Developing Habits - there's an app for that!

Time is precious. As the quote says, "Time = Life..." and life is precious, because it's limited, it will end.  I want to make the most of my life.  I want to become the best version of myself (whatever that may be).  I know I will find that out gradually, as I proceed on my life's journey.  The key is to be always searching, growing, learning, doing and of course loving.  In order to do that, I need to use my time wisely.  It is far too easy to let the minutes, days, hours tick away accomplishing very little.

In the past, I've discovered that I accomplish the most when I have a plan and/or a schedule and I stick to it as best as I can.  I have discovered that having daily habits make those plans/schedules much easier.  I've also discovered how easy it is to get side tracked.  I've already got a few habits in place that I've developed years ago (daily exercise and prayer) and fairly recently (reciting daily rosary).  It has become such a habit, like brushing my teeth, that if I miss it, well, it just doesn't feel right.  My day feels off.

So, to be the best version of myself, I want to grow.  Right now, I feel God calling me to grow artistically and spiritually.  So, I want to develop some new habits.  Since I am a visual person, I like to see what I'm doing and how well I'm doing.  I like challenges and goals.  So I searched for some way to record my efforts and keep me on track.  I figured there must be an app for that. Well, what do ya know, there is!  I tried a couple of free apps until I finally settled on the one I liked the best.   It's called Strides: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/strides-goal-tracker
Learn more about it here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch

I really like it because it is simple, allows me to keep a record the things I want to accomplish in my day, week, month, whatever.  It will give me reminders and show me the "big picture" on how I am doing.  Making lists has always proved very successful for me in getting things accomplished.  It is such a great feeling to be able to cross them off or put a check mark next to them.  It shows progress. It's a little pat on the back saying good job - keep going.  Here's what I'm currently working on;

May I encourage you to give it a try if you are struggling to make the kind of progress you would like in your life?

Creative Growing Pains

"Unless you do something beyond what you have mastered, you will never grow." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

My newest art obsession - Painting with Pastels - 5x7 practice

Do you have Art A.D.D.?  That is my term for someone who wants to try anything and everything related to art.  The internet is a dangerous thing because when I search for something (usually an art supply or maybe a tutorial), it inevitably leads me to some new product, gadget, art supply or technique that I never knew existed but looks so cool that I want to try it.  It is a good thing and a not so good thing.  It's good in that it gets me thinking and experimenting with new things but it is not so good in that it distracts me from really diving in deep and mastering one medium at a time.  It also costs me money because I usually need new supplies. I suppose you need to break a few eggs to make an omelet, hunh?

First painting exploring mixed media (2015)

I discovered lampworking (making glass beads) years ago when I took a jewelry making class (Yes, I was searching for a medium to be passionate about and master) and someone mentioned hand made glass beads.  Of course, I needed to know more about this, so I went home and researched the internet and hence the obsession began.  However, it was a good one.  I ruled out the desire to make jewelry for the desire to make beads.  I focused strictly on bead making for 15 years until I felt my creative juices for this medium drying up and a nudge to try something else.

Exploring ideas and things I am

passionate about. (2015)

That said, I think we always need to be in a state of curiosity if we are to truly find our passion and grow.  So, I began painting.  Something I had not done since college.  I called on what I knew from my experiences many years ago.  It really is like riding a bike, you never really forget but you are a little wobbly and uncertain for a while.  Once you develop a little confidence you start taking risks.  I'm not a big risk taker.  I take little risks at a time.  Just big enough to push me somewhat out of my comfort zone but enough to see if I can succeed and that in turns gives me increased confidence.  If I fail, so be it, I stilled learned something, can't grow much without it.  I think that is one reason why I like art.  It is a tangible way to see growth.

St. Joan of Arc.  Mixed media  (2017)

So, embrace your art A.D.D., but always with a focused goal in mind - to find what you are passionate about creating and do it!

The Gift of Creativity: Made in His Image

Holy Family by Tricia Hampo ©2016

Genesis 1:27 – “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”  I am an artist – thanks to the gift God gave me.  I love to create.  This passion of mine, this gift, often makes me think of this verse in the Bible.  God created me in His image.  He loves to create too!  So I often think about what it is about creating that I love.  I love the process to be sure.  I love to play with all the tools and the different mediums and endless ways of creating, making marks, shapes and forms in both 2 and 3 dimensions.  Searching for inspiration is always fun, sometimes challenging but almost always an adventure.  Seeing my ideas come to life and transform from one minute to the next is a definite rush.  I often wonder if God had similar thoughts and feelings, after all we are made in His image and likeness.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help by Tricia Hampo ©2017