I’ve said before in my books and articles that to be successful and fulfilled as a creative person, you need to ‘show up’ and do the work! Success (whatever defines that) can really only happen if you are doing the work and putting the time in. Sometimes you hear someone use the term ‘overnight success’ and I always kind of laugh because I bet money that those ‘overnight successes’ would beg to differ with that!

It takes YOU to make You successful at whatever goal you are trying to achieve! Our artwork often reflects bits of ourselves in it, that’s what makes it personal and meaningful.

I’ve learned some new things about myself in this 50th milestone year of my life. I did not enter it the way I set out to. I had goals and I kind of lost them for a bit. I didn’t feel in control of my life, my body, my emotions for a variety of reasons. This manifested itself in gaining weight, feeling physically and mentally exhausted and STRESSED.

 

I will admit I mostly complained about it, internally and externally making some half hearted attempts to change things. It didn’t work.

So I gave myself a long pep talk. I needed to make changes for myself and only I could do this. So a couple of months ago I did. I got out my Fitbit. I began with walking a couple of miles a day. Then I added in working out at the gym 2 times a week. Making each step attainable so I could feel successful. Then I added in dieting ( I know, sigh, not fun but really I needed to get control over eating as well). When I feel I have reached one goal and attained it for a bit, I step up the next goal. Now I’m walking at a faster pace and doing 3 1/2 miles a day and working out 2-3 times and I’ve cut my calorie intake. I’ve been losing the weight I gained last year, finally. I feel so much better. And the work on my body has helped with the stressful aspects of life that have plagued me this past year.

Once I set my mind to it and began ‘showing up’ to take care of myself, I felt the tides turning. Is life perfect? No. Will it ever be? Probably not. Am I OK with that? Yes. I will try my best to make the most of what life has to offer each day. I can’t fix other peoples problems. I will be there for them but that’s all I can do. If they choose not to ‘show up’ and do the work they need to do, well, I can’t fix that.

 

If you don’t like some aspect of your life, I encourage you to take steps to change it. They don’t have to be big steps. Set reasonable goals. Take care of yourself. Encourage those around you to do the same but don’t take it on yourself if they choose not to.