It´s funny how fate works sometimes.
I have just learned that a good friend has ovarian cancer, with the prognosis being very grim.
She's 47, and her life's passion is art. She never made any money at it though it was her lifetime vocation. She loves to paint and seems happiest immersed in her craft and experimenting with various art forms. I think it´s the pure joy she gets from creating a piece of work that makes her one of the luckiest people alive because every day she lives her passion. Her paintings aren´t of flowers or beach scenes, but are much darker in mood and very avant-garde. They weren´t very commercial - but are thought-provoking artistic expressions.
She has also inspired others in their creative endeavors be teaching college art classes for many years.
A determined artist, she has displayed her work in some small gallery showings in the Midwest. Me, always being the career counselor I am, I really urged her to go after her ultimate dream -- a New York City gallery showing. So, with some additional prodding, she did indeed pound the pavements, slides in hand, until she found a nice SOHO gallery owner who said YES after many other rejections. She got that dream showing and I was very happy for her. I was even able to be there that night a special treat since I live in Seattle, 3,000 miles away.
Celebrating other people´s successes matters a great deal to me. It didn't matter to her that no one bought her paintings that evening, only that she had lived out this long-held dream. Her art was on exhibit in New York City and she relished that glory. I think it was one of the happiest days of her life. I felt lucky to have shared in the recognition of her talent.
I guess in the midst of my personal sadness in learning of her medical problems, I also come full circle to my main mission in life - helping people to go after their dreams, land great jobs, and work at a career they love.
This Thanksgiving it would be typical for me to tell everyone, "You only have one life to live, so LIVE it to the fullest and ENJOY it." Instead, I´ll share exactly what I am grateful for in my own life:
Jack, my only child, whose sweet disposition and enthusiastic smiles brighten my life each day.
Steve, my husband of 25 years, whom I admire so much for daily using his talents to help others.
My Mom, for being my mom, and she is a great one.
Dad, for always inspiring me.
My brothers, for being good ones.
My ability to help others improve their life and career in such an important way.
Living a passionate career that I was born to do and simply love.
Making a difference, even though it´s small. I live my mission of trying to make the world a better place.
For friends and interesting colleagues who add extra fun into my life.
Photography - my much-loved hobby that allows us to tell stories and stop time for one tiny moment.
Cookies!
Writing ability - to create a book to inspire people to SOAR to new heights and rejoice in just being a great individual.
Oceans - the roar and beauty of crashing ocean waves.
Summer days - when the sky is sunny bright, and the days are long.
Freedom - the kind you feel accelerating across the water in a speedboat.
Rock & Roll Songwriters - Playing their music, the louder the better, is one life´s great joys.
Movies - that are entertaining or moving.
Holidays - I love any reason to celebrate!
Christmas ornaments - those delightful gems that cover my three large Christmas trees that I can´t seem to stop myself from buying.
Bargains that I get off of eBay.
My mother´s spaghetti and meatballs
Childish laughter from Jack and his little friends
Fireworks
Popcorn
Chocolate
And last, but not least, the ability to be a supporter of dreams and a catalyst to help other people make their dreams come true!
© Copyright 2005 Robin Ryan. All rights reserved.
