I’m a creative, experienced, multi-purpose artist and art director
who can take projects start to finish in a variety of styles.

Good designs sell –
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Friday, September 7, 2012

"Imagination"

I have been accused of “magical thinking” by engineers and the kinds of people who protest Harry Potter, and the only problem I have with that is that there are people who protest Harry Potter.  Why shouldn’t I think magically?  Why should my reality conform to someone else’s ideas?

When I was little, I fantasized about my future.  I saw myself going to college, working as an illustrator, becoming an art director.  I put every ounce of my productive time into achieving those ends, and there were plenty of obstacles along the way.  I worked, I saved, I hoped, and I dreamed my dreams – then I lived those dreams.  Just having the fantasies would not have gotten me where I wanted to go, but I couldn’t have worked towards my goals without first having the imagination to build my fantasies.

I have often talked to people who don’t know what they want to do for a living.  I’ll ask, “What brings you happiness?”  It seems to me that the people who feel lost in their career goals often start answering that question with their desire to make money, or their need for security, or what their parents think.  None of that answers the real question, “What kind of pursuit will make you happy enough that you will pursue it with the kind of drive that will eventually bring success?”

Oprah likes to say “Do what you love and the money will follow”.  Yeah, easy for Oprah to say, but I think it’s essentially true.  I’m also inclined to agree with a bumper sticker I saw that said “Real musicians have day jobs”, and that often goes for artists too.  The demand for money to support my art addiction is often in conflict with my need to create.  But I, and everybody else, have the talents we need to fully live the lives we’re meant to live.  We just have to start with the right fantasy.

Indigene has been doing a colorful journal project that inspired me to dust off a stack of old women’s magazines and start cutting out phrases and words that spoke to me.  I glued them on a scrap of mat board and put it on my desk for motivation.  What do I really want?  Sometimes I forget that art is the center of my circle or that singing and being happy is something I have to remember to do.  I should quit complaining about my current bed and buy a new one, or at least a new mattress.  Sometimes we don’t know how much we want something until it’s kind of randomly put in front of us when we’re in a hypnotized state from flipping through women’s magazines.

Is it magical thinking to create the intention, and then make that intention reality?  What have you dreamed into reality?

I thought I was done writing for today, and then I went to Sharon’s blog, and found she gave me a prize.  Woo hoo!  Okay, I’ll admit it once again, I love awards.  I’m shameless that way :)  Check out her site.  She’s always got something interesting to look at or cook or inspire.

Part of the love in awards is the joys of passing it along, so my picks are below.  (See, I wanted to manifest “love”, “share”, “smile”, “friends”, etc. and it’s coming true already!)  Pass the love along!

18 comments:

  1. What a surprise, Linda, to see my blog as a recipient of the "One Lovely Blog Award!" I hadn't thought about awards in awhile. This makes my day. :) Thank you.

    Now what were you saying about "Imagination?" :)

    I agree with your definition of Imagination. Indirectly related - I saw Mitch Albom (of Tuesdays with Morrie fame) on The View today promoting his new book, The Timekeeper. They had a good discussion about how we feel about our lives, the time we have left, and what we want to do with it.

    We'll never be able to do everything our imaginations give us; however, the time spent doing some of our passions is well worth it.

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  2. Linda, I love the use of words in this imagery! Thanks for the mention and we need more people that think like you especially by engineers! :) I love your imagination :)

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  3. I'd rather see one of your collages rather than a million so-called infographics... lol Great post as per usual Linda.

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  4. Thanks everybody! The blogosphere is such a friendly place, and I enjoy finding out what other people think about. It's so fun to pass out awards :)

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  5. I had to giggle when I got to the "build better beds" part of your motivation collage. Because I am pretty sure you have described yourself being very handy and I can see you literally building a better bed. :D

    I agree about the blogosphere, particularly art bloggers. Though some don't respond for one reason or another, if they do it is always encouraging or nice and very friendly. I have a feeling fear is the thing that keeps people from following their dreams. Sometimes the fear makes sense, like if you have to feed your family, but other times it's low self-esteem which can be hard to conquer!

    My goodness thank you so much for including me in your list! You're definitely one of the encouraging and friendly ones, and with lots of interesting topics on your blog!

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  6. Thank you for the award, Linda. I am flattered indeed!
    Like how you tried out a new technique to accompany your wise words for this IF prompt!

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  7. Yay for awards, right? I hope everyone visits each other's sites. Thanks for the comments!

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  8. Awwww, you are too sweet Linda :D Thank you for sharing. I love your word art and your interesting post. You always make me want to take the time to read every word. No glancing or skipping over. I'll check out the other sites throughout the day. There are a couple that I don't think I've ever been to.

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  9. Cool! Thanks!

    I don't think what you describe is magical thinking at all. It's the only way to make your dreams happen. It seems SO TRUE to me that once you open yourself up to something that you want, and make space for it, and start working towards it, it HAPPENS. Yeah!

    And thanks for the link. Wow.

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  10. I'm glad you included Cindy. She is also a fav of mine. And I always get such a kick out of your posts. Blogging is fun when you share the love. In fact, I've been thinking of doing a monthly blog spot light of some of my fav followers. Do you want to be the first?

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  11. Thanks everybody! And thanks for the offer Sharon! I like looking around at who everybody else has been talking with. Sometimes it's inspiring, and sometimes it's an opportunity for a new friend, and we can never have enough of either of those!

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  12. Another poignant post that really resonated with me. (Sadly, the "real musicians have day jobs" part, too!) This is why I love visiting your blog!

    Great collage - So meaningful, and as I read it, I was nodding, thinking how I would have chosen much the same types of words & phrases had I created one! I love that even with all those clipping, "art" just seems to leap out from the center!

    And thank you so much for including me in your list of award recipients! Wow! I'm flattered, and thrilled to be in such great company! Now...to figure out how to post it on my blog & go about choosing wonderful blogs to pass it on to!!!! :)

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  13. Thanks Mit! It's always interesting to see what resonates with other people, and always fun to see there are other people like me in the world :)

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  14. Great collage Linda. This post resonates with me too. Will enjoy reading your posts, need to catch up on my blogging I have been neglecting it of late.

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  15. Hey! I was just having a stroll, kicked my toes and suddenly I was at your blog! Gah, Harry Potter got nuffin on me :)

    JHey how are you Linda? Still writing stuff that's worth reading I see, me being a terminal non- reader of blofgs and a casual image eyeballer, I admit to reading what you write ..... :)And your sense of design shows beautifully in the collage.

    You know, aklmost living your dream has a lot to say for it, the joy is in the anticipation, I like to say, when I see a wave coming - because just before you have ridden the wave, al the countless possibilities of the ride, all the variations, all the possible permutations, all the limitless futures are open to the surfer. But once you have ridden the wave, your path has been set, there are no possibilities except what has happened already, there is no anticipation, you just wait for the next wave ... and hope it comes.

    Gee life is really like a box of chocolates eh? :)

    See you, my work is almost over and I 'll be back on board soon!!

    hugs from oz :)

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  16. Life IS a box of chocolates! I almost feel like going surfing now, but I think that's going to be a little difficult on Lake Erie :) Thanks for the comments!!

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  17. I like your solution to this week's IF topic. It seems like it would be great therapy, too. Paging through a stack of glossy magazines and cutting out words and phrases that connect to you personally. I might just attack the latest issue of Art & Auction when I get home!

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  18. I hope you do Theo. I obviously found it therapeutic :)

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