I have had some really amazing
people who inspire me in my life not least of these is Valerie Rogers.
I have
had moments when I felt like I had just lost my mojo and bear making was not for
me. I had times when my bears seem to never sell on the online shows or on Bear Pile.
My
confidence was often shattered and I questioned my own work.
Valerie always pushed
me gently forward, telling me to raise my Wonder Woman shields to protect my
heart, especially when I was bullied and people were not kind.
At one point I felt like
just giving up altogether.
Then I hit a point where I decided something very
profound. I love to make bears! "No surprise there." I hear you saying.
However
this was so much more than a passing thought. Not only do I love making bears,
they are my bliss; my happy place and the thing I do that brings me joy.
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So when I finally realized this is
what I love, weather people buy them or not, does not matter! What truly
matters is following my bliss.
I make bears that I love!
I am mostly always
happy because I am on the right path, I am doing what I am meant to be
doing.
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At a recent dinner with friends, one of them brought his new friend along. A lovely young lady that I thought
was so sweet but still underneath a bit sad.
As the night progressed conversation turned to what I do. She grabbed her phone to look at my Facebook page,
website and Bear Pile. She was delighted with my work and said “ Your so
lucky to do what you love.”
As the night went on she admitted that she had been
an artist, a painter and that in fact the schools she graduated from had bought
some of her art work and it still hung in the halls of her old school.
I asked
her, "so what have you painted lately? Do you have photos to share?" She looked at me
and sighed, "No, I have done nothing with my art for so long."
She hated her job
and was really not happy. I asked why and she said, "I have no time." I replied, "Can you
find 10 minutes a day to spare?"
She said. "yes."
I said "good, then set up and easel with a blank
canvas and every day find 10 minutes to go in and do something, even if its only to
look at the canvas and dream. Her eyes suddenly started to light up with excitement. I could
see it had hit the mark. A spark of hope and maybe inspiration!
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