There are always flowers . . .

"There are always flowers for those who wish to see them."
~ Henri Matisse

. . . and if we can't find them, sometimes we need to
make our own.

There have been frustrations with living in my community recently. I won't get into specifics but they are serious, significant and disturbing.. 

When I get stressed and frustrated, I need to return to gratitude. I truly believe we get what we focus on. Lately my thought have been on things I certainly don't want to increase in my life. 

There are a lot of reasons to love my home and community. I have wonderful neighbors who are peace loving with kind hearts. That makes the recent incidents all the more disturbing. The 'magic alley' is only a few steps away. It takes me less than 5 minutes to drive to the Renaissance Institute at Notre Dame University of Maryland for chorus and classes. My back yard is overflowing with rosemary, lavender, thyme, other herbs and vegetables and flowers in the summer months.I am less than 15 minutes away from superlative museums, restaurants, gardens and Camden Yards. Live music is abundant through out the area  seven days a week.

I've been told violence is increasing in communities all across the country. I'm still familiar with places that are safe so I'm not buying into that gloom. I didn't lock my door for over a decade at the cabin and my neighbors from that area still don't. If my house hadn't been flooded, I'd still be there, but I was divinely guided to move heer and for now< i'll make the best of it and focus on all of the blessings. 

. . . off to paint more flowers!