Categories
motivation

Clutter Everywhere

Illustration of man about to empty a box of trash. He looks overwhelmed by a huge, full trash can.

Clutter, clutter everywhere, and not one trash can could be spared! Do you ever get overwhelmed with clutter? It happens to me this time of year. In the United States, it’s tax time. There is so much paperwork to muddle through. I get frustrated trying to figure out what to pitch and what to keep.

I’ll look at a folder and think, “You never know when you may need that.” Rarely is that the case. I’ve finally come to the conclusion I don’t need those magazine articles from 1990. As much as I like that article on the exciting, new Macintosh IIfx, I don’t need it. Sometimes, I have to move on!

My desk at home and work has plenty of papers, but there is one product that has helped me get a handle on the paper clutter. Evernote is software for Windows, Mac, smart phone and tablets. You can also access it from their website.

It’s a handy program that allows me to take notes wherever I go. I can even take a photo of a handwritten note and the program will convert it to text. I will also clip web pages.

If you’re looking for something that will combat your paper Mount Everest, I recommend it. Now where did I put that shovel?

Categories
motivation

Wilted Complaints

Cartoon of two women next to a wilted plant. One woman says, "It's a valuable plant. When I complain, it wilts."

Cartoon of two women next to a wilted plant. One woman says, “It’s a valuable plant. When I complain, it wilts.”

Oh, it’s so easy to complain, isn’t it? Something doesn’t go the way I think it should, and the next thing I know, I complaining a blue streak. I get upon my throne and declare the way things should be. Naturally, the world would be a better place if everyone just listened to me!

But the world isn’t going to cooperate. Billions of people have billions of opinions. Many are legitimate concerns. When injustice and selfishness hurts other people, protests and complaints are legitimate.

But when things aren’t going to change, no matter how much I whine, there comes a point, when the complaining is as bad as the offense. Today, I’m going to look for one of those plants. Surely there must be one out there that will let me know when my speech is becoming less than helpful.

Categories
illustration business motivation

Secret Wisdom for Illustrators Shared

I found this originally through the blog, Drawn! Keri Smith is an illustrator, author and art professor with some good, pragmatic advice.

http://www.kerismith.com/blog/secrets-shared/

Categories
children's ministry motivation

Age is No Excuse

I came across this blog post about creativity and aging.

Mary Sayler: In A Writer’s Life: Artistic, creative people get creative at any age

I agree with her assertion that at any age people can find creative outlets.

It reminded me of my grandfather. He was a minister for over fifty years at the same church. He was sharp as a tack until he retired from the ministry and had no plan for what retirement would look like. He slowly lost his mental acuity and his passion for life.

We all have a calling. Age or retirement is not a reason to abandon your calling. Keep doing what you were born to do.

I’ve seen children’s ministry volunteers who lose their passion once their kids leave the ministry. But some of the greatest volunteers I’ve seen have volunteered way past retirement age. If you have a passion for teaching kids, don’t give up because your child has grown up.

I have a passion for writing and drawing for children. I also have a passion for children’s ministry. I’ve been so glad to have the last week to be able to focus on my calling and realize what a need there is for people with a passion.

What’s your calling? No matter what your age is, make a commitment to do what you were born to do!