Unintended Consequences

When I began my journey of creating 100 pieces centered on women, I chose the ambiguous word "making" to give myself the freedom to use any medium that seemed interesting. I've learned to draw a recognizable female face, both with realism and abstraction in pencil, pen, marker and various types of paint. I've begun to explore highlighting and shadowing to bring dimension. I've grown in confidence as well as skill.

These outcomes I expected.

What I didn't expect was how my day now feels incomplete without creating some kind of lady, how 100 days passes in a heartbeat, how quickly one can assemble a body of work, and how I could easily spend the next year exploring this theme.

But 10 days ago my paintbrush introduced me to my growing tribe of Gaudy Ladies. Who knew I had such joy and delight and color inside me? I can barely wait to get into the studio to see who my brush will create next. What an adventure!

Would I have found them without first doing the 80+ pieces that came before? Who knows. And that no longer matters to me. I'm having the time of my life with these colorful women!

I share all this with you, Precious One, because your own version of my Gaudy Ladies hides inside you wanting to be discovered. Your "ladies" might be songs or dance moves or photographs or poems or stories or flower beds or teachings or massive weights moved or clothes made or closets ordered or books read or any number of skills. You need only choose a task to practice regularly. Your heart is probably giving you hints where to start. Your Creator is faithfully giving you clues on your genre.

I think you may already know where to begin. And what begins as a chore might just develop into incredible joy. Really.

Don't be afraid; dare to follow your heart. Share your task with one other person daily.  Sometimes the accountability of texting an image daily was the only thing that kept me creating!

You truly do have it in you. I believe in the process and I believe in you.

Because I love you. Bunches.

Words of Wisdom

These are the directives the Professor gives me on a regular basis. As I seem to be unable to retain this wisdom, he must repeat it often. I share it here simply to remind myself of some simple truths. Perhaps you can find a pearl to help you through today.

• When you are tired, rest. This requires an awareness for and respect of one's current physical condition.  Resting is not a negative activity. Our bodies and minds need regular rest for optimal health. Exhaustion is not a badge of having done a good job.
• When you are hungry, eat. This also requires an awareness for and respect of one's current physical condition.  Eating is not a negative activity. Our bodies and minds need regular fueling for optimal health. Starving is not a badge of high moral fiber. It does not equal spirituality.
• When you are sad, cry. This requires an awareness for and respect of one's current emotional condition. Expressing sadness is not a negative activity. Emotions are a part of being human. If we do not express our emotions they will store up in our bodies causing illness. Let it out.
• When you are busy, make time to play. Counter-intuitive truth. The most productive people have this one mastered.  Me? Not so much.

So give yourself a break today and allow yourself to be human. Eat when you're hungry. Cry if you're sad. Rest if you're tired. And make time to play.

Be nice to yourself today, if only because I said so. And you know why I want you to? 
It's because I love you. Bunches.

One Day at a Time

Sometimes I get to thinking that I've waited too long to even try to be fully alive. For example, I will profusely thank the rare store clerk who cards me. And seemingly overnight, my hair has become liberally sprinkled with silver. Let's face it, friends, I cannot be considered young by anyone's standards.  After all, I have raised an incredible son who is approaching 40.  He has become a wonderful father to my grandchildren.  Yes, I said grandchildren. You don't get to have those and continue to be 23. (And I would choose grandchildren any day.)

Anyway, the thought of wasted years, blind years, the years I gave away sometimes plagues me. So today I reminded myself that I have a valuable gift in the next 24 hours. Now that I am awake, I have choices. I get to choose how I live.

And so do you, precious ones. This is your time. You have everything you need to live today fully alive. And even if no one else believes in you, I do! And I love you. Bunches.