The inner artist

566-2The time of spring and Easter, for those who celebrate it, is often considered a time of renewal and growth. Unless you live in a tropical climate that hardly changes, you will most likely experience this progression in the seasonal change from the cold, dark winter to the lighter, warmer days of spring. As the days are filled with more natural sunlight, birds sing their hearts out of newfound happiness, trees blossom and the grass is green again, I also become alive. It is not a coincidence that spring is my favorite season. While the results of growth are easier to notice when taking a walk through nature in the spring, human beings also benefit from the personal growth and renewal this season brings.

When I look back at many spring times of my life, I realize that I too have gone through many changes that taught me a lesson and allowed my soul to grow. This year, I have decided to let my inner artist emerge. When we think of art, paintings, music, sculptures or novels often come to mind. However, I believe that art can take many different forms. I also believe that art is the language the universe speaks to us. It is no coincidence that many people call talents God given gifts. I also believe that those gifts are individually wrapped and placed in our hearts and souls the moment we are created and come to this earth to express them.

Everyone has a reason to be here. Many people wonder what it is. I believe that one of the reasons we come here is to share our gifts. Doing so allows our souls to shine and seek fulfillment while on earth. How do you know what your gift is? I think that our passions are our key emotions to answer this question. Our souls long for growth and expression. We can do so by sharing our talents with the world. I have longed to be an artist as long as I can remember. I also know that I was an artist in at least one or more past lives. This year, it is time to let my inner artist emerge and come to the surface. I know that I have been hiding for too long. My soul longs to be expressed and shared with the world. Encouraged and empowered I look into the warm spring sun and feel reassured that, after the cold, long winter, I am ready to emerge from my shell. I wish you all the same growth and newfound happiness that you will find when you start following your passions and express your soul’s wishes for fulfillment whatever form it takes.

The question is, what can you do when fears and doubts appear along the way? On your path, people will criticize you, push you down and tell you that you are never going to make it. Don’t let their egos keep you from growing. Don’t accept their negativity as a sign that you are not going to succeed. It’s like telling an egg in a bird’s nest that no singing bird will ever come out of its shell, a cocoon that it will never change into a beautiful butterfly or a seed in the ground that it will never ever grow into a gorgeous flower. No negativity can stop growth and the expression of the gifts of the universe through art and beauty just as a late winter storm cannot stop spring from coming. So, this spring and beyond, let your inner artist emerge, share your passions, and help make our world a more beautiful and artistic one just as God has intended it to be when it was created.

Love, Barbara

 

Copyright © 2016 by Barbara Bullock, Photo taken at Hotel Dolder Grand Zurich in 2011 by Barbara Bullock

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By the way, Happy Easter!

Dear friends,

Nearly a week ago, many people around the world celebrated Easter. Easter is one of my favorite times of the year. First of all, it always takes place in the spring, my favorite season. Among the fragrance of blooming blossoms and flowers, singing birds and the first warm sunshine caressing my skin, I hear laughter. That laughter comes from happy children playing in the garden full of excitement in anticipation of the arrival of the Easter bunny. Children know that the Easter bunny brings chocolate, eggs, and perhaps a few small gifts. What they don’t know is that the Easter bunny brings so much more. Many adults would say that they don’t believe that the Easter bunny is real. I would like to show you why I believe he is real. I believe that while we bring eggs made of chocolate and real ones, it is the Easter bunny, who brings people together and brings them happiness and joy while they share a bond of unconditional love.

A few years ago I spent an amazing Easter weekend in Dublin, Ireland. I was staying at a beautiful resort there. The interior was very elegant and comfortable. The hotel’s Easter decoration was gorgeous with flowers everywhere. The service was impeccable and the lunch I had excellent. I felt pampered. After lunch I went outside to relax in the lovely courtyard. The thought of spending an afternoon relaxing in the warm spring sun listening to the singing birds, and smelling the sweet fragrance of spring flowers in the air inspired me. Slowly, I approached the courtyard and looked around for the perfect bench to sit on. The universe really showered me with a lot of love that day. As I was sitting on a bench watching several families spend quality time together, laughing, cuddling, playing with their children, my heart filled with joy and happiness. The atmosphere was very serene and peaceful. Within that lovely courtyard was a little world on its own. It felt like as if all the problems in the world had disappeared for a few hours. This was a place filled with love, joy, and happiness. It was a place out of a bed-time storybook. With a little imagination the courtyard was filled with fairies and angels.

Suddenly, despite all the delight around me, I became a bit sad. I wished that you, mommy, would have been there. Among all the joy and happiness, I missed you. I thought that moments like these should be spent with one’s loved ones. I wished that I could spend time with you here in this heavenly place. Had you been there, I would have felt like in paradise. Then, all of a sudden, my eyes focused on a window on one of the upper floors of the hotel. I didn’t know why, but something attracted me to this particular window. I could not explain what was happening. As it turned out, you were there; my mommy was there, in the room with that particular window. Paradise was here, right in this courtyard because you, my beloved mommy, were here too. It meant the world to me to know you were there. My heart filled with love beyond our human understanding. It was a magical feeling. Later that day, your smile to me let me know that you were happy too that I was there. Knowing this, made it the best, happiest and most magical Easter I have ever had. Thank you, mommy, for being there. I love you, mommy. And thank you, Easter bunny, for bringing me and mommy together.

Love, Barbara

Copyright © 2014 Barbara Bullock