hope – CREATE ART 4 GOOD

I have said it before, and I will say it again…

ART HEALS

It heals boredom in children, confusion in teenagers and pain in adults.

It reaches more than that, certainly, but that is a good start. I think the hard part is convincing people to try. With the current wave of coloring books all over the shelves of book stores and art supplies stores, I believe that the general population is taking notice.

Thursday evening, I had the great honor to invite women facing the dragon of breast cancer to my studio for a creative evening. The evening was focused on the well being of spirit. These wonderful ladies have faced heart breaking diagnosis, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and more. They have faced darkness. They have faced fear.

While each had a unique journey, there was definitely a commonality there. I admired their strength. I admired their views on life. I was inspired by their world view, their desire to move on with life and cherish each moment.

We began the stormy evening with some simple drawings with white ink on black paper. They were like children in a candy shoppe. I so enjoyed watching their faces change and their shoulders relax. This seemed to open the door for them to share. as well as a certain wonderful calm. They didn’t want to stop! I needed to silence my need to push through to the next agenda item. I allowed them the control and took my cues from their desire.

Next we moved through a mediation I had written for them. It was oddly perfect even though I had never met any of the participants. It was meant to be a moment to breathe, to inspire some joy and to allow their spirit a moment to rest.

We moved on to a mandala after this. It was interesting to see the various ways they were created. While I gave a few guideline, I really wanted to allow opportunity to create without rules.

The conversation got very personal at different times. I almost felt as if I was intruding. The wisdom shared, the reality that appeared, the hope that was still fully instilled in these ladies was inspiring.

From all of this I took away two message.

Life is short- do whatever the heck you want.
ART HEALS- each and every participant shared their appreciation to me. Each remarked that they did not want to stop drawing. Each created beautiful art.

So…. I will continue the mission…. to share the tools of art- to open up Create Art 4 Good, and to be faithful to the view that everyone is an artist and it is good for us.

Be blessed this night and always.

Love & Peace,

Susan

First, may I wish you a most wonder filled new year. Like most years, 2012 was filled incredible blessings and deepest sorrows. I pray that you find healing from all that has hurt you and inspiration from each of your blessings. I pray that whatever your hopes are for the near year you are able to not only attain them, but conquer each and every one!

While we are here, I’d like to share my thoughts on new year’s resolutions. As a youth I saw the new year as a fresh slate, an opportunity to change for good. It was an exciting time! I had a fresh calendar to fill out, new opportunities, and the ability to right the wrongs of the past year. It was a feeling of near euphoria at the freshness of the year. I was optimistic and determined.

The issue with this is that I never really allowed for my own humanity. I would start out like gangbusters, full of ambition. I would work hard at being faithful to my goals- certain that this year would be different. Then I’d find myself faltering. A stumble becomes a fall, a fall becomes a broken resolution. Once I broke my new year’s resolution, whatever that might be, I felt my opportunity had been crushed and there was no chance of attaining my goals. To me, the opportunity was lost.

How silly am I?

It is a darn good thing that God does’t work that way! In my mind -one strike and you are out. Heck, baseball doesn’t even work that way!

I have been thinking a great deal these days about opportunity and personal growth. I fully dedicate that this year to growth and goals, hopes and making dreams bloom. However, it’s also about personal forgiveness.

So- I am not perfect. That’s okay, I don’t HAVE to be.

I do however, have to be determined and bigger than my weakness. I do have to pick myself up after I understand yet again, that I am not perfect.

It is clear to me that you need not be perfect to succeed, (maybe just a little spunky). Even Lincoln lost a total of eight elections before winning the presidency. Clearly he made his mark on the world and is considered today to be one of the greatest humans who have graced the earth. By all standards before he won the presidency, he was a failure.

The lesson here seems to be that we keep going. Don’t let your stumbles defeat you, learn from them, be more determined than your failures. Don’t allow one bad day take the wind from your sails. Forgive your own imperfections.

Remember- today is chapter 2013- page 1 of 365. Now go catch those dreams. Write your own chapter, breathe your own success. It IS within you. If today you don’t reach the goals you thought you should, tomorrow is another day.

Thanks for listening.

In peace-
Susan

Tag: hope

Art heals

the art of… welcoming a new year.