“What Are You Training Your Eye to See?”

I was standing in my studio early one morning, coffee in hand, looking at a canvas that at first glance felt unfinished. Nothing remarkable. Just a suggestion of color, a hint of form. But the longer I stood there, the more began to reveal itself. A line I hadn’t noticed. A relationship between colors that suddenly felt alive. What was once ordinary became full of possibility not because the painting changed, but because I did.

That’s when it struck me, after all these years, the real gift hasn’t just been learning how to paint. It’s been learning how to see.

James Clear, author of Atomic Habits put it beautifully: “Observation is a skill, and like any skill, it can be trained and honed.” And perhaps that’s the quiet truth hiding in plain sight, we are all observing something every day. 

The question is; what are we training ourselves to see?  Over time, I’ve come to realize that awareness isn’t just a concept—it’s a discipline. One that shapes not only our work, but our  outlook, our relationships, and even our sense of purpose.

Here are three reflections worth carrying with you:

You See What You Practice Seeing
If you train your eye to notice what’s missing, what’s broken, or what might go wrong, you’ll always find it. There is no shortage of evidence.

But the same is true in reverse. When you begin to look for moments of possibility a kind gesture, an unexpected opening, a quiet success you start to uncover a different narrative. One that was there all along, simply waiting to be acknowledged.

Awareness Fuels Imagination
As an artist, everything begins with observation. The way light falls across a building. The rhythm of trees against the sky. The subtle emotion in a place that others might pass by without a second glance.

But here’s what I’ve learned: observation isn’t passive, it’s the spark.  The more aware you become of whats around you, the more your imagination has to work with.

Awareness feeds creativity. It gives you the raw material to build something meaningful whether that’s a painting, a business idea, or a better way of serving others.

What You Notice,  You Multiply
There’s a quiet compounding effect to awareness.  When you begin to notice what’s good, what’s working, what’s possible you don’t just feel better you act differently. You move toward opportunity, you respond with gratitude you create momentum.  And over time, those small observations begin to shape a much larger outcome.

A Thought to Carry Forward

Perhaps one of the greatest gifts we’ve been given isn’t just the ability to think or create but the ability to notice. To train our eye not just on what demands attention but on what deserves appreciation.  
Because in the end, the life we experience is often a reflection of what we’ve become skilled at observing.

“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.