Following your Heart.

Symbolically, the brain is our connection to the outside world and the heart is what connects us to our inner world. The outside world or Real life as we use to call it, is a HUGE part of what we are. The practical part of life includes: having an income so you can pay the bills, behaving properly in public so we can fit in society, saying things that are politically correct and many other things...
But then there is that other part of us that nobody can see and this part is made out of our dreams and all those things that we wish we could do. I remember the first time that I seriously followed my heart. It was 1992 and I was unhappy with the job that I was doing. I had a salary and the place was close from my home so it looked like the perfect thing to do but I just wanted to be an Artist and work on my art and I wasn't doing enough to make it happen. One day I said: NO MORE! I prefer to die of starvation doing what I love to do than surviving one day at a time doing something that I am not passionate about. AND I DID IT! I My predictions were right, I was near starvation at some point because I had no money, that was a hard time. But one day an ex-teacher who was working on the decoration of some hotel got in touch with me because he needed my help. He wanted me to paint 800 ceramic plates with acrylic paint, and each one should have a different design. Yay!!! I said yes immediately and a few days latter a truck parked in front of my tiny place with the 800 ceramic plates. When I saw them all I almost had a heart attack but at the same time I was so excited, I loved the challenge!
The truck driver helped me place all the plates in my house and then he left. I only had a little space left to walk from the front door to the kitchen and my bedroom, the whole floor was covered by ceramic plates.

When the driver left I couldn't stop jumping, I was just sooo happy! And I inmmediately started painting my first plate. It took me about a month to finish the whole job. I worked day and night and I slept very little. More than a young girl I was looking like a crazy vampire with dark circles around my eyes but I couldn't care less, I was happy. I remember when the same truck driver came back to pick up the plates. How wonderful when he left and then I came back to my empty space. Days later I was given my golden check!!!! I saved that money as if it was gold and it helped me eat for a while. I thought that I was in a dream!

I look back in time and I realize that taking that first step toward following my dreams was the beginning of the rest of my life. After that all the right things started happening to me. I still had my up and downs and I had to take new important steps in the next years, like moving to a new province etc. but I was fine. Today I realize that one of the best things that I learned from those hard times in my life was that when things get really hard you always have the option to make them better, all it takes is BELIEVING IN YOURSELF and that means doing what your heart wants you to do.

All the material things are fragile, they can burn, or get lost...but what really always stays with you is whatever you build from your heart, whatever you do by yourself and with your very energy and effort. In the end that will stay alive even after you die. My modest dream is to leave a little legacy to my children in the things that I create with my hands. I don't want my children to be perfect but HAPPY, happiness has a lot to do with imperfection and Diego is teaching me a lot about that. I want them to follow their hearts and find that little paradise that we all carry in our dreams.

And now my friend I have to leave but I am so glad that I can talk with you about these things :)
Thank you always for listening.

Elsita :)

Comments

[Elizabeth]

Hej Elsa,

Your glad to talk about this and I'm very glad to listen and give you my thoughts on the subject.

Following your own heart, vision is something no one learns at school. Everyone is taught to behave properly, get good grades so you can find a job to pay your bills. To set your own standards and follow your own heart is almost a not done attitude.

Why? It is so much easier for the teacher, employer, supplier of goods and foods if we fit a certain mold. As a parent I try really hard to balance the choices my kids want to make and the requirements of society. Learning to make your own decisions, is showing you strenght and vulnerabilty, your talents and flaws. It can separate or bind you with others. It can rock your boat or can give you a nice sailing trip. It requires a lot of courage, determination and respect/love for yourself.

At this point I believe that making my own decisions is the only tool I have to grow and be all I am meant to be. And in that process my innerworld is integrated in the real world.

These are my thoughts about your post. I hope they make any sense to you.

Venlig hilsen,
Elizabeth

[Ana Morais]

Thank you always for writing and sharing your thoughts...

[mary]

elsita, thanks very much for this post. everything you wrote today was everything that i needed to hear at this exact moment. funny how the universe seems to align these little things. bless you.
:)

[margaret oomen]

Following my heart and not my brain was the primary reason i started my blog in january. I wanted to use it to explore and share my creative heart and I think that is being accomplished . It is still my brain that puts food on the table and pays for my children's education but what will be really interesting in the future is how I will be remembered and what my legacy will be. Will it be the lives I have saved or helped or the things that I have made or can these things really be separated ? I read a quote a little while ago ( I think it was on the side of a coffee cup) and I don't remember it exactly but it went like that sometimes to be really good at one thing at an early age is a hindrance because if you focus on that one thing you may never get a chance to discover all the other things there are that you could do. I think that is what happened to me but now I am making up for lost time. It is so good for us to explore and expand our knowledge and skill base. I love your drawing very much!!!

[Melissa Crowe]

There is no doubt you were born to be an artist, and you're an inspiration to me. I just quite my job as a tenure-track English professor, and now I'm at home full time, ready to be the artist and writer I've always hoped I could become. Reading your wise, funny blog helps keep me feeling brave and excited about all this.

[Patricia]

Elsita, it is truly a gift you have for making us all feel that you are speaking directly to each one of us (my friend Laura told me that is the hallmark of a great teacher!). I can't tell you the number of times that I have read one of your posts and thought, that is just what I need to hear today, just like two of the commenters above have said. I am so glad that you followed your heart and have all of these wonderful creations to show for that choice. Keep creating and helping others follow your brave path.

[Ann K.]

Your words were timely for me today. Thank you for all the inspiration (and ART!)you send our way.

[rowena]

Elsita,
It is amazing how often you speak to the world that is in my head (or maybe my heart.) I too have given up the safe and secure thing to make the scary leap onto the path I am passionate about.

Maybe your words are what I need to take those final steps to reach my dreams.

[Sam]

thank you so much for these words, elsita. they are a wonderful reminder and a blessing for me today.

[sweetimaginations]

What an amazing post. Inspiring, uplifting, and motivating. Thank you for sharing your story and your thoughts!

[kiwi]

wow, i am a fan of your heart.

:)

[Eva]

you warm my heart :D

[Jamie V]

You are such an inspiration - what a wonderful post! Thank you for sharing your thoughts! I have been there! Jamie V in Montana

[Susan]

Oh Elsita, this is the perfect thing for me to be reading today. I pray one day I could have enough faith to do what you did. (My enormous NYC rent prevents me from just doing it right this very minute; but maybe if I could find a way....)

[Jamie Welsh Watson]

This is the best post in the world. xo

[rowena]

I have enjoyed your blog and your art for so long, that I thought I would give back to you, so I have given you the Arte y Pico award, which you can probably translate better than I can.

You can find out about the details over on my blog.
http://warriorgirl.blogspot.com/2008/07/arte-y-pico-blog-award.html

[Christy]

OMG, this is pure serendipity! I've been asking the universe this question and here you are, speaking the words that I needed to hear. Thank you Elsita for your inspiration and for making the world more beautiful.

[Jimmy Gunawan]

I like this post! Very thoughtful and really deep illustration.

[Antoinette]

thank you, elsita, for a very inspiring post. today happens to be my birthday and your words have been a gift. mimi also arrived safely yesterday so double bonus! :) thank you for the beauty you bring into the world with your art and your words.

[Linnea]

Elsita,
Thank you so much for your inspiring words. This is just the kind of thing I need to hear. I appreciate you writing about your struggles and passion. It is so real. Your work is just beautiful. Thank you for following your heart. I'm sure your example is very powerful to your children.
xox,
Linnea
P.S. My grandmother's name was Elsa. You have a very pretty name!