Yes Another Goodbye.....

Yes I am getting ready to say another goodbye.
Although this is a goodbye I get to share with all of you.

GOODBYE 2011

Endings.......Absolutely necessary to have new beginnings.
2011 is quickely drawing to a close. I sit here reflecting on the year soon to be over and setting my goals and my intentions for the new year that lies ahead.

2012....WOW. Time just flies by.

This year was a year of adventure, self discovery, self growth, lessons and alot of LOSS which brought even more lessons.

TAKE NOTHING FOR GRANTED. NOTHING.

The year for me was all about planting seeds and reestablishing a base for myself after being on the road for almost three years. It has also been a year of practicing patience. Not one of my better qualities. I had to really learn to TRUST AND STAY FOCUSED.

My journey has been such a gift and constant excercise in THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX. Which has given me so much FREEDOM.

My whole life has really been about DISCOVERY OF SELF.
Trust me I have had many detours and taken many wrong turns. I have learned that there are no wrong turns. Wherever we go is where we are suppose to go.....We eventually end up at our destination. It has taken me many years to get to where I am. Actually 45 years. I feel as though i have finally connected to my purpose and who I am and what my gifts are.

I feel very BLESSED.

So as 2011 draws to a close, I am very excited about all of the possibilities a new year will bring. I make a promise to myself to no longer block my BLESSINGS.

I was always a closeted artist. I never wanted to share my gift for the FEAR that I was not good enough. I lacked self confidence and i did not believe in my abilities.

I am now realizing after doing alot of work on me, and becoming comfortable and confident in myself as an artist, and knowing I have a gift to share, others are taking notice. That recognition is giving me the fuel and desire to share my gifts.

My promise is to continue to try and bring beauty into the lives of those I come in contact with.

I wanted to thank all of you who continue to love and support me as I try to make my way through the WORLD.

I WISH EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU A NEW YEAR OF WONDER AND LOVE.

PEACE,

JOE

REMEMBER NEW BEGINNINGS ARE A CHANCE TO DESIGN YOUR LIFE THE WAY YOU WANT TO LIVE IT.

A friend this holiday season called me a FROG.

FULLY RELIANT ON GOD........After some thought I realized she was right. I am a FROG
Don't forget to leave your FOOT PRINTS. We want to know you were here.

Edge of Glory

RISK TAKING IS FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The road less traveled, is really the road less traveled.
It is often times a very lonely journey.
Sometimes I feel as if I am the only one on the road trying to find the answer.

The past three years since I began my mid-life adventure, my life has been so rich with AMAZING ADVENTURES and CREATIVE ENDEAVORS.

I sat in Los Angeles for the better part of twenty-three years and was so malnourished creatively,spiritually and emotionally.

Deciding to take the LEAP OF FAITH into my life was the right thing to do.
I felt as if my soul was dying in Los Angeles.

The past three years I feel like I finally showed up to the PARTY which is my LIFE.
I have been faced with many obstacles and challenges over the past three years. I learned it is all part of the process.

The greatest gift that I have received is I got reconnected with my creative SPIRIT.
I really have learned how to live outside the BOX.

The Box that so many of us keep ourselves stuck in. SET YOURSELF FREE.
THAT IS THE ANSWER.

I am not going to lie the road has been both exhilirating and frustrating, but I would not change it for anything.

January 28, 2009 was the day that I said "This is my life. I want to live it the way I want to live it."

The journey has been filled with travel and creativity that I did not know I had.

I have been WRITING,DRAWING,PAINTING & PHOTOGRAPHING.

Lesson that I have learned is SAY YES TO LIFE. STAR IN IT........OWN IT.

MOVE WITH THE CURRENT....MAKES LIFE MUCH EASIER. TRUST.

CLEAN HOUSE

As this year draws to a close.
I look back through the year to review what has worked and what has not.

It has been a good year, A challenging year. A year with a lot of loss, more than any other year so far on a personal level.......Through all of the loss, the one thing that has become crystal clear to me was how important it is to LIVE LIFE NOW....DO NOT WAIT.

Through all of the loss it confirmed that me living my life with PASSION and CREATIVELY and doing what makes me happy leads to a much more richer life. I do not necessarily mean richer in the monetary sense......Although I trust it will turn out that way.

Through all of my years of self help books and watching OPRAH, I am TRUSTING that following my PASSION the rewards and money will follow.

I realize that through lesson in life, death and everything in between,

LIKE A BOOK, A DAY, A SEASON EVERYTHING HAS A BEGINNING AND AN END.

Endings are not a bad thing.........It is the only way to have a beginning or a NEW BEGINNING.

A lot of times in my life I stick around much longer than I should, especially in relationships
that are not good for me.
I always seem to attract the wounded bird the one who needs to be saved. In the process of me trying to save them I often lose myself and distract myself from the abundance and blessing trying to make their way to me.

My promise to myself in the new year is to SAVE ME........And to realize everyone is on their own journey and will learn the lessons that they need to learn for their lives when they are ready to receive them.

I WILL NOT BLOCK MY BLESSINGS.

I realize that I do not have the power to stop a runaway train.

So this year it is very important for me to CLEAN HOUSE.......I never liked endings. I did not realize until this entry how IMPORTANT they are. IT is the only way to have NEW BEGINNINGS OR SECOND CHANCES.

For this Holiday Season........I wish for everyone to get out of their own way to receive all of the good there is in the world and for them to reach their maximum potential. Also to TRUST they and we all deserve a beautiful LIFE.

PEACE AND BLESSINGS.
MAY WE ALL SOAR TO OUR HIGHEST POTENTIAL.

LESSONS FROM LOSS

As many of you who know me and some of you who do not.
The past few months I have been dealing with saying goodbye and a lot of loss.

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN??????????????

3 friends died all way to young to die, and a baby who never even had a chance to begin. WHY?
They say that everything happens for a reason and that there are no mistakes. That is if that is you belief system. I sometimes WONDER.

Throughout all of this loss, working though my grief, I realized upon some reflection that I learned a tremendous amount about LIVING and DYING.

My friend and co-worker Steve who died, fought tirelessly in the early days of the AIDS epidemic. He continued to fight for many years to bring awareness to the cause, all why battling his own fight with diabetis.

From Steve I learned the importance of SERVICE.
It did not matter he had his own struggles. Steve would always lend a hand whether he had the time or not and always happy to do so.

My friend Gia who passed away during childbirth. Both she and her son baby Samson died during the delivery.

From Gia that when you believe in something so passionately and commit to it so wholeheartedly you may lose your life and die for your belief.

Baby Samson who never saw the light of day, but left the gift of love and strength and knowledge that when faced with tough situations that you do not think is possible that you can get though. To know that you can and will persevere.

Most recently my friend Linda who left her family and friends at just 45. She taught me that as sad as her loss is and was, if you are doing what you love and being truthful to yourself and are a good person, it does not matter when you transition.............

You can do it with COURAGE & PEACE

Also what is there to FEAR.

My biggest fear prior to me making major changes in my life was to arrive at the end of my JOURNEY with a life full of REGRETS and a life UN-LIVED.

I WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU, FOR GIFTS THAT YOU WERE IN MY LIFE AND THE LESSONS I HAVE LEARNED FROM YOU.

Some of you were in my life for a brief period of time and some not at all. But either way you have giving me things to reflect upon and to learn about this crazy wonderful thing called life.

Again Thank you.
May you all rest in peace knowing that you have all touched so many lives.