Life is a continuum of shifts and changes, some subtle others radical. Some, like graduations, birthdays, and weddings are marked with celebrations.

Others slip past as though they’re no big deal — or aren’t celebrated because we feel sorrow or fear. Still, we notice these shifts.

Fortunately, BIG changes don’t happen every day. Mother Nature knows we need space between big life events.

The idea of “spaces between things” popped into my head on a one-day trip I took to Hawai`i Island in April. Tiffany’s Art Agency in Hawi held an artist reception and my florals were among the featured paintings.

Hawai`i Island is BIG. It’s spacious and I feel calm immediately upon landing there. I flew into Kona and drove North to Hawi —an hour and a half drive through old lava fields.

On my way back to the airport at the end of the day, I noticed places the lava had been cut through to create a road. There were definite spaces between the layers of lava.

The spaces I saw alongside the roadway were likely spaces formed as the lava flowed. Some might have been created years apart, others, days apart, still others formed by the flow of the molten lava as it moved and cooled across the plains of the island.

The spaces between the flows captured my attention. I’m not sure why, but I noticed them.

“Deep, Wide, and Spacious” is the title of this painting, now on exhibit at Tiffany’s Art Agency in Hawi

I remember a time about 35 years ago when I was fascinated with “the Tops of Things” like the tree tops against the sky. I didn’t know why I was so interested in them then, and I’m not sure why to this day.

It’s possible that “the tops of things” represented the future to me. If so, perhaps “the spaces between things” represent the present to me now.

Noticing that which captures your attention is a great way to discover something new about yourself.

What’s capturing your attention these days?

Expansion begins on the inside and works its way out.

When we’re nurtured, and when we nurture ourselves, we’re encased in a warm cocoon of love that grows along with us as we grow. This love is soft and gentle, never doubting, never judging, always holding a space for our growth, and expanding along with us. Always ensuring there is a comfort zone around us.

Take time to think about the nurturing you’re receiving from yourself and from others. Maybe it’s time to increase the feeling of being nurtured in your life, or maybe it’s time to give thanks to, and for, your nurturers.

We’re always nurtured by the love of our Source Self. Breathe in the energy of being nurtured.

The desire to be nurtured, supported, and encouraged in our growth is a constant. Acknowledge this for yourself and allow a new nurturing energy to enter your life.

We each have our own sources of inspiration — thank goodness! We don’t need to rely on any one person, place, or thing to be inspired.

Each of us is responsible for being aware of our “AHA” moments, and sometimes backtracking to discover their origins.

Sometimes the genesis is clear. We’ve seen an incredibly beautiful sunset or vista and want to capture the way it touched our heart.

Sometimes the source is obscure. Inspiration is a flash of insight, out of the blue.

We can stoke our inspiration by following our heartfelt curiosity.

Being curious is different from being “nosy” or “niele” (Hawaiian word for “nosy”). When curiosity tickles us, it sends us on a journey of discovery.

I’ve been on such a journey the past few months — one I wasn’t fully aware of until inspiration for my newest painting struck.

Finally! Yippee! It’s felt like F-O-R-E-V-E-R since I’ve felt this level of inspiration. I’ve missed the feeling of eager anticipation that sometimes precludes the start of a new painting.

Yes, every new painting starts with an idea or inspiration.

Sometimes my inspiration is a piece of coral, or a stone, or a flower — something that catches my eye. These can be great fun to sketch, draw, or paint.

The level of inspiration I received last week is connected to the books I’ve been reading and the questions I’ve been asking in my journal.

This kind of inspiration is a product of my heart working with my brain to give me a visual representation of what I’m learning.

This intensity of inspiration doesn’t happen as often as I’d like. I’m hoping that now that I'm more aware of the process, I’ll be able to entice deep inspiration to happen more often.

STEPS TO ENCOURAGE A TRULY INSPIRED, CREATIVE LIFE

1. Make more drawings of the things catching your attention. This can mean making more starts and fewer finished pieces. It can mean making many smaller drawings or paintings.

2. Focus more on what is wanted rather than on the lack of what is wanted. Be more aware of the things that inspire us and nurture the pursuit of them — and be less aware of missing the inspired feeling. (We find what we seek!)

3. Continue to read books that inspire. Recent reads include a novel, “The Luster of Lost Things” by Sophie Chen Keller and “Into the Magic Shop” by James R. Doty, MD.

4. Listen to podcasts that inspire: “On Being”, “New Dimensions”, “Hidden Brain”, “Ted Talks”, “Abraham-Hicks”.

5. Pay attention to the questions we’re asking and look for the sparks that often launch inspirational “AHA Moments”.

6. Keep our hearts and minds open to the possibilities swirling around us —

Trust in Your Possibilities.

By taking inspired action, I began the creation of this painting — which is almost (but not quite) complete.

If this feels like a formula you’d like to follow, please do! I can’t promise it’ll work for you, but it might. I definitely feel more inspired when I remember to follow these steps!

If you have another way to encourage inspiration into you're your life, please share it with me.

I am forever grateful to my best friend in college. Carol taught me to keep a journal. I’d never done it before and it seemed like a really cool thing to do.

Keeping a journal started out unevenly. I’d keep it for a few days a week and then drop it for a few days or weeks.

Eventually, I realized that when I kept it up, I felt better. Keeping a journal has helped me maintain a more balanced outlook on life and has kept me focused on my goals.

I’ve used several different kinds of journals over the years. The most important criteria for me is that they be blank. No lines please! This allows me to have space to sketch in them as well as write.

Ten years ago, I learned a valuable add-on tool to keeping a journal from coach Christine Kane — that of doing a Weekly Summit.

In addition to writing in my journal six to seven days a week (three pages minimum per Julia Cameron’s “The Artists Way”), I take 15-20 minutes once a week to annotate the previous week.

I record my “Ta-Dah’s” (accomplishments), my “Not-Done’s”, my “AHA’s”, and my “To-Do’s” for the week ahead.

Jotting down my “AHA’s” is by far my favorite part.

You’d think that the fact that I’ve had “AHA’s” every week would be excitement enough that I’d remember them. Alas, no, they’re easily lost in the week’s haste to move on.

Lately, I’ve started to note the date of my “AHA” in case I want to revisit that date in my journal. Maybe there’s more there to be mined.

Please try these tools. They aren’t technically magical, and the results can be magical!

Life goes by SO quickly.

Reviewing my weeks helps me to become a slightly better person, artist, human being, one-little-word-at-a-time.

This morning I received an even better idea, one I haven’t quite fleshed out yet. I will keep an “Imagination or Vision Journal”. It will hold all my wishes, hopes, and dreams.

This feels WAY more fun than my regular journal.
And I suspect both are important to keep.

Do you have any rituals to help you “keep yourself on track”? If so, please share them with me!

I believe in life-long learning and in living a good, long life! Together we can keep this party going and headed toward better and better lives for all of u