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[sarahzink]

"The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves, and not to twist them to fit our own image. Otherwise, we love only the reflection of ourselves we find in them." ~Thomas Merton: No Man is an Island ~ #love #loveis #mindfulness #mindfulliving #intentionalliving #mindfulloving (at Boquete, Panama) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cnt-TSDOiao/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[sarahzink]

It's the small habits that control your life. How do you spend your mornings? What techniques are you using to set the tone for the day? Are you letting the day happen to you, or are you establishing control over your attitude from the get-go? How do you talk to yourself? Would you let anyone else talk to you that way? Are the words you speak to yourself repetitions of damaging words you've heard before?  What are you reading/watching? How much time are you spending on social media? Are you watching TV at the end of the day, with a full belly, only half paying attention to what you're watching? That's self-induced brainwashing.  Who has access to you? Are you spending time with people out of a sense of obligation, or a desire to be enriched by their presence? It's being alone scary to you? Is being silent threatening or intimidating?  These small habits can change your life. #mindfulness #mindfulliving #intentionalliving #habits #curateyourspace #meditation (at Boquete, Panama) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmF0ZGSIUov/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[sarahzink]

I have to confess to being somewhat of a sucker for stained glass. I could not be happier with the lamps and hanging globe that I got from Larry's Place Boquete. I want to give huge shout out to Larry Zink for the successful (but hair-raising) installation today! #panamalife #boquetepanama (at Boquete, Panama) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmCy80tvBaJ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[sarahzink]

I was super happy to acquire this piece today by @yare_art. All of the pieces that I saw today in her booth were constructed from debris she had picked up on the beach. This one spoke to me, and I had to have it. Was delighted to also meet the artist, as well. #art #trashart #trashartist #beachtrashartist #panama #debrisartist (at Boquete, Panama) https://www.instagram.com/p/CiWOXbvMDSl/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[sarahzink]

This year, I wish my friends and family silence. I wish you quiet-ness. One thing I've learned - both as I've grown older and as we build our lives here in Boquete, Panama - is that we overlook the priceless value of being quiet. Sometimes, the silence is deafening. Our thoughts and emotions threaten to overwhelm us. And yet - as you exert self-discipline and mindfully sit with your thoughts and emotions, you begin to see threads.... threads of regret, of pain, of loneliness, of fear and of longing. You see the things that drive you to be busy, to constantly be surrounded by people, or TV, or music or busy-ness. I wish for each of you the power to sit quietly. To sit with your thoughts. To sit with your emotions, and let them wash over you and to be able to watch them with calm detachment as you learn to understand yourself, to forgive yourself, and to forgive others. Today - sit quietly with yourself for two minutes. Set a timer if you have to. Just breathe. Observe both your thoughts and feelings with calm detachment. And just breathe. Just be. There's so much insight and personal power to be found in a mindful life. I hope each of you makes time to sit with yourselves. It's a lovely place to be. #mindfulness #intentionalliving #mindfulliving #silence #meditation https://www.instagram.com/p/CcfFMRaOONZ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[sarahzink]

Years ago, I reached out to artist @grantalexandra @alexandragrantstudio after reading about her project "Taking Lena Home". She agreed to let me interview her on my radio show, and, since then, we have become friends. She is a kind and warm person, as well as a passionate artist. I've been honored to have been permitted to make several quilts with the @grantloveproject logo and together, we've raised money to help fund art programs. This year is likely the final year I will be able to participate in this type of collaborative project, as I'm moving out of the country. It has been by far a stretch of my skills and creativity, but Alexandra agreed to let me create my interpretation of her work in the series "Antigone 3000 - She Said to Creon (15)". This quilt is on its way to the 2021 @marfainvitational, to be part of Alexandras 'pop-up store'. I couldn't be more honored, grateful and blessed for this opportunity and for Alexandra's friendship. It's a delightful and fulfilling way to end my quilting work in the United States. https://www.instagram.com/p/CNxMlLfH4ZF/?igshid=ptil7nhlqtjc

[sarahzink]

“Great love lives everywhere.” #lovewins #chooselove https://www.instagram.com/p/CMdmWIunimw/?igshid=1xmwr2jakku1t

[sarahzink]

LONG POST ALERT. How do you announce a major life change? I've processed this for a week and haven't come up with any brilliant answer, so I'm just going to blurt it out there. In October of this year, My husband and I will be selling our home and much of our 'stuff' and moving to Boquete, Panama (in Central America). We're excited and not a little nervous about this major life change, yet we're considering it our 'next big adventure'. You know, the universe has a funny way of aligning people, events and information, and such an alignment occurred this year. Our decision wasn't made lightly, and was made after a LOT of research, number crunching and interviews of folks who live and have lived in Panama and Boquete. We've heard the good, the bad and the ugly, and we're confident that we're making the right decision for us. As many of you know, Larry and I have loved to cruise over the years, and we often said we'd like to retire to Cozumel, Roatan or Belize; but we didn't even know about the opportunities in Panama! SO - because life is short and you're never too old for an adventure, we made the decision to retire to our version of paradise. Boquete is nestled in the mountains of Panama at about 3,600 feet. Because it's near the equator, the sun rises and sets every day at 6:30 am and 6:30 pm, and the temperature is between 60 and 80º every. single. day. This town has about 30,000 residents, of which more than 1,000 are ex-pats from the US, Canada, South Africa and other nations. I'm particularly excited about the quilting guild in the nearby town of Volcan that is teaching the locals about quilting, and there is a local jazz band that plays twice a month on Sunday afternoons in the town square. Larry is looking forward to smoking farm-fresh meat and learning about smoking freshly-caught fish. Many thanks to @panamarelocationtours for all the info, support and advice! https://www.instagram.com/p/CMJVaNwnoqM/?igshid=117r8zmdzg4mm

[sarahzink]

Making progress on this king size “African Queens” quilt top for a client to celebrate their seventh wedding anniversary! I love the honest and genuine feedback I get from them, and am looking forward to delivering an heirloom that they will love. @zinkys.quilts Check out Zinky's Quilts at https://tinyurl.com/ZinkyQuilts Don't forget to follow us on Instagram and Pinterest: https://www.instagram.com/zinkys.quilts/ https://www.pinterest.com/ZinkysQuilts/@zinkys.quilts #quiltsofinstagram #quilts #africanqueen #quilting #quiltingismytherapy #modernquilts https://www.instagram.com/p/CLNQK11H3B1/?igshid=1kbf6wg5ivcjl

[sarahzink]

The top of this quilt is completely hand sewn by me. It was machine finished by a professional long arm quilter. Its gorgeous fabric is rich and yummy. The pattern is called “Texas Star” and it measures approximately 70” x 70”. It’s going into the Etsy store next week for $500. @zinkys.quilts #quiltsofinstagram #lonestarquilt #handquilter #handquilting #quilt #quilting #quiltersofinstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CK6Ulw1HNE9/?igshid=swbd2fjcazlo

[sarahzink]

Love and service. What does this mean? We learn a lot about the concept of love in terms of family and of passionate love, but did you know that - as the greeks defined it - there are SEVEN different kinds of love? Eros: sexual love Philia: deep friendship Storge: love between parents and children' Ludus: playful love Agape: love for everyone/selfless love Pragma: longstanding love What does it mean to be loving and of service? How differently would you live your life if you asked yourself before you made a choice if it was loving or of service? How differently would you work and live? What would change about how you view politics and your religious expression if you asked yourself these questions? "Am I being loving?" "Am I being of service?" Of course, it goes without saying that love and service does not negate accountability, nor does it give a 'free pass' on behaviors; however, when we begin to change OUR behaviors, responses and habits based on these questions, we become agents of change in our own lives, the lives of our family and friends, and of the world. The world will not change from the outside in, it must change from the inside out; from the small expressions of love and service that each of us begins to display in our own lives. #loveandservice #emotionalintelligence #intentionalliving #mindfulliving #borntolove #whatislove https://www.instagram.com/p/CK3OITMHNa9/?igshid=q9bo6quuqpja

[sarahzink]

Becoming. Being yourself. What does that mean? For many people (particularly women), it’s a myriad of conflicting messages and a labyrinth of rules, regulations, “how to’s”, and expectations, with a very narrow chance of finding who you really are. For many men, it’s navigating the myth of male power, the expectations of what a man should be in the home and in a relationship, and the overall harmony of how men and women should act and relate in the workplace, the home, and in the community. I don’t have the answer, except to focus on love and service. Love for self and others, and service to self and others. Find a balance between the two to maintain an equilibrium of caring for yourself and caring for others. Along that line, I want to thank Janet M. Brown for sharing this thought: “I quickly learned that to grow up as a strong-willed woman... is to never quite understand your place in the world. It means sorting through a barrage of mixed messages from both male and female authority figures regarding your proper role in society, the church,the home, even in the bedroom, each message punctuated by the claim that it is God’s will that you do this or that.” ~Rachel Held Evans~ #whoami #mindfulliving #selfidentity #beyourself #youmatter #borntolove https://www.instagram.com/p/CKroHYRngh0/?igshid=brg29upl9hc7

[sarahzink]

Too many times, we accuse other people of violating our boundaries, when in reality, WE are the ones violating our own boundaries. On this beautiful Monday morning, I encourage you to renew your commitment to honor your boundaries. #emotionalintelligence #healthyboundaries #selfcare #intentionalliving #retakeyourpower https://www.instagram.com/p/CKeJ8LNnY1v/?igshid=1hq6u0l49rbpg

[sarahzink]

From @mariashriver’s @thesundaypaper : “In life, you can get lost and you can get found. You can choose to feed the angry, raging wolf inside of you, or you can feed the loving wolf filled with hope, joy, peace, humility, and kindness. It’s up to you. So I’m feeding myself love. I’m feeding myself hope. I’m serving up hope in my home in abundance. As poet @amandascgorman said: ‘For there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we're brave enough to be it.’” https://www.instagram.com/p/CKbejF9nqnC/?igshid=1dsw9iup9606x

[sarahzink]

I won’t be remembered as a woman who kept her mouth shut; nor would I want to be. My goal is to use my voice IRL and digitally) for good, to help aid in understanding, to engage in civil discussions, and even when we don’t agree, to help others learn to disagree civilly. #emotionalintelligence #civildebate #cerebraldiscussions #loveandservice https://www.instagram.com/p/CKZ2-mpnHy4/?igshid=1hzflc8gxz4k4

[sarahzink]

Be who you are. #authenticity #intentionalliving #mindfulness #mindfulliving #allin https://www.instagram.com/p/CJh7QSIHmge/?igshid=q4wdvgqe06u

[sarahzink]

Huge shout out to @ftworthlibrary for the NYE gift I won in the recent contest! Woot!!! https://www.instagram.com/p/CJMbBVPnfMF/?igshid=1i3i9136rku7h