Thursday, October 31, 2013

Setting Limits


I did something kind of shocking this week (at least it was to me). I returned a stack of unread books to the library instead of renewing them. Also, I finished reading one book and did not start reading another. It's true, for the first time I can remember there is nothing on my currently reading shelf on Goodreads and no stack of books on my nightstand. I even put my Kindle away in a drawer.

Another thing I did that was out of character for me was to delete some classic movies from my DVR without watching them first. I almost couldn't believe I was doing it myself! What was happening to me? Had an alien taken over my body? Was I a victim of some secret government mind control experiment? Or is there an even scarier truth behind these actions?

Could it be that I am actually learning to set limits for myself? I thought that day would never come but I think it's true.

I have always been aware and even admitted here that I have had difficulty setting limits. The funny thing is that it is only now that I'm beginning to overcome this difficulty that I have any insight into it. The way I see it now, I had a very valid, logical reason for not setting a lot of limits in the past and that is this: I wasn't sure what I wanted.

As a person who wasn't sure what she wanted I think I was perfectly justified in my pursuit of more possibilities than I could possibly realize. I think it was my sacred duty to bite off more than I could chew. I even think it was not only advisable but necessary that I so often traveled from one extreme to another.

However, now I believe I have explored enough terrain that I feel comfortable choosing one path over another. I think I have seen enough of the big picture that I am able to decide which details I want to focus in on.

This doesn't mean that I will never read a book or watch a movie or try something new ever again. It just means that I finally feel that what I am doing right here and right now is enough. It means that, at least for now, I am ready to stop exploring and start getting somewhere.

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Thursday, October 24, 2013

Postcards From Victorialand

Having a wonderful time, wish you were here!

A message from my muse

Various paintings in various stages of completion

Words to live by


Between paintings

Another message from my muse

Art journal page for Brene Brown's Gifts Of Imperfection E-course

Musical Inspiration

Truth


Art Fairies At Work Pendant Lamps
Art Fairies At Work Pendant Lamps by Victoriart
Browse Inspiration Lamp-In-A-Box Lamp online at Zazzle.com

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Thursday, October 10, 2013

My Magic Super Power

I just realized it's been two weeks since I wrote a post for this blog. I did write a post for my promo blog last week though. In it I talked about two of my friends who have magical, creative powers. And this week I wrote a post for The Mermaid Muse Blog about The Magic Mermaid Muse and how she is meant to remind us of the magic we have within us. I was also busy working on the Art Is Magic design you see above.

Are you sensing a theme here? Yes, me too. I suppose you could say it's just because Halloween is right around the corner or it's just a coincidence, but I don't think so. I think my bewitching muse is once again conspiring to remind me of something that I already know but somehow manage to keep forgetting and that is this:

Creativity is my magic super power.

It seems like an audacious thing to say but it's true. I'm very clear about this when I'm painting. There is something that happens then that lifts me out of my own limited thinking. When I encounter a problem or an obstacle on the canvas, I am always confident I will work my way through it. I have a deep conviction that if I just keep trying different things I will find something that works. I stay true to my vision but also remain flexible enough to welcome surprises. I will look at what I'm doing from many different perspectives, I will trust my instincts and, if nothing else works, I'm not afraid to start over. 

After I leave my art studio, however, I turn back into my mild mannered self; a girl with doubts and insecurities and problems that sometimes feel too big for me. Yet even then, creativity will eventually swoop in to save me. It just always takes so darn long for me to remember that I can use my magic super power for other things besides art.

Maybe if I start carrying a paint brush around like it's my magic wand or wear my artist's apron everywhere like a super hero wears their cape, I will remember to use my magic super power more often. Would that be too weird? Maybe so. Maybe instead I could just spend more time in front of my easel, more time getting to know that woman I become when I'm painting so I can learn how to be more like her when I'm not.

Is creativity your magic super power or do you have a different one? Do you forget to use yours too? Please feel free to comment.



Rainbows In Progress Lunchboxes
Rainbows In Progress Lunchboxes by time2see
Browse lunch boxes online at zazzle.com


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