guest post: Kris ::Create What Is In Your Heart

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:: I have another wonderful post from one of the participants of the Love Notes Project.  I was so delighted when I read these words from Kris and just know that they will touch home for a lot of folks who do not believe that they are artist.  I invite you to soak in her words and know that each of us are artist, yes even you. ::

I am 64 this week and just beginning to re-connect with my creative energy after years and years of ignoring it.  I was one of those people who thought "if it isn't perfect, then I am not an artist."  As my three grand daughters came into the world and I began to "create art" with them (at any and every given moment!!), I realized just how much I enjoyed the creative process and how we are all artists --- it's just a matter of definition.  As a result, I have set aside expectation of the outcome --- that's some of our big life lessons, isn't it?  It's not about the destination --- enjoy the journey!!

As for this wonderful Love Notes Project --- I have so enjoyed it.  It reminds me of the "good old days" when we had pen pals in school!!  It's been fun for me to read the prompts and see what comes up instantly in my mind.  That's what I end up doing --- no second-guessing myself.  It's intuitive.  The words and images just pop into being. 

In the past, if the words didn't look like they were calligraphy, I couldn't/wouldn't put them out there.  If the shoes or feet didn't look "real" I would either re-try and re-try or give up.  Not the case anymore and it is so freeing.  I think a lot of that has to do with all of the women who are creating what's in their hearts and are not afraid to put themselves out there and part of it is where I am in my life.  I no longer care what others may think -- It's so much more about how I feel. 

Thank you for this fun and important connection between women.  I look forward to your next one.  And the one after that and the one after that!!!

guest post: Deb Taylor :: Begin

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photo credit:  Deb Taylor

:: I have invited participants of the Love Notes Project to share some words with us.  Today I invite you to sit down and enjoy a guest post by the fabulous

Deb Taylor

as she reminds us to begin. :: 

I took this photo on New Years Day 2011.

It had been a very difficult year after our home flooded and we had been living in chaos of renovating and rebuilding. 

I was simply exhausted.  Depleted.  Almost hopeless. 

I wanted to choose my word for the year, but had no inspiration, I had lost my creative MoJo. 

Then I saw this sign, bottom of the stairs of a friends home.  I stood still for a very long time.  It was rocking my world. 

I knew right then I was ready to climb again, one step at a time.

So I opened my heart to this message, shot the photo,and have printed more than 100 copies. 

I share them.  I make art with them.  I mail as a card when I feel that someone needs this important message!!

I have them placed all about to remind and inspire me to get back on track. 

You see, I like to spin a lot of plates and try new things.  I signed on to the Love Notes Postcard Project becasue I am constantly inspired to "being" a new creative project.  it seems to have a ripple effect into all the areas of my life when my flow is in motion! 

So when you feel stuck...just BEGIN.  Anything...scribble, walk around the block, maike a painty mess, try a new flavor smoothie, drive the backroads and before you know it, you have begun the creatibe flow and the magic will happen!

Deb shares her artistic creations which include sewing, painting, cooking, and whatever else the Muse calls forth to create.  You can read about her one little word,

BEGIN over here

. 

And so see what she has up her sleeve head on over

here to find out what Deb is doing

.   

seek

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Seek out the beauty

The unexpected

Small moments filled with laughter

Sunshine streaming down on your face

A smile from a stranger

There is beauty around every corner

There is light, even in the dark

It is there

It is always there

Sometimes we just have to seek it out

Look where you never looked before

Look up, soak in the shapes of the clouds

Sink down low, lay in the grass

See the world from a new perspective

Seek out the different angels

When we look from a different point of view

We see things we never saw before

Meet people we never knew were out there

Get pulled into experiences we only dreamed of

We stretch, we grow, we learn

We push our boundaries

We open up

Confidence is gained

A deeper trust in ourselves is developed

We live boldly, beautifully, and ready for the next adventure

letters across the miles

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Dear Kristine,

With each letter I receive from you I see more and more how much we are alike.  Where I live there is a pond in the complex and Dustin and I go there often to feed the ducks and take photographs.  It is so peaceful and I just love that we are able to walk right over. 

Winter is being resilant this year.  We had another snow storm last night that left a few inches on the ground.  The rain seems to be starting now so it may be washed up before the day ends, but it is a good reminder that we never know what is on the horizon in life.  Each corner we turn there is a new unexpected journey. 

I love that you met your new neighbor.  Have you had the opporutnity to have coffee with her yet?  It is so wonderful when those unexpected moments happen in life.  This past weekend a couple of my friends and I gathered around and created.  We each bring what ever we are working on, spread the art supplies on the table and dive into deep converstaion that gets the creative juices flowing.  It is the perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon.   

As we were gathered together I was dying to tell them about some big news.  I wrote an article that is coming out in

Somerset Life

.  Every time I went to go tell them the fear monsters started shouting...."what if it doesn't get published, what if it doesn't get published, don't embarress yourself and say something until you see it."  So I held the news tucked away into my pocket until yesterday.  In between work at the office and work in the resturant I stopped at the mail box.  As soon as I opened that little silver door I saw it and instantly new it was the magazine. 

Oh my goodness Kristine I am so incredibly excited. This is a dream come true for me.  I was shaking as I opened up the magazine.  I started shouting and dancing around my home.  I was in complete shock.  The article looks more beautiful than I ever imagined it would and I can't belive this dream actually came true.  

I am a firm beliver in stating our dreams and then going after them.  If we never speak them the universe never knows we want them.  It was a few years back when is stated this dream and today it came true.  What is a dream that you have that you would love to see come true?

Sending you so much love!  Happy letters across the miles Tuesday. 

xo

Jennifer

{03}

what you may not know about me

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What you may not know about me is:

* I love flying on an airplane and waiting in airports
* I am terrified of basements
* I have to take care of the spiders around here because someone else is terrified of them
* I dream vividly when I sleep
* I tear up easily and my eyes tell the truth of my story without me even speaking a single word
* I am madly and deeply in love
* I want to inspire others
* I adore my family and enjoy every moment we spend together
* I am a traveler at heart
* I dream of riding my bicycle across the united states
* I want to speak spanish fluently
* I am terrible at reading maps
* I like finding my own way

And what about you?  Tell me a few things about you that I may not know.