Looking for the good in each person and letting them know that you see that good is an uplifting thing that anyone can do for another person.
Sometimes one small word can help them see into their own soul. You can be a LIGHT to them and bring them out of their darkness and enable the crystal within to shine. I think it is possible to do so with even a complete stranger. As long as you speak the truth, you will help the other. I recall being with my sister and her husband in Missouri, and we made a stop at this antique store. The clerk had the most beautiful blue eyes! I hesitated and then said to him, “Your blue eyes are amazing!” I just thought they were beautiful. Then I left and returned to Wisconsin. I am not sure if it made him happy or not. I do realize he turned beet red. But I think he should have been happy that I noticed his eyes. He must have been around my young age of 60+. I think I startled my sister! LOL I am just hoping that he saw his own beauty…and I wanted to share with him that I had!
Maybe that is what we all need to do in these dark times. We must stop focusing on the darkness and bring out the light in each other.
A year ago, a friend came into my life and sparked my imagination. To some, it may seem like a no-brainer or nothing significant. But for me, it reawakened my world of painting. I hadn’t painted in a very long time and my brother, Claude, and his wife, Kerri, came to help me with some much-needed home improvements to my floor. Another improvement needed: painting.
My friend, Pat, saw the small powder room and suggested to change the walls from dull white to some color. I was very hesitant. I had this huge fear–as giant as the ascent of Mt. Everest! I was afraid to experiment. Then Pat spotted this candle-holder that my sister, Mary, had given me 20 years earlier. It was in different shades of blue, with s moon, sailboat, and stars carefully lasered out of the stone. Pat spoke, “Why don’t you paint that on the wall?” Inwardly, I thought, “That is crazy! I can’t do that! Impossible! No way!” I probably said it aloud as well.
Being the ultra-stubborn person that I am, Pat had to repeat it several times over several days. Thank God she has persistence! Finally, one morning I got up at 5 and picked up a brush and a spray can of a beautiful blue paint, along with various shades of blue and white oil tubes. I went off to the powder room. I became mesmerized in what I was doing and followed the form of the candleholder, more or less, and les voiles! The wall turned out great! I couldn’t believe it!
And this happened because a stranger came into my life to become my friend—and she saw something in me that I could not find in myself. Besides getting the bathroom painted, she gave me a renewed faith in my own innate ability. That was pure gift!
A small thing to some; however, for me it encouraged me to do something with my creative energy instead of sitting in my depression.
Whenever I feel depressed, I have a place to sit and remember…and get inspired…I just go to the little room and ponder and then get off my derriere and do something with my life! LOL
Candleholder ©Jane H. Johann
Palmyra, WI 2016
Powder Room Wall©Jane H. Johann
Palmyra, WI 2016
Powder Room Wall©Jane H. Johann
Palmyra, WI 2016
Footprints of Thoughts 
Inspiring.
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Good Morning, David! Thanks for stopping by! Glad you like the post. I do visit your blog—but for some reason, I am doing something incorrectly with my computer. There is something preventing me from using the LIKE button when I go to people’s blogs. So no one knows I have come to visit and read! I would appreciate any tech support out there!
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I’m hearing of the same issue. If you are going directly to site, you may need to log in to your WordPress account. Does same problem happen in WordPress Reader?
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Hi David, Sorry for the long PAUSE in my response! If I post my LIKE on the READER, yes, it registers it. IF I visit the person’s blog directly, no, it will NOT allow me to LIKE it. Also, on some blogs I am able to leave a COMMENT, and on others, I write my comment, but then it will not post…and I am aware that some blogs want to edit their comments prior to allowing them to be posted; however, that is not what I encounter. PERPLEXING. It is inconsistent—I think it has to do with WordPress itself. I have checked that I do not have a pop-up blocker in effect for WordPress and the use of Google Chrome. I did some research–thanks to you! Have a good weekend!
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I am know having similar problems!
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oh no! Hopefully, someone will resolve our issues! I am thinking of posting a post about it!
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Pure inspiration… I love it!
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Glad you enjoyed it, Eliza! I do go to your site, but for some reason, even AFTER I log into my WordPress site, some “glitch” will not allow me to enter my LIKE for the posts that I read. Do you know what may cause this? I checked that I do not have any “pop-up blocks.” I am using Google Chrome as my search engine. Maybe that is the issue. Thanks! Thank you again for stopping by and leaving a comment! Much appreciated!
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Thank you, Jane. This truly is a beautiful post. You are too kind! I did nothing more than recognize your amazing talent for painting, and encourage you to practice it. Your wall is also amazing. Please continue to let your talent shine!
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❤
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❤ Thank YOU, Pat! You truly lift my wings! I am blessed with YOU in my life!
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Just beautiful. I am so happy that you got some help with the floor, and then the not-so-gentle push to paint the wall. What a wonderful outcome.
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Yes, my brother and his wife were a great help with the floor. It took me several months to remove the old subfloor…I could not find any help, not even paid help, because the job was “too small” and not easy. It is very hard to find anyone willing to do odd jobs. The person who nailed the subfloor must have had an electric nailer. It took me an hour to remove a 3 x 3 square section. I could only do a little each day so as not to throw my back out. Finally, I had the top layer removed completely. Then the waiting occurred—four years–LOL. The floor of patience! Then my brother offered to help me! What a GIFT! Claude and his wife, Kerri, came to my home on six different occasions until the floors were finished. Pat, my friend, also came to help. None of us are young—all between 60 and 75. LOL…but we did it! We worked together—Claude laid the stone tile, Kerri cut it, Pat and I laid the sheets of plywood for the subfloor and nailed it. We all did something that had to be done to complete the job. The whole process was PURE JOY—it was great to have my brother around–a bonus! Yes—it was a “wonderful outcome!”
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I could loose myself in that painting. What a wonderful idea!
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Thank you so very much! Your words encourage me! and THANK YOU for visiting my blog and commenting! Have a great week and many blog visitors to your blog!
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I’m glad I did 😊
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🙂
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Princess Aurora, I just went to visit your blog, and I cannot find it! This is the message I received when going to your blog: “Sorry, but you are looking for something that isn’t here.” I hope that isn’t true!
Please advise so I can find YOU!
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wow. yes I think this is the least spoken quality of what True love brings with it. To see something so unique us and encourage us for that. I too have this kind of love in my life. My husband is my inspiration that I have started writing.
Posting few links of my blogs. Do read please and follow back my page if you like my work.Thanking you in advance. https://wp.me/p9tZ21-5D https://wp.me/p9tZ21-5j https://wp.me/p9tZ21-4M
Have a nice day.
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dear Bhavna Saurabh Sharma, I am happy that my words resonated with you. I wish you blessings always! Thank YOU for your kind response! Sincerely, Jane
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