Are you brave?

It takes courage to create, to engage the creative genius. One must overcome the demons of perfectionism, procrastination, and often, years of obscurity. The critics, the naysayers, the haters, they arrive in time to dampen desire.

Every work of towering imagination is a culmination of years of toil. Even when one appears to be living out an ordinary existence, work is being done to create a masterpiece. It may seem sudden, but success is not a momentary accomplishment. A lifetime of choices, effort, mistakes, and failures comes together in a triumph that may outlive its maker.

Are you brave?

Do you have what it takes to get up when the silence is deafening and try again? Can you make the sketch, layer the oils, when your heart is broken? Will you write when all the world has failed to appreciate your words? Can you pull the camera out of the bag and take the shot when all you have are neglected prints? Can you put new ingredients together once more after so often getting an unpalatable taste? Will you sing your song when you are afraid no one will applaud? Could you play your instrument when every other time you missed a crucial note?

Will you keep trying when your hope has fled, and you feel you are failing all alone?

You must! You must have the hope, will, desire, courage to keep making an effort when the effort is all you have; when defeat is sour on your tongue, and the fading light is dying. Only then, only when you have seen the death of all you believe you might do and you keep creating, just when you defeat the rejection, conquer the fear, and do it because you must, because creating is your life, only then will it happen. You will know yourself tenacious enough to capture the prize and build your dream.

Believe, love, be a blessing in the world because this broken world needs the blessing! Celebrate your gifts, your talents, your abilities, and accomplishments, even if you must celebrate alone. You are a magnificent human being capable of greatness. Should you be ignored, do not worry, your time will come. The creativity that resides within you will find a way of expression in the world that gives you meaning and aids others in their journeys.

Never, don’t you ever, give up!

I am totally messed up! Really?

You alone are you, and you are enough. There is no need to hide who you are nor strive for unachievable perfection. You are adequate in all your ways. You be you and let the world think what it will, for you transcend the world. You are magnificent and whole. Be yourself. Believe in yourself. Use your creativity to outshine the stars, realize yourself more fully than yesterday, and build your dreams. Treasure your ideas and be uniquely and entirely genuine. Do not fear! There is no need to worry! Your journey will carry you where you belong. Trust that even in the darkest hour you are being led into your good.

Advice to a friend, I share with my friends…

You cannot give up, you have family and friends who love you more than they could ever express. You have survived and thrived in situations people cannot even imagine, you are as strong as most and stronger than the rest. You are vibrant, generous, friendly, loving, lovable, funny, kind, beautiful, and good; the world needs you and more like you. Believe in yourself, believe you are Beloved, remember the Lord is with you, and Never, Don’t You Ever, Give Up!

We Are So Much More

Growing wild in a world
Where trials seem like mountains,
And temptations insurmountable;
There is hope because we surely know
God loves us more than any creation,
And made us with greater love,
But look, see, even the weeds are beautiful.

Do not doubt your worth,
Do not hold down your head,
Do not tell yourself you are less
Than enough; you are purposed
For this time and place, a chosen one,
A Child of Most High God,
He gave you life, He builds your hope,
He knows your pain, He supplies fresh joy.

Every day you are given
Is a chance to enact agape goodness
To those traveling the same realms.
Lift up your face, set your shoulders,
Lighten your voice, settle your smile,
Claim your place as one blessed,
One Beloved, given to share Love.

I am grateful:

Even in my darkest times, I am given positive words to share.
Things are no worse than they are.
Libraries are bastions of knowledge.
I live in the hope of the resurrection, believing there is more than this life.
My dog, Hope is still with me.
I renamed Ko-Ko as Tribble.
There are always little things to bring smiles and satisfaction.

As a prompt: Consider the weeds, write or create what you will.

My Critic Delayed This

#2018-05-04 Face Your Fear

I tell you all to create; that you are creative. I did the above on May 4, my critic said I could not post it. It was not good enough, it was a dumb idea, poorly executed. It is true, I used to do better. My critic stopped my art.

I want you to know, that critic in your head when it tells you negative things before you even begin, and when you have made something, it is a liar. I like that song, “Fear is a Liar.” Look it up, and listen.

Face your fear, do not let it stop you from helping change the world. Your creativity is desperately needed. If you know, something is not all you want it to be, practice. No one became a master at anything without trying, mistakes, and continued training (self-teaching).

No matter what your mind, another human, a boss, a parent, a teacher tells you; if there is an attempt to stop your hopes and dreams, the advice is false, a lie. You are endowed with creativity and greatness. Let no one, and nothing convince you differently.

I fight this. Fear is a problem. We have to have the courage to be ourselves in a world where many follow the crowd. We are originals, all of us are unique, blessed with different vision, dreams, talents, gifts, and abilities. If we expect the world to be better, we must make it.

Prompt: Create something you have been considering, but your critic blew you off. All of us have something like that, I know you do.

I am grateful:

I slept good Thursday.
I have my new friends from Nigeria, they call me, it is so awesome.
Ham sandwiches.
Animal crackers.
Heritage Baptist Church, Douglasville, Georgia.

Speak no invective
To any living creature;
Our Judge knows each one.

Mother’s Day Without

It has not been a year,
But your absence is a void
I will never fill;
The love you gave
There is none other
Could replace its totality.

I try to forgive
The fact I did
Not appreciate you
Nearly enough;
I find no absolution,
No mending the pain.

The tears come less
Often like a deluge,
I am trying to build
A life I can inhabit,
But there is no
Denying the missing pieces.

I realize you would advise,
Be strong, happy, active,
Continue to create,
But Mama it is hard
Without your love, hugs,
Presence when I am weak.

I miss you like
The waves would the shore,
The stones would the earth,
The sun would the sky,
The moon would the night,
Without you, I am almost undone.

Yet, now, writing this
I know you know
All the things I cannot,
Will not say and you love me,
You always have, always will,
And I will see you again someday.

So thank you, Mama,
For giving me this life,
Believing in me,
Always loving me.
I will continue, I will succeed,
I will be who you thought I could be.

I have more, but this is sufficient. I bid you be well, be happy, create, share love all you can, be a friend to someone, never forget everyone is trying to overcome something, so live gently in the world.

Thank you for visiting Haphazard Creative. You know the deal, follow if you like, if not come back as you will.

God Bless and much love to all,
Jo Ann

Journals and Entries

The top journal is Gratitude; the black one is However, Whenever, Whatever; the bottom one is my Brain Dump Notebook which I finished Friday, March 9, 2018.

I think some of you realize I have been struggling a lot lately. It goes and comes. I have an antidote I sometimes use, a Gratitude List. I started a new journal expressly for that purpose. Two entries in, plus journal entries in However, Whenever, Whatever; and reading over the Brain Dump Notebook I just completed, and I am ditching most of the despair. I have made a lot of progress since losing Mom. I see it on these pages.

I highly recommend making Gratitude Lists at least once a week. This counting of blessings grounds us in our lives, which we can so quickly lose touch with in many ways.

Journals are also significant psychological tools, helping work through problems and find creative solutions to our challenges. Writing every day is not necessary, though the more frequently the device is used, the more effective it becomes.

2018.03.09 Gratitude Journal 2018.03.10 Gratitude Journal

You can guess the prompt, get out one of those journals which I know you have and dedicate it to Gratitude. Make it daily or weekly, but make it a habit. It will help you deal with the life you live. It will encourage to take nothing for granted, it will help you realize the struggles of others. Most of all, it will challenge you to be your best self.

Life is a gift, we should be thankful for it and all the many possessions that make it richer. Our friends, families, and pets are treasures beyond value.

Forgive me for being away, I have been in crisis mode. Had to go over a year of writing to realize I have survived.

It is our decision

You must choose creativity if you wish to gain or expand creative ability. The choice will help you accept that you are, or become more of, a creative person.

If you write, I suggest lots of reading. Be selective though; books and magazines about the writer’s craft, creativity, inspirational books, devotionals, and pictorial books. Magazines, newspapers, candy reading (whatever you most enjoy), biographies (these give you insight into real people whose characteristics you can weave into realistic characters). Psychology, design, histories, poetry, and I am sure you are getting some ideas of your own.

For photographers, there is no substitute for getting out and shooting, even pictures from home can hone skills. National Geographic, Wired, Vogue, Architectural Digest, and other photo-laden magazines can have you imagining things to try. Photography magazines can instruct and inform. A photography club can provide critique and instruction.

Classes may be beneficial if you find an excellent instructor and can afford to invest those funds. Writers and photographers are well-advised to combine the talents. Should your skills be weaker in one, endeavor to improve. Text and pictures together draw more sustained attention than the presentation of either alone. Practice will enhance the work quickly if you focus on creative intensity, but be willing to invest years in becoming a master.

Art! Art is where my focus has broken down, but instruction books, classes, visiting places that contain art (even just the local craft store where there are prints), practice and more practice will help you grow your innate creative talent. Be courageous, you do not have to be Frida, Pablo, Leonardo, or Georgia, at this time, be yourself. Experiment, use color, use media, be bold, develop your eyes, and your hands. Find your element.

You are you, and your creative genius is exactly what your audience is searching for, your reach will increase in proportion to the effort you dedicate. If you misplace a line assume it should be there and build it into your creation. The chances are no one will ever discover what you consider imperfection. The audience forgives what to it is unknown. Would that I heeded my advice, but some are more beholden to perfectionism than are others.

Music, I seldom articulate my background, but I was in chorus and choir from an early age. I lettered in chorus the three full years I attended high school. I also studied guitar a few years and spent many hours happily playing electric organ. The choral lessons taught diction and enunciation. I left music when I lost my Kimball organ, I had it from the seventies until 2000. The wound is deep.

I will tell you if you have the gift of voice, or if you do not, it is a choice. The vocal instrument can be improved with time. You must want the facility, or it will elude you. Should you perform, do not stumble over a mistake, sing out, smile and keep going. The audience will not realize you fumbled unless your stress draws attention to it.

I have gone long. Sometimes, I find a groove.

I realized I have 1,330 followers on the blog, Chronicles. I thought those would follow me to the new venue, but it seems not. So, I am debating what I should do. There should be a way via WordPress to incorporate the two. Combining things and setting new priorities is sometimes a weakness of mine. Creative solutions are my mark so I will come up with something.

I am grateful:

I have a best friend.
I can play my stereo loud.
I have food to eat.
There is hot water.
I am comfortable writing.
I have books to read.
Pen and ink.

You have by now seen enough of my Gratitude Lists that you should be practicing them yourself. If not, ask yourself why you refuse. It is a beneficial habit.

Creativity
The match lighting the fire of
Our talent’s intent.

Fill your mind with all
The inspiration it will
Hold, then make it new.

Travel the spaces
Between the living moments
Cradle your ideas.

As a prompt, consider your creative talents and make a plan to foster your skills and increase them. You may need to dedicate more time or clear space. Prepare yourself for success, and you will indubitably find it.

Thank you for visiting Haphazard Creative. I hope you found something instructional, inspiring, or encouraging. If you like, please click the follow button, or come back when you are able. God Bless and Keep You, Everyday, Everyway, Always and Forever.