Be the jellyfish ... shine and share your light

How one thing leads to another ...

I've been struggling with a project, so I've done some research and reading, and more research and more reading. And I'm starting to feel as though I'm going around in circles.

Because I am.

I'm not sure who said, "The answers are in the work," but I know it's true. I also know the hard part is starting the work.

Though I'm still uncertain, I've decided it's time to start. Anywhere. To grab at that idea that hangs like a loose thread and see where it takes me.

When I set out to write today's email, I toyed with the idea of World Jellyfish Day listed for Friday, but aside from seeing one or two floating in the water while swimming in the ocean (eek!), what do I know about jellyfish? So I decided on a nature theme to recognize Saturday's Nat'l Play Outside Day.

I gathered leaves, pinecones, pine needles, and dried flowers to make a natural mandala, didn't like what I created, and scrapped that idea.

But the leaves I collected did merit a second look, so I created the leaf pattern above. They are all from the same tree, but all so different. Much like all of us.

While the pattern of leaves on the black background was striking, I wanted more.

And that is when then the pieces (the black paper, the yellow leaves and pine needles) came together to form an idea ... and a jellyfish.

A bit abstract, but still, a jellyfish.

Be the jellyfish ...
When jellyfish were still an idea, I read a bit about them and was reminded of their bioluminescence ... they light themselves up in the deepest, darkest water.

As I discovered with my foraged materials, once we start, one thing leads to another, and then, like the jellyfish, we create our own light.

Our own bioluminescence.

It can be difficult to get started, but once you do, your light will shine.

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p.s. After collecting and working with the pinecones and pine needles, my hands were covered in sap.

Even if you're not a fan of Wednesday's Nat'l Peanut Butter Lovers Month, you may be interested in knowing it's a handy cleaning agent.

Washing up with soap and water doesn't cut through pine sap. But ... peanut butter (or almond butter) does.