This month's prompt at the Creative Therapy blog is: What's one lesson you would give a married couple? Or if you're not married, what's an advice someone gave you?
My sweet husband and I have been together since 1996 when we met in college.
Fourteen years together and I think our relationship is stronger than it has ever been. Someone once told me: Be kinder than you feel. And it has really worked for us!
Like any two people we have bad days that follow us home. But being kind and being met with kindness ensures that no bad mood lingers. And even a simple trip to the grocery store can be made sweeter with kindess. For instance, John always carries the heavy grocery bags home and allows me to simply stroll beside him. Or I know that he hates cleaning up after he cooks, so I'll offer to wash the dishes, even though it's certainly not my favorite thing either. And in the end, we usually end up doing them together!
Every time your partner meets you with kindess, you remember exactly why you fell in love with that person in the first place! It's so nice to know that someone cares enough about you to take the time to be kind. So that's my message in a nutshell: be kind.
This painting is 16×20" and a mixture of watercolor and acrylic paint. The leafy branch is meant to capture the idea of an olive branch — an offering of peace. All the colorful jumbly circles are the stuff that's going on with you, but you have to make space for kindess.
Here are a few shots of the painting in progress:
I find myself more and more walking away from my artwork in between steps and then coming back later to add a bit here or there.
See the rest of the excellent marriage advice here.
Thanks for stopping by!
—
P.S. I'll be teaching how to make this cool frame…
…at 8pm EST tonight! The online classroom is HERE.
thanks for the timely reminder – we’ve hit a bad patch, and are muddling through, but this helps… and the canvas is beautiful, too!
thanks for the timely reminder – we’ve hit a bad patch, and are muddling through, but this helps… and the canvas is beautiful, too!
thanks for the timely reminder – we’ve hit a bad patch, and are muddling through, but this helps… and the canvas is beautiful, too!
thanks for the timely reminder – we’ve hit a bad patch, and are muddling through, but this helps… and the canvas is beautiful, too!
A beautiful canvas with a beautiful message! A quote that I would add to those reflecting on kindness comes from the Dalai Lama . . .”Be kind where possible. It is always possible.”
A beautiful canvas with a beautiful message! A quote that I would add to those reflecting on kindness comes from the Dalai Lama . . .”Be kind where possible. It is always possible.”
A beautiful canvas with a beautiful message! A quote that I would add to those reflecting on kindness comes from the Dalai Lama . . .”Be kind where possible. It is always possible.”
A beautiful canvas with a beautiful message! A quote that I would add to those reflecting on kindness comes from the Dalai Lama . . .”Be kind where possible. It is always possible.”
What a beautiful message in a beautiful painting. You two look so cute together, too, 14 years, wow!
What a beautiful message in a beautiful painting. You two look so cute together, too, 14 years, wow!
What a beautiful message in a beautiful painting. You two look so cute together, too, 14 years, wow!
What a beautiful message in a beautiful painting. You two look so cute together, too, 14 years, wow!
A very cool painting!
A very cool painting!
A very cool painting!
A very cool painting!
So pretty! Will come in useful when you have children-:) You two look adorable and congrats on the 14 years! See you tonight!
So pretty! Will come in useful when you have children-:) You two look adorable and congrats on the 14 years! See you tonight!
So pretty! Will come in useful when you have children-:) You two look adorable and congrats on the 14 years! See you tonight!
So pretty! Will come in useful when you have children-:) You two look adorable and congrats on the 14 years! See you tonight!
A beautiful message in a lovely work of art. It is very true too, a little kindness goes a long way!
A beautiful message in a lovely work of art. It is very true too, a little kindness goes a long way!
A beautiful message in a lovely work of art. It is very true too, a little kindness goes a long way!
A beautiful message in a lovely work of art. It is very true too, a little kindness goes a long way!
Lovely painting! And a great message! My hubby and I will celebrate 11 years of marriage in November, and the one thing I think is very important is to talk. Always talk about everything. Marriage is all about sharing – sharing our life together, sharing good and bad things, sharing our thoughts, our wishes, our dreams. That’s my advice – talk. 🙂 But yours is even better – be kind 🙂
Lovely painting! And a great message! My hubby and I will celebrate 11 years of marriage in November, and the one thing I think is very important is to talk. Always talk about everything. Marriage is all about sharing – sharing our life together, sharing good and bad things, sharing our thoughts, our wishes, our dreams. That’s my advice – talk. 🙂 But yours is even better – be kind 🙂
Lovely painting! And a great message! My hubby and I will celebrate 11 years of marriage in November, and the one thing I think is very important is to talk. Always talk about everything. Marriage is all about sharing – sharing our life together, sharing good and bad things, sharing our thoughts, our wishes, our dreams. That’s my advice – talk. 🙂 But yours is even better – be kind 🙂
Lovely painting! And a great message! My hubby and I will celebrate 11 years of marriage in November, and the one thing I think is very important is to talk. Always talk about everything. Marriage is all about sharing – sharing our life together, sharing good and bad things, sharing our thoughts, our wishes, our dreams. That’s my advice – talk. 🙂 But yours is even better – be kind 🙂
What a beautiful painting as a reminder of some tried and true advice! My husband and I were together for 22 years before he suddenly became ill and passed away, three yrs ago this coming August. One thing to add from our experience, to the advice you were given is “Be kind, or be quiet, because words are like feathers. Once you say them they’re gone and you can’t get them back.” Other advice was given to us by some older friends. They told us when they got married, they made a “rule.” Whenever they argued, they had to be naked. They told us by the time they were naked, they were usually laughing so hard they forgot what they were fighting about … or they ended up “making up” before they even finished whatever the argument was about! Too funny, huh?!? This year they will celebrate their “happy” 42nd anniversary. Anyway, congrats on 14 yrs together. May you and John grow more in love each day. 🙂
What a beautiful painting as a reminder of some tried and true advice! My husband and I were together for 22 years before he suddenly became ill and passed away, three yrs ago this coming August. One thing to add from our experience, to the advice you were given is “Be kind, or be quiet, because words are like feathers. Once you say them they’re gone and you can’t get them back.” Other advice was given to us by some older friends. They told us when they got married, they made a “rule.” Whenever they argued, they had to be naked. They told us by the time they were naked, they were usually laughing so hard they forgot what they were fighting about … or they ended up “making up” before they even finished whatever the argument was about! Too funny, huh?!? This year they will celebrate their “happy” 42nd anniversary. Anyway, congrats on 14 yrs together. May you and John grow more in love each day. 🙂
What a beautiful painting as a reminder of some tried and true advice! My husband and I were together for 22 years before he suddenly became ill and passed away, three yrs ago this coming August. One thing to add from our experience, to the advice you were given is “Be kind, or be quiet, because words are like feathers. Once you say them they’re gone and you can’t get them back.” Other advice was given to us by some older friends. They told us when they got married, they made a “rule.” Whenever they argued, they had to be naked. They told us by the time they were naked, they were usually laughing so hard they forgot what they were fighting about … or they ended up “making up” before they even finished whatever the argument was about! Too funny, huh?!? This year they will celebrate their “happy” 42nd anniversary. Anyway, congrats on 14 yrs together. May you and John grow more in love each day. 🙂
What a beautiful painting as a reminder of some tried and true advice! My husband and I were together for 22 years before he suddenly became ill and passed away, three yrs ago this coming August. One thing to add from our experience, to the advice you were given is “Be kind, or be quiet, because words are like feathers. Once you say them they’re gone and you can’t get them back.” Other advice was given to us by some older friends. They told us when they got married, they made a “rule.” Whenever they argued, they had to be naked. They told us by the time they were naked, they were usually laughing so hard they forgot what they were fighting about … or they ended up “making up” before they even finished whatever the argument was about! Too funny, huh?!? This year they will celebrate their “happy” 42nd anniversary. Anyway, congrats on 14 yrs together. May you and John grow more in love each day. 🙂
Nice message and beautiful canvas Julie!
Nice message and beautiful canvas Julie!
Nice message and beautiful canvas Julie!
Nice message and beautiful canvas Julie!
thanks Julie,
so simple and so real, its not always even, and its not always smooth, is the way of love. but being able to let go into gentleness and kindness, such great medicine! our egos, they get in the way of being easy with each other often.
lovely paintings beautiful images! stay well both yas and have a good week, your summer solstice and our wintery one shortly!
thanks Julie,
so simple and so real, its not always even, and its not always smooth, is the way of love. but being able to let go into gentleness and kindness, such great medicine! our egos, they get in the way of being easy with each other often.
lovely paintings beautiful images! stay well both yas and have a good week, your summer solstice and our wintery one shortly!
thanks Julie,
so simple and so real, its not always even, and its not always smooth, is the way of love. but being able to let go into gentleness and kindness, such great medicine! our egos, they get in the way of being easy with each other often.
lovely paintings beautiful images! stay well both yas and have a good week, your summer solstice and our wintery one shortly!
thanks Julie,
so simple and so real, its not always even, and its not always smooth, is the way of love. but being able to let go into gentleness and kindness, such great medicine! our egos, they get in the way of being easy with each other often.
lovely paintings beautiful images! stay well both yas and have a good week, your summer solstice and our wintery one shortly!
My Favorite post of yours to date Julie.
Enjoy your day
Erika
My Favorite post of yours to date Julie.
Enjoy your day
Erika
My Favorite post of yours to date Julie.
Enjoy your day
Erika
My Favorite post of yours to date Julie.
Enjoy your day
Erika
Beautiful art and excellent advice! What more can you expect from a blog? Thanks Julie!
Beautiful art and excellent advice! What more can you expect from a blog? Thanks Julie!
Beautiful art and excellent advice! What more can you expect from a blog? Thanks Julie!
Beautiful art and excellent advice! What more can you expect from a blog? Thanks Julie!
Thank you for sharing, you have a wonderful blog
Patricia
Thank you for sharing, you have a wonderful blog
Patricia
Thank you for sharing, you have a wonderful blog
Patricia
Thank you for sharing, you have a wonderful blog
Patricia
Love your wisdom!
Love your wisdom!
Love your wisdom!
Love your wisdom!
So fun to see photos of you and your love through the years. I agree with Sonja above who said that it is so important to talk…to communicate with one another. But it sure pays off to keep your advice…be kind…at the same time!! Thank you for sharing your marriage, your advice, and your art!
So fun to see photos of you and your love through the years. I agree with Sonja above who said that it is so important to talk…to communicate with one another. But it sure pays off to keep your advice…be kind…at the same time!! Thank you for sharing your marriage, your advice, and your art!
So fun to see photos of you and your love through the years. I agree with Sonja above who said that it is so important to talk…to communicate with one another. But it sure pays off to keep your advice…be kind…at the same time!! Thank you for sharing your marriage, your advice, and your art!
So fun to see photos of you and your love through the years. I agree with Sonja above who said that it is so important to talk…to communicate with one another. But it sure pays off to keep your advice…be kind…at the same time!! Thank you for sharing your marriage, your advice, and your art!
This is beautiful, Julie. Thanks for sharing. We’ve been married 36 years and the best advice I can give is communicate and never go to sleep with something unresolved…AKA angry 🙂 It’s worked for us and it just keeps getting better.
This is beautiful, Julie. Thanks for sharing. We’ve been married 36 years and the best advice I can give is communicate and never go to sleep with something unresolved…AKA angry 🙂 It’s worked for us and it just keeps getting better.
This is beautiful, Julie. Thanks for sharing. We’ve been married 36 years and the best advice I can give is communicate and never go to sleep with something unresolved…AKA angry 🙂 It’s worked for us and it just keeps getting better.
This is beautiful, Julie. Thanks for sharing. We’ve been married 36 years and the best advice I can give is communicate and never go to sleep with something unresolved…AKA angry 🙂 It’s worked for us and it just keeps getting better.
Wise wise words. I love the photos through the years — you look so young, just babies, in the first one! Love it!
Wise wise words. I love the photos through the years — you look so young, just babies, in the first one! Love it!
Wise wise words. I love the photos through the years — you look so young, just babies, in the first one! Love it!
Wise wise words. I love the photos through the years — you look so young, just babies, in the first one! Love it!
I love your canvas. Awesome message!
I love your canvas. Awesome message!
I love your canvas. Awesome message!
I love your canvas. Awesome message!
Beautiful sentiment and super cool canvas – my husband and I have been married nearly 21 years now – would you believe that we got married when I was 8 years old??!! (hee hee)
Beautiful sentiment and super cool canvas – my husband and I have been married nearly 21 years now – would you believe that we got married when I was 8 years old??!! (hee hee)
Beautiful sentiment and super cool canvas – my husband and I have been married nearly 21 years now – would you believe that we got married when I was 8 years old??!! (hee hee)
Beautiful sentiment and super cool canvas – my husband and I have been married nearly 21 years now – would you believe that we got married when I was 8 years old??!! (hee hee)
You are so right! I met my husband 26 years ago, and I’m still in love with him. Not all the time, but most times. I’ve learned that it helps to think positivly about others.
I found your great blog today via Jenni Bowlin 🙂
You are so right! I met my husband 26 years ago, and I’m still in love with him. Not all the time, but most times. I’ve learned that it helps to think positivly about others.
I found your great blog today via Jenni Bowlin 🙂
You are so right! I met my husband 26 years ago, and I’m still in love with him. Not all the time, but most times. I’ve learned that it helps to think positivly about others.
I found your great blog today via Jenni Bowlin 🙂
You are so right! I met my husband 26 years ago, and I’m still in love with him. Not all the time, but most times. I’ve learned that it helps to think positivly about others.
I found your great blog today via Jenni Bowlin 🙂
My sister loves your always be kinder painting….do you plan to do more and maybe sell? Or maybe put the design on prints ?
My sister loves your always be kinder painting….do you plan to do more and maybe sell? Or maybe put the design on prints ?
My sister loves your always be kinder painting….do you plan to do more and maybe sell? Or maybe put the design on prints ?
My sister loves your always be kinder painting….do you plan to do more and maybe sell? Or maybe put the design on prints ?