let your sun shine
Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 6:00AM 
I believe that we all have a thing inside of us. Some special and unique thing that we're meant to share with the world... sometimes we know what it is, sometimes we don't, but nonetheless, it is there. And it's up to each of us to find it in ourselves, and then shine it like there's no tomorrow.
So I've been looking at the ways that I DON'T shine it. Ummm...what?
YES. Not shining it. Because these are the parts that hold us back. I'm pretty confident I know what my thing is. I am here to make images that make people smile and inspire positivity and goodness in the world. That knocks my socks off, and I'll do it forever, I'm sure if it. Another part of my thing is to make sure that I inspire positivity and goodness through my thoughts and actions-- that piece is a bit harder. :) Because it's SCARY, right?! I mean, what if someone thinks my thing is ridiculous? What if someone thinks I'm a faker? What if, what if, what if? These are the ways I stop myself and don't shine, when I get caught up in these 'what ifs.'
The thing is, whatever we're supposed to be shining out into the world is IMPORTANT. No matter what it is, it matters, and it'll add a depth and variety and sweetness to the world that truly wasn't there before. Literally, it wasn't there before you brought it into being.
I'm awakening to the idea that it's my job to share that and offer myself and my thing (through my work, my attitude, my way of being...) to whoever it might serve well. And in reality, we do a disservice to the world by not shining it as brightly as we can in each moment.
When I don't shine my unique little light, the world is a little dimmer. Think about how boring the world would be without any risk-takers or movers and shakers that inspire us, without the crazy eccentric artists, without your hilarious best friend... then think about how beyond incredible our world could be if we all just put our weird, quirky selves out there and had a grand old hooplah of a time? What if we were all movers and shakers and inspirators?
That's the world I want to be live in! So I'm challenging myself to bust out of my little self-made jar and shine my light a little brighter.
And you?
{prints available in my etsy shop}
Reader Comments (7)
well said. i think the more we share our love and love of life with others, the more we receive when in need ourselves.
with all the stress and anxiety of the modern world, i think we all should be a little bit kinder on a daily basis.
who knows what that might do for someone else; random acts of kindness are my fave :)
sweet illustration as well (duh!)
Thank you for this! I love your artwork and have been planning to add one of your prints to an art wall in my home... maybe this is the one. (Is it for sale?) I believe my mission (my "thing") is quite similar to yours. To radiate a sunny disposition and encourage others. It does sound a little silly sometimes, but you're right. If we don't let it shine, we're not doing ourselves or anyone else any good. Thank you for this reminder.
I love this and I am so with you.
Our own individual lights are just as rich and bright as someone else's. Maybe we're on a different spectrum, sometimes, and someone else might think we were corny or "girlie" or cutesy or whatever, but the truth is, if we are true to ourselves, I think that our light shines brighter and illuminates the night for other people who are looking for that particular briliance.
Leel: Completely agreed that we all should be kinder every day. It could change the world!!
Jenny: Fabulous! I love when people share my kind of mission. We must be kindreds. :) And yes, the print is for sale in my shop!
Rowena: the way you put words together really gets to the heart of me somehow. For some reason the words 'people who are looking for that particular brilliance' are so beautiful and true to me right now-- we ARE all brilliant in our own particular way, aren't we? I love that. Thank you. :)
Amen sista! When your light shines, you illuminate us all.
Love this! Also wanted to add that when you discover what you don't shine at - accounting, dusting, marketing - that you let someone else who does shine at it shine for you. Then you'll have more shine time (doesn't that sound like a kids show?)!
yay, such awesome thoughts. might just have to make a big 'shine' sign for my bathroom mirror :)