Feeling Icky

This picture shows how I feel today. Dark, cloudy... but the sun is still there :-). It is one of those days where I should just be able to stay home sick, but my boss is on a trip, so not only do I work all day, but I will run the show. Yay. I will take tons of vitamin c, some zinc, and take tea with me so I can drink hot tea all day.

I have been networking like mad, expanding my circle. And my dreams are seeming more and more real these days. Life is really good. I am going to beat this stupid head cold, and I'm going to dive in.

I don't really have anything else today. Please tell me something inspirational or exciting in your life. And don't forget to check out my online class... the link is at the upper right column of this blog.

Artist Empowerment Class

I have been on a mission for a few years now. I've been creative my whole life, flitting from craft to craft. Every time I'd fall short, I'd stop for awhile, then pick up something else later. But the biggest part of my mission started with this blog. I journalled through my struggles. I fought the urge to quit, time after time. And in the process of saving myself, I began helping others.

That process extends to friends, both in real life and online. I've been part of major brainstorming sessions that have led to greatness, I have helped others one on one when they were ready to walk away. I've eased their worries, empowered them, and they have gone on to be much happier and fulfilled in their art.

I've had this desire to help others most of my life, and it has transformed into an idea for an online class. I swam against the current to prepare for this class. I conquered my fears and am forging onwards. My Artist Empowerment Class is all about helping others do the same. Conquer the fear, create a circle of trust, block out those that you can't trust, learn the difference in dreams and goals, convert goals to dreams, give yourself permission to succeed, and so much more!

I do hope you will join me on this journey! The class will be 6 weeks long, will begin July 5, 2010. The only absolutely necessary item you will need is a journal, and it can be any journal, as long as it has space to write in. This class will be $25, payable through paypal and I will have a payment button up soon.

Please contact me with any questions!

Plans

I had a very busy long weekend. I finalized my online class and have been testing out a couple of different sites to host it on. It will basically be an artist empowerment course, helping you deal with fear, roadblocks, etc. So you can have all the tools you need to forge onward despite people and circumstances around you! I was hoping to begin in the middle of June, but I want to make sure to iron all the bugs out prior, so I will keep you posted on that! My class will be 6 weeks long and the only thing you'll need is a journal. Any journal, to write down your ideas, answer questions, work through things, etc.

I've kept my photography going, hanging my work in local places... but it really isn't my focus these days. I haven't sold a photo in forever, and the photography market on etsy is pretty saturated. I also have the issue with trying to sell locally that everyone has photos of the same stuff. The waterfalls, the same beaches, etc. That fact reminds me of my dream to be a travel photographer.

I hope to have a book out in the next year or so... perhaps I can do my travel photography while on my book tour :-). I have dreams. I have plans. And I have goals.

What would you like to share today?

Get Out of Your Own Way!

I was doing a lot of thinking yesterday about dreams vs. goals. I am a good list maker, and I'm good at breaking down goals into manageable steps. Then I keep at it til I accomplish it. I'm pretty ok with goals.

Dreams are another story. To me, dreams are way out there. Perhaps even unattainable, which is an impossibility. We wouldn't be given the ability to dream if our dreams were all unattainable.

Let me pluck a dream out of the air and use it as an example. I dream of writing a book. Well, 2 actually, one novel and one self-help. But life is busy. But I work so much. But But But. If I were to stop ACCEPTING the buts, and work towards it, perhaps it would get done.

I dream of being a success. But I don't deserve to be. But I'm ok with blending in. But I don't want to draw attention to myself. Sound familiar? How about, I dream of doing that craft show... But I don't have the entry fee. But I'm better online than I am in person. But I'm shy. But it will be a lot of work. I can tell you this: there is a reason that it's your dream! Get out of your own way and allow the flow!

I constantly am aware of how I get in my own way. How I set up roadblocks. I'm aware, and I'm working on it. I think I will dissect the dreams a little, and create manageable GOALS to work towards the dreams. I am going to work on getting out of my own way!

Looking forward

I woke up exhausted this morning. Major drama. And I've been here long enough to know it's going to get worse before it gets better. So, knowing that, I really don't want to write about that any more.

I want to write about the future, the amazing things right around the bend. I have an all photographer show coming up. I will be hanging my photography in 2 establisments (so far) this year. I will be tap-tap-tapping away at the keyboard to work on my novel. I will have a new home. New space.

I got my smudge sticks yesterday for my new apartment. I am so excited about getting the keys at the end of the month and moving stuff over. I will post pictures when I am all done setting everything up. It may be awhile.

I am also looking forward to Spring Break, and spending some extra time with my boys in my new home. Life is looking up!

Honour Your Dreams

I woke up this morning thinking about 2 things. A long to-do list, and that "Life is good". I feel, for the first time... ever, maybe... that Life is Good. I feel like I am not meant to spin my wheels forever. Like I will work and move forward with purpose.

I have not always felt that way. I have had huge periods of time in my life where I could see my dreams and goals but did nothing whatsoever to move towards them. However, I finally feel like I am moving forward, like I am headed in the right direction.

When I do inventory, I find that some of my dreams got tossed to the side of the road during my travels. They didn't make it to the point I'm now at. And that's ok, that just means that something more ME came along.

Today I will honour my dreams. I will journal about them, and possibly move towards them a bit more. I will acknowledge them and they will reveal more to me.

What are your dreams telling you?

Working towards Simplification

I am at the end of a very long work week. But in this economy, more than ever, I am thankful to have a job. I could complain about many aspects of it, but that would just be ingrateful. So, today, I am thankful. Thankful for every moment of my job.

I'm also thankful for the energy I have to pursue my dreams. Life is hectic, life is crazy and stressful. Yet, I am moving forward. I am glad that I have the ability to do that.

The things I'm not so thankful for? Well, they are being dealt with, and being packed up to move out of my life. I've said before that I have a move coming up in a couple months. I have been packing stuff for awhile now, but mostly I have been boxing stuff up to donate. I am working on simplifying. Simplifying my decor, my wardrobe, my collections. Simplifying my life.

Christmas seems to be an odd time to be thinking about simplifying... with all the gifts under the tree. But, I have been very specific in my requests and each thing I asked for has a specific place and purpose in my new life. I tried to be very mindful of 'necessity' when gifting to others as well. I think I will have a grand plan for it all by next Christmas.

How is your world?

Take a chance

Man, it's cold outside! Not as cold as in this snow picture from last year, but it seems like it's getting there. I'm ready for the snow. So ready.

Yesterday at work, I listed out all the things I needed to do last night, prioritized them, and estimated how much time each task would take. I went home with over 3 hours of work ahead of me. Somehow that energized me, and I got each item done way faster than I had anticipated. I ran into one snag, but rolled with it and moved on. Tonight will be more of the same.

My craft show is Friday night and Saturday. I will rest on Sunday. I am about 90% ready for the show. And I'm about 95% ready for it to be over! I have had a lot of anxiety about this show. Wondering how my photography will be received in my local area. Wondering if I will make any sales. Wondering if my table display will be adequate. So many questions. And I will find my answers within the next couple of days.

When asked to do this show, my initial response was Yes! Then, however, I freaked out. All of my insecurities bubbled to the surface. I wanted to run, screaming into the hills. Dramatic much? Perhaps. But it's easier to NOT follow our dreams. It's so much easier to pull back into the corner and watch life pass by. I made a choice with this show. Put myself out there. Become an active participant in attaining my dreams.

Setting myself up for disappointment? No, because I'm already involved in this. I am doing the work, and putting myself out there. Rejection is a possibility, I assume. But it's not about that anymore. It's about ME believing in myself enough to dive right in.

Baby steps. This will be one of millions....