Of Dreams and Hard Work

This was a free download at one of the art blogs I follow. I thought I would share it with you. If you are interested in learning to paint with watercolors, she has some good tips and free step by step lessons there. Let's Paint Nature

Did you ever notice that when you really decide to try and make a dream (or goal) happen it suddenly gets hard to do? Well, I have.
To dream about something is easy. People do it every day. To make new goals is easy, they do that every day too. But, as I'm sure you already know when it comes right down to acheiving goals or seeking after dreams, it tends to get hard. And sometimes you lose your hope in that dream.....

I'm feeling a bit discouraged so I thought maybe I should try and encourage someone. Me, maybe. (I'm smiling)  For example,  we had this dream of getting out more and spending time camping and hiking. We've talked about it for a long time. We are really trying to make it happen.....and this is where it gets hard.

On my part, this means getting in shape to do so. I'm working on that, but it's not really all that fun. Exercising and dieting is....kind of like a job you don't really like but, you know you have to do it, in order to get that paycheck.
You can't really have a good time hiking if every time you do, you feel like death may be just around the corner! I'm kidding, it's not quite that bad, but you get the idea. The dream I have, is to sit at the top of that trail and actually enjoy the view and still feel good enough to explore or just sketch and paint in my journal. That's not going to happen if I don't get in shape and lose some weight. By the way I have officially lost a full 10 lbs. I'm not braggin' or anything, well maybe...just a little.

Then, there's the whole, financial end of it. I won't bore you with the details, but we are working on some ways to supplement our income. We just have to find a way to do it. Tim is working 6 and even some 7 day weeks. That is just too much. We have some things going and some ideas but that is requiring work and a lot of our time. So, I hope you don't mind if I just keep talking about our dreams and reading other stories of the ones who are making it happen! I have really enjoyed reading about all these hiking trips. I feel a little out of place at times, knowing we can't compete with them. But, I guess if Tim can read every Everest or outdoor adventure book he can get a hold of, I can read hiking blogs.

That's really what you have to do anyway, don't let go of your dream. Be encouraged by the success of others. Keep working towards it. Don't give up. The harder you work at your dream, the sweeter the realization of it will be.

"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel like you too, can become great." ~ Mark Twain



~I love this watercolor painting by one of my favorite artists Toni Kelly. It kind of says what I've been trying to, just in a much more beautiful and visual way. Dreams You can also purchase the print of it at this link. She has some beautiful artwork, take a look around while you're there.