Robbed of Personal Power - Beyond Your Story

I talk a lot about your story up until now and how you should not let it define you.

We all have had people in our past who have taken away our personal power. It might have been parents, kids at school that made fun of us or people who have abused us in some way.

In the words of The Bloggess, depression lies!

 I've been right in all these places. I've been told I was fat, even though I was beautiful. There was a man who told me that he loved me, then choked me until I blacked out. There was a man who, when he saw me walking around the college campus without him, told me that I was fat and that he was embarrassed to call me his girlfriend to his coworkers. Girls, so insecure with themselves while in my presence, that they systematically tore at my self esteem over years until by age 17, I didn't think that I was worthy of even drawing breath, anymore.

A picture of me at 17 - suicidal and believing I was horribly fat, ugly
and not worthy of drawing breath, anymore.

There are so many things that float around in our heads from these situations in our lives. They come back to us as we are driving down the road. They replay to us as phantasms behind our closed eyelids in the shower or before we drift off to sleep. These are horrible stories that we repeat in our heads and they hold us back in our lives.

"Oh, I can't do that because my family was . . . "

"I don't deserve to be happy because I'm too fat, too intimidating with my intelligence, too ugly, too . . . " any number of things.

All of these things that you tell yourself in your head, no matter who told you that? They were wrong.

A conversation my local grocery store with a cashier led me to make the statement, "I don't know why people are so mean to each other."

In my younger years, I was (to borrow a phrase from TRAPT) "a little piece of heaven raising hell." I was beautiful. With a dancers' build and modeling contracts, I still didn't think I was worth a damn. And because I let my past define me, I was angry. So angry. I watched this TED talk, recently, and I really know how this woman felt.

For years, I was so hurt. It started with my heart being broken by a good friend / high school romance and it built from there. But I never really allowed myself to feel the pain from that betrayal. I didn't see the outside influences on him. His parents, etc. Only my own pain.

I still had to go to school. I still had to care about getting good grades and getting into college. I had to pretend to care about so many things when, really, all I could think about was the fact that I felt I had lost the one and only person who had understood me and that I was alone in the world, again. I couldn't feel that pain or honor it.

Parents and well-meaning peers told me to "get over it," so I hid it. I "sucked it up" and it became tighter and smaller and it morphed in my heart into a black ball of anger that followed me. Situations and years came and went and my anger just knotted in upon itself and I raged.

I raged! And the more I raged, the more I found to be mad at - righteously (I thought). Patriarchy, sexism, racism, genocide, cruelty, the Native holocaust. Ani DiFranco sang "I'm not angry, anymore," and I screamed back at her. "Fuck you, Ani. I'm still angry!" Hundreds of personal and cultural and worldly slights to be mad at until I spun myself out of anger in exhaustion some time in my late 20's - right around the time Hubby and I started dating.


During my period of rage, I pulled back from any vulnerability. My anger made me strong. It made me goal driven. It gave me scholarships and grants and awards and accolades far beyond my schooling and years. It gave me fire and it gave me drive. It made me hard.

When I did form relationships, I was so terrified of being hurt again, I kept everyone at bay. Even those that knew me for years only had an illusion of intimacy. Two year relationships only scratched the surface of "knowing who Bri was." I couldn't be authentic because of my fear, so I sought out other broken, hurt and furious souls, like me. There was no way that these relationships were going to last, but at least the two of us could find comfort in someone who was just as broken as the other was, for a time. And if my partner was broken, too, they wouldn't judge me for my damaged self.

I'm not quite sure what has changed me. Maybe it was Hubby or age. Maybe becoming a mama has softened my edges. Maybe moving back to my hometown has made little Native me want to "bury the hatchet." Maybe picking my art back up, being in therapy, admitting to being in pain, finally getting medical attention, and regular writing are all contributing to my change of heart and mind.

Or maybe it's because I'm 32 and I'm finally ready to start growing into the woman that I'm meant to be in this life, ready to step up and be the creative, the medicine person, the healer that I was always been meant to be. And you will know me, now, by the way I dance with the fire and the wolves.

There could be a hundred different reasons that I'm not the same person, anymore. But I like who I am, now. And I like who I'm becoming. I like that I am content, most days, though I still do have the yearning to grow, to explore, to learn and to create.

I used to be hard, like a scalpel. I find myself, now, becoming soft. My arms, my belly, my eyes, hair, skin and smile. All soft. And I'm okay with this. I'm reclaiming my personal power. I am strong. I've moved beyond my story and am writing a new one.

And, the one thing I want to tell you, my readers, about all of this. I am not special. I'm just one girl, out here, in the middle of the corn fields of Indiana. Trust me. If I, with all my faults and foibles can move from a place of hurt and anger to a place of peace and calm joy, you can too. There is nothing special about what I've done. All it takes is the effort to try.

You, my readers. You are my pack. So, if your heart is aching. If your spirit is downtrodden. If you're angry or alone or misunderstood or feel like you're forgotten - know one thing. There's one soul, out here, who's been exactly where you are and has come through it to a better place. There is hope. There is a way. And you can find it!

Oh my lovelies, I hope this entry finds your heart in a place of joy. If it doesn't, I hope that joy finds you soon.

And please remember that we are all visionaries. We just have to figure out where we excel.

Love to All My Relations,

-Bri

Follow me on Facebook and Twitter
Subscribe to my mailing list on your upper left!

Daylight: Meeting Your Own Death

All of us, every single one, will die. It's not pleasant to think about and we mostly avoid thinking about it. But sometimes, during the course of living your normal life, death comes a little nearer than you'd like. Maybe you've lost a loved one. Maybe, like me, you've had strokes and chronic illnesses that shut down your body. Or maybe you passed a very bad wreck on the highway and thought, "There, but for the grace of Spirit, go I."

Today, I heard a wonderful song by Maroon 5. (I get the best ideas for posts either driving in the car or in the shower!) I know it's meant to be about a relationship, but I saw the song as an extended metaphor. Take a listen.

The chorus goes as follows:

And when the daylight comes I'll have to go

But tonight I'm gonna hold you so close

Cause in the daylight we'll be on our own

But tonight I need to hold you so close

This got me thinking. When we die, it is said that move towards the light. No one can accompany us. No friends or family can hold our hands. Death's Door is one we must walk through, alone.

I got a small notion of this when I had my daughter. Even though Hubby, my father and numerous friends were there to support me, ultimately, I was the only one who could bring The Precious Pookie into this world. The Door of Motherhood was one I had to walk through alone.

I like to think that I'd meet Death the same way I met Motherhood. Calm and resolute, with my head held high. I'd like to think that I would not need any help in navigating the Bardo. I'd like to think that I would move past this world and its cycles and on to whatever great adventures lie beyond this plane.

Thinking about death, in general, can be a great subject for art. What kind of impact do you want to leave this world as your legacy? Think of what creations you want to be remembered for, after you're gone and work on them now, while you still have time.

'Cause babies, when that Door of Death opens and you can see daylight, brighter than you've ever known? It's time to go. You will pass into the light, alone. So, now, embrace your art. Embrace your creative dreams. And, above all, embrace all that you want to remember from this plane. Every person and situation that made you the beautiful soul you are, today - hold them close.

My fellow visionaries, it's now that I embrace you and all this plane has to offer - all of its inconsistencies and beauties and intricacies. All the way out and down to its limits. While I am still incarnated here, I will continue to love every single particle and experience and embrace them all.

I hope you enjoyed this post and please remember, my lovelies, that we are all visionaries. We just have to figure out where we excel.

Love to All My Relations,

-Bri


Follow Me on Facebook , Twitter, and Pinterest

This is Water: Changing How We Think

This week, I found this wonderfully amazing video. Before I go on to my thoughts on this subject, please watch it.

Wow! I don't know about you, but that was one of the most amazing videos I've seen, this year.

As much as I try to live my life outside of what people call, "the daily grind," sometimes it sneaks in. Sometimes I do have to go someplace during rush hour in a big city. Sometimes I do need food at peak grocery store hours. Sometimes, life's little annoyances happen to me, too.

And, as much as I try, sometimes I forget my goal. I go into a grocery store in my hometown and see the little brother of an ex-boyfriend. I'm sure he doesn't know why my body posture goes stiff when I see him. I'm sure he doesn't understand why I have to strain for polite words. But his eyes, the eyes that his brother also has, reminds me of a time of great emotional pain.

It is times like these that I remember that I am still struggling with keeping myself grounded, that I am still (despite all my inner work) having a hard time forgiving and that I am not a 100% enlightened being, yet. Still, I do try. In the parking lot, sitting in The Visionary Van, I try to calm my heart rate. I try to find that wise portion of myself which is capable of distancing itself from the memory this boy invoked. I try to feel what it would be like to extend to him, to his family, to even his brother the handshake of friendship and shared experience that I try to offer all of humanity.

My art, my writing, my creativity, my inner emotional and spiritual work. These things are not separate. They are all intrinsically linked to each other. Back before my loads of inner emotional and spiritual work, my art was about pain and longing. It connected with people on an emotional level of shared sadness and suffering. I even received some minor notoriety for it, publishing 3 books and having 1 art showing.

As I began to change and heal, my art and writing began to change. I began to see how we can connect with each other through the shared experience of beauty, joy and (the most basic heart response) love. I began to put my lifelong quest for modes of healing into my writing, into this blog, into seeking out others who are shining out the same light I am.

I know I am not alone in this journey. I know that there are a million souls out there on this planet and beyond that are seeking a connection with each other. We are seeking something more than what we've been shown. We are looking out into the night sky and deep into the eyes of our neighbor, asking each the same question, "Is there anyone that feels like I do?"

Well, I can tell you, my lovelies - YES! There are millions of us out here. You are not alone!

When we change the way we think, when we change the way we view our own world, our lives begin to change. Nights that were once spent alone and terrified of our aching need to be loved are replaced with nights where we are alone and comfortable in our solitude because we know that we are never, ever really "alone." No matter what we have gone through or what we desire to create, another soul in this vast place has felt and desired the same thing.

No matter where you are in your journey, just keep remembering that what you look for, you will find. Just keep reminding yourself to be kind, to seek your truth, to be as creative and joyful and peaceful as you can. We will meet, one day. Of that, I am certain. And, oh do I look forward to that meeting. I can't wait to see your eyes as you see that, yes, I am a real person and, no, you aren't really alone.

Choose what you desire your life to be and seek to make it so. Remember - this is water!


Until next time, my lovelies, please remember that we are all visionaries. We just have to figure out where we excel.

Love to All,

-Bri

Follow me on Facebook and Twitter

The Art of Asking

There are a lot of TED talks I see where my brain is engaged. The internal brain-wheels spin and I'm given a new idea. I recommend watching every single one of their videos. These cerebrally engaging talks are great, but this talk that I am about to share with you engaged my heart. 

"Yes," my heart whispers. I long for this kind of connection between myself and you, my fans and readers. Brava, Amanda Palmer and brava, Neil Gaiman for supporting her while she wrote the speech. Enjoy, my lovelies.

This reminds me of my father's sage advice to me. "Ask," he said. "Always ask. The worst that they can say is 'no.'" Because of his advice, I ask. I ask to be on television. I ask businesses, "Would you like me to help promote you?" I ask, "Hubby, do you think you could bathe the Pookie, tonight? My back is really hurting."

But, sometimes, it's hard to get up the gumption to ask.

Within the next week, I'm going to take a big leap. I'm going to ask you, my fans and my audience, for help. I am scared to do this. I feel like I should be able to write and to create and exist in this life and to just do it all . . . without help.

I feel like I should be strong enough to do it alone, but I can't. I don't exist inside a vacuum. I don't write in a pocket of space-time where I am not effected by the world. I must live in the world and be a part of it. I drink coffee. I play with my daughter. I am a person, just like you and I have bills to pay.  
 

 So, from one human being to another, I see you, my lovelies. I hear you. And I trust you. All I will ask is for some help to keep me creating the work you like to see. And thank you, in advance, for this help that is so hard for me to ask for that I know you will come through on.





Blessings to each one of you in all that you do and don't forget that we are all visionaries. We just have to figure out where we excel.

Love to All,

-Bri

Follow me on Facebook and Twitter

Levitate - Can You?

I found this video last week and I was amazed. Before I go on, I'll let you watch it.

The song is by a band named Hadouken and is called "Levitate." The lyrics are as follows:

Heart in my mouth, but my head in the clouds yeah
I can feel it rising
Bound to the Earth but, we could ascend yeah
I’m realizing
I feel both feet lift off the ground
I can levitate
With every truth that leaves I close my eyes
And levitate


Oh, my darlings. Where to start? Every time I see videos like this of my fellow humans reaching for the sky, I am inspired. Every time I hear a song that alludes to Universal Truth, I feel so grateful to be alive.

My dears, each of us can aspire to be the highest and best versions of ourselves possible. We can take up the mantle of our Spirit-given gifts and run with them. We can use them every day in this world to lift each other up, inspire each other, help each other.

The truth of it is that we can work together, if we can put all of our efforts into making this world beautiful and whole, we CAN levitate. We can raise each other up, higher and higher. By working together, can banish poverty and sickness and the hurt that lies in the hearts of our neighbors.

I may be an idealist. I may speak of something that is beyond what we think the people of this world are capable of doing, but I have hope. Even if it doesn't happen until I'm long, long dead, I believe that we can turn our lives around and shine forward our best faces for The Universe to see.

Be amazed, my lovelies. Be in awe. Be humbled by this world and all the people in it and give thanks that you are alive to see such wonders. The Babylonians couldn't even conceive of a thing like the internet, where we can talk to anyone, anywhere in the world at pretty much any time we desire. That we, through technology, have access to all the collective knowledge that man has amassed. How cool of a thought is that?

And we take it for granted.

I believe, dears, that we can levitate. More than levitate, I believe that we can fly past what we've ever thought possible. I think it's only a matter of time before every soul, everywhere sees it. I'm just the visionary.

For a long time in this life, I was angry. Sure, I was happy and sad and in awe, but beneath all those emotions at the core of me was anger. And I was angry at everything. I was angry with sexism and classism and racism and homophobia. I was angry that I had a traumatic childhood. I was angry that people around me teased me and found me to be "less than" them. I was angry that I'd been hurt and I was angry because, in my mind, I secretly felt that I deserved every single crap thing that happened to me . . .

I know. It's tough to admit. . .

I am different, now. Now, my underlying emotion is one of joy. Sure, I get sad and I get mad, but my "default setting," now, is joy. But my anger made me fierce. In my younger years, my anger galvanized me into someone who could look past all of the negative and see through to the light.

And, now, I can turn back and show everyone the path. Through my words and art, I can tell my story and illustrate to you that, if I've walked the path of coming through all the worlds' negativity, you can too. No matter your story, you can step beyond it into a life of pure, unbridled, down-to-the-tip-of-your-toes happy.

Right now, I'm levitating. But I can't do it alone. In order to truly fly, I need other to come to where I am. We all need each other. We are communal organisms. We thrive best, together.

I'm so happy that you are all coming with me on this journey of life. I feel blessed to be able to write to you.

Until next time, please remember that we are all visionaries. We just have to figure out where we excel.

Love to All,


-Bri


Follow me on Facebook and Twitter

Fun with Spam

No, no, my lovelies. Not the canned, meaty kind. I mean the strange comments I get from (I think) spam bots.

One of the most interesting things about having a blog is reviewing the "Anonymous" comments that come in. I try to figure out which ones are spam by looking up links that they've sent me.

 
I can tell some of them, that English is not their first language and I love the use of language. Truly inspired. They remind me of Henry Rollins' video about Boris from the Czech Republic. The use of language is so beautiful.

Before we get into my wonderful fan mail, let me give you Henry's take on it:

Now, on with the comments. And, any of my dear readers, if these are you - you know - real people? Please comment and I will not mark you as "Spam" and will publish your comment. The track back links just seemed a little iffy to me.

"Great post. I was checking constantly this blog and I'm impressed! Extremely useful information specifically the last part :) I care for such information a lot. I was seeking this particular information for a long time. Thank you and best of luck."

"I do not even know how I ended up here, but I assumed this submit was great. I do not recognize who you are but definitely you are going to a well-known blogger if you happen to aren't already."

"It's remarkable for me to have a web page, which is beneficial in support of my knowledge. thanks admin"

"Someone necessarily help to make severely articles I'd state. This is the first time I frequented your web page and up to now? I surprised with the analysis you made to make this particular put up amazing. Fantastic activity!"

"I'm pretty pleased to find this great site. I want to to thank you for your time just for this fantastic read!! I definitely enjoyed every bit of it and I have you book-marked to look at new things on your web site"


Aren't they lovely? If they are spam comments, I'm glad that all of the bots (at least) think I'm pretty darn neat!

It's all in perspectives, dearests. You can get grouchy over spam mail or, if you're having a rough day (like I did, today), then you can just say, "Well, at least the Spam Bots of the world think I'm pretty neat." Humor, lovelies. Always humor. #1 best tip for health, let me tell you.

Anyway, I hope this has brought a smile to your face and made you smile for the middle of the week.

As always, please remember that we are all visionaries. Sometimes even Spam Bots. We just have to figure out where we excel.


Love to All,

-Bri


Follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest

Frogs in Tutus or Whatever's In Front of You

I'd like to share with you a big secret about living your dreams and building a great big, full, awesome creative life.

Ready?

Here it is . . .

It doesn't happen overnight.

I know! Shocking, right?

"Now, Bri," I can hear you saying. "I already knew that." I know that you already knew that, but that is just the point of this post, starting with what you know.

Believe it or not, something that simple is the way to start. Start with what you know. Do you want to write? Write about your life. Write about what's right in front of you. Write what you experience every day because only you are living your life and ONLY YOU are thinking your thoughts.

The most amazing thing about this common and best approach is this: you're not the only one. No matter what you're thinking, someone else has thought it before. But that's not bad. See? You're not alone. No matter what you've thought or you're experiencing, there's someone out there who is going through or has gone through the same thing. They can relate. That's what art is about.

Art and being creative is about communicating a message in your own way. And, once you put your message out there, a thousand people will resonate with it and a thousand people will think, "Oh my gosh! I'm not alone! I thought I was the only one who thought putting tutus on frogs was a cute idea." (Or whatever your idea happens to be.)

I just came up with that image in my head on the fly. I Googled it and look what I found:

See? Apparently someone liked that idea enough to make a stuffed frog in a tutu. No matter what you've come up with, there's someone who will agree with you and your projects that you put out there will resonate with them. It's a wonderful, splendifferous fact, my lovelies.

Take, for instance, being a mama. I'm a mama and I talk about it way too much, I'm sure. But my Precious Pookie is quite literally the best thing that's every happened to me and words cannot describe how much she lights up my heart. But children can be frustrating. That's okay. Take whatever you're frustrated, angry, annoyed, joyous, or excited about, take that experience and make something with it.

This week, I found this video that illustrates my point:

Dearies, none of us is alone in this world, but no one can tell your story for you. No one has your unique perspective, your particular spin on a topic. Only you have the power to tell your story and unveil your truth.

Still don't believe me? Look at this:

It's still a frog in a tutu, but it's vastly different from the first one. So get out there, my bright beautiful ones and tackle that project you've always dreamed of completing. You can do it! The frogs and I have faith in you.

And, until next time, please keep in mind that we are all visionaries. We just have to figure out where we excel.


Love to All,

-Bri



Follow me on Facebook and Twitter

Carry On

Oh, my lovelies. This life can be trying sometimes, can't it?

We are capable of wonderous things, but we slip along the way, don't we? We say the wrong thing. We step on toes. We get upset and say things we don't mean. Ah, the crazy ride it is that we call "life."

I know it's not always easy out there. I know that times can seem bleak and uncertain and downright, boots-knocking scary. It's okay, my lovelies. Breathe. Deep breaths. It will be okay.

In the middle of our darkest times, I know it can feel like the whole world is crashing down around you. I know it can feel like the stars have fallen out of alignment, the tides are all wonky and even the cement under your feet seems unstable. I have been there, dear ones.

I've been right where you're standing - in depression so bad that getting something to eat from the kitchen seems to take so much energy that you just don't have. I've been right there - not leaving the house for weeks. No matter how bad you feel, no matter how bleak it seems right now, I'm going to tell you something both amazing and true.

It gets better.

Listen. . . do you hear that? On the wind.

Do you hear that?

It's the universe and it's singing to you, singing through you, thumping in every beat of your perfect, gentle, tender heart. Do you know what it's saying? It's saying . . .

No matter how bleak or how sad things get, no matter how hard or trying or difficult the road, always remember that your story can continue past this ugly funk. Always remember that there can still, yet, be dreams and sunshine and laughter. It will come back around.

I promise.

And you can bank on that, babies!


And to close and send you to the weekend with joy, a song. "Carry On" by Fun.

Until next time, please remember that we are all visionaries. We just have to figure out where we excel.


Love to All,


-Bri


Follow me on Facebook and Twitter

Christmas Day

I know that a new post isn't due from me until Wednesday, but I'd like some time to be with my family, so I'll post now.

I'd like to share with you a quote from my second favorite all-time Christmas movie, Scrooged, starring Bill Murray.

"You can still have fun tonight! Call people you haven't seen - a college friend, an old army buddy, your personal banker. . . I'm not crazy. It's Christmas Eve. It's the one night when we all act a little nicer. We...we smile a little easier. We...we...share a little more. For a couple of hours, we are the people we always hoped we would be."

And, even though I don't like most Christmas music, I love this song and I thought I'd share it with you. It's not a Christmas carol, per say, but please. The message goes out from me to you.

"If your heart is longing and you've been afraid to try
sorrow's kept you company and the dance has passed you by,
I'll lift you up and blaze with you across the moonlit sky
on the Night Before Christmas

And you don't have to be an angel to sing harmony
and you don't have to be a child to love the mystery
And you don't have to be a wise man on bended knee
The heart of this Christmas is in you and me"

From my heart to yours, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from my little corner of the world. May there be joy, family, and peace of mind to each of you. Blessings! 


Love to All,

-Bri

My Christmas Eve (with video by Bob Welsh)

This video was sent around on my family's email. When I saw it, I just knew that I had to post it for this beautiful day. It's Christmas eve, tonight. It's that one holiday that magic can happen. It's the time of year that people are giving, are kind, and that we are all the people that we truly want to be. So, without further ado, here it is:

So often that we get wrapped up in our own lives, our own tragedy, we hardly ever stop to think of the helpers. Maybe someone told you a truth that you didn't really want to hear, but desperately needed to hear. At this time of year, I think of endings and I think about the various people who have helped me. Tonight, I send warm blessings to all of them, whether they had to give me "tough help" that I really didn't want or bestowed friendly help.

This is the time that I remember those people in my life and how they are so much more precious to me, in this world, than jewelry or electronics or pretty clothes. At Christmas, we all turn into the best possible version of ourselves.

Through trying times and deep sorrow, still, there is hope. And there will always be hope. There will always be those of us who try to reach out, try to give more than we get and help our fellow humans.

Goodnight my dear readers. I hope you found this video as wonderful as I did.

Blessings and Love to All on this Christmas,

-Bri

The "Eyes" Have It

Any art that is done on paper or a surface is called 2D. 3D art would be sculpture. If you're interested in doing 2D art and want to draw people, there is one element above all others which will propel your art to the next level: learning to draw eyes.

If there's anything in 2D art that I've learned (in art school and in life) it's this: if you're going to draw people, spend the most time making the eyes as best that you can and your art will be well recieved. Why is this? Because of the way our brains work.

Think about it, if you want to know if someone is telling you the truth, you look into their eyes. If you want a real connection with someone, the eyes are where you will get it. Within the eyes, we feel that, not only are we really "seeing" the other person, but we are being seen, as well. That is all art, essentially, is. One human connecting to another. I've never heard of someone gazing lovingly into another's nostril, have you? The "eyes" have it.

So, if your artwork that depicts another human has well-done, good looking and believable eyes, the viewer feels a connection with the work. It's a simple principle and a simple trick, but it works.

Now, I'd love to be able to sit down with you and show you how I draw eyes. But, if I did that, it would only be teaching you how to copy my style. What I want is for you to find your own style. In that way, keep in mind these simple rules.

1) A part of the iris is always concealed by the eyelid.
2) There will always be a shadow on the eyeball which sets it back from the lid.
3) Within the eye, there will always be a white spot which reflects the light source. The location of this white spot will also direct, slightly, where the eye is looking.
4) The eye, when done, is never fully white. There are pink triangles at each side and the side closest to the nose will always have a circle, which is the tear duct.
5) Eyelashes start (at the side nearest the nose) as short and sparse. As they move to the outer edge, they get longer, thicker and are more frequent.

Those five simple principles are really all you need to know to draw realistic looking eyes. Color? Shape? All of these other things will be determined by your artistic interpretation.

Since I can't sit down with you, this internet medium being what it is, let me give you this video which is a quick-draw of a very good eye.

In drawing people, even "fantasy-type people" with cat tails or blue skin, drawing realistic eyes will grab the viewer and make your art more compelling. And, the more compelling your art is, the more people will want to see of it.

In fact, some compelling work can even be done with just eyes as the subject matter --

 

Experimentation with the pupil

 A close-up photo of an actual eye. Isn't that amazing?

 To see my work with eyes and re-imagined portraiture, see the project Art Wherever You Are

My dearest beings, I hope this post has helped you on your path.

Until next time, please remember that we are all visionaries. We just have to figure out where we excel.



Love to All,


-Bri


Follow me on Facebook and Twitter

Excuses? Invalid. Try Again.

I found this picture around the internet and I thought I'd share it for this week's weekend inspiration. Seeing this prompted me to get up the gumption and ask my assistant to send some inquiry emails that I'd flip-flopped about sending. Emails that might move this Visionary thing I've got going on a bit further. After seeing this picture and realizing everything that this man must've had to go through to get where he is, it gave me a bit of a kick in the pants.

My dear ones, I still have that little voice in my head, sometimes, that says, "I don't know if you can do this." It's okay. We all have it. And it doesn't matter that, no matter how much you pursue your dreams and your goals, that little voice still persists. What does matter is not letting that little voice rule you. 

Dream, always. Reach, always. Try, always. Go, always. Get up again, always.

A friend of mine who's been single for quite a while called me up this week. "I don't want to drive all that way for this date and maybe get stood up." "Go," I encouraged her. "Always go." It's the difference between 'I believe that this might take me closer to my dream of a partner to go through life with' or 'I've given up on this dream.' I told my friend about some of the absolutely horrific dates I'd been on, how I'd been stood up and much worse. Then, I told her what a friend did for me, in my time of doubt.

My now-hubby and I, in the beginning of our relationship, broke up. By happenstance, there was a large social gathering of my friends happening on his parents' property that had been planned months before. Two hours from where the party was taking place, I danced from one foot to the other saying, "I don't know if I should go." Finally, my friend took me by the shoulders and pushed me toward their van. "You're going," they said in a very forceful tone.

This situation had the potential for major personal drama and a horrific outcome. However, had I not gone, hubby and I probably wouldn't have ever gotten back together and I would not have my Precious Pookie and the life I do, now.

When times are the hardest, it is then that we need to persevere. When it seems most dismal and most bleak, it is then that we have to look even harder for that spark to guide us. So, no matter the situation, I will always say, "Go. Dream. Dare. Do. Risk." Always. For without the going, the dreaming, the daring, the doing and the risking, miracles can't happen.

I watched the movie Men in Black 3, this week. If you haven't seen it, stop reading right now and go watch it. Don't worry . . . I'll wait . . .

Did you watch it? Good.

That movie is now added to my top 20 movies of all time for the character of Griffin. Such an amazing character. One of his quotes is this, " A miracle is something that seems impossible but happens anyway."

 My lovelies, miracles are happening every single day. That, you can bank on. And there's no reason that a miracle can't happen for you, no matter what you're wishing for. There's no reason that it can't happen to you, today. One small step is all it takes. Trust me on this. Miracles aren't announced with a flourish of trumpets, anymore, but they certainly can happen and (often) in the most unlikely of places on some idle Tuesday.

What have you been dreaming of, dears? What steps toward your miracle could you take? Try to take a tiny one, this weekend. Let the universe conspire with you for a change.

PS -- Don't forget to dance!

Here's a song to get you started --

 

 "The Logical Song"

Until next time, my beautiful ones, please remember that we are ALL visionaries. We just have to figure out where we excel.

Love to All,

-Bri

Follow me on Facebook and Twitter

Muncey in Muncie: Turning Teenage Drudgery into Awesome!

Here, in Muncie Indiana, one teen is turning drudgery into awesome.

Brannon Muncey, 18, got his job at Little Caesar's pizza on the corner of West McGalliard and Walnut just 5 months ago. "I stood in life for three hours, waiting, and got hired that day," says Muncey.

We've all had our share of horrible jobs in our teens, usually in food service. Your truly breaded chicken and worked a drive through. Many high school and college kids in the Muncie, Indiana area have a different type of job. For barely above minimum wage, they stand on corners and hold brightly colored signs by busy streets, trying to bring attention to a business.  Driving around Muncie, I've seen many students with this sign-holding job, but Brannon stands out from all of them.

Not just content to hold his sign, Brannon has become a local phenomenon for dancing with and performing tricks with his sign. I caught up with Brannon on a dreary, Saturday evening in December. Though it was drizzling slightly, Brannon remained undeterred. "They don't make us hold signs bad weather, but if it's not too bad out, I tell them that I'll go out and, you know," Brannon says as he nods toward the worn patch of soil near the busy street. What is Brannon getting known for?  Click here for a video of Brannon performing.

"I have my moves," Brannon says, "but I'm working on new ones all the time. Sometimes a move doesn't work out, so I try something else." In beaten up sneakers and a bright orange shirt (sometimes with a sweatshirt over that), Brannon is hard to miss. Passing cars honking or waving at him is common. When asked if he's gotten any bad reactions to his dancing, Brannon replies with a smile. "Yeah, but I think it's just people trying to mess with me."

Brannon is a senior at the local Central High School. Soft spoken and genial, almost shy, he seems amazed about the press he's gotten. Yours truly has not been the only one to interview him. The local paper, The Muncie Star, did a story in the "Life" section on him and the Ball State University morning show interviewed him as well.

But Brannon's not out there alone. He's got his tunes. As I interviewed him, ear buds hung out from neck of his bright orange shirt. When I asked what he was listening to while dancing, he said, "Rap and hip-hop, mostly. The new stuff like 2 Chainz and Tyga." When asked why he started dancing, he laughs and says, "To pass the time. You know, to make it fun."

I told Brannon that I appreciated what he was doing. I told him that, if he approached life the same way that he'd approached this job, that he would go far. In fact, for me, it was an honor to shake Brannon's hand and every time I see him, dancing with his sign, it brings a smile to my face and gives me hope for other dream chasers, out there.

The Visionary Van outside Brannon's branch

Brannon Muncey, everyone here, at Visionary Bri salutes you. Keep doing what you doing and help people to remember . . .

We are all visionaries. We just have to figure out where we excel.

Until next time, my dear readers. Have a magical day and keep on dancin'!

Love to All,

Bri



Follow me on Facebook and Twitter

Don't Take it From Me - Here's Neil Gaiman!

You don't have to listen to me encouraging you to follow your creative passion. After all, who am I? I'm just one girl in the world, crying out to the wind in order to attempt to inspire others.

Maybe my name isn't prestigeous enough for you. I haven't been on TV talking about this (though I have made television appearances). You haven't seen me come to your town with my name on a billboard in lights, yet (though I have given lectures at colleges). And maybe you've never seen my name on a book in Barnes and Noble (even though I have independently published 4 books). That's okay. There's something to be said for fame and notoriety. One day, I hope to have enough of each to be able to reach a wider audience and maybe give this "Visionary Bri" name a bit more clout. Maybe I could even come to a city near you, wherever you are in the world!

So, don't take it from me. Instead, here's Neil Gaiman encouraging artists. If my encouragement isn't doing it for you, how 'bout listening to him?

Want to be a writer? Here he is, again.

Would you like to see a commencement speech he's given? Well, here you go.

In general, take from these videos what you'd like. It doesn't matter who or what inspires you to live your dreams. All that matters is that you do pursue them, that you do chase them down and that you don't spend years in wishing and putting things off.

My dears, please don't wait. Your ultimate life is waiting for you! Your ultimate joy is calling to you! It's there. All you have to do is seek it. This world is waiting for you to share your gifts with it.


And please, my lovelies. Please remember that we are all visionaries. We just have to figure out where we excel. Until next time.

Love to All,

Bri


Follow me on Facebook and Twitter

"Put it in a Pocket" and "Bookbinding"

While researching smash books, I came upon this video. Now, I don't know about you, but my sketchbook does a lot of traveling with me. (Yes, I bought my purse big enough so that it would fit specifically in there.) As I go about my life, I often find things I want to save. Business cards, napkin doodles and the like. Sure, I could just put them in my purse, but little things like that tend to get lost or mussed up.

My current sketchbook has a pocket in the front, which I just love. The tradeoff is that the cover isn't as sturdy as the kind of sketchbook I normally get. So, what a wonderful thing to find -- how to make pockets in your own smash book, sketchbook or journal. (Her voice is a little soft, so you may have to turn it up.) Now I can have the sturdiness of my favorite brand of sketchbook AND the pocket that I love. Woo hoo!

Also, there was something I learned at the Buddhist university that I attended-- making my own books. I only did this once, in the class, but I look forward to doing it, again. "Sounds hard," you say. Not so! In fact, it's pretty easy and can get addictive. Here's a video that explains the basics using widely available materials.

Well, my dears, I hope these videos inspire you this week. Feel free to post pictures of what you've been up to. I'd love the see them.



And please remember that we are all visionaries. We just have to figure out where we excel!


Love to All,

Bri


Follow me on Facebook and Twitter

Sleepy Toon

When hubby and I first started dating, we made each other mixed CDs. I know! Isn't it just so cute?

Anyway, one of the CDs that he made me contained this song. I'd never heard it before, but as soon as I did, I was hooked on it. For weeks, it played on repeat in my car. I just imagined myself dancing to this at some street fair, my skirts and hair flying in the wind.

It's such a wonderful song by a band that's not well-known. So, I thought I'd share it with you all. Something new to tickle your ears, my lovelies. Without further ado, I give you "Sleepy Toon" by Wolfstone.

Well, I hope you enjoyed and I hope everyone has a great weekend.

Please remember that we are all visionaries. We just have to figure out where we excel.



Follow me on Facebook and Twitter.

Doodlers, Unite!

A couple of weeks ago, I talked about a fun approach to start working in your sketchbook called Zendoodle or Zentangle. You may ask what the point of this is, just having fun with drawing. "I'm not creating 'serious art'!" you say. "I'm just muddling around."

As it turns out, this "just paying around" in your sketchbook has great benefits for all of us. See: this video.

See?

I'd like to take this one step further. Not only is "doodling" considered inappropriate in the work place, but in the realm of "serious art," it is looked down upon. The world of serious, professional art has a high level of critique. "Why did you use that brand of paper?" "What did you mean to invoke by using blue, here, instead of (say) yellow?" "Is this a cultural commentary?"

In fact, outside of elementary school (and even in there, some times) the art of play, of puttering around, of being absentminded or creating just for the joy of doing it is looked down upon and I have never understood why.

At our most fundamental levels, we are mammals and all mammals engage in play. Not only as children, but as adults as well. It facilitates social connections keeps us physically and mentally sharp and releases hormones that increase our sense of well-being.

"Playing around," both in your sketchbook and in your life has nothing but 100% positive implications and effects upon you. I encourage you to step outside of your box, your rules, your thoughts of "I wanted to draw a horse, but a horse doesn't look like that," and let yourself play. Play in your sketchbook, play in your life. Let go of rules and "should's" and "can't."

Let us free spirits, us joyful beings, us doodlers and muddlers and dreamers unite and spread the word. Rigidity and sternness break. Flowing and merriment endure, enliven and invigorate!


Keep playing, my dears. And please remember that we are all visionaries. We just have to figure out where we excel.


Love to All,


Bri



Follow me on Facebook and Twitter

Goddess Leonie: Inspiration Woman with Freebies!

During my late-night web browsings, I came upon this woman. Leonie Dawson. Upon browsing her site, man this woman is cool. Can I just be honest, here? She's become one of my idols.

 

Leonie Dawson is the creator of LeonieDawson.com, one of the longest running creativity, spirituality & business blogs on the web.

Leonie is a writer, blogger, retreat leader, globe-trotter, visual artist, mama, and vessel of wild creativity & sage guidance for the 20,000 Goddesses who orbit around her virtual altar each month. Her strategic musings & practical wisdom have been featured on Problogger, Tiny Buddha, spirituality magazines like Goddess, Spellcraft, Life Images and Spheres, and in three of SARK’s best-selling books on creative fulfillment & freedom.

Purposeful, passionate & unendingly prolific, Leonie published her first book at 22, held her first art show at 23, began leading women’s circles at 23, created her first retreat at 25, launched the Goddess Circle — a subscription-based women’s community for creatives of every color — at 27, and has guided 4,000 women through transformational Circle experiences over the past 3 years. She’s also released 5 e-courses — including her signature workshop for entrepreneurs, Become A Business Goddess — 4 meditation kits and 2 workbooks into the digital ether, building a multiple six-figure business in the process.

Leonie has walked labyrinths in the moonlight, wept atop mountains in the middle of a storm, danced with a baby in an old cow shed as a Filipino tribal chief sang, and once married herself in a public commitment ceremony — witnessed by goddess maidens of honor that she’d met on the Internet.

No stranger to praise, applause & offerings of gratitude, Leonie has been called an “illuminated creator,” “inspiring, wise and oh-so-talented,” a “healer, guide and sacred teacher” — and she’s here to help you bring your soul-stirring dream into reality, and become the Goddess you were born to be.

Ho, this woman is neat. I hope to meet her in person, some day. Personally, I snagged her 2012 Creating Your Goddess Year workbook and I love it. I found this video which shows you all that's inside it. 

Aren't you excited to work with it? The new 2013 one was just released with 2 separate editions. One for life and one for business. You can bet your booty that I've got both. ;-)

One of the things on my Christmas list, this year, is Leonie's book. Entitled 73 Lessons Every Goddess Must Know. I've pointed it out to hubby numerous times, saying, "Want it, honey. Want. Pleeze?"

I don't know about you, but what sold me on this lady and everything she's doing was her Freebies! It gave me a glimpse into what she was doing before I committed to buying anything. Now, I'm hooked. Her poster, "How to Be a Goddess" is the Desktop wallpaper on my laptop.  

Whenever I'm feeling down, confused or just looking for a little support, there's always something on Leonie's site or YouTube Channel that catches my eye, seems to fit and gets my creative juices flowing. Take a look around there during the weekend and see if you don't feel inspired, as well. Her optimism is contagious!

I also want to tell you about one last thing. Leonie's 2013 Create Your Incredible Year Workbooks. Oh my, honey pie! The Create Your Incredible Year In Biz + Life workbooks are DIFFERENT. They are powerful catalysts of change that not only inspire a new direction but make you feel good about yourself and your work at the same time. They call out your highest potential, and your ability to make it all happen. It uses simple yet powerful techniques to help you not only dream your biggest dream and set your goals, but to actually MAKE THEM HAPPEN too.

Many miracles have been made from using this workbook. You’re going to read the words of women who’ve been using it every single year and swear by it for making their new years their very best ever. It’s something I use religiously – and I’m constantly amazed when I review each year’s at just how of my dreams and goals came true.

This woman, her videos, her art and her products are truly amazing. I would absolutely never, ever endorse anything I didn't adore and Leonie Dawson is it. I can't wait to meet her in person and chat about spirituality, business and mama-hood (one of my dreams).

I hope that you can find as much inspiration from Leonie as I have.

Dream big! Live bigger!

  
As always, my lovelies, please remember that we are all visionaries. We just have to figure out where we excel.


Love to All,

Bri



Follow me on Facebook and Twitter