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We’re short so Mountains seem tall. We’re mortal, so Earth seems eternal. Our spacecraft are slow, so the Universe seems vast - Neil deGrasse Tyson
Tweet from Neil deGrasse Tyson

“We’re short so Mountains seem tall. We’re mortal, so Earth seems eternal. Our spacecraft are slow, so the Universe seems vast” – Neil deGrasse Tyson Quote Art

July 24, 2016 / / 0 Comments

We’re short so Mountains seem tall. We’re mortal, so Earth seems eternal. Our spacecraft are slow, so the Universe seems vast – Neil deGrasse Tyson (‏@neiltyson)

Print available on Storenvy.

Sometimes people forget we aren’t the masters of the universe. We are so busy thinking about ourselves that we fail to think about our place in the universe.

Years ago we thought we were the center of everything, and why wouldn’t we. The sun appeared to revolve around us. We were the smartest beings on the planet. We had yet to make discoveries about the universe.

But once we studied the world enough, we began to realize how small we are. We aren’t in the center of the galaxy. We aren’t the center of the universe. The world does’t revolve around us. We are just the result of millions of years of time and good luck.

When we take a good, long, look at the world, we realize how inconsequential we are. That’s why mountains seem tall. That’s why the Earth seems eternal. That’s why the universe seems vast.

While many people feel insignificant when faced with these facts, I feel empowered. Our lives, in the grand scheme of things, mean very little. That means we should pursue the things that interest us. We should study the things that we find fascinating. We shouldn’t be afraid of going after the things that mean the most to us.

We have a limited amount of time in this world. So why don’t we live life the way we want to? If you have a dream, go chase it. If you’ve been holding off on a project, start it. There’s nothing to fear but fear itself.

When all is said and done, you will have either lived life to the fullest, or you will have died regretting the things you didn’t do. The universe isn’t affected by what we do or don’t do. So make the biggest dent in the world that you can.

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Mountains photo by Unsplash

Stars photo by Levi Price

"No matter what level you're at in life there is still a struggle" ― Kanye West
Quote by Kanye West

“No matter what level you’re at in life there is still a struggle” ― Kanye West Quote Art

June 20, 2016 / / 0 Comments

“No matter what level you’re at in life there is still a struggle” ― @kanyewest (Kanye West)

Print available on Society6.

For some reason, we believe there’s a tipping point where we no longer have worries. We believe, with enough money, we no longer have struggles, fears, or doubts. But that’s simply not the case.

We like to make excuses for why we can’t accomplish our goals. “I don’t have enough money.” “I don’t have the time.” “I don’t have the right connections.” That’s all these things are. They’re just excuses.

If you think your favorite painter, actor, musician, or writer doesn’t have to deal with struggles, you couldn’t be further from the truth. Just because someone has a lot of money or fame doesn’t mean they don’t have struggles too.

They have the same doubts, the same fears, and the same problems that we all have. Their problems are just on a much grander scale. Here are just a few examples of famous people who had to go through struggles:

“Never throughout history has a man who lived a life of ease left a name worth remembering.” ― Theodore Roosevelt

“Where there is no struggle, there is no strength.” ― Oprah Winfrey

“All struggle, all resistance is — must be — concrete. And all struggle has a global resonance. If not here, then there. If not now, then soon. Elsewhere as well as here.” ― Susan Sontag

“All life demands struggle. Those who have everything given to them become lazy, selfish, and insensitive to the real values of life. The very striving and hard work that we so constantly try to avoid is the major building block in the person we are today.” ― Pope Paul VI

These people all came from different backgrounds. They have different identities. And they are well-known for very different reasons. But one thing they all understood, was, life is a struggle.

It doesn’t matter who you are, you will face adversity. It is by overcoming that adversity that you become great. The next time you think someone else’s life is perfect and free of worries, think again. We must all face the challenges in front of us and overcome them. It’s what makes life worth living.

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"Life Is Either a Daring Adventure or Nothing" ― Helen Keller
Quote by Helen Keller

“Life Is Either a Daring Adventure or Nothing” ― Helen Keller Quote Art

April 16, 2016 / / 0 Comments

“Life Is Either a Daring Adventure or Nothing” ― Helen Keller

Print available on Storenvy.

When we are children, the whole world is ours. We can blast off in a space ship. We can travel in time. We can build and conquer empires.

Our lives were filled with adventure. Swing sets became our flying machines. Slides transported us from safety  to the unknowns of the wilderness below. The back yard was a jungle filled with wonderful plants and animals to explore.

Then it all comes crashing down. We lose touch with our imaginations. We get stuck in reality. We no longer live with that once adventurous spirit.

What happened? Why did life go from a place of wonder to a place of routine and predictability? Can we bring it back again?

The problem is, life happens. We let the burden of our responsibilities take control of our lives. We stop using our imaginations. We stop exploring the world. We stop going on adventures.

The good news is, it’s not too late. We can live a life of adventure again. We just have to be intentional about it. After all, is a life without adventure, really worth living?

Luckily, we don’t have to go very far to live an adventurous life. Contrary to popular belief, an adventurous life isn’t just for people who backpack around the world. It isn’t just snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef or going on a safari in the Serengeti (although those are definitely adventurous too).

To live an adventurous life, you just have to define it. It’s different for every person. While some people might enjoy climbing a mountain, you might enjoy exploring an abandoned building. While some people might enjoy exploring in the jungle, you might enjoy a hike on a trail.

Figure out what makes life adventurous for you, then go out and do it. It’s as simple as that. Just know, you don’t have to travel around the world to be adventurous. What activities light you up inside? What did you do for fun as a child? Go do those things again.

Stop waiting for life to happen to you. Make life happen for yourself. If Helen Keller can live a life of adventure, why can’t you?

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Photo by Dino Reichmuth

"The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls." - Pablo Picasso
Quote by Pablo Picasso

“The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.” – Pablo Picasso Quote Art

January 30, 2016 / / 0 Comments

“The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.” ― Pablo Picasso

Print available on Storenvy.

Every thought we have and every action we take shapes us as people. If you ask many people how they feel on Sunday, before the work week starts, you will often hear an audible groan. That feeling sticks with them until the very end of the week. Most of us are living for the weekend. Is this the way life was meant to be?

The industrialization of society has had a profound affect on civilization, for better or for worse. We are expected to be at work five days, for forty hours, every week.

Each day is a grind. Like clockwork, we arrive at work, go through the motions, then leave. It often feels like we coast through the day, watching our lives drift away.

Then we go home, watch some TV or play with the kids, and go right to sleep. Our routines have become boring and predictable.

[bctt tweet=”What if we had a way to break from the mundane aspects of everyday life?”]

What if we had an outlet to express all our feelings? What if we had a way to break from the mundane aspects of everyday life? We do, and that outlet is called art.

[bctt tweet=”Art allows us to express ourselves in a way that words can’t”]

Art allows us to express ourselves in a way that words can’t. We can pour our feelings onto a canvas, into a novel, or a into performance in ways that we normally can’t express.

[bctt tweet=”Art provides an outlet for us to explore and play”]

Art provides an outlet for us to explore and play. Unfortunately, play has been relegated to children. Unfortunately, society tells us to grow up once we reach adulthood. Art allows us that arena for play.

One of the top books on Amazon is a coloring book for adults. People are overjoyed when they get the chance to create Newspaper Blockout poems. Improv is incredible fun when you are willing to just let go.

These forms of art allow people to let go of their fears, doubts, and ambitions. They allow you to simply play. We all confine ourselves into an imaginary box, a place where we have to be mature and proper.

Instead of letting society tell us how to live, we need to embrace art. We need to use it as an outlet of self-expression and experimentation. We are letting life getting in the way of living.

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Photos by Abigail Keenan | Kaboom Pics | Boss Fight

"The brave may not live forever, but the cautious do not live at all." - Richard Branson
Quote by Richard Branson

“The brave may not live forever, but the cautious do not live at all.” – Richard Branson Quote Art

November 14, 2015 / / 3 Comments

“The brave may not live forever, but the cautious do not live at all.” – Richard Branson

Print available on Storenvy.

When you look back on your life, will you be happy with what you see?

[bctt tweet=”If you want to leave a lasting impact, you have to be willing to take chances.”]

If you want to leave a lasting impact, you have to be willing to take chances. Otherwise, you will look back in disappointment.

Look at the world’s most memorable people. Do you think they were cautious?

What would the world be like if our forefathers didn’t fight for our freedoms? What would life be like if Guttenberg hand’t taken a chance and built a printing press? What if Edison decided building a more efficient light bulb wasn’t worth the effort?

[bctt tweet=”We must be brave if we want to achieve our dreams.”]

We must be brave if we want to achieve our dreams. Cautious people accept their fate and life. There is nothing wrong with the cautious life. Just don’t expect things to happen to you. You have to seek them for yourself.

If you want to make a living from your art, you must be intentional about it. If you want people to recognize you for your gifts, you can’t just create and expect people to find you.

I’m not saying it will be an easy or short journey. It is scary putting yourself and your work on the line.

We fear rejection. We fear our work won’t be good enough. We fear failure.

People have fought and died for what they believe in. Is putting your art out there really that scary?

[bctt tweet=”Make your life worth looking back on.”]

Living the life of your dreams takes bravery. Stop being so cautious. Make your life worth looking back on.

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Photo by Ghislain Mary

"What we do in life echoes in eternity." - Maximus (Gladiator)
Quote from Gladiator

“What we do in life echoes in eternity.” – Maximus (Gladiator) Quote Art

October 17, 2015 / / 1 Comment

“What we do in life echoes in eternity.” – Maximus (Gladiator)

Print available on Storenvy.

In ancient times, people were obsessed with legacy. People were not just representing themselves in the sphere of public perception. They were representing the legacy of their family name. They wanted to live a life their ancestors could be proud of.

Somewhere along the lines, we lost touch with the idea of legacy. When going through life, we often focus on the future. What can I do to become a full time artist? How do I get my work in front of more people? Where’s the best place to market my art?

[bctt tweet=”We are so absorbed with our future that we rarely stop to think about the legacy we will leave behind”]

We are so absorbed with our future that we rarely stop to think about the legacy we will leave behind. After all, it is hard to think about life after death. No one really knows what happens to us when we die. The only thing we can do is live the best life that we have.

The perfect embodiment of this idea is the late Scott Dinsmore. Scott believed the world would be a different place if “we all did work that actually mattered to us.” That is a powerful idea.

Through his site, Live Your Legend, Scott inspired thousands of people to find their passions and live life on purpose. He built a community with meetups in 150 cities and 48 countries around the world. He gave a TEDx Talk that has millions of views. But in the end, his greatest legacy was the impact he made on other people.

[bctt tweet=”Instead of always thinking about ourselves, we need to look at the impact we are making on others”]

Instead of always thinking about ourselves, we need to look at the impact we are making on others. Are you making a positive impact on the world? Are you doing everything you can to make your ancestors proud?

When you die, will your life be something you can be proud of? What legacy will you leave behind? After all, “What we do in life echoes in eternity.”

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"You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf." - Jon Kabat-Zinn
Quote by Jon Kabat-Zinn

“You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.” – Jon Kabat-Zinn Quote Art

June 28, 2015 / / 0 Comments

“You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.” – Jon Kabat-Zinn

Print available on Society6.

Life is a lot like surfing.

The ocean provides an endless number of waves. No matter what you do, there is no way to stop them from coming. They are a fixture of the Earth as much as the ground we walk on and the air we breathe.

Much like the waves of the ocean, life constantly throws obstacles at you. No matter how many you overcome, another will take its place. There’s no point in trying to stop them. Instead we should embrace them.

Surfing allows you to ride the waves as they come. Each one is a new challenge waiting to be conquered. Each one provides a new thrill. Instead of letting the waves push you around, you learn to surf.

The same is true with obstacles in your life. Instead of complaining about them and letting them defeat you, learn to overcome them. How can you view the obstacle as a wave to be conquered? How can you turn that new obstacle into a thrill?

[bctt tweet=”Obstacles provide the perfect opportunity to learn and grow. “]

Obstacles provide the perfect opportunity to learn and grow. So use that to your advantage.

Don’t let the waves crash down on you. Take your surfboard out onto the waters and ride those waves.

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Photo by Flickr user stf-o

“Create the highest, grandest vision possible for your life, because you become what you believe” - Oprah Winfrey
Quote by Oprah Winfrey

“Create the highest, grandest vision possible for your life, because you become what you believe” – Oprah Winfrey Quote Art

June 7, 2015 / / 3 Comments

“Create the highest, grandest vision possible for your life, because you become what you believe” – Oprah Winfrey

Print available on Society6.

Pessimism is one of the great tragedies of life. Just take a moment and reflect on your life. Despite what the media will have you believe, we live in the safest time in human history. We live in a time where you can communicate instantly with people across the world. We live in a time where people can build audiences in the millions without going through the gatekeepers of the past. Why are we so negative?

We are letting those in charge dictate what we believe. We tell children every day there is only one way to go through life. Graduate from high school, go to college, find a job, get married, work for forty years, and be grateful for what you have. If you don’t follow that exact formula, you are deemed a failure. What if you don’t want to follow that path? What if you want to create a path for yourself?

When I was a child, I thought I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I was going to be a Disney animator. Then, in high school, I wanted to be an architect, and in college I wanted to work in the movies. I never pursued those dreams, but that is okay. Everything I have done has led me to where I am now.

[bctt tweet=”I believe the greatest path to success is by helping others achieve success.”]

I have found my vision for the future. I want to be a difference maker. Instead of pursuing a career path for myself, I want to help other artists pursue a path of their own. I have gone from only thinking about myself to thinking about others. I believe the greatest path to success is by helping others achieve success.

[bctt tweet=”Discover your grand vision for life and pursue it without abandon…”]

We only get one chance at life on Earth. Why let others dictate our lives for us? Discover your grand vision for life and pursue it without abandon because you can only achieve what you believe. When you are near the end of your life, do you want to look back in regret or do you want to look back and celebrate everything you’ve done?

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Photo by Connor Burton

Cracking Creativity Episode 4: Mary Dooley on Her Espresso Yourself Books, Self-Publishing, and Building Relationships

Cracking Creativity Episode 4: Mary Dooley on Her Espresso Yourself Books, Self-Publishing, and Building Relationships

May 31, 2015 / / 0 Comments

Mary Dooley is the author of two self-published books, Espresso Yourself and Espresso Yourself Too. In this episode, Mary talks about how a Christmas gift idea for her co-workers turned into her two Espresso Yourself books, how she met and started a relationship with the president of Starbucks America, some tips on self-publishing, and some her favorite quotes from the books.

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“Life is long if you know how to use it.” —Seneca
Quote by Seneca

“Life is long if you know how to use it.” – Seneca Quote Art

March 1, 2015 / / 1 Comment

“Life is long if you know how to use it.”
—Seneca

Print available on Society6.

You are sitting in a cubicle, anxious for the day to be over. You look at the clock and it feels like time is going backwards. You dread every second you have to be there, but you have to make a living somehow. Is this how life was meant to be lived?

We have all felt this before. Whether you’ve had a corporate job or not. The feeling is the same. Any time you are doing a job that doesn’t align with your values, you feel your life being slowly sucked away. We only have a finite amount of time on Earth. How can we make use of the time we are given?

You’ll hear many people say follow your passion. While this may sound like a good idea, you can’t make a living off of passion alone. If you are passionate about eating ice cream on your couch, can you make a living from it? I wish. Unfortunately you can’t.

Instead you must find your purpose. This might sound the same as a passion, but there is a distinct difference. Passions are all about you. I’m passionate about sports, reading, photography, and music to name a few. But those passions don’t have an affect on others. Purpose fills a need.

My purpose is helping artists promote themselves and their art in an authentic way.

Artists have a negative attitude towards marketing and selling their art. I want to change this mindset through my knowledge of web design, marketing, and psychology. I want to help artists share their gift with the world.

Since I started helping artists, I have felt a renewed sense of purpose. I am no longer letting life just pass me by. I have found a way to live a long life and make use of my own gifts.

[bctt tweet=”If you want to find your purpose, and live a long fulfilling life, see what needs are not being filled”]

If you want to find your purpose, and live a long fulfilling life, see what needs are not being filled. One that comes to mind is emotional connection. We live in a world that is more connected than ever, yet we all feel an emotional disconnect.

You as an artist are especially equipped to fill this need. You can create emotional connection with your audience through your words and your work. Filling this need will not only enhance your own life, it will enhance the lives of everyone who encounters your art.

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