Watercolor, marker on paper (unfinished)
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Hello! I just wanted to check in and say hello. I’m suddenly swamped and I don’t know how I got here. I’m all worked up and stressed about it… I need to calm down!
Perhaps you can help!
Can you leave a comment and tell me to just chill out?
(I hope you’re having a calmer Monday.)
carlasonheim.wordpress.com 
Chill out. Keep Calm, draw a cat and stroke it.
CHILL OUT! I know how you feel, though. Been there. Sometimes I have to remind myself to just do what I can. Some things might not get done. That’s ok (even if it’s really not). Stressing doesn’t make it get any done-r. 🙂
Carla?, Carla?,
It’s okay. Breathe. Feel the love and the peace. Breathe.
Hugs,
Jan
Chill out! Go for a bike ride. When you get back life will look better.
Well….I just woke up from an afternoon nap and snuggle with my kitty cat…..very nice! Very relaxing! I suggest learning from your feline friends and chill out by takeing a cat nap….nothing better than snuggling with a kitty!!
Chill out sweet lady!!!! One thing at a time and cross it off as “done”!!!!
Keep your cool and carry on!
Oh Carla,
I know the feeling. When I was taking a Yoga class, she told me to take very deep breaths and than let it slowly out. Also walking seems to help me and than coming home to my sweet kitties.
Breathe. Smile. Relax.
Repeat.
My friend Cat says: “Trust that everything is unfolding as it should”.
Try this breath exercise: Take a breath to the count of four, hold it for a count of four, let it out to the count of four, rest to the count of four. Do this slowly a couple of times, or more than a couple of times and the stress level lowers immediately. Try it, you will like it!
Draw your fantasy scene (tropical island perhaps), then crawl in and enjoy. A tall, cold cocktail might help too!
Chill Out! Even though I love your swamp. Please know that I was singing your praises to friends today about how much you helped with my drawing enjoyment
Deeeeep Breaaaath…….close your eyes and repeat very slowly;;;;
ELLLL-EEEEE…PPHAAAANTS . 10 X ,
PS….your new style of art and the colors ore beautiful and comforting. So there must be some calm in there some where. MA
close your eyes, deep breath , slowly count to 10 letting breath out- a couple of these and you’ll be asleep! love your new group of plants!! grow a few more they will help you relax!
I just love these new pictures you are making they are so creative. I hope you stop and have a cup of tea and just do something silly for a few minutes today. Definately important to feed the muse.
I know how you feel! No advice, just–I get it.
Deep breaths. Happy thoughts. Chill out. 🙂
OK. Chill out! Relax! Breathe! Take it one step at a time!
I am really good at giving advice, but not so good at taking my own. 🙂
Chill … put your feet up, close your eyes, breathe. Nap.
Carla I’m having the same issue!!
A quick suggestion…keep chanting slowly , Serene…..Serene….Serene….
It works…
Hug xoxo
stop. close your eyes. breathe in… breath out… repeat.
and chill.
It’s tomorrow (morning) here another day chillout all will be well
A nice long walk always helps me. About to go on one, myself!
Thank you, everyone!!
Don’t worry….about a thing…cause every little thing…is gonna be all right…. 🙂
Oh I know how that feels. Stressing myself. So I’m sending you and me a CHILL OUT with love note.
Peace be with you
I don’t have any great advice – except to say “all will be well if you can just relax.” My usual approach is to make a prioritized list and just worry about what really needs to get done TODAY and then do the same thing tomorrow, and each day thereafter.
If your weather up there is anything like mine is down here in the Portland area, you should curl up in a comfy chair with a hot cup of tea, a warm quilt to wrap up in and just breath while you watch the wind blow and the rain come down until you are all chilled out!
Carla, Chill Out. You could always join me over here in Australia. It is 32 degrees( about 85 for you) and I am wrapped in a freecy blanket shivering with the flu and my throat is so sore I am sure someone has a campfire burning in there.
Carla, you are such a normally mellow and CALM person, so just cut it out-you’re making ME crazy and I don’t worry about much of anything-go draw an elephant and then remember the old saying “How do you eat an elephant?” Answer: one leg at a time!! Love, Emma (Utah)
spend a few hours with sweet Liam . . . . 🙂 (speaking as one grammy to another)
When you get the chill pill, send it my way. LOL…..
Let all the air out of your lungs while pulling your abdomen in; inhale to the count of four hold to count of 7, exhale to the count of 8.
Visit Dr.Andrew Weil, previous surgeon general, for other breating techniques. They work.
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART00521/three-breathing-exercises.html
I know that feeling all too well. When I become buried in my own doing, I think: What is the worst thing that will happen if I don’t do this right now; or what is the worst thing that will happen if I do do this right now. It works for me. The consequences are rarely life threatening and that puts things in perspective right away.
I agree with Susan – it will all get done in time. Hope you took a walk or at least put your feet up for a time and relaxed. Hope tomorrow is better!
take slow deep breaths — take a walk — everything will still be there :0)
When I hit that point I find a way to laugh- go to a comedy show, watch a funny sitcom (Big Bang Theory for me), or just go tickle my kids so I can hear them laugh.
Ha… I took a little nap and I feel much better. Thanks so much, everyone!!
It’s in the stars, because I’m swamped too. And crabby from losing an hour and PMSing and way behind because I played too hard over the weekend. Isn’t life grand?! 🙂 Feel better!!
I can’t imagine you so stressed out! Chill out! You are so wonderful!
Glad the nap did the trick!
Chill out Carla, it will be ok,
It may be tough right now but don’t stress your life away.
Find 10 minutes to be silly,
draw willy-nilly,
and all your swampy work will go away!
🙂
I heard a neurologist speak last year and he recommended smiling. He said the chemicals in your brain don’t the difference between a fake and a real smile. And smiling is so natural for you!!!!
Breathe – Relax – Smile – and a whole bunch of hugs to you!!!!
Chill out. Remember the most important things to attend to your family, yourself and what you love. And think about all of the friends you have that you have not met, and we all care about you. Have a great Tuesday. Two more days and I will sign up for your next class. alena
Naps are so good. And you don’t have to take a long one to feel so much better.
Tomorrow should be a good, productive day. Enjoy!
I am late to answer as I live far from you … I can invite you at home and show you all the silly drawings I created …. believe me, you will laugh and that is very good to fell healthy again 🙂
It’s a new day. You made it!
Hi Carla,
Thank you for all the beautiful drawings you share and your fun, silly stuff. I don’t like to tell people what to do so how about this: I think you are a wonderful talented and busy lady. When I get the crazy overwhelmed feeling I start making lists to get all that whirly stuff out of my head. Maybe you could make a list or two…
just an idea.
big art hugs to you -see you in a couple of weeks,
Dawn
Yes, as said before, close your eyes and Breathe deep. Exhale slowly and then do it again. And again.
Stuff never goes away, so the few minutes you take to calm down will make you more efficient later. Everything will be there later.
Lou
Take a nap, go for a walk, have a nice cup of tea… it will be okay…remember you are an amazing woman!
To drift is sublime. It is also essential to recharge as an artist. Give yourself permission to drift in whatever way most appeals to you at the moment.
You can only do just so much in any given amount of time. Hurrying and stressing only adds to the problem, creates mistakes and slows you down in the long run. You can only properly do one thing at a time, so just pick something and get started. When that’s finished move on to the next thing. Reading all these messages is likely taking up even more of your time, but I hope you are getting some encouragement and insight. Good luck at digging yourself out from under all this stress. I hope you still find time for some bits of fun.
breeeaaathhhhhhhhh. Calm dowwnnnnnn. big hugs.
Well – I’m late for the “chill out” message – thank goodness your other friends were on top of things! Glad you are now “chilled.”
Sending Chilling Thoughts your way!!!
I realise that I am way late in this response, but I suppose it’s never REALLY “too late” to send words of Encouragement and cheer. I have days like yours and really, it’s so silly, since I have very little going on in my little World. But sometimes it just sneaks up on me, on tiptoes, determined little bugger, and BEfore I know what’s happened my sweet peace is gone.
I am glad you asked for what you needed and wanted. It’s NOT the easiest thing to DO, this I know from MUCH experience.
And I am glad, even though it’s late, that I am responding. BEcause this will help me to remember, in my “moments of overwhelm” that I once helped someone else “in off the ledge” when she was probably way over that ledge BUT, I took the time anyway…
[I suppose this is one of the bittersweet aspects to receiving all WordPress posts on Monday mornings…]
CHEERS!!
Ah… I was feeling stressed from all my work too… and I thought.. I’ll look at your blog and see what you are up to! : ) And I see that I’m not the only one having occasional blank outs and forgetting to look around and breathe! Looking so forward to seeing you next week! Sending you a hug!