Give your best, freely investing out of your heart.

I'm repeatedly running into the same obstacle, no matter what I do in life.

I hate charging for things I would do for free. This is why we play "name your own price, so long as it covers my costs" when I sell you art ... and, it turns out, this is preventing me from selling anything on my new site, too. So far, anyway.

Now, I have a few minor solutions to the problem. It turns out that if it is "a product" like the prints I'll eventually make available here once my printer gives me his price list ... or, say, a mug at CafePress with my art on it, I have no problem charging the recommended prices. They are no longer the art I poured out ... they are objects with my art imprinted upon them. See the difference?

How this has translated to my new site is that I'm making the content and eventually the ebooks, easily downloadable and free to share, so as to encourage anybody who needs it. After all, it's more important to help someone than to sell something.

On the other hand, I need to sell stuff so I can pay for things like rent and food and stop depending on family to support me. So, I'll be creating tangible booklets containing the information from my site ... after adding and rewriting and generally turning-it-into-an-actual-book-instead-of-a-collection-of-blog-posts. Then ... I'll be making them available through a POD publisher at their suggested price.

It's all very odd, when I look from outside and consider the usual expectations and how people seem to think, on average. Inside, it's the only way to be and I don't know how to see differently.

So I'll continue choosing not to do anything unless it's something I'd do for free.

If you have to pay me to motivate me to do it ... then you're paying to receive lower quality work from me. Well, you would if I agreed to accept your attempt at motivation, that is. I'll just do the work for free, because I want to ... and then if you find it valuable, you can pay me.

I'm left trying to figure out this whole "make a living from your work" thing.

Do I attempt to add value to the world? Yes.

To individuals? Yes.

Do I expect to be paid for this?.......  Uh ...

I guess I need to be paid for it to provide for my family.

But the reason for doing anything in the first place is because it means something to someone ... the world is better for having done it, and that is enough of a reason isn't it?

If I contribute a lot of what I am worst at because it is expected or I'll get paid, and never offer my best because nobody thinks to ask or knows that is is of value to them, then of what worth is my gift?

So I focus on sharing what I have been given ... and when people say it is a gift, I am thankful that they see it too, that the beauty of what I offer is really more than I could have forced myself to contribute because someone expects it. It flows through from outside myself while being entirely my own.... If that makes sense....

This whole mentality is just too idealistic, isn't it? Guess I'll have to figure out how to live one way or another ... but I believe this awkward path is the best way forward.

Either I'll learn to think differently somehow ... or there is an alternative route that people usually don't consider.

In the meantime you can all have fun watching me stumble around trying to figure it out.

Oh ... and if you want to do something truly, incredibly amazing ... then share GlassHeartRepair.com with friends, acquaintances, and coworkers who are caught up in despair. Link it to college students who are struggling with life decisions. Post the URL where the broken-hearted share their grief.

And maybe even consider sharing your story of finding growth in the midst of a shattered world with the community.

This isn't just my story.

It's our story ... and how we encourage one another. Invest your story in the lives around you.

The weaving of our paths through life is a growing glimpse of the beauty beyond the veil.

Now I'm off to figure out whether I can offer Creative Hope Mentoring (That's one possible name for the personal mentoring I intend to offer, anyway.) for free and let people pay me if they feel they've grown .... or received value ... afterward. Do you think it'll work?

When life gets busy ... have fun!

Here are a few recent highlights for your enjoyment and curiosity-satisfaction.

I featured "The Purse" by Kelly Sauer, while I was gone. She blogs in such a transparent way that, the moment I understood the concept behind Glass Heart Repair, I knew I'd want to share her with my readers.  Here's one of my favorite thoughts:

"... need-meeting isn’t always love. And it is love that fills us up, that nourishes relationship, that changes a life...." Read more!

Today Lee Harbaugh's story went live as well, if you'd like to read how the beautiful light in his recent CD grew from the darkness of suffering. If you enjoy piano you'll love the song embedded in the article to complement the story. I thought this was a good point:

"I was where I was for a reason. I may not understand or like it, but I had to find comfort in the fact that I wasn’t in the 'wrong' place...." Read more!

In other news, I went on such an incredible vacation that I now need a vacation from vacationing! It was wonderful to spend time with friends and family in Florida. I even had a sunburn! (We don't have much sun in Wisconsin yet.)

I mentioned before that I had been diagnosed chronic fatigue, but over these past few weeks I realized how much I've improved.

Last year, had I attempted to stay up till after midnight with a friend and then walk through Disney and Epcot with family the next day, I'd have collapsed early on, assuming enough functionality to join them in the first place. Not only did I manage this amazing feat ... I could carry on a sane conversation the next evening!

Now that I'm back home, I'm busy. Who knew I'd ever say this?

Upcoming activities include:

1. Additional articles for Glass Heart Repair. 
2. Guest posts in various locations. I'll let you know what, where, and when soon enough! (If you'd like me to visit your site with a story or article, just let me know!)
3. One site redesign for a new friend. 
4. One logo design for another friend's father's business. (I love connections!) 
5. Completing the various artworks I have in progress.
6. And a few other side projects, just in case I get bored. (Hah!) 
7. I always have time for friends. Facebook is a good place to connect, if you want to say hi. 

Glass Heart Repair - healing in the midst of a shattered world

Remember how I told you I've been working on a project? Read on to find out what it's all about.

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They say:

I created Glass Heart Repair for anyone wounded by these questions. 

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I, and others like me, will help you learn to channel the pressure into strength and find the freedom to map your own exploration of meaning and hope.

Join the Glass Heart Community to receive:

• Letters from me, explaining how I found hope, use depression to gain strength, and live a meaningful life even when bad things happen.
• Stories from other Glass Hearts, talking about their experiences with brokenness and how they are repairing the damage.
• Specially developed tools and advice for informing people who don’t understand.
• Opportunities to support Glass Heart Repair and encourage each other. We won’t invade your space and will remain respectful.

I’ll be hard at work building relationships and learning how to help you do the same (because supportive friendships are the greatest treasure on this planet), researching (because it’s what I do), and creating tools to help you right here and now, before you’re feeling better.

It’s okay if you don’t think anything I say could possibly help in YOUR situation.  I certainly haven’t experienced every possible form of suffering, and I don’t claim to know how to solve every problem. This site is meant to help you explore what has worked for me … and anything new that seems useful from my research and connections.

You’ll know if it works as you try it,… and you can always let me know if things turn out differently for you so I can learn from you. You’ll be part of the Glass Heart team, too, ready to heal the world with your life story.

So please take this chance, especially if you’re at your limit.

Projects ... and Learning Curves

I'm deep in the midst of site development:  

writing,
pondering,
studying,
planning,

and

wedging in a moment of fear and trembling here and there when I'm not otherwise distracted.


I'm still writing my "About" page, but once that's finished and edited I'll welcome you over to explore the new digs. I'll be needing your help, too. Details, later.

Got to keep the mysterious feeling going here ...

Who wants to know what it's all about? 

My Tumblr sketch feed has a few hints, if you're really curious. 

Elemental Interaction - WIP

This is what I'm doing ... in between building a business, writing, editing, keeping track of family and friends, and other such adventures. It's far enough along to see where it's going. Additional details are pending.

Shen Yun ... Inspiration

music conjuring

a misty bygone era

mythic dancers fly

A friend sponsored me to see the Shen Yun production in Milwaukee this week.

It's a mysterious and amazing gift to have people so interested in my creativity and artwork that they go out of their way to make sure I have opportunities for growth.

I'm looking forward to all the art I'm going to make as a result of this experience.

The first image was inspired by intertwined sketches of the dancers' flaring skirts as they spun on the stage. The second should speak for itself ... I hope.







If you're wondering what I thought of the show, I don't do critical review. However, here are a few of the thoughts that linger.

Fascinating. Fun. Creative.
I enjoyed the interaction with the projections on the background screen. The transfer from live dancing to digital projection made me smile every time, and the scenery was lovely. I especially enjoyed the touches of humor throughout.

Thought provoking.
It was interesting to receive a glimpse of China through the eyes of those who no longer feel welcome there. Political change always has cultural effects, and China's current policies do inhibit the freedoms we take so for granted ... often in spectacular ways. The agenda woven through the performance was clear, but also very understandable. I would take advantage of such an opportunity to reach a wider audience in hopes of making a difference, too, especially when friends and family are suffering under oppression.


Graceful. Gorgeous. Beautiful.
I loved how the dancers' movements flared and subsided. Whoever designs the costumes knows how to enhance the flowing motions with contrasting colors. The strength and energy of the dancers remains vivid in my mind. Their training and skill were obvious. I was captivated by the gymnastic elements; so many incredible leaps and poses! I wish I could remember the shapes and alignments of the combined motion and fabric trails more clearly.

I came away from the performance with an even greater interest in Chinese history, myth, and culture than before. Obviously I was visually inspired, also.

If Only Exists Only If

IF ONLY 

exists 

only if

gazing backward 

in time or 

straining forward 

BUT 

in this moment 

what exists 

only 

IS