The Joy of the Peaceful Heart I Created, Estes Park, CO

I love those mornings when I wake up to a fresh layer of snow. The majestic mountains around me dress themselves in a white coat, bringing a smile to my face. Then the beautiful sun rises and slowly melts it all away, leaving me with hope that this winter the snow and the sun might learn to coexist.

My heart is content and grateful. Life feels peaceful and wonderful on my end (when I disconnect from the news).

I keep working hard on my presentation, and I am glad to report that I have reached a wonderful place with it. By now, I have learned my opening and closing sections by heart. I just hope that when I stand in front of an audience, nervousness will not fog my memory.

A few days ago, I presented it to my friends here at the YMCA. It went well!

There are times when my peaceful heart gets a small pinch from my old self, asking why I deserve this beautiful life of mine. But then I remind myself that I worked hard to create this peaceful heart. I worked hard to change my mindset and to be kinder to myself, and as a result, I am able to live with much more peace.

In the past, I would wait for the second shoe to drop. But you know what? Hard times are part of life. Today, however, I choose to enjoy what I have now and what lies ahead. When hard times come, I will deal with them then. In the meantime, I am learning to embrace the beauty that is right in front of me.

I love my work so much; even though the pay is low, there are many other benefits that are priceless to me. I have already committed to coming back in November. My passion for glass fusion is only growing, and I love exploring and sharing it.

Now that I am much more comfortable with my presentation (though I still plan to practice every morning and night) I need to pay closer attention to my summer travel plans.

I can also focus on the wonderful visits from dear friends.

Two weeks ago, Ansley and Mel, my young friends from last year's seasonal job at Winter Park Resort, came to visit. My time in Winter Park will always have a loving place in my heart. I love connecting with people of all ages. It was wonderful to catch up with both of them and to meet Kelly, Mel’s girlfriend. Back in November, Patrick also came for a quick visit. I am telling you, Winter Park was magical, mostly because of the beautiful young adults I am honored to call dear friends.

Sasha just left this morning. We spent a few days hiking, enjoying the full moon, and playing with glass fusion.

Sasha and I met a few months ago, in September, on a hike to Ice Lake in Silverton, Colorado. We had the opportunity to experience an incredible hike, challenged by a strenuous climb and some crazy weather. During that hike, we found a deep connection with each other.

It is very special when two people work hard to maintain a meaningful friendship. We met again when I was back in New Jersey, and I feel honored that Sasha made the effort to fly here for a few days.

There is a kind of magic—a sense of belonging, safety, and camaraderie, when you meet people who are willing to be as vulnerable as you are and who understand the importance of respecting a safe space between people.

We had a great time! I think we will always laugh about the moment we realized we were on the wrong path and the snow just kept getting deeper. AllTrails showed that we were a bit off the trail as well, so we cut through the deep snow, falling, crouching, and crawling on our knees to reach the trail again. You should have seen us! It was absolutely hilarious!

I am looking forward to many more special moments with Sasha in the future.

I have more exciting visitors coming later this month and in April. I am looking forward not only to spending time with my friends, but also to sharing this beautiful place that I feel I can call my part-time home.

There is a quiet beauty in spending the winter at the YMCA. It is a much slower pace than the summer, and there is more opportunity to create a closer feeling of family, something I truly cherish.

A few weeks ago, I had a dream about a design for a glass fusion vase. I am now in the process of bringing it to life. I know there is a chance that it might crack in the last stage in the kiln, but I am willing to take the risk. In the worst case, I will turn the pieces into pendants. :)

It is definitely a creation that takes time, as small parts come together to create one big piece.

At this point, I can say that I have found my voice in glass fusion, and it is very much an abstract style. My favorite finish in glass fusion is full fuse, as I love how the glass melts into itself, creating a single, solid piece of art.

Until it finishes, here are some pictures of the stages. I hope it will come out the way I dream it to be.