Love Thyself

Love Thyself, a photo by pixygiggles on Flickr.

A couple of pages from an older sketchbook that I went back to today to find inspiration for Valentine’s Day. I added the Zentangle heart that the hummingbird is carrying and the phrase, “Love Thyself,” today. This is how I wanted to spend my Valentine’s Day, drawing and listening to music. For me, doing what I love is loving myself.

“Love yourself and treat yourself as you would treat your very best friend. You deserve the same love you give to others.”
― Demi Lovato, Staying Strong: 365 Days a Year

Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone! I hope you all feel loved, not just today, but every day of your lives!

Unexpected Gift

Unexpected Gift, a photo by pixygiggles on Flickr.

Look, a bunny! This, things like this unexpected little gift of Easter goodies sitting on my desk waiting for me this morning, this is one of the reasons why I love David so much! We’ve also gotten in the habit of leaving special hidden messages for each other on the bathroom mirror, so that they magically appear in the steam after a shower. I’m always looking for new random acts of kindness because it’s the little things that often mean so much. So tell me, what are some of the special ways you brighten a loved one’s day?

Day 294 Stages of Love

Day 294 Stages of Love, a photo by pixygiggles on Flickr.

This is not an original idea. Ever since I saw a photo like this last year, I’ve wanted to take one like it for my inspiration collection. I wish I knew who the original idea came from; but alas, I do not. Finding the proper level of gradation is actually a bit harder than I expected. It’s a fun concept, and I like the resulting image.

Day 216 Concentrate on Love & Compassion

Day 216 Concentrate on Love & Compassion, a photo by pixygiggles on Flickr.

“We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery, we need humanity. More than cleverness, we need kindness and gentleness.” ~ Charlie Chaplin (1889-1977), Comedic Actor, Filmmaker, Writer

Day 173 Reflected Love

Day 173 Reflected Love, a photo by pixygiggles on Flickr.

Reflect upon your present blessings of which every man has many – not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some. ~ Charles Dickens

Another photo for the scavenger hunt community collaboration project over at NickExposed.com. 🙂

Day 40 Love Line

Day 40 Love Line, a photo by pixygiggles on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Inspired by a photo I saw on Positive Outlooks’ Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=304493459593358&set=p…
I’m not sure who the original author of that photo is, but I love the idea.

“Love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is done well.” ~ Vincent Van Gogh

♥ ♥ ♥ : : : Love : : : ♥ ♥ ♥

The Sleeping Gnome

While resting one night in peaceful slumber,
A gnome found himself in a land of wonder.
Mountains birthed rolling hills covered in trees
And rivers sprang out to flow into seas.
A meadow close by drew the gnome further along.
Flowers rich in color and life sang a sweet, peaceful song.
Creatures of every shape, size, and texture
Roamed through this land in most graceful splendor.
A calm, warm breeze moved his attention up high
Where an eagle rode out these gentle waves in the sky.
Looking around the gnome took in all that he saw.
He cherished this vision, completely in awe.
Slowly awaking he thought of his dream,
Wondering exactly what could this mean?
After some time of long thought did he ponder:
Beauty inspires energy and love to that of the beholder.

Poem & photograph © Patricia Booth 2011

Emotion Series: Love

I chose love as the first emotion of this series because I feel it is the most important emotion that any of us can express. Love is the emotion that allows us to connect to one another inspiring acceptance, compassion, understanding, even empathy. So much can be said on the topic of love. It has been the subject of music, stories, art, and poetry for centuries. Pondered by the great philosophers of all time, even Plato once said, “At the touch of love everyone becomes a poet.”

“Love is of all passions the strongest, for it attacks simultaneously the head, the heart and the senses.”

~ Lao Tzu

This illustration is obviously the expression of romantic love. The intimacy of a kiss like this is certainly an important aspect of love; but I feel that the truest expression of love comes in accepting another person for who that person is regardless of any perceived faults. I’m not really sure how I would represent that in a drawing. I suppose that’s a challenge for another day.

“There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness.”

~ Friedrich Nietzsche