Doing More..

On my weekend adventures these last few  days, I stumbled onto this beautiful wall. I snapped a picture just cause, but looking through my phone later was very glad I snapped that picture.. 

Because we all deserve to be happy. We deserve to live the life we want to live. We shouldn't waste a single minute of our lives being anything but happy.  And sometimes we just need that little reminder.. 

The reminder to surround yourself with people who make you happy. 

Things that make you happy, hobbies, creations, and of course lots of little things to laugh at. 

 (Like Wicket's never ceasing ability to get stuck in the couch when I run errands.) 

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True Freedom

Years and years of cultural conditioning has told us the terrible belief: Happiness must be "earned." And it can really only be "earned" by enduring unpleasantness. The term endure is even an unpleasant one.

Suffer patiently.
So, our happiness is earned after we suffer unpleasantness. It's earned after we suffer through a lot of work, pain and unhappiness.

But, how do you know if you've endured enough unpleasantness to finally deserve your happiness?
Do we really have to endure to the end? Suffer patiently until the end of our lives?

Another sad part of this enduring game is that we must be "responsible adults." And responsible adults can never really endure enough unpleasantness to really deserve happiness. Maybe when we retire we can finally get our long awaited reward of happiness. Maybe.


But, then put on top of us needing to "earn" our happiness, the idea of buying happiness is laid on top.

Ever tricked someone by making caramel apples and hiding a caramel onion in the batch?
This is the same thing...
This is the equivalent to the caramelized onion.


If you spend enough money to give you the illusion and conditions for happiness, you start to taste the onion in the form of worry, guilt and needing to work even more.


And we all know that worrying is the easiest and most popular way to frighten away happiness. So, we never stop working, we never stop spending money, we never stop worrying and we are never really happy.

Perfect conditions for a slave economy. 

Happiness is a fleeting little bird that keeps flying just out of reach.
It's the light at the end of a dark never ending tunnel.

It's the thought that, "When I have ______, then I will be happy."

But the truth is, 

there is no real way to happiness. 

Happiness is the experience in living fully and in the moment. 

Making the most of what we have now. 

Making our current situation beautiful.

Exploring all that this moment has to offer. 

Happiness is the journey, not the destination. 

So set yourselves free. 

Decide to be happy in this moment and experience true freedom. 

Rising Above

A little while ago I had a blog reader write to me for advice. 

She was going through a hard time, and wanted some of my tips on being happy.

I told her the usual tips, but then I remembered one thing.

One thing that I didn't read about, or see.

I dreamed about this one.

I told it to her, 

and realized I hadn't told anyone else this..

And who knows, maybe it could help.

Let's rewind a little bit.

I used to be very depressed.

This was before this blog existed really, before I made art all the time.

Back when I was in a very negative relationship, and far away from anyone to talk to.

I remember a dream I had.

It wasn't a story-like dream, it was a vision-like dream.

All I saw was purple, and a small green vine growing.

The vine circled and twisted as it grew,

But it grew.

I woke up with a wonderful feeling.

And that vision of that vine has never left me.

For a long time, when I was sad, I would imagine that vine growing.

Reaching up to heaven, growing from nothing.

Sometimes all I needed was that instant picture in my head..

with the words, "Rise above" and the simple word "Happiness."

Those were my mantas during my hard times..

and this image was my own personal Mandala.

And I promise this helped me. 

This simple image brightened my day, and lifted my spirits.

Something as simple as a beautiful image when you need it most can make all the difference.

And the other day, I decided to paint my vine.

Just the way I saw it when it was in full bloom.

And now I will hang the original in my room.

And hope to sell prints, where I will share it's story, 

and hope others will find peace and happiness the way I did.

And I invite you, if you are having a hard time.. or going through rough patches.

Create a beautiful image in your mind, and go to it when you need it.

It could be sun rays, a growing flower, or a waterfall.

And if you would like, you can take my image.

The peaceful purple background, with the little vine reaching upwards.

And right now, while I wait to hear back about this house,

with the big windows, and the yellow walled art studio,

and the the living room I could dance in,

I'm holding onto my little vine.

 While I am anxious and nervous,

it gives me peace. 

Smile. Smile. Smile.

Smile. Smile. Smile.

Dig deep into your thoughts 

and memories until you've found that power.

That inner strength, that will to go on. 

Show the world the person that can smile no matter what.

Find the lingering smell, and song that makes you think of good times... 

Look for the colors that spark the good  memories. 

You know that in all darkness you will find a bright enough light.

Conquer the fear of change, loss and monsters. 

Take a shot of courage and bravely march on. 

March to your own beat.

Grow your own wings and fly.

Your time to shine is now.

You have your own light. 

Aim that light at the shadows below you.

Let your light catch them, they will reflect it back to you.

Your smile will becomes their smile. 

Your smile and your cheer is your super power.

You can save the world with your smile.

You, this world and everyone in it is always more beautiful when you smile.

Don't forget to smile. 

Smile. Smile. Smile. 

Why Me?!

Has something bad ever happened to you, and your reaction was "Why Me?" 

I call it the "Why Me's." 

(Clever name, I know.. I'm a clever clever girl.)

Well, I had a really bad case of the "Why Me's."

Like really bad. 

And the thing with the "Why Me's" is that it doesn't really do anything.

You don't feel that much better, and it actually just opens a door more even more bad things!

I'm not saying the "Why Me's" were the cause of all my problems,

but they certainly didn't help.

Do you remember last month?

I sure do. 

First a flea outbreak, then my car broke down, then the house flooded, and I lost a ton of original paintings, and my favorite tea set broke, and now my hard drive doesn't work with all of my pictures of my sweet Mowgli, and one thing after another just kept happening. 

And all the little things that started to fall apart hurt even more.

And I would say, 

"Well, of course,

if anything bad out there is going to happen..

it will happen to me."

Which was just a huge invitation for even more bad news to come my way.

The "Why Me's" are a terrible habit. 

It's hard to get out of feeling sorry for yourself.

But I've found the cure! 

I've done it! 

And I want to tell you my secret.

Next time you ask yourself "Why me?!" 

with tears running down your face, and hope gone from your heart..

Add a little something to that question.

"Why me?!   Because....."

And then expound on that because.

Why is that bad thing happening to you?

(And don't just answer "because I suck")

Here is a petty example,

remember, I was in the midst of the "Why Me's." 

Where everything seemed to be going wrong.

All the little things too.

So for Christmas my mom gave me and my sister's a beautiful leaf necklace.

Well, I tried putting it on a few days later, and it broke! 

I was angry at the world, that I couldn't even have one little thing.

(That's what the "Why Me's" do to you!)

 I was a sad, that out of all three necklaces, mine would break.

Of course.

So I asked myself, "Why me?!" and all of the sudden I had my answer.

"Because I'm the one with the jewelry making tools to fix it." 

And besides that, I wouldn't want that to happen to my sisters!

Then one after another I had answers to all of my other "Why Me's"

"Why did my hard drive break? With all of my pictures of Mowgli?

Because I can figure out how to fix it."

"Why did my car break down?

Because I can figure out another way of getting around."

And sometimes the answers were a little forced.

"Why did my house flood? Ruining 36 original paintings?

Because... I'm strong enough to handle even that."

But each answer was empowering enough to cheer me up, 

and get me out of the "Why Me's"

And once you answer the "Why Me?" you feel glad it didn't happen to anyone else.

 Because it was meant for you, because you now know why.

You are strong enough to handle it, 

or you have the tools or resources to fix it.

I of course can't guarantee results.
I can't guarantee that all bad things will go away.
But I can tell you that the more you focus on your problems,
the more you pout and ask "Why me?"
You will seem to find more problems.

Since I've gotten myself out of the "Why Me's" I've felt a lot better.

And each time sometime bad happens..

cause I know it will

I'll face it with my secret weapon.