Blog
October 2021
October Thought of the Month
"Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it."
~ Michael Jordan
Every worthwhile dream deserves to be fought for. Sometimes the more obstacles in your way can be a measure of the value of what you pursue. But if you find a way through, success awaits.
September 2021
September Thought of the Month
"Don't let yesterday take up too much of today."
~ Will Rogers
Sometimes the regrets of yesterday rise up out of nowhere to distract us from achieving our goals for today. Learning from the past is a powerful tool, but dwelling there undermines all our efforts. It won't always be easy, but the best way to get beyond the negative feelings they raise and keep moving forward is to acknowledge then set them aside. Live in today and leave yesterday where it belongs.
[Thought and image design by Elaine C. Oldham]
August 2021
August Thought of the Month
"Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy."
~ Norman Vincent Peale
I'm not all that into the Olympics, but I do watch the women's gymnastics competitions when I can. We love to see these girls and women defy gravity with such poise, grace, and confidence. Even when they wobble, fall, or miss the mark, they rise again to try again. Whether they medal or not, they have earned their places on that stage.
July 2021
July Thought of the Month
"Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory."
~ George S. Patton
June 2021
June Thought of the Month
"The first step toward success is taken when you refuse to be a captive of the environment in which you first find yourself."
~ Mark Caine
Sadly, a lot in the world can derail us on our way to achieving our dreams, including the limits we put on ourselves. Look at setbacks not as impenetrable walls but as fences that let you see your goals just on the other side. Your imagination and determination are the wire cutters that get you through those challenges. Remember, barriers can stop you only if you stop chipping away at them.
May 2021
May Thought of the Month
"Creativity is intelligence having fun."
~ Albert Einstein
Most people limit creativity to the arts, but it takes both the artistic and practical sides of our brains to generate new ideas, bring concepts into reality, and find unique solutions to problems. And whether it's inside or outside the mundane, achieving those goals inspires a sense of joy in all of us. So keep seeking and pursuing the fun in what you do in life.
[Thought and image design by Elaine C. Oldham]
What Conventions May Look Like in 2021
It’s been more than a year since I attended a live convention. Where do we stand now? As more and more people get vaccinated against COVID, the prospects of and for physical conventions improves. If all goes well the US should hit herd immunity this summer.
I’ve gotten a few emails from conventions looking for vendors to work their events. This is a godsend for many artists and vendors, but personally I’m not considering any live events yet. But I have been thinking about what it might be like in the first few months of “The Return.”
April 2021
April Thought of the Month
"Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason why so few engage in it."
~ Henry Ford
It recently occurred to me that advances in technology have actually made it easier for us not to think. Once upon a time if you had a question, you went to the library, hit the encyclopedia, or read a newspaper. Now we can ask a little box and it tells us the answer. The price of speed though is the missed opportunity to learn even more while searching for the answer.
March 2021
March Thought of the Month
"Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned."
~ Peter Marshall
February 2021
February Thought of the Month
"Focus on the princess, not the problem. You can't marry the princess without killing the dragon. So when you see the dragon, just remember: There's a princess on the other side."
~ Doug Weed
Everyone faces obstacles in life, and no one can make any progress without conquering them. Sometimes though, the problems we face seem so huge they paralyze us — analysis paralysis. We must remember to focus on the prizes on the other side. Then we can find the drive and the imagination to get through to them.
