Art

Today was Day One of my new adventure! I started classes at UWL in pursuit of a BS in Art. I was nervous and excited...and worried that I'd be the oldest one in my classes. Well...that fear ended up to be a reality, but it wasn't as embarrassing as I thought it would be. Ugh. I do wonder, though, just how old those 20-somethings think I am....no, I won't be asking....

I'm so excited about my classes: General Art Foundations and Drawing Foundations. Giddy might better describe it.

I decided to start sharing my artwork here. I've got a Facebook art page (Blissful Heart Creations, if you're interested) too, but why not add another sharing spot, right?

So, here's my latest piece of work. I'll be starting on another one tomorrow, so stay tuned. I can't wait to share the pieces that result from my classes! I'm totally blissed out just thinking about this semester!!

What are YOU blissed out about today? Leave me a comment! And remember, it doesn't have to be something huge or earth-moving. There is JOY in simple things.

~Steph

Sometimes Life Has Other Plans

Have you ever thought you kinda had things all planned out? Knew where you wanted to be and when you wanted to get there? Have you thought that you were pretty sure of what you needed to be happy? I have. And, it was a pretty safe, comfy place to be.

Then, out of nowhere, there was a fork in the road. There was a sign pointing in the direction that my plan SHOULD HAVE taken me. But, totally against my will, life shoved me the other direction. All of a sudden, I was in a strange place. Out of sorts. Confused.

I stewed around in that funk for quite some time. Holding on so tight to my previous plans. I had everything figured out. It was so perfect in my mind. I will NOT let go! I held on for dear life, all the while refusing to acknowledge that this new place I was in was making me just as happy as I hoped I'd be in "that other place". Stubbornness prevailed. I was not going to change my plan. I was gonna flip a U-turn and go back the way I came. Life's not gonna boss me around.

I stewed around in stubbornness for a while, too. Then I remembered something that Buddhists believe: Attachment causes suffering. Man, are they right. And I started to loosen my grasp. Then I let go. Then I grieved. Who am I kidding...I'm still grieving. Grieving the loss of the dream I had. Grieving the loss of the plans I'd made. Grieving the loss of the "for sure-ness" I felt...I had it all figured out!

I guess the real question is: What do I need, right now, to be happy? And honestly, I've got it all. A home to live in, food to eat, wonderful family and friends. I'm trying to be in the moment. I'm trying not to worry about where this new path is going to take me. I'm trying to focus on where my feet are RIGHT NOW on this path in the sacred journey of life.

This is what I know:

I feel content. Right here.

I feel loved. Right now.

I am overwhelmed with gratitude. Always.

That's enough. And may I be at peace as I (as a wise friend once told me) be patient and allow for the "creative unfolding of the universe". The right things will happen at the right time, in the right place. Amen.

Leave me a comment and let me know if you've had this experience. I'd love to hear your insights.

Carmen Torbus Interview

A good friend and cheerleader of mine, Carmen Torbus, is doing an "Inspiring Minds Want to Know" project on her blog at http://www.carmentorbus.com/blog/category/imwtk. She's challenging people to answer the questions.

Here I go!

1. You’ve got some amazing things happening and I can’t wait to hear more about it! Can you tell us a little about yourself and the inspiration behind what you do?

I'm on the verge of jumping into the manager position of an art studio of which I will eventually be a 50% owner. The prospect is exciting and scary! My partner is amazing, the possibilities are endless. Now, if I could just convince myself that I can DO IT! I think the inspiration behind everything I do is connection. Connection with my spirit, other people, the world. Another inspiration is the possibility of spreading love, joy, and peace.

I am a creative, analytical, resourceful, friendly person who loves my family, my friends, art, music. I'm addicted to iTunes, Jon Bon Jovi, and chocolate. New friends make my heart happy...as does finding people who share my passion for creativity and the propagation of peace.

2. We’re dying to know, what inspires you more than anything else in the whole world?

Connections.

3. What is your big dream? Yes, the BIG one! The really, super big, pee your pants when make it happen dream. The one you feel a wee bit nervous saying out loud. Yep, that one!

To have a career that feeds my creative spirit, supports my family, makes me HAPPY,

and helps me scatter joy, peace, and love.

4. Tell us how you’re going to feel when you make it happen!

Absolutely, positively BLISSED OUT.

5. What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail and fear didn’t exist?

Say YES. Take the risk. Never look back.

6. What’s next for you?

Working with a fellow "creative spirit" to open an art studio where we'll

teach pottery and other art classes to people of all ages. Might I be so bold as to hope

that #3 is about to come true?

7. What are you working on right now that you could use some support and encouragement on?

Convincing myself that I can follow my heart and my passion. Convincing myself that I AM as good

as others think that I am. Convincing myself that I am worth the pursuit of my DREAMS.

8. What advice, tips, resources, and overall good-to-know information would you offer someone just starting out with regards to finding passion & inspiration and digging in?

Find a support network of kind, loving, encouraging people. BELIEVE what they tell you.

Do what you LOVE. Success will follow.

Find blogs that inspire you. Read them. Share them.

Surround yourself with things and people who make your heart happy.

9. Is there anything else you’d like to share?

My favorite quote EVER:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." ~Marianne Williamson

10. Where can we find you online and what is the best way to connect with you?

Blissful Heart Creations on Facebook

www.ssinspiration.blogspot.com

Believe

I'm sitting in my art studio today, pondering the mysteries of life. For real, I am!

I'm embarking on an adventure full of new beginnings. Back to college in the fall to earn a BS in Art, hoping that I will someday have an art studio where I'll teach people of all ages how to immerse themselves in their creative juices. I'll find a way to make this my career because life's too short to get a job simply to make money. I want a job that allows me to share my passion for creating. A job that makes a difference...maybe not a change-the-whole-world difference...maybe a change-the-life-of-a-person-here-and-there difference. Maybe changing the life of a person, inspiring her to follow her bliss and find joy, does change the world a little at a time. I should set my goals higher. I will change the world.

So many possibilities. So much promise. At times it's overwhelming. In a good way.

At the same time that I'm here, contemplating the promise of my future, my 93 year old Grandmother is in the hospital with a heart that's showing its age. She told my parents, "I don't want to be old." Now I feel joy step aside to let sadness in.

I know that my Grandmother worries a lot. She worries about whether or not her children love her. Worries about whether or not she was a good mother. Worries about many other things that I don't even know. I'm pretty sure there's a Worrying Gene. Dad got it. I got it. I'm pretty sure my son got it.

Here's the thing: When I'm 93, I don't want to be lying in a hospital bed worrying about whether or not I was a good mom, wife, daughter, friend; whether or not I lived my best life; whether or not I left the world a little better than I found it; whether or not I made the best of every single second. I want to lie there and BELIEVE that I did all of those things, and did them well. I have to believe that I will.

I'd love to hear what YOU believe in. Post a comment below.

A Cool Blog

Check this out:

http://www.urcreativesunshine.blogspot.com/

FANTASTIC E-Course that I'm taking

Yeah, Yeah, I know....

So...

Back when I started this blog, I had high aspirations that it would be a place where, DAILY, I'd post a quote, anecdote, or some piece of wisdom that I'd acquired the day before, maybe some piece of inspiration that dawned on me. Once I started the blog, I suddenly felt pressure to make it extraordinary, and that pressure froze me in my tracks. I was reading the blogs of women much, much wiser than myself, and I felt that there was no way I'd measure up to that, so why even try?

Well, I'm back, and I'm ready to give it another shot. However, this time I'm not putting pressure on myself to "perform" daily or to try to be so profound that your socks will fly off every time you visit and read my posts. My intention is to share my experiences and hope that sometimes (maybe not every time) you might take away a little nugget to ponder.

This week I felt stirrings of the promise of a new chapter in my life. A chapter written by ME, not by other peoples' expectations of me. Is it scary? yep. Am I gonna let the fear paralyze me? no way. I know in my heart that I'm on the right path. I know that it may be hard to go back to college full time with a family to care for. But I also know that I am setting an example for my kids. I'm letting them know that it's okay to follow your dreams, and that when you're a part of a family you all work together to help each member accomplish his or her goals.

I'm not gonna lie...I'm anxious about it, but that anxiety is overshadowed by sheer bliss. I am finally doing what my HEART tells me is right, not what my BRAIN tells me is practical, and it feels GREAT.

I hope that you have the courage to follow your dreams...big, small, and in-between. Go for it. I believe in YOU.

Quote of the Day

"May there be peace within.

May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you be content with yourself just the way you are.

Let this knowledge settle into your bones,

and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.

It is there for each and every one of us." 

~Garrison Keillor

Quote of the Day

Friendship is the source of the greatest pleasures,

and without friends even the most agreeable pursuits become tedious.

~St. Thomas Aquinas

Links

Here's a link to a great article about gratitude. Take a minute to read it!

http://www.dailygood.org/more.php?n=3855

From a "Follower"

"I have learned through bitter experience the one supreme lesson to conserve my anger, and as heat conserved is transmuted into energy, even so our anger controlled can be transmuted into a power that can move the world."  I am adopting this as a motto after seeing myself waste precious moments in being angry with my son and husband.  With the latter, I tried to conserve my anger, and I did see a transmutation into a way to meet my needs and also learn from him.

Self Care

How does an 8 year old girl already, maybe instinctually, know about self-care when her 35 year old Mom tries desperately every day to put it into practice, succeeding only part of the time?

Could it be that we're all born knowing that we should take care of ourselves? Understanding how important it is? Then, as we grow up, we put other obligations, other things, ahead of our need for self-care?

Why? Is it because we think other things are more important than ourselves? Is it because we feel guilty when we take time for ourselves...guilty when we take the time to sit on the porch, enjoying the cool breeze, sunshine, and a good book? I hope that Abigail never forgets self-care...never forgets that she is as worthy of time and effort as any other person or thing.

My wish for you is that you always take time to take care of yourself with no feelings of guilt or selfishness. YOU are important. YOU are worth it.

Mindfulness

I saw Peter Mayer Sunday morning at an outdoor service for the UU Fellowship of La Crosse. He sang "Awake", and it was a good reminder to practice mindfulness. Below are some lyrics.

You can hear the song at:

http://www.petermayer.net/music/

It is on the album called "Earth Town Square".

"To perceive these wondrous things 

To count the beats of a blackbird’s wings 

To tell a story and dance and sing 

All the splendors 

Of creation 

Are very happy that you came 

Because they needed 

Someone to see them 

And you my child are awake"

~Peter Mayer

Just Breathe

I need to take this advice myself today.

From "Women Pray" edited by Monica Furlong

I will not die an unlived life,

I will not go in fear

Of falling or catching fire.

I choose to inhabit my days,

To allow my living to open me,

To make me less afraid,

More accessible,

To loosen my heart

Until it becomes a wing,

A torch, a promise.

I choose to risk my significance:

To live.

So that which comes to me as seed,

Goes to the next as blossom,

And that which comes to me as blossom,

Goes on as fruit.

~Dawna Markova

Today's Nugget :)

The purpose of life is to live it,

to taste experience to the utmost,

to reach out eagerly and without fear

for newer and richer experience.

~Eleanor Roosevelt

Friday's Challenge

Get up and MOVE!

I'm heading to the gym or on a bike ride...depending on how hot it is. What are YOU going to do? It doesn't have to be a monumental thing. Baby steps is my mantra. So, get out there and exercise for at least 20 minutes today. And, don't forget to drink that water!

Challenge of the Day

Drink EIGHT glasses of water! 

This is SO HARD for me, and I know it's so important, so it's our first challenge. If you have suggestions for future challenges, post them here, and I'll add them to the list. Now, go get a glass of water.  :)  And, let us all know if you succeed!

Offer What You Want to Experience

Every day you help mold and develop people by what you offer them. If you offer a person patience, love, and forgiveness, they have a greater chance of growing into a patient, loving, and forgiving being. And you will live in gratitude if such a being touches your life or the life of your children. This being will in turn be grateful to you and your children, for he or she will remember that it was your patience, love, and forgiveness that allowed him or her to become who they are today. My friend, offer what you want to experience. Offer patience, love, and forgiveness, and you will manifest them in one way or another in your life.

Love this one

"Faith is believing that one of two things will happen," she said. "That there will be something solid for you to stand on--or that you will be taught to fly."  ~Curly Girl Design