Who decides what is normal, and who wants to be normal anyway?

Come to think of it, I have, at times, wished I could just "be normal" and "be happy with the things that normal people want in life".

Decoded that means marriage, a house, kids, a regular job. Heck, I have had those things in life, but they haven't been on my radar for quite some time now. No matter how much I have wanted to feel normal, I instinctively knew those things would not, by themselves, make me happy.

I needed more. Somehow I need to feel I'm pushing the envelope of my life in order to feel happy. I have some kind of need to feel I'm making a difference in life.

Does the world really need another painting?

Maybe not. Although maybe the world needs me to feel the kind of hope that is needed in order to paint another painting.

Did you know that it takes hope to paint? Not only does it require hope, it requires Buckets of Hope!

—Hope I can match the vision I have in my head using the materials I use

—Hope other people feel entranced enough with the process to watch me paint or buy my painting

—Hope my vision or words touch someone enough to uplift them and give them Hope

That last one is the one I am hoping the most. I want YOU to feel deeply connected to YOUR own hopes and dreams. If I'm doing my job (painting) "right", the hopes and dreams I have while I'm painting are tangible in the results. My painting will stir something in you.

That's my contribution. That is how I make meaning in the world.

Connection is my word for the year. Connection has to start within. I have to feel connected to my inner being. Then I have to connect to my subject matter. Next I connect to my painting process and finally I connect to you through my painting.

YOU are my intended connection... well, YOUR connection to YOUR inner being is my intended connection.

See, it takes BUCKETS OF HOPE to make the connection — both yours and mine.

I've been a fan of Christine Kane'sblog and eZine for about a year. On December 31, 2009, I worked an exercise she offered her readers: The Word of the Year Discovery Tool.

Wow, I mean, WOW!!!!!!! What a wonderful tool!

Through a series of questions, Christine guided me to discover the word that would intuitively propel me into 2010 in a powerful way. I journaled for about thirty minutes and when I was finished, I was energized! I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that my word for 2010 is Connection.

I intend to powerfully feel my connection: to my inner self; to my art; to my family and friends; to YOU, my collectors; to the Universe; to all things and all beings.

On New Year's Day, Keanu and I went to see the movie, Avatar. Imagine my pleasant surprise when I realized the powerful theme throughout the movie is the interconnection of all things.

There I sat, beaming at the screen, feeling my connection to this fascinating movie!

The next evening, my friend Diana came to paint wine glasses with me and Keanu. Together we painted a collaborative glass in memory of the Tree of Life in Avatar. It's a bit difficult to see in this photo, but the tree itself is painted in black and the luminescent leaves are white.

If you haven't seen the movie, watch it in 3-D. The graphics are amazing; it's a lot of fun! Go ahead, watch the movie and let me know what you think. Imagine how connected we will feel.

 It was a Sunday morning and I'd just taken a shower. I turned on the radio to listen to it while I got ready for the beach. We go to Bellows Beach almost every Sunday; I almost NEVER turn on the radio on Sunday.

This was a Sunday where the slightest change in my routine would have a profound effect on the rest of my life.

Okay, so I’m being a little melodramatic, but I want to make a point. What I heard on the radio that Sunday was, and is, really important. That’s why I’m sharing it with you here today. When I turned on the radio, I heard Dr. Gay Hendricks discussing his latest book, The Big Leap.

More specifically, what Dr. Hendricks was discussing is what he calls “The Upper Limit Problem”.

About two weeks before I heard him speaking on the radio, I was on the beach (hello, I live in Hawai‘i) and was aware that I had been feeling REALLY good lately.

My paintings were turning out to my satisfaction, I was very happy in my relationship, I had had a good month of sales, the weather was beautiful (okay so that’s not unusual here), and I felt on top of the world.

My very next thought was “Oh s—t, I’m in for a period of feeling down again.”

Really, I remember thinking those exact words. Not only that, I remember having had this same kind of situation happen to me more than once before.

My friends, this is the kind of Upper Limit Problem Dr. Hendricks has addressed in his new book, The Big Leap. The REALLY good news is Dr. Hendricks has included solid advice on what to do once you recognize your upper limit so you too can expand beyond your comfort zone and enter your zone of genius.

Buy it! Now! Then read it — at least once! I’m on my second reading now.

Essentially Dr. Hendricks postulates that we all have varying set points of comfort, our very own comfort zones. These zones are often unconscious and were set early in our lives. As long as we operate within our zones of comfort, we feel good. When we stretch our limits, we start to feel bad and sabotage ourselves back into our zone of comfort.

This is precisely what I did for myself that day on the beach when I realized how happy I was. I had over-reached my zone of happiness. Something inside myself said, “Oh no you don’t. You are NOT allowed to feel this good for this long. Something bad will happen to you, OR it will happen to someone you love.”

I have NO idea when that “demon” took up residence in my brain, but thanks to Dr. Hendricks and The Big Leap, I am happy to report that she is on her way out!

This book is a fast, easy read, and YOU are worth it! Go. Now. Either check it out of the library or buy it for yourself. You’ll be glad you did.

All happy now, 

Patrice