“What would you do if you knew you wouldn’t fail?”

That’s the question given to us in Kelly Rae’s Flying Lessons. For me, the specific question I struggled with for years was “What would I do if money was not a concern?” I’ve always been creative. I’ve always been entrepreneurial. But only when I stopped obsessing about money and started focusing on what I really wanted did I get an honest, unclouded answer.

But before I could answer the what, I had to understand the whyWhy would I do what I want to do? What do I believe in? What tugs at the deepest core of my heart? What drives me to action?

And the answer I got from the depths of my soul is this – I believe that the only way to live life is with passion. Passion for oneself. Passion for family. Passion for work. Passion for the Earth.

This is at the core of everything I do now. I know and encountered so many people devoid of passion – simply existing to pay the bills or to conform. I’ve been there – trapped in what others expected of me. Once I found the courage to break away from expectations and pursue what I really wanted to do (which was in itself a journey of self-discovery), I felt freer, more alive.

So what do I want to do? I want to make art. More importantly, I want to inspire. Inspire others to find their passion and pursue it. Inspire others to practice self-expression and self-exploration through creative endeavors – help them let go of the mental bonds that bind them.

“No matter where you are in life right now, no matter who you are, no matter how old you are – it is never too late to be who you are meant to be.” – Esther & Jerry Hicks

How will I do this? First and foremost by example. Then reflected through my blog, by publishing a book, through intimate creative workshops, and through my photography and artwork. These are my goals. (I’m keeping the specifics to myself for now.)

Of course there are fears and apprehensions and anxieties. The mere act of posting about this is scary for me. There’s the “Who does she think she is?” or the “I’m not good enough.” And it paralyzes me at times. But I have to keep faith and believe in myself because if I don’t, no one is going to believe in me. I have to start with myself.

So onward I go. Always moving forward, one step at a time.

“Eventually I discovered for myself the utterly simple prescription for creativity: be intensely yourself. Don’t try to be outstanding; don’t try to be a success; don’t try to do pictures for others to look at – just please yourself.”- Ralph Steiner

Wait. What about money? I still have to eat, right? And pay the bills. And support the family – although Troy is doing a pretty good job at this. And travel. And buy more art supplies – lol! Well, again, I keep faith. I know it will come. As long as I keep doing what I love doing. It also helps to have a very supportive husband. {Thanks.}

And now I ask you, “What would you do if money was no concern or if you knew you wouldn’t fail?”

Con mucho amor,