Day 251 You Are Here

August 17, 2015 

(If we live with an open and grateful attitude, every day will bring a gift. This is one of 365 gifts during the year I turned 70.)

Every once in a while, I stop and consider where I am in my journey and then mentally mark my day with “you are here.” This often becomes part of conversations with people I meet. Not long ago, we hosted Couchsurfers from New Zealand. They are young but after several years of global adventures, they have a clear vision of their life map and how to navigate. Matty shares his life philosophy here:

“I live in a reality of my own design.

"It took me nearly two years to understand fully but now it’s something I really believe.  Maybe not everyone agrees, but to me it means that we are responsible for our own lives. For better or worse, we have control of our own reality.  We are the architects of our own existence and therefore we have the power to accept the way our lives are or if we so choose - to change them. 

"I believe our reality is a cumulative result of our choices, actions and reactions, and we have the conscious power to change these and therefore our own reality too.  It makes me accountable for everything in my life and although I appreciate that every now and then something really lucky or unlucky may come our way – if you can take it in your stride and focus on living the life you really want, make conscious decisions that move you closer to that life, then happiness is inevitable. 

"Life is short and it’s precious. It’s a gift - let’s not waste it. Appreciate what we have, learn from our mistakes and control our own reality; make it exactly what we want it to be.I’m Matty, and I live in a reality of my own design.”

I am here—68% through my 70th year.

My gift today is my own reality design.

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> Day 252: Shouts

You can find links to my other posts on this project here:

http://bjschupp.blogspot.com/2014/12/365-gifts.html

Day 66 – Rainbows

February 13, 2015

(This is part of a 365 project during my 70th year where I write and illustrate a blog on each day's gift.)

           

In February, when days have lost their color and loss has recently filled so much of our lives, there is still a rainbow to be found, often in small corners.

Today at a memorial service for friend Joe Challmes, who was suddenly taken from us, bleak could have easily dominated except for the love of family and friends who told stories of Joe and reveled in what a character he had been. Everyone remembered his always-positive attitude in the face of adversity and how he never let things get him down. His family spoke and then David gave a beautiful eulogy, followed by a recorded story in Joe’s voice. The room became brighter and colors more vivid.

Choices have much to do with the presence of rainbows in our lives—the friends we choose, the stories we tell, the hugs we give, and what we choose to say and do and see. Today I stopped in the hall to notice how light was streaming through a small stained glass window and how it fell in angles around the window. One of the staff members of the funeral home hurried toward me and called out, concerned that I might be lost. I was lost in the light but not in the way he thought.

It was a small spot of beauty that I chose to see then and that I am now choosing to share with others. When I look at the pattern in the window, I see a door and a path. I consider what path I choose and hope that it is always one that brings light to my spirit and to those I touch.

 My gift today is choice.

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> DAY 67 Ephemeral

You can read my other posts on this project here:

http://bjschupp.blogspot.com/2014/12/365-gifts.html

Defining Ourselves

Have a heartThe opening reception of my Defining Ourselves exhibit, the third showing, took place Friday, January 15, 2010, at the Light Gallery, 1015 North Charles St. in Baltimore. It was phenomenal! The exhibit seemed to have sparked intriguing conversation during those two hours. Kevin Robinson provided some live music and those who attended offered energy to the occasion.

David told everyone that, if they had to make a choice, they should donate toward relief efforts in Haiti rather than buying my art. I agree with him. Although making money is a positive thing, helping others is much more important.

Check out David's latest blog.