Friday, June 19, 2009

still blooming





photos (c) 2009 julie king

when i look at my life today and all the blessings i hold so dear i think of blooming. who would have ever thought that a grown woman could still bloom at 56?

at 26, i was a shy, somewhat socially awkward mother of one and a half kids living on a farm, organic gardening, sewing my kids' clothes and trying to be a dutiful wife. i was young, gullible, immature and far too trusting.

at 36, i was a single parent of two working 2 jobs and trying to prove my worth by being superwoman by day and supermom by night. i had a large chip on my shoulder and was fiercely independent.

at 46, i let the chip fall, giving myself permission to love and be loved again. i wondered where i would pour all my creativity now that my life's project (my kids) was complete. i sometimes lost my way and felt unfulfilled.

at 56, i'm blooming in so many creative, happy and fun ways. the self-assured, positive and energetic me wants to learn, experience and explore. i push myself past my comfort level and set new goals. best of all, i can choose to be a daisy today and a rose tomorrow. maybe i'll be a dandelion on tuesday. it's all about choices and how i want to live my life. i choose to see beauty and hear a symphony. i choose dancing in the rain and eating chocolate ice cream at midnight. i choose to bloom.

how about you? in what ways are you blooming in your current phase in life? i'd really like to hear about it.

17 comments:

steviewren said...

No comment except that you have hit upon something profound....I need to get to work and bloom.

lori vliegen said...

you always put the biggest smile on my face, julie! i just love visiting your world....whatever flower you choose to be today, it's a beautiful one, this i know for sure! keep blooming, sweet friend! :)

Kelly Warren said...

lovely post, julie. i hope i feel so wonderful at 56! i had my girls at 37 so i'm a little behind you. thanks for visiting my blog. i LOVE the art in your header!

ArtPropelled said...

I climb trees and put at least 5 marshmallows in my coffee.

jennalee said...

Julie- love your post. I can identify, though, I don't think I am blooming quite yet, still budding, but I am inspired by you. Thanks for sharing, love your photographs too.

Nana Trish is Living the Dream said...

I just wanted to drop a quick line before I go to another meeting here in Seattle. I love your blooming post. You have such wonderful art and you are a sweet person. Bloom, Julie, Bloom!!!

Jody said...

I've been slow at visiting my favorite blogs lately...Julie, I am so glad I read your post! I LOVE IT! I love hearing your story..your life and how you've grown and are blooming!
I finally feel like I am getting there...to a blooming stage, but not quite there yet. I am letting go of what I used to, in my younger days, deem as so important, and starting to really listen; to my children's ideas, to nature, to my heart, to my soul...hard to explain, but I am finding a place that I've never known. I now truly can't control it all...with 4 kids, but my creative spirit is more alive than ever, and letting the "junk" go is so liberating! So fun!
Thanks for sharing your journey...it's such a blessing!
xxxoooo
jody

Cindy said...

i love how you've broken it down over the years. i need to think about it.

Unknown said...

What a great post, Julie! Really - how far you've come...and how much fun you'll be having while continuing to bloom!

Susan said...

Thanks for such an encouraging post. I'm afraid I'm feeling exactly the opposite of blooming today. I'm feeling sad and overwhelmed but I must remember that this too will pass and I will feel like blooming again. Love to sweet Presley xo Miss D & Susan (avce les chats)

Flor Larios Art said...

Beautiful posting!
Congratulations for feeling sooo good!

Mechelle said...

What beautiful, vibrant photos.

Serena Lewis said...

beautiful photos and post, julie. i'm amazed at how much i am relating to what you write. i turned 50 this year and, while i needed those years of living to give me the wisdom and confidence i have today, i sure wish i had this same confidence and wisdom back in my 20's. i was so painfully shy and insecure back then and it debilitated my growth in so many ways. finally, i feel like i'm in a place where i'm so happy and content though still a little shy.....i love being a creative being!

Joanna said...

I liked reading through your different decades. Some of mine are parallel===but I'm ahead of you, now 63. Right now I'm feeling confident and relaxed creating a beautiful garden in my front yard and spending time with husband number 2 and grown son age 21. Life is good. Thanks for reminding me.

Lavinia said...

I love this:

best of all, i can choose to be a daisy today and a rose tomorrow. maybe i'll be a dandelion on tuesday. it's all about choices and how i want to live my life. i choose to see beauty and hear a symphony. i choose dancing in the rain and eating chocolate ice cream at midnight. i choose to bloom.


And blooming you are! I on the other hand don't really feel too bloomy these days. I think I need a new mattress. The quality of sleep affects the waking hours to a great degree, I am finding.

I love the psychedelic colours on this post too!

supplies overflowing! said...

Hey Julie- you have given me something to think about- possibly even to blog about-
Glad you are still blooming-
j.

Darla said...

i'm new here, but hello! i love this message. it is so true. i am 38 and find myself changing so much that it scares me. who i am becoming is who i really am, who i started out to be, but i am waiting for the chip to fall off the shoulder still....haha. i will get there. i love feeling free to be me and moving forward in the direction that feels right for me.