the Art of ... Gratitude - part II

The Art of Gratitude- Part II

So? How did your month go? Were you able to consciously be grateful every day?

It's not always easy, I know. Already in the hustle and bustle of the holidays, this month was not the easiest for me. I attended several wakes, tended to sick family members, got sick myself, stressed with deadlines at work, broke my finger (which is a treat when you use your hands actively for a living)... and - well, you get the idea.

Yet, I WAS able to be  grateful every single day. Some days were easier than others- but I was grateful and continue to be.

I hope you were successful as well. I hope you learned that gratitude changes your perspective even in the darkest of darks- I pray that you were  thankful for the simple things and found great joy in them. I truly hope that your gratitude gave you hope, even when finding hope might have been a challenge.

I saw a quote today- "when it is the darkest, the stars shine the brightest" 

How powerful these words are- how true. What if you had the power to be a star in someone's darkness?

You'll never walk alone....

Guess what? you DO have the power to change someone's day- perhaps even life with your gratitude-

I have another challenge-
take your gratitude from your notebook or journal, your facebook or that back corner of your mind and make it active.

Make a call, send a note, write an e-mail, bring flowers- just be grateful... actively
be thankful actively- make a difference to the person who made a difference to you


 I dare you!

in peace-
Susan

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With any purchase made through Create Art 4 Good from now until December 3rd- this card, especially designed for our military will be sent to a soldier for the holidays. 


Thank you as always for ♥ sharing the love! ♥

checking in....

Dear friends...
How goes your thirty days of gratitude....?

mine, has been life changing

I will check in again soon-
In peace,
Susan

The art of ...preparing for Christmas

The art of preparing for Christmas

I am sure you have noticed that the stores have been decorated and are all plumned out for the holidays. Many have complained that it happens earlier every year. BJ’s wholesale club actually had Christmas decorations out in AUGUST. Yes, you read that right… August.

To those of us who hold this as a sacred time this seems to take away some of the specialness of the holiday. For me, Christmas is not just a day to join with my family and friends spoiling them just a bit with gifts and goodies, it is a Holy day.

Advent is a time of prayer and preparation. Christians believe that this is the time of devoted preparation before the birth of our Savior. It is not about the stockings hung by the chimney with care, (although that part is fun too) it is about the anticipation of the Christ Child.

I have often wondered what it must have been like to be any one of the humans who were in attendance at the birth of Christ. Mary’s head must have been swimming, a virgin, unmarried, and without her mother or any other female support system giving birth to the Savoir of the world. Joseph- engaged to an honorable woman, yet she is pregnant and certainly not by him, what trust he must have had. The Wisemen… they left their homes, their safety to worship this infant whom they KNEW was the Savior- the shepherds, the Inn Keepers, even the animals- what a profound event. I wonder if they could have truly understood on any level what was really happening, or the magnitude of it. 

These thoughts are with me pretty much every year at this time. I remember my mother asking me once when I was a rather young child what gift I was going to give Jesus. 

This question left me perplexed. What did Jesus need? How could I possibly give him anything? How would I wrap it? 

These and many more questions puzzled my young brain. 

Through the years, Christmas has taken on many meanings. Rich with tradition and full of love; rarely are there years that I don’t learn something or grow in some way. This year, yes, on November fifteenth, before the turkey has even been carved or the Macy’s day parade has been aired – I have learned something. 

The greatest gift I will receive this year will be the adoption of three wonderful families. (Of course I will appreciate anything I receive from my family and friends- however their true gift to me is their presence in my every day life.)These families NEED. I just want. They offer ME the opportunity to give something that will actually make a difference, and they remind me of just how much I have to be thankful for.


For me- these families represent the Christ child. My childhood frustrations are calmed as I am able to actively do something for someone else. It is clear to me that this is yet another bit of proof that we are all in this together. 


Before you think I too- am jumping the gun- suggesting we prepare for Christmas before we celebrate all we have to be grateful for, I will remind you that this is ALL about the gratitude- Adopting these families is an opportunity for ACTIVE gratitude-


Open your heart, just a little to someone else- it is the greatest gift you can give YOURSELF. It doesn't take very much- a few dollars in a red kettle, adopting a family in need, volunteering at a shelter. There are countless opportunities to be kind to your fellow man. Do it, I dare you... 


In gratitude & in peace
Susan

The art of...the journey

The art of... the journey.

The art of... the journey.

August began a most wonderful journey for me. I say wonderful, and I truly mean wonderful, but I do not mean always "happy".


Like any journey, there have been a few overwhelming moments on this path to "Create Art 4 Good" and yes, you guessed it. I am grateful for them. 

You see, if this road were easy or without challenge, well, then one might question my conviction. While this journey seems incredibly directed and progressive, it is certainly NOT moving as fast as I would like it to, (note to self, patience is a virtue!) and there have been a few glitches here and there.

Regardless, or maybe BECAUSE of this I KNOW I am on the right path.

For years, I have pondered how I can use my art to make a difference in the world. I have never been the artist who sought fame or even fortune; more desirable to me has been a meaningful way to use my talents for good. I have worn the typical artist hats -displaying my work in galleries, weathering numerous art shows, and even had the honor of teaching the wonder of Art. Art has tremendous power for me and it is clear to me that art should have a strong presence in my future.

Evident to me was that I must listen to the experience from MY journey. I had to know what MY success was, and not attempt to give in and  pigeon hole myself into the societal view of success.

After months of preparations, business plans, research, advice from experts, more research and re-writing the business plan I launched Create Art 4 Good- I was energized that what I was doing was the key in the door to my future. It answered all the questions that had been swimming in my head for decades. 

I am amazed at this. Each day I wake up and I KNOW what I am supposed to do next. I don't always know WHY at that very moment... but typically the reason becomes fairly clear quickly. I suppose that is where faith enters the picture. Without faith the more difficult days would be too dark, the potholes might swallow me up and the joy of the journey might not be as rich.

Faith gives me the ability to trust the journey and while I certainly have an end goal, I have no real clue where I will wind up. The blessings I have witnessed as a result of this fairly new adventure (if you don't count the thirty plus years of preparations) have been countless. Artists who have been worn by their own professional journey have found new motivation to create, strangers have contacted me to ask how they can be a part of this, positive efforts have flourished, and there have been countless unexpected surprises along the way.

 I am so very blessed.

My point? Trust your journey. in this amazing process of doing what I NEEDED to do, I have found that my process has affected the journey  of others  in ways  I could have never anticipated. It seems very simple - You will find the answer if you listen carefully... put good out in the world, you will get it back tenfold.

I pray you are enjoying your journey- I am so blessed by this life and mine
In peace-
Susan

The art of.... thirty days

the art of ... thirty days.

It's November- for many autumn is a disheartening time, the sun does not warm us as much as in July, it's riddled with work that needs to happen, winterizing our homes, the holidays are approaching quickly.... it's the ramp up for another part of the endless hamster wheel. 

I don't really feel the above sentiment- I actually come alive in "sweater weather", trees blooming rich color, the crisp in the air with the sweet smell of apples on the counter and soup simmering on the stove. I don't love the heat, but I do love crisp chill, not cold - but a little chilly, my husband teases me that it is because I have my own internal furnace. For autumn, like so many things, I am grateful.

I know, I know, it's a constant theme for me to share with you about gratitude. (my mother would be so proud) But here's the thing, we cannot just randomly be grateful, it should be a clear and conscious decision, just like brushing your teeth. It should be an act daily.

Gratitude gives perspective; it reminds us what we have instead of what we wish for. Gratitude toward another human is an inspiring gesture to confirm in them that they are doing the right thing, and you are showing them what a gift they are. Gratitude opens the door on a dark room when everything feels hopeless. Suddenly we have the tools to realize how much we have and perhaps things seem less ominous.

It is said that it takes less than two weeks to create a habit- here's my challenge to you. November is typically a month we dedicate to gratitude. We have a national holiday that honors that simple act.    Even though we are already one week into November- there are thirty opportunities to be grateful this month. You still have twenty-four left. I dare you to go ahead and fill up the remaining days with your gratitude. Find at least one reason each day for the next twenty-four days to be grateful. Maybe it's a person, or your home, or your job. Clearly we see others who don't have the blessings we do.

Create a habit of gratitude. See what happens.Write it down, post it on the refrigerator, mention it at dinner to your family, journal it- somehow record what you are grateful for. Be bold, let those around you know you are grateful for them- it will do you both good.

So please, accept my challenge. I will check in with you on the thirtieth, I would love to hear what your experiences have been. Will it really change anything? You tell me.

In peace, and gratitude
Susan

The Art of ... the photograph.

The art of ...the photograph.

I don't think I need to even utter a word about my obvious addiction to the art of photography. I am completely enthralled with not only the result, but certainly the process.  My very first camera was a Kodak "Brownie", if I am not mistaken, my Great Uncle Harve gave it to me. It was magical I was quite certain of that and the results were thrilling. I have had many cameras since then, each created their own treasures, each sustained memories, history and pure entertainment. I have thoroughly enjoyed black and white photography and took classes in both high school and college. An enlarger sits in my basement waiting for the darkroom I keep promising myself.

It's fascinating my journey with photography. I remember when I first became a professional artist and the question was posed to me " Do you think photography is REAL art?" I didn't respond right away. I thought about it for a moment, wondering how I really felt about it. I admit my ignorance. While I had seen artistic photographs, I felt there were "too instant" to be real art. Still peer pressure seemed to win and I hesitantly agreed.

Through the years I have become more and more addicted to this (yes, oh yes it is!) fine art. Photographs tell a story in such a unique way.  Fifteen people could take the same photograph and it would give you a unique view every single time. I have gotten to the point where I literally always have a camera with me. If I do not for some reason, I always regret it.

Cell phones! Once could say that everyone has a camera with them at all times (as according to an article on Ars Technica) 91% of America's population uses a cell phone. (I am betting the 9% remaining are still in diapers) If you have a cell phone, you have a camera. Honestly? I think this is sort of sad. It seems the accessibility is sort of butchering the art of making a photograph. The instant gratification of recording a moment to post on facebook as opposed to the opportunity to think about angle, lighting, shutter speed and, well you get the idea.

There is something nearly ceremonial about taking a photograph, processing the film and then printing it. YOU are in control of the process, developing a photograph feels like Christmas to me. It's a thrill to watch the image float to my eyes through the developing fluids. It's exciting to get the timing just right, the exposure perfect- the angle of interest... it's an art.

The other aspect-  is very significant as well- some would say more so. Photographs are the record of our history. My Uncle Harve gave me a tremendous gift.  Photographs put a face with a story, they reveal much about the content of life and give us a connection. Personally I DETEST having my picture taken, but honestly? I have tried to change that... because pictures, photographs give me the treasure of the past and the smile of the future. Simply said, if I did not have the photography below, my beautiful granddaughter might never know that my mother loved her as deeply as she did.

(I miss you, Mom)

So get in front of the camera and behind it. JUST take pictures- however you need to- use your cell phone, a great camera, black and white film- whatever! Make photographs- make art- make connections. These are the real treasures, more than gold that will last a lifetime.

In peace-
Susan