The Artist, a painter, sculptor, the writer.

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It all begins with a clean canvas, a block of granite, a blank page.  It all begins with nothingness, and in the end a masterpiece, a priceless example of form, an essay of epic proportion.  Such is the life of an artist.  Such is the life of each human being.  We begin as nothingness and end up as something truly phenomenal.  What I would like you to think about today is what are you going to put on your canvas, carve into your granite, or write down on your page.  Truth be told, you have the decision in all of it.  You design your life.

We've been made to believe that we simply exist.  We go about our day experiencing things that others say we need to experience.  We have expectations that have been forced on us by others.  We often believe that we have no choice when it comes to living, and that our days are numbered the moment of our birth.  This my friends is utter nonsense, and today I want you to think bigger, live bigger, enjoy bigger, and love like there was no tomorrow.  When you think, live, enjoy, and love life, you begin to paint your portrait.  Your essay will depict a life full of greatness.  Your words will suddenly paint of picture of warmth, of comfort, and most assuredly, your words will usher in a life that is far superior than anything you could even imagine.

I've lived the better part of my life always wondering why I was just a little outside of the box.  Why did I see things a little differently than others?  Why do I feel so deeply about certain things, and try as I might unable to let go of my dreams?  If you had told me fifteen years ago that I would be a published author I would have thought you nuts.  If you had told me ten years ago that I would still be writing this blog, I'd of thought you mad.  I love writing.  It is my happy place.  When I sit down to write, all cares, all worries, all concerns, slip away into the background.  Such is the life of a writer that loves his trade, and such is my life each time I am fortunate enough to sit down to write.  What I desire for each of you reading this, is that you find this place in your life.  It matters not what your passion might be, what matters is that you follow your passions.  Trust me when I tell you this: if you do not boldly hold on to your passions, you are forever going to feel as though something is missing in your life, and you will always be on a search for something, that quite frankly is right under your nose.

Since moving to Texas with my husband, and our dog, I have been going through a shift.  This shift has caused some mild discomfort, but that comes with any change.  This shift has also brought a new awareness.  Like anything new in life, we often approach things with mild trepidation. We can say we want change, but when you come face to face with that change, suddenly we often take a step back to look at the scene unfolding, and not always with a joyful glee.  That being said, I have finally, and I mean finally, after years and years of struggle, found myself in a place where I feel whole.  I find myself in a place where I finally feel worthy.  I find myself in a place where I can say, and maybe for the first time in my life, I am that I am.  I've taken a blank page, a clean canvas, a block of granite, and created something marvelous, something beautiful, something magnificent.  We are all beautiful. We are all magnificent.  We are phenomenal.

We seem to forget that we are spirit first and foremost.  Our spirit is whole. Our spirit is complete.  We may come into this world with nothing, knowing nothing, at least from a human aspect, but our spirit needs no education, no experience, no time to grown.  Our spirit is the artist, the painter, the sculpture, the writer.  If you will listen to, and follow the guidance of your spirit, you will begin to create your masterpiece.  Contrary to what you might think, or what you might have been told, there is an artist in each of us.  You may never paint a portrait, or carve a statue, or write an award winning novel, but that does not make you any less an artist.  Find your passion, and craft your passion.  A life that follows its passion, is a life fully lived.  As a great teacher once wrote, "Don't leave with your music still inside of you."

You may feel as though you have yet to start your work of art.  Don't worry yourself about time, time isn't real.  You begin with accepting those things that you are passionate about and allow the universe to orchestrate your steps.  Acknowledging that you have a calling is the first step.  Accepting the fact that you have a mission is a good first step.  Desiring to walk in what you were created to do, is a monumental fete, and it is one that we are all going to have to decide on.  There really is no such thing as a blank canvas or piece of paper.  Truth be told, the painting is already done.  The book is already written.  What you need to do is allow it to manifest itself in your life.  It is time that you allow life to be created in front of you.  Get out of the way, and allow things to happen, the way they need to happen, and know that goodness will follow. You are an artist.  It's time that you accept this fact, and walk it out.  Your canvas may appear to be empty, but it's not.  Your words may seem insignificant, but they aren't.  You are everything you were meant to be, and now is the time to let it all out.  Create your masterpiece and experience the joy of life.

One step forward, but two steps back. It's still a good thing.

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Picture it, you've finally made the decision to move forward on your life's quest, and bam, you get knocked back a few steps.  Fear sets in, doubt abounds, and you wonder why in the world did you even think you could do this crazy thing.  Sound familiar?  Hey it happens.  It's happened to me, it might even have happened to you.  There's bound to be someone you know who this has happened to.  The key is not to focus on the two steps back, but rather rest in the fact that you at least took the first step.

The absolute key is to "REST" in the fact that you decided to move ahead with your dreams.  No one ever said that life was going to be free of obstacles.  No one implied that everything was always going to be a bowl of cherries.  The true definition of an overcomer is one who won't quit even in the face of failure.  I've failed more times than I'd like to admit, but I'm still standing, and if you're reading this, then you're standing as well.  Today, I want you to simply rest, and know that all of your steps have been ordained, and you are on the right path.  It matters not whether you have failed in the past, whether you have taken a few steps back, but rather you have made the decision that you are going to continue to move forward and never stop going after those things that are in your heart to do.

I've questioned many of the choices I've made in life.  I've been asked many times if there is anything I would change.  The honest answer is no.  Everything I've gone through, everything I've experienced, has gotten me to the point in life where I am at right now, and this is the moment I was always intended to be.  I've learned some valuable lessons during my journeys.  Some lessons have been hard to handle, while others have been an absolute joy.  No matter the outcome of any of our endeavors, there is a lesson to be learned, and once you have learned that lesson, you can move on to the next phase of your journey.  Here's the problem that most people have:  they quit too soon.  At the first sign of trouble, they high tail it out of there, and simply quit.  Quitting is never an option, not if you want to realize your dreams.  It's easy to tell someone to not stop, after all, you're not the one going through the trials.  But trust me, stopping is not the answer, and if you will simply continue to take those baby steps forward, eventually you are going to get to the place of absolute joy and happiness.

Let's for a moment take a step back.  Think back a few years, and look at you now.  My guess is you are in a far different place then you were back then.  You have grown, matured, and in so many cases turned the corner.  Certainly there will be times when you may feel you are simply treading water, waiting for all hell to break loose.  But it is those times of stagnation that many lessons are learned.  Let's be honest, if you hadn't gone through the fire, how will you ever appreciate the beauty of your life right now?  We tend to focus on the two steps we have fallen back with, and not on the fact that at least you took the first step.  You are so more advanced in the things of life then you might be giving yourself credit for.  Once again, just look at where you are at, verses where you were.  Life is a journey of discovery, and there is no one who has not discovered something about themselves along the journey of life.  Now you might not always like what you have learned about yourself, but let's face it, you stilled learned.

We all desire that break through.  We're all looking for that period of rest.  Not everyone is going to find it at the same time, but if you will not give up you will find it.  I've been struggling with a few things as of late, and just now have I finally figured out that I have always had what I was looking for.  I just needed to accept a few things, and poof, there it was.  I will say that no matter what you might be experiencing, things are going to work out.  No matter what you might be thinking, things will begin to clarify.  Set the intention that no matter what you might think you see on the horizon, what is actually going to happen is what was meant to happen.  If you will cut yourself free from the cords of expectation, and instead focus on the real you, I promise you things will change.  Your journey forward is just that, a journey forward.  Texas has some crazy highways, and often to get somewhere you need to make u-turns.  These u-turns were designed specifically to get you to your destination without having to worry about others around you.  If you have ever driven down here, you'll know what I'm talking about.  Anyway, don't worry about a u-turn in your life.  Yea you might think that you're loosing ground, but in actuality you are exactly where you need to be, and you are in fact taking the easiest route to your destination.

Here's the bottom line, take that first step.  If you will take that leap of faith, then the faith that motivated you in the first place, will be the faith that will move you forward, even in the face of a set back.  Allow faith to guide you.  Allow faith to inspire you.  Allow faith to shape you and mold you.  I fully understand that there are times when fear will stop you in your tracks.  I hate being in a darkened room not knowing what is lurking around the corner.  What I try to do is bring the light into any situation, and we all know that light overcomes the darkness 100 percent of the time.  If you will allow life's light to be your guide, you will always have a clear path to your destiny.  Open your heart, clear your mind, and know that one step forward is always going to be better then no step at all.   You have all that you need to step into the greatness of your existence.  Take the first step my dear friends, and watch as life begins to explode with all the possibilities you have always thought about.

Are you a Pied Piper?

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Merriam-Webster defines a Pied Piper as a charismatic person who attracts followers, also a musician who attracts mass.  In addition, a Pied Piper is also a leader who makes irresponsible promises.  Now if that isn't going from one side of the spectrum to the other, I don't know what is.  Most everyone has heard of the Pied Piper from Hamelin.  The dude with a multi-colored outfit who uses his magic flute to rid the City of Hamelin of its rat problem, which many feel was the start of the plague.  I don't want to focus on the epidemic, rather what this person did and how he did it.  The question might arise as to why am I writing about this?  I was meditating the other day and I thought about life in general, and how we are faced with so many issues on any given day. Some of our issues are tiny, and some are huge, at least we see them as huge.  Many people have used the Pied Piper in their writings.  Johann Wolfgang von Goeth (a person who I quote quite often in my books), the Brothers Grimm, and also Robert Browning.  Now each of these renowned authors had various reasons to reference this character, but what I want to focus on is the significance of this person's beliefs.

If we are ever going to be in our rightful place we have to start believing that we are deserving of being in our rightful place.  If we are ever going to accomplish our dreams, then we have to believe in those dreams.  If we are ever going to do something great, we have to know of our greatness.  One doesn't need a magic flute in order to do something magical or great.  One need only believe, and act upon those things that are in their heart.   The Pied Piper had his magic flute, but he also had a knowing of what that flute could do, and he used it for its designed purpose.  There are tons of charismatic people, but how many truly believe they can change humanity?  There are tons of outstanding musicians, but how many really believe that music can tame the savage beast?  Sadly, there are many leaders as well who make all kinds of promises with zero intention of ever keeping those promises.  I for one am very leery of those kind of leaders.  This all being said, what I want you to do is look at your dreams, your visions, your feelings, and thoughts, and add that "magic flute" to all of them.  Now I know that this flute is a metaphor, but just for a moment lets looks at all the magic flutes we have, and why they are so important to what you want to accomplish in life.

Spirit would never have given you dreams if the intent was to have you walk away from them, fail in trying to achieve them, or simply make it so impossible that you gave up on them.  If you have a dream, you must believe that you are able to realize them, too completeness.  Dreams are going to fall in line with your abilities, with your true personality, with who you are.  You will never, and should never change who you are in order to accomplish your dreams.  I've seen people scolded in life and told that they need to change their attitude, that their personality needs adjustment.  That, to be totally blunt, is Bull Shite.  Spirit created your personality, the moment you were created.  Stop trying to be something you're not.  I don't mean to sound harsh, but we have allowed people to warp our minds with all kinds of things that don't apply to us.

I have dreams that have yet to be manifested, but that doesn't mean they are any less real.  I have dreams that may seem too big, but that doesn't make them any less real.  I still have dreams that to some degree frighten me due to the grandness of them, but I won't give up on them, and you should never ever give up on yours.  There were many people in Hamelin who didn't believe what the Pied Piper promised to do.  It got so bad that they refused to pay him so as legend has it he used his pipe and took all the children.  Now this story, true fiction, is very much real in as much as the Piper used his magic, and that should encourage you to use your magic.  Remember, we were created to create.  We, all of us, in either this life, or another, have always been intended to have it all.  We were created to walk in blessings, walk in love and light, walk in absolute serenity.  How many people can say that they have done all of this?

The Pied Piper knew what he could do, and he did it.  What you have to do is know what you can do, and do it.  What we don't do, sadly,  is believe that we can do it all.  We are limited in our beliefs because we have been conditioned to only believe certain things, and if your desires, your dreams, your hopes fall outside of what is considered normal, or even possible, then you are foolish for going after these things.  It's time to put what others think aside, and pursue those things you know.  Your heart, the center of your being, knows all, feels all, and believes all.  It does all these things because it is attached to spirit, and spirit is who created you, and created you for a specific purpose.

I want to encourage you to find your magic.  We have gotten away from our joy because we have walked away from our magic.  We have slipped away from our happiness because we have walked away from our magic.  We have settled for second best because we have walked away from our magic.  Do you really think that we have experienced all the goodness life has to offer?  If I were a betting man I would say that only a very small percentage of the world's population is walking in absolute joy.  Fewer are experiencing total happiness.  I, just like you, fall prey to worry, to bouts of doubt, and to feelings of sadness.   What I have learned to do is see me the way spirit sees me.  When I doubt I remind myself that I am that I am.  I am the governing power in this world, and all that spirit has, I have.  My magic flute is in my procession, and I intend to play it with all my might.

So, are you a Pied Piper?  Will you use all that you have,  to do what you were intended to do?  There comes a time when only you can make the decision to be the real you.  Don't you think it's time that the world be introduced to the real you, the authentic you, the over-the-top great you?  I encourage you to walk with your head high, and without regard to what might be going on around you, walk in the knowledge that you have a magic flute, and you will never again fall victim to those who no longer wish to move forward toward their dreams.  Play your merriest of songs, and watch as others follow you.  Play that magical flute and see others flock to your inspiration.  Sound a new song and never doubt that you will change the face of humanity with your melody.  As one of my favorite authors once said, don't leave with your music still in you.  Reach my friends, and know that you will succeed.

Step into your freedom.

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The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.  Stepping out into your freedom begins with your willingness to be free.  I guess that raises the question, what is freedom, and what does my freedom look like?  To many that have been trapped in the expectations of others, they might not know what freedom looks like.  To the many people who have never taken a step to walk in freedom, freedom to be who you were always intended to be, this is your day.

I know I sound like a broken record each time I reiterate that you were never meant to simply exist.  You were never intended to be trapped in the confines of what others have said you can either do or not do.  Walking in your freedom will allow you to soar with the eagles. Walking in your freedom will ensure that you discover your True Destiny, and that you bring to the rest of humanity the greatness that resides inside of you.  So many people have been saddled with thoughts of limit.  People have been told for generations what is right, or what is wrong, what you can, and what you can't do.  When you are subject to the expectations of others, you are anything but free.  If you are ever going to be truly free to walk about in your greatness, with your divinity, then you are going to have to break the shackles of expectations, and walk free.  For many it may be the first time you have given thought to freedom.  For others, it may be something you have struggled with for years, and years.  Either way, today is the day that you break loose, and finally begin to walk in your freedom.

Some might ask, what does freedom look like?  Freedom is when you are able to do what you have always wanted to do, but because of what others think, you have never taken a chance.  Freedom is knowing that no matter what might be in front of you, you are going to be the person you know you need to be.  Freedom is never accepting the limiting thoughts that others have forced down your throat, and that many have come to accept as the norm.  My dear, dear friends, we have so bound ourselves up in the chains of expectations, that we have never taken our first steps into absolute freedom.  Let's be honest, this has to change.  There are so many things that I want to accomplish, and if I am going to get to each of these things that I want to do, I can not be trapped by the words of others, who quite frankly have never experienced true freedom.

We have all been held captive in one way or another most of our lives.  There are groups of people who have literally been held captive.  Ask these people what life was like without any freedoms at all.  When one is held in captivity, by force, or even by our own choices, there is often a feeling of hopelessness.  Each day in captivity is another day of fear, a day of loss, a day of sadness.  When one is trapped in a cycle of captivity, there descends upon them a cloud of darkness, when what they really need is a light to show them the right path to take.  I have been held captive many times in my life.  Getting out of this trap was difficult, but there is a way out, and if you will change the way you see yourself, you will never be held again, and then, you will be free for evermore.

There will come a time when you are going to have to finally decide how you see the real you, or if you are going to ever accept the real you.  The real you is divine.  The real you is a creator, responsible for creating the life of your dreams.  If I had the ability to simply flip a switch and each of you would fully walk in your divinity I would certainly do that.  If I could take away all the restrictions that you have subjected yourself with, I would do that.  If I could simply love you to a point where you knew without a doubt that you are something special, I would do that.  Oh, I love each of you, but sometimes people can't see the forest because of the trees.  There comes a time when one will have to decide:  do I stay where I'm at, or do I finally walk in the freedom that I was always intended to walk in?

Stepping into your freedom begins with accepting certain truths.  Unfortunately, many of these truths have been denied by many, many people.  These denials are a by product of the conditioning you have been subjected to most of your life.  You are so much more than just a flesh and blood body.  You are a spiritual being first and foremost.  You are a creator.  You are an infinite being, one who has no end.  These simple truths, or facts, once accepted, will ensure that you never ever spend a single moment in captivity again.  I don't know how many times I have been catapulted back into captivity because I could not walk in my uniqueness.  How many times have you been trapped in periods of uncertainty because you forgot who and what you really are?  I'm here to tell you that freedom is yours if you will accept the greatness of your being, the perfection of your design, and the truth of your existence.

There should never be a time when you forget who you are.  There should not be a moment in your life when you doubt the true beauty of your being.  There will come a time when you finally decide that you will be the real you, and not the you that everyone else has demanded you be.  Freedom is yours.  Freedom is forever.  Freedom is for right now.  Step into your freedom, and breaks all the limiting beliefs that have held you captive.  I know what captivity is like, and I have felt the euphoria of walking in freedom.  I assure you that freedom is what you should choose, and freedom is what you deserve.  Walk free my friends, and teach others the importance of walking free from the expectations of others.  Your life will change when you finally accept this freedom, and once you do, oh how grand life will be for you.  Sending you love and light.