Living In the Moment

"DON'T ASK YOURSELF WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS, ASK YOURSELF WHAT MAKES YOU COME ALIVE - AND THEN GO DO THAT, BECAUSE WHAT THE WORLDS NEEDS IS PEOPLE WHO ARE ALIVE" I am not sure if it was the handwritten quote or the vintage look of the photo that caught my eye, but I needed to post about it this week. This quote had me sit back, and really think. Read it again. Take it in. If we all did what makes us come alive, we would be living in a very content world. What makes you come alive? Do it ... Do it now ... (I wish I knew where this quote originated from, so I could give it proper credit.)

When I first read this quote, I knew I needed to put it into a blog post. It seems we hear so much negativity these days, that hearing kind words is like music to our ears. I can barely listen to the news while they report on such upsetting topics. A simple, "Good Morning" and/or "Have a great day" can turn someone's day around. When was the last time you gave someone a compliment? From the lady at work, commenting on her new hairstyle - To the bank teller you see week after week, telling her how much you like the shirt she is wearing.It sounds so easy - So why do we not do this more? When was the last time someone gave you a kind word?

I saw this quote this morning and had to pass it on. Similar to those moments when see a movie that you need to talk about. Or hear a song that lingers with you through out the day. My favorite line in this quote is "Leave People Better Than You Found Them" ... What a beautiful sentence that is. If everyone could take a moment and think about those words - What a wonderful world we would live in. I have always been amazed with what a simple "Good Morning" or a "Smile" can do. It can turn your day around. It can brighten your spirit. I find myself greeting stranger with a smile or a Hello, quite often. Then again, this is just me. I think I will remember this quote while spending time with family and friends going forward. I will remember my favorite line - "Leave People Better Than You Found Them" ... Profound. 

This afternoon, I met up with my friend, Kathryn Antyr or as many know her as the "Collage Diva".  We had not seen each other for quite sometime, so a visit was a "Must".  We had lunch at the Cheesecake Factory (A first for the Collage Diva).  (You can see a pic of our desserts in the above photo - YUMMY!).  We then did some shopping afterwards.  Always nice to catch up with a great friend.  Looking forward to our next get-together ... 

Let me introduce Harmony Lenasbunt ...  She is another truly, talented artist that I was lucky to work with this year.  We spoke for many months getting to know one another. She decided that she would like to see some photographs of flowers that I have taken over the years. She wanted to do embroidery on a  photo that gave her some background to play with - So we decided on this Magnolia Bud.  (See above -  My original photograph - Photo Below - Harmony's embroidered work). I hope to work with Harmony again in the near future. Thank you, Harmony for collaborating with me on this beautiful project! 

I would like to introduce   Dana Payne Saunders ... She is a passionate, creative painter that I am proud to call my friend.  She is like a writer with paint, every brushstroke tells a story. She asked me to do some digital art (which is seen on the left) to go along with an acrylic painting she wanted to create (seen on the right).  I think blending our two visions made for a vibrant finished piece.  I just love this painting knowing it involved two minds - and a great friendship connection. Dana ~ It was a real pleasure working with you. I would love to do it again in the near future.

It started the morning I decided to visit Muddy Waters (Coffee House) in Burlington, Vermont. I was told by the locals that if I was looking for a quiet place to write and enjoy a good cup of java, this was the place. I entered into a few different level rooms containing booths, cozy benches and chairs. After ordering an Iced Machiatto, I settled into a nice corner bench adjacent to a bookshelf. It was quiet, the perfect seat to get some reading done. My reason for spending a quiet morning here was to work through a few more chapters in The Artist's Way. (Julia Cameron's ~ Guide to Inspire Artists). Upon looking around, I noticed that there was a small, rolled up piece of paper tucked away in the brick wall behind me. At first, I was not sure whether to take it out and read it, or not. Perhaps I have seen too many "Candid - Punked" like shows, and someone was watching my every move. Pushing these paranoid thoughts aside, I reached over, read it and I was elated...