Happiness...What Makes You Happy?

Happiness is defined as a state of mind or feeling characterized by contentment, love, satisfaction, pleasure, or joy. So, what makes you happy?

I imagine that some of the thoughts that would initially come to mind may include being rich, powerful and famous. Yes, those things would make most of us happy, but I am talking about the things that make your heart smile...the happiness that comes from within us.

Is there really a happiness quotient? Is there a secret formula? I don't know if we can assume that there is any single thing that will make us happy. What I do know is that we need to take responsibility for our own happiness. Leo Tolstoy said, "If you want to be happy, be."

So, let's be....HAPPY.

I have a "HAPPY LIST", do you? If you don't, it is a good idea to create your HAPPY LIST. It can include your innermost wishes and dreams or it can be a lighthearted list of the simple pleasures in your life like chocolate and walks in the park. It can include things you are thankful for, memories and goals. Remember that "HAPPINESS is about the quality of the moments in your life, not the quantity." Your HAPPY LIST will remind you of the good times when your heart needs to smile.

I'd love to hear what makes you HAPPY...

It's A New Day, It's A New Blog!

WELCOME TO MY NEW ART & DESIGN BLOG! I am very excited to be stepping into the blog world. The stars have fully aligned themselves to open up the time (and my mind) to begin this wonderful journey.

Eleanor Roosevelt said it best, "The future belongs to those that believe in the beauty of their dreams". I absolutely LOVE this quote! We all need a dream. Something to believe in, something that keeps our hearts open to future possibilities.

Do you remember as a child daydreaming about what "could be" instead of what "should be"? As an artist, I have always tried to keep that "could be" mentality. It will keep the child inside of you alive. It will leave your mind open to the opportunities of the universe.

I am truly fortunate to be able to express myself with creativity in my day-to-day life and in what I do for a living. From the time I was a child I knew that this is what I wanted to do. Although I realize that I will always be some place between where I was and where I want to be, this is a good thing. It is a life process that helps me realize I always need to move forward. I was never the one to just settle or be content without opening the next door.

I have an amazing family that has always been supportive of my creative endeavors. They have been the most important part of my life and work. At the end of the day, they are the ones that make it possible and make it all matter.

As I step into this new "blog land", I am looking forward to this new way of evolving and expressing myself. I will share with you my musings of who I am, what I do and maybe sometimes why I do it. I hope to ignite your imagination by sharing the creative process, techniques, ideas and inspiration.

I hope you will join me on this artful journey...the possibilities are endless!