Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Breathe Challenge...

Here is my entry for Laura's weekly challenge over at I Am The Diva, CZT Blog.
This week the theme is Breathe
Look below the drawing here on this post if you want to read more about my inspirations...
Marsha Neal Studio Breathe Drawing Challenge
Breathing being usually an unconscious thing that we take for granted on a daily basis.
But the thought of breathing holds a lot of meaning for me…

During 2 childbirths, Dave often had to remind me to Breathe…
I provided a safe place for both of my children to grow and develop inside of my body and took in air for them…
I was present (in more than just a physical sense) when they took their first breathe…

I was with my mom when she took her last breath…
I was with her when they had her hooked up to a machine to help her breathe…
My sister stayed with her when they took the tubes out so she could breathe on her own until she could breathe no more…
And when that last breathe escaped her - I felt peace.
No longer to watch her struggle through dealing with the pains of Leukemia, or rather - the attempts at treatment of her rare form…
Knowing that the baby I held inside my body at that exact moment, never meeting her, would get to know her - through every breath she will take, because my mother decided to have me - to allow me to breathe...

17 comments:

  1. That is Awesome Marsha ~ What a beautiful design. OK - at first glance, it looks like a very cool musical garlic of royal persuasion. That's probably not what it is though right? Swirlyorama Fun. :)

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  2. AWE, nice thought and action representation in this tangle!

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  3. Hey Lisa - I am all over the musical garlic of royal persuasion (oh the delight in that name - Awesome!!!). There is definitely a rhythm to the way I draw - whirling and spirals usually take over… And just incase anyone reads the comments, Lisa posted her comment when I only had the picture and "more to come in a bit" written there… So great guessing (we are Italian - so everything gets garlic ;)

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  4. A beautiful drawing and such a touching post!

    BTW, if you like, I'm on Twitter now, too: http://twitter.com/KokopelliDesign

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  5. Marsha, that is so beautiful and your story touched my heart. Thank you for being so open and sharing it.
    Shannon

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  6. Beautiful ZT, and despite the sadness of the moment, a beautiful memory.

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  7. Such a beautiful tile and touching story! The breath of life is amazing. Thanks for sharing.

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  8. such a beautiful post, marsha. the life and death that goes with breath. to have that awareness with your mom and your unborn child is very special indeed. this drawing is beautiful. thank you for sharing. enjoy the day! erin

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  9. Thanks for your share. It's so special to be able share the inspirations of your work. Lovely tangle and thoughts.

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  10. Thanks for the comments… It is nice to be able to focus enough to formulate thoughts about things like this that I have gone through and to share them through my drawings. I look at the drawing now and see so much more to it that came through as I was drawing it…

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  11. This is so beautiful, your words, your drawing, and the extra passion you poured into making this be part of the expression of love you feel for your Mom and your child.

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  12. Beautiful. Painful. Honest. I am humbled.

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  13. thank you for sharing this story, and your tile. hugs.

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  14. Breathe in. Breathe out. The circle of life continues ever onward. And we're blessed to be a living part of that. Thank you for trusting us with that special story - and what a beautiful tile!

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  15. You post and tile has a wonderful personal touch, zentangles are about life patterns, thanks for sharing yours!

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  16. This is very moving. As a health and fitness professionl, I have to remind people everyday to breathe.

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  17. *sigh*
    beautiful tangle...looks like a beautiful pendant,

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I would love to hear what you think…