When something goes wrong in your life just yell "Plot twist" and move on.  Zero Dean.com

I saw the above words on Pinterest this morning and I thought what a perfect way to look at life.  We all face plot twists in our life and as KMCC coach many of the things  I talk or write about deal with strategies to move past the twists and turns that life throws our way.  Some people take a deep breath, center themselves and move forward in a different direction.  Some people handle things with humor while others need a time out before figuring out what to do next. 

I love the idea of having an anchor or a reframe such as "Plot Twist" to say when things don't go the way I have planned.  My favorite books have lots of plot twists.  When I am reading I love it when something happens that I did not see coming.  Although I like to know what is coming next in my "real life" that is not always possible.  So if I looked at each "plot twist" as an adventure, not an irritant, life could be lots more fun. Just say and writing the words "plot twist"  sounds like fun.  Thanks Zero Dean.com for giving me a new way of looking at an old problem.  I hope everyone will have a great day but if you do encounter any "plot twists" remember you are in charge of what happens next.

Each Wednesday I share a coaching tip. Having an anchor or reframe to use helps when life takes a turn you don't expect. It is something to remind you that everything is ok and that you are in control of what happens next.
 If you would like to learn more about Special Moments in Time Creativity Coaching, Circle of Dreams, or my quarterly Visionboard Workshops, please contact me at ginny.lennox@comcast.net  I love working with women who have dreams they want to come true.

                   Remember:  When you share your dreams with the world, magic happens.  Let the magic begin.

                                           "Why fit in - when you were born to stand out."  Dr. Seuss

We are all different.  We are all special.  And we are all unique.  We all have unique gifts and talents and I believe that when we recognize and share those gifts and talents something special happens not only for us but for those around us. Knowing who we are and appreciating the uniqueness that makes us special is truly a gift that we should accept and treasure.

Some people love the spotlight.  They thrive on being seen and heard. Others with just as much talent turn away from it.  You know who you are.  In my other life we had to attend meetings, lots of meetings.  Eventually you got to know all of the people who were also attending.  There was a group that came to be known as the head nodders.  They were the people who nodded no matter what was said, They wanted to give the impression that they were doing it all, and noone was doing it better.  Then there was the group who sat quietly and said very little although everyone knew that they were actually doing it all and not just doing the work but doing a great job. I always wished that the head nodders would do what they were saying they were doing and that the silent majority would actually share what they were experiencing so we could all learn from them.

Only you know what makes you shine.  Only you know what gifts you have to offer the world.  But I do know that you have a gift that we are all waiting to receive.  It may be a book you want to write and we need to read.  It may be a painting that will make someone feel good or evoke a memory that is important. It make be a piece of jewelry that you make that will make someone feel special everytime she wears it.  Or it could be the perfect cup of coffee to start the day, the garden that makes the neighborhood beautiful, the welcoming smile on your face everytime you say "hello" or the hug you give to friends and strangers alike that makes them feel safe.  You have a gift.  Recognize it.  Celebrate it. Share it.  "Why fit in - when you were born to stand out."    The world is waiting to get to know you!

          Remember:  When you share your gifts and talents with the world, magic happens.  Let the magic begin.

                                                                    Circle of Dreams
Do you have a dream or a project that you would like to begin?  I would love to invite you to join the Circle of Dreams in September.   One of the things women often say is that they want a supportive group to share ideas with.   Circle of Dreams offers that support as well as teaches new strategies to help you learn more about yourself, and what you really value in life.   Joining the Circle of Dreams can be your first step towards making your dreams come true.  

 We will meet on a conference call once a week for eight weeks.   Each week there will be time to share what steps you have taken towards making your dreams come true.  And if there is a week when you didn’t take a step that is ok too.  There are lessons to be learned about yourself from this type of week as well. 

Often women start the circle with no specific goal in mind.  They want to learn more about themselves so as they move forward in life they feel very secure about what is most important to them.  When you know yourself and what you value making decisions becomes so much easier.  We will discuss specific strategies to use to help you get started on your project, to keep you moving forward, and to help you recognize and celebrate all of the successes you have each day.  Too often we focus on what we didn’t accomplish when what is most important is to celebrate all of the small successes that are a part of each and every day.   

Words such as reframe, anchor, small steps, and vision will become second nature to you.  Your toolbox will be filled with information from the Muses developed by Jill Badonsky.  The circle will offer support, laughter, and inspire you to become all that you can be. 

I have deliberately kept the cost low so that the circle will be affordable to more people.  The circle is $80.00 for 8 one hour calls.  We will also have a private Facebook page to share what is happening between calls.  If you are interested in joining the September Circle of Dreams or have any questions, please contact me at ginny.lennox@comcast.net 

The circle will be kept small so that we can really get to know one another and can offer the support that we all are looking for and need throughout life.  There is still a space left for you.  I hope that you will join us.

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

"The most adventurous journey to embark on; is the journey to yourself, the most exciting thing to discover; is who you really are, the most treasured pieces that you can find; are all the pieces of you, the most special portrait you can recognize; is the portrait of your soul.” 
                                                                                                                                        . JoyBell C.

I was reading a blog post just now about being your own teacher and having all of the answers inside of you.  I do believe that as we get to know ourselves better and better we will find the answers to the questions we have, if we give ourselves permission to be still and to be quiet. 

When I read the words be your own teacher for some reason the phrase "Be you own best friend" popped into my head.  Some days I do think I am my own best friend.  I try to take care of myself and make decisions that are best for me while not hurting anyone else.  It took a long long time to come to this point in life. But important things are worth waiting for and yes I should have listened to my mother who gave me this advice many years ago when I was a teenager. 

 What does being my own best friend mean to me?  It means really listening to what I need. It means living a life that is calm and peaceful. It is saying "yes" to things that are interesting and challenging and "no" to things that don't make sense to me now.  It is accepting that writing and painting are an important part of my life and making sure that I create time to do both each day.  It is remembering that exercise makes me feel not only stronger but gives me energy.  It is not being hard on myself when I reread something that I have written and published and then three days later finding not one but two or three or four mistakes.  I would tell my best friend it didn't matter, now I say those same words to me and really mean them. 

 Being my own best friend means being there for me. It means taking care of me the same way I would take care of someone else.  It means having fun, laughing, and taking a deep breath when things get stressful.  It is reminding myself that life is filled with ups and downs and to learn from both. Most of all its recognizing that I'm not perfect and noone expects me to be.  I think I am going to like being my own best friend.  How about you - what does being your own best friend mean to you?

Each Friday I share something that I am grateful for.  This week I am grateful for the quiet moments which give me the time to reflect upon the kind of life I want to continue to create.  Each day is different and offers new opportunities and I am so grateful that I have slowed down enough to notice and appreciate them.

              Remember:  When you share your talents and gifts with the world, magic happens.  Let the magic begin.

I hope that you will take a minute to visit the artists at Paint Party Friday.  They are such a wonderful supportive group of people who I look forward to visiting each week

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I love to stand at the edge of the water and just look out at all of the beauty in front of me and think.  I would like to say that when I do this I am always in the present moment enjoying what is before me.  Sometimes that is 100 percent true.  But other times I am thinking about something important and it is usually what I am going to do next.  We all have different ways of doing things.  I am a thinker.  I do research and I love to take classes.  Before I offer my services I like to know that I have something to offer.  Other people like to "act as if"  which means before they have everything in place they feel confident in saying who they are and what they do.  Whatever works for you is ok.  The important thing is to know who you are and what you are comfortable doing so when you ask yourself, "Is today the day?"  your answer, whether it be yes or no, is based on self-awareness and trust in yourself. 

I really enjoy coaching.  I love meeting new people, hearing about their dreams, and being a small part of their support system.  I am slowing growing my business so I am always asking myself, "Is today the day?"  Is today the day I advertise?  Is today the day I go to a networking meeting?  Is today the day I offer a new class or workshop?  I am learning that being prepared and trusting that inner intuitive voice works for me. Sometime when something looks or feels a little scary but all the pieces are in place that is the day. 

Is there something you would like to do that your intuition is telling you to move forward on?  Is everything in place?  Is today the day?  Sometimes the first step is the hardest.  But if you are like me and slowly dip your foot in the water you may find that today is the day and that exciting times are just around the corner.  Trust yourself and your inner guide. LIsten to the positive feelings and voices of those around you.  When you ask yourself, "Is today the day?" and the answer is "Yes" take that first step and get ready for all of the exciting adventures to come.

          Remember:  When you share your talents and dreams with the world, magic happens. Let the magic begin.

   "If I create from the heart, nearly everything works, if I create from the head, almost nothing."
                                                                                                                    Marc Chegall

I don't believe in coincidence.  Just this week I was talking with a friend about exactly what Marc Chegall said.  I also believe that when we let the words or the paint flow, it feels natural and easy.  When we worry about getting it right,  - the right punctuation, the right colors, the right form, it is harder and certainly not as much fun.  But when the words or painting comes from the heart, it's easy, it's fun, and it all makes sense.  This week my intention is to create from the heart.  I want to write and paint intuitively.  I want the words and paint to flow with ease.  Then I want to celebrate the art that I have created just from my heart.  Won't you join me?  Let's create from the heart!

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

Circle of Dreams begins in September.  We would love to have you join us.  There is information about the group on the Circle of Dreams page above or you can contact me at ginny.lennox@comcast.net

                                        An artist cannot fail; it is a success to be one.  Charles Horton Cooley

Did you every have one of those weeks?  Not a bad week.  Not a great week.  Just a week.  That's how I feel today.  When I picked up my pastels nothing turned out like I wanted it to.  I kept trying but things just didn't work.  So I decided it was time for a rest.  Then I found the above quote and everything turned around. I started to ask myself simple questions.  What if the product didn't matter as much as the opportunity?  Shouldn't the fact that I have the time, the space, and the supplies be something to be very grateful for?  Should I expect that every time I paint I will fall in love with what I do or should I be grateful for the chance to create, to play, to experiment, and to enjoy the moment? 

Success comes in all shapes and packages.  It means different things to different people. Success is often described differently at different stages of  life.  Tonight success means I have found a quote that makes me think about myself as an artist.  It makes me question and ponder what is important to me - is it the process or the final product or is it a little of both?  I don't think this is something I will be able to answer right away.  I am going to take my time and think about it.  This is not what I expected to write but I am grateful for finding the quote. And I am sure it will be interesting uncovering the answers. 

What about you?  What does success look like, or sound like, or feel like to you?  Is it different now than it used to be?  Is it different from one day to another.  It is fun to ask yourself questions.  Questions lead to answers which often lead to new and renewed energy.  Where do you think your answers might take you?  

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

 PS  Circle of Dreams starts in September.  The circle is filled with women of all ages who want to support each other as they begin to follow their dreams.  We would love to have you join us!

I have linked this post to Paint Party Friday a wonderful place to meet inspiring talented artists.  We would love to have you join the party.

"Take the first step in faith.  You don't have to see the whole staircase.  Just take the first step."
                                                                                                                                  Martin Luther King Jr.

Each week I share a Kaizen-Muse coaching tip.  Over and over again I write about the importance of taking small steps but when I read this quote I realized that they are all important but it is often that very first small step that makes the biggest difference. It is the step that begins it all.  It is the first word of a story that turns into a book.  It is the first painting that is the beginning of a series of paintings.  It is the first cookie baked, the first song sung, the first time you put on your ballet slippers, or pick up a guitar that begins a journey that sometimes you cannot even imagine. 

Today I am celebrating a friend who's book is being published soon.  She started this book many years ago and wrote and rewrote her wonderful story.  I was lucky enough to share part of the journey with her.  I am sure the first step was hard and I know that all of the many many times she took two steps forward only to take one step back were not always easy.  But I also know that she enjoyed the process and is incredibly excited about each first step she is taking now.  She is kind enough to share what is happening and the excitement in her voice and emails are so much fun to hear. 

Is there something that you have been thinking about doing?  Do you know what the first step might be?  What would happen if you took it?  Can you close your eyes and visualize how it would feel to take that step?  I'd love to hear about what first step you are dreaming of.

On another note this the last week of the Summer of Color challenge.  The colors this week are sepia and sage.  I started my landscape with these two colors and I found them to be very soothing.  I am sure they will find their way on to my canvas again.  I want to thank Kristin for hosting this challenge.  It was fun, it took me out of my comfort zone, and it was another first step.  I look forward to being part of this wonderful group again next summer.  Thank you again, Kristin.

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

Circle of Dreams will begin in September.  It is eight weeks of sharing your dreams, your ideas, and yourself with other women. I would love to have you join us.

                                  Set your life on fire.  Seek those who fan your flames!  Rumi

It is definitely time for a trip to the beach.  I really miss the ocean but I know it will be September or October before we go.  So I will have to be content painting pictures of the salt water that I miss. 

I took a great painting class yesterday.  It was fun to be in a room filled with people who also love working with pastels.  I believe it is important to surround yourself with people who understand what you are doing and encourage and support your efforts. I know that slowly becoming part of a creative community has made a huge difference in how I feel about myself as an artist. What I find so exciting and  wonderful is that people who have years and years of experience always take the time to share what they know and encourage me to continue on my path

This week my Friday's Special Moment of Gratitude is written to thank all of the people who have taken the time to write such supportive comments on my blog.  It is written to thank the teachers of the now many art classes I have taken for not becoming discouraged with me when they had to go over something again and again until I saw what they were talking about but decided not to do it anyway.  It is written to thank my husband for listening to me talk about art over and over again and truly listening and being supportive. 

We all need support in one way or another.  I am really grateful that there have been so many people who have been there to help me when I need it.  It always means a lot. 

Each Friday I join a group of fellow artists at Paint Party Friday.  I have been going to the party for over a year now and I have made some really good friends.  I'd like to invite you to join us.  If you are looking for support, I promise you will find it here.

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

PS:  Circle of Dreams begins in September.  I'd love for you to join us!