A Little Bit of Risk, A lot of Adventure

Sunday Reflections

Only 5 artist dates left this year!!

Today’s artist date was a bit of a risky adventure. Today I took a ride, no destination planned, with my workout playlist blasting on the radio. I know people driving by saw me jamming 😂😂 It felt good. Relieved some pressure AND I found the cutest coffee shop open today! It was right by the water too.

I think this consistency with artist dates has really helped me to respect myself as an artist. I do struggle with what I think of how others respect me as an artist. It often feels like I don’t have much to show for it. One of the most frequent internal reactions to my insecurity is, “Let’s see them try to write where the world can see them on a daily basis.” And then my response to that is “Some or most of them could write amazing stuff. That’s not something I’d like to take away from them, but sure I’d challenge them.” And then I think, “Imagine how great it would be to inspire someone who looks down on me as a writer, to not only write better than me but to write daily for years.” One article better than me is no sweat. I give that position away. But better than me on a daily basis for years? That is where I find my confidence; in my consistency.

Death will be even sweeter knowing that I did my best everyday to work toward my dreams.

Artist dates!! Tell me about them. Have you tried? Are you struggling to go? (I sure do) Are you going and not telling me? ( that’s ok too)

Visions, Lessons, and Wisdom

Happiness can exist only in acceptance.

George Orwell

Acceptance is a big word for me. It holds a lot of visions, lessons, and wisdom. All the digging and all the shadow work in the world is nothing without acceptance. Friendship, teaching, love are all empty without acceptance. One of the greatest things you can do for yourself and for those around you, is to learn to be accepting.

This is something I’m always working on.

Sensitivity

I am a sensitive creature which gives me the amazing super power of empathy. To be completely honest, I don’t like admitting my sensitivity. For a very long time I wanted everyone to think I was hard as nails and that nothing bothered me. That was a tough mask for me to hide behind. So I worked through my little anger issues and came to learn that my sensitivity not only gives me permission to be honest with myself and around me but it also gives those around me permission to have their own sensitivities.

Playing Small

Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone, and as we let our light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Marianne Williamson

Well, this was enlightening.

Here’s my thoughts,

I’m going to start on the opposite end of the spectrum. I think playing “big” is exhausting. When you’re playing big you’re saying yes to things that you should say no to. You’re doing things that don’t add to your priorities. And you’re easily putting yourself to the side in order to juggle all that is not yours to juggle. Once you realize you are enough and you value all that you bring to the table, you show up more authentically. What I love about authenticity is that you do not have to play big.

I can agree, playing small doesn’t serve the world, especially when you miss out on amazing opportunities, but this isn’t a call to playing big. It’s a call to being more authentic.

To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Basics are Not Always Easy

Appreciation is a wonderful thing: It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.

Voltaire

This really stood out to me today. The basics are not always easy to do. What may seem like a simple task to some, can feel like a mountain to others. This is why it’s important to me to show gratitude for the little efforts people do.

I may be a little too grateful for little efforts but to be completely honest, there are some days when common decency is hard af for me. (It’s my loss when I can’t find it in me to be a decent human but we all have our moments.) On those days Appreciation can really change someone’s attitude. And showing appreciation is free!

What little thing did you appreciate today?

But How Do We Get There?

There’s a millions ways to get to where you’re going. Robert Frost wrote a poem about taking the path less traveled. But I often wonder does it really matter that you take the unbeaten path. Henry David Thoreau talks about how quickly paths are created. So if we really think about it, the beaten path might not be traveled by a million others but by one consistent individual. That’s no good reason to turn around and go the other way.

Take the path. Why make things harder? Why refuse the help if it makes things easier? Why not take the easy path to get to where you’re going?

The first saying that comes to mind is, “what comes easy, goes easy. “

This quote has its place, but not here. When I talk about taking the easy path, I don’t mean skip your daily healthy habits. I mean, if you’re intentional about doing small things daily that positively impact your future self, and what you’ve been waiting for comes straight to you, take it! I get it, investing in small ways daily can make you feel like you’re not doing enough but let me share with you what water has taught me, consistency is a mighty force.

So how do you get to where you’re going? Not by working the hardest but by being consistent in intentional ways.

So I must leave you with this popular quote

Work smarter, not harder.

Sunday Reflections

Let things come easy.

It has taken me a long time to return to the state of letting things come easy. It took a good 6+ years. It took healing all the wounds from toxic relationships, environments, and jobs. These environments always made me feel like I wasn’t doing enough, or I wasn’t enough, or I just plain ol’ sucked. But those were straight lies. I’m not saying I’m perfect, I definitely don’t give 100% everyday but we aren’t supposed to!!! My lord! Burn out is not worth giving 100% every single day. Burn out is literally a killer. Don’t be a killer, pace yourself.

It’s ok that things come easy.

One change that has made things come easy was chasing my passion and my dreams no matter. What it took was developing healthy daily habits that support my long-term goals. It was hard at first especially because my energy was so low so writing everyday was a huge chore. It’s still a chore and it takes work and intention (yes, even when my page is riddled with typos) but it’s something that in the long run will get me where I’m going.

I want to close with by saying, it’s ok to show up with your discipline and your boundaries and your daily investments with faith in the idea that things can and will come easy. It’s ok to sleep and wake up with the acceptance that things can and will come easy. Whether they come easy where you are, or somewhere else that you will be, your daily investments, especially internal and spiritual, will not be wasted!!

It’s never a waste of time or money to invest in yourself, no matter the source. True wealth begins inwards and emits its light outward into everything else, including the people you surround yourself with.

will.i.am

Three artist dates down!! Someone tell me how many till the new year because I think I keep getting wrong!

I Think You’re Great

Today I had to accept that I’m doing more than enough. In life, so many
people will project their insecurities on you, on me on whoever is closest to
them. It’s usually unintentional which means I’m also someone who does this. In
a culture where overworking is rewarded with empty hearts and mediocre bank
accounts, you gotta know your priorities. Plus, you gotta show up with your
boundaries and your courage and you gotta be intentional about saving your
energy for the things that are most important to you. Work is important because
it pays your bills but for me, my loved ones are more important than a
paycheck. On the other hand, the monetary reward for my hard work is nice,
because it allows me to love my loved ones in many ways including giving me the
freedom to love myself. Finding a job where your priorities can be respected
can be life-changing.

To return to where I started, I got to accept that I’m doing enough. I had a
hard time Friday evening because I’m pretty sure this is the first year, I
could not properly celebrate Veterans Day with my partner. And celebrating him
is one of my most favorite things to do in our marriage. I still got him
something and we went to dinner, but I was so wiped out by the time it was
dinner that I couldn’t fully enjoy my time with him. I did my best and I showed
I cared. I need to accept that.

The relationship you have with your priorities will change along with you.
Adjust. Show up. Use your words and do your best. and remember

I Think You’re Great!

Wanna see the post that came up and reminded me to be gentle on myself ?

Happy Veterans Day

Happy Veterans Day!!

My grandfather was a veteran and cooked for the fire house by the time I was born. I have great memories of spending days with him, walking to the fire house, getting sodas for 50 cents from the vending machine. He took good care of us when we were youngsters. I remember watching Tremors with him. It’s funny how watching it as a kid it was so scary. Now I watch it and can’t help but laugh at the graphics back then. Things change but the positive impact his presence left on me still lives in my heart.