Creative Inspiration for Passionate Living

There came a point in my daily work responsibilities where I had to edit a Wiki page. A wiki is a website that allows the easy creation and editing of web pages using a markup language or text editor.  I'm not a web designer or developer but I have tested and even written basic HTML so I figured wiki creation would be a breeze.  Before starting on my first page, I looked over existing wiki pages, reviewed the mark up text and asked a subject matter expert for tips and tricks that would ensure I did everything properly. When I finished my Wiki page (that I copied from an existing page by the way), there were so many things wrong that even the most seasoned Wiki editors in my department couldn't figure out how I made such simple page look so... WRONG.  They don't let me touch wiki pages anymore. Today's Inspiration Knowing Your Limitations Can Be Your Greatest Strength As children, many of us were taught to try our  hardest and be the best. We ...

As a kid, I had quite a time figuring out my niche.  In gym, I was the kid that tripped over the ball and lost the relay for my team - I have bruises to prove it.  When we played basketball, I was the one who cringed every time a pass was thrown my way.  I quickly figured out that I was not the "athletic" type BUT, I could jump double dutch well enough to play with the teenagers at 10 yrs. old - what an honor. During grammar school, I joined the glee club, church choirs and every other chorus that would have me - I wanted to be the next Stephanie Mills! Over time, I realized being mostly tone deaf did not serve well for harmonies and solos.  I was nobody's songbird HOWEVER, I could dance.  I was such a good dancer that I was selected by the principal for special school programs and I even got to be one of the Thriller dancers for the annual Labor day parade once. Fast forward a few years.  I took a 3 day Java development course - coding i...

Seems like every time I send my children to another room to get something for me, they look  ONLY where I say the item may be and no more.  Just yesterday, I asked my younger daughter to bring me a book from my bedroom. I described the book and places she could look.  Still, she returned to me empty handed just moments after her quest. "I didn't see it" she claimed. This morning, as I began sweeping, the broom hit a large object. What do you know, the book I requested played hide-and-go-seek just behind the dust ruffle on my bed.  Had my daughter bent her back just a little, she would have realized the book was right under her nose. Today's Inspiration Don't assume it's not there because it isn't where you expected it to be Have you ever been looking for something: keys, cell phone, a breakthrough? Many times when we're searching for things they are right under our noses.  If we hunt enough times without luck though...

I'm taking dance lessons with one of the best female instructors in town.  She laid out one major guideline intended to help students become great dancers: Go dance at LEAST once per week.  She provided a list of places we could go and even pointed out great male dancers we could dance with. I followed her advice for the first seven weeks without fail and I could tell that I was getting pretty good for a beginner.  I still made mistakes - even the seasoned dancers do I'm told - but I was building confidence and becoming much more comfortable on the dance floor. My schedule got a little hectic and for two weeks I missed my dance days.  I still remembered all the steps I'd been taught but goodness, when I got on the dance floor again... Let's just say I was no Ginger Rogers. Today's Inspiration Use tools often to keep them sharp All of us have talents and skills - yes, you do too! Some skills we were sorta born with while others we picked up alo...

My at the tender age of 15 my daughter confided in me and shared her dream of becoming a world famous pastry chef.  In order to realize her dream, she needed me to purchase a Kitchen Aid mixer.  I was elated to find that she knew her career path so early in life and eagerly agreed to purchase the mixer. My lips and forehead wrinkled in disbelief as I researched the mixer of her dreams at several appliance merchants. I found out the minimum cost for a Kitchen Aid was $200 - and these mixers NEVER go on sale. I purchased a less expensive mixer that would allow my daughter to experiment with the idea of baking for a living.  We made a covenant.  She would bake cakes consistently and master recipes.  I, once I felt secure that she would not abandon her path to culinary greatness, would purchase the Kitchen Aid with all the required attachments for her to truly master her skills. Today's Inspiration Show Yourself Worthy, Receive Your Gift Every one of us lov...

As the youngest in the family, my 10 year old often complains about why his older siblings have been granted privileges or given gifts that he does not have. Though I try to explain that they gained privileges through showing responsibility and worthiness or how they earned what he thinks is a gift, he still feels like it just isn't fair. Have you ever been jealous of someone or their accomplishments in spite of your own blessings? We are human and envy is a human emotion but why does someone else's success have to bring us pain? Today's Inspiration Be genuinely happy for others in their time of celebration. Your gift shall manifest itself at the appropriate time Without knowing someone's pathway to glory or the setbacks they struggled through, we might notice the great things in their life and feel envious. Whether it be friends and family or those in the public eye, most people who have achieved any sustainable level of success have not done so without some ha...

Anyone remember being asked 'what do you want to be when you grow up?' My 1st Grade teacher posed this question but asked us to answer it by drawing it instead of writing - uh oh! I pondered my options as she passed out the art supplies.  I'm nobody's artist in case you hadn't guessed.   By the time we had to stand before class and explain our picture, I believed, with my whole 6 year old heart, that I wanted to be a clown. Yes I said clown (it is ok to laugh, I still laugh too). My decision was completely influenced by what I could depict artistically rather than my real desire but for that day, I was happy about my future with the circus! Many of us have dreams, goals and aspirations. Some are able to burst out of the starting gates of life focused on precise steps that help them bring dreams to fruition, to make desires reality. If they can do it, what about the rest of us? Have you ever felt like your chances of being a clown (literally and figuratively) ...