It's Really About The Joy ....

Each day I receive many emails, some of which are inspirational subscriptions. As I sift through the piles, I always look forward to reading the message from Abraham. Today's gives me reason to post:

"The standard of success in life isn't the things. It isn't the money or the stuff. It is absolutely the amount of joy that you feel." --- Abraham (Excerpted from the workshop in Lincroft, NJ on Tuesday, October 15th, 1996 #484)

This morning I awoke to the dog nudging me to let her out. 6:30 am... maybe I should get up. Sophie and I talked about walking Williams Canyon this morning early. The thought of a place I had not yet been pushed me up and out the door. This was a walk that takes you from Manitou Springs out into the wilderness in less than one mile. So early, the morning birds were symphonic and the shadows were long. Even thought I am not a "morning" person, the farther back we walked, the better I felt. Little flowers emerged and gave us the full range of purple shooting stars, pink wild roses, bring yellow orange sunflowers, white little stars.

What Joy! With my dearest people I was out connecting with the land and relishing all its sounds and images and vibrant life. So much joy!

May every day give you a lift to that place in your soul..... ahhhh :)

Ode to Creativity - excerpts and errata

As I muse through my day, I often read a dozen blogs and emails that nurture my creativity and sense of well being. While daily there is a gem sprinkled my way, every week, there is a hum-dinger that causes me to jump up and down with excitement, OR even inspire me to blog!

Today Madelyn Mulvaney's "Ode to Creativity" was posted on an etsy blog (etsy is an on-line store featuring millions of artists and crafters and their creations for sale, eg. http://www.etsy.com/shop/rosescreativity). Ms. Mulvaney had all the chimes and holiday bells ringing in excitement and anticipation. Yes! yes! Yes! I agree from the bottom of my heart. Please enjoy this excerpt:

"When I am in the midst of "the making," my soul literally vibrates, time is timeless and I have not a thought nor a dream of the "sky-aiming" outcome. I am so in the moment and I am here, I am present in a way that is so beautifully alive and beguiling for, oh, all sorts of reasons. Really, even when I have the most stunning photo or lyrical piece of writing as proof of my creative outburst, it can never replace the wonder of creation. After all, my makings also compete with each other, elephants and El Greco.

Creativity for me is a foray of wandering, wondering, gathering and bringing home different things — my ways of beholding the invisible dragons or chimera around me. It is intensely spiritual, and my rooted connection to nature (where would I be without the sea?) is a vast wellspring of poetic figments and inspiration.

Make room, I am reminded, make space, gather time for yourself and your art. It is necessary."

Yes, yes, let us all make room in our lives to collect that which makes our heart sing and then create that which is uniquely for our own pleasure of discovering our true selves - our hearts at last open and free to love ourselves. Yes! Yes. Let's!

Spring Flowers

As I move through the mundane, I take note of what sparks me. Lately it has been the flowers. It is spring in the Rockies and there are little dancing fairy-like flowers on those rugged trails. "Hi there!" I chirp to them as I snap their pictures. They're a metaphore to the cycles in our lives. It is spring. What is blooming in your life - purple or golden trumpets or little white daisies? Maybe that' why flower earrings have been pouring through my hands...

Reaching through the blocks for the Top

Today I hiked to Mt. Manitou ... up the Incline Trail! I needed to do something to break through the creative blocks. I forgot how much I LOVE a good hike and even used to relish in hill climbs. Had it really be over 12 years? It was really hard to get my breath comfortable for a good while. But once I felt my wind and was at ease, we hopped from Barr Trail onto the Incline. The Incline used to be the tram way; that closed down due to maintenance problems over 20 years ago. They've left the beams and it is now a training route for marathon runners and other fitness trainers. ... or folks like me who needed a kick start over a hurdle.

For a month now I have been working on my mission statement and working Tara Gentile's "52 Weeks to Blogging Your Passion." The first step is to write and post your mission statement during your first week. As you can see ... I've been dragging on that mission.

I have done a heap of other things, like I updated my web page. Got scheduled to exhibit my "store" at a couple of shows, met lots of folks and am scheduling classes (oh yeah, I need to update my calendar ...). But I have been stalling on posting my mission statement. Why... there is still a little fear that "you" won't accept me. Well, ya just gotta admit that not everyone is going to accept everyone, so that's a good stall tactic to just "get over!" I accept me, and that's the important matter here. So here goes:

My Mission: "Creativity is my compass. I am establishing Roses Creativity to offer classes and artworks to inspire, validate and help others experience joy and well being. The practice of the creative process can establish a wonderful sense of well being, and in sharing this practice, we can share that good feeling and explore creative "soul"-utions."

There! I did two hard things today. I just posted my mission statement and I walked up the Incline to Mt. Manitou. Whew!