The Soulful Artist

Energy: Day 11 of 28 Days of Love

R. Wallen, R.N.

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February 14, 2021

Day 11 of 28 Days of Love.

I’m behind a couple days so I’m playing catch up!

They say that everything is energy. We’re all just molecules, particles held together by E N E R G Y!

My early 20s were pretty tumultuous. I was a young, married, mother of one, and had the career of my dreams. By all accounts, I should’ve been happy, but I wasn’t. This unhappiness led to an ugly divorce and then a downward spiral into a deep depression that was challenging to pick myself up from.

I kind of just went thru the motions of work and life. I won’t lie and say it was easy, it wasn’t. To say I was struggling would be an understatement. I was overwhelmed, and there were many days where I wanted out of this life.

I wasn’t the easiest person to be around. It was a miracle that my now husband was even attracted to me.

Enter my first Spiritual Mentor, Jan Noble of the Holistic Life Institute. I think about how I met her and how everything had to align for us to meet. Synchronicity. Meeting Jan changed my life for the better.

Where was I? I know I have a point …

Ah, yah … Getting back to E N E R G Y … Jan taught me Reiki, a Japanese form energy healing. Learning Reiki changed my life. Jan took me under her wing, opened my eyes, my heart, and allowed my spirit to take flight. She trained me in the Usui Method of Reiki – from Reiki 1 all the way to Reiki Master level. She helped me to heal my heart and spirit, taught me to be open to life, The Universe, to be spiritual. For the last 25 years she has been there for me – ANYTIME I’ve needed her, anytime I’ve reached out to her. She has been/IS my Spiritual Mother and I love her with a vengeance.

E N E R G Y is a powerful thing. I’d love for you to experience Reiki. Mini treatment?

That’s my Day 11 love shoutout – to my Spiritual Mother, Jan, and to Reiki energy healing!

Physical Movement: Day 10 Of 28 Days Of Love

R. Wallen, R.N.

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February 10, 2021

Day 10 of 28 Days Of Love!

I love things that are crazy and fun. My paintings usually depict the things that I’m crazy about – colors, uniqueness, and just things that bring me joy in general. They usually don’t make any sense to anyone except me, and I’m okay with that.

Follow your joys. Follow the things that light you up. Do the things that you love, regardless of what others say or think. When you’re happy doing the things that you love and enjoy, you give others permission to be happy and to follow their joys.

Aside from painting and creating art, one of the other things I absolutely enjoy is fitness. I’ve been an athlete all my life. I ran track and cross country in high school. I’ve run tons of half marathons, and full marathons. CrossFit. Krav Maga. Kickboxing. I’ve always loved moving my body and pushing it to exhaustion. That’s just me. It brings me so much joy!

Whatever it is that you love and enjoy, do more of that. And encourage others to do what they love also!

My love shoutout today goes out to one of my favorite trainers, Jeanne, and my favorite place to train – AMAA! Krav Maga was instrumental in my peace of mind and physical well being. Thank you, Jeanne! I miss you and love you so much MORE than you know. Can’t wait to see you and get back to training with you!

Self-Maintenance: Day 9 of 28 Days of Love

R. Wallen, R.N.

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February 10, 2021

Day 9 of 28 Days of Love!

They say it takes a village to raise a child. It also takes a village to maintain me. Aside from yearly medical maintenance (physical, labs, mammo, etc.), and dental maintenance every 6 months … I beat my body up pretty good with rigorous workouts and working 12 hour shifts, so there’s monthly maintenance.

Enter my most amazing team: Shawna Muscle Mobility Body Worker (aka masseuse), and Dr. Shapiro, my Chiropractor. Those two have their work cut out for them! But it’s important to me to maintain my spinal health and alignment and to maintain my muscles so I will gladly go every month, and even more when necessary. I have a standing date every month to have an adjustment and to get a massage.

I don’t believe that people understand the importance of maintaining your body in general. I also know that people don’t take care of themselves as they should. You only get one chance at this being human thing, at this life. We should be doing all that we can to maintain ourselves. Yearly physicals, dental check-ups every 6 months, physical therapy especially for athletes, chiropractic care, massages, mental health care, wholistic medicine. ALL of it.

Maintaining your body is a form of self-care. Self-care is NOT selfish! Self-care is a necessity and it’s a must. You cannot fill from an empty cup. There’s NO shame in caring for yourself.

Anyhow, today’s painting has the triskelion- the symbol of past/present/future; creation/preservation/destruction;father/son/holy spiritual. And today’s love shoutout goes to Shawna and Dr. Shapiro. They’re my favorites!

Work Life: Day 8 Of 28 Days Of Love

R. Wallen, R.N.

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February 9, 2021

When you love what you do, it’s not work.

Day 8 of 28 Days Of Love.

There’s a lot of research out there that detail how many hours an average person will spend working. I don’t know what the statistics are, I do know it’s a lot. I think it’s something like 1/3 or 33% of your life. That’s a lot – A LOT – of hours if you add them up.

I’m fortunate to be in a profession that I love, one that I’ve ALWAYS wanted to be in since I was 8 years old, and one where there’s “variety” and very little boredom. I’m also fortunate to work with a group of individuals who make work better, good, tolerable. I could not imagine working in a profession that I abhorred and felt stuck in. It’s true when they say that when you love what you do, it doesn’t feel like “work.”

I love my co-workers. I am fortunate to have made many amazing an beautiful friendships over my 30 year career. I cannot adequately express the love and gratitude that I have for them, they’re just gonna have to trust me on this one. I won’t be able to tag or post photos of all of them either. Just know that I’m thankful and full of love and gratitude for all of you.

My advice to all of you: If you work, make sure you’re doing something that you love, and that you’re working with people who make you better, people who you can call friends. Especially in nursing … Nurses spend more than half of their waking hours at work (if you work 12s). We have to be able to trust and count on each other because there’s NO way that we’d be able to do it alone.

To my work friends and family, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I love you all dearly!

Perfectly Imperfect: Day 6 Of 28 Days Of Love

R. Wallen, R.N.

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February 8, 2021

Day 6 of 28 Days of Love.

Life is messy, imperfect, crazy. Sometimes, you’re in the thick of it and you think you’ve fucked it up and you just want to trash it all, start over, reset.

Then someone gives you a fresh perspective on the situation, on life. There’s always a bigger picture, a different POV, something you haven’t seen.

We all need people like this in our lives. People who can hold space for us and accept us for who we are. People who will remind you of your goodness and tell you that you’re okay, that you matter.

Friendship is a funny thing. You seek out a person, or they seek you out, you think they look “safe,” and you say “Let’s be friends.” This is what happened with my unlikely friend, Linda. She literally cornered me when I wasn’t expecting it, and there was NO escape. She picked me. I wasn’t looking for anything, I was just over there minding my own business, and she ambushed me. I still remember the day.

That was over 20+ years ago now, and to say that she grew on me is an understatement. I call her my unlikely friend because she was so unexpected, someone I didn’t know I needed in my life.

To say I love her doesn’t cover it. She has been my rock, my person, my go-to. She has pointed out my good and held me up when I’ve wanted to crumble. Like my painting that I think is scrap material, she points out my worth, my good, strong parts. She offers me a different perspective and POV. I am so thankful for my unlikely person.

And as for my little watercolor … I’ll let it sit for a while. Eventually, I’ll pick it up and paint over it and give it a fresh perspective. For now I’ll send it love and keep practicing self-kindness and extend myself the grace that I am worthy of.

Little Things: Day 7 Of 28 Days Of Love

R. Wallen, R.N.

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February 8, 2021

Day 7 of 28 Days Of Love.

We often don’t think of all the little things that people do for us as “love.” We think of big things, romantic things, but the little things often times get over looked. Things like the way your daughter knows your coffee order. How your best friend will send you a random text to remind you of something funny. How the cashier at the store asked you about your bracelet and commented on it. How your husband warms up your car and cleans off the windows when it’s cold outside. How your co-workers answers a call light for you when you’re busy with another patient. Little things.

Every morning I start my day with my morning pages and my gratitude list. It’s a spiritual practice that I have been doing for years now. It’s important for me to remember the things I am thankful for and to give gratitude. When you give your thanks and gratitude, you get more things to be thankful and grateful for.

Little things … when added up become BIG things. Nothing is ever wasted when done with love.

The Reward of Presence: Day 5 of 28 Days of Love

R. Wallen, R.N.

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February 5, 2021

Day 5 of 28 Days of Love.

My girl doesn’t ask me for much. Simple things like an emotional support French Bull Dog that she has already named “Calliope” for her birthday, and to make a Valentine for her BFF, Angel.

I haven’t made good on the French Bully YET, but the time to make the Valentine, easy.

My Grace has had her fair share of life’s challenges and she has faced all of them with strength and determination and grace. Having a child with “Special Abilities” is challenging. It’s heartbreaking and rewarding at the same time. It’s like being on a freakin’ rollercoaster! But as challenging as it is for her dad and I, it’s my girl who’s teaching me life lessons … patience, resilience, love.

Presence … an hour to make a simple Valentine. A simple request. We made it out of red stamps, a little glue, and a lot of love. The real reward … the pride she felt, the smile on her face. That’s all I need. And my presence is what she needed from me. (Sigh.)

And now off in search of Calliope her emotional support French Bully …

Happy Weekend, Everyone! Remember to be present with those that you love.

Self-Love: Day 4 Of 28 Days Of Love

R. Wallen, R.N.

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February 5, 2021

Day 4 of 28 Days Of Love.

You’ve heard the question. Asked, “When you are asked to name the things that you love, how long would it take to name yourself?”

For a LONG time, I know I didn’t name myself. I don’t even believe that I even thought to name myself. I would name my husband, all my children, my friends, the foods I loved, the people I worked out with, the name of my dojo, the workouts I loved … on and on and on, but no Row. 😢

How could I say I loved everyone and everything when I couldn’t even say that I loved myself? It seems hypocritical, right? To have a critical and dysfunctional relationship with your own self, and to put yourself last on the totem pole, claiming and professing love for all others except yourself.

The relationship that I had with myself was so horribly mean. I am far more harder and more critical of my own self, and I didn’t give myself any slack, but I could forgive others so quickly and cut them slack without giving a second thought.

Until my Spiritual Guide pointed it out to me in a session. Much of the pain I was harboring was the surrounded around the hatred and criticism I had for myself. It was necessary for me to forgive myself for not knowing better and to give myself permission to be happy and live my life. Slowly, with time healing came.

My advice to others … live YOUR life on your terms. Forgive yourself. And love everything about yourself. Set the example of self-love for your children. There’s nothing harder than breaking bad habits.

I give you the Holstee Manifesto. It’s an amazing manifesto to live by. No excuses. Only love. Love yourself enough to put yourself first, to be honest with yourself, to put yourself out there. There is nothing more powerful and beautiful than that!

Unexpected Goodness: Day 3 of 28 Days of Love

R. Wallen, R.N.

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February 4, 2021

Day 3 of 28 Days Of Love! ♥️

Some days you’re just over here minding your own business, doing your thang, staying out of trouble, and trying to keep to yourself … and some days you find yourself wondering what the heck just hit you?!?

I’m pretty sure that’s what my BFF Joan was thinking on that very first day of 8th grade as she was minding her own business and I plopped myself down in the seat in front of her and started jabbering away! There was an instant attraction to her, as if I already knew her somehow.

Over the YEARS, we have been apart more than we’ve been together, but my love for my Soul’s Twin has remained constant. She has been my BFF, my confidant, shown me grace, and loved me throughout. We’ve been through thick and thin, from the days of letter writing, and rotary phones, to now. When we get together it’s as if no time has passed and I still love her more than words. She seriously did not know what hit her when I sat down in that chair in front of her, but her friendship has meant more to me than I could’ve ever imagined.

Kind of like my little heart creations. It was such a simple idea that hit me, and what came of them is so much better than anything I could’ve imagined! They’re so cute and so much fun, and just love them! I don’t think I’ve ever had so much fun creating anything.

For you, Joan … thank you for loving me and for being my friend. It’s crazy how me taking the chance to sit in front of you would lead to a friendship that has spanned years! I love you much!

Muscle Memory: Day 2 of 28 Days Of Love

R. Wallen, R.N.

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February 3, 2021

“The Beautiful Lady” First Grade. Mrs Corpus’ Class!

Day 2 of 28 Days Of Love.

I won’t lie, Valentine’s Day is my favorite holiday. Yea, I know, but I’m a Libra and I’m a sucker for being in love, and I love hearts ♥️💜💙💛, love notes, and professions of love. It’s my favorite because I can give love without feeling awkward and without others getting weirded out.

When I was little, I loved filling out Valentine’s cards for my classmates and delivering them, and I loved getting them in my Valentine’s box.

I spent today cutting out little hearts from “scrap” paintings and it brought back a little nostalgia. I was in first grade when I remember learning about Valentine’s Day. I remember my teacher, Mrs. Corpus, explaining it to us and how excited I got.

I cut out hundreds of little hearts today. They say our bodies carry memories, and I believe that the muscle memory of cutting out all those little hearts is what brought back the memory of my beloved teacher, Mrs. Isabel Corpus. She was such positive force in my life. I remember she stood up for me, she told me I was smart, and that I could do anything. She was always telling my mom what a good student I was. She made me want to always do better and to love harder.

She’s probably long gone by now, but I never forgot her and her love and kindness towards me. I hope she is resting in love! Thank you, Mrs. Corpus of Woodstock Elementary School, Alameda, CA.