Paint your Life Well
My hand was more than a little unsteady as I held the brush in my hand. It felt foreign to me after spending nearly 20 years away from a canvas and paint. My wife surprised me by planning a date that would force me to pick up a hobby that had somehow been lost to the business of life. In high school and for the first few years following graduation, I had occasionally found the time to sit down and paint a picture.
Now twenty years later, I found myself sitting amongst complete strangers, at the front of the room an instructor began to provide instruction. The date night course promised that anyone could learn to paint, but after so much time away I really began to question that.
As the class progressed I found myself becoming more comfortable, familiar with the brush and the project at hand. Large television monitors around the room, displayed the painting we would all mimic. A painting of a lone tree on a mountain hillside.
About midway through the night, a thought struck me. As I looked around the room, I realized that not a single painting looked alike. There were similar themes, but not one were identical. Every painting was as varied and unique as the individual who created it.
Earlier in the night my wife began making comments about how nervous she was. Would she be able to do it? As she sat by my side I couldn’t help but notice the others who had gathered around, commenting about her work. Just like life, there are those who seem to be naturals, gifted in all they do. There are others that struggle, that need time and development.
As I walked around the room that night, I realized one thing… this life is ours, it’s what we make it. Only we can paint our life’s picture, we are responsible for every stroke we make, good or bad. As hard as we might try to deny it, this life is our own. We can’t compare our masterpiece to that of anyone else. There will be times in our life when we doubt our abilities, and times when we draw a crowd. The secret is to step back and evaluate where our life is headed and realize our work will not be completed until we put that paint brush down.
Paint your life well!
2015 – The Year of the Mom!!
Rediscover the Secret that Once Made You Happy
I’m always amazed as I hear from you, how many out there feel unappreciated. This seems especially true for many of you moms, so I’m dedicating 2015 to “The Year of the Mom!” I want to recognize all the great wives and mothers out there who do so much for the rest of us. My challenge to you in the coming year is recapture the happiness that you once had, or find a way to share it with others.
Let’s face it, life isn’t always easy, there’s a so much going on. As an adult it’s easy to get overwhelmed and lose sight of the things that once made us happy. When you stop living with purpose, it’s easy to feel unaccomplished. But it hasn’t always been like, has it? Didn’t you once dream of this day? The day of a family, a home, maybe a career. Maybe life has changed and some of those dreams have slipped away. Either way, you can get that happiness back. It’s not up to anyone else to validate us, this life is ours to live and it all starts by following your heart, making the most of every moment and celebrating even the smallest success.
Think back to a period of life when you were truly happy. Why do you think of that time? What was it that made you so happy? Chances are you’re thinking of a time when you were following your heart, driving toward a goal. Chances are that happiness, didn’t come because of the praise of others, true happiness most often comes from inside. It’s a gift that the universe grants to those who are living their life with purpose, following their inner compass and striving to improve the world around them.
I’ve created this video as a reminder of a simple truth told of in The Compass. It’s a truth that I believe at one point or another we all know, but along the way we might forget. It is such a simple lesson, but the more I talk with people, the more I realize how difficult it can be to put in practice. If we are not careful it’s easy to lose sight of who we are, the truth is you are pretty amazing. Never forget that.
I write stories to inspire, uplift and motivate. I write stories with morals, I hope that you will follow your own personal compass in 2015 and rediscover the happiness that for so many is missing. The Compass is the Story of one girl who discovers what’s possible, when you choose to follow your heart. I hope enjoy it.
Please visit my site and let me know what you think of The Compass at www.authorbrettarmstrong.com . You can purchase your copy here and for a limited time get 50% off you ebook purchase when you use the coupon code Successin2015. You can also purchase your physical copy of The Compass at Amazon.