20 Years Ago Today

I am sharing this post as a reminder to myself (and anyone else that might need to hear it) that dreaming big and not being afraid to go for it can lead to some pretty amazing adventures.

Today marks the 20 year anniversary of that time this mural (and my friend & business partner, Zoë, and I) were on the Oprah show after a whirlwind trip to Racine Wisconsin (and Chicago!) to paint a surprise mural for one of Oprah’s angels, Julia Burney (now Witherspoon).

In April 2001, our mural and decorative painting business was still just a fledgling company... I was a young, wide-eyed dreamer who was only a few months away from getting married. When Zoë and I saw Julia’s inspiring (and close to our hearts) story, I had no doubts about what I wanted to to. I wanted to volunteer to paint a mural for her new reading center, so I immediately emailed Oprah... No second guessing, no hesitation, no questioning whether or not it was a crazy idea.

Looking back, there is a lot that I can learn from my younger self. So, to celebrate this special day, I thought it would be fun to share some of the things that I knew then (without even realizing it!!), but need a reminder of now:

1. If you don’t ask, the answer is always no. So, you might as well PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE.

2. POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS, if you...

3. DREAM BIG, WORK HARD, and GO FOR IT!

4. It’s okay to be nervous... Feel the fear, but DO IT ANYWAY! And, finally...

5. FORTUNE FAVORS THE BOLD.

If you’re interested in reading more about my time on Oprah, you can find the whole story on my website HERE.

I would love to hear about what big dreams YOU are dreaming today!

(Please share them with me in the comments!)

My Oprah Anniversary and Dreaming Big

This past week marked the 10 year anniversary of my Oprah adventure.  (You can read about it here.)  As a result, I am feeling nostalgic about all of the twists and turns of my crazy creative journey.

10 years ago was a time of some pretty major leaps for me... Zoe and I were new business owners, I was only a few months away from being married, and helping fulfill some dreams of others helped me discover dreams of my own.  I look back at the 20-something girl I was 10 years ago and I feel there is a lot I can (re)learn from her.  I was always ready for an adventure, I let my heart be my guide, and I didn't let fear stand in my way.  I was wide-eyed and believed anything was possible... and it was!

What I'm discovering is that it still is.

Over the past 10 years I have led a fairly creative life, but somewhere along the way I slipped into the comfortable ease of everyday living and my adventurous spirit went into hibernation.  Well, I'm happy to say it's back...

This past year has been a time of reawakening to the crazy fun creative force that drives me to try new things and dream big!  I feel that I owe a big chunk of this newfound energy to my discovery of this incredibly inspiring online art community.

Looking back it is clear to see that there have been events, both big and small, that have had a significant impact on where I am today.  One recent moment seemed like a minor decision at the time, but has had a major effect on the artful life I'm living today... Last Summer I took Kelly Rae Roberts Flying Lessons e-course and my life hasn't been the same since.  (It sounds very dramatic, but it's true.)

When I signed up for the class, I was hoping to learn some online business tips, but what I gained was so much more.  Kelly Rae's inspirational lessons and advice helped me remember the 20-something girl who believed with unwavering certainty in infinite possibility...

I'm dreaming big again and it feels good!