Valentines Day Card

Would you like to see this as part of a Valentines Day card series?

The title of this is "4 stages"...

Leave a comment and let us know what you think ... or if you would like to see some of the other Valentines-related art by Wheels...

NoteWordy Sympathy card?

Let me know what you think of the following art by Wheels (and whether it should be turned into a notecard) by leaving a comment below ...

******* text for back of card *******

“When all seems dark …”

There are times in everyone’s life when all seems dark…

… someone is taken away and you miss them terribly.

When all seems dark…
… remember them and the memories will warm your heart.

When all seems dark…
… embrace those around you who share your grief and
can ease your pain.

When all seems dark…

… see something that reminds you of them …
… and know that you are not alone.

GOAL Setting Season is OPEN !

January 1st kicks off "Goal Setting Season".

The beginning of the year is the time that everyone thinks about goals and where their life is heading. I bet that you are probably thinking about your own goals right now, aren't you?

Seth Godin (Marketing Guru) had an interesting post on his blog about goals...

Having goals is a pain in the neck. ... Not having a goal lets you make a ruckus, or have more fun, or spend time doing what matters right now, which is, after all, the moment in which you are living. The thing about goals is that living without them is a lot more fun, in the short run.

It seems to me, though, that the people who get things done, who lead, who grow and who make an impact... those people have goals.

Are we doomed to fail?
So we set goals... and most peoples "New Year's Resolution" don't last to the end of February. Why? Most people set "NICE" goals...
Not
Intrinsically
Compelling or
Exciting.
In other words, they are really pretty happy with the way things are and they don't feel compelled to make a change.... or at least not enough to overcome the hurdles.

If you read a bunch of books, I'm sure you have run across the next level of goal setting ... the "traditional" SMART goals. Those are goals that are:
Specific
Measureable
Attainable
Realistic
Timely

That's good but even goals that are SMART don't always last. You can set a goal to lose 10 lbs. by March 31st but if you are comfortable and you have limited motivation, what are the odds that you are going to complete your "SMART" goal?

Over at another blog, I learned about DUMB Goals and I think they are one step closer to goals that will work ....
Dangerously
Unobtainable
Monstrously
Big goals.

These are like the BHAG's (Big Hairy Audacious Goals) explained in the book, "Built To Last". DUMB goals or BHAG's are things that are so outrageous that they inspire you go do things you would not ordinarily do. They also increase the chances that you will fail... which is a good thing!

As A.L.Williams (of insurance fame) said, "If you want to be great, you first have to be good. If you want to be good, you first have to be bad. If you want to be bad, you first have to try. So if you want to succeed, you first have to try." [I love that quote!]

DUMB goals give you a reason to fail ... and to learn and grow and make progress !

So if you combined your SMART goals with DUMB goals ... is that it? Are you guaranteed success?

No, there is one more "magical ingredient" that you need to make your goal a reality...

You have to Feel it !
Here is what I learned from Steve Pavlina ...

The purpose of goal-setting isn’t to control the future. That would be senseless because the future only exists in your imagination. The only value in goal-setting is that it improves the quality of your present moment reality. Setting goals can give you greater clarity and focus right now. Whenever you set a goal, always ask yourself, “How does setting this goal improve my present reality?” If a goal does not improve your present reality, then the goal is pointless, and you may as well dump it. But if the goal brings greater clarity, focus, and motivation to your life whenever you think about it, it’s a keeper.

A goal that is true to your heart and your desires will inspire you to do all the unpleasant things (like make changes to your habits) that are required to be successful.

It probably won't feel natural when you try something new. Marshal Silver taught me that "The right thing will feel wrong... at first." This is because you are not used to it ... but as you make it a habit, it will feel more natural and less "motivation" will be needed to make sure it gets done.

So, what do you have planned for 2009?

"Before"... finished !

It took a while, but it is finally finished.

The vacation and holidays at the end of December was the perfect time to get this painting wrapped up ... probably due to some very cold weather and some good movies on TV that encouraged me to stay inside !

I used a very translucent acrylic blue ("Prussian blue", I think) which gave the body a "scratchy" or "beaten-up" look which I liked. It also hinted at an unhealthy lifestyle... to go along with the "boxed-in" and "black clouds" that have "haunted" the subject of this painting.

Selling it?
I probably won't sell this painting right away. I am hoping to have "Before" and "After" completed and hung side-by-side so selling the first one is out of the question ... at least for a while.

Next...
I am already working on "After" ... which seems appropriate as we head into the "New Year's Resolution" season.

Tune in here for updates on the next painting.