I have been so inspired over the last month, seeing and chatting with so many talented artists in California. I saw art with mediums I had never seen before, beautiful, amazing pieces of art, that all I want to do is start creating my own new pieces. I recognized that there were some niche ideas that I want to try, my art mojo was and is bursting at the seams. Let it be said that here in Manitoba, we have so many talented artists and makers here in my own back yard, all of which I try to support as much as possible here in my own community. I have to give kudos to those local artists that inspire others to keep on creating based on their diligence in getting their art out there. 

The thing that I noticed the most was the different ideas, and mediums that artists in Cali were using, and I triggered a creative response in me that I thought had disappeared for good. I found in the not so distant past that my creativity when it came to art had diminished. I couldn't figure it out because I have always had the drive to create. I realized that when my body was freaking out due to it's three hiatus from the healthy body train, that my creativity and actually brain function was on a hiatus as well. It was so messed up.

Now however, maybe it was the sunshine, maybe it was the energy in Cali, perhaps it was just giving my mind, body and soul a well-needed break, that it all came flooding back. THANK YOU UNIVERSE. No really, thank fucking g**. Being a creative soul with no creativity was not a fun place to be. NOW...my cup over-runneth. I've got my paints out, I'm souring for new materials, my clay is making a come back after many years and it keeps going. 

Art fills a large piece of my heart, my brain and my soul. I feel JOY, when I create. I feel PASSION, when I create. I feel ALIVE. I can't wait to see what comes out of my newly found mojo and what it does to my art. You can always check back on my gallery to see what's up.  The link is below, just click!  #supportlocalart  #CharisOnArt 

#artist #contemporaryartist #mixedmediums #acrylic #acrylicpainting #designer #interiordecorating #artwork #commissionartwork #travellingartist #circles #blogger #lifestyle #lifestyleblogger #travelblogger #adpost #affiliatemarketing #artshows #art #photography #blackandwhitephotography #manipulatingart 

Itchy Feet ... I got 'em.

Do you ever get itchy feet, have you ever had itchy feet? Do you just keep scratching or do you find a way to get rid of that absolutely, lose your mind, crazy itchiness? Find out what I did to cure mine.

Re-invention, re-focus, regenerate, revive ... my four R’s that describe what’s been going on over here. I know you’ve been wondering, it’s been a bit quiet for the past three years. Now, that’s not to say that there hasn’t been anything to write about, it just means I couldn’t get it down on paper. (figuratively and literally) SO much has happened, bits and pieces will be leaked to the CharisOnLife press correspondent in the days and months to come. Keep posted for the coming adventures here. You can subscribe to the blog if you want updates when the next one is published.

I wrote piece a while back on the very beginning of the past three year journey in the blogpost, Mount Everest ... Again , if you want a bit more back ground to what started a tough three year health journey that literally shook my foundations. Much has happened since then, much I will write about in hopes of helping others that might be looking for similar answers. But … this isn’t what I want to talk about, not today anyway.

Today is about my itchy feet. It's time to re-evaluate and RE-INVENT myself, although I have had to do that many times over the past three years. Truthfully, I’m no stranger to re-invention, I’ve done it many times over my lifetime, I still find it invigorating and exciting to think about all of the possibilities. That old saying still stands true, the world is your oyster. Question is, what is my oyster this go around?

At the foundation of my being, I am a mother, and grandmother, which really are my true joys in life. It’s so true what they say about becoming a grandparent (and yes you can’t possibly understand it until you are one), LOVE takes on a whole new meaning. Having grandchildren is like eating ice cream for the first time, pure bliss, I think it’s because YOUR OWN children made these adorable bundles of joy. It opens a whole new section of your heart that you didn’t know existed, and it bursts right open. Not only that, you find a little pocket of energy that you didn’t know still had either. (Which you didn’t know you needed or forgot about how much energy you need to look after these little squirts.)

Sometimes however, in all those titles, which also includes a career title, community title, online persona, something was still missing something or lost in the rat-race of life. This is where I decided I had to RE-FOCUS some energy on myself and the things that I wanted to still do in life. I got scared that portions of that life I dreamed about, were passing me by and that now was the time to get on it. I began to feel like it was now or never, the health scare that I went through, jolted me back to the reality that I have always believed in, taking the bull by the horns and doing it now. There might not be a tomorrow. Your health IS NOT GUARANTEED so a piece of advice, STOP TAKING IT FOR GRANTED.

This is when the real Charis kicks in, the do or die mode, and we all know I’ve been there many a time, sometimes by choice, sometimes not. I realize that I thrive in this arena, I realize that I still have NO FEAR when it comes down to exploring the prospects of what I want.

I WANT, are the two key words here.

I sat down and wrote a list on all the things I have been WAITING to do. WAITING for the million reasons you all have as well.

WAITING until I have time …
WAITING until the kids grow up …
WAITING until I can take time off work …
WAITING until I’m retired …
WAITING to have enough money to do the things on that list …

A million WAITING excuses, do you get it?

I just decided I am not waiting any longer. I wrote my list. Then, I threw it out to the universe and started making it happen. Truth is … you can wait FOREVER, and sometimes it becomes TOO LATE. I can’t emphasize this enough. I took a tally of what I have, what I need and what I want.

First off, I needed to REGENERATE. Not rehabilitate my body, (although I still have some of that to do) but regenerate my mind and body with a focus that it was only about my needs. SELF CARE 101. If you are someone that is a giver, you will understand what this means. When you are constantly giving to others, giving your energy to others, you forget about what you need. I needed a break, from everything, I needed first and foremost not to be worried about anyone else for just a little bit.

Once that I’m regenerated, I figure in about a month’s time, when my plane (yes plane) lands back in the country. Everything back to fabulous, the Charis of old, will be back and as good as new. Wondering where I am yet? What I decided to do?

I wanted an adventure, I wanted to travel, meet new people, do different things, see different things, be a RE-INVENTED me. Just didn’t know how I was going pull that off. I wanted to spend time really focusing on my business, working on the on ways to work virtually or from place to place that would allow me to do all of those things. Then … a part of me became Mary “Pick Up the Droppins’” Poppins. Before I knew it, I was on a plane to the land of sunshine, I made it happen. I threw it out there what I wanted, and the universe conspired to put the wheels in motion. I have always believed that once you make that decision to do something, the rest falls into place as it should. TADA!!!!!!

Fast forward, three days, I’m sitting in the sunshine of a beautiful home with Georgie the cat working on my website and writing my blog. Already, I feel the 4 R’s have already been accomplished even if it is in the baby stages. Find out what I'm doing and where I am in the coming blogpost on The Disappearance of Mama C here.

Please click on the link below to find out how you can also become a Trusted Housesitter and World Traveller! You'll thank me!