The other day, I was meeting with one of my women’s groups. We’re all getting to know each other really well, and one woman asked a pretty deep question. Another said, “Wow. You’re asking us to be pretty vulnerable.” And then we each answered, from the heart, and with faith that we would face no...
Tag: art
When Your Energy Rises, Time Expands
I get it now. Finally. It’s only taken me 50 years. People often say we must make time for ourselves, but I never really understood why. I mean, I kind of got it and sometimes I did it, but I’m a busy person. There are days I barely keep up with chores and work and...
Lessons from a Lullaby
I’m sure it’s safe to say that every culture across the globe has its own lullabies. And that mothers have been singing their children to sleep since the dawn of civilization. If your ancestors hail from a certain country or tribe, you may know the traditional lullabies. Or perhaps your mother made up her own...
It Is Safe to Stand in Your Power
A few months ago I was chatting with my friend, Jean Marie DiGiovanna, who is a brilliant and successful speaker, but also happens to create unique jewelry on the side. I asked if she had any new pieces, and she directed me to her Etsy page. I went the next day and found a bracelet...
10,000 Joys and 10,000 Sorrows
Buddha once said everyone would experience 10,000 joys and 10,000 sorrows in their lifetime. I came across that quote the other day, and the number jolted me. It sounded so high! I mean, it’s not hard to imagine 10,000 joys if you think of a joy as finding a pretty feather as a child or...
No Great Story Ever Started with “I Think I’ll Take a Nap”
A friend of mine recently attended an afternoon writing panel on which I was speaking about Strong Women in Children’s Literature. She’d had a busy morning. She’d worked out and followed that with a heavy lunch with her family. She was tired and tempted to skip my panel in favor of a nap. After the...
Sometimes You Just Gotta Do It
I’m not sure if you are familiar with the program “StrengthsFinder by Gallup.” I was introduced to the book years ago and it made a huge impact on my understanding of how I function as an artist and a business woman. As it turns out, though, most of my strengths lie in the category of strategy...
Birthing Your Creative Baby
The other day, I was visiting with a group of writers, one of whom had finished a second major revision of her book and was about to start a third. “It’s like birthing a baby, isn’t it?” One of the other writers said. “Yeah, a breech baby,” my friend responded. There is nothing quick or...
Are You Producing or Creating?
This entry marks the fourth anniversary of this blog and the 200th post! Hard to believe. I’ve now shared 73,500 words with you, loyal readers. Enough to fill a book! Words I hope have provided inspiration, encouragement, support, and a kick in the butt as you pursue your artist journey or uncover your creative self....
What If?
What If? My two favorite words. They’ve spawned every creation since the dawn of time. The poet asks “what if?” before he puts his pen to paper; the politician asks “what if?” when she’s proposing a new bill; the humanitarian asks “what if?” when he’s imagining a better world; the scientist asks “what if?” when...