A Creative Odyssey: reflecting with ordinary courage while sharing creative dreams + plans in 2011

She could never go back and make some of the details pretty. all she could do was move forward and make the whole beautiful. - The Whole, Bonesigharts.com

© Bone Sigh Arts

These were the words that greeted me at the beginning of this year, January 2010, after opening a beautifully wrapped print. The timing was impeccable - a few days before my birthday. It arrived unexpectedly in the mail and hit my heart dead center with its message.

I was home alone when the mailman rang our bell. I excitedly went into the kitchen with a hot cup of chai tea to discover what was to become a life changing moment. No doubt it was a big. huge. sign from the universe that set me deeper into a journey of self-discovery, authenticity and freedom.

To date, it's the best birthday present I've ever received.

Upon reading these words my world stopped for a brief moment. It was as if nothing existed except those words which were asking to come into my soul + heart and be lived, not for a moment but as a way of life. Spontaneously, I bursted into tears as the energy contained in those words weaved themselves inside, making space to thrive. I cried on and off for about ten minutes. My mind was confused as to who sent me this print. I heard myself question, Why this print? Why now? Who was it from? How did it reach me? As my mind was distracted by mild confusion, my heart was leaping with joy!

It felt as if the heart had received a visit from an expected friend and was celebrating, with party horns  and bubbles, the very thing it had known all along. After a few moments the memory of leaving a comment on Brene Brown's blog Ordinary Courage back on October 12, 2009 came back. I was lucky to be a grateful recipient to the giveaway she hosted entitled Thankful Seattle. I had left a comment expressing thanks for my mom. I'd forgotten all about Brene's insightful blog and wonderful giveaway - which made for the perfect surprise - at the perfect moment.

This past years journey can be summed up with the following lessons:

• Embrace who you are by letting go of what you aren't
• Listen from within your heart knows the way
• Dreams are another word for beginning
• You create the experiences you want in life, including the responses to the experiences you don’t want.
• Embrace your uniqueness. Time is much too short to be living someone else's life.
• Focusing on what is working is more motivational than focusing on what isn't working - focusing on what isn't working is a sure way to feel small and shameful about yourself. yuck.
• There are going to be difficult days and they have nothing to do with your self worth
• Develop the right kind of support and serve that community with your passion
• It's all about asking the good questions - not about the answers
• Forgiveness doesn't mean what you did was okay - but that I am no longer willing to carry the pain in response to your actions
• It is easier to be vessel of Joy than anger
• You first dream your life and then live your dream

and last but not least the final sentiment is summed up with a quote by Van Gogh that reads:

If you hear a voice within you saying, ''You are not a painter,'' then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced. I say, do this for all aspects of your life and you'll find yourself awake, living the reality of your dreams.

Can you think of a lesson or insight you've received this year? Please post them in the comment section below to share with others. I truly see it as the gift that keeps on giving, that gift being awareness + support. Once you know - you can't not know ever again - you know?

When invited by Jess to participate in her Creative Odyssey Blog Hop this was the first memory that appeared in my mind. The concept for this Creative Odyssey is a month of sharing creative dreams and goals for 2011. Over 40 bloggers are taking part in this blog hop. Each blogger will be sharing their creative journey and the hopes of what will carry them through 2011. Yesterday the hop began with posts from Jess and Dannielle Cresp.com. Today me and Mikaela Handmade are posting. To see the whole gang click here.

This year's Creative Odyssey has allowed me to serve Life better. It brought me into a deeper place of meaning and purpose regarding who I am, what has purpose and how I am contributing to make the world a creative place that's safe to be who you are! (At least this is my dream) It's been easier to let go of the stuff that bogs me down and as a consequence to these releases, experience more joy and self awareness. It has also allowed me to extend more presence and experience more joy with my friends, family and clients - for this I am deeply grateful. What has touched your heart this year? This holiday season? What is longing to shine within you?

In the upcoming year of 2011 I intend to continue to integrate this year's lessons while embracing the fact that my beliefs and mind set have changed.

Life has shown me that I am most vibrant when living from the heart. I can not design my life like a building and plan every inch - I am meant to live it and let it design itself. I am to listen to what my inner nudges are urging + prompting me to take inspired action on and then choose to take the proverbial leap! 

I am beginning to live my dreams come true by dreaming my life and then living my dream! I invite you to join me here on the blog over the next year in doing the same. I truly desire to support others in living their creative heart whole. I don't want it to be just all about me, me, me. I want to expand the opportunities and kindness that have been extended to me to all who will accept it - it's difficult to live with a heart wide open and I want to support making it easier. Life is so much more vibrant when allowing all that is bursting on the inside to come pouring right on out to the outside. One of the ways I hope to do this is through expanding this blog into an inspirational space that supports and showcases inspiring seekers + artists who are ready to start living in authenticity and take steps despite the fear, to leave behind the pieces that yield feeling small and dull instead of empowered and shining brightly!

I also hope you'll join me in the upcoming 2011 Inspired Living ecourses to kick off a year of creative living, a year of traveling our own open roads of freedom, authenticity, meaningful purpose and worthiness! What open road are you choosing to travel this year? DO you need to exit the road of judgment, self limitation, or the rocky road concerned with what others think? If so, then I hope we will meet on the open road to living wholeheartedly! Have heart? Will Travel! There's nothing like solidarity, inspiration and community to make the journey more enjoyable.

In the meantime I'd like to express my deepest gratitude to those who have supported the opening of hearts and creative pursuits everywhere, including the start of this blog and of me rebuilding a creative business online this year, by offering a giveaway of the following print. You can enter the giveaway by sharing with me what you're grateful for this year or what lessons, insights and/or plans you have for the upcoming year by leaving your comment below. I will randomly select a winner next Monday and ship off your 8x10 printed on canvass goody. Thank you all so much! 
* Give away now closed 12-13-2010

This print was created from a poem I created - it reads the following:


Expand into Dreams (a visual blessing)
Like rings on a tree, expand into true nature.
Grow the roots of heart.

Choose to allow your innate talent to Bloom into Stars.
Those Stars will guide you to the answers calling within,

Nurture those ideas with the rekindling of your heart
Step across the thresholds of "someday" or "can’t" or "soon" or "how".

With courage and faith, reach into the nutrients of your soul.
Follow each step, savor every sparkly blossom, breath deep their joyful fragrance
relax as smiles bloom awake upon your face and reside twinkling within your eyes.

Accompany your bliss, allow it to usher you into the orchard of fulfillment.
Here, the moon shines full – Illuminating Dreams Come True

GIVE AWAY WINNER IS Brandi!
* The number ten was picked by the random number generator. Out of the 25 comments eight were by me and so I subtracted myself from the drawing and viola! We had seventeen possible winners - ten it is and bam! It landed on Brandi. I truly hope you
enjoy your print and it nurtures and invokes your creative spirit - those part that are ready to emerge and shine even brighter!





* P.S. To receive special discounts for eCourses and events please sign-up for the Museletter - All eCourses are opened to subscribers first at a discounted rate and then the public - a preview launches next week.




All My Best,