Look … There’s Inspiration!

Don’t you just love it when your mind is open to the inspiration around you?  The conversation you are having with a friend, the ocean breeze that caresses your face, the random act of kindness you witness or the beauty from a quiet forest.  Inspiration surrounds us everyday yet we are sometimes so busy to open our eyes to the wonders around us.  We miss the beautiful moments that could change our careers, uplift our relationships or motivate us to create a great masterpiece.   Now and again I wish my wonderment could be ‘on’ more often.  Be alive in the experiences instead of feeling overwhelmed by the tasks around me.  Today I feel grateful that my eyes are open so I can appreciate and fully see the inspirations around me in this moment.  I will take those feelings and create something awesome with them … even if it’s to bring a smile to someone’s heart!

Will you inspire today or drink in an inspiration?  I hope I can do both … Whooo Hooo!!!!

Artfully Yours, L 

Everyone is Important

I had the honor of participating in the celebration of the 80^th birthday of a friend over the weekend.  I entered this beautiful home filled with warm, welcoming smiles and spent the afternoon ‘listening’.  I just love getting to know people, listening to their stories and appreciating the person that is before me.  Every person has wisdom and life stories to share and each story is all good and right because it’s theirs!    You can learn so much about the beauty of a person by simply just listening.  Yes, you may not agree with their political views … that’s ok.  Yes, you may not enjoy their career path … that’s ok.  Yes, you may not see eye to eye on a topic … and yes, that’s ok.  What the person before you has to share is a gift especially for you!  Yes, and that gift is a piece of them for you to share in a positive way with others!  If you open your mind and heart to understanding their point of view … wow, you can grow so much as an artist, accountant, doctor, musician, chef {whatever your passion is} and, in turn, inspire others with your new found wisdom.    I’m ready!  Bring on the celebration of … Everyone!

Puppy Love

Today I am reflecting on thankfulness and the many blessing in my life but some days it’s not so easy for those ‘gratefuls’ to come to the beautiful light.  One of the gentle reminders I have in my life to bring me to those humble, grateful places, my puppy Tawnie Brie.  When I come home from work there she is filled with unconditional love for me.  Wagging her small tail … admiring me with her wide eyes … bursting at the puppy seams to give me her gentle kisses … with nothing on her mind but pure and utter love.  It doesn’t matter to her that someone wasn’t nice to me today, it doesn’t matter to her that money is short this month and it doesn’t matter to her that it’s raining outside.  All she desires? … to sit in my lap and be with me in the purest of ways.  She brings a happiness to my heart that is beyond any words.  If I can look past my human struggles of the day and simply look down at her … problems seem to melt away and totally become less significant.  Back to a thankful Lisa … ‘Ok, Tawnie Brie, let’s go for a walk’ …

If you are looking for a companion like Tawnie Brie here are some wonderful organizations to get you started … Enjoy!

Animal Rescue League of Boston

MSPCA

ASPCA

Starting

It is always so hard for me to start a project!  Why is that?  Whether it is an art project, home project, graphic design project or any other kind of project – I just find it so tough to make the steps to actually begin.  I have the project planed out in my head, I have full understanding of the project, I approach each project with love and the desire to complete it successfully yet the mystery lies in the actual motion of the ‘start’.  Once I have begun the task at hand I am good to go.  The project flows and is usually completed in success.  As I pondered this attribute in myself I wonder if the problem arises with the perfectionist trait I believe I carry.  It’s funny, my nature radiates non-perfection.  I don’t live my life wondering if people like me or my work, I don’t live my life making choices based on popular option, I don’t live my life pleasing others, but I do create high expectations of myself.  So how do I let go of all the high expectations and move to a place where I can simply say ‘hey, Que sera, sera’? Daily practice in thinking outside myself and more focus on the fun, blissful, thrilling, passionate attributes of the project I have before me.  Sounds like a plan!  Ok, now, let’s get started!

Here are some books that you might … Enjoy!

Choosing Simplicity

The Little Book of Calm

Beachcombing at Miramar

Happiness

On and off throughout my life I have pondered this question … how can people achieve true happiness!  I talk to many different individuals during my week – all ages, all income levels, all degrees of health, all races, all different religions and all different ways of life.  What I have come to trust is just one simple truth – true happiness is achieved when you do not seek true happiness.  It is something that drips from your soul naturally when you are not looking outside yourself for contentment.  When you put others first, when you give your time unconditionally, when you take the time to truly listen to another, when you open yourself up to love – these are just some of the freeing acts through which true happiness can be felt.  You aren’t seeking happiness when you are giving or opening up to the possibilities in life.  Your mind is on something or someone else …  happiness is merely just there, inside you.  And gosh, you feel so in love with life when you are dressed in happiness! 

Here are some links that might you might … Enjoy!

A Simple Life 

A Happy Life 

A Purpose To Life