Ahh to be creative again....

Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.
-Pablo Picasso



Each of us at one point or another has had a strong desire to create something that hasn't ever existed before. We can all think to at least one time in our lives where we have wanted to make something of beauty, something expressive, something that made us feel good..... To create you don't need money, influence, popularity, or power over others - all you need is your unique mind and a drive to accomplish something. It's amazing that such a powerful ability, to create, is innate in all of us. The things we create develop into our own kind of art - whether it's music, literature, clothing, woodwork, sculpture, a relationship, or even a feeling...

When I was a child I would always take a cassette recorder and sit by the radio for hours waiting for all of the 'good' songs to play. After I had about the forth or fifth song recorded I would pretend to be a radio DJ and record my own voice. I was quite the little artist as a young kid - always wanting to make something of my own, always wanting to explore my talents. That creativity carried into high school where I performed in over 20 shows and then into college where I actually DJed for four years. Before I knew it, I was graduated from college and in "real life". Suddenly, life's burdens and responsibilities took place of the things that made me an "artist". So, now I wrestle with myself to discover a way that I can return to that vibrancy and imagination I once had. Picasso sure was right. The problem truly is figuring out how to remain an artist during adulthood. After pondering this to some degree I have determined that the answer is actually rather simple: it is to create. As cliche as it may sound, the only way to channel the artist inside of me is to find ways to create - to create this blog entry, to create a way to benefit others with MS, to create a written history of the town in which I grew up, and so on...

Some may wonder why I even care to do this... the answer is that when I'm creative I find that I'm my true self. Stresses are lifted and my mind is stretched to think outside of the box. I love it.

Now I pose a question to you... why is it important for you to be an artist/creative? I'm convinced that everyone has moments of creativity almost every day, but why?! ...and why should we cultivate these capabilities of ours? :-)

One of a Kind

"Being a one of a kind means we are automatically the best in the world at what we do."
— Victor WIlliamson

It's been a very long time since I've updated this blog - sorry guys. I really have no clue who this Victor guy is, but I really liked the quote. When I read this it inspired me to jump back on my blog and make a quick entry...

I sat and thought quite a bit after I read this about what makes me one of a kind. What do I do better than anyone in the world? To be short, I couldn't think of anything. :-/ Sure, I have talents and my overall personality is unique, but there's really nothing I could say that sets me apart from the entire world. Maybe I'm not being as introspective as I should be...

I wonder how my attitude would change if I read this every day. If we started each day intending to be one of a kind and the best at what we do I think we'd be very successful.

If anybody reads this blog anymore I'd be interested to hear what you think makes you one of a kind. What are you the best at? (This is your chance to brag!)

WAKE UP!!!!!

"Everyone has inside of him a piece of good news. The good news is that you don't know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is!”
-Anne Frank (1929-1945)

I hope I don't seem redundant with creating this post, but it's become SO obvious to me lately that so few of us really understand and realize our true potential and self worth. Why do so many people doubt who they are? How much they're worth? What huge things they can accomplish or overcome? I feel like standing on top of the highest mountain with a perfect microphone and screaming for the world to wake up!!!! It doesn't matter what difficulties we've been through in our lives, what bad things other people have done to us, or what obstacles seem to be blocking your vision....YOU ARE THE MASTER OF YOUR OWN MIND, HEART, AND DECISIONS!!!! The sooner we all realize that the sooner we'll be able to take control of where our lives go!

Of course, nobody here on earth is perfect and I certainly don't have all the answers, but we need to stop picking our ourselves apart and wondering why we're not perfect and JUST LIVE! Life is too short and precious to allow negative people to bring you down or to let anything taint our self esteems or visions for our future.

There is no real soft or gentle way for me to end this post...I guess the "Jersey" part of my personality has come through. I will close this post with a plea to all who read this.... please stop letting the details of life burden you! Please realize who you are! I struggle with this at times (if you want evidence read my previous post!), but see SO many others who do too.

You all are priceless...now go live your life like you believe that!

Go for the goal!!!!

"Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up."
Thomas A. Edison (1847 - 1931)

Recently, I've been working to organize a benefit concert for the National MS Society. The task I'm taking on will initially cost me a lot of money and will require a lot of my free time. The band I want to headline this event is signed with Universal Records and is pretty well known...to be honest, their influence is what inspired me to do this. Initially, I was VERY pumped and excited about it. In my mind, nothing could stop me! Unfortunately, this week I began to doubt myself. I began to doubt whether the management for this group would take me seriously... I've had communications with the manager of this group before, but it was as a fan and not as a business woman. The more I think the more I worry. I worry about whether or not they'll even take me seriously, whether the band even has time to do my event, etc. Finally, today I realized that my worries and negative thoughts were going to be the only thing that would sabotage my event. If I believe in myself and this benefit concert happening it WILL happen.

One of the worst things to do to yourself is to second guess your potential. I have done this many times. When we find passion about something in life we should hold onto and treasure it. My passion for the last two months has been getting this benefit concert planned. I shouldn't let my fear for what bad things MAY happen get in my way of at least trying.

From this point forward I pledge to not take anymore counsel from my fears. I will make endless attempts to accomplish my goal - as many as it takes. Hopefully, a few months from today I'll be able to write a post about how amazing my benefit concert was! :-)

If you have a goal or passion in life don't give up on it...you may be closer to success that you realize!

HAHAHAHA The best medicine!

"Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine."
Lord Byron (1788 - 1824)

Laughter...Hmmm....where do I start?

Well, I guess the best way to start would be to make you laugh. :-) Below you'll find a picture of me when I was in 7th grade (13yo). I was so embarrassed because my class voted me as the girl with the "funniest laugh". The kids used to call me a hyena. :-/ To make matters worse, I got a horrible hair cut a few days earlier. I was so embarrassed to take that picture! :-) What's funny is that horrible teenage moment has turned into a memory that makes me laugh each time I think about it. Gotta love awkward teenage moments... lol



There are so many benefits that can come from laughter... not only does it reduce our levels of stress hormones, but it actually strengthens our immune system. (I promise, this is true!) Aside from the medical aspect, it also helps us relate to other people. Who honestly wants to be around somebody that never smiles or laughs? The more we laugh the more we feel connected to those people we associate with. The happier you are the more people will want to associate with you and be your friend.

So laugh it up!!!! :-) Look for reasons to laugh at life and enjoy the world you live in! If you need something to make you laugh give me a call...I'll let you listen to my hyena laugh. :-) jk

A life for others

"Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile."
-Albert Einsein

The degree to which we are willing and able to serve others in this life will be the degree of happiness we will experience and enjoy. One of the best ways to enjoy life is to search for opportunities to do service for those around you.

Stephen Christian has been a great example of this to me. Although I've only met him in person briefly, his passion for serving other people has really inspired me. Stephen co-founded an amazing organization called Faceless International. He and all of the other people that work with this organization are so selfless. Their example showed me that the service one person does can influence generations and change lives! It is because of his example that I've decided to go the extra mile and look for people who I can serve. In my quest to follow the Christ-like example that Stephen set, I've found that I've become happier. The more I look for people and opportunities to serve the happier I become.

Has anybody inspired you to go the extra mile and do service for others in your life? Have you been a recipient of selfless service and has it made the difference in a time of need?

The more we think and live for others the happier we will be.



Stephen Christian
Anberlin
Anchor and Braille
www.facelessinternational.com
www.modesty.blogspot.com

Cherry on top of the sundae

"I adore simple pleasures. They are the last refuge of the complex."
Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray, 1891
Irish dramatist, novelist, & poet (1854 - 1900)

I finally arrived home tonight at around 8pm. After a long day at work I was relieved to be home and have a relaxing evening. The minute I got home I snuggled my feet inside my pair of fuzzy, black slippers and plopped on top of my bed. I laid there and stared at the ceiling as I listened to the faint sound of people sloshing along in the snow outside of my apartment. It was then that I realized how life is made bearable by simple pleasures. The stress I brought home from work quickly disappeared as I enjoyed the comfort of my slippers, bed, and almost silence.

Why is it that simple pleasures always make us feel good? I think it's because we need that break in our routine to stop and smell the roses...to relax.

I'm curious what other people consider to be their simple pleasures.... or if most of us even take the time to recognize some of the simple things that make us happy.

Here are a few of mine:
1.) Taking a long hot shower or bath
2.) Watching an old school Nickelodeon show
3.) Rainy days
4.) Cuddling in the two blankets my mom made me
5.) Having inside jokes with friends
6.) Laughing so hard I can't make a sound
7.) Sitting down in my reading chair and reading a book for hours at a time