KEAP Candle — Tumbler Repurposed

I have searched high and low for the right candle from a good company. So happy I found Keap, maker of natural luxury candles. I treated myself to the Northlands candle during the holiday season, and I am delighted with the purchase. Not only is the fragrance exquisite, but it does not trigger my asthma, which is so often a problem with artificial, chemical, strong scents. 

Honestly, this company had me at "we're not on social media." But Keap secured my loyalty and future shopping dollars with a fresh and clean scent, a beautiful glass holder, and attention to quality and detail every step of the way.

The Keap website includes great instructions on how to properly clean and reuse the tumbler that the candle comes in. I followed the instructions and repurposed my tumbler to hold a small floral arrangement. My flower frog from Floral Genius (another small company I love) fit perfectly in the tumbler. Taking things one step further (as I am known to do), I set up a make-shift photography studio and took a few photographs, creating a beautiful shadow-box style still life.

It’s not my goal to influence, only to share.

Day-by-Day

It's sometimes hard to tell whether I am setting a healthy boundary and stepping away from things and people that just aren't right for me. Or. Am I actively steering clear of situations, activities, or people that provoke anxious feelings? While avoidance may provide temporary relief, it ultimately reinforces my anxiety and prevents me from developing healthy coping strategies. I try not to overthink it and take it day-by-day. Stepping out into the world to greet what comes to meet me. 

A Good Excuse to Get Outdoors

Once I realized that photography is the reason I get outside, the force that drives my curiosity and exploration, and the way that I ground myself in the present, it became so much more fun and easy. I stopped thinking of this practice as creating art (though it certainly is creative work). I stopped wondering where the work might lead, what it was worth, how I might make money from it or achieve recognition. I stopped worrying about upgrading my gear and figuring out Photoshop or Lightroom perfectly. I accept that I know only as much as I need to about the technical aspects of photography, the camera or photo-editing software. I love color and light and patterns and shapes and lines. I let my intuition guide me. Life unfolds and I await each day with eager anticipation. If I make a misstep, I turn around and try another path. It’s not easy, but it is worthwhile.

Finding My Sweet Spot

I am finding all kinds of ways to connect with my internal compass and feeling empowered to follow my instincts. Nourishing and caring for myself. Not because of some tired old trope like how caring for myself better enables me to care for others, but simply because I am worthy of such care. No explanation needed.