We are never too young – or old – to dream.
Hope your Christmas was wonderful. I struggled with a tech issue on WordPress, so am posting later than planned, but my wishes are every bit as sincere.
Cheers!!
Dreaming at Christmas
Photography
Gratitude
So many of us have so much to be thankful for.
Happy Thanksgiving!
It’s Never Too Late
Whatever our age, at one point or another, we may feel that our one big chance has passed us by. Whether it’s to be published, appear on stage, accomplish something amazing …. whatever it is, we missed that magical time. Here are some amazing facts that say we’re wrong.
At age 23, Tina Fey was working at a YMCA.
At age 23, Oprah was fired from her first reporting job.
At age 24, Stephen King was working as a janitor and living in a trailer.
At age 27, Vincent Van Gogh failed as a missionary and decided to go to art school.
At age 28, J.K. Rowling was a single parent living on welfare who was clinically depressed and at times has contemplated suicide.
At age 28, Wayne Coyne (from The Flaming Lips) was a fry cook.
At age 30, Harrison Ford was a carpenter.
At age 30, Martha Stewart was a stockbroker.
At age 37, Ang Lee was a stay-at-home-dad working odd jobs.
Julia Child released her first cookbook at age 39, and got her own cooking show at age 51.
Vera Wang failed to make the Olympic figure skating team, didn’t get the Editor-in-Chief position at Vogue, and designed her first dress at age 40.
Stan Lee didn’t release his first big comic book until he was 40.
Alan Rickman gave up his graphic design career to pursue acting at age 42.
Samuel L. Jackson didn’t get his first major movie role until he was 40.
Morgan Freeman landed his first MAJOR movie role at age 52.
Kathryn Bigelow only reached international success when she made The Hurt Locker at age 57.
Grandma Moses didn’t begin her painting career until age 76.
Louise Bourgeois didn’t become a famous artist until she was 78.
Just because we haven’t found fame and fortune by the age of 21, it doesn’t mean we’re over.
Maybe we’re still figuring out what our big dream is, what it is that sets our soul on fire.
Things can change on a dime, so never tell yourself you’re too old to make it.
Never tell yourself you missed your chance.
Or that you aren’t good enough.
It’s never too late.
.
.
Photo by Jared Weiss on Unsplash
Seeing vs. Looking
Looking is what we do all the time. It’s how we negotiate our world. But seeing … that’s something special.
Sitting out on my back porch recently, I suddenly saw these incredible shadows made by the hydrangeas and porch railings. I saw a parrot, a rabbit, maybe a dragon, an acorn. Because instead of just looking with my eyes, I saw with my mind, my wider perception.
Not long ago, I’d taken a photo of my kitchen counter, because I became aware of the color of the shadow on the Thermos and the mug – so blue!
I love this photo of the hydrangeas because the shadows are so very soft and blue-grey, but also because it seemed to me that the leaf was in love with the hydrangea flower. Yes, my imagination, but when we really look at things, we see more deeply.
If we stop, we might see patterns all about us, lines and shapes that we casually pass by every day, until one day, we really see them.
I guess what I’m saying here is that our world is so much richer than we know or acknowledge. And all it takes to open that richness is to be in the present moment and see what’s around us.
Come Meet Me at Tinicum!
In the area Saturday? Come join me at the Author’s Tent from 2-4, and I would be delighted to sign a copy of my picture book, Where Do Butterflies Go at Night? and talk picture books – or butterflies – with you!
The festival is almost completely in the shade, and makes for very pleasant touring about. The 130+ artists and artisans featured are truly top-notch, plus there’s live entertainment, and much more. Check here for details:
This is a 2-day event, so if Saturday is not good for you, come Sunday and enjoy the art and festivities!
Still A Dreamer 