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a.r.hopkins

My #motto for 2023 is just do it badly. All my l

My #motto for 2023 is just do it badly.

All my life, I’ve avoided doing anything I couldn’t do well.

As a child & teen, I failed PE every year because I refused to participate.

I scoffed at and mocked kids who joined sports & activities, calling them “sheep” or “joiners”.

When I was required to take an art class, I treated it like a joke. I’d scrawl five separate scribbles to turn in as my weekly practice assignments at the start of class each Friday. It never occurred to me that I’d spent hours as a kid admiring my grandmother’s paintings and quilts.

I couldn’t imagine a fate worse than caring about something.

I’ve continued to seek out #art all my adult life. I’ve tried paint pouring, acrylic painting, oil painting, miniature sculpting, fashion illustrating, and more. Each time I’d try a few times, feel like a failure when I wasn’t talented enough to produce the vision in my mind, and give up.

It took me 20 years to realize that if I couldn’t imagine a fate worse than caring about something, that made the idea of caring about something and failing at it completely unfathomable.

This year, I’ve discovered #watercolor. Am I good at it? Nope. But here I am, doing it badly anyway. Some days I throw my paintings directly into the trash, sometimes I don't.

Two weeks ago, I took a walk after finishing up a day of painting during all my breaks. I wondered if it was wrong to waste so much time on something that was so pointless. My thoughts were interrupted by a neighbor inviting me inside.

I followed her in and met her husband, who explained that he has been in poor health for the past few years and how much he appreciates my husband clearing their snow each winter. He went on to say that they had spent most of their money on his medical care and had nothing to give my husband, but he wanted to offer something to me.

The man was once a jeweler and still had some leftover supplies. He handed me a beautiful necklace while explaining how he had cut, polished, and set the Australian opal himself, and attached it to a sterling silver chain.

What is #opal said to spark in its wearer? Creativity and joy.

Painting badly it is.

#perfectionism #storytime

Yoga by Freddie #dogsofinstagram #dogstagram #do

Yoga by Freddie

#dogsofinstagram #dogstagram #dogyoga #goldenretriever #fieldgoldenretriever #redgoldenretriever #happy

As we move from #Samhain to #Yule, make the best o

As we move from #Samhain to #Yule, make the best of what you have 🖤

#halloween #upcycle #miniatures #dollhouse #dollhouserenovation #hauntedhouse #recycledcrafts

After the response to my last post offering my fre

After the response to my last post offering my free guide to starting a freelance content writing career, I'm feeling lit up by this path of giving back and less drained by social media.

I've wiped my website clean and will now offer it as a place to publish a piece of writing for anyone who needs a published sample to be considered for their first content writing gig.

DM me if you'd like to send over an article or blog post. I'll proofread it, publish it, and send you the link for free. Don't forget to include the way you'd like your name to appear in your byline.

Again, I don't need your email address and I sell nothing. Free guide is linked on my website. Happy writing!

#workfromhome #givingback #freelancer #helpinghand #contentwriting #linkinbio

I get it, I really do. I write marketing content f

I get it, I really do. I write marketing content for a living. But I also miss the days when people just genuinely shared their lives on social media.

If you're looking to start freelancing as a way to work from home, support your author dreams, or find some adult purpose, DM me. I'll send you my guide for free- no strings attached.

#free #freelance #howto #contentwriting #contentmarketing #selfemployed #shareknowledge #freebie #guide #workfromhome

I grew up in poverty, in a trailer in the tiniest

I grew up in poverty, in a trailer in the tiniest town you've never heard of. When I was 16, my mother got married and we moved into a house for the first time.

Once a week, I would join her for shopping at the nearest grocery store. First, we would stop at the drivethru of what was then the State Employee Credit Union (her husband was a prison guard).

That drivethru faces this house. Every single time I would comment on how much I loved it and imagine living in it until we drove away. This continued until I moved out at 18.

Three years ago (20 years later), I moved into this house and I write this post from within its walls today. Energy flows where attention goes and manifestation is real 💝

#spicypsychology #newmoon #energy #visualization #homesweethome #manifestation #manifestationstation

Last night, after a very long day at work, my husb

Last night, after a very long day at work, my husband decided to hunt down a #GlutenFree bakery to find me the perfect treat for our Tuesday night tradition of watching @nbcthisisus

He came home with 3 absolutely delicious looking cupcakes and a giant cookie. Unfortunately, they were all clearly labeled as containing dairy and oat flour.

I'm dairy and oat intolerant.

We've known this for a year.

This is what it looks like to be married to someone with truly good intentions who also has #adhd and #tbi

So, I went to work whipping up my own last-minute gluten-free #dairyfree emotional support baked donuts while meditating on intention & gratitude.

It's not always easy but the choice is always there 🍩

Recipe by @mamaknowsglutenfree

#kitchenwitch #chocolate #marriage
#baking #intentionalliving #gratitude #sprinkles

#GlutenFree Protein Brownies Adapted from Flourle

#GlutenFree Protein Brownies

Adapted from Flourless Hemp Brownies by @lilsipper

4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 C Tbsp honey
1/4 C hemp seed powder
1/2 C cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 C chocolate chips

Whisk together and bake at 350°F (325°F convection) for 20-25 minutes.

Do these taste like a "healthified" version of brownies? Yes.

Is that okay sometimes? Yep.

#foodporn #brownies #recipe #hempseeds #chocolate #health #kitchenwitch

#morrocan lamb stew #foodporn

#morrocan lamb stew

#foodporn

Happy Friday! @handsomehenriehusky #workingforthe

Happy Friday! @handsomehenriehusky

#workingfortheweekend #husky #huskiesofinstagram #keeponmovin

Just a reminder that social media isn't real life.

Just a reminder that social media isn't real life. Drink some water and maybe go outside.

Yes, that's chocolate on my mouth.

#nofilter #nomakeup #hideous #takeabreak #comparisonisthethiefofjoy #tuesdayvibes

Caught my 16 year old son shooting a short film in

Caught my 16 year old son shooting a short film in our dining room last weekend.

Could be worse.
#parenting #teenagers #creative #noir #funfriday

There is a lot of confusion about the difference b

There is a lot of confusion about the difference between "bad" or negative thoughts and intrusive ones.

Many people who experience intrusive thoughts live with the fear that they will some day follow through on these thoughts and become dangerous to themselves or others.

There is no evidence that this is likely to happen.

YOU ARE NOT YOUR THOUGHTS and you are not alone.

#thoughtfulthursday #cbt #anxiety #burnout #momburnout

Happy Witchy Wednesday! Tarot is not about the ca

Happy Witchy Wednesday!

Tarot is not about the cards or the future. It's about your interpretation of those cards and the subconscious fears & desires that interpretation reveals for you.

I highly recommend pairing journaling with tarot exercises. Process the meaning of the cards and their placements and then dump that brain out onto paper. Write down every thought that comes up, even if it doesn't make sense or seem relevant.

It's not about the tools; it's about the process.

#witchywednesday #tarot #tarotcards #tarotspread #selfdiscovery #selfrediscovery #burnout #momburnout

Sliced up some smoked #tofu this morning and threw

Sliced up some smoked #tofu this morning and threw it in the #airfryer

Super crunchy delicious #vegan #bacon came out!

#crunch #cronch #food #cooking

It's okay to seek support when you're just not rea

It's okay to seek support when you're just not ready to face your fear (of the passenger seat) yet. 😂

#funfriday #fridaymood #scaredydog #dogslife #goldenretriever #gingers

Love that sound. #cacao #espressomachine #babyitsc

Love that sound.
#cacao #espressomachine #babyitscoldoutside ❄

Happy Holidays from the naughty list! 🎅 #Happy

Happy Holidays from the naughty list! 🎅

#HappyHolidays #merrychristmas #dogstagram #goldenretriever #redgoldenretriever #naughtylist #fieldgolden

37 lessons in 37 years: Feelings are called feel

37 lessons in 37 years:

Feelings are called feelings because you’re supposed to feel them in your body.

Thinking your feelings wrecks your nervous system.

No one else is responsible for your happiness.

You are not responsible for anyone else's happiness.

Life moves on, with or without you.

A healthy relationship is not 50/50; it is 100/100.

No one else can advocate for you like you can.

The opposite of love isn’t hate; it’s indifference.

Keep your friends few and of the utmost quality.

Animals are better than people.

You deserve clothes that fit, no matter what size is on the tag.

Learning about hobbies can be a hobby and that’s okay.

Envy is a tool for identifying what you want.

Exercise for health, not for weight loss.

Accept both praise and blame when deserved.

It's almost never about you.

People are doing the best they can with the tools they have.

Your identity should be separate from your role as a parent, a spouse, or an employee.

Life never goes as planned.

Some things can't be understood without first-hand experience. There is no way to say that to someone who lacks that experience without sounding like an asshole.

Repressing your emotions will eventually manifest physically as chronic pain or illness.

Being an introvert doesn't mean disliking people.

Many introverts are actually empaths.

Many empaths have open emotional solar plexus centers & absorb and amplify the emotions of people around them.

You can stop yourself from absorbing others' negative energy. I like to repeat "Not my shit." or "Observe, don't absorb."

Black never goes out of style.

It's perfectly acceptable to have only 3 colors in your closet.

Everyone has value.

You don't have to agree with a person to support them.

If you only hand down one thing to your daughters, let it be the audacity.

There are no new ideas, only new angles.

Not everything can be explained by science (yet).

The human brain is fascinating.

Strength is found in the support of other women.

When you think something nice about someone, tell them.

Being considerate is great; habitually sacrificing your own comfort isn't.

If you love someone, learn their love language & use it.

I'm not sure how something as scientifically verif

I'm not sure how something as scientifically verified as neuroplasticity is still considered woowoo, but here we are!

I've finally created a free guide to starting your own cognitive renovation. You can't change your life without changing your thoughts.

If you start the practice and need help with your rewrites, feel free to DM me for help. ✌

#neuroplasticity #rewireyourbrain #woowoowednesday #takecareofyourself #takeaction #linkinbio

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