Scared to Death, and Saddling up Anyway.

 Do you get a word for the year? Something that defines your year, keeps you on track and motivates you?

I do. This year my word is "Yes!".  I can tell you- I say it with less excitement than I just wrote it- Ha! and  right off the bat, IT freaks me out. Why? Because my favourite response is "we'll see" with hopes that whatever was requested - just fizzles out. But not this year- this year I am saying yes to projects and activities that scare me. 

Last weekend I was asked to speak at a publishers conference, talking about Inspiring the book within. How exciting, and omgggggg freak me out scary! I am not a public speaker, although I can do it, I do however often let my nerves get the best of me. But guess what, I did it! I survived, and I participated in the entire conferences instead of ducking in and out for my session. We live in a world where connections are not happening as easily as they once did, I am a very relational person, I love people, and I had the best time getting to know new people. How exciting! (I wasn't going to stay for all of the sessions, because I was scared that I was going to get more nervous, knowing what they talked about, and what if I am not as good as they are, and what if... what if.... what... ) 

Ha! Guess what my talk was on- Creativity: Consistency (the more you do), Collaboration (don't compare, collaborate), Courage (it takes COURAGE to show up, to share- to give, to show your work)

I got convicted by my own talk last Wednesday when I was refining my talk- and I had to take my own advise and show up, and be there, and listen and learn, and not compare, but instead collaborate with the other speakers in bringing a conference filled with inspiration and encouragement to move people to the next step of their writing process... 

Guess what, we are all created with different gifts, to be used different ways, even if it looks like someone has already done what you desire to do, do it anyway- yours will be different ( I am not talking bout copying other's work- do your own) if you have a desire to create something, create it, don't look around at what other's are doing, just do you! 

All of this to encourage you to do the hard things, do the thing that scares you- I've talked about this before often it only takes 10 seconds of courage to ask for what you need, to press send, to start a new project and to do something new... 10 seconds of courage. I'm here to encourage you to embrace the 10 seconds of courage, and just do it.

Whatever it is you are working on, share it, show it, be proud of it! You are doing awesome! 

Here are a couple of cute prints from my talk last this past weekend!

Share the love,

M.

Creativity, Consistency, and Courage?

Another word for creativity is courage... I read that recently on a friends business card, I thought to myself- how have I never seen this before? I fancy myself someone who is pretty observant-  however I could possibly oblivious to so many thing around me, and I just have no idea- But I digress.

I wrote this blog post a long time ago for my hubby's blog, he no longer blogs... But of course I keep my files, because I am a digital hoarder. (Oh my gooooodness! that is a real thing. I know a guy. Seriously- it gives me anxiety just thinking about "owning" that much digital clutter) Again, I digress...

I wanted to share, because I believe that not only is creativity about consistency, but also about collaboration, and courage. Today I want to encourage you, it takes COURAGE to openly share stuff... to take on a new project you've never done. I'll be starting a new project, and it's going to take great courage on my part to not get myself overwhelmed by how big it actually is-  BIG for me might be tiny in your world- but no matter how big or small our work may be, it takes courage to share it, to put ourselves out there and let people decide if they like it or not... that takes courage.

I take great solace in that old saying "30% will like it, 30% won't like it, 30% won't care..." and that last 10 % I don't know what they are going to do, but either way... does it actually matter?

Take a read, I'd love to know your thoughts!

I’m sure you are looking for a wonderful fairy dust laden image of what creativity is. First let me tell you what it is not. Creativity is not unicorns farting rainbows*, (and thank God, because I haven’t seen one of those in a long time- and nope, I won’t tell you the last time I did see one). It isn’t a high that you go on and come down from. Creativity is synonymous, in my opinion, with consistency. The more you do, (it can be anything, writing, drawing, hand lettering, creating graphics, thinking outside the box, mathematical equations -anything) the more creative you will be. By doing, it’s as if you are winding-up a clock, if you windup a clock, it will tick. It is the same for us as creatives. If you are consistently winding-up your creativity, it will tick, you will tick, and ultimately you will create.

Personal experience has been a great teacher, it has taught me; the more you share, the more you will have. I love this quote by Anne Frank; “No one has ever become poor by giving.” I believe this relates truly to ideas, creativity, and love. You cannot out give the ever flowing fountain that lives inside of you. You create this fountain by consistently doing. It bubbles up and will run over freely. Give it. 

Creativity lives in a world of collaboration, not competition. Don’t compete with others, collaborate with them. Don’t hide what you are doing, share it. Find someone who you truly admire and ask to work with them on something. It doesn’t have to be a famous person, it can be a friend, colleague, relative, neighbour, even your kid. This collaboration thing, this one, this is hard one. We aren’t taught this in life, we are taught to look out for number one. Collaboration, I have had to learn, and it has been a journey. But now, I try to share everything. Trying to one-up everyone else in the entire world is absolutely exhausting! (<- what a great way to drain creativity). Remember there will always be someone above you, and someone below you. So don’t hate- Collaborate!

Creativity is stifled while you are waiting for the Unicorn to fart Rainbows, but grows in consistency. Creativity vanishes when you don’t share, but thrives in giving. Creativity cries when you compete, but lives in Collaboration.

3 Things to Remember: 

Creativity lives in Consistency. Creativity lives in Giving. Creativity lives in Collaboration. 

Today I will include a 4th thing to remember...

Creativity takes courage.

And you my friend are courageous.  I've included a print to help remind us all, especially me, creativity takes courage... be courageous today and CREATE!

Share the love,
M.

LostBumblebee©2019 MDBN Free Printable for Personal Use Only.

Don't!

Don't die with the music still inside.
Don't leave this world not sharing your passion.
Don't let another day slip by without taking a teeny tiny minuscule little step towards sharing your heart.

Do share, the world needs what you have to say.
Do be courageous for just 10 seconds while you hit send, post, say thank you, give someone your phone number, respond to a request, say yes...

All it takes is that 10 seconds of courage to set that thing free that you have been wanting to share...
Today I encourage you to set it free... be really courageous for those 10 seconds... share your heart, share your art, share your voice and share the love.

What are you working on today? What have you been dreaming of? What are some of your hopes dreams and goals?

Share the love,
M.

I'm getting ready to work on a new post and I'd love to hear some of your questions for Duy and I. Is there anything about us that you'd like to know, any fertility questions, gratitude questions, healing questions, inspiration questions, art questions you want to ask? If you'd like, ask them in the comments, and if you are a little more shy, use the link off to the side to ask them via email... I'm curious to know what you want to hear!

Please Don't Feed The Fears.

How many times have you stopped yourself from doing something because of how you felt people would perceive it, or perceive you, or judge you?

I have, more times than I'd like to admit, and I still do. I catch myself saying, "oh Miss, you can't do that..."

Well you know what... there is a time and place for rethinking stuff... there is also a time and place to stop living in the fear that someone will judge you or your work, or your talent...

The world needs more of what you have to share.
I read this rule somewhere and I still believe it to be true... when you post your art, share your voice, use your talent... 33% will, 33% won't, and 33% won't even care.

33% of people will love it,  33% will hate it,  and 33% won't care that you shared it, or didn't share it. 

So you know what, with odds like that, just do it, stop feeding the fears of what you think others might say or do, and just go for it! It's time to follow your dream, share your passion, and reach your goals. You've got this... and so do I. I'm preaching to the choir here today people... preaching to the choir. (that would be me, I wrote this for me- because life gets rough and sometimes people are mean, and it's easier not to share what you have then to put it out there... so ya, this one is for me.)

Can you relate? What do you want to do but are too afraid to try?

Share the love,
M.

LostBumblebee ©2016 MDBN
PLEASE DON'T FEED THE FEARS or THE BEARS
Donate to download
PERSONAL USE ONLY : www.lostbumblebee.net

LostBumblebee ©2016 MDBN Facebook Cover Image (72 dpi not for print ) PLEASE DON'T FEED THE FEARS or THE BEARS  Donate to download PERSONAL USE ONLY : www.lostbumblebee.net

LostBumblebee soon to be on the loose... again.

Ever have an opportunity that was so good you just couldn't miss it... and then once you said yes... well you were scared to death?

Ya, that. It's a big year here for me and the Mister... we are packing up and getting ready to head out on another huge adventure... one that will change our lives forever. For. Ever.  We are packing up for longer than we've ever packed up for, we are headed half way around the world, and we will be living life on purpose on the other side of globe. Living life on purpose, that is how we started living our lives two years ago... with a purpose- not letting life happen to us, but making our own lives.  On this new adventure, do I know what my purpose will be yet? Nope. I'm sure I'll find out when I get there. But do I have a purpose? Absolutely!

When you are challenged with big things, and you are scared to death, how do you deal with it? What do you do to calm yourself down... get yourself organized... and get on with it?

This is one of my favourite quotes;

Courage is being scared to death, and saddling up anyway - John Wayne

What are you saddling up for this year? What do you need to be courageous about? What are you planning that is scaring you to death?

Share the love,
M.

For more version of this print go to:
http://lostbumblebee.blogspot.ca/2014/02/saddling-up-anyway.html

LostBumblebee ©2014 5x7 Personal Use Only

Rise Up. Take Courage. Do it.

Sometimes it's just that easy.
Get up, have courage, and do it.

Sometimes all you need is 2 minutes of courage.
Just two minutes...

And sometimes it's not that easy.
Sometimes its hard, sometimes you can't get a clear picture, sometimes everything feels fuzzy. My Mom would say: when you don't know what to do, do nothing at all... and never make a decision at night.

Wise words from a wise Momma.

What is it today that you need to be courageous about... something small, something big, something that totally overwhelms you?

Whatever it is... get up, have courage, and do it... you can do it.

Share the love,
M.

LostBumblebee ©2016 MDBN : Take Courage :
Ezra 10:4 : Printable : Free for personal use

LostBumblebee ©2016 MDBN : Take Courage :
 Ezra 10:4 : Printable : Free for personal use

20 Seconds of Courage.

Sometimes we need courage and we run away from hard things because we feel like we need enough courage to get through an entire ordeal, when the reality is, maybe- just maybe -we only need 20 seconds of courage. Those 20 seconds can be the start of something amazing or the end of something horrific. Just 20 seconds of courage.

20 seconds to pick up the phone
20 seconds to make the call
20 seconds to send that email
20 seconds to say I'm sorry
20 seconds to say I'm done
20 seconds to post art online
20 seconds to say no
20 seconds to say yes
20 seconds to take the first step
20 seconds to walk out
20 seconds to walk in
20 seconds to say I Love You


It doesn't have to be something complicated, just something you are scared to do for fear of what others may think. When I started my blog, it was scary. When I posted my art online for the first time it was scary. But all it took was 20 seconds. When I, (present tense, because I still get nervous) send clients work, for feedback and opinion, it takes 20 seconds of courage to press send. When I have to say no, when saying yes would be easier, just 20 seconds of courage.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to see what just 20 seconds of courage can do. It blew my mind. How just 20 seconds of courage can change a life. So this one is for everyone who needs just 20 seconds of courage to do that thing, you know the one, the one that has you worrying at night and stressed during the day, wondering what everyone will think- 20 seconds friend. Just 20 seconds of courage. It's all you need. Just 20 seconds.

Be Brave, Breathe, 20 Seconds of Courage, You can do this.
Share the love,
M.

LostBumblebee ©2015 MDBN : 4x6.

LostBumblebee ©2015 MDBN : 5x7.

LostBumblebee ©2015 MDBN : 8x10.