Thrive in the New Year

Happy New Year Sweet Souls!

***** Please Note: This post was written before I changed domain names from Loving Rd to Thrive True so all of the social media links are old. Please use the new social media links at the top of this site if you’d like to keep in touch that way. Thank you! 🙂 *****

May we thrive in harmony in 2015.  Heeding my mom’s words, “to give to others”, by kicking off 2015 with free e-cards. 🙂  Also, keeping the new year’s ritual started a few years ago by selecting word(s) to set intentions for the year (in place of the practice of resolutions).  The words ‘thrive’ and ‘harmony’ have chosen me for this year.  Do you choose a word for your intentions for the year?  If so, I’d love to hear what you’ve chosen!  Finally, Loving Rd is now on instagram (http://instagram.com/LovingRd) thanks to my first ‘smartphone’… please bear with me as I learn to use it and catch up with the technology!

The free e-cards can be found on either the Loving Road facebook page in the album titled Free E-Cards.  Please feel free to share the e-cards from facebook or in emails (after saving the file from the blog) with family, friends, or anyone you know in need of the message(s).  These files are scanned copies of original artwork I’ve done in the past.  The digital files are saved at a lower quality for use on the internet only (for faster uploading, less storage space, and not intended to be printed).   Please only share the files electronically as they are provided, including a watermark with the copyright information (© Loving Rd by Julia Osterc) and the website address “www.LovingRd.com”.  Please do not alter any of the files nor reproduce or resell any portion of the cards.  Higher quality prints are available in the shop without the watermark and web address if you’re interested in prints for framing or to use as printed cards.  I will add more e-cards to both the facebook album and the E-Cards page of the blog every so often so please check back for new ones.  Hopefully, the e-cards will also be available on instagram in the future… I’m still learning how to share via instagram so I’ll announce it on the blog and facebook if I’m able to get the e-cards on there as well.

Congrats to, Tara McGuire, the winner of the 2015 Loving Ladies Calendar!  I hope the art in the calendar will brighten your days throughout the year. <3 The calendar given away was the last one in stock.  If you’re interested in purchasing one of these calendars, please contact me so I can have one printed and sent to you promptly. 🙂

Thanks to all of you that have been a part of this past year sharing a bit of your time with me through the Loving Road facebook page and this blog!  The words chosen to guide intentions in 2014 were ‘connect’ and ‘sacred’ and it has been amazing to realize how much these ideas really came through during the year!  So many new connections were made online as well as locally with diverse people.  Connecting with nature and the spiritual aspects of life and art was also a big part 2014.  The fears that often prevented sharing deeply with others and creating intuitively and playfully were transformed as hoped when choosing the word ‘sacred’ to rearrange ‘scared’.  There have been ups and downs, joys and sorrows, confidence and doubt, as always seem to be part of life, yet the courage to embrace vulnerability and the awareness to make more conscious choices have really impacted the days.

Here’s hoping that 2015 will be full of learning, love, laughter, and the best aspects of life.  The word ‘thrive’ first presented itself as a focus early in 2014 when working on the following art piece (inspired by the free online course, Art, Heart, and Healing by Tamara LaPorte).

thrivevoice72lq

This was the first face I had drawn since 5th grade and she has become a muse of sorts.  Her message is one that I need reminding often!  I had this printed on a coffee mug so the message now helps start the day.  The word ‘thrive’ embodies so much of what I hope for myself and others, such as being healthy physically, mentally, emotionally, financially, and spiritually and growing vigorously and vibrantly in a positive way, blooming and flourishing.  This word/focus also reminds me that we can hope to thrive in this life, not just survive!  The word ‘harmony’ emphasizes a sort of peace with self, others, and nature that celebrates both diversity and common ground, being separate in a way yet part of the same whole, as harmony in music or a wave with the ocean.

Embracing these ideas from the first day of the New Year spending time with loved ones and starting a few online art classes, choosing to trust the winding path where it may lead.   I was blessed to be one of the lucky random winners of Alena Hennesey’s Year of Painting course give-away for 2015!  This felt like God and the Universe cheering on this journey and gratitude is overflowing from the depths of my heart and soul.  I hesitantly chose to use a bit of money that my mom left me when she died in 2010 to purchase the Life Book 2015 online course as a kind of gift from my mom and a commitment to make time for art and self.  May you choose to spend time in ways that bring joy to your being and be blessed with good health and prosperity in the New Year!  May we thrive together in harmony with each other, nature, and all of creation. <3 🙂

Happy New Year!

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