Art Slam

The name of my blog has evolved over the years. When I first started, it was called Believe Big. I had big dreams for myself and I needed a name that expressed the way I wanted to approach life and my art. A few years later, I changed it to Life is the Art. My daily life was the inspiration for the art I created. That is when I discovered art journaling and it became a natural platform for my love of art and writing. The Art Slam was born out of wanting to share art journaling with my readers. For about a year, I have been exploring ways of growing what I have started here. I admit there have been times I did not know why I bothered to keep the Art Slam going. It seemed to not serve a purpose for me like it did when I first started. It is so easy to get caught up in other people’s successes to the point you minimize your own. When I realized that was what I was doing, I was able to reconnect with my original purpose for starting this, I love creating and I love sharing. I had to return to the reason I do this and it is not to compare my success with another’s, it is to honor my truth, be authentic and make art because I love doing it.

I recently started another blog called the Picture’s Story. The purpose of it is to explore the stories behind images. I have always loved hearing and telling stories. The Picture’s Story is where I combine my love of photography and writing. Make sure you stop by and read the story by my first StoryWeaver, Mishelle Lane (aka Secret Agent Mama). She is a talent photographer and storyteller who brings her pictures to life with her words. I am in awe of her ability to make me feel as if I have always known the person in her photographs. She has an amazing gift.

For your reading pleasure:

• Practicing Selective Awareness
• 10 Truths
• In Case You Didn’t Know

For a few weeks now, I have been at a crossroads. Knowing that one choice brings me closer to my authentic self and the other choice is basically following the path I always have. So, what is one to do? Keep on doing what I have always done, knowing it makes me feel stuck and unfulfilled or take a chance and follow my heart. Ultimately, I am going to go with my heart. When I am open to all the possiblilities, it has never led me wrong and right now, it says I need to grow into who I am becoming. That thought alone, ignites a fire in me.

Be inspired by these Posts:

• Today, Expect Greatness
• Your Blessing & Your Curse
• Love Slam

I always hear a word when I really need it.

Lately, I have been in a self-induced holding pattern. Waiting for things to happen and waiting for people to happen. Feeling like I need to justify some decisions I am ready to make even though there could be some fall out from them. I have been preparing explanations for things that have not even happened. Then I read a post today on Christine Kane’s blog about explainers and saw things from a different perspective.

While I do not think of myself as an explainer, I have, at times, been more concerned with other people’s opinions instead of my own. I have put “feelers” out there waiting for someone to react or respond or whatever and when they don’t, I am disappointed. Part of me wanting to be pissed at them because they did not “get it” or get me. People can not read your mind…no matter how many hints you throw their way. Sometimes, you have to be bold and speak your truth if you want to see something happen.

When we take responsibility for our lives and the decisions we make, we focus on the happiness only we can bring to ourselves. Nothing external can make you happy. Where you are right now is what you have created and do you realize you can un-create and re-create anything? I loved how Christine drove that message home on her post.

I am done living beneath my infinite potential. I used to think that when an opportunity is lost it is gone forever, but that is not the case. As Marianne Williamson pointed out in her Miracle Thought for today, Your Birthright, the energy represented by that opportunity is held in trust for you until you are ready to receive it. That is so powerful. It calls us to be bold and get right with ourselves so we can receive all we have been promised. I have declared I am ready for some new things and situations to come into my life and it is happening. I have been experiencing an openess that has me feeling things deeply…amazing how the most unexpected people can be a catalyst for that. Situations I thought long gone are no longer that way. There is opportunity in everything and everyone if you are willing to take a chance. Especially those things and situations that seem so impossible. While not knowing exactly where this journey will take me, I do know I will have no regrets. So, here’s to boldness, being open and the adventures that go along with it. Enough waiting…it is time to live.

Related Posts:

• Soul Stirring Opportunities and Second Chances
• Feeling Rather Poetic
• Filling Up on Hope

I picked up my guitar a few weeks ago and it completely captivates me. I have always loved the soul stirring sound of acoustic guitars. A couple of people have asked why I wanted to learn to play now. I replied, “Why not right now?” Before, I had put off pursing things I wanted to experience. I found “reasons” to not do it and each time a part of who I was becoming…retreated.

You can not deny who you really are. Actually, you can, but eventually something inside is going to erupt and demand that you acknowledge and pay it some attention.  I have been paying attention to that stirring inside. I have had to ignore the voices of others and follow what is in my heart. Today, I am honoring myself, my spirit and who I am becoming.

Some opportunities have presented themselves to me in the most unexpected ways. Some making me wonder why these things are happening right now. Some of them are new experiences that promise a window into even bigger things. Others are second chances that promise to be nothing short of magnificent. They take my breath away.

All of them, promising me the experiences of a lifetime if only I believe. And, you know what? I believe.

I have this overwhelming sense of restlessness surrounding me lately. And, it is in those times when I am anxious, wanting things to hurry up and happen or restless that I could use a reminder that everything is going to be alright and will happen in due time. I just have to keep the faith. I have found by doing the following, I am able to stay centered and maintain the patience I need while everything around me comes into order:

• Be grateful for your life. Look at your life with gratitude and appreciate where you are right now. An attitude of gratitude is contagious. People are attracted to people who are confident and positive. Every morning when you wake up, you get to choose how you are going to approach your day. You can decided to bring more good into your life simply by shifting your thinking. Instead of feeling sorry for yourself because what you want is not happening as fast or the way you want, you can be excited about the anticipation of how good it is going to be when it does happen.
• Accept your perfect imperfection. One of my favorite things to say is, “I am a work in progress and as perfectly imperfect as I am suppose to be.” We all have something special and unique to offer. Your job is figuring out what your “special” is. No one else can define or validate you. You must do this for yourself.
• Allow your spirit to resolve past issues. Seriously, this is huge. How much of your past garbage are you allowing to affect you right now? Does it affect what you think of yourself or other people? If so, you need to let that crap go. I am reminded of the story about the jar being filled with rocks, pebbles and sand. The rocks represent the important things, the pebbles represent important things we can live without and the sand represents the things we do that get in the way of doing important things. Past garbage is like the sand. When you allow your past garbage to affect and fill up your present, you are not leaving room for better things to come into your life. Let that mental clutter go and you will see your life change.
• Know yourself. You have to get to a point where you like being with yourself because you know who you are. When you are cool with you, you have few doubts, you are full of faith, you believe that impossible is nothing. You love who you are evolving into and the possibilities of what life is bringing your way thrills you. Know yourself. I can’t put it any plainer than that.

Be, Accept, Allow, Know…kind of sounds like surrendering, doesn’t it? And, we all know there is power and strength when you truly let go and surrender.

• Shake Things Up to Get Out of a Creative Rut
• Filling Up on Hope
• Vibrating with Passion and Love

I’ve been feeling rather poetic these days. Extremely poetic. So much so, I picked up my notebook and words seemed to flow over the page faster than I could write them down. A dear friend challenged me to top a scenario they sent to me and at first, I was not sure I liked what I wrote. Then I read it again and it completely captured what I wanted to say.You never know who or what is going to inspire you, and inspiration can sometimes be fleeting.

So, I would like to know, what is inspiring you right now and what are you doing with that inspiration?

• Laying the Foundation for Your Creative Life
• Photography Tips for Aspiring Photographers
• How to Spark Your Creativity on Demand

I love ferns. Always have. This year, I introduced them into my garden and they are thriving. I took a risk planting them. You see, there is a huge maple tree in my front yard and it sucks every ounce of water out of my flower beds. In reality, nothing should thrive because of that tree. Regardless of that, I select what I love and sometimes my plants don’t survive the summer.

No worries, though. My garden is a lot like life. How often do we take the easier route to everything? How often do we do what people expect of us even though our spirit wants us to do what is authentic for ourselves? How often do we wait for the perfect time to do anything,or say something or be who we truly are? Too damn often!

Seems the older I get, the more I grow into myself. I am bolder. I take chances more than I contemplate them. I say what is on my mind. I see opportunities and I jump on them. I realize, now, that if you do not do the things your heart beckons you to do or you do not say the things to people you really want to say, you may never get another chance.

I believe in the impossible. I believe that nothing is completely off limits. I believe in jumping and knowing the net is going to appear. I just believe…that alone thrills me to pieces.

Interesting Reads:

• Meditate
• 16 Things About Me
• Faith Isn’t Faith Until It’s All You’re Holding On To

A dear friend of mine recently told me I am a hopeless romantic. I had to correct that statement…I am romantic and I am full of hope; a hope-full romantic. I believe the impossible is possible and things don’t happen simply by coincidence. People don’t come in and out of your life by accident. They are in your life to teach you something. The fun part and the heartbreaking part is figuring out what their purpose is. I am truly thankful for those people I call friends. They are kindred spirits; people I am connected to on a spiritual level and because of them I grow more into who I am suppose to be everyday. How’s that for being a hope-full romantic?

Related posts:

• Hibiscus and the Lensbaby
• Gifts & Treasures
• Today, Expect Greatness

I love, love, love hibiscus blooms. Last year, my mom brought me two hibiscus trees and the suckers burned up in the hot heat of my backyard. I did not get them in the ground in time to save them. They had lovely red and yellow blooms. This year, I decided I wanted a bush and I found this beautiful orange one. I love it to pieces. (Taken with a Lensbaby Composer)

Interesting Posts:

• By Nature, I Am a Very Curious Person
• Here’s to a New Year of Postive Flow
• Signing the Lease

In the spirit of Karen’s Love Thursday, I am keeping it simple and posing a question for you to ponder: How much better would things be in your life if you let love rule your decisions, thoughts and inspirations?

For me, I would be ten times less stressed if I practiced love therapy more often. Sometimes, I allow other people’s bad energy to affect me. They are having a bad day and they want everyone else to feel as crappy as they do. Well, crappy people, I have no time for your negative bull crap. Instead, I try to put out what I want to receive. It is not always easy and I am not perfect, but I try. So, let love rule today and tell me how much better your life would be if you did so.

Other Posts You Will Love:

• Cornflake Love
• A Picture in Honor of Love Thursday
• Favorite Finds