A New Year and an amazing gift

"Beginnings"

by JJ Jacobs

I've been revving up the creative juices as I strive to come up with new glass designs for spring and paint some new abstract expressions for the licensing contract I recently signed with All My Walls (my designs are currently in production and should be available around 4/1/2012).  It's been challenging to find balance between my personal time and my "work" time though, and I find that the day is over well before I have accomplished what I set out to do earlier that same day.  Even with a "to-do" list, I feel as though I'm not doing everything I want or need to do, as I table the leftover tasks for the next day. 

It's a rainy Sunday here in Sacramento, and as I was getting ready to do another "to-do" list and mentally flog myself with the proverbial wet noodle for not finishing everything from the previous lists, I stopped and re-read some amazingly profound words of wisdom from my dear friend, Anne Eversmann. 

Beginning on Christmas last year, Anne sent me an email that simply said:
"On The First day of Christmas
A gift for you and me:
An inner serenity"
 
Every morning for the next 11 days, I received an email from Anne with another phrase (think 12 Days of Christmas song!).  Here are the phrases from those 12 special days:
 
12 rambling thoughts
11 " hows " to pray
10 " whys " we are called to pray
9 dances for the spirit
8 heartfelt hugs
7 year end musings
6 highly receptive senses
5 reasons for change
4 ways to let go and be
3 insights to joy
2 priceless presents
AND A QUIET SERENITY

 On January 6th, the last email from Anne came with the title "Epiphany."  Here's what she wrote:

As we stand before the Light of All Creation let's say,
" We give YOU our best
not only today
but in the every NOW that we live."

Today as I re-read this wonderfully original and fantastic gift from Anne, I had a huge Epiphany of my own.  I'm doing my best right here and right now, and I am doing it every day.  Some days my best may seem more productive than others, but there are different types of productivity.....and my rambling thoughts are actually dances for my spirit, as I watch each and every day unfold into another opportunity.

Thank you Anne for this amazing and wonderful gift of wisdom, words and insight -- you are simply the best.

PA RUM PA PUM PUM