That is Encouraging

2 CommentsBlog, , , , ,

ReverieYesterday I wrote for the first in ten days. During the time I was absent from writing it surprised me how many people was still coming to the website to read previous posts. More encouraging is receiving messages and comments regarding yesterday’s post. All comments and messages were about how the post was a timely reminder for the right moment. That is encouraging indeed. It is a special kind of feeling difficult to articulate but I am definitely thankful for it. It is good to think that what I write here is an unrewarded effort although it feels that I am writing to no one sometimes. It is good to know someone still reads this and benefits from it.

Photo Nov 22, 10 59 16 PMI do not think I have a special wisdom or some kind of talent to speak to people’s need. I am also far away from being a preacher, a prophet, or a motivational speaker (although I used to be a motivational speaker a long time ago). In my short life and the experiences I’ve been through, as well as the times I learned from what I’ve seen from others, I learned to pause and see the world. I do see the world with a little humor which is not always understood by others but it is fun inside my head. Learning from the Bible as well as having a holistic view of the world helps me connect the dots. That doesn’t mean that I know everything or that I have everything figured out. No one does. I am just glad and thankful that I can share the little I know and bright the day for someone.

Take some time to stop and consider your lives and your experiences. Share them with others. There is always something others can learn from you. Maybe you can bright someone’s day. Even in our failures (which are only failures if we learn nothing from them) we can be changing a life if we share.

A Sketch a Day

Blog, , , , ,

1467260_10150541331599956_8256019650626832140_n-2

I use social media a lot. I have a Facebook page, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Google+, and Tumblr among others. Last week in Instagram I joined a hashtag to post one sketch per day. The hashtag is #asketchaday. Artists from all over the world with many different styles post a sketch and we all get to see. I’ve been posting sometimes more than one sketch per day. A sketch a day is a good way to develop and maintain a discipline. Although, it would be just the beginning of it. It is said that it takes 21 days to develop a habit.

10516669_10150539909099956_4459567401894699820_n-2At the moment I am going to some life transitions and my time in the studio was reduced to taking care of other things. However, forcing myself to draw daily not only keeps me connected to a studio like habit but also is a chance to connect to my artistic roots and to develop ideas for the future. Drawing is also a form of study. It helps me understand the figure a little better while I can continue improving my technique.

10361564_10150542051959956_6402271108329146029_nDrawing is also a lot of fun. It distracts the mind from the daily madness and relaxes the senses. It also sharpens the eye-hand coordination. “Practice. Practice. Practice…” its what I tell people. Of course, it is all about having fun with it too. Interestingly, I received messages and comments of people who identify with this drawings and feel connected to them. Specially women who find emotional healing in art. That is very good to know. It is inspiring, encouraging, and motivating.

Motivation

2 CommentsBlog, , , , ,

10659303_10150471826344956_6152804300848027622_n

Motivation has many faces and sounds to move us into action, to keep us from giving up, and to stay in the path. It is precisely in those moments when motivation injects that extra something in our minds pushing us away from idleness. In occasions it pushes us to rest, to take time, to breath, and consider the path we are taking, and to reconsider our intentions. Motivation can call us to begin, continue, or stop. It is that wake up call; that extra injection of strength.

Motivation comes from internal and external sources. Many people through time and effort develop the tools to be self-motivated. People who go through hard times to reach goals are generally the ones who motivate themselves when the circumstances are opposing and external motivation lacks. These are the ones that despite being fighting against the world they still find a way to come victorious. The lack of external motivation is the first source of internal motivation and the fuel to prove something to themselves and others.

On the hand, people who lack self-motivation are those who do not fight to reach goals. At times those individuals have antecedents of being people who get what they want easily. When things get difficult they just quit since internally they have no reason to complete what they started and, in some cases, no reason to begin in the first place. It is possible that external motivations are of little effect on people who lack the desire to accomplish in the first place. It requires a complete change and renovation of the mind to see these people take action.

There are others self-motivated individuals who find external motivation as support. Self-motivated individuals who know what they want and where they are going, appreciate the external. It is always encouraging to find others who push them to improve, and to become better. These external motivators are watching and expecting great things because of appreciation, friendship, admiration, and camaraderie. To all of you, I thank you.

What If

Blog, , , ,

1016938_10153024932995352_683631138_n

What if we could see the results of our effort before we begin? Would that makes us finally begin working on that project we have in mind? What if we knew for certain that our project could touch and change the life of one person? Would we still do it? Sometimes all we need is a wake up call; the words of a friend or a stranger to see beyond the present, to recognize our abilities and capacities, and do it. What if that only person we touch with our work is motivated to do something and as a result hundreds if not millions of people are touched and transformed?

Many people know Billy Graham and how through his preaching thousands of people came to Christianity. Many lives have been transformed by God through the efforts of this man. However, very little is said of the person who spoke the gospel with him. Who motivated Bill Gates to stand firm in his ideas many perceived as ridiculous? How about Albert Einstein, the Wright brothers, Nikola Tesla, Leonardo da Vinci, George Washington Carver, and many others? Who motivated them to pursue their ideas? Nick Vujicic was born with no legs and no arms and is one of the greatest motivators of our time.

I can keep adding to the list of people who are known for changing lives through their inventions and their words. You might know many people who might not be famous neither have a Wikipedia page but served as motivation to you. Maybe you are the motivator of someone who is going to change the world. Maybe you are the one who is going to be motivated to make a difference in many people.

Here We Go Again!

Blog, , , , , , ,

Hello, 2015! Here we go again!

long hairTo be honest, the first thing that came to my mind was that song. Yes, you know which one. You are singing it in your head right now. Let’s go back in time for a moment. “Here I go again” from Whitesnake… Go ahead, sing along!

I don’t know where I’m going
But, I sure know where I’ve been
Hanging on the promises
In songs of yesterday
An’ I’ve made up my mind,
I ain’t wasting no more time
But, here I go again
Here I go again

I don’t know where I’m going either but one thing is for sure: I don’t have to walk along the lonely street of dreams by myself. I’m grateful to God for my wife, my kids, my extended family, my church and my friends. Their support, friendship, motivation, and inspiration mean a lot to me.Last year was tough. We faced many challenges but we made it. Those challenges made us stronger and wiser. We had great times too. Many of them! I’m sure the good times were more than the bad times. Let’s not let the bad memories cloud the good ones. With all the challenges that the year might bring, we can still make this year a great year. Let’s enjoy the simple things in life. Let’s change a life. Enjoy the people around you. Live more and worry less. Bring it on, 2015! Let’s do this! Here we go again!