“Are You Managing Time or Missing Its Greatest Gift?”

It caught me off guard how deeply it landed. I was reading a short piece “Daily Motivator” by Ralph Marston on "Give Time", just a few simple lines and yet it lingered long after I finished. He wrote about giving time the opportunity to heal, to teach, to transform. Not rushing it. Not forcing it. Just allowing it. And it made me stop and think.  

How often do we treat time as something to manage, rather than something to honor? We chase it, measure it, try to control it but rarely do we pause long enough to recognize it as one of the greatest gifts we’ve been given. And perhaps even more meaningful and the one that make me pause is that it’s one of the greatest gifts we can give.

Three Thoughts to Carry With You

Time reveals what effort alone cannot
We live in a world that celebrates speed, but the most meaningful things in life trust, growth, understanding take time to unfold. You can’t rush significance. It’s built slowly, quietly, often when no one is watching.

Time given is more powerful than anything spoken
There’s something deeply personal about giving someone your time. Your full attention. Your presence. It says, “You matter.” In many cases, that simple act carries more weight than anything we could ever say. This reminds of words from Pops that continue to echo with me today, “Be a good listener.”

Time shapes the legacy we leave behind
At the end of the day, people won’t remember how busy we were. They’ll remember how we showed up. Where we chose to spend our time and more importantly, who we chose to spend it with.

 Samuel, Number One Grandson

A Final Reflection

What if we began to see time not as something slipping away, but as something being entrusted to us? A daily opportunity to invest, to encourage, to make a difference in ways that may seem small in the moment but become significant over time. Because in the end, the true measure of our lives won’t be how much time we had but how intentionally we chose to give it.

 Are You Missing the Most Important Season of Your Life?

It happened just a few mornings ago.  I walked into the studio, coffee in hand, and glanced out the window at a tree I’ve passed a hundred times without thinking. But this time, it stopped me. Just days ago, it was bare, quiet, almost forgotten. And now, without any announcement, it was alive. Soft greens pushing through, light catching new leaves, everything changing without asking permission.

Spring doesn’t arrive with noise. It arrives with evidence and it made me think, how often do we miss the quiet renewal happening in our own lives?  There are seasons in life when things feel still when progress seems slow, when inspiration feels just out of reach, when we wonder if anything is really changing at all.

If you’ve ever felt that way, you’re not alone.  But what if the transformation you’re hoping for isn’t something dramatic or distant, what if it’s already unfolding quietly, just beneath the surface?  Spring reminds us that growth doesn’t always announce itself. It happens in small, steady ways, until one day, you look up and everything is different.

Renewal Begins Before You See It
Long before the first bloom appears, something is already happening beneath the surface. Roots are strengthening. Energy is building. Life is preparing for its moment. The same is true for us. The work you’re doing, the conversations, the effort, the persistence—it may not be visible yet. But that doesn’t mean it’s not meaningful. Growth often happens in places no one else can see.

Beauty Comes from Letting Go of the Old
Spring doesn’t hold on to winter. It doesn’t debate whether it’s time to change. It simply moves forward.  And yet, how often do we hold onto what was old ideas, old doubts, old definitions of ourselves?  Sometimes, the most powerful step toward renewal isn’t adding something new… it’s releasing what no longer serves you.

What You Create Reflects What You See
As an artist, spring has always drawn me in not just for its color, but for its spirit. It’s a season of possibility, of movement, of quiet optimism.  When I paint it, I’m not just capturing what’s in front of me I’m capturing what it represents.  And the same is true for each of us. What we choose to focus on, what we choose to notice and ultimately shapes what we create in our lives. 

Reflection 

Spring isn’t just a season we observe. It’s a reminder we’re meant to live. That no matter how long things have felt still, no matter how quiet the season, renewal is always possible.

The question isn’t whether change is coming.  The question is, are you ready to recognize it when it does?  Because just like that tree outside my window the transformation may already be underway.

“When a Room Looks Right… But Doesn’t Feel Like You”

It happened in a room that had everything going for it—beautiful furniture, perfect lighting, every detail carefully chosen. And yet, something felt missing. The homeowner sensed it too. After a pause, they said, “It looks right… but it doesn’t feel like us.” That moment says more than any design rule ever could.

If you’ve ever stood in a room that looks complete but doesn’t feel complete, you’re not alone. You’re not just trying to decorate a space, you’re trying to create something that reflects who you are, what you’ve lived, what you value, and how you want to feel every time you walk through the door.

And that’s where most people get stuck. The problem isn’t a lack of options; it’s knowing what kind of art actually belongs in your life. Most artwork is chosen to match a space, but the pieces that truly matter do something more. They either help you remember, or they help you express who you are today. When neither of those is present, a room may look finished, but it never quite feels right.

Some Art Helps Us Remember What Matters
There are pieces that take you back to a campus that shaped your life, a landscape that feels familiar, or a moment you never want to lose. These works don’t just hang on a wall; they hold meaning. They quietly reconnect you to where you’ve been and what has shaped you, offering a sense of grounding that only something personal can provide.

Some Art Helps Us Express Who We Are Today
Other pieces do something entirely different. They bring energy into a space. They make a statement the moment you walk in. They reflect how you want to live now not just where you’ve been. These works are bold, present, and forward-looking, shaping the atmosphere of a room and the feeling you carry within it.

The Most Meaningful Spaces Embrace Both
The spaces that feel the most complete aren’t built on one idea alone. They include a piece that grounds you and a piece that inspires you. Together, they create balance, one honoring your story, the other expressing your direction. When combined, they tell a fuller, richer story that is uniquely your own.

Here's my take on it:
Over the years, my own work has evolved from capturing meaningful places in watercolor to exploring bold, contemporary expressions in acrylic. What I’ve come to appreciate is this: there is no single way art should make you feel. Sometimes it should take you back. Sometimes it should push you forward. The key is choosing pieces that speak to where you are—and where you’re going. Because the right piece of art doesn’t just complete a room, it completes the feeling you want to live with every day.

The Princess Who Showed Up

Last week Joy and I attended the spring conference of the Association Executives of North Carolina in Durham. These gatherings are always energizing—filled with opportunities to reconnect with colleagues, hear inspiring ideas, and occasionally discover someone whose story truly stops you in your tracks.

That moment came when Jess Ekstrom stepped onto the stage. I’ll admit, I wasn’t familiar with her work before that morning. But a friend and speaking colleague, Sharon Delaney, leaned over beforehand and said, “You’re going to love this.”  She was right!

 Jess began by sharing an experience from early in her career working with children facing life-threatening illnesses through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. One young girl had a simple dream—to meet Snow White and be treated like a princess for a day at Walt Disney World Resort.

Jess carefully arranged every detail. But just days before the visit, the heartbreaking call came: the little girl had become too ill to travel.

Most people would have quietly canceled the plans and moved on. Jess did something different. She found a princess costume, stepped into the role herself, and brought the magic directly to the child. That moment of compassion stayed with her. Around the same time, she noticed many young girls undergoing cancer treatment had lost their hair but loved wearing headbands. It was a small observation—but one that helped them feel beautiful and normal again.

That insight eventually became the inspiration for Headbands of Hope, the company Jess launched while still in college. Built on a simple idea—for every headband sold, one is donated to a child battling illness—the organization has now delivered millions of headbands to children’s hospitals and raised support for families facing childhood cancer.

As I listened to her story, I couldn’t help but think that Jess Ekstrom is a wonderful example of something I often talk about in my own programs:

There’s an ART to Making a Difference.

First, it begins with Awareness. Jess noticed something others might have missed. A small accessory that helped children feel confident again became the seed of a powerful idea. Many meaningful contributions begin not with grand plans but with simply paying attention.

Second is Resourcefulness. When the little girl could not travel, Jess didn’t allow the dream to disappear. She found a way to bring the experience to the child. That same creative thinking later shaped the business model behind Headbands of Hope—turning compassion into a sustainable mission.

Third is Timing. Ideas come to many people, but few act on them. Jess launched her company from a college dorm room and watched it grow into a national movement. Often the difference between a thought and real impact is the courage to act when the opportunity appears.

Today Jess continues to inspire others through her speaking and her Mic Drop Workshop, encouraging women to share their voices and ideas with the world. Listening to her that morning reminded me that making a difference rarely begins with a grand strategy. More often it starts with a moment of compassion and someone willing to step forward and do something about it.

And sometimes, that simply means showing up dressed as Snow White when a little girl needs a princess.

When Service Brings Strangers to Your Table

The laughter started before the pasta was even served.  Eighteen college students—dusty from a week of construction work, tired from sleeping on air mattresses, but still full of energy—piled into the studio for dinner. They had spent their spring break not on a beach, but in Greensboro helping neighbors they had never met.  By the time the plates of chicken alfredo and baked ziti were passed around, it felt less like hosting strangers and more like welcoming family.  

These students were part of Chi Alpha at the University of Virginia, a Christian campus organization that sends teams on mission trips during spring break. For fifteen years one of those teams has come to Greensboro to work with Community Housing Solutions.

And this group made the most of their week.
They built a ramp for a woman recovering from a stroke.
They rebuilt two decks for elderly homeowners.
They repaired drywall and painted.
They stained ramps built the year before.

Community Housing Solutions depends heavily on volunteers like these. In fact, their most recent report shows 148 homes repaired and 526 volunteers helping neighbors in need across Guilford County. 

But the numbers don’t fully capture what happens during a week like this. What I witnessed around the dinner table told a deeper story.

Three Things I Took Away That Night

Service Shapes the Servant
The students came to help others, but it was clear the experience had changed them too.  When you spend a week building a ramp for someone who can’t walk safely into their own home, the work becomes personal. Service has a way of reminding us that the smallest act of help can restore dignity and independence.

Young People Are Looking for Purpose
What struck me most during dinner was their curiosity. They asked about my life as an artist and about my friendship with Mike Saavedra—the homeless man whose story ultimately inspired the Honor Card program nearly four decades ago.

Their questions revealed something hopeful: young people are not just looking for success. They’re searching for meaning and purpose in their lives.

Community Happens Around the Table
Some of the most meaningful moments came between bites of pasta.  Stories were shared. Laughter filled the room. A group of students who had worked hard all week began reflecting on what they had experienced.  Service had brought them to Greensboro.  But fellowship turned the evening into something special.

A Night I Won’t Forget

Before the evening ended, I had the privilege of congratulating these students on a job well done.  They may not fully realize it yet, but experiences like this often plant seeds that shape the rest of a person’s life.  For me, the evening was a reminder that making a difference doesn’t always begin with a grand plan.  Sometimes it begins with a hammer, a helping hand, and a dinner table full of conversation.