Discovery

“The voyage of discovery is not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.”  Marcel Proust

I love this quote.  Because I am such a visual person, quotes that bring up vivid powerful pictures really hit home for me.  This one brings up so much.  On one hand I imagine myself on a boat in a wide open sea.  The sun shining brilliantly accross the water, my hair blowing in the breeze and a huge smile of exicted anticipation on my face as I approach new places from an open vantage point – with clear eyes wanting to see it all.  On the other hand I also see myself opening my eyes in familiar places, yet seeing them with much greater color and emotion.  Seeing things for the first time that had been in front of me all the while.  Again I have the same feeling of excitement, this time from childlike wonder.  Each image fills me with such delight, that my whole being is sparked.

What are some of your favorite quotes that evoke an incredible spark in you?

My Story of Creative Re-Awakening

My creative outlet began with a childhood desire to learn to paint.  My mother enrolled me in “art school” which in truth was spending a few hours with Lori, a local artist who offered lessons from her basement art studio.  I loved it – even at age 7 and 8 the smell of the oil paints got to me, so much so that I made art a part of my life consistently until age 20 when I let school and work take over so much so that I didn’t make time for this type of creative outlet any longer.  Though I had let go of one form of creative expression, I realize now that I replaced it with other forms, including craft projects like mosaics, decorating my home, and – for the Career Center at the university I worked for -developing brochures, materials and bringing creative ideas to the table about the types of programs and services we offered.  Fast forward to today and you will find me engaging in such creative outlets as writing (articles, a workbook and blog), helping my clients think out of their box, and deciding how I structure my coaching and speaking business.  Another wonderful development is re-discovering painting – or rather making time for it in my life again!

I would love to hear your story of creative expression!

What are you thankful for?

Happy Thanksgiving!

This time of year it is fitting to spend some time thinking about what you do have to be thankful for.  In the hustle through life, especially at holiday time, so often we forget to stop and give thanks for what we have and what we have accomplished.

Here is my partial list of what I have to be thankful for..

  • The sun that shines nearly every day here in North Carolina
  • The beauty of nature all around me
  • My loving husband’s smiles and hugs just when I need them most
  • My cuddly cat nestled at my side
  • The way my body and mind feels after a workout at the gym
  • Seeing the growth of my clients as they discover and stretch themselves
  • The home my husband and I have made for ourselves here
  • My creative outlets
  • The wonderful friends and family I am blessed to have in my life

What are you thankful for this year?