Gratitude.....such an easy thing to do and yet such an easy thing to forget to do.

However, many a potential misundersanding and mis-steps have been avoided when I simply remember to stop and be thankful for whatever lesson the universe has chosen for me learn.  (and it seems of late that the Universe has an unlmited supply of lessons it wishes to send me!)

The main lesson so far---- when I'm grateful, I cannot be angry...or hurt...or sad....or anxious.....or lonely.....or afraid......or confused......or.....anything but grateful.  Just as darkness canot exist in the presence of light, fear cannot co-exist with gratitude.

Amazing isn't it..... the capabilities of that ONE word....the ills that one word can eliminate!

As long as I remember to be grateful I can look only forward to a life where learning very valuable lessons is seen as an adventure.

          ...The fuel that keeps me moving.....hopefully forward.  I have discovered that I am requiring an increasing supply of inspiration to keep me moving forward....

And don't tell me it's 'age'....I REFUSE to get old!!! :-)

And what inspires me?  Enlightening conversations with people who 'think' like I do.  A design project for a friend or business.  Being able to spend more time here during the past couple of days reading and catching up on others blogs and emails.  Learning how to do something new.  Meeting new people. Making new friends here at Zaadz.  Knowing that I have done something to improve the quality of life for another.  Listening to beautiful music.  Listening to other's stories.  Listening to and being in nature.  Being able to connect-the-dots and look back and see how events of yesterday so perfectly laid the foundation for events of today....remembering that everything happens for a reason and happens exactly as it should...

The following Words of Wisdom I received in an email the other day not only served as a source of continued inspiration...but were a timely reminder of HOW and WHY I become inspired to anything in the first place.

     "Until one is committed, there is hesitancy...the chance to draw back...always ineffectiveness.  Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth - the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans:  that the moment that one definitely commits oneself then providence moves too."

                         "Whatever You Can Do....Begin It.

                                          Boldness Has Genius, Power and Magic In It."

                                                                            "Begin It Now"             

                                                                                                                   ~~~Goethe~~~


               To all who stop by....Listen to your Heart...Follow your Dreams....Live in the               NOW....and Be Inspired!

                

    These words are used to define the word Desideratum, the singular form of the word Desiderata.   Other words such as essential, necessary, required.... have essentially the same meaning, but with much less passion.    For those of you unfamiliar with this particular work, Desiderata also the title of a poem that is generally believed to have been written in 1927 by Max Ehrmann. 

    I've posted this poem before....and do so each time I see or hear these written words.  It is my way of "listening to the universe", and the poem is a nice reminder of how to achieve happiness - if happiness is what is truly desired.   My reminder today came from this source, a truly inspiring video of the words put to music:

    
                            http://www.inspiringthots.net/movie/desiderata.php

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                                                                      DESIDERATA



       Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
       and remember what peace there may be in silence.
       As far as possible without surrender
       be on good terms with all persons.
       Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
       and listen to others.
       even the dull and the ignorant;
       they too have their story.

       Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
       they are vexations to the spirit.
       If you compare yourself with others,
       you become vain and bitter;
       for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
       Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

       Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
       it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
       Exercise caution in your business affairs;
       for the world is full of trickery.
       But let this not not blind you to what virtue there is;
       many persons strive for high ideals;
       and everywhere life is full of heroism.

       Be yourself.
       Especially, do not feign affection.
       Neither be cynical about love;
       for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
       it is as perennial as the grass.

       Take kindly the counsel of the years,
       gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
       Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
       But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
       Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
       Beyond a wholesome discipline,
       be gentle with yourself.

       You are a child of the universe,
       no less than the trees and the stars;
       you have a right to be here.
       And whether or not it is clear to you,
       no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

       Therefore, be at peace with God,
       whatever you conceive him to be,
       and whatever your labors and aspirations,
       in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

       With all it's sham, drudgery and broken dreams,
       it is a beautiful world.
       Be cheerful.
       Strive to be happy.

      




   

It has been quite a while - too long actually, since I've written anything on the subject of Gratitude.

I woke up this morning with the strongest sense of peace I've felt in a long while.  As I lay there trying to decide if I was in fact awake and alive my thoughts automatically shifted to an almost overwhelming sense of gratitude.  It's not typical for me to feel anything, much less gratitude, after only 4 hours of sleep!  But today was different....especially after the week I've had, it would be much easier to think about what all I''m NOT grateful for....like the fatigue after working almost 60 hours, having finals in Photoshop class....having NO love life and being alone on Valentine's....

Instead my shifted to the memory of a conversation with my best friend this week where we talked about choices - what we do and how we feel and, more importantly, how we respond to any situation is a choice we make.  And if what we attract in our lives is the result of our thoughts, intention is the bridge that connects our emotion with possibility.  During this conversation I was reminded how an 'attitude of gratitude', so profoundly affects our thoughts which inevitably lead us to choices that are beneficial not only to ourselves, but to all we come in contact with.  As I write this It occurs to me that it is this particular set of lenses that I have choosen to look through that shifts my focus from myself to the world....and the reason I am grateful what I have as well as what I don't have!

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Spectrum of Intentions

As long as I am breathing, I will always be alive;
As long as I am alive, I will always be evolving;
As long as I am evolving, I will always be changing;
As long as I am changing, I will always be conscious;
As long as I am conscious, I will always be deliberate;
As long as I am deliberate, I will always be intentional;
As long as I am intentional, I will always be focused;
As long as I am focused, I will always be consistent;
As long as I am consistent, I will always be certain......    
                                                                                                        

    If you notice on my profile page I have a link where a new picture from space can be viewed each day.  And while those pictures are often interesting and entertaining, this link   http://axiomsun.com/home/video/space_star_stuff.html   will take you a couple of steps farther -  to a video depicting how the universe was made, from the Big Bang to the Human Body.  Pretty cool, huh!

  It is almost 30 minutes in length, but I found to be well worth the time......enjoy!

                      
                             Well....if I HAD a back door, this is what you would see today!

    Living in the hills and out in the sticks as I do has disadvantages, but add a little snow and ice....and you have a perfect recipe for an iron-clad excuse to NOT drive (or in my case, slide) into work. 

    Donning my favorite outfit - polar fleece and boots -  off I went, camera in hand, making tracks in the snow....

   I was mainly in search of cute little critters....however, it seems they had better sense than to be out in the cold - even my camera doesn't like temps below freezing.  The image above is taken from a  tree in my front yard....a local hang-out for squirrels and woodpeckers.    Although NOT today!  But....there is good news:  I have Photoshop!  And plenty of free time on my hands to create the image I would have liked to see.....as another 1'-3' of snow begins to fall....

I'm NOT a shopper - I'm not one to buy things unless I (or someone else) really, really wants or needs them.

And it took me a while to convince myself that buying a drawing tablet would be something I could use or want or need....oh how uninformed and naive I was!

This little jewel is GREAT!  So great that, I can actually say that Photoshop and I may, in fact, be able to peacefully co-exist.....maybe!  

And oh what a tumultuous love - hate relationship this has been!  When I first opened Photoshop, it was love at first sight...I was completely swept of my feet!  As a future designer and wanting to capture and visualize my creative ideas on such a creative medium, I felt as though I had indeed found Heaven on earth!  But, as I got to know PS better, it's dark side (it's very high learning curve) surfaced and love quickly turned to hate.  Naturally, my initial reaction was to call it names as I perceived it be selfish and unwilling to share it's technology with me.  And....I'm guessing it thought I was...uh...slow. ;-)   At those times I suppose it felt sorry for me and would allow me to complete a simple project.  As a result I would be so elated!   Hate was once again replaced with love.  Even if only temporary, it was enough to keep me interested.   I began to anticipate the next task and would delve into it full of enthusiasm and optimism.....only to be followed by the pangs of betrayal while trying to learn a new color concept or layering technique.

Those of you that have had to put up with my lamenting about difficult PS is to learn...thank you kindly for your patience.....I now have a whole new attitude!  Photoshop is not the one with the problem.  It has a multidimensional personality, a multitude of skills and is capable of performing tasks that a one-dimensional mind (like mine), is not even able to fathom.   It's not IT'S fault! :-)  I just need to get out more!!!

So rather than continue fighting with it or dumping it, I've decided to seek outside professional help.  This is where the drawing tablet comes in.  What it offers is the best of both worlds.  I can draw and be creative while it (Photoshop) does what it likes to do -  rasterizing pixels and channeling layers.
 
A  win-win situation!

      

        Quite possibly the sanest thought I've had this week is to add this book to my lengthy wish list at Amazon.com.

        From what part within the deep recesses of MY mind did I get the idea that Adobe Photoshop and I could peacefully co-exist.  The reader's Digest Condensed version of, 'My Life With PS" is this:  It's flat doing me in!!!  Why did I agree to take this class now?  What deep, enlightening lesson is the universe trying to convey to me now?

       When discussing this course with my academic advisor I was informed that it has a 'high learning curve'....but not to worry....I'll learn it quickly.  She must have thought she was  talking to my twin? - or my clone? - for anyone who really knows me, also knows that I DON'T DO COMPUTERS.  Consequently, I should stay far, far away from anything with a high learning curve - what a term!

       Anything with a high learning curve should be reserved for other people - I'm not  like other people...not even close!  What I'm experiencing with this Photoshop class is equivalent to walking up Machu Picchu - backward and blindfolded!  If I should reach the top, what I will have found will not be the "Lost Land of the Incas', but rather the 'Lost Land of the Incompetent Photoshop Wanna Be's'.

       So, what was I thinking?  Being the eternal optimist, I really and truly thought that if anyone else on this planet could do this, then so could I!

       What am I thinking now?  I'm still optimistic, but guarded.   I've corresponded quite a bit with my instructor - these class assignments appear more relevant to graphic design majors - of which I am NOT!!!  If she is able to relate any of this to furniture placement, architecture and color schemes, then I'll be willing to go head and play along.

       My over riding thought?  My hat is SO off to ALL  who read this and are proficient with any aspect of Photoshop.  Do each of you have any idea what an accomplishment  you have achieved!!!

   With deep admiration I humbly bow to each of you.  And hope join all you over achievers in the near future!

    School is out!  For almost three weeks I'll have a bit more freedom to blog, read and respond to blogs and surf a few of my favorite web sites that I had been neglecting. 

    One of my favorites - http://www.ted.com, was one of the first places I visited today.  For those unfamiliar with TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) this is a most amazing site - where some of, if not THE most creative and innovative minds gather and share their ideas and concepts - ideas and concepts designed to improve the world around us.

    Being in the educational mode, I was drawn to this particular speaker, Richard Baraniuk, a Rice University professor who has a GIANT vision - to create a FREE, on-line global educational system!  After hearing his 15 minute or so presentation, it became clear that this idea is not only possible, but will likely be THE solution to ineffective traditional class room teaching.

    To watch his presentation, go here: http://www.ted.com/tedtalks/tedtalksplayer.cfm?key=r_baraniuk

    During the past 2 1/2  months I've been awestruck at the convenience and availablity of just being able to receive an online education alone.  This guy has taken that technology and has envisioned a simple ( c= y2 -wx X m/y2......or some such mathmatical equation!)  to kick it up a notch!  

You gotta see this!