An Idea

When you were small did you feel out of place or different?  I have this idea that has been formulating since my late thirties (I'm gettin into my fabulous fifties now,) I have this idea that every person on the planet has at one point felt out of place and different. 

In any group of people, when I am feeling awkward, someone else in the group is feeling the same way. Maybe everyone in the whole group is feeling that way, at the same time. I think this happens in every gathering of people, at every every age, in every setting.

I think everyone feels like they are on the outside looking in.

When does it happen that we start thinking certain people never feel insecure, inadequate or imperfect? Famous people sometimes look like they have it all going for them.  We see them on t.v, watch their stories unfold, but even reality t.v. makes it look so much more perfect and comfortable compared to our own lives. I wonder if Kim Kardashian ever feels ugly or stupid. I wonder if  (insert famous actress of your choice here) ever felt like she wasn't worthy, wasn't good enough and didn't fit in.

Closer to reality there is probably at least one person at your workplace who looks like they have it all together.  Or think of church, sometimes there are entire families who seem to be living the dream of the perfect life.  Think back during the school years, college, high-school and jr. high and the first time you really became aware of social differences.

My theory is that every human being no matter how wealthy, beautiful or gifted she is, has felt different and inadequate many times during their lives.

Take a introspection moment here.  Look back at all those times where you were so uncomfortable with yourself and the situation that you wanted to peel off your skin, that you wanted to hide under a rock, that you felt  not good enough...

Add a few people who always look like they have everything together and they always know what they are doing...

Draw a mental picture for yourself.

Now see them with the same pain you felt. See that what is really happening underneath.

What Happened With Me

I remember feeling like an outsider the first time I stepped on school property.  I'd had a small social circle before Kindergarten which consisted of my older brother and some cousins.  A pattern of me feeling different within my own family had already been established and school did nothing but reinforce it from Day One.

After some really pain filled, emotional years as a child I became a Christian at sixteen.  Jesus revealed His love to me and brought me out of a very dark place.  I was filled with despair and hate. I had a hair trigger temper that was capable of very destructive rages.  I loathed everything about myself.  Stupid, fat, ugly, awkward, lost, different, not enough, not good enough.  And I hated everyone else.

And then I met Jesus, Son of God, God in the Flesh, He showed me a love so profound it literally changed my personality.  First He loved me as I was, stupid, fat, ugly, ect.  Then He showed me who I was:  Loved, Wanted, Good Enough to Suffer and Die For.  And then He showed me how He saw everyone else.

How I Became Confident

I think understanding these three things is the key to being the best, most confident person you can be.

Understand who you are

Understand Who loves you.

Understand who everyone else is. 

And once you have these three revelations, being the best, most confident You is so much easier.

post card for Canvas Corp Brands DT swap

When I share my art, it's not because I think it is perfect, professional or worth the big bucks.  It isn't perfect.  But very few artists are ever fully satisfied with their work plus we all stated at the same place and we are all on equal playing ground.

I share it because I want you to not be afraid to share yours.  I share it because it is a part of my story.  I share my story because it might make you feel like you are not alone, different, and out of place. I create fearlessly because it is so much fun, I am all most certain everyone on the planet should be doing it too.

Silly Glasses postcard - but it was too fat to send so it went in anenvelope!

Okay.  Maybe not.  But if you want to make stuff---fearing what other people think about it should not be a reason for holding back.  They feel the same fear you feel and they do it anyway.  Some of them even create fearlessly and teach classes!

Art cards from the index card a day challenge at DaisyYello.com#ICAD2016

Confidence may not happen for you like it did for me.  And sometimes it is a process.  (Almost fifty, did I say?  I am still learning stuff.  Which is actually kind of wonderful when I think about it.)  But if you haven't started the process what are you waiting for?

Did you make any New Year's resolutions to be more confident?  Did you make any decision to become a better You?  Did you Pick a One Word this year that has been guiding you on a pathway to more positive wonderfulness in your life?

If you did , Yourdori.com & The Gratitude Girls Cheer League is hosting a Heart Check event on facebook. You are invited.  There are five daily prompts for comments and photo sharing.  (feel free to go back and do the previous prompts!)  Comments will get you entered to win a coffee gift card and a "flip book" made by me.





If we are to teach are children to be confident, we must learn the path for ourselves too.  Do you think my theory is correct?  How are you learning to be a more confident person?

I wanted to share this amazing thing that happened right before Christmas.

 Maybe it's kind of a crazy thing, but for me, it was answered prayer.  These last couple of months have been hard.  We made a decision to step out in faith and put our family first.  Instead of being practical, I decided to do what my heart was crying out to do, listen to what I thought I was hearing, and make a commitment to be home more.  This put us in an even more difficult financial position then the hard one we have been struggling with for the last several years.

Working less is not a practical, sane choice by any means.

But spending time with my younger children, who need it so much, is crucial.

So, this was a hard Christmas.  I was only able to get two presents for each kid.  But amazingly, they each got the thing they wanted most, plus, out of nowhere, unexpected bounty arrived at our door, again and again.  The Lord sent real life angels to bless my children.

Although my prayers for full abundant provision from the Lord has not been answered yet, my prayers for my children were each answered in very unique ways.  Ways that let me know that the Lord had heard me, had not forgotten me, loved my family, and is not only working on my behalf, but working on the behalf of those I am praying for.

This gift for my daughter is one such answered prayer.




 

• My husband is at work
• My  part-time Nanny position ended
• Three kids are in Public School (two in high-school)
• One kids is in on line school.  At home.  With me.  
• My financial situation is in transition.  

The Kraaft Shaak is a little crafty internet shop based somewhere East of me.  This was their first year for a design team and I was to be chosen to be apart of it.  Our mission was to use the Kraaft Shaak's unique mixed media kits in three projects.

2 oz paint goes farther than you think.

The kit comes with a sample paper pack.  It has enough papers for several projects. I used some in all three of my challenges. I used the Prima chalk board Paint in two of the challenges.

This theme means a lot to me personally (feel free to ask me about it!) But I'm so curious to see how other's respond to this piece that I am not going to tell it's story.  I wonder if it might have a story for you?




To get an idea of what is in this kit, and how much I had to play with you might want to check out this video from Sherrie, who answered the call for the next design team.  She share's all the oodles of the things that come in the kit and cracks me up at the same time.




Did you watch it?  Did you see how much is fun and craftiness is packed into this little box?  Do you think I managed to use up everything in that box?

Well, I used up most of it.  There is still a wee bit chalk paint left, I have a map page left, and a book page that was suppose to go into the mini-book I created for the very first challenge...and I found a couple of those little sequins left over too.  So, I totally failed to "kill the kit."

But I wounded it.  Badly.

Now, Don't forget the coupon.  Don't forget to visit the Kraaft Shaak. (where there are tutorials, hangouts, hilarity, community, and art supplies everywhere)  Don't forget to buy a mixed media kit.  It's a boredom buster for kids ages eight and up at the very least. And there are loads of things you can make from it.  Check out the Design Team page at the Shaak if you're low on ideas and let me know if you make something crazy...like, FLIP FLOPS!




Be Blessed!