connecting my dots

It's a beautiful early Thursday morning as sit in my studio writing in my journal.  A journal I started after I put myself thru The Artist's Way book, which I would highly recommend to everyone.  Sometimes I journal about "surface issues" of things that are on my mind.  Thru the process of writing I have revealed how those "surface issues" take much deeper things into things I need to look at.  Sometimes good-sometimes not so good.  I feel courageous and vulnerable at the same time as I explore.  I do know for fact that I am becoming more aware.

For those of you who know me, know that I am basically a private person.  I am not one who can easily confide in someone else if something is bothering me.  I know it's a trust issue.  I use to just hold everything on the inside and now I am able to write in my journal.  I just watched Oprah's Special Edition Life Class (I have all of them taped) where she showed pieces of interviews with well known people.  They all talked about how their past has shaped them.  I am going to embark upon looking at my past, writing about my past, and learning from my past.  I can readily acknowledge how events from my past have enforced my fears but I know there is more to my story.  And fear should not be the primary outcome.  If everything happens for a reason then I believe there's more to my story than fear.

artwork by Kelly Rae Roberts

As I finished writing the previous sentence, I paused for a moment and my eyes were immediately drawn to this piece of art on my wall.  I just love how messages can come to me when I most need it.  Everything in my life has shaped me to be the person I am today.  I want to take my life experiences, my past, and choose to look at it from a more conscious position.  To choose to look at those times with, also, a more grateful perspective  instead of the poor me view.  I guess, in short, I want to know me better.  When I learn and fully accept my past I will then be able to see myself and my future better.   As Steve Jobs said, "You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards.  ...believing that the dots will connect down the road will give you the confidence to follow your heart, even when it leads you off the well worn path."  That's what I want!!!!!!  To connect my dots and move forward with enough confidence to continue to follow my heart.

I do have something, as they say, "in the pot stirring" and I'll tell you more later when I've done more soul searching.



two more days

As the Grand Opening + "FREE SHIPPING" of my Etsy shop draws near, I wanted to let everyone know that there are 2 more days left. 

My target was to sell 20 items, as I write this post,  I have sold 11 items.

I am pleased with that but as with any goal, it's always great to reach it.  I haven't given up hope yet!

Thanks to everyone for your encouragement and support as I journey on my creative path.  YOU mean alot to me.



I belong to an ATC card swap.  (In case you don't know what that is, ATCs are 2.5" x 3.5" cards that you create magic on-using any medium you want.)  You make 3 and send them to the hostess for the month and she returns 3 from other people.  You can get some really creative stuff!  They may be small but they are powerful.  Sometimes quite the challenge to figure out what to do, too.   If you have the opportunity to join a swap I would highly recommend.  It's just another way to strech your creative muscles.

I had fun with this month.  The theme was April showers bring May flowers.  I thought I would share them with you.  Aren't they cute?

attitude demons

I must confess. 

Lately, I feel like I have been fighting "attitude demons".  I'm sure you guys know what I'm talking about.  I know I'm not unique here. I have been feeling unenthusiastic and down right tired. My mom would have said, "you have a pissy attitude".  And she would have been right.  I know the best thing to do is feel my feelings before releasing them.  Writing in my journal is one way I do that.  I simply write everything about the way I feel.  I sometimes repeat the same thing over and over again.  By the time I'm done I get closer to understanding more about who I am.

Thru  my journaling, I came to realize that my negative attitude came from the child persona within me.  My adult side can reason, understand, and accept.  But my child doesn't understand.

I decided to create a piece of art as my reminder.  I believe you can do almost anything if you have the right attitude.

By the way, I'm better now.

I choosing a good attitude!

gratitude

I am so grateful to each and everyone of you who have encouraged, supported, and been my cheerleader on this creative journey.

I have definitely been challenged to move out of many comfort zones.  With each step I take I know I am getting closer and closer to my dream. In the moment I might not always feel it, yet I know that I am only responsible for my action, not the result.  And by taking consistent action, I will achieve those results.

I want to continue to be grateful for everyone and everything in my life.  Sometimes when I am feeling the ebb of life I take my gratitude stone out of my pocket and stop for one moment to remember the things I am grateful for instead of dwelling on the unpleasant stuff.    Big or small, it doesn't matter.  In those few moments of concentrating on gratitude my attention shifts.  Which help me get back to where I want to be , in the flow of life.

the power of visualization

It always amazes me the lessons you can learn from children.

My granddaughter, Delaina, will be 3 in August.  Her mom & dad and I have been working with her the past couple of weeks teaching her how to ride her tricycle.  I even told her that when she learned how to ride the tricycle that I would buy her a Big Wheel.  Didn't seem to matter, she just wasn't getting the hang of it.  Even the Big Wheel didn't seem to phase her.  Then it dawned on me that she is a little kid and didn't know what a Big Wheel was.  I took my iPad to her house and googled images of Big Wheels.  She was fascinated !  She saw pictures of other little girls on their pink and purple Big Wheels.  She was quick to point out the one she wanted.  By the look in her eyes I could tell the light bulb was on!  We went outside with her tricycle and with a little, only a little, encouragement she was riding the tricycle.  I got teary eyed, I was soooooooooo excited for her!   She was just as excited that she could do it, too.  Bless her little heart!

We made a plan and marked the calendar that on Saturday (today) I would pick her up at 10:00 we would go buy her a Big Wheel and then have lunch.   When I got to her house to pick her up she was bouncing off the wall with excitement.  At one point, I caught her looking in the mirror and telling herself that she was getting a Big Wheel because she learned to ride a tricycle. 

Look at this little girl and know that she re-taught me the lesson of the power of visualization.  She saw what she wanted, she practiced, and accomplished the goal.  Now she is reaping the rewards.  She rode her Big Wheel around the block with pure joy! 

I have another perfect Grandma memory!

Grand Opening of my Etsy Shop

CLICK HERE FOR THE LINK

Everyone is welcome.... even YOUR friends. **wink-wink**