I Love you today because - Day 18 and 19

I Love you today because....

You have a thirst for wisdom and knowledge and you are following your dreams!

Our brains are more complex than any computer that has been created.  There is never a time that you will ever know enough, there is so much in this world to learn about, so much to experience and insights to gain.  There is something new every day that you can learn that will take you that step closer to your dreams - you are never too old.  It takes courage to step out and make a decision. When your feeling off course you will find ways to get yourself back.  Nurture and spend time on walking towards your dreams, you’ll get there – what are you waiting for, make a list and get to it! 

Show some love

Thing about 1 thing that you've always wanted to learn and take steps to realize that dream

Share some love

Become a mentor, pass on a skill and share your experience with others.

Holidays - Memories of Home

Welcome to Memories of Home, if you would like to find out more information about the series, Click here.

Being in a supportive environment is important to our growth as individuals, not everyone has had that opportunity and as adults we try and create an environment that will nurture and bless our children and indeed ourselves.

 

Holidays

I guess it is too early to start to talk about holidays, daydreaming about fun times in the sun, the sand beneath my feet and the waves lashing around bringing with it the cool breeze of a Caribbean afternoon.  We begin the year and already 2 weeks into January, a fresh beginning, new start, and a chance to do all the things that you dreamed of and a few that you didn’t.  I often take a glace back at where I have come from as a reminder of not only what I have left to do but also of where I want to go.  Our dreams do not drive themselves and while the ‘good things come to those who wait’ – reminds us about patience, no one will be knocking on your door with the man/woman/career/house/car of your dreams anytime soon.

Dreams

This year one of the things I would like to see materialize in 2014 is the ability of being able to work from anywhere in the world on one of the many creative pursuits that I currently have in motion and be able to impact the lives of thousands, tens of thousands (ok lets think big) Millions! All this to be done through art and creative expression!  

I want to get up with the sun shining, hearing the tropical birds outside my window, with the trees swaying, and start my work after having a morning swim at the beach that is a stroll away from my house.  After my fruit smoothie with a combination of pawpaw, sweet & sour sop, mango, golden apple, pear, and banana the fruit from the trees in my garden I go into my art studio and start work on a selection of the large canvases series for an upcoming exhibition.  There is a distant sound of steel pans that sound as if they are coming towards the house, strange to hear them so early in the morning, but a great accompaniment to my creative flow.  I make a mental note to order some more paints, the steel pans getting closer, as if they are now outside my window.  

I reach for the latch on the window, but instead find myself turning over in bed and reaching for the mobile phone, now at its top volume after having the snooze button pressed for the final time.  My throat dry as I call out to my son to get up and get himself sorted for school, and wonder how many 6 or 8 legged fiends I consumed while sleeping!

Working for yourself

Being self employed at the moment means that every day is a work day, the dreams keep me motivated, and the mild weather we have been getting gives me the necessary ‘breeze across my face coming from the Caribbean’ feeling.  Looking back in my teenage years I never dreamed I would be calling myself an artist and have worked and connected with a range of inspirational and encouraging individuals, if you asked me after my degree as I launched myself back into the ‘corporate world’ that I would be sharing my journey and encouraging others I would have signed and said ‘in an ideal world’.  

Caribbean inspired

As I look forward I see that I have come a long way, yet the journey has not completed – far from it, there is still so many adventures waiting to be experienced and it begins with today and what I decide to do or not do, but choice there has to be made.

What have you done with your today, and what will you do with your tomorrow.  Have you already found yourself defeated from those promises you made on the 1^stJanuary or are you taking a slow and steady pace with your eyes on the prize.  Do leave a comment.  I would love to hear what big and little things you have planned I hope you continue to join me on my journey over the weeks, as I share my mixed media houses and look back to the memories of home. I look forward to hearing about some of your own memories. Blessings and peace to you!

Stepping out of the Boat - Creating in Faith

Time to step out of the boat

Anything that is worth having you not only have to work hardfor it, but you also have to step out of your comfort zone'.  I know that the times where I have made a bigger effort the results are more rewarding because you can appreciate the hard work that went into it. As you look back you really see your achievements and the steps you took to get where you were to where you wanted to be.  

We can sometimes get complacent, too comfortable or even lazy when it comes to making those changes, but with perseverance you will see the results of your hard work.

You need to get out of the boat and walk!

It is easy to decide to do nothing and not make changes, cause change happens whether you decide to act or not. You can do nothing and not make any decisions and decide to leave things the way that they have always been, but do you think the way it has always been done is working for you?  Take some time to think about it for a moment.  Think about what your purpose in this world, if that is too scary, think about what your purpose is for the next week and how different you want it to be, what do you want to achieve this week that you never thought possible last week, what will it look like?, who will it effect, how will it really change your life?  If you want things to be different you have to move cause change is caused by motion, whether it is on a grand scale or if it is a little bit at a time, one day, one thought, one action at a time.

Stepping out of the boat, out of our comfort zone  requires us to have faith - which is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen....  The bible also tells us that 'I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength' Philippians 4:13.  What things have you been sitting on that you really want to try, you've been giving yourself that excuse time and time again and keep telling yourself 'soon' or 'I'll do it the next time', next month or next year, and time passes and before you know it next year has come and another 3 went along with it.  I want to encourage you for 2014 where ever you are on your journey not to be fearful of what is to come, not to be afraid of what you can see, or what other people are saying.  Take a step out of the boat that you are in and have faith that with each step you can make that difference, that change.

Get a different perspective

I started this series of creating in faith posts last year July after been asked by my fellow artist and friend Mika Diaz on Motley Soul to contribute to one of the groups on her site, and now a year and then some has passed you can see my first post HERE. It has been a real journey, and I have come out after a year having grown.  I have gained new insight, which I am looking forward to be able to see just how far I have come.  I have created a series of creative bookmark holders, and pieces of art, capturing prayers, thoughts, desires and dreams, of which I know some have been answered, often as a result of changing perspective.  I will be sharing my reflections next week and share what I will be doing next as a project on my blog. Have a blessed week, leave a comment, let me know what steps you will be taking for change this week.

The Lord is my shepherd;  I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul... Psalm 23:1-3

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me..Psalm 23:4

In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. Proverbs 16:9

Incomplete - Creating in Faith

We are made in the image of God, yet we do not walk in the fullness of this knowledge.  We are broken, with our faults, insecurities and fears and we walk as one that is incomplete instead of nurturing our gifts and talents and stepping into our blessings.  We end up chasing down the wrong path that leads into more pain and brokenness, trying to get off the merry go round but telling ourselves that we are just not good enough.  Very often we are our own biggest critic and we have to stop listening to that voice that says 'you can’t', or 'it won’t work' and 'no one wants what you have to give', for these are the voices of Dream Destroyers.  Just stop for a moment and think about those many products today went on to fulfil a purpose when all around thought they had failed – the Post it Note comes to mind designed by Dr Spencer Silver. 

I know a God who tells me that he will never leave or forsake me, who says I can do all things, not some, a few or maybe, but ALL things through Christ who gives me strength.  I need not fear life, but I need to make sure that I live it with passion and to the best of my abilities, leaning on God for my understanding.  He is the one who always makes a way out of no way, who loved me even before I was formed and continues to show grace and shine his light over my life. 

Bookmark and holder

There is always an opportunity to learn, to refresh and make new and you have to open your mind to learning something new every day, and working towards your dream one day at a time.  You have not reached your final destination, so why should everything line up, we are all a work in progress, and if you enjoy the experience of the process you will find more satisfaction. 

I know that I may not be able to do everything but I will have strategies for those times when the chattering of the doubters get too loud and fix my eyes and heart to that which I have been called to do, for when I am weak, God makes me strong, when I fall he picks me up and when I hurt he soothes, for his grace is sufficient. 

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe ..Proverbs 18:10

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27

Note: The posts for Creating in Faith are usually posted on Sundays, apologies to those who showed up and didn't see the post.