Sometimes you have done all you can do....

I thought that blogging often would be an easy thing to do ... not so much ... for so many reasons. I discovered my laptop is not allowing me to upload photos. Bad timing... I was getting ready for my art show at Hyde Park Bar & Grill starting this Sunday. I had so many wonderful moments to share along the way, painting, waiting for paint to dry, putting on another layer. Each stage of the process is always magical. This time I surprised myself, I actually had all 18 of my paintings ready by Wednesday! Deborah came over and helped put hangers on them yesterday and I was done! In that process I had moments of perfection and moments of happiness and I believe that is all I can ask for.

As for being able to share visuals .... I think I need to buy a new iPhone that has a better camera than my present camera phone. For now, I don't feel I have it in me to write anything wonderful. I am feeling grateful for all my online artist friends who have supported me along this journey and I am going to share the first thing I read this morning from "The Brave Girls Club." I don't even have to ask how the Universe knew I needed to read this first thing this morning.

A message from your friends at the Brave Girls Club - www.bravegirlsclub.com

 Dear Thoughtful Girl,

Sometimes all that you can do is wait for it to feel better, wait for a bad day to be over, wait for things to work themselves out. Sometimes you have done all that you can possibly do, and then you just have to wait.

Patience teaches us tremendous lessons and rewards us with tremendous gifts. Patience makes us grow in ways that nothing else could. Patience is hard to embrace, and practicing patience is hard to do. Most things that have lasting value come through doing difficult things.

If you are in a time, beautiful friend, where you have done all that you can do and now you must just wait, take heart. Don't give up. Don't give in to the hopelessness, sorrow or bitterness that could and does consume some. Keep your heart open, keep believing what you believe. Keep your thoughts toward where you are headed, and how you WANT to feel, toward what is ahead. Do you best to learn in the moment. Do your very best. Things will turn around, just like they always do. Life will work out, just like it always does. You will be through this before you know it.

You are so very loved.
xoxo

Arrival? Nope... still on the journey.

Last Saturday was the last day of my 5 week e-coarse with Kelly Rae Roberts. Here it is a week later and I am still reeling from all the information I gathered and am processing at light speed. Thank you Kelly Rae for being the hub to the wheel of so many beautiful women brought together from all over the world by your extremely enlightening e-coarse. I believe that everything happens in perfect timing and as usual, the Universe opened door after door for the past 5 weeks. You know what they say about being careful what your ask for. I took the class thinking I was going to learn how to get my art licensed. Ha! I really have to laugh at myself. What I got was bombarded with extremely powerful spiritual lessons in life that would lead to some day being ready to be licensed. 

I opened my computer daily to a message from a beautifully, powerful, positive woman who gave step by step instructions to accomplish my goals. I hit the ground running and at about week 3, after redesigning my website, blog and twitter pages, I realized I wasn't close to being ready to be licensed. The cool thing is that everything she taught me was stuff I already knew. It is just going to require turning up the energy and tweaking what I have already been doing. 

She affirmed all those spiritual beliefs I live by. She teaches that a dream team is required.

T.E.A.M.–Together Everyone Achieves More

I knew that but somehow felt defeated because I don't have a life partner who shares my goals. But I learned that I don't have to be business with or married to my dream team, in fact, my dream team doesn't even have to live in the same city with me. As soon as that wall went down I realized that there is a community of women across the country that support each other in their artwork. They teach online art classes, have weekend retreats and they chat daily about ART daily! What a concept. You mean I have been doing this all alone for and I could have had a dream team all along? I got an email from a friend in New Mexico with a great idea for my Luna Chicks.

The other day I read this post on chat from one of my artist friends, Lori. I have heard this concept a million times but I am finally starting to pay very close attention:

If you are trying to reach certain goals, consider creating a mastermind group that consists of 4 or 5 people. Meet once a month to discuss goals and progress. Try to choose people that include ones that are one to two levels above what ever it is you are trying to achieve. This could revolve around higher income, charity work, creating an art business etc. This allows you to move forward faster with less complications, have a community and create accountability.

"Mastermind group" sounds a little scary so I prefer "dream team." It sounds a little more relaxed and less L. Ron Hubbard.

I thought that by this time in my life, I would have reached a magical, peaceful destination. Instead I have come to the realization on a very deep level that it really isn't about reaching the destination. It really is about the journey. And I am going to pass through a lot of situations that look very similar until I learn that lesson. There is still so much healing to do. Here is my lesson for the day.

On that note, you should crawl up in your favorite chair (or bed) with a cup of tea and click below and watch this video. I think it may change my life... and Brene Brown is funny.

Brene Brown: The power of vulnerability