Archive for the ‘personal journey’ Category

Back step

Three step Four.

I was in my beloved PR when an idiota said what they said.

How many times has life been like that for you?

So many.

And there will be more.

These are always in my heart, soul and stomach.

October 2024 was a hard month for me.

I tried to be helpful and all I got was push back.

I took it.

I’m pissed but dealing.

I tried to be patient and ended up just being invisible.

I took it.

I tried to be supportive and I got stress smacked back in my face.

I took it.

Getting really worked up.

I tried to be appreciative and was insulted to my face and behind my back.

I took it

I tried to be generous and all they did was take.

And yet still I took it.

I was a bubbling over cup of chaos

Until I could no longer be those things.

I started to fight back, and all that it came to was a fight.

I tried to stand up for myself and all I got was gaslit.

gas Lighting lights me red

I tried to hide, and all I got was angrier.

Until I could no longer be who I love to be.

A happy positive person.

I missed her.

My Wonder Women Gold Bracelet Shields no longer worked against the negativity.

The anxiety I keep at bay grew with the negativity.

I was a negative anxious volcano ready to explode.

The volcano that was me

No one helped me. No one listened to me. No one saw me.

And then it was time.  

I could no longer handle being invisible, taken advantage of, ridiculed and gaslit.

Hot red was flowing through my veins

I went black, emotionally threw up, and cried like no one’s business.

I spent the rest of the day self loving myself with my cats…who now, I know for sure, are my support animals.

We recused Momma and her babies but they rescued me.

I woke the following day free of the negative and the oppression that weighed me down so much it turned me into a black cloud with a mix of evil and a dash of hate.

I feel my soul could no longer handle it and  threw it up all over my husband, my generous friend and her kind husband got distant splatters too.

My upcycled art is sometimes like stuff thrown up into something thought provoking

But …

It was needed to be done when it was done…the day before the 2024 Presidential Election.

I stayed away from the poles all day on Tuesday. Saw some at night, decided to sleep instead.

A nice hike helped.

I woke on Wednesday in a very healthy space to see the news. It was very bad news.

But instead of it weighing me down again…I was strong and all I could feel was the love I had for the people that will be most affected by the devastating decision my fellow Americans made.

Most of all, all was well with us

I don’t have room for hate. I need as much love as I can muster to be able to share it with those that need it the most, more than me.

The hard working immigrants, legal or not, helping to feed this nation. All the people of color who I am sure are feeling very invisible right now. All the LGBTQ+ population who already have started to lose rights as citizens in these not so united states. All the People who follow religions different than the far right. All the children and young adults that won’t be able to read some of the written master pieces because of banned books. And all the women, mostly to those who have already lost the right to choose what is best for their bodies. And so much more.

My hard working brother and his support pup

I am now in caring mode. I still have flight left in me, but right now I must use my empathetic healing to help others to get strong again because the real fight is about to begin.

I believe this whole rainbow heartedly.

Thank you for coming along this roller coaster of a month with me.

Thank you to those who are there for me. I accept the shortcomings of those who sent me hurdles. I forgive those who made it so much harder, except one particular orange drumpster fire. I don’t give him enough credit in my soul for me to give him anymore thought.

I think of those who need my love.

Thank you also for visiting MY GNOME LITTLE WORLD.

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So I did a thing for my 50th Year (see previous post…link below) where I did 50 things. I did things I never did before, but also traveled, saw friends, learned new things and explored. I enjoyed pushing myself to do new things the most!

I took a Trapeze Class in my 50th Year!

Click Below to see “The 50 Things I Did to Celebrate My 50th Year!” https://henderbalz.com/2015/07/

Not only did I go to the Antique Road Show…I got in several background shots on the actual TV show. None of my antiques made it on the show, but we did stump 3 Experts!

For my 60th I want to grow as a human, be a better person, explore myself and the world, and generally improve who I am, inside and out.

I’m 60! I can kick, Stretch and Kick!

These are my ideas on what to do…and what I’ve done so far, 34 days into the year.

1. Travel – Trip to FL to see friends/home: Jan., Trip to Columbia: Feb, Trip to FL to see friends/home: March, Weekend away for our Anni planned: March, Big Trip planning: May June, FL Trip to see friends/home planned – June

Christmas Tree Burning Bonfire Indialantic FL

2 Travel to New Places – Columbia, Feb; Turkey & Greece, May/June

Fort San Fernando, Cartegna, Colombia

3. Regular Massages – So far: Jan , Feb

4. Face masks – feb

Very Sunburn After a Great Beach Day

5. Work out 4-5 times a week: Joined a Gym Jan, Gone 4 times a week: Jan, Feb, March

6. Join social groups – Joined a girls FB group..Girls Gone International: Jan.

7. Meet people on my own – Did a Gb girl group activity: Feb

8. Drink less alcohol – Did Jan/Feb, but go up and down, on a down swing March 8 now

It was my birthday damnit!

9. Drink more water 4 glasses / bottles a day – I have, and still trying to drink more

10. Facials – not yet

11. Read better books – not yet, but read every day

13.  Therapy . Not yet 

14. Tell close friends how much you appreciate them – March: sent out Woman’s day post to nearest/dearest

I Love and Appreciate My Bride Goddesses

15. Figure out other ways to sell my art – Found a cafe that’s interested: March

Note to self …make appt with owners to show them my art in person.

16. Keep on making art no matter what – I have stopped for awhile, but will get back on it (Jan/Feb)

The piece I’m working on. Found seaglass & pottery surrounded by pink air dry clay bubbles.

17. Update book, edit book, look for publishers, literary agent or self publish (Each one of these will be an individual item on my list)

18. Maybe get laser hair removal (if you know you know)

19. Maybe get a skin peel (I’m afraid).

No makeup, freckles, sunspots and wrinkles.

20. Stop unloading on people. It’s kind of negative. If I need, write it out in a journal instead.

21. Stop complaining about people in my life. Again more negativity. Love and accept.

22. Be positive. I always try…but try harder…but not annoying so.

23. Push doctors to help me figure out some health issues that have been with me for years but doctors just ignore.

In for stomach issues.

24. Maybe get a full body scan.

25. Eat better. This one is hard…because in general I don’t eat bad. I do need to lose weight but the only time I really have lost weight is when I went way too low on calories and worked out 5-7 times a week, sometimes twice a day. So maybe learn how to eat better for my metabolism/age.

26. Figure out my hormone levels. I did this in my 40s, but still having some menopause issues (like weight gain/hard to lose).

27. Be a better sister/friend/wife/aunt/daughter. I’m not sure what this looks like, but I am sure working on the sister thing right now! See #13

28. Understand my anxiety better. See #13

29. Play with my cats more. Pickles needs more play and Mommacita always needs more pets.

Mommacita & Pickles

30. Make more quality time with Jim…even if I have to force him! Have more patience with him.

31. Continue to grow my white/silver/grey hair out…but keep on temporarily dying it fun colors along the way!

Pink for now…Teal next!

32. Go Diving and snorkel more.

33. Get better at under water photography.

34. Do more with my photography. Entering photography Contest this week, March.

Contest is put on by the Circo Fest

Sixty is a lot of things…but I will number every trip as 1 item on the final list . I probably won’t number every massage and such, but maybe. I won’t put something on the final list that I really did not accomplish, like unloading on people about whatever is stressing or angering me. That will be hard, but I’m already working on it.

A lot of my list will be done on my own, a lot will be with my partner in adventure, best friend, love of my life and husband, Jim. This month we will be married 17 years.

Love you.

Thanks for taking a trip through…

MY GNOME LITTLE WORLD!

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It’s more like Shenanigan Adventures!

Ooooh yes, it’s been crazy since the end of October and I’m not complaining.

As Iris DeMent and John Prince sang …

“No, we’re not the jet set
We’re the old Chevro-let set
There’s no Riviera
In Festus, Missouri

And you won’t find Onassis
In Mullinville, Kansas
No, we’re not the jet set
We’re the old Chevro-let set
But ain’t we got love…”

1. We Flew to Florida to meet up with my brother.

2. We drove to see our Step Father for a night.

3. We had a Birthday/Halloween party at our house.

Chucky and his Bride

4. Then we drove to Hollywood, FL for a ride and night on a friend’s boat.

5. After that we drove to Key West for 2 Nights and then back to our house.

6. Flew back to Puerto Rico and Two Days later my friend visited

7. Then the next day we took a 2 night / 3 day road trip to La Parguera.

8. Spent the next 3 days playing tourist guide in San Juan.

9. Revamp energy time for the next adventure, making/selling art/jewelry and celebrating Cocktail Puerto Rico!

10. Fly back to Florida for Thanksgiving Week, which included a house warming party, a birthday party and Thanksgiving day, all within 4 days!

11. Did an overnight visit to my step father in Daytona!

12. Sunday after T-day, I flew to NJ/NYC area.

13. “Rest” 1 day and start a beach town roadtrip south!

14. First night Virginia Beach, VA.

15. Second and Third NIghts, Myrtle Beach, SC

16. 4th & 5th Nights, Atlantic Beach, FL with friends!

17. 1 Night in Daytona Beach, FL with my Step father!

18. Back home & Boating all in one day!

19. A few days of Shenanigans in and around our house in FL!

20. Fly to Puerto Rico to see my guy.

21. Enjoyed local Holiday Stuffs and getting apt and things set up for next adventure

22. In 4 days we fly to SF, CA!

23. Drive to the South Peninsula for doc appt and visit friends.

24. Drive back to SF for 2 days with Jim and another 2 nights with one of my besties.

25. East Bay to Stay with Inlaws for several days and Christmas morning.

26. Drive to Sacaramento Christmas Day to stay with my brother and family until after the New Year. With an overnight trip or two snuck in there.

27. Fly back to Puerto Rico.

28. And now I have to fly back to FL around a week later for some very important medical tests.

29. Return to PR hopefully in time for SANSE, Festival de San Sebastian, in old San Juan!

It’s not the Riviera, and it’s not Festus, Missouri… But it’s my Jet Set!

(more…)

Yep, I went out of my comfort zone, way out.

Pickles, the Kitty Art Kritic watching me in action.

I did something that caused anxiety.

Pickles, the Sometimes Art Assistant, gives good advice.

Actually, Anxiety has kept me from doing this for quite a while.

Pickles may be a lazy Art Assistant, but look how cute he is!

I feel the positivity/art TikTok algorithm I’m on has helped me.

Love making art with my constantly curious cat, helps the mood!

Art is everywhere where I live. It has opened its arms to me. I want to feel the embrace, I crave the embrace.

I can’t believe he did not mess this up as I was upcycling old bread ties.

To get the creative cradle, one must put themselves out there. I needed to reach and go beyond my limit.

Mommacita, Pickles the Kitty Art Kritic and Sometimes Art Assistant’s Mom, even got in one the art action.

I went way out my comfort zone. It’s freeing, yet terrifying.

No cats, just me and some of my art.

When I know the outcome, I will tell you all the outcome. I have to teach my anxiety, good or bad, it’s all gonna be ok.

Thanks for strolling along with me on this art anxiety walk. Like I said in a previous post, regarding this same exact issue, BABY STEPS!

And thanks to Jim, Randy and Patty for hyping me up and supporting me on this tiny journey.

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I went out of my comfort zone, out of my own self determined box and turned my world upside down. TRY IT, THE VIEW FROM HERE IS FUN!