"Surround yourself with the dreamers and the doers, the believers and the thinkers, but most of all, surround yourself with those who see the greatness within you, even when you don't see it yourself."  Edmund Lee

Last week I was lucky enough to be on an art retreat with nine very talented artists.  We stayed at a beautiful location in Maine and saw so many incredible and inspiring sights. We painted, we talked, we visited art galleries and museums and it was a wonderful and exciting week. 

Normally, on Friday I link to Paint Party Friday but last week I wasn't home so I didn't write my normal blog post.  But that didn't stop me from visiting and much to my surprise and elation I was the featured artist. I shared my excitement with all of the other ladies who were so supportive and happy for me.  I want to thank Eva and Kristin for this great honor and I would also like to thank all of the artists at Paint Party Friday for their encouragement over the years.  It was so hard to show my work at first but now because of your kind comments it gets easier each week. 

No matter what we do in life things are easier if we have support.  Support comes in all shapes and sizes.  Sometimes it is family members and friends who we have known us for a long time. Sometimes it can come from a teacher or a coach or from people we have never met in person but with whom we share a common interest. No matter how it comes, it is special.

Where do you get your support?  How do you give support?  Those are two important questions to ponder.  Most of the time when I offer support I learn so much in return.  So once again I would like to thank all of the wonderful artists at Paint Party Friday for their kind comments and their wonderful support. I am so glad that I met you!

             When you share your gifts and your talent with the world, magic happens.  Let the magic begin!
                                                                                                                           Ginny

                                          "A day without laughter is a day wasted"  Charlie Chaplin
 
As I reflect upon my coaching practice, I realize I work with two different categories of women.  Some are just beginning to create a new life.  Others live a creative life and are working on projects that are very meaningful to them and to the world. And for both groups laughter is a very important part of the journey they are on.

It is very easy to forget how to laugh.  The world demands a lot of us and we often demand even more of ourselves. It's easy to get so wrapped up in doing things "right" that we forget to take a breath and to laugh.  Growing up I laughed all of the time.  I didn't smile a lot and was always considered very serious and I guess I still am, but I did love to laugh.  We laughed at silly things, we laughed at ourselves and we laughed at each other.


One of the Kaizen-Muse Creativity principles or muses that I share with people is Bea Silly.  Bea Silly reminds us to have fun and to laugh.  She brings back the curiosity and wonder of a child. She reminds us what it is like to be a beginner and she has fun trying new things.  

I am bringing back laughter into my life.  As I go through the grieving process, I realize how important laughter is to me.  I allow myself to cry and to shed the tears that need to be shed but I also have come to realize how important laughter is to feeling good.  If nothing else works, I know I can watch a Seinfeld rerun and it will always make me laugh.  I love to hear the laughter of children and to spend time with people who also love to laugh.  

As you move through the creative process, whether it is creating a new life or working on a special project or projects, I hope that you will find time each day to laugh.  It's ok to laugh at your mistakes.  It's ok to have fun with what you are doing.  It's ok to call upon Bea Silly when you need her.  If you find yourself stuck and you need a dose of laughter, ask yourself "Where can I find laughter today"? and then do whatever is necessary to bring a smile, a chuckle or a good old fashioned belly laugh into you world.  I promise you that you will not only feel better but your creative world will take on a new and very beautiful glow.

         Let's all create a life where the special moments are not only noticed but enjoyed and remembered!
                                                                                                                                            Ginny


I will be starting a new online coaching group very soon.  Please email me so that we can set up a time to talk about either the new group or coaching one to one.  I'd love to meet you and learn all about your dreams. Even better, I'd like to help you make them come true.                      [email protected]

            "Don't wait for the perfect moment.  Take the moment and make it perfect."  Unknown

For me this quote is the perfect reminder; a wonderful way to start the week.  It reminds me not to wait.  It reminds me that I have the power to make the moment perfect.  That being said perfection is a hard thing to attain and to maintain.  But noticing the perfection that is all around us each day is much easier. It takes slowing down and really noticing what we are doing. It's the way we feel when we open our eyes.  It's the first smell of coffee or the sounds of the birds in the backyard. It's the sunrise and the beautiful colors of the sky as the sun begins to go down.  It's the laughter of small children, the sharing of a special event with family or friends and the appreciation of all that we have.

As I simplify and slow down it is easier to see and appreciate the small but perfect moments.  As a Kaizen-Muse Creativity coach, one of the strategies I share with my clients is using a Reminder Journal.  It's a way to remember what is working in our lives and to celebrate not only the big moments but those special perfect moments that occur throughout the day. It's easy to forget what truly brings us happiness; but opening up our journal is a simple way to remember.

I hope that this week you will experience many perfect moments.  I also hope that you will slow down enough to not only experience them but to also enjoy, appreciate, and remember them for a long long time.

Close your eyes and picture what special moments you have already experienced today.  Then take a moment to share them with us.

          When you share your dreams and your talent with the world, magic happens.  Let the magic begin.
                                                                                                                                        Ginny

  

                "Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see." 
                                                                                                                                           Mark Twain

In my opinion kindness is one of the essential components of living a creative and joyful life.  Kindness to others seems to come easier to many but being kind to one's self is often more difficult.  I usually write this post on Wednesday and I really look forward to writing it but this week the inspiration was just not there.  If I didn't believe in self-compassion and kindness, I might have written it anyway but I do think it is important to honor my feelings as well as the feelings of others.

Whether you are a stay at home mom, a working mom, a person in transition or someone beginning or in the midst of an important creative project we are all terribly busy.  It's easy to become frustrated or upset with ourselves because we can't do it all or do it perfectly.  That's where it is important to remember self-care, self-compassion and lot of kindness.  Talk to yourself as you would your best friend.  Remind yourself of all that you have accomplished and are doing.  Concentrate on the positive difference you are making and celebrate each and every small success

Living a creative life means learning new things, being curious about the world and doing things you have never done before.  It means sharing your heart and your talent with others.  It means living with an open heart and an open mind.  It also means remembering to be kind to yourself just as you are to others.

Two questions to ponder:  How have you been kind to yourself this week?  How will you be kind to yourself in the future?

          When you share your talent and your dreams with the world, magic happens.  Let the magic begin!
                                                                                                                            Ginny