One BRAVE Evening…

Howdy Candies…as promised I’m back to share a special posting about something that is touched my heart deeply.  There is something to be learned about the power of words.  They can be a source of hurt, pain, agony, and unimaginable gut wrenching heartache or an abundance enriched source of Love, Happiness, Joy, Pleasure, & Soulful Healing!  I announced under my “Just Doodle It” post that I took an adventure in signing up for the first time offered online the Brave Girls Art School.  Whilst this journey is been full of self-reflection, learning, giving, connecting & sharing…what I’ve learned most thus far is the “Power of Words”!  Let’s think about that for a moment…?… 

The “Power of Words”, they are embed into our brains & can reach the depths of our souls.  I mean that’s truly why we stop to reflect for a moment & actually take the time to read a Fellow Bloggers post or articles of interest or importance, share photos on FB of things that inspire us…right?  I use to do extremely well in expressing the written word but in a true confession to all, not always in speaking what it is I’m intending to say.  That is a lesson I’ve been on a journey to learn each day of my life, is not always what I have to say but in how I say it.  As a Wife, Mother, Daughter, Sister, Aunt, Niece, Friend & varying hats I wear in life, I realize that my words make an impact on those around me & worldwide. 

What if…I purposed to you that regardless of where you are right this second in your personal journey, artistic journey, or even in Life.  Whether it be in good or bad, happy or sad times that your entire view on the world can be completely different and HUGE changes can come to you by surrounding yourself with words that have intrinsic meaning, that directly inspire you…would you do it?  Would you or could you believe that it can?  I can attest that this is absolutely unequivocally the truest thing I know; “If you surround yourself with words that you can actually see, that they can empower you to change the very things around you that only you can change (even your own thoughts) by using and having POSITIVE, Strong, Loving words of truth & inspiration.”

Honestly for me the BRAVEest thing I ever did was venture out last Saturday to meet the lovely Melody Ross, who’s words have empowered my internal thoughts, my deepest emotions, & reached the depths of my soul.  I don’t think I’ve ever posted about one of my biggest struggles that I deal with every single day & frankly putting it out here like this only helps me begin a process of healing.  This is why, this particular post is sooo special to me.  I suffer from Anxiety, not just your average “What If?” anxiety but the heart pounding, chest pain, feel like I can’t breathe, nausea, shaking, sweating, feeling like I’m going to die type of anxiety that turns into total panic.  It is truly is a battle to overcome each waking moment for me.  I can’t explain it & most don’t understand it. 

However, you will see what I mean when I share the photo of these Ladies Melody & Kathy who have helped me silently without knowing how deeply hard it was for me to leave my home.  I know, I know…you see photos of travels, places I’ve been to, things I’ve done, places we venture & share about…what you don’t know is the hours & hours of agony it takes for me to actually calm myself enough to venture out & just GO DO IT! & what you don’t know is 90% of the time, the plans we’ve had to cancel or the blog posts I escape for weeks before posting about.  A lot of the times it is the FEAR of what is going to happen when I’m out there (anywhere beyond the confines of my Studio) that truly is the worst.  I call it my “Silent Suffering” but I reckon by now this post no longer has me “Silently Suffering”.  So when I say to you that the “Power of Words” takes on a whole new meaning for me, I truly truly do mean it from my heart of hearts.  It’s a process…

So…One BRAVE Evening, my Husband (Bless his Heart) took my hand & said “I know how much this will mean to you when you actually get there, it’s going to be okay I promise!”  Where did we go?  To a quaint local party put on by the “Brave Girls Club”.  It was a wonderful experience and celebration as the message they send & what they do for Brave Girls all over the world is beyond touching.  I’m beyond the moon that I’ve found solace within the Brave Girls community. 

I could go on about what it meant but I’d prefer to share photos of my experience instead and then one of Melody’s prints I walked away with that I now see to help me every waking moment of every single day.   Words of Thanks just wasn’t enough to all of those at Brave Girls so that is why I wrote this special Blog Post to share with all of them, my Family, Friends, Followers, the entire Blogosphere.  So without Further Ado…Photos: (To leave a comment, thoughts, suggestions, or feedback - just click the title to this post & scroll to the bottom)

This is was what it looked like from ceiling to center:

The Brave Girls That Touched My Soul & Is Helping Me Heal:

A HUGE Surprise as I won the Door Prize Drawing of so many Melody Ross vintage treasures & something so Special: (“A Little Birdy Told Me”, Autographed Prints & Wall Art “Courage”, Music for my soul “Restore”…)

Print Wall Art I see Everyday!  The comfort words that tell me where I need to be each moment: (Clicking Photo Will Take you to the Brave Girls Store!)

The Piece that brings me Solitude to Remind me “I Do Have The COURAGE!”: (Clicking Photos Will Take you to the Brave Girls Store!)

 

The Inspiration of it all that allowed me to “Wear My Word” with a bit of help from Tim Holtz: (Clicking Photo takes you to his blog!)

So when I tell you that the evening was just splendid I have to say that without a doubt that being surrounded by all those WORDS I needed to See, Feel, Touch, Hear, Smell, & just feel enveloped in a blanket of warm smooth melting chocolaty abundance of LOVEing WORDS, I mean it in every sense…that “Words Are Powerful!”  I have no other way to describe the entire experience but one thing I know is that I am loved & I believe that I shall have the COURAGE to overcome.  Thank you all so much for your dedication to me whilst on this amazing journey.  & Thank You Brave Girls from around the world.  Most of all Thank You Melody & Kathy for bringing a change in all of our lives one heARTbeat at a time…
HUGS xx
P.S. It is super time & we’re making spaghetti in the Candy Casa, so I don’t want to end without telling you about a little gift I want to share with someone who comments about your thoughts on words right here or on the Candy FB Page under this post. 

I want to thank my Creative Chemistry 101 Student Body Member Peg Adkins for teaching me this treasured creation.  The “Altered Metal Blog Candy” Give-Away winner will be announced on December 15th (just in time to send out your special gift with goodies from the Candy Studio for Christmas!)  Have a Fantabulous Evening & Thanks for Stamping By… (To leave a comment, thoughts, suggestions, or feedback - just click the title to this post & scroll to the bottom)