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How are You Really?
I know you said you're F.I.N.E. (okay), but truly — how are you when the day concludes and the lights dim? When the world ceases its demands, and there's no one left to persuade that you're managing everything perfectly. How do you feel when you're lying in bed, surrounded by the silence that knows too much? When the solitude that disregards how many people care for you sneaks in regardless. Do you still bear the burden of things you promised to release? The things you no l

Patrizia a.k.a. Trixi Schwartz
Feb 16, 20252 min read


Share Your Story
For me, the cracks began to show after my ectopic pregnancy in 1996 — a moment that marked the unravelling of a lifetime of suppressed emotions and three more miscarriages after that. At the time, I had no idea I was battling high-functioning depression. Moving to New Zealand and the challenges that followed only amplified the pressure until my world came crashing down, and I faced a major breakdown in February 2018. Sometimes, in His boundless mercy, the Lord allows the

Patrizia a.k.a. Trixi Schwartz
Dec 15, 20242 min read


Change is Constant
Change is never easy, but it’s one of those inevitable forces that shapes us in ways we can’t always predict. Change is difficult, not because we lack the ability, but because our emotions are so convincing. Over the last few months, I’ve come to embrace it, even when it felt uncomfortable because I’ve learned something important: growth often happens when we step out of what feels familiar. This morning, I spent time packing up Elias’ bookshelves in preparation for his move

Patrizia a.k.a. Trixi Schwartz
Dec 13, 20242 min read


Where am I?🤔
As I work through John Maxwell's 30-Day Growth Plan, I'm finding that I need to dig really deep for some of the answers. It might be easier if I were clearer on the question, "Who am I?" but that's still part of my journey of discovery. For now, I find myself in a peaceful state of reflection and spiritual growth. This is a time when prayer and quiet moments guide me, helping me to embrace the transformative journey ahead. I aim to align my actions with my values of kindness

Patrizia a.k.a. Trixi Schwartz
Dec 11, 20241 min read


You Can’t Lead if You Don't Grow
In my quest for learning & personal growth, I've embarked on John Maxwell's 30-Day Growth Plan course. Be bold, he says & to ensure accountability, post it on social media or text your thoughts to a friend or mentor. Keep in mind, that a shared commitment becomes a strong commitment. So here are Day 1 reflections... What keeps you from being authentic with others?🤔 The risk of being rejected, ridiculed, or criticised. I know that my fear of rejection, ridicule, and critici

Patrizia a.k.a. Trixi Schwartz
Dec 3, 20242 min read


Uitskryf Werk
En daar tjank ek toe snot en trane want die Here gee vir my uit-skryf-werk. Once again, God is up to something... This morning I spent an hour pre-tracing these canvases for tomorrow's children's church paint party and then I felt prompted to do the text with sharpie so that it would still be visible after painting the heart. What I didn't anticipate, however, was the inner turmoil that would result after having spent the last few weeks with overwhelm of out of control & chao

Patrizia a.k.a. Trixi Schwartz
Aug 3, 20243 min read


Free to Dance
🎼🎶This song in my heart❤️, this song in my soul, this song I was born to sing🎤, it's Your song🎸 of freedom. Now I'm free to dance💃 again!🎵 🎶I'll sing🎤 in the darkness, I'll laugh🤣 in the rain, rejoice in Your love💞 again. It's Your song🎸 of freedom, now I'm free to dance💃 again!🎶 🎊🥳🎉 Mourning into Dancing Clive & I spent some time away in New Plymouth this week, for a little bit of rest & reprieve. A whole 373km travelling, that would have taken us maybe 4 h

Patrizia a.k.a. Trixi Schwartz
Jul 5, 20246 min read


The Story in YOU
I stumbled across this post on my LinkedIn feed on Thursday morning & it seriously rattled my cage...😢🤔I can still feel the tightness on my chest as I process... Over the years I've come to believe some very strong foundational lies in the area of creative things I believed I can't do: 1. I can't sing! 2. I can't dance! 3. I can't draw! 4. I can't paint! 5. I can't write! 6. I can't teach! 7. I can't speak publicly! In reality, though they are all rooted in FEAR &

Patrizia a.k.a. Trixi Schwartz
Jun 30, 20243 min read


Stronger Together
This month's community paint party drew less than a hand ful of people but we had loads of fun nevertheless.

Patrizia a.k.a. Trixi Schwartz
Jun 17, 20241 min read


Overwhelmed with Joy
Today I'm totally overwhelmed with joy because of the goodness & kindness of the Lord. 😊 Today I'm totally overwhelmed with joy because of the goodness & kindness of the Lord. 😊 This is a follow-up post of my previous post, Leading from the Stop & the testimony of the process to my breakthrough after being unraveled by reading "Another crisis will befall you. It’s not a case of ‘if’, but ‘when’. And when your world seems to come crashing down to an absolute halt, remember t

Patrizia a.k.a. Trixi Schwartz
Jun 10, 202411 min read


Leading from the Stop
Maybe it’s because leadership has shifted its focus from people to production; we’re in such a hurry to get things done that we neglect the very people who accomplish the things we need done. - Marc Cole This wasn't part of my weekend plan but fancy that... me reading a book on servanthood leadership, another one of my strengths that's been twisted through wounding... who would have thought someone who spent her life shying away & lurking in the shadows serving & following,

Patrizia a.k.a. Trixi Schwartz
May 26, 20245 min read


Prudence
I received an email in my work mailbox that was addressed to Prue, a name I hadn't heard, mentioned, or even thought of in about 28 years. Coincidentally that's the name of my then 40-year old spinster office manager, who was very angry because I was pregnant 6 weeks into my new job because during my interview, I admitted we weren't planning having children yet. But then I found out I was pregnant right after getting back from unpaid leave for a wedding in Cape Town. One we

Patrizia a.k.a. Trixi Schwartz
May 20, 20245 min read


Transition Season
Tonight my heart is bursting at its seams because I'm seeing God's promises being fulfilled. I just want to sing praises because my cup overflows. For the first time in decades I'm feeling a joy bubbling up in my spirit. Excitement is building up it almost feels like my chest wants to explode. I want to shout it from the rooftops. "God is so good!" In March I attended the Catch the Fire Beyond 2024 conference. I wasn't going to attend it because of my exhibition being due

Patrizia a.k.a. Trixi Schwartz
May 4, 20243 min read


MAC Gallery Store
I took some time today to update my gallery store shelf at the Mairangi Bay Art Centre. I have various resin items available. If you are...

Patrizia a.k.a. Trixi Schwartz
Apr 26, 20241 min read


"Earn Your Keep!"
For the past year or so Clive's been pushing me to start a learning channel so I could "earn some money" to fund the ministry I'm doing. For some reason it's made me feel like a bewildered deer being pushed into a corner. I've said it many times before, my focus isn't business & I have to learn to trust that God will provide whatever I need to do the ministry He's called me to. For some reason the mere thought of running a business totally overwhelms me. He wants the learning

Patrizia a.k.a. Trixi Schwartz
Jan 10, 20243 min read


Reflecting on 2023...
Reflecting on 2023 & all the freedom God has brought... Psalms 103:2-5 NIV [2] Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— [3] who forgives all your sins and heals ALL your diseases, [4] who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, [5] who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. In January 2019, the Lord delivered me from a lifelong struggle with depression & suicidal thou

Patrizia a.k.a. Trixi Schwartz
Dec 28, 20238 min read

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