Secret Sanctuary-Chapter 10

Chapter 10 —Secret Sanctuary

Bold orange coneflowers blaze. Deep purple delphiniums rise majestically alongside hot pink hyacinths and rich magenta blooms, all reaching upward through a luminous background of soft teal and periwinkle blue shifting to warm coral and gold — a sky that holds both the warmth of morning and the peace of evening at once.

I almost didn't paint Henry.

I had never put a bird in a painting before and I was afraid it would feel cliche. Predictable.

But he insisted on being there. Right in the center of all that abundance — the blazing coneflowers, the purple delphiniums, the climbing jasmine, the golden grasses — this small wren sitting perfectly still and belonging completely.

Henry is not cliche. Henry is the whole point.

And there is Henry. Sitting perfectly still at the heart of it all. Just present. Just belonging. Just completely, peacefully himself.

I dont quite know the reason why I paint something for awhile. Sometimes the obvious isn’t so obvious. My AHA moment came as I was driving. I was starting to feel better, be less tired and stressed and liking my enviornment. Wait… liking where I was. Really?

Somewhere between being young — and the years of adulting— I quit showing up for myself, I started playing small. I put myself on the back burner. Stopping just short of the ultimate opportunity. Shrinking a little when life got hard, and we all know life can be hard, until shrinking felt normal.

Not all at once. Slowly. The way you don't notice the light changing until suddenly it's dark.

But, there was Henry, right in the center of the garden. Unafraid. Unhurried. Completely himself. At peace.

Sometimes you find yourself in an unexpected places. I landed in a little farm town, that is very quiet. No fancy food, fancy markets, not much to do. Oh, how I missed my health food store and availability to have any food for dinner that you want. Im not much for cooking, Id rather be painting or pretty much anything else.

It took so time, but, I realized that this little town gave me the chance to quiet the noise in my nervous system, decompress, and give me time to heal from previous life experiences. those life events had been put aside to earn a living and take care of responsibilities.

The quiet beauty of farmland and how each season was different all gave me inspiration.I really started to like it and appreciate the opportunity to heal and change my life. It was actually a blessing for me.

Don’t get me wrong,I still miss my health food store, favorite Thai food place, and market choices, but, I get into town enough that it is ok. Being here has opened my eyes to blessings that come from unexpected places.

The direction of my paintings changed after the acceptance of Be Gentle With Yourself. The paintings that followed came from a different place. A quieter, more settled, more fully inhabited place. That is what this painting is about. The decision to show up for yourself, not just everyone else, everyday. To plant yourself right in the middle of your own life and belong there, just like Henry in the Secret Sanctuary.

Some sanctuaries are not chosen, but, it may be closer than you think.

I found mine. 💜

The garden is open. You are welcome here. 💜

Secret Sanctuary is available as an Original Painting, museum-quality, Fine Art Giclee Paper Print, Canvas Giclee Print, Fine Art Card/Mini Prints on archival paper, and Gifts

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Ms. Laura Jones Paints | Creatively Beautiful