Ariel Gordon Jewelry, Joy, and A New Way to Pinch Myself

📸: “Joy” (6’ x 2’) Margaret Austin Photography for Domino, featuring Ariel Gordon Jewelry

When I was a kid, the idea of “pinching yourself to see if you were dreaming” – because life was just *that* good – never made sense.

I pinched myself because life was often just *that* scary and stressful.

My pinch of choice? Digging my thumb into the flesh of my middle finger, a perfect nail indentation tattooing the skin.

So, when Ariel Gordon Jewelry reached out to see if I wanted to collaborate on a custom mobile for her fabulous new Bay Area studio and that the ever-so-talented Margaret Austin would be doing a photoshoot for Domino – yes, *that* Domino – I wasn’t surprised to look down and see my fingers ratcheted together, middle finger turning red with the pressure.

But why? In |||anticipation||| of something going wrong, of failing, falling, missing the mark?

Where was the |||anticipation||| of something going so right? Of succeeding? Soaring? Hitting the bullseye?

How many times in life do we anticipate a negative of that which hasn’t even happened yet; something that might not happen; something that – if years of experience living here on earth have shown us anything – probably won’t happen, or at least won’t happen in any way close to what we’re imagining?

The collaboration was beautiful, and sweet, and mutually nurturing. We danced off each other’s openness and creativity, watching a mobile emerge between us; some of her, some of me, and some of that special thing that happens when you are present to, well, the present and all its possibilities.

I’m (slowly) changing the way I think about that finger pinch; reminding myself – when it happens – that I am here now; a mudra of sorts, marking and sealing in the universe of possibility that is available to us when we open to the moment.

Be sure to check out the full Domino spread to see the gorgeous Ariel Gordon Jewelry digs, including amazing art by Sally King Benedict, David Matthew King, Nicki Sebastian Photography, and that amazing tile from Fireclay Tile.

You can see the full spread and story here: https://www.domino.com/.../nice-work-ariel-gordon-bay.../

Where can you anticipate something going “so right” today? Or, if that’s too much, where can you allow what is to be, and for that to be okay?