A Snowy Day!

I have many passions in my life.....color, texture, images, creating my art and journal pages, teaching visual journaling and paper technique classes, my family, my friends, nature, my pets... The list goes on and on. I heard.......You are an artist....it is time to act like one!!! That was an awesome directive for me. There are many ways to "act" like an artist....but I think, after much thought and soul searching, what that means for me is to be focused on CREATING my art and on being authentic in my world with art at the forefront.

I also heard...lead of life of compassion and love....in all things, in all ways!!! This is another amazing directive that should be part of every action and move I make. It is so easy to become distracted by the noise in my world, but my intention is to live a life that is whole, real and good.

I move very quickly, both physically and mentally. My mind seems to swirl and twirl with thoughts, ideas, "to-dos", "to-don'ts"...... at times it can be an exhilirating ride and at others it can be totally terrifying. There are many challenges...but I know that to do any of my "directives" I must maintain a balance and a focus. I think I have many issues which makes this difficult....my health being the main one. I continue to be a work in progress...struggling with doing too much, letting the main structure of my life weaken and making everything very difficult to do. Always when I begin to feel overwhelmed I loose my place and without this strength I really become ineffective. It is so easy to let go of the bones that I require to keep everything moving correctly (rest, exercise, medication regimes, healthy eating, meditation).
I don't think it takes a chronic illness to have these issues; however, I believe that the warning signs of straying off my path may come sooner in the process. For that, I guess I am lucky.

For us artists there is so much noise. It really is a journey of stepping out in faith and believing in oneself enough to take great leaps every time we are faced with a blank canvas. The "mind critics" are so loud.....we have to work hard to quiet them and to keep moving forward. For me, creating art is such a spiritual journey. It becomes my life force. It seems as though my "crtics" want me to forget that. But eventually I remember who I really am...and move toward my world of color, image and texture.

Today I will live my life as an artist......an artist who moves with love and compassion by her side.