A Heart A Day – Major Catch Up – Part Two

Posted on September 15, 2016 by Tessie O'Steel

Hello there!

Another catch-up. I’m getting there! One heart I made, as a reminder to act if you want to achieve your goals. I made it beautiful and dreamy, so that it’s a kind note to self ;-)
Last week I was in a creative mood and took inspiration from the materials used.
This week, pages were the triggers of my fantasy, and origami crane birds.

Here are 9 new catch-up hearts! How are your hearts getting along?

With love,

Tess
PS: Have you created or spotted a heart this week? Share it with me! Use #aheartaday and social media may overflow with hearts…

[I love love and I love hearts! But oh, this world needs more visible love. So let’s change that, step by step. Away with pessimism. Away with hate. Let’s fill this world with love. And hearts! To show compassion towards each other, towards the planet, towards ourselves. It proves to be difficult for so many of us. But instead of judging it’s more meaningful to show love, to respond with love, to act out of love. Say it with hearts.
So I’m sharing A Heart A Day. Every day I will draw, stitch, paint or otherwise create a heart and post it on this blog. Will you help me make love and hearts spread like a contagious but healthy disease?]

Self-love September

Posted on September 1, 2016 by Tessie O'Steel

September is a month I’m very excited about! As it turns out September is the month of Self Love.

Self Love is my life’s quest.

From pulling my hair when I was not older than 4 or 5 – because I had told myself Tess was a boy’s name – to an eating disorder between the age of 11 and 22. And frankly, everything in between. I’ve always told myself

I don’t deserve love
I’m not pretty enough
nobody likes me, let alone will ever love me
I’m too fat, too short, too boring, too weird, too sensitive.

And that is just the top of the list. I have hated myself dearly. Very dearly indeed.

Change came. At some point. The realisation that you can’t search for love outside yourself, if there isn’t any inside of you. Baby step after baby step. But boy, I’ve grown! I’m surely not completely there yet, but I’m on the move. And I know where I’m heading to.

Two years ago I decided to start writing a book about self-love. A journey, literally. I quit, then continued, quit again. But at the start of 2016 I realised this is the journey I want to continue. I’m gonna take my time, it may take some time before you’ll see the result. But I came to realise that I’m an actual expert on this topic, not by study but by experience. So why would I keep telling myself I wasn’t good enough?

It’s gonna be an epic journey, a big part of my quest. I wish that anyone suffering from self-hate and related issues, will find a companion in my book. In due time…

As Self-love September is now upon us, I simply wish that anyone suffering from self-hate in whatever form has someone to reach out to, has the stamina to continue the journey along the bumpy road to Self Love. For me there’s no way back and I know if I can walk this road, so can you. Let’s make this month a powerful one!

If you have any thoughts, if you want to share a piece of your Self Love journey – do feel free to get in touch via the contact-form on the About-page or via social media. Or share this blog, to let more people know about #selfloveseptember!

For you.

A Heart A Day #22

Posted on August 18, 2016 by Tessie O'Steel

Today’s heart from me to you is a cheesy one. In light of tonight’s full moon I cut a little heart out of cheese. As children’s stories say the moon is made out of cheese, it seemed logical. For the background I used a photo of the moon in its fullest glory. And they match well together, moon and cheese! What if those children’s stories are true…?

With love,

Tess
PS: Have you created or spotted a heart this week? Share it with me! Use #aheartaday and social media may overflow with hearts…

#22

A Heart A Day #21

Posted on August 17, 2016 by Tessie O'Steel

Day 21, three weeks and counting!

Compassion, compassion, it’s a difficult one. Today the weather was Summery. I wore a short skirt and went to the park. And I got whistled at and checked out by a guy. Not my type. And I felt like I could explode! Couldn’t he mind his own fucking business?! Other women may recognise this ;-)

And then I inhaled deeply. Exhaled and thought “compassion, that’s my goal, compassion”. I didn’t even have to analyse the why’s of this guy! I left it there and continued my walk, then found a nice spot in the sun and had a very relaxed afternoon enjoying the warm sunshine. No frustration, no anger. Just enjoying and relaxation.

It takes some practise and I won’t be faultless after today, but boy oh boy, to just let it be and not let negativity take over. JOY!

And whilst enjoying the sun I created today’s heart from little gem stones I found earlier today when I was clearing out my study. They’re old, as in childhood-memory-old! And so useful today.

With love,

Tess
PS: Have you created or spotted a heart this week? Share it with me! Use #aheartaday and social media may overflow with hearts…

A Heart A Day #19 AND #20

Posted on August 16, 2016 by Tessie O'Steel

Oh yes, you caught me there! I missed day #19… The heart was ready, but I just didn’t find a moment to post. But that’s okay. I’m compassionate towards myself ;-) And today you’ll get two hearts from me instead. How lucky do you feel now?

Yesterday’s heart I created on a party last Saturday with the help of a friend. Shadow and light and the famous hand-made heart on a rough old factory wall. The lights create two shadows, two hearts. They look so bold!
The heart for day #20 I made from a game for children. Totally different than yesterday’s heart, but I think it’s pretty colourful and cool, too.

How is your heart doing today? Are your actions and thoughts slowly growing more compassionate? Towards yourself and others?

With love,

Tess

PS: Have you created or spotted a heart this week? Share it with me! Use #aheartaday and social media may overflow with hearts…

#19

#20

A Heart A Day #11

Posted on August 7, 2016 by Tessie O'Steel

Day #11. Today’s heart from me to you. Another rainbow coloured heart. Using pencils, fineliner and ruler.

What are your thoughts on self-compassion? Are you as kind to yourself as you are to others? The way your mind speaks to you, would you accept that from anyone else? Share your thoughts and – if you wish – create a heart or take a picture of a heart you found. Use #aheartaday.

With love,
Tess

[I love love and I love hearts! But oh, there’s too little of it, this world needs more love. So let’s change that, step by step. Away with pessimism. Away with hate. Let’s fill this world with love. And hearts. To show compassion towards each other, towards the planet, towards ourselves. It proves to be difficult for so many of us. But instead of judging it’s more meaningful to show love, to respond with love, to act out of love. Say it with hearts.