"If you think you can, or if you think you can't, you will be right."


What a great reminder the above quote is as we start to think of all of the things we want to do or see or accomplish during the next year.  Believing in ourselves and our dreams is one of the first steps towards making wonderful things happen.  Sometimes we do believe but we don't know what to do first.  What I have found is making that first gesture whether it is writing your dream down, telling a supportive person about it, or shouting it from the hilltops is usually the hardest step. I would love to say that each consecutive step is easier, which is sometimes the case,but not always.  But when things get hard, and we all know they will, believing that you can accomplish whatever you set out to do will always help you find a way. 

When I look at the picture above I see that tiny speck beneath the cloud.  What if he didn't believe he could make it or find his way?  What if he never tried?  What courage it takes to spread your wings and fly.  What joy we all feel when we do.

I want to wish everyone a very Happy New Year.  I hope that you will always believe that you can do whatever your heart tells you to do and that this year you will take the time to spread your wings and fly!


               When you believe in your dreams and your talent, magic happens.  Let the magic begin today!
                                                                                                                                                        Ginny

                           "We are what we repeatedly do.  Excellence then is not an act, but a habit."  Aristotle

Beginning a new year is always exciting. It holds the promise of new beginnings, new challenges,and new successes.  The above quote is a reminder that all of those things are possible but that success comes with not only a vision but the action that turns that vision into a reality.  Becoming a better a painter takes practice.  Creating a successful coaching business takes time and effort. Continuing to live a creative lifestyle is possible but that lifestyle does not happen overnight.  The things that I plan to focus on this year can become a reality not by one act, but by a series of actions that eventually become part of who I am. 

I have always looked forward at this time of year.  But now I am also taking time to reflect upon the year that has just passed.  I think about what I have accomplished and what worked for me that I want to carry into the next year.  I think about what I want to leave behind because it no longer serves the person I am or the person that I want to become.  This type of reflection is important.  It reminds me of what is important to me. It reminds me of what I want to do next with my life so that as opportunities arise I know whether they are right for me. 

This is the time of year for fireworks, parties, and excitement.  It is also the time of year for quiet moments, reflection, and visualizing the year ahead. I have come to look forward to picking a word for the year that will serve as a guide for the next twelve months.  In previous years my words were sparkle and laughter and trust. This year my word is build. I want to build upon the foundations that I have already started this year in many areas of my life. Build is what I want to do.  Excited and energized is how I want to feel.


It seems that more and more people pick a work for the year rather than have a New Year's Resolution. I have found that my word has really inspired me throughout the year. If you have picked a word for 2014, I would love to hear it and learn what its significance is for you.


One of the coaching packages I offer seems to be just right for this type of year.  Many people begin new projects on January 1st. One of the things that many of us need as we build new habits is someone to offer support and encouragement.  When I created my accountability partner program that is exactly what I had in mind.  In this program we talk once a week for 15 to 20 minutes.  You set goals for the week and we discuss what worked for you in the previous week and/or what you would like to do differently in the week to come.  It is a short coaching session which really seems to make a difference.  I've kept the cost deliberately low so that everyone who wants to can take advantage of the opportunity.  It is $40.00 for four sessions. If this is something that you would like to learn more about, I would love to hear from you.  You can contact me at ginny.lennox@comcast.net.  I would love to hear from you and learn what projects (business or personal) you would love to start this year.


                                     Happy New Year everyone.  I hope that all of your dreams come true!


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

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

How true this quote is.  Whether I am creating a painting, writing a blog post, or choosing the perfect Christmas gift it is so much easier if I lead with my heart.  When the mind gets involved and there is too much thinking going on, life can get so much more complicated especially at this this time of year. 

As I listen to the raindrops on the window and look at the beautiful Christmas lights on my tiny tree, I take a moment to enjoy the season with all of its special moments.  The presents are wrapped, the house is simply decorated, and the music is playing.  The heart is full and the mind is quiet.  Who could ask for more?

I hope everyone will enjoy a wonderful holiday season.  Make each day special as you create from your heart.

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

                                        "This world is but a canvas to your imagination."  Henry David Thoreau

Every place I looked today there were people and cars and lights and noise.  Then after dinner I took the dogs out into the backyard and it was silent. When I looked up, the sky was a brilliant pink and dark blue.  It was as though I had stepped into a different world.  I have not taken time to paint all of this week but after seeing the sky, I knew that I had to hold the pastels in my had for just a minute.  This painting does not look anything like what I saw but it was inspired by the beauty of the night.

Tonight was a great reminder that I need to take time during this busy time of year to step outside and look up into the sky or across the field or down the road.  It was a reminder that there is beauty all around me but I have to take the time to stop and look and listen if I am going to enjoy it and be inspired by it.  

Each Friday I take a minute to share what I am most grateful for.  This week we took our grandsons to see a Christmas play.  It is such a delight to see the world through their eyes.  Santa was visiting and the boys were sure, or almost sure, that this was the real Santa Claus. I am sure that almost every Santa Claus is the "real" Santa Claus to them.  This is a magical time of year.  I love the decorations, and the lights, and the music.  But most of all I love to hear the laughter of children as they delight in all of the special things the season has to offer.  I hope that you and your family have a wonderful holiday season filled with joy and love and laughter!

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

Today on Jamie and Shannon Ridler's Kickin It Old Skool blogathon the prompt was "What Do You Wish?"  I began wishing with Jamie years ago and I truly believe in the power of making a wish and sending it out into the world.  When we wish, it means we are aware of what we want which is the first step in making our dreams come true. I believe we have to know what we want and need, be able to visualize it, and then begin to take one small step at a time towards making our wishes and  dreams come true.  I also believe that as we move forward on our path we need to stop and celebrate each step on the journey.  Big celebrations are very important but it is just as important to recognize and celebrate our small victories each day. 

What Do You Wish?  Such an important question.  I wish to dream big.  I have already started to dream of what next year will look like.  I chose the word build as my word of the year.  I want to build on the foundations I have already started with my coaching business, the wonderful connections and friendships I have made throughout the world, and living a healthy lifestyle.  Now, because of today's prompt I realize I want to also dream big.  

For me the next step will be to visualize each of the three areas and see exactly what I mean by dreaming big.  I already know that in my coaching business it does not mean the number of people I work with - it means sharing the journey successfully with women who also have a dream and need someone to support them in that dream.  I think building connections with people throughout the world could be as big as it could possibly be as long as they are true connections.  Living a healthy lifestyle is a continuous dream and goal because as I live and age there are always new possibilities that open up and challenges to overcome.  

So today I wish to DREAM BIG!  What do you wish?  What can you visualize?  What steps do you want to take to make your wish come true?  I would truly love to know.

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

                                          Christmas isn't a season.  It's a feeling.     Edna Ferber      

When I close my eyes and dream of Christmas there is a peaceful feeling.  I see tiny snowflakes falling and lights in people's windows.  There are children playing, fires roaring, and soft quiet songs in the background.  People are relaxed, enjoying each other and the time they get to spend together.  If I am truthful this is the dream I have for every day, not just Christmas.  It's a time of peace, a time spent together sharing quiet moments, exciting adventures and creating memories. 

 I think I am lucky because I have a lot of childhood memories of Christmas being a wonderful day.  Many years there were not a lot of presents but there were always a few.  But what stands out the most was that the day was filled with trips to see our cousins and aunts and uncles.  It was filled with stories and songs around the piano and the feeling that we knew who loved us and who we loved. Each year is different.  Each Christmas is different. No matter how hard I try to recreate those childhood memories it can't be exactly the same.  But the feeling is the same.  Christmas means family and love and warm peaceful nights.  It means sharing and caring and letting people know how you feel.  If Christmas is a feeling and I believe it is, it is a feeling that I want to experience each and every day of the year.  How would you describe the feeling you experience when you think of Christmas?


You don't need diamonds to make your light shine brighter and brighter.  It comes from knowing who you are, what you love to do and sharing your dreams and your talent with the world.  Then it is easy to sparkle.
                                                                                                                              Ginny  

I am really enjoying answering the prompts at Jamie and Shannon Ridler’s Kickin It Old Skool Blogathon. It's never to late to join us.

Today’s prompt was to share our first time doing something.  This first did not immediately come to mind but it was a powerful first for many reasons.  I was an elementary school teacher for many years and I loved what I did.  One year our school decided to become a conversion charter school which meant that you were still part of the school system but wrote a charter which exempted you from some of the state rules and regulations and allowed you to control more of what the school did.  In order to do this, a very complex charter had to be developed and approved by the staff, the parents, the local Board of Education and the State Board of Education. I loved the idea and volunteered to lead the charge.   We decided to become a Fine Arts Charter School and to arrange our schedule so that every Friday afternoon was devoted to the arts.  After several years of research, we had concluded that this was something our students would benefit from and they did.  After the research was done and the faculty and staff voted to move forward, the fun began.  Our local school superintendent was very excited about our charter but the local board was not very happy with the idea.  I had to present the plan first to the parents and then to the local board.  Although this was years ago, I can remember the night the plan was presented to our parents.  The room was packed with every corner filled with people who were anxious to hear what I had to say.  At that time speaking front of a classroom of eight year olds was easy for me. Speaking in front of a large group of adults could be intimidating.  But I had one thing on my side.  Passion!  I totally believed in what we were doing and I knew the kids could benefit from the charter.  So I began to speak and the room was quiet. What I didn’t know was that there was a group of people present that were not in favor of what we were proposing who had come to disrupt not learn.  So before I could finish a sentence a question or comment was hurled my way that was meant to disrupt the meeting. I learned an important lesson that night.  I could control a room of people who did not always think as I did.  I did it by being polite, sharing my passion for what we were trying to accomplish, and having the facts.  Our charter did pass the vote that night and on we went to the local board. As they visited our classrooms, listened closely to our plans, and realized how much our kids would benefit from the opportunities they would have, they too came on board and approved our charter.  The final step was the approval of the State Board of Education. We were the second school in the state to be approved as a conversion charter school.  When the board approved our charter the room was filled with cheers.  When I got back to school that day, everyone was excited which is exactly how a school should feel.  Our charter lasted five years and in that time we accomplished many great things.  Then as things do in life, things changed.  But I am forever grateful for the things I learned in the years leading up to the charter being approved and the years we had to implement it.  And I will never forget the night I stood in front of a not always friendly crowd and helped them to see that there was nothing to be afraid of.  That new strategies can work especially when we work together! 

This has been a week filled with fun meetings, interesting classes, and inspiring talks.  As the year winds down it is interesting to take a look back and see all that has been accomplished and what I want to do to continue to move forward.  One of the best journals I have is my blog.  Just looking through the posts or even the titles helps me to remember all that has happened this year. The one thing that I know for certain is that I want to continue painting. It is something that has become a part of who I am. 

 When I was working there was always a plan.  Whether it was making lesson plans for my class or developing workshops for the school there was a calendar and a plan. When I first retired it was fun doing whatever, whenever.  But then I realized that I work better, accomplish more, and feel more inspired when I have some type of goal or plan in mind.  I realize that the creative journey, like most journeys, is filled with twists and turns. I also realize that when you are curious about where the next turn may take you and are open to the adventure, life is never dull.  So while I am making plans for next year, as I reflect back upon what worked this year, I am open to any and all possibilities. Do you have any special way that you reflect upon the year as it comes to the end?  Do you plan for the next year or do you wait to see what happens? 

Each Friday I share what I am grateful for.  This week I am grateful that the sun decided to shine again, that the sky is filled with white fluffy clouds, and that the stars are twinkling.  I realize that we are very lucky that we only got rain, not snow and ice, and for that I am also very grateful.  

I hope that as the holiday season draws closer and closer you are taking time to enjoy the season. It's important to remember to take care of yourself while you are taking care of others.  Have a wonderful week and enjoy every special moment!

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

Today at Jamie and Shannon's Kickin It Old Skool Blogathon the prompt was What makes you cry?  You might wonder was this has to do with self-care the topic that I had originally planned to discuss today. Self-care is all about what makes you feel better. It is about taking a minute, an hour, a day or a week doing what you need to do to make life better for you. For some people a good cry helps. It releases the emotions and allows them to move forward.  Sometimes people are shedding tears of joy; other times their tears express sadness.  Whatever the reason, I hope you are able to let the tears flow whenever they need to.  So what makes me cry?  I cry when I see couples reunite in the airport especially military families. I cry when I see a child not getting the things he or she needs.  I may cry at something in a book or a movie but crying does not often make me feel better which is why I probably don't cry that often. After writing this, I realize I most often cry about something that concerns others not me.  

Recently, I have been in the stores shopping more than normal.  And what I hear a lot is a baby or toddler crying.  I know they are crying from exhaustion and at that moment their mother or father probably feels like crying too.  I would 
love to tap the parent on the shoulder and say, "Why don't you go home, give the baby a rest and put your feet up and take a break?"  This is the time of year we all need to be extra kind to ourselves.  Everyone is running from place to place getting ready for the holidays.  What would happen if we all slowed down just a little?  Take a minute right now.  Close your eyes.  Take a deep breath and imagine what the holidays would look and feel like if you slowed down a little and made time to practice some wonderful self-care.  Is there a better present you could give yourself?  What would you do with that minute?  I would look out my window and look at the sky.  What if you took an hour?  What would you do with that hour? I'd put on some Christmas music, have a cup of hot tea and read a wonderful book.  We often talk about the importance of taking an artist's date each week.  What if you planned a holiday date with yourself or someone you would like to spend time with.  Where would you go?  What would you do?  I love to go to a holiday concert each year and then stop for coffee and desert afterwards.  We haven't done that in awhile.  Maybe, this is the year we will start again.  

When I participated in Jamie Ridler's Circe Circle several years ago we talked a lot about the importance of self-care and the creative person.  There are times when the ideas and creativity are flowing and the energy is there to get it all done.  Then there are times when we need to sit back, take a breath, and concentrate on taking care of ourselves.  During this holiday season when you are taking care of the needs of everyone else I hope that you will also take care of yourself. It truly is a gift that keeps on giving not only to you but to everyone around you.  I would love to know what things you do to take care of yourself during this very busy time of year.

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

When I was a teenager I was always doodling.  When I became an adult I took an art class or two but it was always something I did when "I had time" which of course there never seem to be too much of.  But retirement led to a whole new time for rediscovering and recreating who I am.  Part of that process included lots of art classes, some that I enjoyed and some that were not my cup of tea.  One year I went to an Art Camp for Adults.  It was perfect for me.  Each week we worked in a different medium.  There was no pressure.  We were there to learn about painting and ourselves. I really enjoyed every moment. I had taken a pastel class before and vowed I would never use them again. But the week we were introduced to pastels at camp everything changed.  I loved how they felt in my hand and I loved working with them.  

Not too long after my reintroduction to pastels I joined my husband in the basement.  He was working on his model boats and I decided to paint.  I took out my pastels and became totally immersed in what I was doing.  I didn't hear the saw or the music playing in the background. I wasn't thinking about what to buy for supper the next day or the laundry that was calling my name.  I was in my own little world painting and enjoying every minute.  That night I stopped thinking of painting as something to do to fill the time or as a hobby.  It became something I love to do and has become an important part of who I am and how I express myself.  What I love about life is that there are always opportunities to discover new things about ourselves and what we want to do if we are open to them.  I am so glad that art has become an important part of my life. What about you?  What do you do that is very special and just for you?

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