I hope that those of you who can, have gotten or plan to get vaccinated so that life can go back to a new level of normal. I will post more coloring pages as needed (stressful things happen in our society or politics), but will not be posting 2 each week for the summer so that I can spend more time outside with my family, in my garden, on my bike, and hopefully with friends who I have not seen in 15+ months. Be well. 

Monday was Memorial Day and I was busy with my family, so I didn't get to post the coloring page.

Here are both for this week...

New Free Pandemic Coloring Pages #128 & 129!

Carpe Diem - Seize the Day 

Have you always wanted to try something? Try it. Have you always wanted to learn something? Find a class or YouTube video and learn it. Need a career change - do it. Life is short and your daily happiness has value. Start Today.

 New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #127!

Copy, Print, Color

 New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #126!

Copy, Print, Color

#stopthestigma #MentalHealthAwareness

In case you haven't seen my other May posts for Mental Health Awareness month, check them out by scrolling down. Today's coloring page isn't just about mental health, it includes other invisible issues including illnesses and injuries. Don't judge. Don't assume. You are better off giving everyone the benefit of the doubt and just be nice. You never know what someone is going through or what they have been dealing with. Choose kindness. Offer support or even just a shoulder to lean on. Be present for your friends and family. Be present for others - even if you don't know them. Imagine what our world would look like. 

Personal story - Last week, I was at an outdoor garden with my family and it was 3 or 4 miles of walking. I have bad knees, so I use a cane when walking distances. While taking pictures, I tossed the cane to the side and a group of women sitting and enjoying the mountain/garden view said, "Yea, you don't want to look like you need a cane." I've thought a lot about this. I do need a cane. There is no way I could have walked for 2 hours through the gardens and up and down stairs without it. I didn't need her comment - she should have kept it to herself. She didn't know me or have any clue what my injuries are or why I need the walking support. Keep it simple. Don't judge. 

 New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #125!

Copy, Print, Color

This is the last full week of school for this year and after a full year of remote school, I know my kids are ready for the summer. 

Teachers, you are welcome to share this page or any of my free coloring pages with your students. 

New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #124!

Copy, Print, Color

I want to make sure that you all know that if you are figuring out your journey, on a journey, taking a side adventure in your journey, or even just starting your journey, these are all great choices. Take the time you need. Create your adventure. Figure out your journey. I have changed careers several times. I have earned several college degrees. My focus has always been about improving the world for children, but that doesn't mean that any one career will keep me motivated or that I want to do the same thing for the rest of my life. One journey, many adventures. All the best to all of the high school and college grades this week and over the next few weeks. 

If you love this saying as much as I do, I have a different design of it on t-shirts and hoodies in my Etsy and you can see that listing here: Doodling Rocks. If you like this design better and think I should add it to my shop, leave me a message or tell me on Facebook. Thanks!

 New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #123! 

Copy, Print, Color

Today is day 439 of quarantine. Shavuot starts this Sunday, May 16th and ends on Tuesday, May 18th.  I created this page for The Blue Dove Foundation (as seen here:  https://thebluedovefoundation.org/shavuot/) and I'm sharing it here for both Shavuot and Mental Health Awareness month. 

For those who don't know what Shavuot is - it is also known as the "feast of weeks" and it celebrates the day that the Torah was given to the Jewish people on Mt. Sinai (this is why I drew mountains) more than 3,300 years ago; 7 weeks and one day after the second night of Passover (the weeks). It is associated with the grain harvest (the feast). It is typically celebrated by lighting candles and staying up late at night reading the Torah. 

This holiday is typically celebrated with the study of the Torah, but in my family, we will celebrate educational achievement. While the school year isn't quite over, my children have worked very hard during this strange year attending school from home on their computers. They have had to adjust their method of learning, modify their organizational methods, and figured out how learn with little to no kinesthetic tools or manipulatives to enhance their learning experiences (I'm not counting filling out a worksheet as a kinesthetic experience). This holiday also celebrates the harvest of the grain, so I will bake fresh bread and we will have our own "feast." Adjust and celebrate.  

I wrote "You can move mountains" because I believe we all can. When presented with a challenge, review it, study it, tackle it, but don't go around it. Don't avoid it. That's what this year has been for most people. We constantly have to review the situation and adjust our approach. It might be one pebble at a time, but you can move mountains. 

New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #122!

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

#StopTheStigma

Today is day 437 of quarantine and down here in Georgia our local schools are finishing up units, taking end of year tests and milestone tests, completing end of year projects, and preparing EOCs and final exams. Kids and teachers are ready to be done, ready for a break, ready for summer and I don't know about your family, but I can feel the stress in my house. It's Okay Not to Be Okay. I don't just mean about school stuff, about anything and everything. You are allowed to be unhappy, stressed, worried. It's okay to have bad days. Breathe. Call a friend or seek out a therapist. Talk. You can lean on someone to help you through the bad days so it isn't all on you. You are not alone in whatever you are feeling - even if it may feel that way. I'm not a therapist, but I'm always available to talk to my friends and there are many great professionals out there who are ready to talk to you. #StopTheStigma

New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #121!

Copy, Print, , Color and Give this one to Mom!

Day 432 of quarantine. Today's post is a day late because I was volunteering in and participating in a Pitch event on Twitter yesterday to pitch my middle grade graphic novel and was pretty focused on that. Sorry. Today's page is for the MOMS out there. Thank you. I hope you print it out and slide it over to the kids to color for you. 

Stay well. 

Monday's post will be another for Mental Health Awareness month, so check back here on Monday!

Here's a copy of last year's MOM page...

 New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #120!

Copy, Print, Color

    Today is day 429 of quarantine and it's May 3rd. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and with the pandemic year being soo challenging for many and those with and without mental health challenges are all feeling additional stress. I started these coloring pages last year because drawing them helps me handle both the stress and anxiety created by everything happening during the pandemic. I'm not going to list what has been causing stress, because I'm not sure that is helpful, but here's a list of just some things that could help you reduce stress or anxiety - 

seeking a friend to talk to, coloring or drawing, listening to music, crocheting or knitting or painting, reading a book, doing a crossword puzzle, taking a walk, playing with a pet, baking, watching a funny movie, etc... 

    Whatever you use to reduce stress is for you. If these suggestions are not enough and you need more help, please contact your doctor and get a referral to a therapist - we have many great ones here in Atlanta. 

The Blue Dove Foundation is a wonderful group that helps people with mental health and substance abuse. 

"The Blue Dove Foundation was created to help address the issues of mental illness and addiction in the Jewish community and beyond. Based in Atlanta, we work with people and organizations across the United States and around the world."

If you'd like to learn more about the Blue Dove Foundation, check out their website by clicking on the photo below:  

If you'd like to make a donation, click here - thebluedovefoundation.org/donate. 

New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #119

Today is day #423 of quarantine and rather than focus on the pandemic, masks, quarantine, being safe, etc... I'm dedicating this one to our heroes. Today is National Superhero Day, but let's talk about our heroes - our every day heroes. Who has gotten you through this pandemic. I know doctors, nurses, teachers, and all the other front line workers are truly amazing, but I want to hear from you about your day to day heroes. Who has been your support, your backbone, your go to person during the pandemic. Mom? Dad? A grandparent on the phone? A close friend? Post a comment and tell me who has been your lifeline. 

New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #118!

Copy, Print, Color

Today is day 421 of quarantine. This page speaks for itself, so I won't lecture you. Be safe. Be smart. Be kind. Stand up for equality. Stand up for what's right. 

New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #117!

Copy, Print, Color

Today is day 416 of quarantine and tomorrow is Earth Day. I've also included last year's Earth Day page, in case you'd like to color that one, too. 

Last year's page - 

New Free Pandemic Coloring Page #116!

Today's page is in honor of a good friend, Andy, who is battling colon cancer. He is incredibly strong. Positive. Confident. He hasn't given up. The love of his life hasn't given up. I haven't given up and neither have dozens, if not hundreds, more of his friends and family who love him. He is the bravest and strongest person that I know. He amazes me every day. Keep fighting Andy! You have got this. 

Life throws you curve balls, challenges, things that you can't fathom how you will get past, but don't give up. 

Inspired by such powerful people like Andy in my life, I don't give up. I was told, 25 years ago, that it was likely that I wouldn't walk again after I crushed my femur and lost the cartilage in both knees. I walk, not fast, but I walk. I was told that I'd have little functional use of my dominant arm after I broke the ulna and dislocated the radial head (same accident as the leg). I've spent more than 20 years drawing with that arm (I have since had to switch to my non-dominant arm, but I'm still drawing almost every day). Don't give up. A favorite quote is "The bend in the road is not the end of the road unless you fail to make the turn." I know that I can walk, I just walk shorter distances and sometimes use a walking support. I know that I can draw, I just had to change how I do it. I wanted to learn how to crochet 4+ years ago and I taught myself as a righty because my left arm doesn't rotate enough. 

There is almost always a way around the obstacle. Find it. 

Today is day 414 of quarantine. I've had both doses of the vaccine. I'm still at home. I still wear a mask on the rare occasions that I go out. I'm not going to restaurants. We need everyone to get the vaccine, but sadly, Many Georgians aren't planning to get the vaccine. I don't know why and I really don't want to know. It is their decision. It just makes me sad. The sooner we can get herd immunity, the sooner we can get some semblance of a normal life. Stay strong. Get vaccinated. Wear a mask and continue to social distance. We CAN do this.