Jennifer Brighton
1300 Cornwall Rd L6Y 76H Oakville, ON, Canada

#inspiration can come from many places. I was inspired to do this piece from Dr Cliff Oliver. I met him and his wife a number of years ago at #Hollyhock, a wonderful retreat centre tucked away on a remote island in British Columbia. Dr Oliver was there to teach us how to make the most of taking photos with our iPhones. I was there to do a yoga training and got to sit in on one of his #tutorials. I was amazed at some of the #tricks he taught and have stayed #connected with... him ever since. I’m always blown away by his #photos and it struck me last week that I would love to be by the water again. #Mountains and #water are the two things that I find incredibly #healing. One of Dr Oliver’s photos was #breathtaking and I reached out and asked if I could use it as an #inspiration for my next #painting!! Thank you for agreeing . Here it is Windinsea #centreforbalancecliff #windinsea #water #bliss #jennifer.brighton.motivation #painting #art #artoninstagram #sunshine #peaceful #happynewyear #letgo See more

I like to #challenge myself with my #art in hopes of building new #neural pathways and help my #recovery. In the beginning days after my #traumaticbraininjury standing and #focussing for even short #moments would cause my #brain to become #inflamed. I had ice packs attached to my head most of the time and tears streaming from the #pain. I’d struggle to find words, lose my #balance, become extremely dizzy, nauseated and then have pervasive #anxiety...how was I going to #cope... with all of this? In a snap my #life changed, and I felt #lost and #confused. It has been tough! I’m not going to sugar coat it. I felt like I lost everything I knew that defined me. That wasn’t entirely true....but that is how I felt. I have been working very hard on my #recovery and as of today, I can sustain much longer periods of time doing things. I continue to #struggle and I still have a long way to go, but I am going in the right direction and I am learning that my definition of me is at my core, not in what I do. My art is very symbolic, I move between different subject matter, and mediums to keep myself fresh, to keep me in a mindful state, to continue to use my art as #therapy. Here is a fresh #bouquet of flowers for you today #colourfulpainting #acrylic #arteza #colour #art #artistsoninstagram #arttherapy #artoftheday #artwork #artist #enhanceddigitally #ditigalart See more

I’m so #charmed that she liked it #isleofskye #scotland #speechtherapy #grateful #blessed #recoveryispossible #tbi #ptsd

It is so #fascinating to #observe how we can #develop in something when we put our #mind to it. I never #imagined I would #evolve into an #artist, that was never part of my long-term #plan. It took my #caraccident and #tbi halting my life and literally #stopping my #life for me to #be #still long enough to #cultivate this new #skill. I started July 2019 when the #pain I was #experiencing was #unbearable and #painting somehow kept me #distracted enough that I could get by t...he worst moments. Then #art morphed #naturally into a new #love. Over the last year and half I have played with many mediums and it has been quite the #therapeutic #journey. I did this #painting of my #face today to see how much my skills have advanced from way back then....I’m amazed at how far I have come. It is also a #reflection of how far I have come in my #recovery as well! #recoveryispossible See more

I’m calling her Breathtaking because that is what this site is when you go and see it. It really is something to take in if you can at some point in your life. It gives you #perspective. You see how small you are in comparison to those mountains, you take in the fresh mountain air, you feel the wind on your body and sun on your face...and if you have the chance to #hike the mountains...well, let me tell you, the #vistas are like nothing you have ever #experienced before in your #life. I have told my kids, that is where my ashes belong, in the mountains, THAT, is where my #heart is! #threesisters #alberta #majestic #mountains #mountainlife #art #painting #creating #iloveart #hiking #artist #artoninstagram

#liveonpurpose #connectwithyourvalues #staypresent #presence #now #selflove #selfcare

#iam #ismproudofyou #iamproudofme #empowered #resilient #strongereveryday #growth

It is hard to believe that it has been 6 months, since the pandemic became a reality. Here we are now with winter looming. Mental health issues related to our lock down and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression and other mental health disorders. NAMI, The National Alliance on Mental Health has a 24-hour helpline: 800-950-6264.... Did you know the relapse and overdose rate has increased by 30% since March 2020. I’m asking my small corner of FB to share this hotline far and wide! Could any two of my Facebook followers or friends just copy and repost to share the helpline? Just two. Any two. Say done. Let’s all try to stay well

The next time a bad day seems imminent, give these six steps a try. via Elephant Journal 1. Take Notice.... Take a moment to observe what is happening before judgements of the day are made. One experience in a moment does not make for the whole day. Resist drawing negative conclusions about what just happened. Resist the self-talk of this is going to be a bad day. Notice the event for what is isjust a moment. This event does not need to start the train. 2. Breathe. Inhale to the count of three. Now, exhale to the count of six. Thinklength in the breath. This can clear the mind. And, can be done without anyone else knowing it’s happening. In the car, at your desk, while cooking dinneranywhere. I actually do it in sessions with my clients at times depending on the energy in the room. If time allows, take even five minutes of meditation. Clear the mindwe can tend to over think and ruminate about a bad day, trying to find the why’s and all the rest. Allow your mind and body to just be. There is no need to figure everything out, just sit with what is for the moment. 3. Move. Physical movement allows us to connect with our bodies, and it gives the brain a bit of a break. The brain can only think of one thing at a time, even if those thoughts are jumping in second to second the monkey mind, as it’s often referred tojumping around at warp speed. Go for a walk. Practice yoga. Get the heart rate up, and warm up the body. There is time in the day to move, even 12-20 minutes is helpful. 4. Listen to music. Music that moves and makes you feel alive. It has an incredible effect on our stress levels. It can slow done our physiological functionsoften helping to slow our pulse and heart rate, decreasing blood pressure and cortisol levels in the body. And, if you find a groove you likeit just feels good to move with it, also. Use your ear buds if you need to. 5. Write. Get it out. The good, the bad, and the ugly. Put it on paper and visualize the anxiety, frustration and the rest seeping out of your pores as you write it down, releasing it from the tight grip of the body. Forget about filtering it. Let it flow without analyzing it or judgement. 6. Touch. Hug someone. Anyone. Your kids, your spouse, your friend. Hold hands with your partner. Ask for a massage, even it’s just for a few moments. Soothing physical contact helps us to feel connected in this world. A daily practice will keep the going-no-where-every-day-is-crappy train from pulling up to the station.