Girls Night Out Therapy

Never underestimate the power of a girls night out.

Getting a girls night out might sound to some like some frivolous night of hanging out, having some wine, and gossiping, but that isn't all of it.

Getting out and getting around other women to chat, swap stories, and support each other can go a long way in bringing a woman back to center and here's why;

• Other women understand body issues. From periods to menopause, you have to be a woman to know about these things.
• Facing problems. A lot of the things a woman faces at work and at home are shared by other women. 
• They appreciate the "war stories" of work and home life because they can identify with them.
• Women understand marriage and men better than men. (sorry guys, it's the secret knowledge shared by all women.)
• They are ready with advice with everything from daycare to pet care to skincare. Really? Where else can you get all that in the same place?
• They share a lot of the same dreams. The direction might be a little different but the road they need to get there is similar. 

So, call your girlfriends and set a date. A standing date to get out once a month. It just might save your soul. 

Life Choices vs Your Bliss

This card came from
Affirminators inspiration cards
found on Amazon.

I think there are certain times of your life when you look back and think about choices. Some are good, some make you wonder...what the heck was I thinking?

I remember my mother once asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up and I answered with total confidence; an artist. I was  probably in grammar school, maybe third or fourth grade. Her response? Artists don't make any money, pick something else.

There was a moment of confusion. How could I be anything other than what I wanted to be? Was it possible to just "pick something else?" I remember thinking, "but that's what I am."

So, I picked other things but never with enough gusto to fall in love with them. It was like a life on idle. March through it and come out on the other side realizing I'm bored, empty inside, and (as a dental assistant) a little grossed out by the blood and teeth stuff. I've drifted from job to job just trying to find that missing bliss and wondering what the heck was wrong with me.

My brother is a journalist. Newspapers were always his passion. I remember when we were younger there was always a newspaper spread out in front of him. He'd read every word and eventually went to college for journalism and is now an editor for a major newspaper. He found his bliss. He knew his bliss from an early age and, most importantly, it was an acceptable bliss. It made money. It supported a family.

I envy those who find their bliss early in life. A friend, a 1st grade teacher, once told me she never worked a day in her life, because she loved her job so much. Another acceptable bliss.

Don't get me wrong, I don't blame my mother. She grew up during the great depression and knew what poverty could do to a family, to a neighborhood, to a nation. She only wanted me to be able to get a viable job. The label of "starving artist" was all she knew.

Fast forward to 2016. Imagine what I could do with an art degree today? There are so many opportunities for graphic artists. So many ways to sell art in this digital age. The possibilities are endless, but are any of them with my grasp? Building an art career at my age is intimidating, but can I do enough to be happy? Self supporting? Would my type of art be sell-able?
So many questions... Between regular 9 to 5 job and other life stuff, how much time is there to create art that would be good enough to sell?

So, did you find your bliss?