Finding Your Passion - Then Giving It Away

“When you buy from an independent artist,you are buying more than just a painting or a novel or a song. You are buying hundreds of hours of experimentation and thousands of failures. You are buying days, weeks, months, years of frustration and moments of pure joy. You are buying nights of worrying about paying the rent, having enough money to eat, having enough money to feed the children, the birds, the dog. You aren’t just buying a thing; you are buying a piece of heart, part of soul, a private moment in someone’s life. Most importantly, you are buying that artist more time to do something they are truly passionate about; something makes all of the above worth the fear and doubt; something that puts the life into the living.”

~Rebekah Joy Plett

The above was a quote on a fine artist booth at an art/craft show I participated in this weekend.  I agree. Art is an esthetic experience.  I know this to be true from looking at “art”, creating “art” and selling “art”.  Below are some of the pieces I sold this weekend at two craft shows and the stories behind the pieces and those who brought them.

You Have Not Been Abandoned

A lady who had just moved to Charlotte came up and at first picked up one sign and was ready to get it, then she said: “Wait a minute I really need to find something for my son, he’s going through a tough time.”

I asked her how old her son was and she said 23 years old.

So knowing what I know about mothers and sons I started reading some of the pieces I thought might encourage a 23 years old.

When I got to the above, she said, that’s it. Thank you so much this will really help him.  Wow!  That was interesting because I did that sign in the font that a young person struggling might be able to relate to.

This was one of the first pieces I made over a year ago…but it wasn’t until this week that I added the colors purple and white to the piece….it just added a little something.  Hopefully that young man is encouraged.

He might never know that his mom was going to buy something for herself but decided to buy something for him instead.  I’m sure she wanted that piece for herself, but maybe didn’t want to spend another $5 for it.

She gave me 5 worn dollar bills to make that purchase.

I AM and Live Life

Both of these pieces were purchased by a middle-aged woman who came to the All Arts Market with a group of friends.

It’s was like a girls night out.

They read most of the signs and commented on them.  They liked a lot of the signs, but only had plastic.

One of the ladies really liked the I AM GOD sign, she picked it up, and didn’t put it back. She also she picked up the Live Life sign and said quietly; “I have $10 and I’ll take these two please.”

I could tell that she wasn’t going home without at least the I AM sign.  I had painted the back of the I AM sign red and wrote something along the lines of  God is there in the stillness, in the silence, listen and you will hear.  She read the back, looked at me and smiled.

 

 

Question the Answers

A couple came up and the lady immediately asked if I was a teacher.

I told her that I had been a teacher at one point in my life.

She said that she could tell based on just walking up to my booth and reading my signs because it was educational and inspirational.

Then she and her boyfriend/husband read most of the signs.  As she was going to walk away she saw the Question sign and said; ” Honey I have to have this for my classroom”.

She then told me she was a teacher and the name of the local school.

She asked her husband if he had the $5.  He handed it to her and she handed it to me.

So a group of kids in a classroom somewhere in Charlotte, NC will read and see that sign.  So will anyone else that goes in her classroom.

Knowing what I know about teachers –  that sign will go with that teacher from year to year from classroom to classroom.

I certainly hope those children and adults look even deeper behind what that sign really means.

It means to keep asking questions and don’t always accept the first, second or third answer.  It means to hear what is not being said in the answers.  It means to question the questioner. It means to question yourself.  It means to not believe everything you hear or read or what someone wants you to believe. It means to go deeper and deeper and deeper…question even the answers that you’re telling yourself…question your beliefs, question your behavior, question your life situation, question your plans for the future, question your hang-ups, question why you are here, question what you need to do next…just keep asking good questions…and question the answers you get back…

Find Your Tribe

The booth I was at on Friday night was in the corner and in the dark  (those two things were bad enough but..) this booth was also behind a booth where there were two artist who had LOTS of friends that showed up to support them that night.

What that meant for me was that most people could not get to my booth. It was blocked from this group talking in front of one of the entrances to my booth.

I didn’t get upset because half of the fun of doing these craft shows is watching people and studying human behavior.

The two artist in front of my booth were gay/lesbians and all of their friends seemed to be as well.

I was truly fascinated by the community that they had developed.  It seemed pretty amazing to me.  Everyone was friendly and loving to each other.  It was the loving part that really was interesting to see.  I was there for about 4 hours and I would say roughly 20 people/couples came up to make it a “celebration” of sorts: taking pictures, buying the artwork, holding hands, kissing, and hugging each other.

I’d never given it a lot of thought but I thought that maybe homosexual couples are just happy that  they can now be with who they’ve chosen to be with without all of society looking at them like they are crazy.

I just keep wondering why heterosexual couples don’t feel the need to show this type of public affection and why homosexual couples do. Something to ponder. There were not only lesbians couples but some gay (men) couples started to join them as well. I started to watch how they all interacted with each other.  There didn’t seem to be much or any conflict.  It looked like one big family/community.

As I was watching them I thought to myself that they had found “Their Tribe” so to speak.  Maybe they couldn’t/wouldn’t have fit in or been happy in a heterosexual relationship, but they seemed happy in these type of relationships.  Maybe it was because they bonded because they had that in common.

A few minutes after I was thinking that one of the men turned around towards my booth.

He came over and we struck up a conversation.  He read almost every sign in my booth. He said that there needed to be more booths like mine, uplifting people, spreading love and happiness in words and in pictures. He laid eyes on Find Your Tribe and picked it up and said he was really just drawn to it.

 He asked how much and I told him $5.

Before I put it in the bag he ask if I would sign it.   I hesitated because I didn’t know the name to put on it…my real name (which is on my business cards) or Ridea Richardson which is my creative works name.  That was an interesting dilemma to me.

After he purchased it he told his “tribe” to come over and look at my booth and read the signs.

He was passionate about my work and thanked me for doing it.  Just amazing stuff!

 Love Everybody

At the early Saturday morning outside craft show a couple came up,  They had known each other since high school – 40 years.  He had liked her back then in High School, but she was already taken.  They both got married and divorced to different people.  He found her on Facebook, connected with her, moved to NC to be with her, and now they’ve  been married for a year.

She proudly showed me her ring.

She started reading all the signs and said: “You did this to me?” and he said: ” I’d never do that to you.” It was about a heart that had been shattered by a loved one.  Then they read all the signs, but she keep coming back to the Love Everyone sign and said she had to have it.

Of course he pulled out the money and brought it for his sweetie.

Such a wonderful love story.  They looked so happy together…LOVE in Action.

Evolve or Die

Another couple who came up and read each sign, talked about the Idea Jars.  They made a couple of comments about the wood I was painting for more pieces…then…the lady “found” the Evolve or Die piece.

She picked it up and said: “I have to have this.  Oh My God I love this. How much is it?” I told her $5 and her boyfriend pulled out the $5 and handed it to me.

I asked her if she wanted me to wrap it and she said yes, but she said she really just wanted to keep looking at it.  She had a hard time handing it to me in order for me to wrap it. That was so cute to me.

I decided to tell her about what I was thinking when I made that piece.  It’s a play on the word EVOLVE…Evolve is LOVE however you look at it…EVOL (is love spelled backwards) and EVO  L(O)VE is love when I add the “o”.

Evolve means to grow, to be alright with change, to let go of what was.  If you are not able to evolve (change)  then you might be alive,  but you aren’t really living.

What I didn’t tell her is that I had just “re-worked this piece at 2 a.m. on Friday morning.

This was one of the very first pieces that I made over a year ago when I was afraid of color or messing anything up.  So that night I added all the color to depict evolution and death to me.

Sometimes the spirit within me just says “rework” this piece, add this, change that…it just knows…

As they were walking away the lady kept looking at the piece through the plastic packaging that I use.

I said to the young man: “You’ve made her happy today.”   She looked at him and said: “He makes me happy everyday.” She looked like she wanted to take his hand or show some sign of affection, but she didn’t. I thought about the community of gay couples the night before who had no problems showing public displays of affections.

Still I think it was a very memorable moment for that young couple and I hope their relationship evolves and doesn’t die, if that’s what meant to be.

 

Life’s a Beach

This little girl came up in an “awe” type look.  That is the look that I get from young people.  They are drawn to my booth because of all the colors.  I think it looks like candy or something sweet to them.

Later her grandmother came up and we talked for about 30 minutes (no kidding) we talked about grand kids, our kids,  being creative, cooking (she liked to make cream cheese cakes and told me about an interesting website – cookingforengineers.com).

She started looking at the pieces and her eyes locked in on Life’s A Beach.

The interesting thing about this piece is that one of the little shells had come off in transit to the venue. I looked at it and wasn’t going to show it, but decided I needed to try to fix it.

I went over to the musicians who were at the venue.  They let me hook-up my glue gun to their amps to glue back the little shell.  I told the lady that the pieces were fragile, and I wrapped it in Bubble wrap to help protect it on the way home.  She didn’t seem to care.  I think she just liked the saying because she was old enough to appreciate the waves of life and enjoy them!

Yin and Yang Coaster

I love the coasters I’ve started to create so much that I don’t want to sell them really, but I decided to put them out anyway hoping I can create more.

This gentleman came up and IMMEDIATELY picked up the Yin and Yang Coaster.  He asked me if I had another one like it and I told him no I didn’t, but could make another one for him.

I asked if Yin and Yang was “his thing” and he said yes.

He pulled out his necklace from out of his shirt and showed me a small yin and yang pendant and a Mother Teresa pendant that he wore all the time.  He asked me for my card and told me he would email me about making two yin and yang coasters for him. Then he walked away.

I don’t sell my pieces.  I don’t even try to promote them really.  I feel like these are things that sell themselves and thank God I have a  job that takes care of my needs and I don’t need craft show money to survive on.

He came back about 10 minutes later and said he wanted to buy the one coaster and that he might still email me for another one.

I’m glad I took a picture of it because I worked, re-worked, and touched it up so many times I don’t know if I could re-create it exactly the same, but I’ll do my best.  Hopefully I can make it better.

NOW…What’s Inside You To DO?  What Is Your Gift To The Family Of The World

Maybe you are not into doing anything artistic, no problem, BUT you ARE creative.

We are all creative.

It will come through you, if you allow it.  

Maybe its working on cars, or baking, or writing, or speaking, or singing, or making money, or investing, or painting, or gardening, or carpentry, or organizing, or teaching, or healing, or WHATEVER….just find that WHATEVER thing and GIVE IT TO THE WORLD…that is why you are here…TO BE YOU…GIVE YOU AWAY in SOMEWAY…in finding your passion…(really it’s passions plural)…doing it…creating it…sharing it…

Just Live Like You Were Dying and that will help you find it (smile)

 

Pots & Pans, Hands & Soul

If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.

~Henry David Thoreau

Growing up with my brothers and sisters in Virginia we “made” our fun.

One of the ways we made our fun was to get out the pots and pans.

We’d have a jam session all-night-long with those pots and pans.  We’d just go to town and make music together.

 

Hang Drum

Last night I went to a mini-concert and listened to a Hang  Instrument being “played”. It took me back to” playing” those pots and pans with my siblings.

It doesn’t matter what the external “instrument”  is

It doesn’t matter what it looks like

It doesn’t matter what is cost

It doesn’t matter what others think about it

It only matters that YOU “play” it

It matters that you  look for it

It matters that when you do find it, you are true to it

It  matters that you allow your soul to come forth through it

It matters that you get out of your own way, so you can “play” it like no one else plays it

It matters that you let go of  being someone else – just be yourself

It only matters that you let come the you that is deep inside…wanting to be born…wanting to come forth…wanting to finally dance your dance…to sing your song…to hit your pots or your pans.  

It’s all about YOUR contribution to the family of the world

Below is what a hang instrument sounds like when played.  Yes, it looks like a flying saucer, but I guess that’s what makes it unique. I’m sure it’s more expensive than the pots and pans in your kitchen cabinet…BUT the principle is the same…

Let go and let your soul come forth to create…your uniqueness…your gift…your passion…only YOU can give YOU to the world – no one else can do that for you.

What is your gift to the family of the world?

Why Are You Walking In Circles?

“People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don’t even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child — our own two eyes. All is a miracle.”
― Thich Nhat Hanh

A young girl at the playground asked me that the other day: “Why are you walking in circles?”

I told her I was exercising. She seemed to be okay with that answer, but I knew it was much more than ‘exercising’ to me.

It was the easiest answer to give her, because exercise is one of the benefits of walking.

I certainly couldn’t tell this young girl:

• I’m meditating.
• I’m contemplating.
• I’m doing a number of breathing techniques, but no one can tell.
• I’m sensing my recently deceased mother in everything – she seems to be everywhere now – in the sky, in the trees, in the birds – everywhere – not just in a room in a nursing home anymore – she’s everywhere.  Her voice is constantly in my head with her life lessons, her wisdom, and this ‘knowingness’ that everything is fine. I just need to trust that, stay humble and get ready for whatever is coming my way.
• I’m seeing something new at every turn around the school building – the geese that fly in formation; the trees that are starting to turn colors; the beautiful purple wild flower; the airplanes in the sky; the tall young guy who should be good at basketball but he isn’t; the dad that’s trying to make his son into a basketball player – even though the kid doesn’t seem to have the natural aptitude for the sport; the soccer field; the ladies who walk around in skimpy and tight outfits looking here and there and pretending to “exercise” but they’re really trying to catch the eye of one of the men playing basketball with their kids; the little girls playing on the monkey bars and talking like their mother’s; on and on I see something new every day and at every turn when I walk on that school yard.

How could I explain to that little girl that:

• “walking in circles” was one of the very best parts of my day.
• television has long ago lost its hold on me.
• when I didn’t walk I felt like I’d cheated myself out of some joy that’s readily available.
• I wonder every day what I’ll do when the weather gets cold – will I still be able to wear my comfortable crock flip-flops? – will it be too dark to walk? – will I adjust my hours at work? – will I walk during lunch? – exactly what will I do?  I must have a plan because ‘walking in circles’ has proven to be the best most consistent form of both physical and mental “exercise” that I’ve done in many years.

How could I explain to her that yes, my answer about exercise was accurate, but it was not all there is to her question.

How could I explain that one day she’d probably find herself in middle age “walking in circles” too.

How could I explain that in life she should keep asking those type of questions…and question the answers…most people never question the answers.  Answers are taken at face value, but there’s usually more to the answer than the answer itself.

I saw her again the other day as she twirled an incredible flip on the monkey bars.  I smiled, and just thought as strongly as I could that I was looking at a future Olympian   I wanted her to believe that too, just from my eyes and my smile.  She caught me looking at her and her eyes got really big.   She looked so proud that I had “noticed” her …or maybe she caught the message I was sending with my eyes and smile –  that she could be anything she wanted to be in life.

I wonder if that young girl will remember that lady in the green and yellow crocks that she asked the question: “Why are you walking in circles?” I won’t soon forget her, or her question to me, or the fact that one day she might just be in the Olympics twirling on the uneven bars.

We never know when we are making a memory.

The Power Of '3'

I went to a workshop last week about social marketing.

Even though I learned a lot, there was one thing that stuck with me  – The Power of ‘3’.

The presenter gave an example of how both campaigns in the current U.S. Presidential race are using the Power of ‘3’.

I went looking for recent articles about this (there aren’t that many???) and found the below (of course I had to find ‘3’ articles):

http://www.psychotactics.com/harness-the-psychological-power-of-3-to-improve-communication

http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/rule-of-three-speeches-public-speaking/

http://theunchainedentrepreneur.com/the-power-of-the-rule-of-three-in-marketing-your-small-business

Based on the above I’ll look at my blogs, business cards, flyers, workshop and training designs and follow the Power of 3.

I wonder if this could work with life in general?

• Have ‘3’ main goals at any given time
• Work on ‘3’ things daily towards one of those goals
• Do ‘3’ things everyday to better your life

Actually when I give this a little more thought.  It might just work to let go of trying to do EVERYTHING (sort of willy-nilly) and focus on just three things in each of life’s categories.  Maybe use a week as the time period of  measurement.

Physical

Do ‘3’ things to stay healthy; 1. drink water 2. walk 3. cook

Social

Do ‘3’ things that I enjoy doing each week: 1. craft shows/make crafts 2. walk  3. new stuff with new people

Emotional

Write down in my Gratitude Journal ‘3’ emotions that I felt (and what triggered them) during the day

Spiritual

Grow Spiritually by 1. Meditating 2. Encouraging Others 3. Noticing Nature

Financial

Only spend money ‘3’ days out of the week…this one sounds very promising and like a very good idea…maybe only spend on Friday’s, Monday’s and Wednesday’s

Vocational

Focus on only ‘3’ networking sites to update, find colleagues or comment on 1. Linked-In 2. Etsy 3. The Presencing Institute

Good Grief…

What if Organizing Your Life is as Simple as Using the Power of 3?

Who Knows It Just Might Be!

 (I’m going to test this little theory for the month of October and see if this technique works…just to see…)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the Tunnel of Change

You don’t know how long you’re going to be in this tunnel before you see the light.

When you have to let go of something, someone, some place, some dream, your plans, who you were, who you were with, or where you were — You feel lost at first.

You have to find a new normal.

Your days and nights feel so “different”.

It’s scary at first. It’s dark.  It’s feels cold and unfamiliar.

You have no idea what’s around the next corner or what the next day will bring. 

Depending on how long you’ve been practicing letting go will depend on how you navigate your way through this tunnel.

Will you keep busy? Will you truly experience the feelings that you are having?  Will you just push through?  Will you keep going and pretend like nothing has changed?  Will you break?  Will you fall down? Will you get back up? Will you stop? Will you cry? Will you stay in the bed? Will you long for what you let go of? Will you look back? Will you keep going, not afraid, but looking forward to what’s to come?

There is this “sweet spot” in the tunnel of change.

It’s a place where you know you are closer to “letting come” something or someone new  – than you are from what you’ve had to let go of.

It’s a place where you know if you just keep going that you’re going to get through this too.

It’s a place where you know that what you let go of  — you can NEVER really get back the same way again — it’s gone…it’s in the past…your past…part of your story…

When you get to the sweet spot it’s a place where you don’t WANT to go back. It’s a place where you don’t even WANT to look back. It’s a place where you know as long as you keep putting one foot in front of the other – take one day then the next  – that you will get through the tunnel.

In this “sweet spot”  you’re not quite at the point where you can see the light. You’re not at the point where you know what’s coming or what’s on the other side.

You’re at the point where all you know is that what’s ahead is not what you left behind – it will be different – that’s all you know, is that it will be something or someone different. You’re at the point when you are happy that you “finally” let go of it or them.

There is a sweet spot in the dark dank tunnel of change that you MUST go through to “let come” what is trying to emerge in you, in your life, into the world through you. 

Just know that it is scary at first when you embark into the Letting Go to Let Come Tunnel of Change, but there is a sweet spot that you hit and then it just feels like you’ve grown.  You are proud of yourself for letting go and moving on…again…

 

 

Don't Limit Yourself

That was the advice from a 75-year-old woman who looked 50 and had the energy of a 20-year-old.

She was a volunteer helping out at the agency where I currently work. What she volunteered for included physical labor that a 75-year-old could not “normally” be expected to do.

She not only did it,  but did it with so much spirit and spunk that it was uncanny.

Before she left the site I told her I hoped the question I was going to ask would not offend her, but I wanted to know how old she was.  She told me that she doesn’t tell her age, but that she WOULD tell me.

I told her I’d like to hear her story one day.  I’d like to know how she has managed to take care of herself – her body – her mind – and her spirit – for all these years.

She was the picture of health.

If we could see more people like her we wouldn’t be “afraid” of aging. We wouldn’t be dying our hair every week, getting face lifts, and basically fighting the aging process like it was the enemy.  We would be-friend it and work with it, instead of against it.

The body is dying.  We know this.

It is decaying. It is losing it’s energy.

We don’t have to fight against that.

We can embrace it and look and act like this lady.

We can amaze people at our physical age, by the life that we live.

The next day of this project, the 75-year-old woman came back to the site just to drop-off something.  She came over towards me and I said…”Wait a minute…look who’s here…it’s Foxy”  She just started laughing as she walked over to me and whispered in my ear and said: “Don’t Limit Yourself”.  That was her secret, she didn’t limit herself.  She didn’t allow life, her circumstances or her age to limit her – never had and I could tell that she never would.

Are You Limiting Yourself?

Are you telling yourself that you can’t do it?

Are you telling yourself that you are too old?

Too Fat

The “Wrong” Skin Color

Too Young

The “Wrong” Sex

Not Physically Capable

Don’t Have Enough Money

Staying in a Job You Hate Because You’re Afraid to Quit

Staying in a Relationship That Died Long Ago, but You’re Afraid to Leave

Can’t  Possibly Do This or That Because You Don’t Have a College Degree

Can’t Start Your Own Business

Can’t Go Back to School

Can’t Finish School

Can’t Afford School

Can’t Make Friends

Can’t Get Good Grades

Haven’t Been Able To Find A Job in Over a Year and Think You Never Will

Can’t Sell Your House

Can’t Relocate

Not Pretty Enough

Not Smart Enough

Not Loveable

Take The Advice of the 75-Year-Old Woman –

Just Quit Limiting Yourself…

Just for Today Pretend Those Limits Aren’t  Really There…

Just Pretend…

How Would You Think?

What Would You Do?

Where Would You Go?

What Would You Say?

Who Would You Call?

What Would You Search For On-line?

Who Would You Get Back In Touch With?

Who Would You Call To Set-up A Meeting With?

Now….Do Some of Those Things…

Just See What Happens…Why Not?…Just For Today

(Who knows maybe there really aren’t many limits.  

How will our lives unfold if we just quit limiting ourselves?)

 

The Web Of Life - You Have to Let Go to Understand It

The Circular Spider Web

The above is a picture of a circular spider web that was created outside my kitchen window.  This picture does not do this creation the justice that it deserves. It is TRULY a work of art. A very intricate web, just like the web of life.

How the web of life worked in my “letting go to let come” life today

Reconnecting the Past to the Present

Emailing back a friend that I hadn’t talk to in over 10 years…and I can’t remember exactly why it has been so long…but kind of like the above web, we had ventured away from the center of the web and had to find our way back…updating people who are a part of our past on what matters – friends & family.

Input to Theory U Survey

Completing a survey email link from Otto Scharmer to help select the title for his next book about Theory U.  Using the world-wide-web and network of folks who understand and believe in Theory U to help come up with the best book title and subtitle that will resonate with those who want and need to read his next book – what matters – community.

Madrid

Emailing back a reader of one of the posts on this site who works in Madrid in a job they know they need to resign from.  Taking the time to look up exactly where Madrid was online and just quickly scanned some of the information about it.

For some reason I wanted to turn on the television.  I can’t remember the last time I actually watched TV and had no idea really why I felt the need to turn it on. The only channel that is worth watching to me is CREATE TV.  So, I just turned on the TV and went and sat down at the craft table to start working on a piece.

Inside of 30 minutes  I heard this travel show come on called  “Smart Travels” and they started talking about going to Madrid – Goya Art Galleries, the night life, Hotel Ritz, Royal Tapestry Factory, Retiro Park and From Madrid to Heaven being a slogan you’ll hear when you go there.   What are the chances of that just happening?

Letting Go to Let Come

These things are not coincidences,  it’s called synchronicity…the web…

Just being where you’re suppose to be.

Being in Alignment.

Being in Sync.

Doing what matters.

Doing what you’re suppose to be doing – even if it makes no sense to you at the time.

Just let things happen.

Let come what needs to happen.

It will make sense when you look back and see all the connections of the web.

Every single day confirms, that letting go and just going with the flow,

is so much better than holding on to the past

or how you THINK things are supposed to go.

Let Come what the web of life wants to weave into your life.  

It’s not only in my life or your life that this web weaves, but in all living sentient beings.  

Look at the intricate web of life and know that everything is connected.  

What you think and do impacts everyone and everything else.  

Just be aware and conscious of that…

and smile no matter what is going in your life right now…

just smile because you have the opportunity to be a part of the web of life.