Leap of Faith

It's funny how just a few decades ago many agreements were made with a simple handshake.  That handshake was a show of faith from both parties that what they said they would do, they would in fact do.  There wasn't a need for contracts full of unrecognizable text or lawyers to try and sort everything out just so that something could get done.  And even when a written contract was required, it wasn't the size of a book or too complicated for the average intelligent human being to understand it.

But those days are long gone my friends and no one understands that more than me right now.  I've spent the last few days in contract negotiations. The kind where everyone is trying to cover themselves from whatever imaginable thing that might possibly occur if something written as a form of entertainment ends up being twisted, turned, and messed up by someone silly enough to sue.   And of course should someone decide to create a frivolous law suit there will be an attorney more than happy to take their money.

Sometimes these thing become like a war zone with parties on both sides digging in their heels unwilling to yield because it could possibly put them at risk.  So everything comes to a screeching halt, lives stand still, and work simply doesn't get done...and man do I hate that!

Frankly I think everyone hates that.  Who really wants to come to a grinding halt on something they are passionate about?  I'm betting no one really does, not even the lawyers that seem to enjoy the minutia of the written word and how it may or may not be manipulated later on.

Anyway, enough about me and my work-a-day woes.  I've decided to take the "what's meant to be will be" approach.  So instead of getting mired down in it all I made lasagna and took it over to my friend Ms.M's house for lunch today.  I made two batches, one to take to her house, and one to keep here for our dinner tonight.

I've been meaning to update you all on Ms. M, but I keep forgetting, and that's actually a good thing.  You see she has returned home and is doing incredibly well, so I almost forget that something so life threatening happened to her not long ago and that I, along with everyone else, really didn't expect her to be here with us today, much less munching on french bread, salad, lasagna, and heart shaped shortbread cookies this afternoon with me!  So for that, I'm very thankful.  And because her son and daughter in law took a leap of faith and helped her move from the nursing home back to her own home, she is happy and thriving!

 

You may have noticed that I've mentioned on more than one occasion lately my belief that you have to sometimes follow your dreams no matter how silly or unrealistic they might seem to others.  Now I'm not talking about spending your children's college fund in order to take singing lessons if you can't carry a tune in a bucket.  I simply mean that if there is something you truly believe you can accomplish but you hesitate out of fear of rejection, or even fear of success, then I hope in some way I can be that mommy bird and shove you out of the comfy confines of the nest.

I'm great at giving advice, although sometimes I'm not so great at taking my own advice, but I'm trying to change all that.  This past year has proven to me that you're never too old to follow your dreams, and that if you wait for the "right" time, you'll be waiting a lifetime, and why would you want to do that?

So today, I took my own little leap of faith.  I was going to keep this to myself, because I don't know quite yet how successful I may be with my little venture, but thanks to an email and some wise words from fellow blogger and creative genius Kelley from The Polished Pebble, I decided to share my crazy dream with all of you.  I've also had wonderful support from Michelle at Emerald Cove, Suzanne of Privet and Holly,  Rebecca of Acanthus and Acorn, Kim of Savvy Southern Style, Kate of Chronicles Of A Country Girl, and Connie of Hartwood Roses.  These women, and especially dear Connie, have given me wonderful support as I chase this dream of mine, so thank you ladies for listening to me wonder, worry, and even whine about what to do lately!

For the last few weeks, I've been working on some fine art photography, the kind of thing you would see hanging in a gallery somewhere.  And I created the pictures you see above and then got up the nerve to send them to a gallery owner, and guess what?!...she liked them!  So after much debate about cost, 'cause it ain't cheap to produce gallery quality prints my friend and these will be on metal, I ordered the 3 photos above this afternoon! 

It was a big investment, but one I really hope will pay off in the long run if they sell.  I may have just created 3 huge pieces of art which will end up gracing the walls of my own home and never end up in a gallery, or I may sell all 3 and go on to create more...who really knows.  But I do know one thing, and I know it beyond a shadow of a doubt, that if I didn't take that leap of faith and see where this crazy road of life will take me, then I'm not really living am I?!  

I never imagined in a million zillion years that someone who has been in the art business for over 30 years would even look at my work, much less consider it (and she hasn't said yes mind you), but I'm glad I was willing to put myself out there and try.  I hope each of you will do the same, no matter how big or small your dream.  I hope you won't settle for "alright," "good enough," or "I could never," and that you'll take your own leap of faith.  You may fall flat on your face, and I might too, but you could be soaring with eagles too...never forget that my friends!!!