Giving Abundantly

This morning I can't seem to shake this word off my brain:

I looked it up in the dictionary to be sure I had the meaning right, and it says this about abundance....
1:  ample or overflowing quantity  2:  affluence or wealth  3:  relative degree of plentifullness.

Have you ever thought about what you have an abundance of?  I can tell you on the surface I have an abundance of clothing, nick-nacs, art supplies, patterned papers, and junk jewelry...just to name a few.  I am not so sure I have an abundance of monetary wealth.....actually I know I don't.  But we are working on that!  The 3rd definition, on being plentiful, I think this has to do with being fruitful.  And to me that translates into giving.  And that is where my abundance lies.  You see, my entire life I've enjoyed the act of giving.  Giving of gifts, giving of time, and giving of my talents.  Sometimes joyfully these things are given, sometimes out of obligation, but nonetheless, they are the fruits that I can give in abundance.

I know that's why I like to talk here in this blog to you about my life as an artist.  It's one of those gifts I've been given, the gift of gab some may say, and one that I fruitfully give.  Just in case you are wondering, it's definitely not out of obligation that I share but rather in joy that I openly discuss my creative self.  You see, when you have an overflowing abundance of something, you can not help but share it.  I know you have something like that inside of you, something that bubbles inside and just about bursts out.  Something that brings joy to your very core of being.  One does not have to have wealth in terms of money to live abundantly, just a willingness to seek what lies abundantly within you.  Being open to share this abundance is what will make you stronger, and less vulnerable to those sneaky insecurities that also lie within you.  So start digging folks and find the abundance within......I can guarantee it's not hanging on hangers in your closet.

Living In My Creative Life

I've been thinking about creativity a lot lately.  I think it's because I started reading Scoutie Girl's Blog.  And she's a big thinker.....I like that she's a big thinker.  Because she asks big questions and answers big questions that make me think.  Not that I have any problemo asking questions or thinking for that matter.  If you've ever been around me in person I can ask and talk with the best of them.  Asking questions about creativity gets my juices flowing and my passions rising though.  And I don't always have an audience for this platform of question asking.  For instance, while waiting for the Redbox video to release my chosen flick for the night, it's not uncommon for me to speak to the husband behind me who's obviously on a "Honey will you pick up a ....." run at the grocery and decided to get a movie as well, is not the person to ask, "so are you left or right brained?"  Yep.  Sometimes you gotta harness this topic for other venues.  And blogging has been just that platform.

I think too this whole e-course I'm knee deep into has got me thinking as well.  You know, about being the creative type.  Have I ever told you that in High School my Who's Who was "Most Creative".  Funny at the time because I was a musician.  But I always had the grand plan for the homecoming float, decoration themes for the dances, etc.  I was the outside of the box big creative thinker of the group.  I like that they believed this of me....because it planted a seed that has continued to grow inside my little heart for 20 years.  (Yes, that 20 reunion is around the corner for me.)  A few friends came over recently and I just flat out apologized for all the stuff.  I said you know, I try to simplify, edit and take away.  But I simply can't.  All the stuff on the walls, on the shelves, on the floor.....it stimulates my creativity.  It's who we are as a family.  They giggled and said they love coming to my house because there is so much to see.  That there is!  I think by layering my life so densely with friends, family, things and art I am building this amazing creative life.  And honestly I can't imagine it any other way. 

The painting above, it's an oldie....literally.  It's called "Mattie and Her Social Circle".  And it was the start of my finally acknowledging that being a creative type was OK.  It was one of my first true paintings.  Of course I'd painted this and that, but never put real price tags on anything.  It's sitting in the windowsill of my studio as a reminder that being on this path I will always find a circle of friends to embrace and enjoy the journey with me.  And as long as I'm not afraid to keep asking questions, the path will continue to widen and allow room for more creativity to ride along side.