As I think of giving you a bit of a background, I think, "It is in the blood and it can't get out of the system."  Wondering what? One word stands out for this essence and Passion. For me, personally, Art is the one word.
    Being someone who is always intrigued with art, it needs to be part of my life. If it is not, it is missed........Missed to be the point where it effects everything......Health, happiness, passion....Etc. We ALL have an essence and a passion. The challenges are listening to them, acting on them, while keeping them joyful.
    You must know by now, I am an Artist who works with oil paint or Prismacolor pencils. When I say the one word art, I mean my practice of painting and drawing.

    There was fiddling with it. There were articles written, art exhibit in museum, gallery, and art shows. There were paintings published in books and on scorecards. Hundreds of pieces were sold. I was getting a little famous in my hometown. There were even commissions (the first being from Mom and Dad). Fiddling was all the self design of time management allowed. The fiddling needed to STOP. Time to get serious. We design our own time.

    While I fiddled with art I held 2 other jobs....Preschool teaching and waitressing. One summer, the restaurant said, "By the way, we are closing tomorrow." As it was only a month before school started, I figured I would set up my easel on Lake Winnepesaukee...Instead of finding new waitressing. I had NOTHING to lose. Good idea.

    First night, 2 pieces were sold in 2 hours!!! All excited, a call to Mom and Dad was bubbling with joy. People kept buying....Until Labor Day. Business is seasonal. People are busy with other things. No time to hang out at the lake. Back to teaching and waitressing. The following year, I painted on the lake in the summer and the winter! It was cold, but painting at the ski lodge at the top of the mountain (Gunstock Mountain) became a regular thing. I just bundled up! Hundreds of pieces were sold. With layers of encouragement, many commissions, and the STRONG WILL to be true to who I am, I moved to Florida to be a full time Fine Artist. It was FABULOUS!!!! A dream come true!!!!!

    A year later TRAGEDY struck. With the SHOCK of a lifetime......The brush fell to the ground. Painting came to a halt. Spiraling downward with continuous setbacks, there was FINALLY a realization...."This is NOT working." Knowing what I want is not enough. Putting my wants into action will make the difference.
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    So here I am.....Melting back into being a full time artist. Moving forward with purpose, consistency, focus, production, and action. Strength persists with courage...while keeping the joy as I progress towards my goals. As a FINE ARTIST, I strive to help people FEEL AND LIVE in moments of peace and serenity with love through my art....Seeing it....Feeling it....And Hearing it.🎨

It's a BEAUTIFUL sunny day here in Florida, where only the sounds of nature are embracing my ears. I find myself unwinding. My mind begins to search for the follow up on my commitment to share thoughts and feelings from the heart. It keeps saying, "Oh my GOODNESS!!! What did I say I was going to do???!!! So much for unwinding as PANIC strikes!!!! But wait...."I am keeping this joyful!!Just BREATHE and GET CENTERED!!!! THINK." It is wonderful to share by writing a blog. It helps to stay accountable and it also helps to work thoughts out on paper....Get them OFF the chest....LET THEM GO. ALL important for moving forward. Time to STEP UP TO THE PLATE and TAKE CHARGE!!!!No time for BS.
   
     This INTENSE commitment is BIG for me as it helps to grow into a higher standard of living with hopes of inspiring others. But it is important to FOLLOW THRU with integrity. Sometimes there is initial excitement, but then it goes away. Knowing what I have to do, sometimes I get in my own way. Well NOT  THIS TIME. This time I am going for it...Just GET IT DONE.

    There is NO reason to miss opportunities. Actions towards transformations will follow. The decision has been made.

    Sometimes, there's procrastination. Personally, I don't procrastinate because of laziness. It's more from feeling overwhelmed. When I feel overwhelmed with pressure and then anxiety, I have a tendency to get unfocused and then shut down. It happens. Maybe a problem or a glitch would come up. Typically, I would stop there. With this new self awareness, I am training myself to move forward as I think "I HAVE THIS. Have a problem or a glitch???...Step back and dig to find solutions."

    To resolve a problem, sometimes I need to break down what I need to do, while thinking to myself..."Take little steps. What is the next step I need to take to achieve my goal? Focus on the tiny step. Prioritize it. BREATHE. EVERYTHING takes time. Give it the block of time it needs. Keep the joy. Zero in on the discipline and focus." When my mind gets too busy with thoughts, I think "SLOW DOWN". As long as there is discipline and focused progression, even if it's little by little, it is ALL good and the flow continues....With patience and joy...Enjoying the process and each moment of each little step.

    With making and following through on commitment, it may seem as if there is a move out of the comfort zone, where there is bound to be resistance. Growth comes from moving out of comfort zones. Recently, I came across a post by Tony Robbins, where he said, "The Path of Least Resistance will never make you proud."My "AHA moment" was the realization that I am learning to find joy in resistance rather than feeling overwhelmed by it.....While proceeding to overcome it with pride. As I proceed, I am feeling THRILLED to share this journey that I am sincerely committed to sharing with you.🔆

The professional writing folder and sometimes a purple pen (as purple is my favorite color) have come out. Time to start my blog. The decision has been made to COMMIT to being serious about sharing the words and the art that come from my heart... a heart full of love.

This concrete decision has taken a long time as I have struggles to be who I am... sincerely. Instead of "hiding out", I choose to be the full expression of myself, little by little. It certainly has not been the norm to do what I love and love my life of fulfilling my soul's purpose while helping others. As I have grown to accept always being DIFFERENT from others, I continue to write and paint with hopes of inspiring others with this contagious shining energy producing freedom and happiness that was developed from within.

Writing a blog sounds simple, doesn't it? It is similar to writing a journal, which is something that I have always felt better for doing. It is kind of like talking with a best friend who won't criticize or judge me as they are there to listen with a loving ear. It sure does feel good to LET IT GO. Easy enough, right? Then, I heard it had to be 350 words or more. Ugh! Not being much of a talker, this felt overwhelming. The solution came to me... As long as it comes from my heart, I figure it will ALL turn out OK. Staying true to my commitment to share, I move forward with courage.

After thinking, crossing out, cutting, taping, rewriting, and thinking more, the blog begins! The new journey of sharing thoughts, study, feelings, art tips and experiences. It's a process,  all with love, putting it all out there. Bit by bit, this journey has begun. How FUN!

Learning to be "in the moment" has been the foundation for expressing love through images of peace and serenity with my art. With this adjustment of focus into moments of mindfulness, the experience of feeling inner calm has become a bigger element of my time in this life. With this soothing sensation, the actions that follow are those of sharing stories with art to support a shine for others.

Stepping outside to breathe in the fresh crisp air, I hear the sweet sounds of nature while feeling the breeze on my skin and watching the water. Theses moments could be an early morning sunrise, a moment of curling toes in the warm sand, an evening sunset, or a sudden reminder as I flow through life.

While I am allowing myself to be with the beauty of nature and moments with it. I invite you to join the journey through this website and blog as we live and love deeper with peace and serenity.