The Value Of Reflection And Appreciation

In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we are bombarded with advertisements, social media, opinions, and new trends. It is fast-paced. It is intense. We feel that if we don’t keep up we are losing out. And while innovation is exciting and wonderful, so is the ability to slow down and breathe.

Our society is so ramped up that slowing down is almost frowned upon. Not having the latest gadget or fashion item can cause us to feel left out or deprived. While I enjoy innovation, technology, and the wonderful products of today, I also enjoy solitude’s beauty and deep meaning. Without time for reflection and pause, life becomes almost like an automatic reaction to all the stimuli surrounding me. And I believe that life is a learning journey of reflection and understanding. Incorporating reflection into everyday life makes me appreciate today's innovation, technology, and wonders much more. It helps me realize that these things are a bonus as I reflect and focus on the real itinerary of living: learning, loving, growing, appreciating, and improving.

I believe that creativity is woven into the fabric of life. We are all creators. We all have unique gifts to share with the world. But I think many of us get stuck. We become so focused on what is happening around us that we neglect our own gifts and talents. That is where reflection and pause come in. They guide us where we need to go and inspire us to do the things we are good at doing.

Stillness Speaks available here.

When I become still, it inspires me to want to contribute my gifts and talents to the world. It helps me dream about what I can do. I see the beautiful planet and I realize the abundance available to us. It is humbling. I think about others who lived before us and how their contributions gave us so much to appreciate today: electricity, appliances, and clean water pumped into our homes are just a few. It’s all a matter of balance: taking time to stop and breathe. To create an ebb in the continual flow of life. It moderates us. It secures us so we can reflect before we act. It is also important in the natural world. We need balance to protect and sustain our natural world so that it can protect and sustain us.

Take a moment to reflect on what you love. On what you enjoy doing. On where you hope to be ten years from now. If you love art, create it! If you love music, write it! If you have an idea, do it! Dive into life! Do what you love and love what you do! Appreciation and reflection open doors and enlighten the heart. They help you think of new possibilities and expand your mind. When you use your talents to help others and to improve our world, it will bring beautiful things to you. And it will heal your soul!

New Wine

New Wine available here.

Just as grapes are crushed in the process of creating wine, we are also crushed during times of sorrow and affliction. Like sweet, new wine, we are able to transform into more wise, understanding, and compassionate people as a result of living through these moments. This piece of art is an abstract expression of that process.

Every Experience Is A Treasure That Can't Be Bought

Experience is the greatest teacher. It is true. Experience is invaluable, important, and exceptional in making us better if we choose to allow it to.

Even hard things teach good lessons. In fact, hardship is one of the best teachers because it ingrains understanding, wisdom, compassion, and grace in us. When hardship comes, if we remember that we can learn from it and grow from going through it, we can see it as valuable. We can change our perspective towards it through envisioning it in a different way.

Money can’t buy experience. It can’t buy love or compassion or mercy. Money is valued highly in our society, and yes, it is important in meeting physical needs. But experience is just as important in meeting needs that money can’t buy.

Try to see your experiences as treasures. When going through a tough time, remind yourself that even your current experience will eventually lead you to a better place if you are able to reframe your attitude and belief about it. Focus on elevation-rising above the turmoil and insecurities you are facing in order to see good possibilities coming from your experience. Sometimes it’s tough to do, but well worth the effort. You will be thankful later if you are able to train yourself to stay positive now. Especially if what you are going through is really tough.

Surround yourself with others of a like mindset. Lift and build each other up. Then you will come to know a new freedom and wisdom from the inside out. That wisdom will bring you closer to overcoming your fears and succeeding at accomplishing your dreams!

Meet Amazing Artist Joe Gilronan!

Today I’m very excited to introduce an amazing artist named Joe Gilronan! I came across his art while working on my FAA site. I absolutely love his work and am very happy to be able to pass it along to you! Joe wrote the blog post below. So, sit back and enjoy!

Halloween Express, available here.

Art and creating have always been a part of my life, my father before me had a successful career as a British landscape artist, so it seemed only natural to follow in his footsteps. As well as my father's influence, my love of all things magical has led me to where I am today.

Growing up I found inspiration all over the place: TV, film, and most of all books and one book, in particular, The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkien. For many years I painted mainly Tolkien-inspired work and still receive requests for commissioned pieces to this day. The world Tolkien created is full of wonders, and at the same time, very real. This is what really inspires my work and fires my imagination—finding the magic in the natural landscape.

I have been very lucky in that I have always lived in close range of amazing scenery—the Snowdonia National Park, the Cheshire plains, and now the Andalusia mountains of Spain. Whenever possible, I go for walks and take photographs and do lots of sketches. So there are lots of trees, mountains, castles, rivers, and landmarks that I have sketched and photographed that end up in my finished works.

A typical day for me starts at 7:00 am when I grab a quick breakfast, check e-mails, and start creating around 8:00 am. I will work all morning until around 3.30 and then take a break to go out for an afternoon run, I find the time out an essential part of the creative process, and where I mull over the direction the work will take.

I work mainly in oil and acrylic but have recently started to dabble in mixed media, combining both traditional and digital mediums, it's a steep learning curve but one that I am enjoying immensely and is probably the direction I see myself gravitating towards.

However, whichever path I eventually decide upon, one thing will remain constant, and that is the challenge of creating a sense of wonder.




Concerning Hobbits by Joe Gilronan.

If you love what you see, as I’m sure you do, you can find Joe’s website here. What an inspiring and magical collection to get lost in! Thank you, Joe, for being a guest on my blog!

Shooting Stars by Joe Gilronan available here.

Fairy Nook available here.

Introducing Artist Nick Gustafson!

Recently while I had my Purple Passion art contest going, I met an artist whose work I loved. It really caught my eye because of the bright colors and wonderful composition that he uses. So I contacted him and asked if he would like to be on my blog. I was very happy when he agreed! His name is Nick Gustafson and his work is amazing! He wrote a little about himself below:

Ever since I was little, I have always loved animals and creating artwork. I would spend hour after hour watching nature shows and drawing and coloring pictures of animals. I made up my own comics featuring frogs and other animals and illustrated my own nature books just for the joy of it. I would also spend hours and hours doing black and white ink drawings of animals using hundreds and hundreds of dots to create them. One day I visited an art gallery and I became fascinated with Canadian wildlife artist Robert Bateman. I loved his style of beautiful, realistic artwork, and how he had the animals hidden in his paintings, much like they would be in nature. I modeled my artwork after him, creating pieces with nature and wildlife themes. I used muted monochromatic earth tones with dark shadows in which the animals hid and blended into their surroundings. Now my work is about as different from that as can be.

Colorful Frogs and Mushrooms by Nick Gustafson

After moving to a small town in Oregon, where they just happen to have an annual chalk art festival, I was inspired by all the colors of chalk to evolve my style into something more colorful and bright. Now I use my imagination to create colorful, whimsical images of rainbow trees, colorful cats, and happy frogs. Acrylics are a perfect medium to use because the colors are vibrant, and they dry fast, so you can add a lot of layers, which I like to do. I also now use a digital drawing tablet and create digital art with many layers and colors. Sometimes I paint the image first and then recreate it digitally and other times I create it digitally first and then recreate it with acrylics on canvas. One thing I realized recently is that I’m on the autism spectrum, and that is why I tend to do a lot of repetition in my artwork: a lot of cats in a row, or frogs, and a lot of the same themes repeated throughout my work. However, I never tire of it! I can create art all day, every day, and never get bored! I get lost in my own world creating art and that is what makes me happy.

Swing Amongst The Stars by Nick Gustafson

I spent time printing t-shirts, framing artwork, creating stickers and temporary tattoos, designing fabric patterns, and other things, but just creating artwork for myself is really the greatest joy to me. If I am lucky enough to show my artwork in different businesses or galleries from time to time, it is a great honor. I am always grateful for those who have given me that opportunity.

I like to use my artwork to help causes that are important to me , donating time and artwork to create murals for elementary schools, Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue, Triple L Horse Rescue, Forever Loved Pets, and Save The Frogs! If someone tells me that my artwork made them smile, or brightened their day in some way, then I have accomplished my goal!

If you would like to view Nick’s gallery, you can find it here: https://nick-gustafson.pixels.com/

Many thanks to you, Nick, for sharing your beautiful work!

Waiting On God

Waiting is hard to do. It requires a great deal of faith and patience. In our humanity, we want things to work out in a certain time frame, particularly if we’ve been waiting for something for a long time. Learning to wait patiently is a virtue. And learning to wait in faith without seeing an answer for a long time is also a virtue.

Throughout my life, I’ve wondered why certain things have happened. It has required great faith and dedication to my spiritual walk to be able to come to terms with a lot of those things. Hardship has brought me to my knees and has brought anger and pain to the surface of my life. It has seemed to me that the more difficult the circumstance that I’ve encountered, the more it has taught me, albeit unwillingly much of the time. But I have learned to believe and come to know that whatever is divinely ordered will someday be made right, and will bring me into a deeper understanding of God and the purpose he has for me. It’s been extremely difficult, sometimes more than what I thought I could bear.

The last few years have been indescribable for all of us. There has been so much pain and anguish that it is almost unbelievable. Yet it is happening around us every day. Questions of why will haunt us. Images we see bring pain to us. How do we survive these types of things? By believing that someday we will understand, and by knowing that someday we will find peace on the other side of these problems. It is of little comfort when we try to reason things out ourselves. Trusting in a larger perspective and understanding will open us up to higher truth and meaning. Knowing that “this too shall pass” gives us the hope that one day we will recover and be able to move on.

If you are suffering, please find refuge in the fact that you are loved and cherished. Try not to take things that hurt you to your core in such a way that you will never be able to mend or recover. You have great meaning and value. Your life matters as do the lives of your family and friends. If we could only spread a spirit of kindness and compassion amongst ourselves, we could make this world a better and more palatable place to live and survive in. Pain begets more pain and is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Love and light are a choice, particularly in the face of destruction, anger, and demise.

When my children passed away, I didn’t think I could survive it. I struggled for years in grief, anger, and desperation. I finally came to the conclusion that the only way I could live was to make the decision to be of help to others and to bring good from the horribly bad things that had nearly destroyed me. We need to find a way to continue on, to persevere, and not give up. Procreating purpose and good is a wonderful way to achieve that goal.

I sincerely hope that I can help you decide to continue living within the parameters of hope and meaning. It’s extremely difficult at times but worth it when you come to the other side of your pain. Being an overcomer is a beautiful thing, particularly when you are able to help others be and do the same!

The art piece that I’m sharing below is an illustration of that process. I hope it inspires you and encourages you! It is true that we need to be the change we want to see in the world. Start the chain of hope today by being a light in the darkness!

Becoming by Diamante Lavendar, available here.

What Are Your Plans?

After a year of silence, I have decided to begin posting blogs again. I had a while to think about life, my plans, and what I hoped to do going forward. I’ve been stuck, not sure if I wanted to continue writing. Things that happened in the last year made me unable to write much of anything besides very short 4-8 stanza poetry pieces. I didn’t know how to proceed.

I’ve been feeling the nudge of the Holy Spirit lately and I’ve come to the conclusion that I need to post on my blog to lift others up and help them continue on to what they are destined to do. Over the years, I’ve made my own plans and tried to prosper what I was doing within my own strength and I succeeded somewhat, but nothing ever goes as it should if we rely more on ourselves than on God. So I’ve learned to yield to Him, following the desires and dreams He puts inside me but relying on Him to let them go where they need to go and do what they need to do.

I’ve been meditating on hope a lot lately. Hope is essential in following your destined path. And many times hope is very difficult to find, especially when the world gets overwhelming around you. The events of the last couple of years have really been rough on so many of us. This world has changed drastically in a very short amount of time. And hope is the rudder that will guide us through if we don’t lose it. Hope, to me, is a stabilizing factor and a rampart of strength. It is something we need to seek, something we find when we trust in God. When everything is shaky, run for the fortress found in Heavenly peace and discernment. That is where we’ll find safety and strength.

Faith is wrapped up in hope. Faith is defined as, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1. That was always a tough one for me because I was someone who had to see things in order to believe. I’ve really had to change my attitude and outlook about that! I believe that’s why we are given an imagination. And we are free to use it however we choose. When we think about our dreams, we are fueling our faith to step out and make them happen! I believe that everyone has a dream in their heart and I think that this world is the place where we need to discover it and walk it out. Sometimes it can take a while, and when it does it’s easy to lose faith and hope. I am reminded of the saying that anything worthwhile in life takes time. And that certainly does seem to be the case. We are tested on our ability to persevere.

If you find yourself going through a rough patch, cling to the promise that there is good planned for you and that you have a unique dream to achieve-one that nobody else can accomplish quite the same way you can. And if you’ve failed before, take heart. Failure is a learning curve for us all. How would we know what works if we hadn’t tried numerous things that didn’t? You’ll find your way. Have hope, have faith, and persevere! You’ll soon discover the silver linings of every failure you’ve been through which will lead you to your path of destined light!

My art piece titled Faith.

Faith is a rainbow of colors wrapped in trails of glittering light!

2020

This year has certainly been something out of the ordinary-something nobody could have predicted. I think it can suffice to say that this year has been ‘otherwordly’. Before the pandemic hit, I created a piece of art that fit very well with the onslaught of 2020.

Growing Through Adversity, available here.

Growing Through Adversity, available here.

The description of this work was written as follows: Hardship in life is inevitable. We will all experience it from one degree to another. Hardship redefines us and makes us grow. Much of it we have no control over. But it can make us stronger and wealthy with wisdom if we choose to have the right perspective about it.

Now that I look back at this work, I find it almost haunting that I uploaded it on my art site on April 24, 2020, with the pandemic hitting only weeks afterward. It is true that hardship really causes us to grow. I find it almost amazing how much. It seems that the deeper the pain and the valley that is forged within, the deeper the insight and understanding we gain. A difficult part of being human.

Then on May 3, before the pandemic became critical, I uploaded a piece as a response to the beginning of the craziness that was befalling us. The work was titled A New World Order. And how strange it has been to see the civil unrest and disunity that this pandemic has caused or brought out among people. I truly believe that unity is the answer to fighting this pandemic and to rising up as accomplished, caring citizens of this country.

A New World Order available here.

A New World Order available here.

The description of this work is written as:

Current events have changed our world;
Hardship and heartache have brought much concern.
A world divided against itself will surely fall,
Unity is the answer to destiny's call.

How true that became after the pandemic had caused economic issues and social unrest. I pray for a better future- a world of unity, cooperation, and understanding rather than division and anger as we have seen run much too prevalent in current times. Everything that has happened has reminded me of Martin Luther King Jr’s statement: "Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that." His words still ring true to this day! I pray we can rise up and adopt that stance in our current societal condition!


How To Live More Peacefully In Difficult Times

The times we are currently living in are very difficult times. This is a time of questioning and reasoning, trying to figure out why things are the way they are, wondering if they will end soon, feeling anxious and depressed, and worrying about our families and loved ones. During times like these we need a sense of stability and purpose. This blog post will focus on some of the ways I have found to persevere during trauma and hardship.

One important way to live more peacefully is to reduce your anxiety level. The best way to do this is to decide what your biggest fears and anxieties are and address them to the best of your ability. Take steps to alleviate some of your worries. Even small steps will help you feel more in control of your situation. For example, if you are dealing with financial pressures, try clipping coupons, getting rid of contract add-ons and asking for deferred payments. Brainstorm about anything that will lessen your stress load.

Another way to live more peacefully is to focus on things that you can do rather than on the things that are stressing you out. Focus on positive things such as working out more, starting a new hobby, or helping someone else that is going through a rough time. When you focus on what you can do rather than on what you can’t, your anxiety will decrease.

Have faith in a higher power. When you believe that there is a higher power who works things for your good it is much easier to flow through difficulty. Believe that every hardship has a silver lining. And look for those silver linings in your life. The power of positivity is an amazing predecessor of good!

The Healing Power Of Love available here.

The Healing Power Of Love available here.

Stay as positive as you can! Talk to other positive people. Donate to positive causes. Be the change that you want to see in the world. When you start taking action for good, good will come to you. A great example of this is the many people who began making masks for healthcare workers when the pandemic hit. What a great way to give love and light to the world-it can be anything as long as it’s positive!

Lastly, try to be a solution to some of the problems you see around you. Use your gifts and abilities to bring hope into the lives of others who are hurting. Not only does it give them hope but it also will give you hope and a sense of purpose. When you are engaged in making the world a better place, your anxieties will fade and your sense of worth and personal meaning will grow immensely. You will develop a sense of community and will bring much-needed compassion and empathy into other people’s lives.

It is my hope that this blog will encourage you and lift you up. The world needs so much love right now! Be a light to others and you will light your own heart as well in the process!

Surviving Turbulent Times

The days in which we are living are uncertain. Sickness, social unrest and economic disruptions are hitting hard and close to home. Life can be grueling. During hardship and difficulty, it is easy to become overwhelmed. But losing hope and wanting to quit only make things worse. How is it possible to continue on with a good attitude? By trusting God.

I have had to learn to trust during extreme pain and turmoil. Several of my children have gone before me to inherit the kingdom of Heaven. I have also undergone much pain from abuse. But I have learned that I can’t look back. I can’t dwell on the valleys and shadows that have cropped up in my life. It hasn’t been easy and I still find myself feeling the pain, especially when more pressure and difficulties have erupted around me. Such as the times in which we are currently living.

I have found that hope springs eternal. It is in the deepest wells of our hearts that we will find spiritual empathy and compassion-a tiny glimmer of hope that grows within as we focus on things of eternal perspective. Things such as mercy, grace, love, and growing from our pain into better and more accomplished people. This is only possible with our Father-our eternal comfort and provider of love and light.

Conflict Summons Change available here.

Conflict Summons Change available here.

It has taken me a long time to come to this state of acceptance. But it is a welcomed change from the bitterness and anger that has ravaged my soul in the past. It is easy to become angry when we are attacked and when we lose things that we love and hold very near and dear to our hearts. It is difficult to foster a sense of acceptance in times of great angst. But that which is of value is that which takes time and resolve to bring forth.

Knowing we haven’t lost is critical when we look at the bigger picture and see that God provides our comfort and saves our loved ones so that we can unite once again beyond Heaven’s gates. It is more of a sense of being than a state of living. It is a perception and awakening of hope and possibilities of good to come. It is true that united we stand-not just together with others around us but also within our hearts and being. A house divided against itself cannot stand. And when we see and feel so much pain and bitterness, we become divided against ourselves, our inner essence and truth.

We were created to be love and light, not pain and darkness. We were created to know truth and to walk our destined paths. We cannot do this when we are consumed in bitterness and depression. I encourage you to journey within-to find that tiny place deep inside your heart that whispers, “It will be okay.” And grasp hold of that voice or feeling. Feed it love and respect. Water it with hope and prayer. You can find the strength to continue and the courage to hold on. You are a gift and you’ve been given a gift, a destined truth that only you can fulfill. Find it, believe in it and reach for it. Have faith that it will happen. As you do these things, you will be led to a more peaceful and promising future-your destined reason and purpose, your goal to achieve. Then you will be able to hang tough when the valleys come. Fight the good fight of faith with prosperity and intention. Choose to live with grace and purpose!

Do What You Can And Accept What You Must

My work titled Facing Fear.

My work titled Facing Fear.

In these uncertain times it is easy to fall into a fearful mindset. Especially if you have previously experienced a lot of turmoil in life. But fear won’t cancel out negativity. It will only amplify it. The best way to deal with uncertain and fearful situations is to do what you can to offset the problem and accept the things you must accept-the things you cannot change.

Just like the serenity prayer states: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.” That pretty much sums up life issues in a nutshell. We can only do what we can do. When things are out of our control, we must have wisdom, faith and courage to be able to hang tough in our fights. It is a wish that we as humans have not to have to deal with hardship, stress and suffering. Unfortunately, those are plights of the human condition.

Life is like a video game. Or a maze. We sometimes bumble our way through rough patches with anguish and hope that they will go away. And inadvertently they do end up going away. Nothing lasts forever, except the love of God and the peace of heaven. Anything in between is a toss up.

When you are falling prey to fear, find something that you can do to make yourself feel better, even if only for a short while. A hobby, cleaning, a walk, a prayer, anything that lifts your spirits. And know in your heart that this too shall pass. Everything eventually does. Faith is a critical aspect in succeeding at the game of life. Without it you easily sink and want to give up. Keep your faith and keep your hope. Focus on something or someone you love. Redirect your mind to things you have some control over. Make positive changes whenever possible.

If you give up your hope, you’ve lost the fight. Hope is an anchor for the soul. Keep it, and keep your chin up. If you do, you’ll be able to roll with the punches and come out victorious.

The Importance Of Light

Not only is natural light important for our bodies, but so is spiritual light-the inspiration we receive from spiritual practice.

In our crazy world with its ups and downs, we need a calming influence. A reminder that we can find refuge amidst the chaos and calamity of the societies in which we live. Inspiration means different things to different people. But the basis is the same for everyone. And that basis is peace, hope and meaning within our day to day timelines. No matter where we come from, those are the things we crave. And people receive that guidance or uplifting presence from their religion, beliefs and activities.

For me, a Christian perspective has helped me navigate through a lot of pain and turmoil. And stemming from that perspective is my daily act of writing and artistry. When I am overwhelmed or stressed out, I sit down at my computer and begin to create. I also do it when I’m relaxed. But I find that artistry lends a presence of Spirit and hope to my day.

Whether it’s cooking, exercising, meeting new people or taking a trip to someplace new, everyone has an outlet in which they find hope and meaning. And recently I’ve been focusing even more on spiritual art and poetry. I’m trying new things, expanding my horizons.

The piece you see below is entitled Let Your Light Shine. It’s a mixed media work in which I share my belief that everyone has something important to offer-a destiny to fulfill. I hope that this work will persuade you to shine your light. The world is in need of love and encouragement. When you decide to let your light shine, I know you’ll be so glad that you did!

Let Your Light Shine available here.

Let Your Light Shine available here.