2013 The Art of Encouragement

Photo by Dawn Breeze

I am so elated to be exactly where I am and to be exactly who I am right now.  This very second on this first day of a new year!  I feel grateful, deeply grateful for the many new artistic opportunities that became possible in 2012.  Without question the highlight of the year was beginning my workshop series Creativity & Courage, the gift of my new beautiful art studio and the wonderful solo show at Mcdaris Fine Art in Hudson, NY. 

Leading my workshops is truly an indescribable joy.  I do not have words to describe the feelings I feel.  When I complete my classes I am "high" with love, excitement, joy and compassion towards all my students and their creative potential.  I feel quivery all over.  I have been trying to understand what this is?  What is happening in my classes?  What is happening to both me and my students?  I know my students feel similarly because they all keep signing up again and again.  In the rehab I have had two separate situations where people have extended their stay one extra day in order to be able to take my class one more time before discharge.  These people who love my class are not in any way stereotypical creative types.  In fact at the rehab my most enthusiastic students are also the most "brute" artistically.  So what is this?  I have an idea.....

Last week my class was on Courage and the Hero.  In preparation for class I was researching the definition of courage and the definition that most struck me was #2.

cour·age

[kur-ij, kuhr-] Show IPA

noun

1.

the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear; bravery.

2.

Obsolete . the heart as the source of emotion.

  

What I was most taken with was that definition #2 was an original definition of "Courage" and has now been deemed "Obsolete".  I disagree with it being obsolete.  I believe that courage is following the heart.  When I asked my students about their hero's many of them spoke of people who loved them, who they felt supported by....and then it struck me!  Their hero's had "encouraged" them!!!   The word "encouraged" became so large and powerful to me in this moment-"encourage" to fill someone with courage, ie. to love and help fufill someones hearts purpose.  I realized that is what is happening in my classes.  Me and my students are mutually encouraging our hearts purpose, which is simply to to be our authentic creative selves.  So my New Years resolution is "Encourage" in every possible way and my motto is the photo above. "With You I Can".   I love you all!  xoxoxoxoDawn