of Work

Posted on by Gertie

Today, we are suppose to critique a piece of work which can be artwork, music or writing. It is hard to critique other people work as most of the time other peoples work is better than mine. I critique my own artwork, music and writing all the time. Sadly, the critique becomes self judgement so I try not to critique my own work.

So instead of critiquing, I am going to go on rant. A rant about how people in recovery get stigmatized all the fucking time. People who are in recovery from addiction and/or mental health challenges get stigmatize so much that some people choose to not share their struggles and sadly pass away from their addiction or die by suicide. People can live in long term recovery from addiction as well as mental health challenges. I just wish we weren’t judges so harshly for something that is not are fault. So, before you judge someone due to an addiction and/or mental health challenge think of how you would feel if it was you being judged.

A Sleepless Kind of Night in Seattle

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World from Seattle, Washington. I have yet been to sleep and it is 6:12 in the blasted morning here in Seattle. I am proud to say that the lack of sleep helped me be productive in ways I have been so the last few times Mr. Sandman has not exactly stopped at my home.

I started reading a book and read six chapters in it. It is quite an interesting book. I then picked up another book a read four chapters in that book. My dilemma is now what book I am going to focus on reading. Both books are quite interesting. I know there a bigger problems in the world that figuring out what book to read like being able to get to sleep.

I decided to do some art work. Specifically, I did some coloring that was not even a quarter done when I started coloring it tonight. Well, I can officially say that it is one hundred percent done and it only took me three and a half hours to finish. You would think that would have helped me get to sleep but sadly it did not.

So, I did decided to read some magazines about both mindfulness and meditation that included journaling. I found this extremely helpful to me. As it appeared to be the second best thing to help me relax. The first thing that of course helped me relax and that is finally making me tired is my cat, Billie Dean. I love my cat Billie so much. Life would not be the same with out him.

I don’t have much more to say in this post except thank you for reading my blog. I really appreciated that you read my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my hear for reading my blog. Have a great Saturday day ahead of you. Peace Out, World!!!

Ramblings About Today

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! I missed my session with my new therapist on Tuesday and she called me today to do fifteen minute session. Something I wasn’t expecting but I am very much grateful for the time she gave me. Her kindness is awesome. I am a little weary of her being so timid but I will give her a chance as sometimes the timid ones tend to be the best therapist I have had.

I did work from work from home today. I only had three clients today and all were done via phone. The other part of the day was a two hour meeting as well as writing notes. According to the Clinical Director, I “write really good notes.” I am not sure about that but I having to train all the Peer Specialist how to write them when the lead peer comes back from leave. I am not sue how this person will react as I have only be at my new employer for five months. I really do love my job.

As much as I love the work I do, I do need time to take care of myself. So I am spending this evening doing art. The type of art I am doing is coloring. I love coloring as it is quite helpful. I colored as I listened to a podcast about philosophy. The specific podcast I listened to is Philosophize this. I learned a great about philosophy and finished a picture that I am proud of.

Now it is time for me to turn on the music full blast as I clean my bathroom. Doesn’t sound very fun but I enjoy cleaning the bathroom especially since that is where my cats litter box is. I love my cat Billie Dean so much that I clean the bathroom everyday. Billie seems to like it as I play some really good music.

I don’t have much more to say in this particular blog post. I, do, however, want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you do read my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. It means a great deal to me. Have a great evening. Peace Out, World!!!

Everyday Inspiration; Day 6: Space to Write

Posted on by Gertie

A space to write is much like a space to do artwork. It doesn’t have to be the same place just as long as you have a space that helps inspire you. A place for me to write all determines the time of year as well as my head space. My head space to be in a mode to write outside but the weather outside might not be the best outside. I’m not about to write outside when its raining out or snowing. If I writer outside I usually use a pen or pencil and paper. When I am in inside it depends the mood I am in but usually use my laptop to write. When I write inside, I like to write looking out the window as it gives me inspiration. Writing inside can be a challenge as well. It can be a challenge when my cat, Billie wants attention. On that note, when Billie wants attention it can also be an inspiration.

Unexpected Change in Plans

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! Usually, I am at my volunteer job at this time but sadly there was a water leek last night and caused some damage. So, this morning I helped the staff member on duty load up the cats be taken up to the Lynnwood location of PAWS. We also did as much clean up as possible. Thankfully, the building management will be in today to fix everything so that the cats can go back to PAWS Cat City no later than this Tuesday.

The plans I have today may have slightly changed but that is okay. One of things I will be doing after I finish this blog post is do some artwork. Specifically, I will be coloring. I really do enjoy coloring. When I color it feels like I am healing my inner-child. An inner-child that needs to be reparented by me.

As I color I will be listening to a podcast about philosophy. The specific podcast on philosophy I will be listening to is “Philosophize This.” I am grateful to be able listen to this particular podcast as I feel like I am learning something.

As I color and listen to “Philosophize This,” I will also be doing dreaded laundry. I am not a big fan of doing laundry but it is something that needs be done. Or in the word of my grandma “Laundry is a necessary evil.” I will have to agree with my grandma on this.

I do not have much more to say in this particular blog post. I just want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you read my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. I hope everyone has a great rest of your Sunday. Peace Out, World!!!

Self-Care Saturday

Posted on by Gertie

Good Afternoon, World!!! Today has been a day of self care and I dubbed today as Self-Care Saturday. I didn’t realize I was actually to a couple of friends over a Zoom call and the let informed me that I was doing self-care. We discussed that doing self-care is a very good thing even when we are doing well. As my two friends and I discussed self-care I realized that doing self-care when I am well like I am now will help do good self-care when I am not doing so well.

One of the ways, I have done self-care today is attended three twelve-step meetings over Zoom. One of the meetings is based here in the Seattle area while another is based in London, England and the other is based in Sydney, Australia. So, I have been attending twelve-step meetings all of the world today. The twelve-step program I am in is awesome and has both twelve-step principles and peer recovery principles. I think the reason why I love this particular twelve-step program is because it feels more like a peer recovery program than a twelve-step program.

Another way I have been doing self-care today is doing artwork. Specifically the type of artwork I have been doing is coloring. Coloring has been a great way for me to do self-care. It is a way for me do mindfulness and in a way a meditation. I have always enjoyed coloring and love to do it. It brings me joy and connects me with my inner-child. An inner-child that needs to be healed and is being healed with all the work I am doing in my recovery.

As I colored, I listened to music. Music that brings me so much joy. Today, as I colored I listened to my “Childhood Memories” playlist that is over sixteen hours long. I don’t remember how many song on my “Childhood Memories” playlist at the moment. I’m grateful that I chose my “Childhood Memories” playlist along with the coloring helped with the healing process of healing my inner-child.

Of course part of my self-care is my cat Billie Dean. Billie is such a help to me. He knows exactly know when I need attention from him. I also can’t imagine what my life would be like without him. I love having Billie lay in my lap as I type this blog post. I think he is needing some connection right now and I am grateful that he is such a lap cat.

Something Billie likes is when I eat chicken for a meal and I ordered a big bucket meal from Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC). The big bucket meal will feed me for five meals including breakfast. Of course when I eat the chicken I will share it with my cat, Billie.

I do not have much more to say in this particular blog post. I do want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you read my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. I hope everyone has a great rest of your Saturday as well as your weekend. Peace Out, World!!!

It’s Been A Good Day

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! I have had a good day today. Work went better than I thought today as I didn’t get very much sleep last night. I really love my new job and I feel like I am excelling at it. My supervisor is highly “impressed” with my de-escalation skills with clients. I don’t think it’s nothing to be impressed by as I think what I am doing is something everyone can do. Anyway, I am glad I “impressed” my supervisor without even trying.

After work, I decided to turn on a podcast about philosophy. The podcast I listen to about philosophy is “Philosophize This.” I enjoy listening to “Philosophize This” immensely and suggest to you, to listen to it. I realize philosophy isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. The podcaster doing this podcast has a way of drawing me in and I appreciate that.

As I listened to “Philosophize This” I did some artwork. The type of art I did was color. I love to color. Coloring is a type of mindfulness for me as well as a type of meditation. I know it sounds weird that coloring is a mindfulness meditation for me but for some reason it is.

Of course, another form of mindfulness for me is spending time with my cat, Billie Dean. Billie is always a comfort and has a way of bringing me back to reality in a gentle way. I love my cat so very much and don’t know what life would be like without him. Cats are such amazing creatures.

I don’t have much more to say in this particular blog post. I do want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you read my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

A Sleepless in Seattle Type of Night

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! It’s been very much a sleepless type of night here in Seattle for me. I am not exactly sure why I am unable to sleep especially after taking my sleep meds. Usually, on nights I can’t figure out why I can sleep, I contribute it to my insomnia. Having insomnia sucks shit.

As sucky as not being able to sleep is, it allows me to do things I enjoy and usually have schedule into my day. One of those things is artwork. Tonight the type of artwork I did was coloring. Coloring is very therapeutic and meditative for me.

As I colored, I listened to a podcast about philosophy. The philosophy podcast I am listening to is “Philosophize This.” “Philosophize This” is a really good podcast and am grateful that I found it on Spotify. I am learning a great deal and am hope to discuss my knowledge with other people.

Something else is that my cat Billie Dean has been by my side and/or on my lap the entire night. Billie even attempted to steal a couple of my colored pencils. Billie is really a good cat and I love him so very much.

I do not have much more to say in this particular blog post. I do want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you do read my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. It means a great deal to me that you read my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Middle of the Night Ramblings

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! I am awake sort of by choice due to needing to sleep during the day to work my last shift at my current employer. See, I work a thirteen hour night shift at my current employer. So, that is why I said, “sort of by choice” regarding sleep. I will miss the folks I work with as well as the clients I serve but I am glad to be leaving because night shifts suck especially such long shift and already having sleep issues.

So far the thing that has helped me stay up tonight was doing some art work. Specifically, coloring. I am coloring. I am coloring some holiday pictures. I love coloring and enjoy being able to color holiday pages. The one I am working on currently is a Hanukkah coloring page. In fact it is currently Hanukkah as we speak. Tonight will be the third night. The Hanukkah page I am coloring is for a friend of mine who celebrates Hanukkah. It is almost finished and I will be able to give it to her on Monday night.

As, I have been coloring I have been listening to a podcast. The podcast is about philosophy. The philosophy podcast I am listening to is “Philosophize This.” I really enjoy this particular podcast for various reasons. One of which is Steven West does a great job relating the topic of philosophy to his listening. The cool thing is that Steven West lives in the Seattle area.

Of course, Billie Dean, my cat has been quite helpful with keeping me awake so I can sleep during the day. I love Billie so very much. He has helped me so much this past year. I love the fact that Billie is so lovey dovey and very much a lovebug that loves to sleep in my lap. Billie, is such a sweet little kitty.

I do not have much more to write about. I do want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you do read my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Have a wonderful Saturday world. Peace Out, World!!!