Staying Positive And Staying Motivated

As artists, creatives and writers, we often do not see an immediate or obvious result from our efforts. We put ourselves out there, our art, in whichever form it presents itself, hoping that someone will connect with it as much as we have connected with it.

At times, this can be a long wait, through which staying positive and staying motivated can get really difficult.

In times like those, I tend to grab everything positive I can find. May it be a nice comment I receive, an additional follower on a social network, or simply the beauty of the designs my fellow artist put forth. Other times these efforts are a lot more deliberate, which is one of the reasons I participate in the weekly gratitude list on Fridays, and from now on will also participate in this positive blog hop: “Reasons To Be Cheerful”. Maybe the appeal is writing it down and sharing, maybe what I like about those hops is that it includes lists – and I am a list person – but the result is the same – it brings back some of the state of mind that keeps me going, keeps me motivated, and positive, an expect and state from which it is so easy to create from.

Here are my reasons I can be cheerful this week:

1. I finished another floral design!
Despite the fact that this week has been hectic, I managed to create another floral design last night. Considering how dark and dreary it had been outside over the last few days, I craved something bright, and it manifested itself into this very bright yellow flower. It is a digital manipulation of a picture of a flower I took quite a while ago. Adding the dark green background really made the brightness of the yellow come forth. Here it is:

2. I am getting used to my part-time job
I started a part-time job this week, helping in building a friend’s business. My husband and I are working on that as a team, and while it has been challenging, I am beginning to get to hang of it. New programs do not look as foreign anymore, and I do not feel like I do not know what I am talking about when I make necessary phone calls, which are a part of my job.

3. I was able to make a fellow artist happy!
I posted an interview with a Zazzle designer and author yesterday, and her reaction to the post was really cool! It was fun to talk to her about her work in the first place, but knowing that I made her happy was just wonderful.

What reasons do you have to be cheerful today? Why not join this blog hop and share your list with everyone!

Blessings!

Claudia

Weekly Gratitude Post – Burned Truck Edition

One Step At A Time

What do I mean “Burned Truck Edition”?

Well, my husband was transporting a load of hay this week, and it caught the truck on fire – the entire truck – and I am not talking about a pickup truck, but a Semi. There is nothing left of that darn thing, the entire cab of the truck including all of it that was in it burned to the ground within minutes.

What I am grateful for is, that my husband did not get hurt, minus a few scratches and a small burn on his arm. His stuff is gone, paperwork, credit cards, navigator, and all of the other stuff that make life a little easier when traveling, those are burned to ashes.  Those can be replaced. They do not matter. He does. For the rest, there is insurance.

So, I am celebrating him being in one piece and  home for a few days until he gets into the new truck next week.

I hope whatever you are grateful for this week is a lot less stressful and has a lot less danger involved.

– This blog post is a part of the weekly “Celebrate The Small Things” Blog Hop, hosted by the wonderful Lexa Cain. Why not join us and connect with her and all of the other wonderful bloggers who participate?

Blessings!

Claudia

The Interview

He stared at the resume with such a frown, that Jennifer was sure that there was no chance in getting this job. Maybe it was the wording, maybe she sounded too ambitious, maybe she was again considered over-qualified. But on the other hand, this job would have been perfect for her, and she would have been perfect for the job. There was nothing in the description that did not fit her to the tiniest detail – looking for an independent, driven, hard-working individual with the right skill set, who is willing to devote him or herself to advancing within the company structure. She was all of that and more. Trying not to frown herself, she decided for a neutral, pleasant expression, while her mind began to boil with the possibilities of reasons for her rejection. Was it her gender again, the possibility of her becoming with child to great to invest into a new employee for this Fortune 500 company? A statement she had heard before, not directly, but in oh so many round about ways.
Keeping her face soft and relaxed became harder and harder with each fleeting moment, the thoroughness of the man in front of her, more than just a little disconcerting. Fighting back tears, she swallowed hard, hoping he did not notice.
And then he looked up, his face unreadable, comparable to a well-trained poker-player, no muscle leaving any indications of his thoughts, the expression motionless, his eyes still.
Two long, silent breaths.
Raising himself from his chair he smiled, reaching out his large, but gentle hand, grabbing hers with a swift motion.
“Welcome on board, Miss Matthews.”

 

Copyright Claudia H. Blanton 2014

This Flash Fiction was inspired by the Flash Fiction Challenge – Prompt 45:

Week 45
Prompt: Grab the book (or your favourite book) you’re reading, turn to page 45, close your eyes, point to a word, and write about it! Have fun!

The word on the kindle edition of a book I am currently reviewing was “Interview”.