This year I am taking time each month to reflect upon the month or season that just passed.  My word of the year actually turned into the phrase Living Joyfully with Courage and Confidence.  It is easy to forget my phrase but I think its too important of a concept for me to not think about. So this week I asked myself these questions:  "Did I live joyfully?"  Did I act with courage and confidence?  And I added one more.  "Did I choose happiness?"

I have come to realize that it is important to choose happiness.  And I realize if I choose happiness it will mean that I am living joyfully.  I have lived long enough to know that we can't be happy every minute of everyday.  But when given a choice - and life is filled with choices - it is important to choose happiness.  Happiness comes in all shapes and sizes.  It comes when we least expect it or when we are planning and waiting for it patiently and it comes because we choose it.

It's easy to become frustrated or angry in the fast paced world we live in.  We are often surrounded by negative people and negative images.  But we can choose to ignore those images and replace them with things that make us happy.  We can choose our friends carefully and surround ourselves with people who care about the things that we care about.  

I think it is important to recognize the people and things that bring happiness into our lives. One of the things that makes me happy each day is my home.  It has served our family well providing warmth and a place to make memories.  It's windows allow me to see outside and appreciate the beautiful sky that is above me and the green that is all around me even when I am indoors.  It protects me from the cold and the rain and is a place to be quiet and still. It is something that I am grateful for each and every day.

What brings you happiness?  What makes you smile or feel giddy or calm or peaceful?  I hope that you will join me each day in celebrating whatever or whoever it is that makes you happy. It is easy to overlook those things or without realizing it choose something else.  I'm consciously choosing happiness.  I hope that you will join me.

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

Friday I spent most of the day with my three grandsons.  They decided to practice hitting golf balls.  Time after time the two older boys hit the ball far across the yard into the woods into the trees behind their house.  The four year old patiently waited his turn and then watched the ball roll just a little farther each time.  He never said anything, just got back in line, and waited for his next turn.  After about an hour, he stepped up to the ball and this time when he swung , the club connected with the ball and it went really far.  He dropped the club ran up to me and with the biggest hug said, "Nana can you believe I just did that and I am only four?"  The truth is I could believe that he could.  He has an enormous amount of energy and an enormous amount of patience when he really wants to do something.  I am constantly learning from all of the boys.  But on Friday it was the four year old who reminded me to never give up and to really truly celebrate the moment when it happens.

​                                  What moment would you like to celebrate this week? 

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

                                                            Create the life you want to live
                                                             [email protected]

Last week I wrote about the very busy week I had.  The week turned out to be ok but as I was experiencing it, I found it to be very stressful.  This week was just the opposite. For the most part the calendar was empty and my first thought was Oh no. What am I going to do?  And then I decided not to do anything.  Not to fill the days but to see where each day led me.  I decided to sleep in and to start the day with writing for just a few minutes.  I went to the lake and read in the car because it was too cold to sit out side.  I worked on my flower boxes and painted and read.  I practiced yoga and talked to friends.  I read a beautiful magazine called Bella Grace and enjoyed each and every picture and article.  I really enjoyed the quiet and the solitude. It was a week when I did less but enjoyed it more.  I hope that there will be many more weeks just like this one.  Weeks when I do less and enjoy it more.

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

                                                                 Create the life you want to live.
                                                                  [email protected]

                                               

I've been thinking a lot about what inspires me.  Of course it is people that are excited about what they are doing and sharing it with others. It's women who as they grow older also grow bolder.  They do what they want, say what needs to be said and continue to grow and take on new challenges. I'm inspired by the fearlessness of the young. And I am inspired by both Bernie Sanders and Hilary Clinton.  They are of my generation and they are out there fighting to change the system. Whether you agree with them or not they haven't given up and both believe they can make a difference.  

I'm also inspired by nature.  It's colors, it's intensity.  I have flowers that come back year after year no matter what happens.  It can be the coldest winter or the hottest summer yet at the same time every year they begin to peek through the soil and are there for all to enjoy.  It is such a reminder that even though there are adversities in life they can be over come.  

Inspiration comes in all shapes and sizes.  It comes when you are looking for it or it surprises you by being there just when you need it most. It is free for the taking and can make the biggest difference in how we see our world and spend our days. I'd love to know what inspires you to live a life filled with joy and wonder each day.

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

 I just finished one of those weeks.  One that you are so glad is over. Visits with the doctor, tests, test results, visits with the dentist, income taxes and much much more.  It's what happens in life. It is a time that can, if you let it, make you feel overwhelmed and frustrated. Trips to Facebook didn't help.  Everyone there seemed to be at the beach having a wonderful time. (It's spring break in the south) but what did help was visiting with new and inspiring artists. Reading about their techniques and sharing their excitement reminded me how much writing or painting or taking pictures can chase away those negative feelings that can visit from time to time.

 As a creativity coach, I know that the creative process goes through many cycles.  There are ups and downs. There are times when the ideas flow and times when we feel stuck or blocked.  I know that many of the strategies that I successfully use in the creative process work just as well as I go through life's journey. Knowing that when I meet, either in person or online, new and exciting artists and writers inspires me to create is another tool I will put in my toolbox. Because I also know that once I begin to paint and write everything else seems to fall in place which is a great feeling.

Is there a particular thing that you do to keep the creative process moving forward?  I'd love to know what works for you.

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

​

This was a week of inspiration.  It began with the weather.  Warm breezes and sunshine  made every day seem special. It felt great to open the windows and let the fresh air in and to walk outside and feel the sun on my face.

I also found a volunteer position that I am excited about.  I have looked for awhile to find what seemed right at this particular time in life and I know that I I found it.  While searching the web for just the right thing I came across the Foundation for Hospital Art.  They paint murals and paintings and tiles for hospitals all over the world to brighten the atmosphere for everyone who comes through the door.

They also hold events where patients and their families as well as volunteers are involved in the painting.  When I walked into the workroom everyone was so friendly and I immediately felt at home.  I knew right away that this would be a wonderful way to give back.  The paintings are bright and cheerful just as are the people who help to create them.  

What began as one man's simple act of kindness has spread goodwill and cheer throughout the world.  Hospitals have murals and paintings created by patients and volunteers adorning the walls.And friends are made while creativity is expressed. Who could ask for more?

Is there something special in your community that you like to take part in?  I was pleasantly surprised to learn about this organization.  I am sure there are many more that I have never heard of and would love to know about them.

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

I have gotten away from the habit of reflecting upon the week that was and setting an intention for the week ahead.  I realized this morning it was a practice that I wanted to get back to and Sunday's Inspiration is about to begin again.

Yesterday I was at my middle grandson's basketball game.  There is nothing I like better than watching a team of boys have fun together while they grow as both teammates and people.  They are out there having fun and learning many of life's lessons that will take them far in the years to come.

Yesterday I was reminded of one of those lessons.  At halftime the parents are asked to participate in a fun easy competition of their own.  It's different each week but both the parents and the kids really seem to enjoy it no matter what the challenge.  I usually look on cheering and clapping but not participating in the actual activity.  Yesterday my son decided it was my time to get involved and did a little more than just encourage me to get up and take a shot.  So I did.  I tossed the ball into the basket and guess what - I made it.  I won a a lot more than a small bag of popcorn.  It was a reminder that in life there is a time to sit and dream and then there is a time to get up and take chance. 

If you have an opportunity to take a chance this week, this may be the time to take it.  You never know what you might win.

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

                                                     Create the life you want to live.
                                                  [email protected]

          ​"The simple things are also the most extraordinary things, and only the wise see them." (found on Pinterest)

This year I decided to record the simple but special moments that happen each day.  I thought it would be a good reminder of what is important and what makes me smile or laugh or think or cry throughout the year.  The days go by so quickly and I believe it is important to find ways to help them to slow down and this is one that is working for me.  

This habit has helped me to remember that it is the simple things that bring me happiness. If I only wait for the big moments (and I do hope to experience them) I will be missing so much of what is important.  It is the laughter of friends, the sounds of the voices of loved ones, the simple questions of concern and caring that matter to me.  It's the sunlight on the kitchen table, a beautiful sky, or the flowers that I never thought would grow beginning to thrive.  

Yesterday was a very ordinary day.  No great highs, no great lows and to be honest I was not really looking for a special moment.  But it found me.  As I went to turn out the lights to go to bed, I took one last look at the newly organized pantry and feel a moment of great satisfaction.  It was a simple but special moment that I'm not sure I would have recognized if it had not been for my greater appreciation of the simple but very special things that happen throughout the day.

I hope that you will join me in appreciating the simple things each day.  It truly makes each and every day special.

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

                                                      Create the life you want to live.
​                                                            [email protected]
                                                                                                                              

It is amazing how fast the time goes.  Another year, another birthday and lots of time to reflect upon what's next.  This month I had one of those big birthdays.  One that you are glad you reached but on the other hand one that makes you think this can't be true.  It was just yesterday that I was a teenager.  But I know that in fact it was a lot of yesterdays.

I believe in looking for the positive and I've begun to really search for women who are older than I am who are living a full happy life.  I was watching a video the other day of a 96 year old woman who just won a swimming competition in the over 65 age group.  She was not only physically strong but she had such a good outlook on life just as she should. She said that one of the things she does every day was look for life's "little miracles" and she said that she always finds them.

I call them special moments.  She calls them little miracles.  No matter what we call them we will know them when see or feel or touch or experience them.  It's fun looking for and embracing the special moments each day.  It's fun sharing them with others as I do on my Facebook page.  And if it helps me to win life's competitions until I am 96 or older it is just that much more important.  I hope that you will experience your own special moment or little miracle today.  And I hope you will share it with us.

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

                                                         Create the life you want to live!
                                                      [email protected]

 I began the new year with lots of projects and ideas.  But I forgot one thing.  What works for me.  It's keeping things simple and completing one thing before moving on to another. So after just ten days, I'm stepping back and reevaluating all of the goals I have set for myself.

 It's good to remember what has worked for you in the past.  For me it is keeping things simple, appreciating the small steps that I have taken, and then celebrating the finished product or project.  What works for you?

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

                                                           Create the Life You Want to Live
                                                                      [email protected]

If you are curious about working with a creativity coach, now would be a good time to see what it is like.  I always offer a free session so we can get to know each other before we start. Send me an email today and let the magic begin for you.