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THE CARE & FEEDING OF A
DREAM
1. A dream is like an exotic
pet, not everyone will understand why you would want that thing living with you.
As you tell people about your dreams and aspirations be selective about who you
share your hearts desires with.
2. On the other hand, do
express your "cocktail pitch" - the one that concisely expresses your passions
to new acquaintances. Test out how it sounds out loud. Look at
people's eyes - some other creative souls will respond and may be a good source
of inspiration to you.
3. Trust your own unique
attitude. Feel like you don't fit in with the other kids on the block?
Good! You aren't supposed to! Embrace your eccentricities, you are
unique. Let people know that you still have every Barbie & Ken doll you
ever owned. So what? When you do, you might be paving the way for
other kids to embrace their uniqueness too.
4. Keep your eyes on the
ball. Staying inspired is tricky. Find out what works for you & do
it faithfully. Online groups, frequenting sole-proprietor's, bookstores,
art galleries, reading children's books...
5. Find like-minded people
and get together once a month. Get together to talk positively
about what you are working on. How you intend to market yourself, etc.
Stay away from chronic whining..."this is hard work"...please!
6. Keep molding your goals.
Dreams are not meant to be static. Try different creative ideas and
actions on for size. Learn to knit, take a cooking class, write a short
story. You may stumble across ways of incorporating your original dreams
into new interests. The combination of these elements may be just what you
need to take flight.
7. Slow your hectic life
down! Creative musings aren't nurtured at 80 miles per hour. A quiet
spirit and soul are open to the sweetest ideas. This often requires a lot
of repeated effort to communicate to friends, family, and yes even your
children, that you need refueling. Read inspirational devotionals, flip
mindlessly thru magazines, doodle in your journal, touch every fabric at your
favorite fabric store. Whatever you do...this time is for no television,
telephone, or email. Your brain and body will thank you (you can thank me,
later).
8. Have confidence that every
little step is a part of the big journey. Paint a mural for a girlfriend?
Decide to quit your day job and paint murals for a living? Maybe not...but
every creative experience you have, no matter how small, makes up what you are
today. A lot of experiences may not turn out to be as lucrative as you had
hoped or even as fun or fulfilling. Focus on what you've learned...and the
moments of joy you had in the process. You may not realize it, but all
these experiences that seem like "rabbit trails" are giving you the experience
for your creative mental resume.
9. You are worth it!
Can't bring yourself to charge others for what you do? Just feel shocked
someone actually wants to hire you? buy something you created? Don't hang
your head and apologize for your skills. Did you read number 8 ? You
have been flexing your creative muscles for years, by reading, journaling,
making mistakes, making sure you have creative times, learning from other
creative souls...your muscle is developed. Feels too easy? That's
muscle memory. You know what you're doing. Your worth it...Believe it!
10. Nurture others. The
old proverb or "reaping what you sow" is out there and working. Mentor
people, teach classes, be a creative example to your children. You'll find
yourself to be more of an expert than you think. Do it just because it
feels right to inspire other people and because somehow you know when it's time
to sow the seeds you are planting, it will be rich and sweet.
Monica Lee
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