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Woven Through Generations

Monica Zavala (Gabrielino/Tongva Nation, Acjachemen, and Mexican)

acrylic on canvas. 15” x 30”

When we engage in the art of hair braiding, we infuse it with the purity of our intentions, a gesture that takes on profound significance when it's the tresses of a beloved individual we weave. The act of braiding becomes a powerful symbol, as we intertwine three sections of hair, each one representing the mind, the body, and the spirit.

In my youth, my mother would lovingly braid my hair, creating cherished moments that have left an indelible mark on my heart. As the passage of time bestows maturity, I find myself continuing this timeless tradition by tenderly braiding her hair. In this cycle, we bridge the generations, preserving this beautiful connection that transcends both time and space. The hands that perform this act of love and tradition are mine, as I braid my mother's hair, perpetuating the legacy of our shared bond.

Brick by brick! 🧱

I forgot, I am playing in a Greyhawk game, got a Barbarian Drow named Rhaez’Varyntha (Rayz-VAH-rin-thah) "Wrath Weaver" of Selvetarm 🖤🖤🖤

Haven't worked out all week. I did write a short story. Didn't write my report. Kinda lost.

Indigenous People's Day

I am an immigrant to the land of the Tongva, aka the Gabrieleno Band of Mission Indians.

Californians know this area as Los Angeles County, Orange County and the Channel Islands.

There's many photos and videos teaching and sharing their history and traditions on the website linked above. Here's one.

Today: 1/13/2025

Slept too little. Mentally drained after work. Not achieved step goal. Not achieved physical goal. Not achieved housework goal. Complete all assignments for school yesterday and steps.

Reflection: I need sleep. I don't work right when not sleeping. Even caffeine doesn't help. Sad about missing all targets for the day. Angry about people being closed minded at work. Confused on if I'm being closed minded. Lingering effects of not enough sleep. Booooooooo. Did manage some reading for school. Not sure I absorbed any of it. Tomorrow will tell.

Next day goals: 4000 steps. One load of dishes cleaned and put away. One load of laundry cleaned and put away. Draft discussion board post. Do the work things. Connect to the kids.

Unexpected, out of no where, my little sister has stage 3 breast cancer at only age 28. No one deserves this, especially her. She has a long road to recovery, but that’s not stopping her from shining her light & smiling. Please share/donate if you can 🩷🙏🏻

gofundme.com

Donate to Help Cydney Through Stage 3 Cancer Battle, organized by Cydney D

Hello there, everyone. My name is Cydney. On November 19th, I went to my primar… Cydney D needs your support for Help Cydney Through Sta

ᏍᎩᎦᏚᏏᏁ ᎠᏅᏱ - Sgigadusine Anvyi - March 15th

ᎫᏩᏯ/ᎧᏩᏯ - Kuwaya/Kawaya - blueberry, huckleberry. 🫐🫐🫐

ᏣᎳᎩ ᏔᎷᏣ - Tsalagi Taluj - Cherokee basket

Cherokee double wall basket purse, braided cotton cord strap, commercial shell flowers, bear stone button. Worked on and off on this for about a week.

I got the idea from the strawberry baskets I have seen various weavers make, I may try one of those next. The woven flower was difficult but I enjoyed it at the same time, stems are getting easier to sculpt. I don't really like challenges, I've had enough and I'd like my life to be easy so this is a nice way for me to work on that intolerance. Blueberry and Huckleberry are the same word in our language, you may find a dialect difference.

Today: 1/7/2025

Walked at lunch. It was cold. Step goal complete. One load of dishes complete and put away. One load of laundry complete and put away. Assignment started, discussion post complete. Still need to do responses to two other discussion posts.

Reflection:

House seeing benefit of three day consistency. Encouraged to try to add more tasks. More tasks are needed. Worried about barriers popping up and derailing routine before it's built habit. Worried about taking too many tasks on in a day and burning out. Getting really really cold. Worried I won't feel like working out tomorrow. Need to maintain trigger of coming home, changing clothes, going to the garage and doing something. Doesn't matter what it is as long as it's physically moving my body for 20 minutes. With this new term worried that school is going to derail other priorities. Three days in, have maintained consistency so far. I'm worried that I won't maintain it. I need to keep these small steps going until they're habit. Before adding additional habit steps. A little bit everyday.

Plan for tomorrow:

Won't have opportunity to walk at work. Going to be facilitating training session during lunch hour. Attempt to do A thousand steps before work tomorrow. Need to complete one additional paragraph tomorrow on assignment. Do one load of dishes and put away. Do one load of laundry and put away. 20 minutes of physical activity after work. Ask for help for additional cleaning tasks.