Author: esse11e

Steal Like an Artist x Austin Kleon

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I’m not completely sure how I came across this book, but I’ve had it for a while now. Though I’d skimmed it a time or two, I never took the time to read it, cover to cover… that was a mistake! It’s a short, easy read, but it’s full with great content! What I love most about “Steal Like an Artist” is its ability to use seemingly contradictory ideas to make meaningful points. Kleon urges readers to be creative in their lives, even if it doesn’t mean being an artist. I love that he uses the notion “There’s nothing new under the sun” as truth first, as it comes from the Bible (Ecclesiastes 1:9)… but in addition, it motivates us to build upon the world around us. If you haven’t noticed, I’m all about the unconventional lifestyle! This books places unconventional thinking right at the center of practicality in a world full of conventional people. Give it a shot! Happy Reading!

Giving Thanks!

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I was going to shy away from what my be perceived as cliché; I wasn’t going to write about thanksgiving. Then I changed my mind because there’s nothing cliché about giving thanks. I have countless things to be thankful for, but I want to dedicate this post to one special thing near and dear to my heart. Now, I’m an only child… But my mother has 10 siblings, my father 2. I have countless family, and on this day, I want to express how thankful I am to have so many of them, and especially to have been able to share today with them. Everyone wasn’t there, but my heart smile at every single one who was and the ones who weren’t able to share. There was a time we were more highly close knit, but the familial ties have seemingly been severed. In recent years, it seemed we came together more for the tragedies that occurred. There’s nothing wrong with coming together in those times, but what about when things are good? The featured …

In The No: “Out”

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Besides the time everyone stood at the edge of “a bridge” and decided to jump while you opted to turn around and take the stairs down instead, how often are you in the no? It’s so tempting to be in the know, aware of all that’s happening, not missing anything… Like when you were a kid and didn’t want to fall asleep while others were up around you. Being involved in the cyclic conversation about The Little Rascals that you’d had 132x before seemed necessary at the time; your friends wouldn’t joke about you being a “sleepyhead”; you didn’t get toothpaste on your face; but you had to beg your mom to stay home instead of waking for church the next morning… and since she wasn’t going for it, you struggled to keep your eyes open until snack time at children’s church. How much different is it now, as an adult? I’ve struggled a million times with being on the scene or not, and what each symbolized and truly meant to me. I enjoy music, I love …

11.23.14

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Dear Lord, Thank you, again, for another day, awakened and alive in you. Thank you for opportunity, for love, for friendship, for all the gifts you bless us with each day, those noticed and overlooked. This week, Americans express thanks and spend increased time with family and loved ones; it’s beautiful. I want to pray, tonight, that we carry this spirit of thanksgiving throughout the year. Please allow us to be aware of all that is working in our lives. Allow us to acknowledge these things and use them to encourage those around us. Our stories are unique to us, but can also help others facing similar challenges. Please allow us to push beyond our fear of sharing the most vulnerable parts of ourselves; may we pay it forward! Most of us have had someone to share their story; whether we’ve taken heed immediately, or required extended time to understand the lessons taught, it helps. We don’t wish to be selfish beings. For what good is it to experience you in all of your goodness …

Ready or not, here I come!

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You remember being a kid, rushing through the count to 10 just to say these words… You didn’t want to be at a disadvantage; you never gave the “hiders” a chance to get ready before shouting “HERE I COME!” That’s how you got out of the “seekers” chair, by throwing someone else off their game, by beating them to the punch, by taking away their chance to prepare! Life has a funny way of working; it throws you challenges and cheat codes, God gives favor, life seems unfair, there is sometimes mercy in the most merciless(seeming) situations. In life, we dangle somewhere between failure or success, so society says. Besides God, there are no constants. Life may count to ten sometimes, it may even count to 100, but it may also stop at 1. Either way you look at it, for anyone reading this, no matter what it seemed, life has continued working, ready or not. I am always planning ahead for something – birthdays, vacations, graduation(s), occupation(s), events, a hopeful wedding… most of us are. As we …

The Art of Non-Conformity x Chris Guillebeau

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Book of the week is one I came across thanks to my creative sister-friend, Diamond. After reading it, I immediately understood why it was so hard to try and separate her from it (I never succeeded, by the way). Cover to cover, it’s all about living unconventionally…  Chris Guillebeau found a way to put all of my racing thoughts into a logical, well respected text that has reached masses. The book challenges us to be self-starters, if we are discontent with the traditional life we are expected to live. The great thing about books is that they leave so much to be inferred. I|you could take this at face value alone, and gain a wealth of insight. There’d be no shame in that. I challenge you, however, to see how “The Art of Non-Conformity” matters to you! You may not want to start a business, but this book still has tons to offer you. Happy Reading!

Blackbird.

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So, I went to see “Beyond the Lights” with my sister this weekend (Hey Bri!). LOVED IT! I’m a sap, clearly… but the movie tells a story far beyond love; don’t worry, I won’t tell the movie, though I do suggest you go see it! “I always wonder why birds choose to stay in the same place when they can fly anywhere on the earth. Then I ask myself the same question.” – Harun Yahya Why would I let my dreams stay fantasies? If I can do anything in the world, why would I ever stop learning, growing?… Routine. Complacency. Fear of failure.  When we are young, we are taught that it’s “best” to get good grades in school so that we can get accepted into a good college, where we’ll get good grades, and find a job that will pay us fairly well… We’ll try to move up the ladder, and people will call it “loyalty”, while we boast good job security. When, however, do we question what else the world has to offer, and what …

11.16.14

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Dear Heavenly Father, As I come to you this evening, I want to remember in every prayer to thank you. I have lived another day! Even as the day had turbulence, there was productivity and love found in it. Thank you, for raising the sun on the same day that you poured rain on us. Thank you for your grace, that has allowed me to journey another week and begin a new venture doing something I love. You have given me an abundance of opportunities to use the gifts you’ve given me, but I haven’t always answered your call. I want to hear your voice when you speak, and know that it’s you. I want your relationship to be the only one I cannot live without. Thank you for second and third and fourth chances. Thank you for allowing me to love even those people who don’t love me back. Thank you for creativity, for laughter, for friendships… and thank you for you. I know that I am not perfect and recognize, also, that I …

Perfection•ism

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With the potential to drive greatness, or withhold it, perfectionism is often viewed as a neutral trait. I’m a perfectionist in many ways, I came to know it long ago, but never recognized how its manifestation limited me, until recently… And only at that point, did I take the plunge to conquer it. On Saturday, November 8, 2014, my friend (hi Ashley!) told me, “You’re sitting on your gifts 😟.” I opted to be a spectator at an event hosted by her church, where participants share their gifts in praise|worship (great event, by the way!). She’d asked me to dance in advance, but I had time constraints that wouldn’t allow me to choreograph and practice as much as I would have liked, so I politely offered a tentative yes, which I knew would likely be a “not this time.” At the event I mentioned having written a piece I could share, but I had every excuse for why I shouldn’twouldn’t: “I haven’t finalized it yet” or “I haven’t practiced reciting it” or “I’ve never delivered …

Art Jamzzzz DC!

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This isn’t current, it was almost a month ago, but it was fun nonetheless! And I was definitely living in the moment! Art Jamz DC offers a host of options for beginner to advanced artists in a fun, lively environment. I enjoyed every minute of it, from the wine (yum!) and artistry to the hilariously ratchet, but undeniably encouraging group of friends that created just behind me. Some would categorize me a creative; I love the arts, but as mentioned previously(on Instagram) “I don’t claim to be an amazing artist, but I am enamored with every stroke of a brush. It really is therapeutic… Great company is an incredible benefit, too. So today, I share this little bit of joy… It amazes me how being joyful truly encourages me to play a role in bringing the same [or an even greater] feeling to others.”