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​WHHOOOOP WHHHOOOP

​My Colouring Book!!
 
I am super happy to be able to say this!..
 
The colouring book that Jose and I have been working on bit by bit over the last (bit too long to mention) is now on Amazon to buy!!.  Depending in where you are you can use .co.uk or .com  or others but they are the main ones (or message separately for a pdf version)
 
Can I go whoop whoop again!!..
 
I love drawing and this really started as a hobby, then making cards (thanks to all in Singapore who bought them!) and it remains a hobby but heck you never know!
 
Here’s where I need loads of help please to share!  I am biased but it is a beautiful book.  Jose did an amazing job of the graphics, there is a lot of information about colouring in there too, it’s more than just the drawings. We both learnt heaps together along the way. It may not be your thing, totally understand, but is it someone’s you know?  Any help with advertising ideas also very welcome.
 
You can see some of the outlines from the book above and more on our website JOLIARTES and also above is how I have spent many a happy hour colouring them in. I like doing fine lines and dots or circles along with coloured pencils – I seem to have found my style which I’ll keep refining!. 
 
 
Thanks again.
Lisa and Jose
JoilArtes.

 
Uncertainty can suck, it is not a comfortable place to be and this current global situation is not an easy one for any of us. The not knowing, the multitude of unknowns and unanswered questions, the political confusion (and incompetence) all create a mood around us that leads us to feeling like Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh.  It’s not a place I like to spend much time in – I’d rather be more like Tigger and bouncy than all ‘sigh’ like Eeyore.
 
Is it possible though? With all that is going on around us can we stay positive and not let the general mood affect us.
 
It is definitely not easy I will say that to start, but it is possible and I’d like to share a few things I’ve tried that have helped…

1. Watch a comedy – find a short skit of a few minutes if you are time short and laugh.  Laughter is medicine for feeling ‘ugh’ – watch it 10 times if you have to. 
2. Nature – look outside the window or go for a walk and really see.  The trees, leaves, flowers, hear the birds – nature is a certain cure for feeling down.  Name things as you see them to avoid going into constant thinking mode…. “tree” ”yellow flower” “dead rabbit”… see laughter works…  
3. Move – yup get off the chair, walk about, dance to some cool tunes, do yoga, Pilates, throw a ball against the wall!! Whatever – just move. Guaranteed to help you feel less aaarrgghhh.  Join 1 and 3 - watch the video above it's comedy of me!!!!
4. Breath – the more sensible one.  I’d like you to try this though.  Block of your right nostril and breathe through the left only.  This connects to the right side of your brain; the creative side that usually helps you be less stressed.  
5. Find a few words that work for you that cheer you up “bubbles” often works, it is really hard to not smile when you say and think about bubbles (especially when they are in a glass of Cava)  
6. Slow down – why rush? None of us are going anywhere so chill, it is what it is so draw, colour, cook more, watch documentaries for a change.  Take your time like the Cadbury’s caramel bunny.  The more we accept the current situation and then unknown, the easier it is.  

Try some or all of these, especially when you find yourself overeating (I know it happens…).  You’re not me and I’m not you, so find the method that works for you to stop the slippery slope to sadness.
 
BOING.... boing boing...
​Tigger
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If anyone reading or anyone you know might like some coaching with me, please feel free to pass my details on ...
thank you...

The Spiral of Social Media….
 
The last month has been most interesting in many ways not just because of viral pandemic, racism matters and the Trump US shenanigans which are rather amusing. We all wait to see what this new normal will be and while that has all been bubbling in the background I have been knee deep in …….  The ins and outs of social media and starting businesses.
 
First of  all – yes I am blogging to in part plug and ask for help getting my business out there but that really is secondary to sharing the insights I have had on the slippery slope of social media insecurity..
 
Starting something new, getting followers, asking (begging) for subscribes and likes, thinking what to post, who to follow, what to comment and what people want and like is hard work!!!  It really is, how they guys get millions of followers I can only guess is by organic real traffic…. I take my hat off to those who have made a success out of it all, you gotta love doing it else it can drag you down! And that’s what I realised has happened over the last week!
 
Social media is one big yet small network and a little bit of a clique – this person likes this, so they like that and if you comment these people you might get seen and here’s the rules you follow….!! Then as you start playing this rather intertwined dance you see the same names and go “a-ha” – how real it is all I will not comment on, but I see better how it all works now.!

Will I play the game a while ? – yeah, why not! But I know I need to stay true to who I am and not get caught up in some possible negative feelings.
 
To explain..
 
I am a little innocent about some stuff I know and I like being that way… but when I looked into some things and looked deeper I found a few bits and pieces that I really didn’t like - for example a company who set your business name up offer you a free bank account which is free anyway and by then referring you they get 60 euros for it and if you are a non-resident they charge 100 euro MORE when it makes no difference whatsoever….!!  Clever and for me not honest – but I guess that is how business can work…
 
Then the freebies – I’ll give you this, join this blah blah and then BAM they’ll hit you with their sales – again I get it but it’s not me, hence why I started with my why behind the blog… I blog as it helps me make sense of things as well as maybe others who read it. But then nothing is really for free I suppose and even I put up videos with the hope of gaining followers so I can maybe sell my course to them so I am part of it… mmmmmm…. It’s how it’s done is the thing for me – don’t know it’s an interesting ponderance…
 
Anyway to 'work' social media it is suggested you find others to follow, make comments, like and so on. So I did and that’s when I saw everyone else does this! Lol…and I saw some very cool moves and it made me look outside my box so great…
 
BUT then I started to compare… and I know better than to do that and I started worrying and “how am I going to do this” and OMG I don’t have a six pack or look that good, why would someone follow 'little me'.
 
At this point in hindsight I would like to take a huge baseball bat and hit myself with it for being stupid and going against all that I know about the subject …. F*&K Wit comes to mind. I hadn’t realised it was happening until I was getting more sensitive and feeling insecure and as I walked earlier the baseball bat did hit me and I got it…
 
Looking at soooo many IG accounts of fitness people really woke my insecurities up…all the yoga, Pilates and fitness people are typically half naked, with toned torsos and 6 packs waving at me.  PANIC am I meant to have and do that to get followers!!???....  As she pours more wine to calm down and add to the non 6-pack stomach.. 
 
So there’s the thing, I don’t have one and unlikely I ever will, and nor do I really care. I care about how I feel and I feel great without one until I looked at lots of people with one!!  Why does this sell?  “Making” people insecure so follow me and you’ll get one is shit.  It is….  If you say “it’s all about how you feel about yourself, don’t train for aesthetics…” then don’t look so bloody good….. I don’t get it.  Well I do, it sells.. 
 
The little voice goes “that means you won’t do well in business Lisa”… The real Lisa goes thank you little voice, now kindly take a very long walk so I can recover and stop worrying “.. Luckily it did take that walk and I pulled myself out of  ‘I’m not good enough, what am I doing, this won’t work….”
 
What it does mean is that I can have fun with it, post what I feel is meaningful and if it appeals to you, awesome, if it doesn’t also awesome… Maybe you stopped reading this already – also awesome, because it’s not about me…. I am okay with who I am..!!  Jeez this self work really is on-going work, the fact I had these doubts though was somewhat surprising to me and until I started writing this I hadn’t twigged on the root cause. If this is what social media is generally doing to those who are not so aware of it, then no wonder we are a world full of stress and insecurity…..
 
My take away learnings for the world of social media –
not to take it too seriously…
not to compare…
to be me
be my honest self ……
and to enjoy the process, play the game with a light heart and see what happens.
 
It is fascinating, it really is and I will keep going because I have some good shit to share, it’s my livelihood, and apart from this wee hiccup I do enjoy it..
 
Oh by the way please do subscribe to our YouTube channel it’s really cool stuff…. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7O3wdppzajnKiY189tHLTQ
 
Erm find Infinity Movement on IG at @infinitymovement.fit
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My colouring book comes out soon I hope on Amazon so look out for JoliArtes…
 
And if you want or anyone you know would like Pilates/movement training, life coaching or a combination – send them my way!!!
 
I’m awesome…
 
 
My truth – I’m a cool, slightly funky chick, who has embarked on multiple projects, none of which she knows where they will go, and who at times is scared shitless that she has NO clue what she is doing and maybe she shouldn’t have left the luxury resort she worked on before!!!. And who is also so excited about the possibilities ahead….I do truly believe in what I am doing - good movement and sort your head out for a happier life, how can I not believe in that, as well as my wee art book that is my bliss.  The fears come and go, the learnings never stop, I take it too seriously then have to pull back and remember to enjoy the process and heck just have fun with it!!!...  There is MASSES yet for me to learn, which is exciting, time consuming, frustrating and wonderful – it’s like having 4 seasons in one day.  I need help for some things with others am more that capable.  I don’t have a 6-pack, eat dark chocolate most days and drink a glass or 2 of alcohol daily, I work out so I maintain my fitness which is miles away from where it was and yes so I feel good and feel I look, I weigh myself most mornings to help me keep on track and I work hard to not let the doubts and negativity talk louder than the positive ones which I much prefer….  I don’t have all things sussed and I doubt and hope I never will because the doubts and fears keep me on my toes and awake…
 
Thank you..
 
 

As I lay in the sunshine, looking up at the bird sat on the twig, I wondered “what is it thinking?” – nothing – it will be tuning in to nature around it and letting its instincts tell it what to do next. Not like me lying there and wondering where my future is going, how my friends are and why humans seem to have this need to be with a partner and what happens when we don’t have one....  I’ve been staying with my parents since March 5th and it has been eye opening and I feel I’ve found a steadiness to being here and an acceptance for/of them, their lives, who they are and what works for them after 52 years together. Is it how I would be? Who knows? Is it what I want for my future? Well it’s not a bad thing they have together! So that’s not a yes or a no..
 
The lady across the road is married too, her husband has recently been put into a home as he is not well and she can’t look after him. I look over my right shoulder and I see her sat in her armchair with a glass of white wine, reading or watching TV – I look left and my dad is snoozing while mum does the ironing (my sheets that she insists on doing – personally I wouldn’t bother…).
 
My mind turns to the wonderful people I currently have in my life and those who are still wonderful people but we no longer speak much if at all. Many are married and have lives full of being husband/wife/parents. And then there’s me and the single people I know – our lives are full in varying ways…
 
Here’s where the difference struck me.  When you have a partner, and even more so kids I can imagine that most other people in your life are an ‘afterthought’ and that is not meant negatively but it’s something that came to mind.  Kids take priority especially younger ones and if you have a partner and no kids, they generally come first when you think of things to do/people/life… That’s when I wonder why?  There is this pull to partner up, but why? So we have someone to do things with as we don't like/want to do them alone? Some things do need two, or it's more fun that's for sure....
 
How is life without that partner you knew for so long? The lady across the way whose life is no longer filled with/by her partner (I don’t know if she has kids) and she is retired so what now? If all your life was with your partner what happens when they are gone? Our parents are generally not a first thought to us kids (except when they get older and ill) our lives are just beginning and full of so much (more Western)..
 
But my initial thinking was, why do we want to partner up in the first place (taking kids out the equation)? Is it so we’re not an afterthought, so we know there is always someone “definitely” there for us? That we are priority to someone?  And because we don’t like being alone, our friends become wine and TV..?! What is there to do when we don’t have people to be with – well write blogs of course!!..... and then send our words out to others in the hope that….  With what hope!
 
When I start questioning it is fascinating where my train of thought goes – in a very positive way as it assists me in how I live my life.  If I put “me” first while still being in touch with friends, then I am never an afterthought because I am priority to someone – me….And at the same time I keep others in mind with much of what I do (eg this blog) which may have an impact on someone I don’t. My goal to this blog is that there will (hopefully) be people reading it and it resonates – if you’re one of them, remember you’re not an afterthought…..  if you are a coupled up friend – maybe this has helped you see things from the eyes of your single friends, they might feel the same way as me.  Or maybe as a coupled up person, you feel that your life is all about everyone but you… you are an afterthought to yourself.
 
There are times when I want to talk to a friend but I know they have their family and they’ll be doing things with them and I try to keep that in mind. So I figure things out, think what I want to do and get on with it which includes lying on the ground and staring at the trees and have inspiration for a blog.
 
The point of these writings? Well it helped me to put words to paper, brought me some peace that I’m okay in my life journey and have learnt the skills to be on my own (with wine, but without the TV…) that I have wonderful people in my life that I am very grateful for and it is important that I manage my expectations. 
 
No life is smooth sailing, single or partnered, with kids or no kids, with parents alive or departed.  What is important is how we manage the voice in our heads and tune in to what is really going on inside. That we do find some time to ourselves and stop the gogogo and do the things that bring us energy – for me like writing and drawing!...
 
Take a moment to consider what fills up your energy tank..

Thanks for reading