Inspiration and Gratitude
Image drawn by Sarah S. Smith
Painted by Sarah S. Smith
The above pictures were drawn/painted by my exceptionally talented friend Sarah (http://sarahssmith.com/). I tried to leave them large so that you all could see how wonderful they are. The first picture is a drawing I asked her to do of Jack. This came from a picture that I took during his first ever trip to the park. The detail in her images is absolutely incredible. Whenever anyone comes over and sees the drawing in my house they can’t help but comment on how amazing it is. I was showing a friend her artwork the other day, and I was struck by how inspiring it is when we see people using their talents.
When we display the things we have hidden within us, we have the capacity to move people. To lift them up, strengthen and inspire them. When we take the time to foster those things that we have to share, it matters. We all have different strengths. We all have different things to offer in different ways. We have something within us, innately inherit unto us that was designed to connect with others. We can’t always speak well, or draw well, or sing well, but we all have something we can and should do to help others. When we are willing to rise up and share those things we make a difference. We help people heal, we help them soar, we help them feel compelled to use their talents as well.
I also wanted to take this time to say thank you to the following people for nominating me for awards. Thank you all so much for taking the time out to read this and even though I haven’t been able to write as much lately, I really appreciate everyone sticking around and helping lift my spirits as well!
http://ivegotastory.wordpress.com/
http://chroniclesofbadtimes.wordpress.com/
http://transformedbythejourney.com/
http://foroneplease.wordpress.com/2012/07/29/inspiration-awarded/
http://headywriting.wordpress.com/
Posted on August 13, 2012, in Uncategorized and tagged art, drawing, gratitude, inspiration, motivation, painting, Sarah S. Smith. Bookmark the permalink. 32 Comments.
betweenfearandlove 
The lighting and copper tone on the car is stunning…you may have just inspire some new watercolor pieces for me. Thanks for stopping by my blog.
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I’m glad you liked it. She’s quite talented! And she I hope you do paint some new ones 🙂
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“When we display the things we have hidden within us, we have the capacity to move people.” Thanks for the reminder 🙂 And the art is lovely!
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Thank you, and I agree, it’s quite lovely! She does great work!
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Thank you for another profound reminder. I will share this one with my children.
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🙂 I’m glad! Thank you so much!
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The drawings are both amazing but the one of Jack is so piercingly precious….take care..Diane
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I know, I stare at his eyes in it all the time! She’s so talented. His eyes are pretty piercing!
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Firstly, I love the pictures… you have a very talented friend… secondly, to quote your post…
“When we display the things we have hidden within us, we have the capacity to move people. To lift them up, strengthen and inspire them. When we take the time to foster those things that we have to share, it matters.”
Absolutely… and I think that’s one reason why I’ve been so honest and upfront with my blog… because I want James, when he’s older, to be strong, to be brave, to be inspired and to realise that he must always be true to himself and never be embarrassed or ashamed of who he is.
Also, as my blog has gained readers, I hope that they too have found some strength and inspiration from my words. I really have no idea if that’s the case LOL I hope so. I don’t think there’s much in life that beats helping another living soul.
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I want the same for Jack. To be willing to be open and honest and brave. I want him to have a sense of compassion for others and a willingness to help without worry of what others think. It can be hard to instill when peer pressure kicks in.
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Thank you for sharing the beauty.
Billy Ray
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🙂 Thank you for stopping by to read it and all of your support!
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The picture of Jack is amazing. She does beautiful work. The pictures in her portfolio are beautiful. Thanks for sharing!
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Thank you! She’s quite talented!
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what a very talented friend you have.
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I agree! 🙂
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Thanks for sharing those pictures, certainly beautiful work and I don’t think society in general realises the importance of art. We are the only animals on the planet with the ability to think abstract thoughts, which in turn enabled us to create the wheel, fire, houses, ships and all the other things we take for granted. When I look at a cell phone I think of those nerdy devices used in Star Trek. It was Tolkien who referred to writers as being subcreators, as opposed to creators (God). When we create an imaginary world we are not only entertaining and inspiring people but in a very real sense we have the ability to actually engineer a revolution in society. I recall coming out of the movie JFK, having always gone with my father’s story that ‘Oswald done it,’ but after seeing a filmmaker’s version of how it might have been a plot, I came out with a different point of view. I said ‘that’s how it might have happened.’ Art, whether it’s writing, painting, sculpture, music, is one of the most important contributions we can make to society. And yet when children say, I wanna be an artist too often people say that’s nice but wouldn’t you rather be a lawyer or a doctor? Keep writing Lauren, you’re changing the world one blog at a time!
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Well said. I’d like to add a bit of physics. When we look at something, the light (photon) that is emitted from that object was absorbed and re-emitted by it, not simply reflected as was previously thought. So, when we are surrounded by beauty, we absorb beauty, literally. Those photons reaching our eye not only carry the imprint of the object, but also then enter our body, getting absorbed and re-emitted. Think about that the next time you or someone you know is observing violence, pollution, or any form of ugliness. Beauty, art, uplifts us, raising our vibrational frequency.
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This is awesome! Thank you so much for sharing that. I watched something about that on “Through the Wormhole” or something like that, I believe. I’m so glad you shared it, though. I hadn’t thought about it in a long time. It’s a great reminder of where our focus really needs to lie and on what we have the capacity to present for others to absorb. I LOVE this!
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Thank you very much for that. You are very right. I think understanding that there are multiple perspectives, which art has a tremendous capacity to point out, it is so important. We all see and interpret things in a different way. And finding what the truth is can be difficult and can be different for each of us depending upon the subject matter. It’s hard not to want to ensure that security that comes with being a doctor and a lawyer… although lots of my law school friends are having trouble finding work too now! But letting people change the world matters, and you do a great job of it yourself! Thank you for sharing here and for your writing as well! 🙂
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Absolutely spot on. Beautiful post.
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Thank you 🙂
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Hey Lauren it’s funny because my friend and I were just talking about this last night/ morning when she was using her talents to paint a photo for my Auction at my charity dinner I set up for Haiti. One thing that really hit me was when Emily’s (girl who’s running the orphanage) mom and I were talking the other day and she was talking about how proud she is of me and that I’m using my talents to pull people together and raise money, normally I can accept a compliment and it somewhat feels good but it really hit me this time, it meant so much. I’m glad that just by wanting to help people and having a passion to do it means something not just to me but other people I never intended on impacting.
Keep blogging and writing it’s a real talent of yours! I also posted this quote on my last post… rather fitting I might add.
Give yourself entirely to those around you. Be generous with your blessings. A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal.
~ Steve Maraboli
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Have you tried kickstarter? My friend told me about it the other day. I’m not entirely certain how it works, but I know it’s used for fundraising purposes.
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Hi have checked it out the only issue is that we’re Canadian and you need to have an american address and credit card. 😦
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Amazing pictures, there is so much detail in both.
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Aren’t they wonderful! I’m in awe of her talent! 🙂
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You’re right. She is very talented. And it is so nice that you are sharing her talent with your followers.
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Her talent definitely deserves to be shared! 🙂
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Those pictures are astounding!
It is so true what you say. Everybody has a talent. It’s just that some people don’t know what their talent is, even though they just walk into a room and soothe people, or just say something at the right time that can diffuse a situation or make someone glad to be alive.
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You’re very right! We can help someone anytime, any day if we are paying attention. 🙂
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Wonderful work! Yes a talent like that, shared, is a wonderful gift for all.
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