Dear Life, Want to improve your mental health? Listen and watch for meaning-making moments; those small moments when you hear or see something that lifts your spirit: laughter coming from nearby or seeing a couple embrace. My Spirit helps me navigate the toils of life by providing many such moments. This morning it was seeing my hair standing straight up when I looked in the mirror. I burst into a smile. I am grateful to have hair!!!
Yours Truly, Pamela Rose

Dear Life, Does anyone else feel like it’s too cold too soon? I was enjoying afternoon walks with temps warming up to the mid-40’s. It’s 32 degrees outside. I am a warm weather creature. Stem Cell Replacement changed my body temperature and blood pressure: very low. But I need to feel the sun on my face so layer up those clothes and put on a hat. Walk briskly and be grateful it’s mostly sunny today. Think WARM!
Yours Truly, Pamela Rose

Dear Life, When I sit down to eat, I silently am grateful for the food I can enjoy and my life I can live. I know the pain and discomfort of not being able to eat due to cancer treatments with side effects and water tasting like metal due to the chemicals in my body. I also know the dangers of alcoholism/addiction and am grateful to be sober. Today, I tell a story of gratitude about going through hell and living a day at a time. Someone may need to hear it. Break bread with a friend who may need you.
Yours Truly, Pamela Rose

Dear Life, I am in a 30-Day Program “Surrender Pamela”.
Day 22. I assessed what’s up since then: experienced struggle, joy, confusion, sadness, pain, grief, love, serenity, curiosity, love, discomfort, irritability, desire for change, self-made drama (around moving), madness, crankiness, tolerance, frustration, fear, worry, concern, anger, joy (more than twice), humor, happiness, a little flirtatiousness, generosity, comfort and acceptance. So who is having all these feelings if I surrendered Pamela?
Yours Truly, Pamela Rose

Dear Life, Treatment went smoothly: nine vials of blood withdrawn and immunotherapy injection. Walked two miles afterward to move the chemical around my body. It’s a ritual that helps me with all of this. Then I painted and collaged, another ritual, to help me with all of life and elections.
Yours Truly, Pamela Rose

Dear Life, I silently drew and painted this watercolor on musical score paper. It makes me feel peace and hopeful. That is enough. I let this image be pervasive throughout my body and mind. Stressful thinking can derail my feeling of well-being. When that happens, I breathe, center and remember: Seaweed. Smile. That’s my deep thought for today.
Yours Truly, Pamela Rose
PS Out the door to the Cancer Center for treatment.

Watercolor on Musical Score Paper 11.07.2022

Dear Life, Here I am with Catherine Gerry while we visited the Dixon Studio Tour. I met Catherine in 1988 while teaching at New York School of Interior Design. She was a student and now a successful Interior Designer in the NYC metropolitan region. Our friendship has sustained 34 years of life experiences and living 1800 miles apart. I am always grateful when she comes “home” to New Mexico. Friendships make my life thrive and meaningful.
Yours Truly, Pamela Rose

PRM & Catherine Gerry 11.05.2022 Dixon, NM

Dear Life, I had a delicious day in Dixon and came home with a beautiful blue bowl to complete the set. I love the open four-tier shelving in my kitchen that displays all my dishes, cookbooks, baking bin, and bowls. I love sitting at my kitchen table eating and visiting with friends. This past week, I put a deposit on a townhouse but realized after being there for 90 minutes to take measurements, my things would not fit and I didn’t feel right in it.
Trust my heart and nest where I am. Lesson learned.
Yours Truly, Pamela Rose

Dear Life, I am heading north to the Dixon Studio Tour with three friends where I will buy an eighth bowl to add to my collection. Miya Endo makes gorgeous ceramics including hundreds of these small bowls. And to the delight of her collectors, her family fills each bowl with homemade chile and serves with a chocolate chip cookie. I have not been to her studio in three years due to Covid and health. Today I feel good and ready to go!
Yours Truly, Pamela Rose