The Gift Of Knowing You
There are gifts of many treasures
For both the young and old,
From the tiniest little trinkets
To great boxes filled with gold.
But, put them all together
And they could not stand in lieu,
Of the greatest gift of all
The gift of knowing you.
When your times are filled with troubles
Sadness, grief, or even doubt,
When all those things you planned on
Just aren't turning out.
Just turn and look behind you
From the place at which you stand,
And look for me through the shadows
And reach out for my hand.
I will lift from you your burden
And cry for you your tears,
Bear the pain of all your sorrows
Though it may be for a thousand years.
For in the end I would be happy
To have helped you start anew,
It's a small price to pay
For the gift of knowing you.
- Dave Stout -
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
For Those Lost In 9/11 poem
For Those Lost In 9/11
If I could catch a rainbow
I would do it just for you,
And share with you its beauty
On the days you're feeling blue
If I could build a mountain
You could call your very own,
A place to find serenity,
A place to be alone
If I could take your troubles
I would toss them in the sea,
But all these things I'm finding
Are impossible for me
I cannot build a mountain,
Or catch a rainbow fair,
But let me be what I know best,
A friend who's always there
- Author Unknown -
If I could catch a rainbow
I would do it just for you,
And share with you its beauty
On the days you're feeling blue
If I could build a mountain
You could call your very own,
A place to find serenity,
A place to be alone
If I could take your troubles
I would toss them in the sea,
But all these things I'm finding
Are impossible for me
I cannot build a mountain,
Or catch a rainbow fair,
But let me be what I know best,
A friend who's always there
- Author Unknown -
A Friend's Greeting poem
A Friend's Greeting
I'd like to be the sort of friend that
you have been to me;
I'd like to be the help that
you've been always glad to be;
I'd like to mean as much to you
each minute of the day
As you have meant, old friend of mine,
to me along the way.
I'd like to do the big things and
the splendid things for you,
To brush the gray from out your skies
and leave them only blue;
I'd like to say the kindly things that
I so oft have heard,
And feel that I could rouse your soul
the way that mine you've stirred.
I'd like to give you back the joy
that you have given me,
Yet that were wishing you a need
I hope will never be;
I'd like to make you feel as rich as I,
who travel on
Undaunted in the darkest hours with you to
lean upon.
I'm wishing at this time that I
could but repay
A portion of the gladness that
you've strewn along my way;
And could I have one wish this year,
this only would it be:
I'd like to be the sort of friend
that you have been to me.
- Edgar A Guest -
I'd like to be the sort of friend that
you have been to me;
I'd like to be the help that
you've been always glad to be;
I'd like to mean as much to you
each minute of the day
As you have meant, old friend of mine,
to me along the way.
I'd like to do the big things and
the splendid things for you,
To brush the gray from out your skies
and leave them only blue;
I'd like to say the kindly things that
I so oft have heard,
And feel that I could rouse your soul
the way that mine you've stirred.
I'd like to give you back the joy
that you have given me,
Yet that were wishing you a need
I hope will never be;
I'd like to make you feel as rich as I,
who travel on
Undaunted in the darkest hours with you to
lean upon.
I'm wishing at this time that I
could but repay
A portion of the gladness that
you've strewn along my way;
And could I have one wish this year,
this only would it be:
I'd like to be the sort of friend
that you have been to me.
- Edgar A Guest -
The Miracle Of Friendship poem
The Miracle Of Friendship
There is a miracle called Friendship
that dwells within the heart
and you don't know how it happens
or when it even starts.
But the happiness it brings you
always gives a special lift
and you realize that Friendship
is God's most precious gift.
- Jean Kyler McManus -
There is a miracle called Friendship
that dwells within the heart
and you don't know how it happens
or when it even starts.
But the happiness it brings you
always gives a special lift
and you realize that Friendship
is God's most precious gift.
- Jean Kyler McManus -
My Love... Everlasting poem
My Love... Everlasting
You were a dream...
A dream that filled my thoughts
and my loneliest nights.
You were the dream I held on to,
the dream my heart longed to one day have.
You were the dream that made me smile...
an escape from my reality,
a fantasy I longed to one day come true.
Once only my dream, my escape, my fantasy,
came true the day when I first saw you.
My dream that used to be
is now my reality.
A fantasy waiting for its happy ending
is now a fairytale come true.
Once my only escape...
is now the comfort that I live for.
Together we have been through the heartaches...
the pain of walking away or being left behind.
Every new road we had to take
because of the choices we had to make,
only paved the road
that brought us closer to one another.
Life may not be easy,
with all the burdens and drama
that life hands to us,
but when you find someone
to share your life with,
no drama is hard to handle...
no burden is hard to bare.
When you have someone...
the one that you've dreamed of...
then your life becomes the escape you both take
to get away from the reality that surrounds.
I know because...
I found the love...
my lifetime partner
my soul mate
in YOU!
- Jenny C Phillips -
You were a dream...
A dream that filled my thoughts
and my loneliest nights.
You were the dream I held on to,
the dream my heart longed to one day have.
You were the dream that made me smile...
an escape from my reality,
a fantasy I longed to one day come true.
Once only my dream, my escape, my fantasy,
came true the day when I first saw you.
My dream that used to be
is now my reality.
A fantasy waiting for its happy ending
is now a fairytale come true.
Once my only escape...
is now the comfort that I live for.
Together we have been through the heartaches...
the pain of walking away or being left behind.
Every new road we had to take
because of the choices we had to make,
only paved the road
that brought us closer to one another.
Life may not be easy,
with all the burdens and drama
that life hands to us,
but when you find someone
to share your life with,
no drama is hard to handle...
no burden is hard to bare.
When you have someone...
the one that you've dreamed of...
then your life becomes the escape you both take
to get away from the reality that surrounds.
I know because...
I found the love...
my lifetime partner
my soul mate
in YOU!
- Jenny C Phillips -
The Reason Is You poem
The Reason Is You
You're the reason for these butterflies
That are fluttering uncontrollable inside of me
These butterflies will never calm
They've taken over my whole body
You're the reason for this smile
That brightens my whole face
This smile will never frown
You've unknowingly became my all
You make me feel alive once again
You've erased my past with just a touch
Chased my fears with just one glance
You broke my mold with that first kiss
I thought my happiness was forbidden
Until you took my world and killed my demons
Read into all my deepest dreams
And gave them beautiful wings
You're the reason I believe in love
- Ashlei Dankenbring -
You're the reason for these butterflies
That are fluttering uncontrollable inside of me
These butterflies will never calm
They've taken over my whole body
You're the reason for this smile
That brightens my whole face
This smile will never frown
You've unknowingly became my all
You make me feel alive once again
You've erased my past with just a touch
Chased my fears with just one glance
You broke my mold with that first kiss
I thought my happiness was forbidden
Until you took my world and killed my demons
Read into all my deepest dreams
And gave them beautiful wings
You're the reason I believe in love
- Ashlei Dankenbring -
Our Second First Kiss poem
We dwell on the past, while living the present
But I admit, the past was unpleasant
Full of ups and downs, less pleasure more pain
We wished for the sun, but only got rain
We both made mistakes, put pain in our hearts
But here we are again, promising to never part
Counting our blessings and letting go of the past
Starting all over and making it last
Feelings and memories flow deep in my mind
Of those days our love was genuine and kind
Holding you close, feeling your skin
You look into my eyes and make my head spin
Those feelings are back, but stronger than ever
I know you're the one I wanna hold on to forever
We both smile again, nothing's better than this
Kissing you again was like our second first kiss.
- Giselle Simental -
But I admit, the past was unpleasant
Full of ups and downs, less pleasure more pain
We wished for the sun, but only got rain
We both made mistakes, put pain in our hearts
But here we are again, promising to never part
Counting our blessings and letting go of the past
Starting all over and making it last
Feelings and memories flow deep in my mind
Of those days our love was genuine and kind
Holding you close, feeling your skin
You look into my eyes and make my head spin
Those feelings are back, but stronger than ever
I know you're the one I wanna hold on to forever
We both smile again, nothing's better than this
Kissing you again was like our second first kiss.
- Giselle Simental -
Timeless Valentine poem
Timeless Valentine
As time goes by from year to year,
One thing is surely true, my dear;
Though decades come and decades go,
Just seeing you sets me aglow.
Time shifts my body; I start to sag,
When I pass a mirror, it can make me gag.
My joints all ache; I can hardly move;
Still a smile from you, and I'm in the groove.
Getting older can be a pain,
But with you along, I can't complain.
Despite the things that we go through,
I know I'll never stop loving you.
Your loving heart turns life to play,
As we laugh at time from day to day.
So I write this poem, and I'll hang my sign,
Saying, "Always Be My Valentine."
- Priya Shroff -
As time goes by from year to year,
One thing is surely true, my dear;
Though decades come and decades go,
Just seeing you sets me aglow.
Time shifts my body; I start to sag,
When I pass a mirror, it can make me gag.
My joints all ache; I can hardly move;
Still a smile from you, and I'm in the groove.
Getting older can be a pain,
But with you along, I can't complain.
Despite the things that we go through,
I know I'll never stop loving you.
Your loving heart turns life to play,
As we laugh at time from day to day.
So I write this poem, and I'll hang my sign,
Saying, "Always Be My Valentine."
- Priya Shroff -
A Valentine's Wish poem
A Valentine's Wish
To the one who owns this heart of mine
Comes this lovely wish dear valentine
That you'll feel special all day through
Because I think the world of you!
- Joanne Griffiths -
To the one who owns this heart of mine
Comes this lovely wish dear valentine
That you'll feel special all day through
Because I think the world of you!
- Joanne Griffiths -
Love Does Separate Us (L'Amour Nous Sépare) poem
Love Does Separate Us (L'Amour Nous Sépare)
Through all time, love has strung beautiful art,
Does love now weave this vision in my heart?
Have two stars been taken straight from the sky,
Do they look back at me as I look into your eyes?
Love does separate us in lands so far,
Love does make this a trial so hard.
May I ask for one night to shrink this land,
May I have you just one night, just to reach your hand?
If my wish I may have not, let us kiss with our minds,
Let our words carry us together on winds of divine.
Love does separate us in lands far away,
But if love does ring true, I'll get to you some way.
- Joshua Blackwelder -
Through all time, love has strung beautiful art,
Does love now weave this vision in my heart?
Have two stars been taken straight from the sky,
Do they look back at me as I look into your eyes?
Love does separate us in lands so far,
Love does make this a trial so hard.
May I ask for one night to shrink this land,
May I have you just one night, just to reach your hand?
If my wish I may have not, let us kiss with our minds,
Let our words carry us together on winds of divine.
Love does separate us in lands far away,
But if love does ring true, I'll get to you some way.
- Joshua Blackwelder -
Beauty Beyond Memory poem
Beauty Beyond Memory
When memories cry
When memories fade and die
I'm going to grow old
My passion
My fiery passion
My flaming lust is going to grow cold
But my heart will always flow with a molten, love lava
In your name this lava flows through my veins
My heart beats for you
My heart will never cease to beat your name
When I lose my charm and my glamour
When I lose my physique and my game
When I'm old and wrinkly
When I cannot look myself in the mirror
I'll still stare at you
When memories fade
When I forget the days of the week
And the months of the year
When I mix names
And faces
The memory of you
Will always shine bright and clear
Your image
Has been burnt to my memory
I will never forget your radiance and beauty
I will die happy
With the image of your sweet smile
On my mind
And love
On my lips and in my heart
- Hamzah Gani -
When memories cry
When memories fade and die
I'm going to grow old
My passion
My fiery passion
My flaming lust is going to grow cold
But my heart will always flow with a molten, love lava
In your name this lava flows through my veins
My heart beats for you
My heart will never cease to beat your name
When I lose my charm and my glamour
When I lose my physique and my game
When I'm old and wrinkly
When I cannot look myself in the mirror
I'll still stare at you
When memories fade
When I forget the days of the week
And the months of the year
When I mix names
And faces
The memory of you
Will always shine bright and clear
Your image
Has been burnt to my memory
I will never forget your radiance and beauty
I will die happy
With the image of your sweet smile
On my mind
And love
On my lips and in my heart
- Hamzah Gani -
Thank You poem
Thank You
The sun sets
Upon the golden sand
We sit together
Hand in hand
We gently embrace
And look into each other's eyes
I wonder if you are
An angel in disguise
You hold me
Like there's no tomorrow
I suddenly forget
The past sorrow
I kiss your soft lips
And you kiss mine
I never knew
Loving someone could be this fine
You pick me up
And carry me to our room
Oh how a love can blossom
And a heart can bloom.
Your touch is so gentle
But your hands so strong
How could a love like this
Ever go wrong?
My heart is beating
200 times a minute
Because my love
You are in it
The sound of your heartbeat
All through the night
We fall asleep in each other's arms
And wake to the morning light.
I look into your eyes
And this is when
I say "Thank You"
For teaching me to love again.
- Jody Perrin -
The sun sets
Upon the golden sand
We sit together
Hand in hand
We gently embrace
And look into each other's eyes
I wonder if you are
An angel in disguise
You hold me
Like there's no tomorrow
I suddenly forget
The past sorrow
I kiss your soft lips
And you kiss mine
I never knew
Loving someone could be this fine
You pick me up
And carry me to our room
Oh how a love can blossom
And a heart can bloom.
Your touch is so gentle
But your hands so strong
How could a love like this
Ever go wrong?
My heart is beating
200 times a minute
Because my love
You are in it
The sound of your heartbeat
All through the night
We fall asleep in each other's arms
And wake to the morning light.
I look into your eyes
And this is when
I say "Thank You"
For teaching me to love again.
- Jody Perrin -
Missing Treasure poem
Missing Treasure
The missing treasure of this sinking vessel
On the seafloor, where it would nestle
Against the base for years it'd lay
Patiently waiting for that special day
When I would come to claim my prize
Hoping the chest to my surprise
Would hold the heart that I've been missing
The talks, the laughs, the hugs, the kissing
That day has come and now I'll find
What lies ahead, no longer behind
I've searched through darkness, to the deepest sea
And found that chest staring back at me
What lies inside, I do not know
Unlock the latch and open slow
I peek within, with nerves I'm shaking
The prize inside could stop the aching
Cause within the chest that I've searched for
I found the heart and even more
The talks, the laughs, they all were there
The hugs, the kisses, for me to share
The most beautiful treasure I've finally seized
Did not imagine I could be so pleased
I searched so long through the deep sea blue
I love you baby, my prize is you
- Jordan Schnarr -
The missing treasure of this sinking vessel
On the seafloor, where it would nestle
Against the base for years it'd lay
Patiently waiting for that special day
When I would come to claim my prize
Hoping the chest to my surprise
Would hold the heart that I've been missing
The talks, the laughs, the hugs, the kissing
That day has come and now I'll find
What lies ahead, no longer behind
I've searched through darkness, to the deepest sea
And found that chest staring back at me
What lies inside, I do not know
Unlock the latch and open slow
I peek within, with nerves I'm shaking
The prize inside could stop the aching
Cause within the chest that I've searched for
I found the heart and even more
The talks, the laughs, they all were there
The hugs, the kisses, for me to share
The most beautiful treasure I've finally seized
Did not imagine I could be so pleased
I searched so long through the deep sea blue
I love you baby, my prize is you
- Jordan Schnarr -
Saying I Do poem
Saying I Do
Saying I do
Is more than saying I love you
It goes beyond describing how my love is true
Because words are not enough to express my love for you.
Saying I do
Is like saying I am here for you
That I am ready to see what the future may bring
Because we are together in everything.
Saying I do
Is saying I am now complete because of you
That the pieces of the puzzle called "my life"
Becomes a beautiful picture called "our love".
And now I am saying "I DO"
As I walk down the aisle with you
This is a lifetime promise that I will hold
A promise I make until we grow old.
- M. Pascual -
Saying I do
Is more than saying I love you
It goes beyond describing how my love is true
Because words are not enough to express my love for you.
Saying I do
Is like saying I am here for you
That I am ready to see what the future may bring
Because we are together in everything.
Saying I do
Is saying I am now complete because of you
That the pieces of the puzzle called "my life"
Becomes a beautiful picture called "our love".
And now I am saying "I DO"
As I walk down the aisle with you
This is a lifetime promise that I will hold
A promise I make until we grow old.
- M. Pascual -
Blessed poem
Blessed
How blessed I am that you are in my life
Not a day goes by when I do not think of you
You make everything alright
To you I do not have to prove myself
For you know me
I love you
How blessed I am that you are in my life
How honoured I am to be a part of yours
Memories made and shared
With you the one I love
My friend, my lover, my queen
'Til the end
- Moses TuTesigensi -
How blessed I am that you are in my life
Not a day goes by when I do not think of you
You make everything alright
To you I do not have to prove myself
For you know me
I love you
How blessed I am that you are in my life
How honoured I am to be a part of yours
Memories made and shared
With you the one I love
My friend, my lover, my queen
'Til the end
- Moses TuTesigensi -
Love Letter poem
Love Letter
A fire that is carefully stoked and tended will not burn out.
It will blaze so brightly that its warmth lingers in your heart.
It will beckon your tired soul and embrace you in its radiance.
The familiar smell of its smoke can bring a wistful smile,
and the occasional blast of fireworks can take your breath away.
Its sizzle can enthrall you; its flickering flames entrance you.
The glowing embers provide comforting heat,
and the knowledge that a subtle movement or gentle breeze
can rekindle a bonfire.
My love, the spark that ignited the day we met
remains an eternal flame.
- Lori Naumann -
A fire that is carefully stoked and tended will not burn out.
It will blaze so brightly that its warmth lingers in your heart.
It will beckon your tired soul and embrace you in its radiance.
The familiar smell of its smoke can bring a wistful smile,
and the occasional blast of fireworks can take your breath away.
Its sizzle can enthrall you; its flickering flames entrance you.
The glowing embers provide comforting heat,
and the knowledge that a subtle movement or gentle breeze
can rekindle a bonfire.
My love, the spark that ignited the day we met
remains an eternal flame.
- Lori Naumann -
A Heart Remembers poem
A Heart Remembers
A memory burned within, from a heartfelt second long ago
a moment... one single moment, that only a heart can remember
a fleeting thought, gone astray, but the feeling looms inside you
a boy and a girl... so far apart, so long the days
that it took their hearts to remind them...
how fortunate they are, that a heart...
can return a fleeting thought,
one single moment, or a memory burned within...
so they can now live as one
as only inside true love, can such a past remain
until... it's found again
- Desi D. Williams -
A memory burned within, from a heartfelt second long ago
a moment... one single moment, that only a heart can remember
a fleeting thought, gone astray, but the feeling looms inside you
a boy and a girl... so far apart, so long the days
that it took their hearts to remind them...
how fortunate they are, that a heart...
can return a fleeting thought,
one single moment, or a memory burned within...
so they can now live as one
as only inside true love, can such a past remain
until... it's found again
- Desi D. Williams -
One Fateful Day poem
One Fateful Day
No river's span is quite as vast
No mountain's reach so high.
No rose's scent is quite as sweet
As the love I hold inside.
Every time I see your face and
Every time you smile,
Every time I kiss your lips,
My love grows all the while
I’m the luckiest man to walk the earth
To know a love like yours
Loving is so easy now
You’ve opened my heart’s doors.
And I'll love you 'til my life has ceased
And still more with my soul
Because that fateful day we met,
My heart you forever stole.
- Ryan Brennan -
No river's span is quite as vast
No mountain's reach so high.
No rose's scent is quite as sweet
As the love I hold inside.
Every time I see your face and
Every time you smile,
Every time I kiss your lips,
My love grows all the while
I’m the luckiest man to walk the earth
To know a love like yours
Loving is so easy now
You’ve opened my heart’s doors.
And I'll love you 'til my life has ceased
And still more with my soul
Because that fateful day we met,
My heart you forever stole.
- Ryan Brennan -
Young Love poem
Young Love
Love is patient, love is kind,
And what our loves express is true.
No amount of tragedy can tear
Or break the love I have for you.
Time has healed our many wounds,
But has not erased the memory.
But we'll hold on, we'll stay together.
We will get through this, you and me.
Though we are young and still learning
About ourselves, our world today,
In my heart, I'll always love you,
And in my heart you'll always stay.
As days go by, as time progresses,
We will change, mature, and always grow.
But as we grow, as we reminisce,
There is one thing I will always know.
My love for you will never falter,
Never cease, for it's always true.
With love comes patience, but it's worth the wait,
To share my unending love with you.
- Jessica Wheaton -
Love is patient, love is kind,
And what our loves express is true.
No amount of tragedy can tear
Or break the love I have for you.
Time has healed our many wounds,
But has not erased the memory.
But we'll hold on, we'll stay together.
We will get through this, you and me.
Though we are young and still learning
About ourselves, our world today,
In my heart, I'll always love you,
And in my heart you'll always stay.
As days go by, as time progresses,
We will change, mature, and always grow.
But as we grow, as we reminisce,
There is one thing I will always know.
My love for you will never falter,
Never cease, for it's always true.
With love comes patience, but it's worth the wait,
To share my unending love with you.
- Jessica Wheaton -
When I Saw Your Eyes poem
When I Saw Your Eyes
When you came to your door tonight,
And your beautiful eyes gazed at me
From the darkness within,
The world around me came to a stop,
For just a few seconds,
As I saw the love from within you.
You looked at me with your warm smile,
Your black hair around your face,
And whispered softly, "hi baby",
And once again,
I was at your mercy.
For when you look into my soul
And I hear the sound of your sweet voice,
My heart opens to you my love,
With all of my dreams now fulfilled.
I never knew that a love like this
Could ever exist,
A love that consumes me,
A love so powerful,
And so overwhelming,
That I fear if I were without it,
My heart would no longer have a meaning
To its existence,
For the love that flows through it now,
Is what keeps me alive,
Keeps me whole.
As I gaze into your eyes my love,
Down into the depths of your very being,
I can see the love you feel for me,
A love as strong as my own,
A love that fills me so full of emotion,
So full of hope for the future,
That I pray I will spend the rest of my days,
Gazing into your eyes.
- Jim Caspary -
When you came to your door tonight,
And your beautiful eyes gazed at me
From the darkness within,
The world around me came to a stop,
For just a few seconds,
As I saw the love from within you.
You looked at me with your warm smile,
Your black hair around your face,
And whispered softly, "hi baby",
And once again,
I was at your mercy.
For when you look into my soul
And I hear the sound of your sweet voice,
My heart opens to you my love,
With all of my dreams now fulfilled.
I never knew that a love like this
Could ever exist,
A love that consumes me,
A love so powerful,
And so overwhelming,
That I fear if I were without it,
My heart would no longer have a meaning
To its existence,
For the love that flows through it now,
Is what keeps me alive,
Keeps me whole.
As I gaze into your eyes my love,
Down into the depths of your very being,
I can see the love you feel for me,
A love as strong as my own,
A love that fills me so full of emotion,
So full of hope for the future,
That I pray I will spend the rest of my days,
Gazing into your eyes.
- Jim Caspary -
My Vow To You
My Vow To You
I know you're going crazy,
I've been there too.
I can see how the weight is making your knees bend,
Let me take some of it from you.
Don't keep yourself closed off,
I am here for you to open up and let go.
There is so much you can't forget or forgive,
Let me help you cope, we can work things out together.
I hear the pain in your voice,
You need me now.
Don't worry, I'll move heaven and hell to get there.
You can't talk, you won't talk about it,
I understand.
Put your worries in my hands.
Lay your head down,
And believe that I will do anything to stop your tears.
You're ready to give up, you've stopped,
I want to be able to give you the strength to keep going.
Link arms with me, Let's move on,
As one living, breathing, loving, being.
Know that you can put faith in me.
I will be your rock, I will be your dwelling,
I am here with you, for you always.
- Alissa Krull -
I know you're going crazy,
I've been there too.
I can see how the weight is making your knees bend,
Let me take some of it from you.
Don't keep yourself closed off,
I am here for you to open up and let go.
There is so much you can't forget or forgive,
Let me help you cope, we can work things out together.
I hear the pain in your voice,
You need me now.
Don't worry, I'll move heaven and hell to get there.
You can't talk, you won't talk about it,
I understand.
Put your worries in my hands.
Lay your head down,
And believe that I will do anything to stop your tears.
You're ready to give up, you've stopped,
I want to be able to give you the strength to keep going.
Link arms with me, Let's move on,
As one living, breathing, loving, being.
Know that you can put faith in me.
I will be your rock, I will be your dwelling,
I am here with you, for you always.
- Alissa Krull -
A Perfect Moment poem
A Perfect Moment
Beautiful eyes open across a pillow top,
It seems for this moment time will stop,
The earth slows and sounds wane,
A frozen moment without stain.
Your body close to mine,
Our hearts beat in time,
With a smile of simple pleasure,
This moment should last forever.
Some say perfection is unattainable
For most things that's explainable,
But in your arms and with your heart's affection
I have found a brief moment of perfection.
- Ian Pires -
Beautiful eyes open across a pillow top,
It seems for this moment time will stop,
The earth slows and sounds wane,
A frozen moment without stain.
Your body close to mine,
Our hearts beat in time,
With a smile of simple pleasure,
This moment should last forever.
Some say perfection is unattainable
For most things that's explainable,
But in your arms and with your heart's affection
I have found a brief moment of perfection.
- Ian Pires -
Whispers in the Wind poem
Whispers in the Wind
Your whispers are gentle echoes
that sway ardent winds of harmony
and in the symphony of life
each word is wrapped in rhapsody.
We travel separate roads of life
gather flowers along the way and
share the music of their fragrance.
We exist between two winds,
I here under a pale moon
you, the other end of somewhere.
Sometimes when wind blows through trees
I pause to listen and in its passing
I hear the tenderness of your voice
that fills the spectrum of my soul.
You are the chime of warm rain,
the moon that glows through the trees
and within the luster of evening
your aura fills the scene.
I hear the whispers of the wind
see the stars shine in the sky,
but I hold the sunrise in my pocket.
Dance with me within the wind,
then just let me love you.
- Orania Hamilton -
Your whispers are gentle echoes
that sway ardent winds of harmony
and in the symphony of life
each word is wrapped in rhapsody.
We travel separate roads of life
gather flowers along the way and
share the music of their fragrance.
We exist between two winds,
I here under a pale moon
you, the other end of somewhere.
Sometimes when wind blows through trees
I pause to listen and in its passing
I hear the tenderness of your voice
that fills the spectrum of my soul.
You are the chime of warm rain,
the moon that glows through the trees
and within the luster of evening
your aura fills the scene.
I hear the whispers of the wind
see the stars shine in the sky,
but I hold the sunrise in my pocket.
Dance with me within the wind,
then just let me love you.
- Orania Hamilton -
Key To My Heart poem
Key To My Heart
I had closed the door upon my heart
And wouldn't let anyone in,
I had trusted and loved only to be hurt
But, that would never happen again.
I had locked the door and tossed the key
As hard, and as far as I could,
Love would never enter there again,
My heart was closed for good.
Then you came into my life
And made me change my mind,
Just when I thought that tiny key
was impossible to find.
That's when you held out your hand
And proved to me I was wrong,
Inside your palm was the key to my heart...
You had it all along.
- Marsha Hoyt -
I had closed the door upon my heart
And wouldn't let anyone in,
I had trusted and loved only to be hurt
But, that would never happen again.
I had locked the door and tossed the key
As hard, and as far as I could,
Love would never enter there again,
My heart was closed for good.
Then you came into my life
And made me change my mind,
Just when I thought that tiny key
was impossible to find.
That's when you held out your hand
And proved to me I was wrong,
Inside your palm was the key to my heart...
You had it all along.
- Marsha Hoyt -
Inside Of Me poems
Inside Of Me
If you could see inside my soul
see inside my heart
you would know how I long for you
whenever we're apart
If you could see inside my head
if thoughts were things to see
you would know how I cherish you
how much you mean to me
In all the ways you comfort me
the way you hold me near
the way you know just what to do
to chase away my fear
The sparkle in your beautiful eyes
your smile, laugh, your touch
are just a few of many reasons
I love you oh so much
Knowing I can talk to you
about any and everything
and knowing together we will get
through whatever life may bring
I could search the whole world over
and this I know is true
I would never find another love
like the love I found with you
Though with each new day, each sunrise
we can't know what's in store
there is one thing I know for sure
each day I love you more
So if you could see inside my head
if thoughts were things to see
you would know I blessed I feel
to have you here with me
- Written and owned by Jay Scott -
If you could see inside my soul
see inside my heart
you would know how I long for you
whenever we're apart
If you could see inside my head
if thoughts were things to see
you would know how I cherish you
how much you mean to me
In all the ways you comfort me
the way you hold me near
the way you know just what to do
to chase away my fear
The sparkle in your beautiful eyes
your smile, laugh, your touch
are just a few of many reasons
I love you oh so much
Knowing I can talk to you
about any and everything
and knowing together we will get
through whatever life may bring
I could search the whole world over
and this I know is true
I would never find another love
like the love I found with you
Though with each new day, each sunrise
we can't know what's in store
there is one thing I know for sure
each day I love you more
So if you could see inside my head
if thoughts were things to see
you would know I blessed I feel
to have you here with me
- Written and owned by Jay Scott -
Cinderella poem
Cinderella
I’m standing on the stairs in a magnificent hall
Wearing the dress that I bought for the ball
It’s long and flowing, sparkling white
My tiara of diamonds shines in the light
At the bottom of the stairs you’re waiting for me
And I gracefully float down for all to see
You take my hand and touch my face
You’re the only one I notice in the expansive space
We’re now dancing in shadows of flickering light
Holding each other close, holding each other tight
You kiss my neck and then touch my face
Then kiss my lips in a loving embrace
Time stands still whilst we are together
Feels so good, it seems like forever
I look at the clock, that cannot be right
But the bells start to chime, confirming midnight
But there’s no need to leave
From the ball tonight
I’ll be with you my prince
For the rest of our life.
- Becci Iddon -
I’m standing on the stairs in a magnificent hall
Wearing the dress that I bought for the ball
It’s long and flowing, sparkling white
My tiara of diamonds shines in the light
At the bottom of the stairs you’re waiting for me
And I gracefully float down for all to see
You take my hand and touch my face
You’re the only one I notice in the expansive space
We’re now dancing in shadows of flickering light
Holding each other close, holding each other tight
You kiss my neck and then touch my face
Then kiss my lips in a loving embrace
Time stands still whilst we are together
Feels so good, it seems like forever
I look at the clock, that cannot be right
But the bells start to chime, confirming midnight
But there’s no need to leave
From the ball tonight
I’ll be with you my prince
For the rest of our life.
- Becci Iddon -
Everytime I Look At The Stars poem
Everytime I Look At The Stars
I gazed in your eyes,
Such a beautiful blue;
My heart whispered to me,
And that’s right when I knew;
The waves had ceased crashing,
On the sand at our feet;
Time had stopped passing,
My search was complete;
I finally discovered,
What I'd known all along;
A mystery uncovered,
That just couldn't be wrong;
It wasn't our first kiss,
Nor' the day that we met;
But I realized something,
I will never forget;
With the stars shining brightly,
From high up above;
I'd one word to describe it,
That word, is love.
I knew then these feelings,
For my sweetheart were true;
The man of my dreams,
And my soulmate, is you.
I think of it every time,
That I look at the stars;
This memory is mine,
But that moment was
OURS.
- Stephanie Lumley -
I gazed in your eyes,
Such a beautiful blue;
My heart whispered to me,
And that’s right when I knew;
The waves had ceased crashing,
On the sand at our feet;
Time had stopped passing,
My search was complete;
I finally discovered,
What I'd known all along;
A mystery uncovered,
That just couldn't be wrong;
It wasn't our first kiss,
Nor' the day that we met;
But I realized something,
I will never forget;
With the stars shining brightly,
From high up above;
I'd one word to describe it,
That word, is love.
I knew then these feelings,
For my sweetheart were true;
The man of my dreams,
And my soulmate, is you.
I think of it every time,
That I look at the stars;
This memory is mine,
But that moment was
OURS.
- Stephanie Lumley -
When I First Looked Into Your Eyes poem
When I First Looked Into Your Eyes
When first I looked into your eyes
each breath became a thousand sighs.
My heart drummed out a thunder beat
I glowed with joy from head to feet.
The hand of love had touched my soul,
as the bell of destiny began to toll.
The tide of love began to rise,
the world was filled with summer skies.
My sodden clouds of cold and grey
glowed with gold, then wisped away.
A brilliant rainbow arched across,
as waves of love began to toss.
The air was filled with lovebird cries,
when I first looked into your eyes.
When I first looked into your eyes,
all time and space were paralyzed
And in that instant, I was shown
a universe I had never known.
I dwell there still, in Paradise,
when I look into your eyes.
- Faith Mattke -
When first I looked into your eyes
each breath became a thousand sighs.
My heart drummed out a thunder beat
I glowed with joy from head to feet.
The hand of love had touched my soul,
as the bell of destiny began to toll.
The tide of love began to rise,
the world was filled with summer skies.
My sodden clouds of cold and grey
glowed with gold, then wisped away.
A brilliant rainbow arched across,
as waves of love began to toss.
The air was filled with lovebird cries,
when I first looked into your eyes.
When I first looked into your eyes,
all time and space were paralyzed
And in that instant, I was shown
a universe I had never known.
I dwell there still, in Paradise,
when I look into your eyes.
- Faith Mattke -
One Special Night poem
One Special Night
As I sit here gazing out the window,
Instead of working, I’m daydreaming of you...
And wondering if while you’re in your own world,
You’re thinking of me too.
I reminisce about the day we met and how you made me feel,
Looking at the glowing smile on your face,
Staring into your dreamy blue eyes,
Your smell, your touch, your warm embrace
What a special night that was...
And now, I’m starting to feel that warmth inside,
Like nothing or no one else can make me feel...
Butterflies, a constant smile, happy thoughts,
Looking forward to the next time we meet.
What lies ahead, down the road to love?
Can it possibly be what I’ve been hoping for?
All my goals, dreams, passions, hopes...
Glaring now before me with great anticipation.
No one knows what tomorrow brings...
One can only wish and believe...
I have abounding faith that God will take care of me,
And bring the right person into my life.
Could it be you?
Time will tell...
I feel a special bond starting between us,
And so I’m truly hopeful that it is (you).
- Linda R. Houle -
As I sit here gazing out the window,
Instead of working, I’m daydreaming of you...
And wondering if while you’re in your own world,
You’re thinking of me too.
I reminisce about the day we met and how you made me feel,
Looking at the glowing smile on your face,
Staring into your dreamy blue eyes,
Your smell, your touch, your warm embrace
What a special night that was...
And now, I’m starting to feel that warmth inside,
Like nothing or no one else can make me feel...
Butterflies, a constant smile, happy thoughts,
Looking forward to the next time we meet.
What lies ahead, down the road to love?
Can it possibly be what I’ve been hoping for?
All my goals, dreams, passions, hopes...
Glaring now before me with great anticipation.
No one knows what tomorrow brings...
One can only wish and believe...
I have abounding faith that God will take care of me,
And bring the right person into my life.
Could it be you?
Time will tell...
I feel a special bond starting between us,
And so I’m truly hopeful that it is (you).
- Linda R. Houle -
The Way You Make Me Feel poem
The Way You Make Me Feel
You make me feel special,
You make me feel new,
You make me feel loved,
With everything you do.
You hold me close when I am sad.
You wipe the tears from my face.
Every time we are together,
It seems like the perfect place.
My eyes light up when you enter a room.
I smile when we are together.
No matter how bad things are,
You always make them better.
I love the way you kiss me,
The way you hold me tight.
I love the way you touch me,
I could be with you all night.
I love the way you can make me laugh
For absolutely no reason at all.
I love how no matter what I do,
You will be there to catch me when I fall.
I just want you to know,
That even though we sometimes fight,
I will always love you!
No matter what, day or night.
- Amanda Standridge -
You make me feel special,
You make me feel new,
You make me feel loved,
With everything you do.
You hold me close when I am sad.
You wipe the tears from my face.
Every time we are together,
It seems like the perfect place.
My eyes light up when you enter a room.
I smile when we are together.
No matter how bad things are,
You always make them better.
I love the way you kiss me,
The way you hold me tight.
I love the way you touch me,
I could be with you all night.
I love the way you can make me laugh
For absolutely no reason at all.
I love how no matter what I do,
You will be there to catch me when I fall.
I just want you to know,
That even though we sometimes fight,
I will always love you!
No matter what, day or night.
- Amanda Standridge -
One Year Of Happiness poem
One Year Of Happiness
One year of holding hands
One year of hugging,
One year of laughing,
One year of cuddling.
One year of loving
One year of kissing
One year of touching
One year of romancing.
One year of your love
One year of my love,
One year of our love
One year of true love.
Baby one year with you
Is a year of happiness,
A year of passion,
A year of joy,
A year blessed.
- Melissa Joseph -
One year of holding hands
One year of hugging,
One year of laughing,
One year of cuddling.
One year of loving
One year of kissing
One year of touching
One year of romancing.
One year of your love
One year of my love,
One year of our love
One year of true love.
Baby one year with you
Is a year of happiness,
A year of passion,
A year of joy,
A year blessed.
- Melissa Joseph -
You And I poem
You And I
You and I are connected
in a way that goes beyond romance,
beyond friendship,
beyond what we've ever had before.
It has defied time, distance,
and changes in ourselves
and in our lives.
It has defied every explanation.
Except one:
Pure and simply, we're soul mates.
I can't explain, I just feel it.
It's there in the way my spirits lift
whenever we talk.
The sound of your voice brings me home,
in a way I can't explain.
It's in the delight I feel, when we laugh
at exactly the same things.
When I'm with you,
it's like a tiny piece of the universe
shifts into place.
A place it's supposed to be,
and all is right with the world.
These things and so many more,
have made me understand
that this is a once in a lifetime,
forever connection.
A connection that could only exist
between you and me.
And deep in my soul,
I know that our relationship
is a rare gift.
One that brings us
extraordinary happiness
all through our lives.
- Anita Higgins -
You and I are connected
in a way that goes beyond romance,
beyond friendship,
beyond what we've ever had before.
It has defied time, distance,
and changes in ourselves
and in our lives.
It has defied every explanation.
Except one:
Pure and simply, we're soul mates.
I can't explain, I just feel it.
It's there in the way my spirits lift
whenever we talk.
The sound of your voice brings me home,
in a way I can't explain.
It's in the delight I feel, when we laugh
at exactly the same things.
When I'm with you,
it's like a tiny piece of the universe
shifts into place.
A place it's supposed to be,
and all is right with the world.
These things and so many more,
have made me understand
that this is a once in a lifetime,
forever connection.
A connection that could only exist
between you and me.
And deep in my soul,
I know that our relationship
is a rare gift.
One that brings us
extraordinary happiness
all through our lives.
- Anita Higgins -
From Now Until Forever poem
From Now Until Forever
I’ve never known a love like yours
Nor thought it could be true,
But every time I kiss your lips
I feel what love can do
With hair like silk
And lips so tender,
Each moment with you
Makes my heart surrender
I couldn’t live, I couldn’t breathe
Without you by my side,
Never will I let you go,
My love will never hide
And in my heart you’ll always be
From now until forever,
No matter what, no matter where
We’ll always be together
- Ryan Brennan -
I’ve never known a love like yours
Nor thought it could be true,
But every time I kiss your lips
I feel what love can do
With hair like silk
And lips so tender,
Each moment with you
Makes my heart surrender
I couldn’t live, I couldn’t breathe
Without you by my side,
Never will I let you go,
My love will never hide
And in my heart you’ll always be
From now until forever,
No matter what, no matter where
We’ll always be together
- Ryan Brennan -
Beauty poem
Beauty
Your lips, your eyes, your soul
Are like a work of art,
The most creative thing of all
Is your beautiful heart.
If you were a painting,
No colours could express
The beauty deep inside you,
A rainbow, nothing less.
If you were a sculpture
The clay could hardly make
Your figure of an angel
Without one mistake.
If you were a euphony
No choir could really sing
All the beautiful music
Your eyes could possibly bring.
So here I am, an artist,
With inspiration beyond belief
But to capture such rare beauty,
I'd have to be a thief.
- Zlata S. Steere
Your lips, your eyes, your soul
Are like a work of art,
The most creative thing of all
Is your beautiful heart.
If you were a painting,
No colours could express
The beauty deep inside you,
A rainbow, nothing less.
If you were a sculpture
The clay could hardly make
Your figure of an angel
Without one mistake.
If you were a euphony
No choir could really sing
All the beautiful music
Your eyes could possibly bring.
So here I am, an artist,
With inspiration beyond belief
But to capture such rare beauty,
I'd have to be a thief.
- Zlata S. Steere
A Love Like No Other poem
A Love Like No Other
I never felt a love
Like this before
It's a love like no other
Something I have always hoped for
A love with friendship
Humour and heart
A bond so strong
It would never part
A love that makes you smile
From ear to ear
A love that is joyful
Without any fear
A love that is beautiful
From the inside out
A love with no tears,
Pain, or doubt
A love with soul
So tender and true
A love that I have found
Only in you...
- Author Unknown -
I never felt a love
Like this before
It's a love like no other
Something I have always hoped for
A love with friendship
Humour and heart
A bond so strong
It would never part
A love that makes you smile
From ear to ear
A love that is joyful
Without any fear
A love that is beautiful
From the inside out
A love with no tears,
Pain, or doubt
A love with soul
So tender and true
A love that I have found
Only in you...
- Author Unknown -
My Angel poem
My Angel
My sweet beautiful angel.
Sent to me from above.
I am so grateful to have found you,
and I give you all my love.
You must have come from heaven,
because you have pretty little angel eyes.
When you gaze at me with them,
my heart begins to fly.
Your sweet angelic voice,
continuously rings in my ears.
With you by my side,
there is nothing I fear.
Whenever we are together,
You shine with a heavenly glow.
Your beautiful angel face,
raises me up from feeling low.
Yes, heaven is missing an angel,
because you are here with me.
You're my sweet, beautiful angel,
and I'll love you for eternity!
- David Mendez-Yapkowitz -
My sweet beautiful angel.
Sent to me from above.
I am so grateful to have found you,
and I give you all my love.
You must have come from heaven,
because you have pretty little angel eyes.
When you gaze at me with them,
my heart begins to fly.
Your sweet angelic voice,
continuously rings in my ears.
With you by my side,
there is nothing I fear.
Whenever we are together,
You shine with a heavenly glow.
Your beautiful angel face,
raises me up from feeling low.
Yes, heaven is missing an angel,
because you are here with me.
You're my sweet, beautiful angel,
and I'll love you for eternity!
- David Mendez-Yapkowitz -
Coming Home... poem
Coming Home...
How simple my life is now you are here,
How I cherish each breath,
How I crave the light and laughter you have brought me.
I have fallen in love without taking a step,
Fallen into the sweetest of dreams,
How I hope no one wakes me.
The simplest gesture wraps itself around my heart,
Where I will hold it forever.
Each time we say goodbye a part of me weeps,
Though I know it is not forever
To my aching soul it is an eternity.
I see my happiness shine in your eyes,
Every time you hold my hand my heart skips a beat.
How sweet life is to be yours;
How meaningless life is without you.
They know nothing of the loneliness before you
Nothing of the empty tears I cried day after day,
How did you do it, I ask myself,
How did you banish the fear, the darkness?
You have made me see that nothing is that bad,
That I am strong and worthy of happiness,
You have saved me from myself.
Everyday I wake up and smile to myself
Knowing you are waiting for me,
Knowing you can't wait to see me.
How would I go on if you were not there to hold me up,
To bless me with your love and light?
How I am glad you have found me
My life is now complete...
I am home.
- Kelly Youens -
How simple my life is now you are here,
How I cherish each breath,
How I crave the light and laughter you have brought me.
I have fallen in love without taking a step,
Fallen into the sweetest of dreams,
How I hope no one wakes me.
The simplest gesture wraps itself around my heart,
Where I will hold it forever.
Each time we say goodbye a part of me weeps,
Though I know it is not forever
To my aching soul it is an eternity.
I see my happiness shine in your eyes,
Every time you hold my hand my heart skips a beat.
How sweet life is to be yours;
How meaningless life is without you.
They know nothing of the loneliness before you
Nothing of the empty tears I cried day after day,
How did you do it, I ask myself,
How did you banish the fear, the darkness?
You have made me see that nothing is that bad,
That I am strong and worthy of happiness,
You have saved me from myself.
Everyday I wake up and smile to myself
Knowing you are waiting for me,
Knowing you can't wait to see me.
How would I go on if you were not there to hold me up,
To bless me with your love and light?
How I am glad you have found me
My life is now complete...
I am home.
- Kelly Youens -
The Golden Path poem
The Golden Path
Take my hand this way we'll go,
Said the man above,
I'll take you to a place of joy,
Where you will find true love,
If you let go, go on your own,
But mistakes you will make,
For many other ways there are,
Which you are sure to take,
When you feel that you are lost,
All you have to do is pray,
And I'll be there once again,
To help you on your way,
I did pray and just as said,
He shined his light from above,
That showed me the way down the golden path,
That led me to your love.
- Sonya Turnbow -
Take my hand this way we'll go,
Said the man above,
I'll take you to a place of joy,
Where you will find true love,
If you let go, go on your own,
But mistakes you will make,
For many other ways there are,
Which you are sure to take,
When you feel that you are lost,
All you have to do is pray,
And I'll be there once again,
To help you on your way,
I did pray and just as said,
He shined his light from above,
That showed me the way down the golden path,
That led me to your love.
- Sonya Turnbow -
Red Rose poem
Red Rose
Our love is that of a red rose
Whose splendor rises as the sun shows its face,
Whose petals expand further and richer
Whispering secrets of happiness and affection.
And even though with the fall of dusk
All contentment is swept away,
And the rose's petals unite as one
Reflecting any light that may endeavor to shine through,
The sun will always rise
And the rose's petals will eternally broaden
Until they fully blossom into a stunning creation.
Our love is that of a red rose
Possessing a few imperfections
That may cause evanescent wounds,
But the internal radiance
That will everlastingly bestow healing and comfort.
- Brittany -
Our love is that of a red rose
Whose splendor rises as the sun shows its face,
Whose petals expand further and richer
Whispering secrets of happiness and affection.
And even though with the fall of dusk
All contentment is swept away,
And the rose's petals unite as one
Reflecting any light that may endeavor to shine through,
The sun will always rise
And the rose's petals will eternally broaden
Until they fully blossom into a stunning creation.
Our love is that of a red rose
Possessing a few imperfections
That may cause evanescent wounds,
But the internal radiance
That will everlastingly bestow healing and comfort.
- Brittany -
My Friend, My Love poem
My Friend, My Love
It began as all fires do,
a spark soon ignited into a blaze of warmth and colourful delight.
You held my hand, became my friend,
earned my trust and my future once again looked bright.
Loneliness turned to hope,
emptiness filled up with dreams.
Hunger was satisfied,
and the darkness lit by love's moonbeams.
Tears no longer hit the ground,
they fall on your loving shoulder.
I feel younger,
as our love grows older.
When sorrow leaves me wilted as a sun-parched rose,
your comfort is a river that flows and flows.
The sun's light, the morning dew,
they are all the beauty that is you.
When passion ebbs,
as tides do,
love fills the wake,
and carries us through.
Your strength is as the oak,
but if it is my need you bend like the willow.
My heart is filled,
like a lucky sail with wind to billow.
Harsh cold winters,
wet springs, blissful summer heat, and the fall of time,
They'll weather my spirit,
with grace and peace, your hand in mine.
Our love's sweet creations, joyous children,
blessed am I thanks to God and you.
What greater beauty could shed light,
on the love that came from two.
Love's sweet reflection,
laughing, growing, thriving, learning.
Words cannot express what my heart feels,
how strong my love is burning.
When God took one home,
I felt my heart would never again see the sun.
But you, my love, walked with me, through the sadness,
and together we share the memories that keep our family one.
The lines of age will etch their mark on us
and time will take the strength from our bodies.
But love's brush will paint for us a picture of such beauty,
That a hundred lifetimes could not remove their glory.
- K. Brook -
It began as all fires do,
a spark soon ignited into a blaze of warmth and colourful delight.
You held my hand, became my friend,
earned my trust and my future once again looked bright.
Loneliness turned to hope,
emptiness filled up with dreams.
Hunger was satisfied,
and the darkness lit by love's moonbeams.
Tears no longer hit the ground,
they fall on your loving shoulder.
I feel younger,
as our love grows older.
When sorrow leaves me wilted as a sun-parched rose,
your comfort is a river that flows and flows.
The sun's light, the morning dew,
they are all the beauty that is you.
When passion ebbs,
as tides do,
love fills the wake,
and carries us through.
Your strength is as the oak,
but if it is my need you bend like the willow.
My heart is filled,
like a lucky sail with wind to billow.
Harsh cold winters,
wet springs, blissful summer heat, and the fall of time,
They'll weather my spirit,
with grace and peace, your hand in mine.
Our love's sweet creations, joyous children,
blessed am I thanks to God and you.
What greater beauty could shed light,
on the love that came from two.
Love's sweet reflection,
laughing, growing, thriving, learning.
Words cannot express what my heart feels,
how strong my love is burning.
When God took one home,
I felt my heart would never again see the sun.
But you, my love, walked with me, through the sadness,
and together we share the memories that keep our family one.
The lines of age will etch their mark on us
and time will take the strength from our bodies.
But love's brush will paint for us a picture of such beauty,
That a hundred lifetimes could not remove their glory.
- K. Brook -
A Rose That Once Stood Alone poem
A Rose That Once Stood Alone
A solitary rose grew in the darkest corner of the garden
Surrounded by many others
Yet remained alone
Time passed and trials came and went
One dealt a severe blow
And the rose began to wilt and wither
Forgotten...
Then... as if by a miracle...
There came a soft and gentle breeze
Followed by a ray of light
As all the other roses fell into darkness
The solitary rose began to shine
Shining with a special light...
And watered by a gentle cascade...
A cascade of love
A cascade of selfless affection
"I do... not now but forever..."
Said the rose to the sunlight
And there they remain
A rose in full bloom
With her sunshine smiling down on her...
You are my sunshine, my life, my very soul
And I your rose blooming in the light of your love.
- Zahra Ahmed -
A solitary rose grew in the darkest corner of the garden
Surrounded by many others
Yet remained alone
Time passed and trials came and went
One dealt a severe blow
And the rose began to wilt and wither
Forgotten...
Then... as if by a miracle...
There came a soft and gentle breeze
Followed by a ray of light
As all the other roses fell into darkness
The solitary rose began to shine
Shining with a special light...
And watered by a gentle cascade...
A cascade of love
A cascade of selfless affection
"I do... not now but forever..."
Said the rose to the sunlight
And there they remain
A rose in full bloom
With her sunshine smiling down on her...
You are my sunshine, my life, my very soul
And I your rose blooming in the light of your love.
- Zahra Ahmed -
like a Balloon poem
Balloon
I think that I might fly away, in my hot air balloon,
And hide from worldly worries on the dark side of the moon;
There’s but one thing I need before I float into the blue:
I need a sky companion and I want it to be you.
We’ll fly beyond the storm clouds and we’ll watch from up above,
I’ll cover you in rainbows as we feel each others’ love;
You’ll shower in the stars at midnight in our special place,
I’ll dry you with a comet’s tail and kiss your beaming face.
Dreamy drifting panorama, changing every day,
Every night your loving smile will be my milky way,
The moon will wane before us, sailing there in heaven’s height,
For nothing else can challenge our love’s everlasting light.
Venus shining on us, glowing soft at our devotion,
Our daily drifting dalliance in love’s celestial ocean,
I’ll write you lovers’ poetry, and you will be my muse,
Orion and Andromeda will oversee our cruise.
We’ll sleep with clouds as pillows, maybe steal an angel’s wings,
Then fly as magic lovebirds, or slide round Saturn’s rings,
And should we tire of drifting and the stars all floating by,
We’ll hook onto a meteor and soar across the sky.
Will you consent to be my mate on our celestial ship?
I’m ready, heart all packed with love, to last us for the trip,
Take my hand and step aboard, we’re heading for the sun,
We’re flying till we find the place where our two souls are one.
- Graeme King -
I think that I might fly away, in my hot air balloon,
And hide from worldly worries on the dark side of the moon;
There’s but one thing I need before I float into the blue:
I need a sky companion and I want it to be you.
We’ll fly beyond the storm clouds and we’ll watch from up above,
I’ll cover you in rainbows as we feel each others’ love;
You’ll shower in the stars at midnight in our special place,
I’ll dry you with a comet’s tail and kiss your beaming face.
Dreamy drifting panorama, changing every day,
Every night your loving smile will be my milky way,
The moon will wane before us, sailing there in heaven’s height,
For nothing else can challenge our love’s everlasting light.
Venus shining on us, glowing soft at our devotion,
Our daily drifting dalliance in love’s celestial ocean,
I’ll write you lovers’ poetry, and you will be my muse,
Orion and Andromeda will oversee our cruise.
We’ll sleep with clouds as pillows, maybe steal an angel’s wings,
Then fly as magic lovebirds, or slide round Saturn’s rings,
And should we tire of drifting and the stars all floating by,
We’ll hook onto a meteor and soar across the sky.
Will you consent to be my mate on our celestial ship?
I’m ready, heart all packed with love, to last us for the trip,
Take my hand and step aboard, we’re heading for the sun,
We’re flying till we find the place where our two souls are one.
- Graeme King -
depths of my soul poem
Regret flows from the depths of my soul
With the strength of a flood
I have held these gates shut for too long
And though tormenting, they should not be stopped.
The thought of your anguish
Even as I write to you now
Stops my heart cold
As well it should
What I see in front of me
Is a painting of our love
Its most thoughtful brushstrokes
Mottled by hurried abstraction and inattention
A person who had not seen this masterpiece created
Might think it to be refuse and pass it by unknowingly
Letting be obscured the deep beauty of its many scenes
By layers of the tarnish of mistreatment
But as the painter
I see beyond the dark smears
To recall the hours that I attended to the details
And wonder how I could let it become so discolored
The painting that took me my life to create
Has lost its divinity in my careless treatment
And even if I were to refine it
I fear you would always see it as it is today
So today I paint a new masterpiece
One inspired by the muse of respect
A work that you can love through our old age
One that you will look to each day for inspiration
This one will take some time
As I want my brushstrokes to be carefully placed
I need to move steadily to ensure that this time,
My art represents my dream
This is my opus
Don't judge me on my past works
As I have never before had so much skill and inspiration
And never before have I wanted to please you as I do today
With you and my children as my muse
I will paint for you a lifetime
A portrait of devotion and friendship
A panorama of passion and admiration
All I ask is that you gaze upon it with an open heart
And you shall unquestionably love me again
- Daryl R. Swensson -
With the strength of a flood
I have held these gates shut for too long
And though tormenting, they should not be stopped.
The thought of your anguish
Even as I write to you now
Stops my heart cold
As well it should
What I see in front of me
Is a painting of our love
Its most thoughtful brushstrokes
Mottled by hurried abstraction and inattention
A person who had not seen this masterpiece created
Might think it to be refuse and pass it by unknowingly
Letting be obscured the deep beauty of its many scenes
By layers of the tarnish of mistreatment
But as the painter
I see beyond the dark smears
To recall the hours that I attended to the details
And wonder how I could let it become so discolored
The painting that took me my life to create
Has lost its divinity in my careless treatment
And even if I were to refine it
I fear you would always see it as it is today
So today I paint a new masterpiece
One inspired by the muse of respect
A work that you can love through our old age
One that you will look to each day for inspiration
This one will take some time
As I want my brushstrokes to be carefully placed
I need to move steadily to ensure that this time,
My art represents my dream
This is my opus
Don't judge me on my past works
As I have never before had so much skill and inspiration
And never before have I wanted to please you as I do today
With you and my children as my muse
I will paint for you a lifetime
A portrait of devotion and friendship
A panorama of passion and admiration
All I ask is that you gaze upon it with an open heart
And you shall unquestionably love me again
- Daryl R. Swensson -
For My Angel poem
For My Angel Chris
The day you came into my life will be cherished always.
An angel sent from heaven above for my lonely heart to hold.
My heart is no longer lonely, but instead
filled with the wonder of a love like I’ve never known.
When you first held me, it was magical!
A touch no other but my soulmate could provide.
Truly the passion needed no words.
Your kiss on my lips is something I long for each day.
With a single kiss the intensity of your love so incredibly clear!
Your eyes melt me with emotion so intense it is beyond belief.
A caring and unconditional love that shines from them
that makes me shiver with excitement for our life to come.
Each day your smile fills my heart with a joy like no other.
Oh but to have you in my life is truly a blessing!
On the day we wed...
I promise to you yet again my unconditional love and devotion.
For I will cherish each day that God gives me with you,
our own little piece of heaven on earth.
I will love you always.
- Dawn Eichten -
The day you came into my life will be cherished always.
An angel sent from heaven above for my lonely heart to hold.
My heart is no longer lonely, but instead
filled with the wonder of a love like I’ve never known.
When you first held me, it was magical!
A touch no other but my soulmate could provide.
Truly the passion needed no words.
Your kiss on my lips is something I long for each day.
With a single kiss the intensity of your love so incredibly clear!
Your eyes melt me with emotion so intense it is beyond belief.
A caring and unconditional love that shines from them
that makes me shiver with excitement for our life to come.
Each day your smile fills my heart with a joy like no other.
Oh but to have you in my life is truly a blessing!
On the day we wed...
I promise to you yet again my unconditional love and devotion.
For I will cherish each day that God gives me with you,
our own little piece of heaven on earth.
I will love you always.
- Dawn Eichten -
Dance Me To The End Of Love poem
Dance Me To The End Of Love
Dance with me in love
Dance with me in life
When did enduring love begin?
The day we became man and wife
There is patience and understanding
We try to be unselfish and kind
Though not a fairy-tale romance
No greater love will we find
Sharing dreams, passions, and desires
Building each other up when we fall
We've learned to say I'm sorry
And I love you through it all
Our two hearts beat as one
Cherishing what we have from above
Dance with me forever
Dance me to the end of love
- Salman Parker -
Dance with me in love
Dance with me in life
When did enduring love begin?
The day we became man and wife
There is patience and understanding
We try to be unselfish and kind
Though not a fairy-tale romance
No greater love will we find
Sharing dreams, passions, and desires
Building each other up when we fall
We've learned to say I'm sorry
And I love you through it all
Our two hearts beat as one
Cherishing what we have from above
Dance with me forever
Dance me to the end of love
- Salman Parker -
I Love You poem
I Love You
I love you with a permanence
That endures the passing years.
I love you with a joyfulness
That subdues all doubts and fears.
I love you with an honesty
That was born within my heart.
I love you with the calm belief
That we will never part.
I love you with a confidence
No earthly force can sever.
I love you with the certainty
That I’ll cherish you forever.
I love you with the humbleness
Of one who has been blessed.
I love you with the reverence
Of all that word suggests.
I love you with a fervor
That time cannot reverse.
I love you with the truest love
That poets put to verse.
- J.E. Deegan -
I love you with a permanence
That endures the passing years.
I love you with a joyfulness
That subdues all doubts and fears.
I love you with an honesty
That was born within my heart.
I love you with the calm belief
That we will never part.
I love you with a confidence
No earthly force can sever.
I love you with the certainty
That I’ll cherish you forever.
I love you with the humbleness
Of one who has been blessed.
I love you with the reverence
Of all that word suggests.
I love you with a fervor
That time cannot reverse.
I love you with the truest love
That poets put to verse.
- J.E. Deegan -
The World’s Most Beautiful poem
The World’s Most Beautiful
I’d give anything to see the sun set on the horizon,
I’d do anything to gaze at a full moon in the night sky;
Even a rainbow would make me smile,
And I’d love to swim in crystal clear waters
Of an untouched sea;
Sometimes I’ll see a shooting star,
And try to gaze from afar,
All the diamonds in the night sky;
The mist on the mountains is breathtaking,
As is walking in rainforest;
To see cascading waterfalls I’d do anything for,
As to stand on the highest peak in the world,
And look at the sights below;
I’d love to soar on wings above the clouds,
Across the bluest skies;
I’d do anything to see
All the beautiful things in the world,
Like a red rose blooming in the Sahara,
Like a river twisting through a dusty land,
All the beautiful things in the world;
But I also know I am looking at
The world’s most beautiful creation,
Every time you smile,
And every time I look into your eyes.
- Muhammad Edwan Shaharir -
I’d give anything to see the sun set on the horizon,
I’d do anything to gaze at a full moon in the night sky;
Even a rainbow would make me smile,
And I’d love to swim in crystal clear waters
Of an untouched sea;
Sometimes I’ll see a shooting star,
And try to gaze from afar,
All the diamonds in the night sky;
The mist on the mountains is breathtaking,
As is walking in rainforest;
To see cascading waterfalls I’d do anything for,
As to stand on the highest peak in the world,
And look at the sights below;
I’d love to soar on wings above the clouds,
Across the bluest skies;
I’d do anything to see
All the beautiful things in the world,
Like a red rose blooming in the Sahara,
Like a river twisting through a dusty land,
All the beautiful things in the world;
But I also know I am looking at
The world’s most beautiful creation,
Every time you smile,
And every time I look into your eyes.
- Muhammad Edwan Shaharir -
You Are My Forever Love poem
You Are My Forever Love
Your friendship and love,
And all the wonderful things
That they bring into my life,
Are like nothing else
I have ever known.
My heart is complete
With the love we share,
And our love grows more
Beautiful each day.
I love you,
And as long as we are together,
I have everything I need.
You are with me always...
In a smile, a memory, a feeling
Or a moment we share.
You will always be
My Forever Love
- Uriel Consolo -
Your friendship and love,
And all the wonderful things
That they bring into my life,
Are like nothing else
I have ever known.
My heart is complete
With the love we share,
And our love grows more
Beautiful each day.
I love you,
And as long as we are together,
I have everything I need.
You are with me always...
In a smile, a memory, a feeling
Or a moment we share.
You will always be
My Forever Love
- Uriel Consolo -
A Dream Come True-poem
A Dream Come True
Feelings that once were hidden
Are now expressed to you.
Days that once were stormy
Are now the brightest blue.
Times that once were lonely
Are now filled with pleasure.
All that once was mine alone
Are now things we both treasure.
Nights that once were cold
Are now comforting and warm.
Fears that once were very real
Are now gone with the storm.
A heart that once was broken
Can now finally mend.
A person once alone in life
Can now call you a friend.
Dreams that once were longed for
Are now all coming true.
The love I once thought was gone
I have now and forever in you.
- Dawn Ballard -
Feelings that once were hidden
Are now expressed to you.
Days that once were stormy
Are now the brightest blue.
Times that once were lonely
Are now filled with pleasure.
All that once was mine alone
Are now things we both treasure.
Nights that once were cold
Are now comforting and warm.
Fears that once were very real
Are now gone with the storm.
A heart that once was broken
Can now finally mend.
A person once alone in life
Can now call you a friend.
Dreams that once were longed for
Are now all coming true.
The love I once thought was gone
I have now and forever in you.
- Dawn Ballard -
Reflections of a Beautiful Morning - poem
Reflections of a Beautiful Morning
The sun rises above the hillcrest,
As does the joy of my heart;
Rays of warmth and love,
From her I will never depart.
Fresh dew upon the grass,
Young birds chirp in their nests;
I watch her gently sleep,
My love to her I silently profess.
I enjoy the stillness and calm,
Watching as she smiles and dreams;
She brings me to stillness and peace,
Like that of a slow flowing stream.
My heart and soul flow with love,
And I smile as I quietly reflect;
I’ve been handed a sweet princess,
A sweet princess to love and to protect.
A vow to myself I make,
As she quietly sleeps away;
To love and always cherish her,
Until my last breath... until my last day.
- Michael Brieck -
The sun rises above the hillcrest,
As does the joy of my heart;
Rays of warmth and love,
From her I will never depart.
Fresh dew upon the grass,
Young birds chirp in their nests;
I watch her gently sleep,
My love to her I silently profess.
I enjoy the stillness and calm,
Watching as she smiles and dreams;
She brings me to stillness and peace,
Like that of a slow flowing stream.
My heart and soul flow with love,
And I smile as I quietly reflect;
I’ve been handed a sweet princess,
A sweet princess to love and to protect.
A vow to myself I make,
As she quietly sleeps away;
To love and always cherish her,
Until my last breath... until my last day.
- Michael Brieck -
God and Love
“God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him” (1 Jn 4:16). These words from the First Letter of John express with remarkable clarity the heart of the Christian faith: the Christian image of God and the resulting image of mankind and its destiny. In the same verse, Saint John also offers a kind of summary of the Christian life: “We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us”.
We have come to believe in God's love: in these words the Christian can express the fundamental decision of his life. Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction. Saint John's Gospel describes that event in these words: “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should ... have eternal life” (3:16). In acknowledging the centrality of love, Christian faith has retained the core of Israel's faith, while at the same time giving it new depth and breadth. The pious Jew prayed daily the words of the Book of Deuteronomy which expressed the heart of his existence: “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord, and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your might” (6:4-5). Jesus united into a single precept this commandment of love for God and the commandment of love for neighbour found in the Book of Leviticus: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself” (19:18; cf. Mk 12:29-31). Since God has first loved us (cf. 1 Jn 4:10), love is now no longer a mere “command”; it is the response to the gift of love with which God draws near to us.
In a world where the name of God is sometimes associated with vengeance or even a duty of hatred and violence, this message is both timely and significant. For this reason, I wish in my first Encyclical to speak of the love which God lavishes upon us and which we in turn must share with others. That, in essence, is what the two main parts of this Letter are about, and they are profoundly interconnected. The first part is more speculative, since I wanted here—at the beginning of my Pontificate—to clarify some essential facts concerning the love which God mysteriously and gratuitously offers to man, together with the intrinsic link between that Love and the reality of human love. The second part is more concrete, since it treats the ecclesial exercise of the commandment of love of neighbour. The argument has vast implications, but a lengthy treatment would go beyond the scope of the present Encyclical. I wish to emphasize some basic elements, so as to call forth in the world renewed energy and commitment in the human response to God's love.
We have come to believe in God's love: in these words the Christian can express the fundamental decision of his life. Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction. Saint John's Gospel describes that event in these words: “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should ... have eternal life” (3:16). In acknowledging the centrality of love, Christian faith has retained the core of Israel's faith, while at the same time giving it new depth and breadth. The pious Jew prayed daily the words of the Book of Deuteronomy which expressed the heart of his existence: “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord, and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your might” (6:4-5). Jesus united into a single precept this commandment of love for God and the commandment of love for neighbour found in the Book of Leviticus: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself” (19:18; cf. Mk 12:29-31). Since God has first loved us (cf. 1 Jn 4:10), love is now no longer a mere “command”; it is the response to the gift of love with which God draws near to us.
In a world where the name of God is sometimes associated with vengeance or even a duty of hatred and violence, this message is both timely and significant. For this reason, I wish in my first Encyclical to speak of the love which God lavishes upon us and which we in turn must share with others. That, in essence, is what the two main parts of this Letter are about, and they are profoundly interconnected. The first part is more speculative, since I wanted here—at the beginning of my Pontificate—to clarify some essential facts concerning the love which God mysteriously and gratuitously offers to man, together with the intrinsic link between that Love and the reality of human love. The second part is more concrete, since it treats the ecclesial exercise of the commandment of love of neighbour. The argument has vast implications, but a lengthy treatment would go beyond the scope of the present Encyclical. I wish to emphasize some basic elements, so as to call forth in the world renewed energy and commitment in the human response to God's love.
NOTE:5 Steps to Streamline your Creative Process
NOTE:5 Steps to Streamline your Creative Process
5 Steps to Streamline your Creative Process
by abduzeedo Sep 08, 2009
abduzeedo's blog
Português
As a designer I’m always trying to optimize my creative process. Since I started, lots of things have changed in my workflow, some things got simpler while others got a little bit more complicated. With these changes came the experience of learning from the mistakes but also from the successes.
In this article I will summarize how I try to streamline my creative process to make it as efficient as possible. Basically everything consists of 5 steps:
1- Understand the work
"A well-defined problem is half solved."Michael Osborne - Principal, Michael Osborne Design
It might sound obvious but sometimes we tend to assume that we know what we have to do when we simply don’t. It’s really important to know exactly what it is that you have to do before you start doing anything. If you don't, it would be like going to the supermarket when you’re hungry. You want to buy everything... The understanding of the project will filter exactly what you have to look for, it will give you directions and the context of the work you will have to do. But what's the use in knowing what you have to do if you don't know who you're doing it for? That will lead us to the second step...
2- Audience
"A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools."Douglas Adams - Creator of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
So, you now have a firm understanding of the work, but now the question has come to: for whom will the work be intended? The audience is key in this equation because it filters and reduces even more the range of your search for inspiration. Once you have the audience figured out, you really have to get in your mind that it's 100% about them, which will lead us to the third step.
3- Business
"Every night I pray that clients with taste will get money and clients with money will get taste." Bill Gardner - Principal, Gardner Design
The biggest difference between commercial design and art, for me, is that we design something for the audience and not as a means of self-expression for ourselves. We solve problems for them, we make it easier for them. As far as graphic and visual design goes, most of the problems arise in communication. Essentially, we’re the middle man between the client and the consumer. Our goal is to make the communication better for them (which in most cases means simplifying), and not to interfere in the communication with our own personal tastes and influences.
4 - Challenge
"We spend a lot of effort trying to make things look effortless." Alexander Isley - Principal, Alexander Isley Design
With a solid understanding of the work, the audience, and the question of solving problems, we now face the challenge: the designing part. The challenge creates the motivation to look for the details that will make your work better and superior.
5 - Try
"You will never really like anything you do, and you will die knowing that you still have to do your best." Garth Walker - Orange Juice Design
The previous steps won’t necessarily guarantee that you'll come up with a good design, they're merely there to form a foundation, or a stepping stone, if you will.
To recap, the understanding of both the work and the audience will create the context. Keeping in mind the business perspective will avoid you losing focus on what's important. And, finally, the challenge will give you the motivation to look for the most innovative and efficient solutions. But the only way for you to come up with a good design is to take all these things and TRY.
5 Steps to Streamline your Creative Process
by abduzeedo Sep 08, 2009
abduzeedo's blog
Português
As a designer I’m always trying to optimize my creative process. Since I started, lots of things have changed in my workflow, some things got simpler while others got a little bit more complicated. With these changes came the experience of learning from the mistakes but also from the successes.
In this article I will summarize how I try to streamline my creative process to make it as efficient as possible. Basically everything consists of 5 steps:
1- Understand the work
"A well-defined problem is half solved."Michael Osborne - Principal, Michael Osborne Design
It might sound obvious but sometimes we tend to assume that we know what we have to do when we simply don’t. It’s really important to know exactly what it is that you have to do before you start doing anything. If you don't, it would be like going to the supermarket when you’re hungry. You want to buy everything... The understanding of the project will filter exactly what you have to look for, it will give you directions and the context of the work you will have to do. But what's the use in knowing what you have to do if you don't know who you're doing it for? That will lead us to the second step...
2- Audience
"A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools."Douglas Adams - Creator of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
So, you now have a firm understanding of the work, but now the question has come to: for whom will the work be intended? The audience is key in this equation because it filters and reduces even more the range of your search for inspiration. Once you have the audience figured out, you really have to get in your mind that it's 100% about them, which will lead us to the third step.
3- Business
"Every night I pray that clients with taste will get money and clients with money will get taste." Bill Gardner - Principal, Gardner Design
The biggest difference between commercial design and art, for me, is that we design something for the audience and not as a means of self-expression for ourselves. We solve problems for them, we make it easier for them. As far as graphic and visual design goes, most of the problems arise in communication. Essentially, we’re the middle man between the client and the consumer. Our goal is to make the communication better for them (which in most cases means simplifying), and not to interfere in the communication with our own personal tastes and influences.
4 - Challenge
"We spend a lot of effort trying to make things look effortless." Alexander Isley - Principal, Alexander Isley Design
With a solid understanding of the work, the audience, and the question of solving problems, we now face the challenge: the designing part. The challenge creates the motivation to look for the details that will make your work better and superior.
5 - Try
"You will never really like anything you do, and you will die knowing that you still have to do your best." Garth Walker - Orange Juice Design
The previous steps won’t necessarily guarantee that you'll come up with a good design, they're merely there to form a foundation, or a stepping stone, if you will.
To recap, the understanding of both the work and the audience will create the context. Keeping in mind the business perspective will avoid you losing focus on what's important. And, finally, the challenge will give you the motivation to look for the most innovative and efficient solutions. But the only way for you to come up with a good design is to take all these things and TRY.
10 Ways to Rev-up Your Creativity
10 Ways to Rev-up Your Creativity
1. Pick Up A Pencil
Remember the pencil? Remember the sketch book? Doodling and sketching, even about nothing in particular, can be very freeing and cause some great ideas to come out of your hand. Just sit down and draw. It’s good to get thoughts and ideas down on paper and can actually lead to something great.
2. Read Design Magazines
There are so many design magazines out there. A lot of them have some great design solutions and articles contained that can spark some creativity to get things going again. There are many design experts that contribute articles and ideas to the magazines and sometimes they may get a stuck designer, well, unstuck.
3. Go To A Museum
If you’re in an urban area, there are many museums around that you can go to. They don’t necessarily have to be art museums, but a trip to a modern art museum should get some ideas pumped out for you. It’s always good to get out, clear your mind, and just let things happen at the museum. We can admire, criticize, and simply experience the talent and beauty that is all around these places.
4. Listen To Others
How often do we listen to others? In the design business, there are many colleagues out there that have the same trials and tribulations that you do. Talk to them. Get into their heads about their art and work. What do they do? How do they work? I’m not saying to steal ideas from them, just get some dialogue going. What about instructors at school? I know you have to listen them in class all the time, but maybe a private, relaxed conversation will produce some new thoughts and ideas. People that have been in the business for awhile have lots of experience and can really help.
5. Take A Break
Stressed? Burned-out? Then, take a break. Just a break. Get up, get away from that computer, and do something else. Watch TV, read a book, do something that is not even related to design or anything that you’re working on. It’s OK to take a break from a project sometimes. Many times, during these downtimes, ideas and thoughts can creep into your head that may be a solution to something you’ve been searching for.
6. Go Freeform
Similar to picking up a pencil, going freeform is getting out those colored pencils, markers, and even crayons to get out some ideas. Use vibrant colors. Go crazy, there are no rules to going freeform. Be a kid again. Remember how imaginative we were then? It’s fun and can really free up a blocked mind. Who knows, you may even find another method of doing your work. Another way of going freeform is to dance and sing. Just be crazy and let the results flow in.
7. Look At Other Work
Do you have a guru of the design world that you simply love? Do you love what they’ve done in their career and feel some attachments to them? Look at their work and see what they’ve done. Once again, we don’t copy their work, but we can get ideas and inspiration from them. Look at fine artists’ work and see what they’ve done. Painters, sculptors, and photographers have a lot of talent and their ingenuity can be of benefit to all of us.
8. Look At The Environment
The world outside has a multitude of things going on. Trees, parks, grass, beaches, oceans, and wildlife can be very refreshing and inspirational. Open your mind, take a big breath of fresh air, and walk around outside. Architecture and other man-made things can be truly beautiful as well. Don’t expect anything, just get out there and do it.
9. Look At Those Old Design Books
Remember the old design books we had to read through school? It’s OK to pull them out again and take a look. There may be some things in those old books that you forgot about and may be useful to you now. Not only textbooks, but design and art books of all types can be really nice to look at and read. Don’t have any? Remember the library.
10. Meditate
When all else fails, it’s good to sit down and meditate. Turn everything off, sit comfortably in peace and quiet, and open your mind. Push out all thoughts and just be you. Don’t worry about anything when you’re sitting in the quiet, just sit and be in the moment. It can be hard to do this if you’re not in the practice of meditating, but, with practice, it can be really good and freeing. It’s also very good for your overall mental and physical health.
1. Pick Up A Pencil
Remember the pencil? Remember the sketch book? Doodling and sketching, even about nothing in particular, can be very freeing and cause some great ideas to come out of your hand. Just sit down and draw. It’s good to get thoughts and ideas down on paper and can actually lead to something great.
2. Read Design Magazines
There are so many design magazines out there. A lot of them have some great design solutions and articles contained that can spark some creativity to get things going again. There are many design experts that contribute articles and ideas to the magazines and sometimes they may get a stuck designer, well, unstuck.
3. Go To A Museum
If you’re in an urban area, there are many museums around that you can go to. They don’t necessarily have to be art museums, but a trip to a modern art museum should get some ideas pumped out for you. It’s always good to get out, clear your mind, and just let things happen at the museum. We can admire, criticize, and simply experience the talent and beauty that is all around these places.
4. Listen To Others
How often do we listen to others? In the design business, there are many colleagues out there that have the same trials and tribulations that you do. Talk to them. Get into their heads about their art and work. What do they do? How do they work? I’m not saying to steal ideas from them, just get some dialogue going. What about instructors at school? I know you have to listen them in class all the time, but maybe a private, relaxed conversation will produce some new thoughts and ideas. People that have been in the business for awhile have lots of experience and can really help.
5. Take A Break
Stressed? Burned-out? Then, take a break. Just a break. Get up, get away from that computer, and do something else. Watch TV, read a book, do something that is not even related to design or anything that you’re working on. It’s OK to take a break from a project sometimes. Many times, during these downtimes, ideas and thoughts can creep into your head that may be a solution to something you’ve been searching for.
6. Go Freeform
Similar to picking up a pencil, going freeform is getting out those colored pencils, markers, and even crayons to get out some ideas. Use vibrant colors. Go crazy, there are no rules to going freeform. Be a kid again. Remember how imaginative we were then? It’s fun and can really free up a blocked mind. Who knows, you may even find another method of doing your work. Another way of going freeform is to dance and sing. Just be crazy and let the results flow in.
7. Look At Other Work
Do you have a guru of the design world that you simply love? Do you love what they’ve done in their career and feel some attachments to them? Look at their work and see what they’ve done. Once again, we don’t copy their work, but we can get ideas and inspiration from them. Look at fine artists’ work and see what they’ve done. Painters, sculptors, and photographers have a lot of talent and their ingenuity can be of benefit to all of us.
8. Look At The Environment
The world outside has a multitude of things going on. Trees, parks, grass, beaches, oceans, and wildlife can be very refreshing and inspirational. Open your mind, take a big breath of fresh air, and walk around outside. Architecture and other man-made things can be truly beautiful as well. Don’t expect anything, just get out there and do it.
9. Look At Those Old Design Books
Remember the old design books we had to read through school? It’s OK to pull them out again and take a look. There may be some things in those old books that you forgot about and may be useful to you now. Not only textbooks, but design and art books of all types can be really nice to look at and read. Don’t have any? Remember the library.
10. Meditate
When all else fails, it’s good to sit down and meditate. Turn everything off, sit comfortably in peace and quiet, and open your mind. Push out all thoughts and just be you. Don’t worry about anything when you’re sitting in the quiet, just sit and be in the moment. It can be hard to do this if you’re not in the practice of meditating, but, with practice, it can be really good and freeing. It’s also very good for your overall mental and physical health.
15 Things an Artist Should Never Say
15 Things an Artist Should Never Say
Being a successful artist takes hard work, patience and good networking skills. It is not enough to simply have talent. Your success will magnified by your ability to socialize, reach business goals, and manage projects. Does that sound a little overwhelming? Here are some tips that you can take one at a time. Let’s start with what an artist should never say…
“I can’t do that”
Say a friend wants to commission you. They propose a work of art that is not your typical style or medium. The last thing you want to do is to flat out refuse them.
You have some options:
• Learn what ever skill you lack to do the piece.
• Take the opportunity to educate them about your work to see if they might want something closer to what you do (but don’t be dogmatic).
• Hire someone to fabricate what ever it is that you can’t.
• Propose another work of art that will give them what you both want.
Never say yes to a hard deadline on the spot.
Whether it is a commission or a gallery show, a commitment is to be taken seriously. The gallery or collector will be planning around the finished work. The last thing you want to do is inconvenience them. Before setting a hard deadline, make sure you have enough time to complete the project.
“I can’t afford to make art”
Artists over centuries have always found a way to make art…for nothing. Think of the cave painters, their art did not cost money. Yes, some art costs money to make, but it does not have to. You may even have things lying around your house with which you can make your next masterpiece.
“I didn’t go to ‘X’ school, so I’ll never make it as an artist.”
Now that is just a cop out! If your work is good enough, it will find its way. A good art education is worth it but not everyone that went to Yale is making millions from their art.
“Never be silent…”
…when you should be promoting your work. Simply open your mouth. Invite the curator you met at the last opening for a studio visit. This is the way the art world turns.
Never say you will do it… when you won’t.
This is the most obvious suggestion, but also the one we mess up on the most. Don’t agree to something that you cannot or are not willing to do for what ever reason.
“Never indulge in self-depreciating comments”
If someone asks you about your work say something that will interest them and invite more questions. Do not say anything negative or incredibly boring about your work or career.
Never “dis” the competition.
It’s a very small world and you just never know. Do your best to be gracious and have something good to say about your fellow artists. Having said that, if your opinion is called for, be honest about what you see in the work.
“I’m too old”
Matisse made art work into his 90’s even while sight impaired.
“I’m too busy to go out and network.”
You can only say this phrase if you are rich and famous. If you are not, how else are you going to get there? Like it or not, networking is your job.
“You can have it”
Never give your work away. If someone is interested in buying but the price is a little steep, offer to discount it 10% or 20%. The value you place on your work is an indication of how successful you feel.
Exception: Giving artwork as gifts or a trade with another artist is fine. In fact, it may help your career.
“I’m an artist not a computer geek.”
Some use this excuse to not learn the necessary tools to promote your work in this day an age. Every artist needs to promote their work on the internet. You can do it!
“I’m a failure because I’ve never sold”
Van Gogh only sold paintings to his brother while he was alive
“No.”
You should never say “no” to a project out of fear of the challenge.
“I’m an artist, not a business person.”
Sorry to tell you this, but you may be in the wrong profession if you want to make a living as an artist. All artists can benefit from business training. Contact your local art center to see if they have business classes for artists or get help from a mentor.
Being a successful artist takes hard work, patience and good networking skills. It is not enough to simply have talent. Your success will magnified by your ability to socialize, reach business goals, and manage projects. Does that sound a little overwhelming? Here are some tips that you can take one at a time. Let’s start with what an artist should never say…
“I can’t do that”
Say a friend wants to commission you. They propose a work of art that is not your typical style or medium. The last thing you want to do is to flat out refuse them.
You have some options:
• Learn what ever skill you lack to do the piece.
• Take the opportunity to educate them about your work to see if they might want something closer to what you do (but don’t be dogmatic).
• Hire someone to fabricate what ever it is that you can’t.
• Propose another work of art that will give them what you both want.
Never say yes to a hard deadline on the spot.
Whether it is a commission or a gallery show, a commitment is to be taken seriously. The gallery or collector will be planning around the finished work. The last thing you want to do is inconvenience them. Before setting a hard deadline, make sure you have enough time to complete the project.
“I can’t afford to make art”
Artists over centuries have always found a way to make art…for nothing. Think of the cave painters, their art did not cost money. Yes, some art costs money to make, but it does not have to. You may even have things lying around your house with which you can make your next masterpiece.
“I didn’t go to ‘X’ school, so I’ll never make it as an artist.”
Now that is just a cop out! If your work is good enough, it will find its way. A good art education is worth it but not everyone that went to Yale is making millions from their art.
“Never be silent…”
…when you should be promoting your work. Simply open your mouth. Invite the curator you met at the last opening for a studio visit. This is the way the art world turns.
Never say you will do it… when you won’t.
This is the most obvious suggestion, but also the one we mess up on the most. Don’t agree to something that you cannot or are not willing to do for what ever reason.
“Never indulge in self-depreciating comments”
If someone asks you about your work say something that will interest them and invite more questions. Do not say anything negative or incredibly boring about your work or career.
Never “dis” the competition.
It’s a very small world and you just never know. Do your best to be gracious and have something good to say about your fellow artists. Having said that, if your opinion is called for, be honest about what you see in the work.
“I’m too old”
Matisse made art work into his 90’s even while sight impaired.
“I’m too busy to go out and network.”
You can only say this phrase if you are rich and famous. If you are not, how else are you going to get there? Like it or not, networking is your job.
“You can have it”
Never give your work away. If someone is interested in buying but the price is a little steep, offer to discount it 10% or 20%. The value you place on your work is an indication of how successful you feel.
Exception: Giving artwork as gifts or a trade with another artist is fine. In fact, it may help your career.
“I’m an artist not a computer geek.”
Some use this excuse to not learn the necessary tools to promote your work in this day an age. Every artist needs to promote their work on the internet. You can do it!
“I’m a failure because I’ve never sold”
Van Gogh only sold paintings to his brother while he was alive
“No.”
You should never say “no” to a project out of fear of the challenge.
“I’m an artist, not a business person.”
Sorry to tell you this, but you may be in the wrong profession if you want to make a living as an artist. All artists can benefit from business training. Contact your local art center to see if they have business classes for artists or get help from a mentor.
Keeping Yourself Motivated
Keeping Yourself Motivated
Staying motivated isn’t easy – we often convince ourselves not to be. We often give ourselves excuses, allow other people to put us down, or look at the success of others and think, “That’ll never be me.”
There are two basic types of motivation: intrinsic motivation, and extrinsic motivation.
Intrinsic motivation comes from the feeling of self-achievement inherent in the task or project achieved, i.e. solving a puzzle, completing a school assignment, or finally publishing that website you were working on for a client.
Extrinsic motivation is the reward you get from others – or outside “forces”. This includes money and other financial or tangible rewards, such as a free vacation for achieving your sales targets, a trophy for winning first place at the Olympics, or even the crowd cheering as you overtake car #2 in the last stretch of the race. This explains the “home team advantage” methodology.
Extrinsic motivation (namely money) is often the primary basis for our motivation. Everyone needs money, and wants as much of it as possible. That’s no secret. However, I believe the feeling of self achievement is equally important when it comes to staying motivated.
When you’ve finished the design work for a client, what feels better? Getting paid or seeing your client smile, succeed, and receive brand recognition partly due to your efforts? If you picked getting paid, try thinking about it this way:
A small, startup company seeks your help in setting up their identity (logo, business card, website, etc.). The company is completely unknown but happens to take off. All of a sudden the company is everywhere – the NY Times, TechCrunch, CNN, a trending topic on Twitter, you name it.
Do you still feel the same? Okay, that might have been a bit of an exaggeration, but hopefully my point was made.
But what about the money?
There are many ways that you can use money and your personal financial status to keep yourself motivated. Here are a few ideas:
Reward yourself: decide on an amount (that doesn’t cut into your bill paying or savings) and reward yourself after a job well done. Of course you don’t want to spend every hard penny you’ve earned on your favourite hobby, but if it’s all work and no play you’ll get burnt out. Reward yourself as a reminder of what you’re working towards.
Financial status: do you want to put a down payment on your own place in 2 years? Pay off the house in 7? Have children and send them to private school? Remind yourself how much money you need to earn each month in order to support your desired lifestyle. If you’re not quite there yet figure out the steps needed to get there and write them down.
It takes money to make money: do you have any business plans that require startup capital you don’t currently have? Do you plan to buy and rent properties? Invest? These are other good ways to remind yourself to keep at it.
What else?
Networking. It’s easy to meet other people in your industry on the internet these days (especially if you’re a designer). If you don’t already have a blog, consider starting one. Sign up for Twitter and get out there! Meeting other people in your line of work helps you to learn the language and communication styles that are effective in your industry.
If you know a lot of designers, for instance, they can refer clients to you when they’re overbooked, or when a client requires something beyond their expertise.
It’s also a good idea to try to network in person. It’s refreshing to get out of your home or office and meet people face to face. People will often share more in person than they will on their blog or via Twitter. Escaping your workstation every once in a while will give you that added fuel you need to move forward when you return from your mid-day vacation.
When all else fails, I tend to go on a “success story” binge. Take an hour to watch a fewTED Talks, read a few articles about people on the Forbes 400 list, or poke around the Small Business Success Stories page on BusinessWeek.
Stay motivated – and if you can’t, try something new.
Staying motivated isn’t easy – we often convince ourselves not to be. We often give ourselves excuses, allow other people to put us down, or look at the success of others and think, “That’ll never be me.”
There are two basic types of motivation: intrinsic motivation, and extrinsic motivation.
Intrinsic motivation comes from the feeling of self-achievement inherent in the task or project achieved, i.e. solving a puzzle, completing a school assignment, or finally publishing that website you were working on for a client.
Extrinsic motivation is the reward you get from others – or outside “forces”. This includes money and other financial or tangible rewards, such as a free vacation for achieving your sales targets, a trophy for winning first place at the Olympics, or even the crowd cheering as you overtake car #2 in the last stretch of the race. This explains the “home team advantage” methodology.
Extrinsic motivation (namely money) is often the primary basis for our motivation. Everyone needs money, and wants as much of it as possible. That’s no secret. However, I believe the feeling of self achievement is equally important when it comes to staying motivated.
When you’ve finished the design work for a client, what feels better? Getting paid or seeing your client smile, succeed, and receive brand recognition partly due to your efforts? If you picked getting paid, try thinking about it this way:
A small, startup company seeks your help in setting up their identity (logo, business card, website, etc.). The company is completely unknown but happens to take off. All of a sudden the company is everywhere – the NY Times, TechCrunch, CNN, a trending topic on Twitter, you name it.
Do you still feel the same? Okay, that might have been a bit of an exaggeration, but hopefully my point was made.
But what about the money?
There are many ways that you can use money and your personal financial status to keep yourself motivated. Here are a few ideas:
Reward yourself: decide on an amount (that doesn’t cut into your bill paying or savings) and reward yourself after a job well done. Of course you don’t want to spend every hard penny you’ve earned on your favourite hobby, but if it’s all work and no play you’ll get burnt out. Reward yourself as a reminder of what you’re working towards.
Financial status: do you want to put a down payment on your own place in 2 years? Pay off the house in 7? Have children and send them to private school? Remind yourself how much money you need to earn each month in order to support your desired lifestyle. If you’re not quite there yet figure out the steps needed to get there and write them down.
It takes money to make money: do you have any business plans that require startup capital you don’t currently have? Do you plan to buy and rent properties? Invest? These are other good ways to remind yourself to keep at it.
What else?
Networking. It’s easy to meet other people in your industry on the internet these days (especially if you’re a designer). If you don’t already have a blog, consider starting one. Sign up for Twitter and get out there! Meeting other people in your line of work helps you to learn the language and communication styles that are effective in your industry.
If you know a lot of designers, for instance, they can refer clients to you when they’re overbooked, or when a client requires something beyond their expertise.
It’s also a good idea to try to network in person. It’s refreshing to get out of your home or office and meet people face to face. People will often share more in person than they will on their blog or via Twitter. Escaping your workstation every once in a while will give you that added fuel you need to move forward when you return from your mid-day vacation.
When all else fails, I tend to go on a “success story” binge. Take an hour to watch a fewTED Talks, read a few articles about people on the Forbes 400 list, or poke around the Small Business Success Stories page on BusinessWeek.
Stay motivated – and if you can’t, try something new.
Self-Motivating Through Creative Blocks
Self-Motivating Through Creative Blocks
As designers, we need to be creative in order to be successful at our jobs.
Coming up with ideas and creative solutions to problems is what we do on a daily basis. But that doesn’t mean it’s always easy to do so.
Sometimes we get blocked creatively, and it seems like no matter how hard we try, we just can’t come up with a creative solution to anything.
The good news is that there are plenty of things you can do that can help you overcome a block in your creativity. First you’ll need to understand why you’re blocked, and then try some simple techniques to get over that blockage.
In this article, we’ll also cover a few ideas for finding motivation when your lack of desire to work is the root of your creativity problems.
Reasons for Creative Blockages
Before we can overcome a creative block, it’s important to figure out what is causing it. Without knowing the root cause, we don’t really know the best methods for getting over a blockage. In most cases, blocks are caused by one of four things:
1. Working Too Hard If you find yourself with a creative block, think about how much you’ve been working lately. If you work ten hour days or never take days off, you may be blocked because you’re just working too hard and too much. Most people don’t have an unlimited supply of creativity. After a few hours or a few days, we need time to replenish those creative reserves.
2. Lack of Sleep Being tired tends to zap creativity faster than anything else. If you’re not getting enough sleep every night, you can’t expect to be as creative as you would be if you’re well-rested. Not everyone necessarily needs eight hours of sleep a night, so it’s important to figure out how much sleep you need to be at your optimal creative levels. Note: Sometimes too much sleep can be just as bad for your creativity as too little.
3. Stress Whether it’s things in your personal life causing you stress or something at work, stress is a major killer of creativity. Finding ways to minimize the stress in your life is a great way to boost your creativity. Whether you do that by eliminating the things causing you stress or simply by finding ways to deal with it (like meditation or exercise) is up to you.
4. Fear Fear can freeze your creativity more solidly than virtually anything else. Sometimes you might be afraid to finish the current project because you have nothing else lined up after it. Other times you might be afraid the client isn’t going to like what you’ve done, or that your peers won’t appreciate the design. In either case, overcoming your fear is going to be paramount to getting your creativity back and finishing the project.
Ways to Overcome Creative Blocks
Hopefully you’ve been able to nail down exactly why you’re suffering from a creative block. Now it’s time to get down to overcoming it. There are a lot of techniques you can utilize to get over almost any kind of creative blockage. Here are some of the best:
1. Take a Break If you’re creatively blocked, taking a break from whatever you’re working on can do wonders. Work on something else for a bit, or take a day off. When you’ve got some distance from your project and aren’t thinking about it anymore, you might be surprised at the ideas that will start flowing.
2. Take a Nap This is particularly important if you think your creative blockage might be due to a lack of sleep. Taking a nap, even if it’s just for twenty or thirty minutes, can let your creative batteries recharge and give you new ideas. Even if your creativity blockage isn’t because of a lack of sleep, a nap can still give you a fresh perspective on your work. If you’re a morning person, an afternoon nap can even help reset your creativity levels to what they are when you get up in the morning.
3. Take a Walk A change of setting can often open up your creative flood gates better than anything else. Walking can also let your mind wander, which can result in finding new, creative solutions. Some people like to take long walks, maybe for an hour or two to free up their creativity, while others find just a quick, ten-minute walk around their block does the trick. You’ll have to experiment to see what works for you.
4. Do Something
Mundane This is one of the best tricks out there for unblocking your creativity. Doing some mundane task allows your brain to relax and wander, much as it does when you take a walk. Cleaning is often one of the best mundane tasks for overcoming a creative block, whether it’s vacuuming or washing dishes or dusting. The bonus here is that in many cases you’re completing other work that needs to get done. Make sure whatever mundane task you choose requires some physical activity but little or no concentration.
5. Switch Your Tools As designers, we generally use the same tools over and over again for each project. The same software, same hardware, same notebooks, pens, etc. If you change the tools you’re using, you may find ideas flow a little better. Try hand-coding for awhile in just a text editor, or use a different graphics program for a little while. If you normally use a computer-based wire-framing program, considering switching to paper for a bit (or vice versa). Making a small change in how you work can have a remarkable effect on how creative you’re feeling.
6. Look for Inspiration Finding new inspiration can do wonders for your creativity. If you’re blocked on a certain project, try looking at similar projects others have created. You can also try to find inspiration in other design work or outside the design world. If you want to create a new website layout, for example, maybe spend some time looking at magazine layouts for inspiration.
7. Force Yourself Sometimes the only way to get over a creative blockage is to push through it. You might have tried all the techniques above and still not be able to find your creativity again. If that’s the case, then just keep moving forward with the project. Sometimes, once you get past a certain part of the project, you may get over your creative block. You might also be able to then look at the part of the project that was giving you problems once it’s finished and figure out a better way to redo it. Or you might find that pushing through results in a perfectly acceptable solution that you and your client are both happy with.
Self-Motivating Tricks
Sometimes it’s not so much that we don’t know how to overcome a creative block as it’s just that we have no motivation to do so. For freelancers, especially, finding motivation can be difficult at times.
Even if you normally have no problem motivating yourself, almost everyone gets hit by a lack of motivation at one point or another, and this can often lead to a creative block. Finding motivation again can be tricky, but there are a few things you can do to get yourself working again.
1. Small Rewards Using small rewards as you reach certain milestones in your project can be a great way to get your creativity flowing again. If you know that after you complete a certain bit of your work that you can go out to eat, or go hang out with your friends or family, you’re more likely to just push through the creative block (which can end up freeing things up). These small rewards should be something you enjoy that you maybe don’t get to do every day or every week. The key here is to stick to it and not take your reward until you’ve met your goal.
2. Big Rewards Big rewards can be a great motivator for getting over a more severe creative block and finishing a big project. What this big reward is will depend on you. For some people, it might be taking a day or two off. For others it might be buying something you’ve been eying for awhile. Regardless of what the reward is, it can serve as a great motivator for loosening up a creative block. And if nothing else, it can motivate you to push through the block and get the work done.
3. Music Don’t overlook music as both a motivator and a way to free up your creativity. Put on something with a good beat, especially something fast, and you might be surprised at how much it can motivate you. Try to tailor the music to the project you’re working on. If you’re designing something young and hip, put on some club music or pop. If you’re designing something elegant and sophisticated, put on classical music or something like Frank Sinatra. Music that fits the project can get your creativity moving in the right direction.
4. Don’t Let Yourself Work This one seems counter-intuitive, but sometimes forcing yourself to take a break and not work can free up your creative flow. A forced hiatus can leave you eager to get back to work and filled with new ideas. If you can, take a break of a couple days. Do anything but work, and try not to even think about your work. You’ll probably find after a day or so, you can’t not think about your current project and your head is full of new ideas. Don’t got back to work as soon as that happens. Force yourself to take another day or two before you start working again so you’ve got so many ideas they’ll keep you going for awhile.
As designers, we need to be creative in order to be successful at our jobs.
Coming up with ideas and creative solutions to problems is what we do on a daily basis. But that doesn’t mean it’s always easy to do so.
Sometimes we get blocked creatively, and it seems like no matter how hard we try, we just can’t come up with a creative solution to anything.
The good news is that there are plenty of things you can do that can help you overcome a block in your creativity. First you’ll need to understand why you’re blocked, and then try some simple techniques to get over that blockage.
In this article, we’ll also cover a few ideas for finding motivation when your lack of desire to work is the root of your creativity problems.
Reasons for Creative Blockages
Before we can overcome a creative block, it’s important to figure out what is causing it. Without knowing the root cause, we don’t really know the best methods for getting over a blockage. In most cases, blocks are caused by one of four things:
1. Working Too Hard If you find yourself with a creative block, think about how much you’ve been working lately. If you work ten hour days or never take days off, you may be blocked because you’re just working too hard and too much. Most people don’t have an unlimited supply of creativity. After a few hours or a few days, we need time to replenish those creative reserves.
2. Lack of Sleep Being tired tends to zap creativity faster than anything else. If you’re not getting enough sleep every night, you can’t expect to be as creative as you would be if you’re well-rested. Not everyone necessarily needs eight hours of sleep a night, so it’s important to figure out how much sleep you need to be at your optimal creative levels. Note: Sometimes too much sleep can be just as bad for your creativity as too little.
3. Stress Whether it’s things in your personal life causing you stress or something at work, stress is a major killer of creativity. Finding ways to minimize the stress in your life is a great way to boost your creativity. Whether you do that by eliminating the things causing you stress or simply by finding ways to deal with it (like meditation or exercise) is up to you.
4. Fear Fear can freeze your creativity more solidly than virtually anything else. Sometimes you might be afraid to finish the current project because you have nothing else lined up after it. Other times you might be afraid the client isn’t going to like what you’ve done, or that your peers won’t appreciate the design. In either case, overcoming your fear is going to be paramount to getting your creativity back and finishing the project.
Ways to Overcome Creative Blocks
Hopefully you’ve been able to nail down exactly why you’re suffering from a creative block. Now it’s time to get down to overcoming it. There are a lot of techniques you can utilize to get over almost any kind of creative blockage. Here are some of the best:
1. Take a Break If you’re creatively blocked, taking a break from whatever you’re working on can do wonders. Work on something else for a bit, or take a day off. When you’ve got some distance from your project and aren’t thinking about it anymore, you might be surprised at the ideas that will start flowing.
2. Take a Nap This is particularly important if you think your creative blockage might be due to a lack of sleep. Taking a nap, even if it’s just for twenty or thirty minutes, can let your creative batteries recharge and give you new ideas. Even if your creativity blockage isn’t because of a lack of sleep, a nap can still give you a fresh perspective on your work. If you’re a morning person, an afternoon nap can even help reset your creativity levels to what they are when you get up in the morning.
3. Take a Walk A change of setting can often open up your creative flood gates better than anything else. Walking can also let your mind wander, which can result in finding new, creative solutions. Some people like to take long walks, maybe for an hour or two to free up their creativity, while others find just a quick, ten-minute walk around their block does the trick. You’ll have to experiment to see what works for you.
4. Do Something
Mundane This is one of the best tricks out there for unblocking your creativity. Doing some mundane task allows your brain to relax and wander, much as it does when you take a walk. Cleaning is often one of the best mundane tasks for overcoming a creative block, whether it’s vacuuming or washing dishes or dusting. The bonus here is that in many cases you’re completing other work that needs to get done. Make sure whatever mundane task you choose requires some physical activity but little or no concentration.
5. Switch Your Tools As designers, we generally use the same tools over and over again for each project. The same software, same hardware, same notebooks, pens, etc. If you change the tools you’re using, you may find ideas flow a little better. Try hand-coding for awhile in just a text editor, or use a different graphics program for a little while. If you normally use a computer-based wire-framing program, considering switching to paper for a bit (or vice versa). Making a small change in how you work can have a remarkable effect on how creative you’re feeling.
6. Look for Inspiration Finding new inspiration can do wonders for your creativity. If you’re blocked on a certain project, try looking at similar projects others have created. You can also try to find inspiration in other design work or outside the design world. If you want to create a new website layout, for example, maybe spend some time looking at magazine layouts for inspiration.
7. Force Yourself Sometimes the only way to get over a creative blockage is to push through it. You might have tried all the techniques above and still not be able to find your creativity again. If that’s the case, then just keep moving forward with the project. Sometimes, once you get past a certain part of the project, you may get over your creative block. You might also be able to then look at the part of the project that was giving you problems once it’s finished and figure out a better way to redo it. Or you might find that pushing through results in a perfectly acceptable solution that you and your client are both happy with.
Self-Motivating Tricks
Sometimes it’s not so much that we don’t know how to overcome a creative block as it’s just that we have no motivation to do so. For freelancers, especially, finding motivation can be difficult at times.
Even if you normally have no problem motivating yourself, almost everyone gets hit by a lack of motivation at one point or another, and this can often lead to a creative block. Finding motivation again can be tricky, but there are a few things you can do to get yourself working again.
1. Small Rewards Using small rewards as you reach certain milestones in your project can be a great way to get your creativity flowing again. If you know that after you complete a certain bit of your work that you can go out to eat, or go hang out with your friends or family, you’re more likely to just push through the creative block (which can end up freeing things up). These small rewards should be something you enjoy that you maybe don’t get to do every day or every week. The key here is to stick to it and not take your reward until you’ve met your goal.
2. Big Rewards Big rewards can be a great motivator for getting over a more severe creative block and finishing a big project. What this big reward is will depend on you. For some people, it might be taking a day or two off. For others it might be buying something you’ve been eying for awhile. Regardless of what the reward is, it can serve as a great motivator for loosening up a creative block. And if nothing else, it can motivate you to push through the block and get the work done.
3. Music Don’t overlook music as both a motivator and a way to free up your creativity. Put on something with a good beat, especially something fast, and you might be surprised at how much it can motivate you. Try to tailor the music to the project you’re working on. If you’re designing something young and hip, put on some club music or pop. If you’re designing something elegant and sophisticated, put on classical music or something like Frank Sinatra. Music that fits the project can get your creativity moving in the right direction.
4. Don’t Let Yourself Work This one seems counter-intuitive, but sometimes forcing yourself to take a break and not work can free up your creative flow. A forced hiatus can leave you eager to get back to work and filled with new ideas. If you can, take a break of a couple days. Do anything but work, and try not to even think about your work. You’ll probably find after a day or so, you can’t not think about your current project and your head is full of new ideas. Don’t got back to work as soon as that happens. Force yourself to take another day or two before you start working again so you’ve got so many ideas they’ll keep you going for awhile.
10 Secrets Every New Artist Should Know
10 Secrets Every New Artist Should Know
Being a professional artist is as much about tenacity as it is about talent. Just because you have the creative ability to mold perception and shape moods using color, light, and sound, doesn’t mean you have what it takes to make it as an artist. In fact, being creative and being talented is rarely very lucrative.
It takes a lot of concentrated energy, impressive levels of ability and commitment, and a combination of luck, timing, and business savvy to succeed as an artist. It’s definitely not easy, but neither is it impossible — especially if you know what to expect when you are first starting your career.
#1 Freelance Regularly
Sure, you’d prefer to have one steady, high-paying job as an animator, illustrator, or designer. Who wouldn’t? It’d be great to receive bimonthly paychecks from your company, have health insurance and paid vacation days. Unfortunately, there are a lot more people like you vying for that steady job than there are jobs like that available.
Instead of waiting around for the perfect opportunity to fall out of the sky, you need to create your own opportunities. How do you do this? Simple. Freelance as much as you can. Expand your body of work and your network of professional relationships. Work with start-ups, do little one-off corporate projects, take month-long contract gigs. You never know which of the many pots on the fire is going to boil first. If you’ve gotten your work exposed to a lot of people, you’ll have much better odds of getting hired when one of these projects takes off. After all, you’ll already be a known and respected commodity.
#2 Volunteer: Serve Others While Serving Yourself
Sometimes we do freelance work for free: it’s called volunteering. Sure, you can look at it as working for free… or, you can look at it as networking. Try thinking about it like this: if you are a talented artist and you aren’t getting paid for that talent, one of the reasons may be lack of exposure. It’s as simple as that — not enough people have seen your work! By volunteering, you get to look like a benevolent human being AND you get to showcase your skills to a potentially large and appreciative audience. You never know when one of the many people associated with your volunteer project will offer you a job — or an introduction — that can help out your career.
#3 Illustrate Your Point
No matter what kind of artist you are, it pays to be able to do a quick sketch to visually articulate your point. Think of it as professional Pictionary. If somebody asks you for an example of a concept or a campaign and hands you a piece of paper and a pen, you should be able to take that notepad and draw your idea with confidence. Not an illustrator? It doesn’t matter. Even if you’re a computer animator, a fashion designer, or a sculptor, having a basic ability to make quick visual illustrations of your ideas will give you the credibility and edge you need in presentations. Anyone can give an “elevator pitch”, but only a few can describe that pitch with a pen as fluently as they can with a paragraph.
#4 Give Yourself a Hot Brand
Marketing is important, especially in a crowded field like art. There are millions of people that claim to be artists; they all have portfolios and big aspirations. What they don’t all have is a clear brand. Evaluate your skills, evaluate your specialty, and make a branding decision.
Are you a photographer? Great. What kind? Editorial, travel, wedding, fashion, food? Focus your brand. (As a photographer we shouldn’t even have to tell you this.!) Focus your skills through the right lens and get the best shot at success. Once you know what your brand is, use it. Promote it, build it, strengthen it, network with it, attend conventions with it, SEO it. Make your brand unique, compelling, and impactful by focusing on a skill and cultivating it. You’ll increase relevancy, opportunity, and ultimately brand value.
#5 Show Off Your Professional Portfolio Online and Off
Every serious artist needs a serious portfolio. If you want people to consider you a professional, you will need to compile and design a professional portfolio both on the web and in a traditional “book.”
Your book should be in a nice presentation case. Remember, the feel and texture of the case itself as well as the sheen on the sleeves that hold your work will all be evaluated (even if unconsciously) by the people to whom you present your work.
Online, your portfolio needs to be professionally designed by a web designer; it should be clearly organized and easy to navigate. An artist with a badly designed online portfolio will not look professional, no matter how good his or her work is. Make sure to link to your experience and education in a resume section, showcase your clients and expertise. If you work in various media, you should have a painting channel, an illustration channel, a photography channel, each segmented to highlight your top work in each section.
#6 Contracts Can Make the Difference
As you look for the perfect artistic career, you’ll find yourself doing a lot of piecemeal contract and freelance work for extra cash. When you work on a project-by-project basis, you need to get paid promptly so that you can pay for things you might need. To make sure you always make rent, you need a solid contract.
Keep your contract straightforward, simple, and professional. Make it clear that your contract is legally binding and that payment is due within 30 days of the receipt of the invoice. Stipulate that additional penalties will accrue at X% on top of the original fee if payment is tardy beyond the 30-day mark. In most instances you can accomplish everything you need to in a short form contract. For more information on contracts for artistscheck this out.
#7 Know Your Value
Art is subjective. One man’s paint splatter is another man’s masterpiece. When you are trying to decide how much to charge for your work, you need to take a lot of things into account.
First, think about the time it takes you to do something. If a piece takes you 60 hours to complete and you only charge $500 dollars for it that means you are working for about $8 an hour. That’s not a great salary for a professional artist, unless of course you are a “Sandwich Artist.”.
Second, consider the cost of your supplies. If you spend $200 on materials for that 60-hour piece, and charge $500 dollars, you are only making $300 on the piece – which means you’re actually making about $5 an hour.
Third, factor in the intangibles of your work that give it value. You didn’t start making art today; you’ve practiced, studied, trained, experimented, and improved for years. Factor those years of preparation into your final price. Even if you can make something in an hour, it doesn’t mean it’s less valuable because it would take a non-professional many more hours to approximate the same thing. After all, your years of practice prepared you to create quality work quickly. You should be compensated for that foresight and training.
Fourthly, value creates value. If you charge more money for something, people will assume it is worth more money. If you make an amazing sculpture and sell it for one dollar, people will think that there must be something wrong with it. They will devalue it, even though their initial impression was that it was a lovely and valuable piece of art. There is a point where you can charge too much for your work, but charging more than you think it’s worth might actually help you sell more of it, make more money, and establish a perceived value that wasn’t there before.
#8 The Client Will Annoy You
The problem with art is that everyone assumes that they are good at it. Nuclear engineers never face this problem. If a nuclear engineer gets hired to work on a problem, they are never second-guessed about tweaking their quantum physics formulas. Why? Because the person who hired them knows they don’t know how to perform nuclear engineering, that’s why they hired a scientist.
Art is not like this. Art is more democratic—and democracies make mistakes. Everyone thinks they have a hidden talent for art, a great eye, or a subtle genius for color theory. At the very least they will assume that “they know what they like” (even if their taste is atrocious). Because of this common misconception, yourclient will give you advice and feedback that will annoy you. And it should annoy you, because in most cases, it will be wrong. After all, your client lacks the talent and vision to create design for him or herself. Don’t worry; this won’t stop them from piping in with ill formed opinions. He or she will try to put their touch on your design by having you add space where it isn’t needed, or mix colors that clash.
Unfortunately, until you are an established artist, you are going to have to either concede to your client’s wishes and get paid, or stay righteous and poor. The sooner you deal with this, the sooner you’ll get paid.
#9 Being an Artist Doesn’t Mean You Get to Be Irresponsible
Until you’ve made it big, your quirks and whims won’t be seen as endearing or delightfully Warholian. If you’re serious about making art your business then go ahead and put aside romantic visions of an artistic lifestyle that focuses on glamour and doesn’t put much stock in the details.
As an aspiring artist you’ll need to hustle, and you’ll need to sell yourself. You’ll need to network; you’ll need to market your skills and your portfolio. You’ll need to answer phone calls, and, just as importantly, return those calls you missed. Just because you are talented doesn’t mean you are going to make it as an artist. A combination of talent and tenacity is required to showcase your work and get it the recognition that it very well may deserve.
#10 Confidence is Required
If a stranger asks you, “What do you do?” And your response sounds something like, “Umm. Well, I um … I don’t know. Well … I want to be an artist, but I’m not really an artist, I mean I’m not that good, and I certainly don’t get paid for it, but I sure like art.”
You are not doing a good job of being an artist. No matter how amazing your artwork is, if you can’t project an aura of confidence and professionalism it is going to take a series of miracles for anyone to ever get the chance to see and appreciate your work. Yes, the universe is unfair, there are some artists with little talent beyond self-promotion that are famous. Do they deserve to be famous? Not really, but the point is that confidence and self-promotion can be as important, if not more important, than talent.
The majority of successful professional artists exhibit a combination of confidence and talent. They recognize an opportunity and they know how to present themselves and their work to seize that opportunity. If you don’t think your art is good enough to talk about, stop now, because nobody else will either.
Being a professional artist is as much about tenacity as it is about talent. Just because you have the creative ability to mold perception and shape moods using color, light, and sound, doesn’t mean you have what it takes to make it as an artist. In fact, being creative and being talented is rarely very lucrative.
It takes a lot of concentrated energy, impressive levels of ability and commitment, and a combination of luck, timing, and business savvy to succeed as an artist. It’s definitely not easy, but neither is it impossible — especially if you know what to expect when you are first starting your career.
#1 Freelance Regularly
Sure, you’d prefer to have one steady, high-paying job as an animator, illustrator, or designer. Who wouldn’t? It’d be great to receive bimonthly paychecks from your company, have health insurance and paid vacation days. Unfortunately, there are a lot more people like you vying for that steady job than there are jobs like that available.
Instead of waiting around for the perfect opportunity to fall out of the sky, you need to create your own opportunities. How do you do this? Simple. Freelance as much as you can. Expand your body of work and your network of professional relationships. Work with start-ups, do little one-off corporate projects, take month-long contract gigs. You never know which of the many pots on the fire is going to boil first. If you’ve gotten your work exposed to a lot of people, you’ll have much better odds of getting hired when one of these projects takes off. After all, you’ll already be a known and respected commodity.
#2 Volunteer: Serve Others While Serving Yourself
Sometimes we do freelance work for free: it’s called volunteering. Sure, you can look at it as working for free… or, you can look at it as networking. Try thinking about it like this: if you are a talented artist and you aren’t getting paid for that talent, one of the reasons may be lack of exposure. It’s as simple as that — not enough people have seen your work! By volunteering, you get to look like a benevolent human being AND you get to showcase your skills to a potentially large and appreciative audience. You never know when one of the many people associated with your volunteer project will offer you a job — or an introduction — that can help out your career.
#3 Illustrate Your Point
No matter what kind of artist you are, it pays to be able to do a quick sketch to visually articulate your point. Think of it as professional Pictionary. If somebody asks you for an example of a concept or a campaign and hands you a piece of paper and a pen, you should be able to take that notepad and draw your idea with confidence. Not an illustrator? It doesn’t matter. Even if you’re a computer animator, a fashion designer, or a sculptor, having a basic ability to make quick visual illustrations of your ideas will give you the credibility and edge you need in presentations. Anyone can give an “elevator pitch”, but only a few can describe that pitch with a pen as fluently as they can with a paragraph.
#4 Give Yourself a Hot Brand
Marketing is important, especially in a crowded field like art. There are millions of people that claim to be artists; they all have portfolios and big aspirations. What they don’t all have is a clear brand. Evaluate your skills, evaluate your specialty, and make a branding decision.
Are you a photographer? Great. What kind? Editorial, travel, wedding, fashion, food? Focus your brand. (As a photographer we shouldn’t even have to tell you this.!) Focus your skills through the right lens and get the best shot at success. Once you know what your brand is, use it. Promote it, build it, strengthen it, network with it, attend conventions with it, SEO it. Make your brand unique, compelling, and impactful by focusing on a skill and cultivating it. You’ll increase relevancy, opportunity, and ultimately brand value.
#5 Show Off Your Professional Portfolio Online and Off
Every serious artist needs a serious portfolio. If you want people to consider you a professional, you will need to compile and design a professional portfolio both on the web and in a traditional “book.”
Your book should be in a nice presentation case. Remember, the feel and texture of the case itself as well as the sheen on the sleeves that hold your work will all be evaluated (even if unconsciously) by the people to whom you present your work.
Online, your portfolio needs to be professionally designed by a web designer; it should be clearly organized and easy to navigate. An artist with a badly designed online portfolio will not look professional, no matter how good his or her work is. Make sure to link to your experience and education in a resume section, showcase your clients and expertise. If you work in various media, you should have a painting channel, an illustration channel, a photography channel, each segmented to highlight your top work in each section.
#6 Contracts Can Make the Difference
As you look for the perfect artistic career, you’ll find yourself doing a lot of piecemeal contract and freelance work for extra cash. When you work on a project-by-project basis, you need to get paid promptly so that you can pay for things you might need. To make sure you always make rent, you need a solid contract.
Keep your contract straightforward, simple, and professional. Make it clear that your contract is legally binding and that payment is due within 30 days of the receipt of the invoice. Stipulate that additional penalties will accrue at X% on top of the original fee if payment is tardy beyond the 30-day mark. In most instances you can accomplish everything you need to in a short form contract. For more information on contracts for artistscheck this out.
#7 Know Your Value
Art is subjective. One man’s paint splatter is another man’s masterpiece. When you are trying to decide how much to charge for your work, you need to take a lot of things into account.
First, think about the time it takes you to do something. If a piece takes you 60 hours to complete and you only charge $500 dollars for it that means you are working for about $8 an hour. That’s not a great salary for a professional artist, unless of course you are a “Sandwich Artist.”.
Second, consider the cost of your supplies. If you spend $200 on materials for that 60-hour piece, and charge $500 dollars, you are only making $300 on the piece – which means you’re actually making about $5 an hour.
Third, factor in the intangibles of your work that give it value. You didn’t start making art today; you’ve practiced, studied, trained, experimented, and improved for years. Factor those years of preparation into your final price. Even if you can make something in an hour, it doesn’t mean it’s less valuable because it would take a non-professional many more hours to approximate the same thing. After all, your years of practice prepared you to create quality work quickly. You should be compensated for that foresight and training.
Fourthly, value creates value. If you charge more money for something, people will assume it is worth more money. If you make an amazing sculpture and sell it for one dollar, people will think that there must be something wrong with it. They will devalue it, even though their initial impression was that it was a lovely and valuable piece of art. There is a point where you can charge too much for your work, but charging more than you think it’s worth might actually help you sell more of it, make more money, and establish a perceived value that wasn’t there before.
#8 The Client Will Annoy You
The problem with art is that everyone assumes that they are good at it. Nuclear engineers never face this problem. If a nuclear engineer gets hired to work on a problem, they are never second-guessed about tweaking their quantum physics formulas. Why? Because the person who hired them knows they don’t know how to perform nuclear engineering, that’s why they hired a scientist.
Art is not like this. Art is more democratic—and democracies make mistakes. Everyone thinks they have a hidden talent for art, a great eye, or a subtle genius for color theory. At the very least they will assume that “they know what they like” (even if their taste is atrocious). Because of this common misconception, yourclient will give you advice and feedback that will annoy you. And it should annoy you, because in most cases, it will be wrong. After all, your client lacks the talent and vision to create design for him or herself. Don’t worry; this won’t stop them from piping in with ill formed opinions. He or she will try to put their touch on your design by having you add space where it isn’t needed, or mix colors that clash.
Unfortunately, until you are an established artist, you are going to have to either concede to your client’s wishes and get paid, or stay righteous and poor. The sooner you deal with this, the sooner you’ll get paid.
#9 Being an Artist Doesn’t Mean You Get to Be Irresponsible
Until you’ve made it big, your quirks and whims won’t be seen as endearing or delightfully Warholian. If you’re serious about making art your business then go ahead and put aside romantic visions of an artistic lifestyle that focuses on glamour and doesn’t put much stock in the details.
As an aspiring artist you’ll need to hustle, and you’ll need to sell yourself. You’ll need to network; you’ll need to market your skills and your portfolio. You’ll need to answer phone calls, and, just as importantly, return those calls you missed. Just because you are talented doesn’t mean you are going to make it as an artist. A combination of talent and tenacity is required to showcase your work and get it the recognition that it very well may deserve.
#10 Confidence is Required
If a stranger asks you, “What do you do?” And your response sounds something like, “Umm. Well, I um … I don’t know. Well … I want to be an artist, but I’m not really an artist, I mean I’m not that good, and I certainly don’t get paid for it, but I sure like art.”
You are not doing a good job of being an artist. No matter how amazing your artwork is, if you can’t project an aura of confidence and professionalism it is going to take a series of miracles for anyone to ever get the chance to see and appreciate your work. Yes, the universe is unfair, there are some artists with little talent beyond self-promotion that are famous. Do they deserve to be famous? Not really, but the point is that confidence and self-promotion can be as important, if not more important, than talent.
The majority of successful professional artists exhibit a combination of confidence and talent. They recognize an opportunity and they know how to present themselves and their work to seize that opportunity. If you don’t think your art is good enough to talk about, stop now, because nobody else will either.
11 Things You Should Resolve Not to Do at Work in 2011
11 Things You Should Resolve Not to Do at Work in 2011
By Megan Malugani, Monster Contributing Writer
The new year is a perfect time to say “hello” to workplace happiness and “good-bye” to the bad habits that make you miserable and hinder your professional success. You’ll enjoy your time in the office a little more -- and improve your professional reputation -- if you make it your New Year’s resolution to cut down on these 11 counterproductive behaviors:
1. Excessive Complaining
Enough already. Constant whining about insignificant things (“It’s horribly unfair that Department X got a casual day and we didn’t!”) doesn’t serve a purpose and keeps you in a perpetually bad mood. Plus, happy people will avoid you.
2. Gossiping
Ditto for gossiping. The next time a colleague tries to engage you in the office drama du jour, offer a one-word response, like “interesting” or “wow,” and follow it with, “I’ve got to go. See you later.” Repeat as necessary.
3. Heartlessly Criticizing Others
Sometimes you must criticize a colleague’s or subordinate’s performance. But have a heart when doing so. If possible, mention a few positives for every negative, and try to be constructive rather than cruel.
4. Beating Yourself Up
So you made a mistake, or your brilliant idea actually turned out to be a bad one. No one is perfect. Own up to your mistake, or take responsibility for your failure. Then move on.
5. Taking Yourself Too Seriously
C’mon, lighten up. Admittedly, this may be tough for overworked employees in a difficult labor market. But that is precisely the reason to flash those pearly whites and crack a joke now and then (even of the “gallows humor” variety): Everyone benefits when the tension is brought down a notch, even for just a minute.
6. Stagnating
Are you content to be bored at work? Do you want your boss to consider you uninspired? Probably not. So make it a resolution to learn something new or try something different in 2011.
7. Isolating Yourself
In today’s topsy-turvy job market, professional networking is more important than ever. So this year, don’t hole up in your cubicle. Get out there and meet some new folks -- both inside and outside the company -- who share your profession or work in your field.
8. Blending into the Woodwork
Even if you’ve always had a hard time speaking up in meetings or expressing your opinion to your boss, it’s never too late to start putting in your two cents. Pick one work-related issue that is close to your heart and that you’re knowledgeable about. Contribute a few comments on this issue during a meeting -- you may be surprised at how seriously people take the input of someone who speaks sparingly!
9. Blabbing Unnecessarily
Stating your mind is important, but don’t just talk to hear your own voice in meetings, either. Speak up only if you’re adding something of value to the discussion.
10. Burning Bridges
Don’t assume that colleagues, customers and others who cross your professional path will forgive and forget when you do them wrong. So make it one of your resolutions in 2011 to stay on good terms with your professional acquaintances. Yes, it’s sometimes hard, but oh-so-worth-it in the long run.
11. Wasting Time Via Social Media
Wasting time at work is as old as work itself. But a particularly timely pet peeve of many bosses is the overuse and/or misuse of Facebook, Twitter and other forms of social media. Alas, this final resolution -- to curb your social media addiction -- may not make you happier at work in the short term, but it will protect you professionally in the long term.
By Megan Malugani, Monster Contributing Writer
The new year is a perfect time to say “hello” to workplace happiness and “good-bye” to the bad habits that make you miserable and hinder your professional success. You’ll enjoy your time in the office a little more -- and improve your professional reputation -- if you make it your New Year’s resolution to cut down on these 11 counterproductive behaviors:
1. Excessive Complaining
Enough already. Constant whining about insignificant things (“It’s horribly unfair that Department X got a casual day and we didn’t!”) doesn’t serve a purpose and keeps you in a perpetually bad mood. Plus, happy people will avoid you.
2. Gossiping
Ditto for gossiping. The next time a colleague tries to engage you in the office drama du jour, offer a one-word response, like “interesting” or “wow,” and follow it with, “I’ve got to go. See you later.” Repeat as necessary.
3. Heartlessly Criticizing Others
Sometimes you must criticize a colleague’s or subordinate’s performance. But have a heart when doing so. If possible, mention a few positives for every negative, and try to be constructive rather than cruel.
4. Beating Yourself Up
So you made a mistake, or your brilliant idea actually turned out to be a bad one. No one is perfect. Own up to your mistake, or take responsibility for your failure. Then move on.
5. Taking Yourself Too Seriously
C’mon, lighten up. Admittedly, this may be tough for overworked employees in a difficult labor market. But that is precisely the reason to flash those pearly whites and crack a joke now and then (even of the “gallows humor” variety): Everyone benefits when the tension is brought down a notch, even for just a minute.
6. Stagnating
Are you content to be bored at work? Do you want your boss to consider you uninspired? Probably not. So make it a resolution to learn something new or try something different in 2011.
7. Isolating Yourself
In today’s topsy-turvy job market, professional networking is more important than ever. So this year, don’t hole up in your cubicle. Get out there and meet some new folks -- both inside and outside the company -- who share your profession or work in your field.
8. Blending into the Woodwork
Even if you’ve always had a hard time speaking up in meetings or expressing your opinion to your boss, it’s never too late to start putting in your two cents. Pick one work-related issue that is close to your heart and that you’re knowledgeable about. Contribute a few comments on this issue during a meeting -- you may be surprised at how seriously people take the input of someone who speaks sparingly!
9. Blabbing Unnecessarily
Stating your mind is important, but don’t just talk to hear your own voice in meetings, either. Speak up only if you’re adding something of value to the discussion.
10. Burning Bridges
Don’t assume that colleagues, customers and others who cross your professional path will forgive and forget when you do them wrong. So make it one of your resolutions in 2011 to stay on good terms with your professional acquaintances. Yes, it’s sometimes hard, but oh-so-worth-it in the long run.
11. Wasting Time Via Social Media
Wasting time at work is as old as work itself. But a particularly timely pet peeve of many bosses is the overuse and/or misuse of Facebook, Twitter and other forms of social media. Alas, this final resolution -- to curb your social media addiction -- may not make you happier at work in the short term, but it will protect you professionally in the long term.
Best Methods for Using Texture in Design
Best Methods for Using Texture in Design
From the examples above, it's easy to see how texture in any medium can enhance design. However, what are the best methods for incorporating it? Texture can add a lot of interest to a design which means it can also go too far as well. There are situations where texture can be distracting or used incorrectly so that it is ineffective.
Of course, depending on what artistic venue you're working in, texture should be used differently. For example, logo design should keep texture to a minimum, while web or graphic design can use a lot more. Despite the differences for each type of design, let's look into some general rules, or guidelines.
1. Don't Distract from the Essential Elements
There are different levels of texture and different types that can be used in better situations that others. If texture is distracting from the needed content or other imagery, then it is being used incorrectly. Try to think about this consciously and get other people's opinions before using too much texture. Also, try not to use heavy textures on backgrounds, unless it is meant to be part of the focus of the design.
2. Follow a Texture Theme
Use similar texture styles to create repetition, in a seemingly random design. This can also be used to cause unity in the design. In certain types of design that use texture, the design can seem disorganized and messy, while design should always seem put together to an extent. A designer should use texture for visual interest, either to break a pattern or add variety to a repeating pattern, but texture should not be used to create such chaos that the design looks disorganized. Similar textures will help combat this.
3. Add Texture to Repeating Patterns
Most of the examples above are seemingly random textures used for visual interest. However, there are many designers that add texture in a much more organized way, via patterns. An example of this practice would be straight wooden planks used as a background, or dust/noise added to a pattern.
4. Gradients and/or Fading Texture
Sometimes an extreme texture can be made more subtle by simply not covering the entire design with it. Try fading a texture into a solid color, or to a darker and less noticeable version of the texture. Be sure to put the lightest part of the gradient (where the texture will be most noticeable) in an area of the design where it's needed — highlighting a main feature, or adding visual interest to a place that needs it.
5. Try Putting Texture as the Main Focus
While most designs succeed with adding texture but making it as subtle as possible, other designs excel by making texture the primary focus. An example of this practice is a large background website. A well-textured large background along with interesting shapes and themes can be the main focus of the design, and therefore not be too distracting. This technique is also used often in graphic design with varying textures are clashed to create a design in itself.
Wrapping Up
Texture is an important part of any style of design, and many forms of design or art aren't visually appealing enough without it. While there are many examples of texture-less design still used today, many viewers see textured designs as more appealing and are more emotionally responsive. Even when knowing this, many designers are afraid of using texture in the wrong way to an extent that they avoid using it, or avoid using too much of it.
Our advice to any designer or artist: always feel free to experiment with texture! Trying out new things is the only way to explore and discover new ways of using this one design element to its fullest potential.
From the examples above, it's easy to see how texture in any medium can enhance design. However, what are the best methods for incorporating it? Texture can add a lot of interest to a design which means it can also go too far as well. There are situations where texture can be distracting or used incorrectly so that it is ineffective.
Of course, depending on what artistic venue you're working in, texture should be used differently. For example, logo design should keep texture to a minimum, while web or graphic design can use a lot more. Despite the differences for each type of design, let's look into some general rules, or guidelines.
1. Don't Distract from the Essential Elements
There are different levels of texture and different types that can be used in better situations that others. If texture is distracting from the needed content or other imagery, then it is being used incorrectly. Try to think about this consciously and get other people's opinions before using too much texture. Also, try not to use heavy textures on backgrounds, unless it is meant to be part of the focus of the design.
2. Follow a Texture Theme
Use similar texture styles to create repetition, in a seemingly random design. This can also be used to cause unity in the design. In certain types of design that use texture, the design can seem disorganized and messy, while design should always seem put together to an extent. A designer should use texture for visual interest, either to break a pattern or add variety to a repeating pattern, but texture should not be used to create such chaos that the design looks disorganized. Similar textures will help combat this.
3. Add Texture to Repeating Patterns
Most of the examples above are seemingly random textures used for visual interest. However, there are many designers that add texture in a much more organized way, via patterns. An example of this practice would be straight wooden planks used as a background, or dust/noise added to a pattern.
4. Gradients and/or Fading Texture
Sometimes an extreme texture can be made more subtle by simply not covering the entire design with it. Try fading a texture into a solid color, or to a darker and less noticeable version of the texture. Be sure to put the lightest part of the gradient (where the texture will be most noticeable) in an area of the design where it's needed — highlighting a main feature, or adding visual interest to a place that needs it.
5. Try Putting Texture as the Main Focus
While most designs succeed with adding texture but making it as subtle as possible, other designs excel by making texture the primary focus. An example of this practice is a large background website. A well-textured large background along with interesting shapes and themes can be the main focus of the design, and therefore not be too distracting. This technique is also used often in graphic design with varying textures are clashed to create a design in itself.
Wrapping Up
Texture is an important part of any style of design, and many forms of design or art aren't visually appealing enough without it. While there are many examples of texture-less design still used today, many viewers see textured designs as more appealing and are more emotionally responsive. Even when knowing this, many designers are afraid of using texture in the wrong way to an extent that they avoid using it, or avoid using too much of it.
Our advice to any designer or artist: always feel free to experiment with texture! Trying out new things is the only way to explore and discover new ways of using this one design element to its fullest potential.
Wisdom of Life
Wisdom of Life
> 1.
> Life isn't fair, but it's still
> good.
>
> 2. When in doubt, just take the next small
> step.
>
> 3.
> Life is too short to waste time hating
> anyone.
>
> 4. Your job won't take care of you when you are
> sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in
> touch.
>
> 5..
> Pay off your credit cards every month.
>
> 6. You don't have to win every argument.
> Agree to disagree.
>
> 7.
> Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying
> alone.
>
> 8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take
> it.
>
> 9.
> Save for retirement starting with your first
> paycheck.
>
> 10. When it comes to
> chocolate, resistance is
> futile.
>
> 11.
> Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the
> present.
>
> 12. It's OK to let your children see you
> cry.
>
> 13.
> Don't compare your life to
> others. You have no idea what
> their journey is all about.
>
> 14. If a relationship has to be a
> secret, you shouldn't be in
> it.
>
> 15.
> Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't
> worry; God never blinks.
>
> 16. Take a deep breath. It calms the
> mind.
>
> 17.
> Get rid of anything that isn't
> useful, beautiful or
> joyful.
>
> 18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make
> you stronger.
>
> 19.
> It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the
> second one is up to you and no one
> else.
>
> 20. When it comes to going after what you love in
> life, don't take no for an
> answer.
>
> 21.
> Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy
> lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is
> special.
>
> 22. Over prepare, then go with the
> flow.
>
> 23.
> Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear
> purple.
>
> 24. The most important sex organ is the
> brain.
>
> 25.
> No one is in charge of your happiness but
> you.
>
> 26. Frame every so-called disaster with these
> words 'In five years, will
> this matter?'
>
> 27.
> Always choose life.
>
> 28. Forgive everyone
> everything.
>
> 29.
> What other people think of you is none of your
> business.
>
> 30. Time heals almost everything. Give time
> time.
>
> 31.
> However good or bad a situation is, it will
> change.
>
> 32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one
> else does.
>
> 33.
> Believe in miracles.
>
> 34. God loves you because of who God is, not
> because of anything you did or didn't
> do.
>
> 35.
> Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it
> now.
>
> 36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying
> young.
>
> 37.
> Your children get only one childhood.
>
> 38. All that truly matters in the end is that you
> loved.
>
> 39.
> Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting
> everywhere.
>
> 40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw
> everyone else's,we'd grab ours
> back.
>
> 41.
> Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you
> need.
>
> 42. The best is yet to
> come.
>
> 43.
> No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show
> up.
>
> 44. Yield.
>
> 45.
> Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a
> gift."
> 1.
> Life isn't fair, but it's still
> good.
>
> 2. When in doubt, just take the next small
> step.
>
> 3.
> Life is too short to waste time hating
> anyone.
>
> 4. Your job won't take care of you when you are
> sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in
> touch.
>
> 5..
> Pay off your credit cards every month.
>
> 6. You don't have to win every argument.
> Agree to disagree.
>
> 7.
> Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying
> alone.
>
> 8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take
> it.
>
> 9.
> Save for retirement starting with your first
> paycheck.
>
> 10. When it comes to
> chocolate, resistance is
> futile.
>
> 11.
> Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the
> present.
>
> 12. It's OK to let your children see you
> cry.
>
> 13.
> Don't compare your life to
> others. You have no idea what
> their journey is all about.
>
> 14. If a relationship has to be a
> secret, you shouldn't be in
> it.
>
> 15.
> Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't
> worry; God never blinks.
>
> 16. Take a deep breath. It calms the
> mind.
>
> 17.
> Get rid of anything that isn't
> useful, beautiful or
> joyful.
>
> 18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make
> you stronger.
>
> 19.
> It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the
> second one is up to you and no one
> else.
>
> 20. When it comes to going after what you love in
> life, don't take no for an
> answer.
>
> 21.
> Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy
> lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is
> special.
>
> 22. Over prepare, then go with the
> flow.
>
> 23.
> Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear
> purple.
>
> 24. The most important sex organ is the
> brain.
>
> 25.
> No one is in charge of your happiness but
> you.
>
> 26. Frame every so-called disaster with these
> words 'In five years, will
> this matter?'
>
> 27.
> Always choose life.
>
> 28. Forgive everyone
> everything.
>
> 29.
> What other people think of you is none of your
> business.
>
> 30. Time heals almost everything. Give time
> time.
>
> 31.
> However good or bad a situation is, it will
> change.
>
> 32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one
> else does.
>
> 33.
> Believe in miracles.
>
> 34. God loves you because of who God is, not
> because of anything you did or didn't
> do.
>
> 35.
> Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it
> now.
>
> 36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying
> young.
>
> 37.
> Your children get only one childhood.
>
> 38. All that truly matters in the end is that you
> loved.
>
> 39.
> Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting
> everywhere.
>
> 40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw
> everyone else's,we'd grab ours
> back.
>
> 41.
> Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you
> need.
>
> 42. The best is yet to
> come.
>
> 43.
> No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show
> up.
>
> 44. Yield.
>
> 45.
> Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a
> gift."
Psychological Study of Web Designs Important Factors in Website Designing:
Psychological Study of Web Designs
Important Factors in Website Designing:
There are some factors which act like determinants for making a good website. These actually contribute a lot in enhancing the usability and experience of the visitors on the website. The factors are listed below:
You need to be very particular about images that suit your website the best.
The focus of the page— the area where your eyes tend to look when you visit a page for the first time.
Be particular about the object you tend to focus on— a single wrong move can ruin the expected traffic
Get a hold of your competitors— what their website look like.
Simplicity is the best policy and there is a need to create a balance between quantity and quality— be concise and qualitative.
Symbolism of Colours
Colours are the non-verbal communicators and go beyond the limits of ink. It all depends on how our mind perceive and associate meanings with each colour. But the colours have a deep impact on how your visitors perceive your site, reinforcing the message you want to portray, only if the selection of the colours is right.
Red
Fiery and passionate, strength, boldness, excitement, determination, desire, courage. It stimulates people to make quick decisions.
Orange
Enthusiasm, cheerfulness, affordability, stimulation, creativity, and is highly accepted among young people.
Yellow
A warm, happy color. It is attention-grabbing, comfort, liveliness, intellect, happiness, energy. It stimulates mental activity.
Green
Durability, reliability, safety, honesty, optimism, harmony, freshness. Green can sometimes represent inexperience. On the flip side, green is sometimes associated with envy or jealousy. It has been known to drive people away, so in most cases, unless the website is associated with nature, it is better to use it only for website accents.
Blue
Depth, stability, professionalism, loyalty, reliability, honour, trust. It proves to be calming and cool, but too much can be depressing. It is often associated with corporate images.
Purple/Violet
Long associated with royalty and wealth. It’s also a spiritual colour— power,nobility, luxury, mystery, royalty, elegance, magic are its phenomenal characteristics.
Black
Elegance, sophistication, formality, strength, mystery, with a bit of chameleon touch.
White
Cleanliness, purity, newness, virginity, peace, innocence, and simplicity.
Brown
A wholesome and down-to-earth colour that denotes stability and reliability.
Grey
Neutral and balanced. Conservatism, traditionalism, intelligence, seriousness depicts “Grey”.
Colours make us feel a certain way, so they can and should be used to support the purpose of a website.
“Whitespace,” or “negative space” is the space between elements in a composition. More specifically, the space between major elements in a composition is “macro whitespace.” - MARK BOULTON - Whitespace article for A list Apart
Don't let your visitors experience the negative space on your site. Try and encourage your readers to focus on a thing and then, take the appropriate action.
A sitemap, is very important so that it gives the reader an idea that every single page consists a single objective and it rules out.
Try and make sure that you at least have a choice to figure out the best element.
Rather than merely being the production of online decoration, web design is an effort of direction and communication. The main goal of such a psychologically triggered web design is to strike a balance between client preferences, design principles, and trial-and-error tests based on end-user analytics data. It should be an on-going process incorporating all the essentials.
Important Factors in Website Designing:
There are some factors which act like determinants for making a good website. These actually contribute a lot in enhancing the usability and experience of the visitors on the website. The factors are listed below:
You need to be very particular about images that suit your website the best.
The focus of the page— the area where your eyes tend to look when you visit a page for the first time.
Be particular about the object you tend to focus on— a single wrong move can ruin the expected traffic
Get a hold of your competitors— what their website look like.
Simplicity is the best policy and there is a need to create a balance between quantity and quality— be concise and qualitative.
Symbolism of Colours
Colours are the non-verbal communicators and go beyond the limits of ink. It all depends on how our mind perceive and associate meanings with each colour. But the colours have a deep impact on how your visitors perceive your site, reinforcing the message you want to portray, only if the selection of the colours is right.
Red
Fiery and passionate, strength, boldness, excitement, determination, desire, courage. It stimulates people to make quick decisions.
Orange
Enthusiasm, cheerfulness, affordability, stimulation, creativity, and is highly accepted among young people.
Yellow
A warm, happy color. It is attention-grabbing, comfort, liveliness, intellect, happiness, energy. It stimulates mental activity.
Green
Durability, reliability, safety, honesty, optimism, harmony, freshness. Green can sometimes represent inexperience. On the flip side, green is sometimes associated with envy or jealousy. It has been known to drive people away, so in most cases, unless the website is associated with nature, it is better to use it only for website accents.
Blue
Depth, stability, professionalism, loyalty, reliability, honour, trust. It proves to be calming and cool, but too much can be depressing. It is often associated with corporate images.
Purple/Violet
Long associated with royalty and wealth. It’s also a spiritual colour— power,nobility, luxury, mystery, royalty, elegance, magic are its phenomenal characteristics.
Black
Elegance, sophistication, formality, strength, mystery, with a bit of chameleon touch.
White
Cleanliness, purity, newness, virginity, peace, innocence, and simplicity.
Brown
A wholesome and down-to-earth colour that denotes stability and reliability.
Grey
Neutral and balanced. Conservatism, traditionalism, intelligence, seriousness depicts “Grey”.
Colours make us feel a certain way, so they can and should be used to support the purpose of a website.
“Whitespace,” or “negative space” is the space between elements in a composition. More specifically, the space between major elements in a composition is “macro whitespace.” - MARK BOULTON - Whitespace article for A list Apart
Don't let your visitors experience the negative space on your site. Try and encourage your readers to focus on a thing and then, take the appropriate action.
A sitemap, is very important so that it gives the reader an idea that every single page consists a single objective and it rules out.
Try and make sure that you at least have a choice to figure out the best element.
Rather than merely being the production of online decoration, web design is an effort of direction and communication. The main goal of such a psychologically triggered web design is to strike a balance between client preferences, design principles, and trial-and-error tests based on end-user analytics data. It should be an on-going process incorporating all the essentials.
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