My Weapon of Choice is Love

Art by James Earl Fraser

I have been going out of my way to post positive messages in recent months, mainly due to the fact, 1. it is how I truly feel and 2. because our society is screaming for a change. The world is forever changing all around us and with that change comes a few bumps and growing pains along the way.

I have been extremely emotional watching the world around me. All of the ups and down and quite honestly it is a bit exasperating at times. Where have our scruples gone?

What better time to seek positive reinforcements than Thanksgiving. As an American this is my favorite holiday as it has no political or religious connotations but simply a day to celebrate ones blessings. It is a day of family and friendships to come together under one roof and say thank you for being in my life and for all the good each individual brings. I guess one can argue the politics behind Thanksgiving but I'm going to focus on the word THANKS.

Black Friday is an American day of indulgence and tradition that has been going on my entire lifetime. I'm all for great deals and saving money and the start of my most favorite time of the year. But when it is at the expense of our integrity then I have to say, don't you think it is about time we step back and evaluate our behavior? I cannot be the only person in America that finds a large majority of people's behavior totally unacceptable on this day.

Where has our camaraderie gone? We are a nation of brotherhood and I believe it is time we all start acting as such once again. We rise and fall as one and at the moment we seem to have been in a decline for quite some time. We need to band together and start picking ourselves up. We have been living in an obvious, "EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF" society and it is not getting us anywhere.


It is time for a change. Let's make this day our starting point, no more pointing fingers and no more looking back. No more hate slinging, typically created through lies and stereotypes. Please stop the madness. It is time to trudge forward ride out these growing pains and come out the other side better and stronger.

The only way this can be a reality is if we start building our communities again. It takes a village, let us build that influential village based on truth and positivity. This does not have to be as difficult as it has been. Our lives do not have to be a struggle. If we help each other, we all win, no one is left behind.

Living in poor economic times is affecting a large majority. But if we work together to rebuild then the sound economic changes that take place will benefit us as a whole, not only a select few. Imagine a world with no poverty and the benefits that would come from such a profound reality. Soon there would be a decline in crime because there would be no reason for people to perform such acts of desperation. This decline of compassion was a gradual thing and I realize rising up from our fall will take a gradual climb.

Today, as a nation, our time is now. As a citizen I feel it is my duty to begin and be the voice that starts by saying thank you to those in my life whom have influenced me for the good. I want to thank those I have wronged that saw it in their heart to forgive and I want to have the grace to truly forgive and forget any one who seeks my forgiveness. We are a country of opportunity let us also be one nation of peace, freedom and compassion.

I understand there were many who fought for those freedoms. This is my fight. Instead of fighting fire with fire my weapon of choice is love; I'm fighting for love with LOVE and I'm graciously asking you to join me in this battle.

Anything worth fighting for never comes easy, it is well past the time to roll our sleeves up and put in the work. I believe it will be worth the effort. This is a task that some may say is a failure and is a pointless waste of time. Do not allow our mistakes to taint our intentions, when we fail we must try again and not stop until the destination is reached.

Let the Revolution Begin

We're living in a pretty chaotic society at the moment. It feels like it is every man for themselves. I do believe we are starting to make a turn, after all it was a long time getting to this state, I imagine it will take some time to relearn simple basics of giving to our fellow man and loving everyone equally.

It is not a simple task to survive in the economic times we are facing at the moment. It is easy to get wrapped in your own woes that we lose sight of the bigger picture. Every day is a struggle to make ends meet and every one is pointing fingers instead of taking action for change. Most people are working 2 jobs to pay their bills, we are sleeping less, aging faster and becoming pretty damn grumpy in the process.

We need to step outside of ourselves and start reflecting on the good. Change a thought in order to make a change. It is understandably intimidating to look around and see so much poverty and turmoil become so prevalent. But one voice can make a difference. If you have reached only one person it is almost inevitable that person will feel compelled to return the favor for another.

The thing is we all have one life, one world and one ultimate love, happiness. This emotion is so easy to spread and share starting with a simple smile or gesture of kindness. It is not difficult and does not cost one penny. It starts the chain reaction that leads to bigger and even more fulfilling gestures.

When we are surrounded by bad news, irritability and greed you can feel it trickle down and create an intense feeling of anguish and pain. There is no reason why we cannot use the same technique but in the opposite direction.   

Isn't it about time we start a revolution of love and kindness and what better month to start than the month of Thanksgiving. Remember to count your blessings especially when it feels you have none. Remember to love one another especially the ones whom have wronged you. Remember to give when you have it to give because you never know when you may be the one who needs it in return. Do not turn your back on a stranger, for that stranger may soon become your best friend.

I want to love and be loved and I'm asking you to try it, let's all put ourselves second, stop living the motto, do it to others before they do it to you and start living the way it was meant to be by doing onto others as you would do onto yourself. We are all one big family and there are no borders, tolerance is key. Think before you proceed, the end reaction should result in a beautiful change.

Happy Halloween

Photo taken by R. Hosking

The holiday season is quickly moving in upon us. I personally love this time of the year. From Halloween on, I enjoy decorating my house, watching the leaves change colors all around me, feeling the cool air as it changes before my eyes.

I have not posted in awhile because I have been busy with tour dates, writing, my day job and all the grinds we all deal with daily. For me my schedule is always the busiest the first part of the year and by October I'm wrapping things up and looking forward to a couple months reprieve during the holiday season. This is when I start booking shows for the following spring and summer, promote my music and submit for different opportunities, I guess our jobs are never done.

However, reflection is a huge part of a creative person's life. I always say write what you know, but if you miss out on living then there simply is not a lot to write about. This time of the year feeds me and helps me prepare for the next season to come. I enjoy catching up with friends and family I was unable to see during the busy times.

This year has been quite a year for me. I have had numerous opportunities in TV/Films for my songs and my career is really starting to move. I have been truly blessed. I also recently bought a new home that I am so very proud of, I never realized four walls could make a girl so happy. It is my sanctuary and I truly admire my little corner of the world. It feeds me in so many creative ways; I do bleieve these walls could be my muse. I am always grateful to my muse and love to give back through my art.

From my house to yours, Happy Halloween :o)

I want to wish everyone a Happy and safe Halloween. I am hoping to start back on posting more regularly during these slower months. I do hope you enjoy the read, if so please stop by, say hi and share my blog with your friends and family.

Believe

There is a fine line between arrogance and confidence especially in the creative world. Art is

Photo taken by R. Hosking, Mexico

extremely subjective so what may be a masterpiece to you may not be felt by others. But having said that I'm challenging all you creative types to let go and start believing in yourself. 

There is one thing to be humble, and I feel confidently that humbleness is best shown when you are able to always have an open mind to new things and experiences. Once we believe we have learned it all and reached the top then we are cheating ourselves from new skills and that leaves us vulnerable for arrogance to rear its ugly face. 

However, be confident in what you do know. There is nothing more attracting than some one who exudes confidence in a humble way. These are emotions that cannot be faked and for the most part are often personality traits. But as I have said before everything is a learned skill and we can retrain our brains to open itself to new discoveries. 

Sometimes when I cannot think of something to write, I go for a jog to distract my brain in order to tease it into thinking of something different, it always works. I am no runner by any stretch of the word however, if I was closed off to that skill I may not have been able to improve the skills that I'm well versed in at the moment.  We improve and learn everyday do not miss out on opportunities for growth.

All things are interconnected no matter how big or small. Our creativity is generated by the things that surround us. Always believe if you cannot do something today in time you will learn. Believe that you have natural given talents that if honed they can be something great and unique. Believe in yourself because there is always a time when others will not. Thrive off criticism as constructive not defensively. Absolutely listen closely when someone says you do not have what it takes. These words are the best words anyone could hear, because for me, when it is said, it simply makes me try even harder.

If you cannot believe in yourself it makes it difficult for anyone else to get on board. No one promotes you better than you, don't be afraid of saying graciously who you are and what you do, and always be open minded to those who can help along the way. 

Change a Thought to Make a Change

Negativity can hinder our creative selves. Studies show we are living in a time where incivility

in our society is on the rise. When 95% of Americans think we have a civility problem, those percentages are staggering and serves only to destroy the inspiration to create a positive environment. 

You do not have to be an artist to benefit from creativity in the workforce or everyday living. All walks of life can use creative outlets to better their work environments and in return make positive changes in our lives as a whole.

Thinking outside of the box while living in a society with an evident crisis is crucial to making changes for the better. An eye for an eye attitude is only aggravating our situation and creating a vicious cycle of violence and resentment.
  
Someone soon needs to be the one voice that is willing to make a difference. We are in desperate need for that person or people, willing to rise above and be the bigger man. Stop the cycle of madness and trying to change someone's mind to suit your own. We can learn from each other if we shut up and listen instead of interrupting and arguing. Cruel behavior has become an accepted reality that should never be acceptable. 

Recognizing the difference between opinions and facts is an excellent start. Cutting out certain elements of the truth to create a new truth is what I call a lie. These creative lies are paraded in our news and media as truth. We live in an age of technology but our intelligence is being stifled by volumes and volumes of lies and ignorance. We need to use the technology to serve us, through integrity and creative intuitiveness. 

Some view fighting back and raising arms as their sign of displaying their strength. It takes a stronger heart to walk away or stand by and take the abuse until it ends. Creatively speaking it seems likely to me that most aggressors thrive on reaction of others, they will soon tire and find another victim if you choose not to fight back. If all their victims fall short on presenting a fight soon they have nothing left to argue and silence falls across the land.

That may be my imaginative heart running away with me, but it doesn't seem completely impossible, does it?

It is more difficult to be polite these days than it is to be cruel. When did the tables turn and being bad was appropriate and being good was a sign of weakness and failure. Our societal moral values have changed and need desperately to be revised.

Being polite feels good, when a stranger smiles at me on the street I have a compulsion to smile back instantly. It is proven any act is always reciprocated by a similar reaction. We have a responsibility and it takes a village. Lets start putting more beauty into the world, through our actions, artistry and psyche.

It takes a willingness to change a thought in order to make a change. Let's get creative and put our heads together to find new ways to inspire positivity.

Permission to Relax

Photo taken by R.Hosking, Portland ME

We live in an incredibly fast paced society. As a creative person our work never ends. We are always on the look out for a new opportunity, keeping our eyes and ears open for new inspiration and endlessly creating something bigger than before.

Creativity in my mind is a pursuit to be better and never stop growing and continuously topping each project. There will always be another mountain, our job is to discover how to climb it efficiently and effectively in order to get others on board with us through this crazy ride. Creativity is a rush and catalyst to our rise and fall. But the energy it takes to keep the momentum going is exhausting.

I do not know any other way to create a moderate living doing what I love other than endlessly pursuing it at all costs. That is a pretty bold statement, however, anyone who has lived it understands and anyone who knows some one in the business knows the sacrifices are dear to the ones around us as much as it is for ourselves. It takes a certain personality to give up so much for our creative outlets. We may potentially be insane but I like to call it dedicated. If we are lucky we find and migrate to those who understand us, or are patient with us, either way often times it is a lonely road for all parties involved. 

There comes a point for anyone at certain times in our lives where we need reflection. We need to give ourselves permission to relax. I may be wound up tighter than most and I'm a bit of a control freak, these are personality flaws that are detrimental to creativity. The irony is, I'm always preaching work work work, the harder you work the luckier you get. But if you work yourself to the limits then the creativity dies because you have no fuel to be inspired.

We need to remember who helped us along the way, we need to understand no one accomplishes anything with out the assistance of another. Always wear your gratitude on your sleeve, and be sure to enjoy the time with loved ones before they have moved on to sunnier shores. Where is the joy in triumphs if you have no one to share your joy?

I'm a bit of a recluse and really enjoy my quiet moments, reflecting and simply being still, mainly

Photo taken by R. Hosking, Peaks Island, ME

because my line of work requires at times, constant interaction and networking. Being on the road, meeting new people is an exciting part of my work. There is nothing wrong with that, but I often forget to count my blessings if I do not set this time aside for reflection. One can only truly appreciate God's gifts when we are quiet and humbled. When I go back into the world and surround myself with my friends and loved ones when I'm relaxed, that is when I truly appreciate what each individual has to offer. I become elated in the glory and the creativity is a gift from the muse, a thank you for keeping my temple clean and sturdy.

I know I repeat myself often in the pages of this blog, but sometimes these concepts are so simple they can be easily missed without repeatedly reminding ourselves. Today I'm giving myself permission to relax and reflect. I want to thank my creator for making me who I am. In return I will rest so I may be able to create with gratitude and conviction.

My Soul is Already Sold

When I write, I write what is on my mind, hoping to reach others that might feel like I do.

When I create songs, I do not write for myself, I write what I think others want to hear. Ultimately as an artist I have a deep inner vault of different thoughts or ideas. My brain is always observing, always creating, if I do not find a way to release it, I start feeling chaotic and cluttered.

My art comes from my highs and lows. It is the catharsis to my recovery or the calming to my excitement. My adrenaline races through my veins when I create, it is a new birth of a new child.

I am celebrating my third CD release, My Soul is Already Sold. I'm very proud of this body work and elated to share it with all of you. I can only hope you find the solace it provided me. I pray you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed making it. The music was produced by Scott Neubert at Smash Recording Studio in Nashville, TN. His talent helped make my vision come alive. It is a rootsy mix of Americana and Folk coming from my rawest, truest perspective. A journey to redefine who I am and who I want to become as an artist.

It is on sale now at CD Baby for download only, the actual release to be coming soon. This speaks of another chapter in my life. I wanted to share my art with my fellow readers, because as I pour my soul out on these pages, I have done the same in the studio while recording these songs.

 

I ask with a humble heart that you may listen and enjoy my new creation. Please take the time and leave me a comment and let me know what you think. I'm currently on the road promoting it and meeting new people and visiting old friends. It has been a collection of emotions I can't wait to share with you all soon. Visit my website and come see me if I'm playing in a town near you.

Charity Begins With Creativity

Our creativity is a gift from our higher power. The way we repay that gift is by using it for the greater good. The whole part of being a creative person is to think of new, out side of the box, ideas to help pay it forward. We all have had to work hard to get to where we wanted or to achieve the goals we set for ourselves. Nothing worth fighting for is ever achieved without a fight. Along the way someone had helped us, we are never alone and as I said before we are all in this together. 

Often times we take our gifts for granted, maybe certain things come easier for one person than the other. Working as a team can help build us up where we fall weak. Charity works the exact same way. I always say give when you can because you never know, there may be a time when you will be the one in need.  

As an independent musician I am always thinking of ways to get my songs out there and heard. There are organizations that love to promote musicians. You can team up with them give half of your money earned to the organization half for yourself all the while you are getting heard and their getting help. It is a win win.  

I chose to give my money to an organization called, World Vision please visit their page and donate where you see fit. There has been so much destruction with all the tornadoes, they are working feverishly to get aid to the regions in need. I'm proud to be a small part of their organization and I love them for what they do.

Charity or creativity does not end or begin with money alone. I know it makes the world go around but there are so many other ways to give with out spending one dime. Time is a great way to give back. Same as creativity, you were given a gift however you had to put in the time to hone it and make it your own. Younger like minds are a wonderful place to start. Help shape and mold their ideas so they can build a foundation to improve their crafts. Sitting down with the elderly and playing crossword puzzles together, or reading to a youngster. None of these are selfless deeds you get so much in return yourself simply by giving your time. 

My point is receiving can be rewarding, do not get me wrong, but giving is as rewarding if not more. I think charity begins with creativity because how many times have I read something that moved me, or heard a song on the radio that changed my bad mood into a good one. These are all small gifts that someone used their creativity to give back to the world what they once received themselves. I say, "small gifts" only because there is not a word in the dictionary that can describe how a little effort can make such a HUGE impact.

One Man's Sacrifices

I grew up in a military family. My father took us everywhere he was stationed when he could and we traveled all over the world. As a child this was so exciting to me, seeing new places, meeting new people. Even though we were never in one place for very long, I made friendships that lasted a lifetime.

I remember once my father and I were hanging out. It was a quiet Sunday morning much like today. We sat out on my back porch over a steaming hot cup of coffee. He told me how sorry he was for dragging us kids all over and  he wished that he had provided a more stable environment for us. I saw the sincerity in his eyes. He honestly thought we should have had more than what he offered.

My upbringing was interesting to say the least and adventurous to say the most. There is not one experience if given the chance to do over, that I would do anything differently.  I love the sense of curiosity our travels created in my own life. The eagerness to see first hand how others live. Because of him I was taught to see the world from many different perspectives; that was a gift greater than anything money could buy.

My father was the one who made all the sacrifices. He volunteered and served in the Vietnam War and then put in many years after, serving his country and the people he held dear. He was away from his family at times and did that so he could better himself and provide for us all. I love and respect him for the sacrifices he made. But most of all I love him for the values he taught me.

There were many in my family who served and I have the good fortune of still having them with me and yet there were so many others that paid the ultimate price. It takes a certain kind of individual to serve selflessly for our country. I want to give them all my deepest, sincerest gratitude. I also want to thank my father for his service, thank my uncles, cousins, brother, friends and all of those who have fought for the freedoms we often take for granted.

I know my father is flying his flag today as he does every day and tomorrow on Memorial Day he will honor and remember the ones that came before and after him. I want to wish everyone a wonderful 3 day weekend and ask as we enjoy the day off to remember the ones to which this day is celebrated.

Happy Memorial Day!

We're All In This Together

There is a lot of competition in the business of the arts. Whether you are an artist, writer, musician, even the corporate world, whatever realm of creativity you walk in, the competitiveness is insurmountable. Millions of people all trying to do the same thing, find success. For every winner there is a loser and we have all had our fair share of losing.

I have said it before and I'll say it until the day I die, the industry exists because someone made it, there is no reason why that someone cannot be you or I. I have built my career on studying those who have come before me. I was meticulous and calculating in the steps I took to move my career forward, most times I'd lose, but those experiences built knowledge of what works and what doesn't. Trial and error so to speak, I learned what not to do as well as paid close attention to the things that turned into successful ventures so I could repeat those steps. If it worked once, there is always a good chance it will work again.  

A word of advice, kind of off subject but in any case, take notes and refer to them often; you would be surprise what you forget. Write everything down, especially names and contacts. Keep this information stored in numerous places as a back up so you will always have another resource to turn to if something is misplaced or lost. It takes years to build relationships with industry people who can help further your career, it would be a shame to lose them all in a split second of carelessness. 

Back to the subject at hand, this is where I want you to change your way of thinking, to not only benefit yourself, but everyone on the same path as you. Stop looking at fellow artists as competition. We can learn from each other, prosper from each other and help each other grow. Everyone has a certain strength to bring to the table, work with those that are strong in things that you are weak. Share your knowledge with others who fall short where you are strong. Never stop learning and never think for a second that you know it all, the moment you close your mind to a piece of knowledge, you may be potentially closing yourself off to the one element that was holding you back. We are all in this together.

Hey, I get it, we're human and we're greedy by nature. But there is enough to go around and we all excel in different things. I'm a firm believer of karma, never step on a toe in order to improve your own position, this will come back to haunt you, do not think for a second it wont. Never forget the journey and struggles and when you reach the top, be sure to always make sure the fortune keeps trickling down. You achieve this by information sharing, introductions and a simple, "Hey, how can I help", whenever and where ever you can. 

I'm still climbing but I would be a fool if I said I have made it this far on my own, there are countless people that have paid it forward for me, I hope I may be able to repay the favor one day. 

The Unsung Hero

Today is Mother's Day. This day is a celebration of the woman that gave me life. Everyone has their stories be it good or bad. I was raised in a very close knitted family. We were taught to stand beside each other no matter what came our way. That was the definition of family in my house and my parents lead by example and Mom was the tie that kept us all together. 

Dad played his role as well; he was old school, he provided for us and he did it without complaint. As a child we were poor, I never realized the struggle they had to feed 4 kids because back then, I never wanted for anything. They taught me values, responsibility and how to appreciate what we had instead of always wanting something more. We were as dysfunctional as the next family but we made our dysfunction work for us. The 6 of us were tight, we had each others back and genuinely enjoyed each others company. 

My Father was a military man and was gone often but Mom never missed a beat and when we saw him it made the time together all the more special. As a child I admired my Father so much, he was my hero, he could do no wrong in my eyes and over the years that has never changed. But I did not learn to appreciate my Mother until my adulthood. It was kind of like, she was always there, I was always happy and satisfied, but I took her for granted because I never had any needs, because they were always met. 

I was a head strong rebellious teen and my Mom and I's personalities clashed like the Titans. Maybe we were too much alike, but whatever the reason, as an adult I used to apologize to her jokingly for being such a pain in the ass. But she loved me unconditionally and I did not learn to appreciate that until I was older. 

We lost my Mom 7 years ago. It was a day that rocked me to the core and I have never been the same person since. I know she knew I loved her, and I always felt loved by her. The pain of that sort of loss never goes away, in time it does feel different but I miss her as much today as the day she went to her new home. 

She had a strength that was incomparable to anything or anyone and she loved her family above herself and never let us see her sweat. I am who I am because of who she was and who she will always be. I am my Mother's daughter and I hold my head high with a proud heart. I can only hope to be half the woman she is; I was never blessed with a child of my own but I pray that I may have an impact on someone's life the way she impacted mine. I cannot be me with out her, Happy Mother's Day, Mommy. I love you with all my heart.

Quiet Time

When things get out of control in our lives it is easy to feel overwhelmed. The emotions feed our negativity, we start telling ourselves lies about our talents. The thing is a creative person truly needs to have leather skin and not take things so personally. Unfortunately we are probably the most sensitive people on the earth.

We will hear the word, "NO" more often than we hear anything positive about our art. We have to understand you will receive a thousand no's, but it only take the one "YES" to make our dreams come true. Hang in there for that yes, because it makes all the hard work worth it and more.

In the mean time you have to allow yourself quiet time to refuel and rejuvenate. You need time for prayer or meditation whatever method you use to get to your happy place. On any given day we can be pulled in a million different directions and forced to put our energy into things that do not necessarily feed our creative self. It can cause turmoil and battles within our spirit. Sometimes succumbing to the fight can feed us to the

Photo taken by Christina Griffin

point we're able to find solace in a new song or a painting, whatever your medium may be. It is cathartic to say the least. Make your anxiety work for you, tap into those emotions to express your deepest sentiments.

It is the nature of the business and you have to work feverishly and relentlessly in order to reach the level of success you have set for yourself. I'll be the first to tell you the harder you work the luckier one becomes. But do not lose sight of the prize. Have you ever been so tired you get writer's block or you go days sometimes months with no motivation for anything? This is a common result to endless work and no play. It affects our ability to soar to the levels it takes to create our art.

Check yourself by the production of your craft. When I'm rested and energized I can write a song a day and sometimes more than one. But the more exhausted I become the more time passes between my creative productivity. My creativity is how I function it is everything I am, it is how I breathe. When the flow stops, so do I.  I fall into a depression and it offsets my entire being and balance.

I love to travel to get perspective and rejuvenation, or go for walks, sometimes a simple drive to the library for a change of scenery is enough to put me right again. You'd be surprise how busy one can be and then at the end of the day you have not one thing to show for your efforts. Whatever works for you do it, and do it often we all need to learn how to stop and smell the roses. We all need unapologetic space from the outside world. If you are surrounded by others that do not approve of your solace, then those people are toxic and must be removed from your life. Every one needs down time and you would be amazed at the difference it will make.

So, having said that, Happy Friday everyone, no better time than the present to put it to practice. Enjoy your weekend. Curl up with a good book, spend some alone time or enjoy the family, no matter what you decide to do, make sure it is relaxing and give yourself that time to recoup.

Define Perfection

Perfection: an exemplification of supreme excellence; is one definition according to Webster Dictionary. 

But perfection is a perception and no one views it the same way. 

Art is extremely personal, it reflects our souls and everything that we are made of from the inside out. That is the reason why it hurts so much when it is not accepted by others. But we can not take things so personally. Everyone has their own opinions and those opinions should never dictate your abilities as an artist; at the same time we should always keep an open mind when reviewing other creations. 

The idea is to always stay true to yourself. As I said before creativity is a learned talent but the abilities reside in the corridors of our thoughts. It is up to us to seek them out. Go on a gather information mission and store as much data in your brain as possible. This task is a never ending one, the more information the better, don't worry your hard drive will never reach its capacity we have unlimited space in our brains. The trick is to be able to recall it when you need it. It is there trust me, seek and you will find. So open your mind and let the data find its home.

An open mind is the handiest tool anyone can possess and make work in their favor. Keeping our thoughts fair and balanced create a new world for which we can reside. It is adventurous and extremely educating and can even help you to create new habits which can lead to uncharted territory. Sounds pretty cool, huh? What have you got to lose, give it a try?

Find a comfortable spot to do your work. Some where that is just your own, no one is

Photo taken by Rebecca Hosking, Cheekwood Gardens, TN

allowed in your space. You need to feel free and comfortable and be able to be as vulnerable as your willing to allow yourself to be. That is when the purest feelings start to take over and feed your creative self. There is a book called, The Artists Way, By Julia Cameron. I highly recommend this book it certainly changed my life and is a good starting point to release your creative spirit.

Because art is subjective we have no right to make a harsh judgement on anyone's creations. Remember what I said in our Daily Positive Reinforcements? Always have a grateful heart, and treat others as you wish to be treated yourself. 

Who are we to judge another persons visions of their creativity. When we put it out into the world looking for validation, I guarantee, you will not reach everyone. Art is subjective to say the least, the level of perfection is reached through a gut feeling. Listen to your heart, it will tell your mind's eye when your master piece is finished. 

Nothing is Certain and Sacrifice is Always Steep

I find comfort in dependability, however, living a life of chaos and uncertainties is the life of a creative person. Often times we do not know where our next paycheck is coming from or if one is even coming at all. We spend a lot of time alone and contemplating.

Contemplation is a valuable tool for the creative types. It keeps us in check so we do not stray too far from the real world. I myself contemplate scenarios of destitute situations, because I fear them so much, I'm always sure to work stable incomes while pursuing my dreams. When I was younger, I wouldn't think twice of chucking it all, selling everything I owned and simply seeing where the map would take me. But as I got older, my fearless spirit started to fade. Please do not get me wrong, this may work for some favorably, but for me, I need certainties. 

These certainties are not easily obtained. Working a stable 9 to 5 Monday through Friday is a sure way to give you that certain income until your next big break, but like all good things, nothing is permanent. That stable income zaps us of our energy and freelance way of

Photo taken by Rebecca Hosking, Mexico

thinking. After all, it is the sense of freedom that feeds our creativity.

Balance is key and not only do the creative types have issues with balance but we all do at some point or another. We are truly all in this one together; work life, home life, spouses and children all demand our time and in order to be successful in any venture you embark on it takes 100% of your efforts. You know what they say, nothing worth fighting for ever comes with out a fight.

This is where I need help and cannot offer any sound advice but in fact would love input from those of you who have found a balance. My career consumes majority of my life. I remember when I first started out and I wanted to be a songwriter. I recall a conversation I was having with my brother in law. I was complaining about how hard it was to make anything happen with my music, his comment to me was, "well, exactly what have you been doing in order to make it as a songwriter?"

This statement immediately sent me in the defensive mode and I argued I was doing a lot, then after re-evaluating my progress I thought that maybe I was not really doing enough. This sent me into a total, off the charts, obsession to never be called out like that ever again. So I plunged forward and did not relent. From that point on I was full speed ahead. Now if someone asks me that question I have a whole laundry list of actions I have taken, but that laundry list of actions came with a price. 

It is easy to say you are willing to sacrifice anything in order to achieve a certain goal but until the sacrifice is actually made you do not fully appreciate the magnitude of your choices.

I'm still working on balance and I guess I will forever be stumped by this dilemma. The business of creativity is at times frustrating and extremely difficult to make a steady balanced living. We have to go into this work with the attitude it is what it is, I am who I am and there fore I will always be me. The statistics of successful high paid creative people is a small one, but that does not mean you cannot be who you were meant to be. 

The business in fact exists because someone made it, no reason why that someone cannot be you or me? The trick is to not let the pursuit dictate every move. It is a demanding job to say the least, the clock never stops for a creative person. If I knew a way to always be available for every opportunity out there without sacrificing quality time with others I would jump on the chance and employ the strategy forevermore. 

I do not think we should ever settle for second best and I definitely do not think you should ever give up on your dreams, but be mindful and always move forward with a pure heart. Stay true to yourself and the rest will follow, at least that is what I always tell myself.

Creative Personality Perks

There has been countless studies about humans and their personalities, particularly that of us creative types. I think understanding how we think and operate would open some insight to living more innovative lives.

We are quirky in the best sense of the word, in my opinion. Speaking from my own experiences, I can admit I do walk to the beat of my own drum as do most of us. I think
because I have also worked in corporate America for a fortune 500 company for countless years, that has allowed me to develop a better balance between my left and right brain. None the less, I have always favored my right brain and it pretty much dictates all my actions even when it is borrowing from the left side.

I do not know if the rest of the world is as obsessed with our brains and its functions as I am, but it is a fascination that has afforded me my ability to create a personality out of thin air. As a writer you want your characters to be believable, the best way to do that is to build on their personality. Visual descriptions play a large role in creating a believable character but descriptive personalities put you in that character's head. There is no one person that is identical to the other, even twins. We all are who we are, good, bad or indifferent.

Having said that, our brains work through patterns, we are creatures of habit. Anyone who says creativity is inherited, I beg to differ. It is a learned skill that can be tapped into if you understand the thoughts as they pass by in your head. If you are not normally creative you can retrain your brain by practicing and creating new habits.

If you are interested, visit and join this website: LUMOSITY. It is a series of games that help exercise and sharpen your brain. There are also several fascinating articles that explain the science behind the site.

Creative types are often tireless when it comes to creating we can go on for hours working on our art but tend to get exhausted quickly when undertaking a chore we do not like. It is common for us to be extremely intellectual, however our intelligence is questioned by others because we are caught in deep thought often. It goes with out saying we are viewed as irresponsible, but I feel our playful nature and warmheartedness is misunderstood. In fact, we are very reliable and have incredible self-discipline. We tend to be our own worst critics.

Our imaginations dominate our daily lives, sometimes we do tend to revel in both reality and fantasy indiscriminately. We like our privacy, but know how to play the game and enjoy interacting with others depending on our mood and what frame of mind we're in at any given moment. We can also be extremely prideful as well as humble; being very proud of our creations but hoping someone else notices without having to fish for the compliment.

We do tend to be a bit more open minded, we are conservatively rebellious. We are argumentative when we are passionate about something, but are good listeners. We evaluate all possible scenarios before drawing conclusions. Politically we are more centrists than anything else. Our sensitivity is unsurpassed we are extremely empathetic because we feel deeper than most and it often sets us up for pain and suffering. The good news is we use those emotions to create and we find our creations very cathartic.

In conclusion whether you view these traits as good or bad our art depends on these attributes. If you are looking for a more creative life start paying attention to the world around you and try to see the same view from several different angles. We could all learn from each other and we should always keep an open mind regardless which side of our brain is dominant. Understanding our thought process plays a huge role in creating a more friendly and creative environment.

Write What You Know

Life repeats art because our art reflects our lives.

As a writer I have been taught my whole life to write what I know. Unfortunately I took that very literally at the beginning of my career. I thought well heck, my life is kind of boring, I better get out there and do some living.

I became quite obsessed with traveling and tried to get out more and meet new people, although I was having the time of my life it started getting costly and hard to keep up with and my writing was still stale and stagnant.

Once again something so simple can so easily be left unnoticed with out an outer voice there to guide you. Through my pursuit of living more, so I'd have something exciting to write about, I realized a thing called an imagination. We can feed ourselves ideas through our living and people we encounter but it does not have to be so literal. I think the idea is to tap into the emotions and then use those truest sentiments to create an elaborate exciting story. How things went down may not be true but the conviction was real and that is what your readers latch on to.

Universality is the key, tap into something we all know and feel, so that gives your readers the ability to put themselves in your shoes. I do not know how many times I heard a song on the radio that provoked an emotional outburst, or a passage I read, where I thought to myself I know exactly what they mean. They could have been on a boat ride and I may have never been on a boat, but if the emotion fit, I cared no more about the ride but the feelings the story provoked. That opens a world into your mind and you start putting your own story in its place. It took a total stranger to reach out to me in order for me to grasp this concept, yes, I admit, sometimes I'm a little slow on the uptake.

Once I received an email from this stranger after she had heard a song I wrote about my

Pencil Sketch by Rebecca Hosking of her Mother

Mother's passing, called, YOUR NEW HOME. She went on to tell me about her daughter who recently had passed away from leukemia. She told me it felt like I wrote the song specifically for her. Losing her child was the most devastating moment in her life, as the loss of my Mother was for me. She put her story into mine and felt comfort from it.The positive spin on something so heart breaking is that by her reaching out to me she gave me something back, for both of our losses we gained something new, a comforting SMILE.

 

That was the most rewarding moment of my life, I knew not only did the song mean something to me, but I was able to touch a universal emotional chord, which meant I was doing my job right. I think that moment impacted me so profoundly it changed my writing for the better from that point forward. I will forever be in debt to that woman, she gave me the courage to continue pursuing my music and writing career from a new perspective.

Smile for a Smile

What we put into the world is what we get back. It is a profoundly simple statement that surprisingly goes missed in many cases. Eye for an eye is usually viewed as a negative action being avenged by another negative response, and so the cycle begins and never ends.

What if we replaced the negativity with a positive affirmation. It is not difficult at all if practiced on a daily basis. We have the power to dictate our moods and our reaction, if we are used to one way it may take some practice to change but, change is always possible.

No better time than the present, I see no need to waste any more seeping sand in the hourglass, this is an easy fix. Every morning when I get up, I like to write in my journal, I start each page with something I'm thankful for, then end each entry with a prayer toward someone who has wronged me. I pray for their minds to be opened to new things and positive thinking.

Photo taken by Rebecca Hosking, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Smile for a smile. Walk with your head held high. Flash those pearly whites to every person you greet on the streets. Empathy is a powerful tool to understanding, if you do not get the response you were hoping for say a prayer for that person to be relieved of their burdens. A prayer and a smile goes a long way.

Embrace Your Creative Self

Each and every one of us possess some level of creativity. Some of us fear it and some embrace it. While others may even find it challenging to tap into those regions of their minds. Regardless what category you fall under, the creative realm is at times a difficult one to balance with the world around us.

Creativity is not a job but it is a way of life; how we see things around us. There is not one person that looks at the world in the same way. We share our visions and versions of truth through our art. Be it a painting of a hillside with an abandoned farmhouse or a song written about love and loss, or maybe you work in a tech savvy position, then your view will be seen as a computer language only a select few can read. Regardless your medium if you created it you and only you, own its beauty.

Artwork created by Rebecca Hosking

I have been a writer for many years, I started writing poetry, then songs, then short stories and books. I am also a painter and a musician, these things create who I am and dictate my moods and emotions through all my senses. It feeds my daily thoughts and actions. I create therefore I am.

Ask yourself what feeds your personality, I want to challenge the non creative types to tap into your deepest fears and embrace them through your creative resources. It can be arduous for someone not used to communicating with their inner self, but it can be very enlightening as well. Only by facing our deepest demons can we find the path to our purest self.

This is a personal blog about my journey to finding and embracing my creative self. At times things get chaotic and overwhelming but I always have my outlets to help keep me focused on the tasks at hand. Creativity is my religion. I speak to my higher power through my words I write, a painting I paint or a song I compose. I find strength in my art. I look for direction in my creativity and it never fails me. I thank my higher power for these gifts by using them.

Life is a challenge to say the least, balancing a creative world with a secular one needs to be a compromise. When the compromise is reached there can be no other result but happiness.

I look forward to taking this journey together, I want to share my anecdotes in hopes my readers will share with me a few of their own. I want to reach people who have embraced their creativity as well as those who are not sure they have any in their souls at all. I want to show that each and everyone of us hold some type of gift that no one else possesses. What are you waiting for? Find your voice and do not be afraid to let it be seen and heard.