Michelle Nelson-Schmidt's Blog, page 73

A Letter to Society

Last night I posted this on FaceBook:

 And holy !$*# society, would everyone PLEASE STOP telling children they can never make any money being an artist?! First off, it is freaking NOT TRUE, and second, you’re SQUASHING THEIR SOULS.

Just. STOP.

End rant.

The situation that caused me to write it was a moment that happened after a presentation of mine to fourth graders in a school in LaGrange, Georgia yesterday. A fourth grade teacher came up to me, and as she began talking, her eyes began welling up with tears. She said, “As I sat here listening to you, I so wished that my sixth grade daughter was here to listen too. She is so talented,  -  very, very talented. This kid can draw,  I mean really draw. And she reads and writes all the time. It is her passion. She is GOOD at it. But just the other day she told me, ‘Mom, I need to figure to what to do for a real job. Everyone knows you can’t make money as an artist.’ “

I could see it broke this mother’s heart that despite the fact that she supported her daughter and her dreams, society had already deemed her dream as unrealistic. In sixth grade. Eleven years old. Told to give up before she even started. What might the world lose if this child does not get told a new message? What amazing creation might we ALL lose out on?

And it made me so flippin’ angry. And I’m not just angry for the children that want to be artists. I’m angry for any child that has a dream that society deems not realistic or practical. So I had to write this letter society because I see these faces every day – the faces of the souls you are squashing and I need to tell you something.

Dear Society,

When you say to a child, “That’s not practical. Find something realistic to do with your life.” what you are really saying is, “Your passion is not worthy, your dreams are not valid.“

When you say, “What’s your back up plan?” you are saying, “I don’t believe in you.”

When you say, “An artist? Have fun starving!” you are saying,  “The world won’t value you or your talent.”

When you say, “Being an adult is no fun, enjoy it now, kid.” you are saying, “The world will wipe you of your passions and dreams one day, and that is okay with me.”

None of this is okay. And we need to stop. The message these children are getting is just WRONG. How do we forget that these children are our future? They can make this world more amazing, more wonderful, more magical if we give them PERMISSION to do that and actually TELL THEM THAT THEY CAN. How about  we predispose them to success instead of failure? Expect them to fulfill their dreams, maybe?

Love and kisses,

Michelle

How about we all try this instead:

Dear Children,

This world is a hard place sometimes. And it is not fair sometimes. And you will have to make money to live it this world  - that is just a reality. Life is hard work no matter what. Do not expect anyone to hand you what you want in this life or to make it easier. No one, and I mean no one, is going to do the hard work for you to get that thing you want, to have that life you want.

But here is the part everyone forgets to tell you. When you work hard towards what you LOVE, doing what you are PASSIONATE about, what you think about all day every day whether you want to or not? It turns into something AMAZING. And all that hard work, does not feel hard at all. It feels…more like…heart work. And it makes you feel like a SUPER-HERO.  It makes your life feel MAGICAL.

I am not saying it is going to be EASY, but I am saying it is going to be WORTH IT.

You may have to work some extra side jobs for a while to pay those darn bills while you are pursuing your passion. You may have to stay up late at night finishing a project, or a painting, or practicing. You may get tired at times. You may get cranky at times. You may get so frustrated that you want to cry at times. You may even want to quit at times. But if you keep going, if you follow that little whisper in your heart, the one filled with all the good ‘what ifs’ and the dreams and the joy? I can promise you something, I can PROMISE you, if you keep going? It will be WORTH it. And you WILL be able to make a living at it.

And that life? The one YOU created, will feel so amazing and so magical that you will expect glitter and sparkles to come out of your fingertips as you talk and move your hands. You will want to tell as many people everywhere to do what you did -to follow their hearts and their dreams, because it is truly so wonderful and you will want that for everyone you see. Everywhere.

And the more people that get convinced? The more people that try? The more people that begin living their magical lives? The more magical our WHOLE world becomes.

So child, please, PLEASE go after that wild, unrealistic, non-practical, crazy dream inside your heart. We need you to do that and we believe you can. We believe in you so very, very much.

Love,

Society

A stroll down memory lane. With bunnies. And dogs. (And a Hippo.)

I am working on a pet portrait today. I have a few free weeks before my next week of school visits and a person emailed me asking if I still do pet portraits. She knew of me from a client I had probably 8-9 years ago. It was Joe Bunny. Not the client, the pet of course. But now I have a vision of a giant bunny-man sitting with me asking me to paint his portrait. HA! (Oh, I do entertain myself so easily.)

Anyhoo, it got me nostalgic, reminding me of how far I have come, and what I did to get here. Hundreds of pet portraits. So many late at night in the wee hours when it seemed everyone else on the planet was sleeping, but I was up painting. Sure, there were a few moments of desperation, wondering if this would lead to anything, but I can honestly say that I knew it would. There was something inside me that knew, I just KNEW that somehow, some way it would pay off. I just had no earthly idea HOW it would pay off. At least I knew I was consistently and constantly practicing, honing my painting style. And it was fun. And it certainly helped with much needed extra income.

So when this lovely lady asked me to paint her sweet Ruby, I said yes – but made her promise not to tell anyone I said yes. (I don’t have much time for pet portraits these days.) But one or two here or there?  Oh, it reminds me how much I adored painting people’s pets. And I really, really did.

Sometimes I still can’t believe I got the thing I most wanted – that I created exactly the life I wanted. And grateful? Doesn’t even begin to sum up how I feel. What astonishes me, what overwhelms me, is that I have so much MORE than I ever dreamed. The school visits? Oh my, they fill me up like sunshine. These kids fill up my soul to the tippy, tippy top. That I have the honor and privilege of talking to the future of this country and inspiring them to be great, to be more, to dream BIG, GIANT DREAMS?  There are no words.

And I’ve said it before and I will say it here again, I am shocked at how thirsty these kids are to here that they can and SHOULD dream BIG. Now, I never sugar coat it, I tell them about hard work, late nights, rejection and tears – oh, so many tears you will shed trying to make your dream happen, and still, they WANT, NEED to hear it. They drink my words up right in front of me. They are desperate for it. All of them.

People sometimes ask me if I meet kids I don’t like as I am always gushing on about them all after a visit. And you know what? I don’t. I never see the bullies, I never see the class clowns – well, maybe I see them for a few minutes in the beginning – but once I begin, something happens after the first 5 minutes. They begin to listen. To really, truly HEAR me. And for 45 minutes we do this energy dance. We pass this amazing, uplifting, hopeful energy back and forth between us until suddenly time is up. And when it is over we all look at each other and feel it. They believe in me and I believe in them and for that moment in time, we all believe in ourselves. It is magical. MAGICAL.  I can’t imagine not having that in my life with these children – something I never had ever imagined having at all, is what I love most about my career. It’s like getting everything you every wanted and finding out there is SO MUCH MORE – and you can have that too. And you realize, suddenly, perhaps finally, that it really is about the moments along the way, all of them and when you enjoy them all and know you have no control of the how, your dreams can get so much more big and amazing.

I guess I should go work on Ruby now. I have babbled long enough. Oh! Before I go, I promised Lucas a third grader in Indiana that I would make my painting of a Garden Hippo Gnome into an actual Garden Hippo Gnome and take a picture for him. This is for you Lucas!

Here is the original painting I bring to school visits:

Here he is outside my house (you can see little Otto Von Schmidt at the door – heh.):

Here is a detail view of Herb – the Garden Hippo Gnome:

“Bob is a Unicorn and Whatif Monster” Random Acts of Kindness Contest

TEN Rules, TEN Prizes, TEN Ideas!!

I am a FIRM believer that there are WAY more good and kind people in this world than bad. No one, not even the nightly news or all the media in the universe will ever convince me otherwise -  even if they do try to shove bad things down my…. Well, you get the idea. But, we can always add to that goodness, right? So, I decided to make a contest that will show those Random Acts of Kindness and hopefully encourage others to keep it up. (And introduce people to the Whatif Monster and Bob is a Unicorn because, well, people NEED to meet them, right?)

TEN Contest Rules

1. Perform an ANONYMOUS random act of kindness for a STRANGER. Not your husband, your wife, your child, your sibling. It’s awesome if you do nice things for them and all, but dude, aren’t we already SUPPOSED to be nice to our families? Okay, maybe not so much when they have not done the dishes or cleaned their room or…. Heh.  I will, however, give you some wiggle room for a neighbor.

2. You must leave the note (shown above) I am giving you to use somehow with the act. I am giving you a template to download, or you can just copy the words on to a scrap of paper. Get the 8.5×11 template to print here: KindnessActs PDF or as jpg to download that is at the bottom of this post. You MUST use this note for the contest. This will help with the hashtags so people can find out more about Bob and The Whatif Monster if they want to. (You can email me to have me email you the file as well if you are having problems downloading.)

3. Take a picture of the note before the act or after. For instance, if you are at a drive-thru and picking up the tab for the car behind you, take a picture of the note at the drive thru window. Or take a picture with the drive-thru attendant. If you simply cannot take a picture, you can describe your act in the comments of this blog post or a Facebook status, or even post it on my FB wall- if you are going to be super awesome and do this, but don’t have a phone that can take pics or a digital camera I am not going to penalize you. How mean would THAT be? But a picture is really preferable. And more fun for all of us to see!

4. Post the picture to Twitter, Facebook, and/or Instagram with the hashtags #WhatifMonster and #BobisaUnicorn. You can also comment on this blog post and say what your random act was. Each time you post somewhere it counts as a separate entry – and more chances to win. For instance, you can post your picture of your note you are leaving to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and leave a comment on this blog entry. That one Random Act of Kindness just got you 4 contest entries. Go YOU!

5. You can perform AS MANY Random Acts of Kindness as you would like! And each one is another chance to win!

6. Past acts of kindness, while I love you very, very much for doing them, don’t count. You have to leave the note somehow with the act.

7. Children may enter - Parents must supervise/help. This is an AWESOME activity to do with your kids, right??

8. Your Random Act of Kindness does NOT have to cost you any money at all. Hopefully it will bring a smile to another fellow human being and they perhaps will begin to realize that there are a lot of really awesome, good and kind people in this world. And maybe they will pass it forward. BONUS!

9. The contest runs for 10 days – ending Sunday, August 11, 2013 at midnight. Why ten days? Because I have ten days left of Jillian Michaels to do and this will keep me on track. Plus there are ten rules and ten prizes. Ten seemed like a theme, y’all – and I really want to finish this 30 Day Shred without skipping another day.

10. Winners will be picked on Monday, August 12, 2013 using a random number generator. Each entry across all social media will be given a separate number. 10 winners will be chosen. I will contact you via your user name or email that is provided. If you don’t respond back within 24-48 hours or so I will have to choose another winner. But I am sure we’ll work it out, don’t stress or anything about being exactly available. I am pretty nice and flexible. I promise.

That is it, easy peasy right? What? You want to know the prizes? Oh! Right! Super-dee-dopp-er-dee PRIZES y’all!! Check them out:

TEN PRIZES! Just for being NICE, y’all!

1. Signed hardback copy of Bob is a Unicorn

2. Signed hardback copy of Jonathan James and the Whatif Monster

3. Bob is a Unicorn Plushie

4. Whatif Monster Plushie (Kane Miller/Usborne Books and More version)

5. Whatif Monster Plushie (Limited edition, collectible, numbered artist version plushie)

6. Whatif Monster Plushie (Limited edition, collectible, numbered artist version plushie)

7. A hand-painted original piece of art by me. (might be painted on paper, or a painted canvas.)

8. A hand-painted original piece of art by me. (might be painted on paper, or a painted canvas.)

9. A Whatif Monster necklace and Whatif Monster Key Chain

10. A Bob is a Unicorn necklace and Whatif Monster Key Chain

I know! TEN prizes! Just for being a nice person! Because y’all are SO AWESOME!! Prizes will be awarded in the order they are won. I would let you choose, but that could get all kinds of crazycakes, so I better not offer that.

Need ideas for Random Acts of Kindness? TEN IDEAS!!

1. Pick up the tab for the person behind you at a drive thru. Get their coffee, their burger, their chicken sandwich. Take a pic of your note at the drive-thru and give it to the person and ask them to give it to the car behind you when they say their coffee or meal is free.

2. Pick or buy a bouquet of flowers and leave it on a neighbor’s step or a stranger’s car with the note. Take a picture.

3. Leave the note with an envelope with a $5 bill that says, this is for a Coke, tea or cup of coffee on a stranger. Leave it somewhere someone will find it. Take a picture!

4. Buy a gift certificate at a bookstore or a grocery store or a movie theater for $10 (or whatever amount) and give it to the cashier and ask them to use on the third person, second person, fifth person behind you.

5. Buy a yellow helium balloon and draw a smiley face on it and leave the note on a car windshield. Dude, who doesn’t like happy face balloons?? Take a picture! That one will make us all so happy!

6. If you are a child, draw a picture that makes you happy and ask your mom and dad to figure out how to leave it somewhere for a stranger - think, librarian, book store worker, a mom or dad at a playground or jumpy house. Just leave it in an envelope at a table that says, “A Random Act of Kindness for YOU Inside!”

7. Look up the address of the local dog rescue, buy a big bag of dog food and/or cat food and leave it on their door with the note after hours.

8. Make or buy a card that has a quote you love – uplifting or funny or whatever inspires you and leave it in an envelope on a random car in a parking lot.

9. Walk into a Waffle House (or some other restaurant) and go to the counter and ask the waitress if you can pay the bill for someone that is almost done but not gotten their check yet. Give her the note to give to the customer instead of their check.

10. Tip a waiter or waitress 100% at your next meal and leave the note in the little check folder thingie. Bring cash with you so you can just leave cash in it and walk out before she picks it up.

Getting the idea? I am sure you can think of a bunch more! I can’t wait to hear all about it.

My Random Act of Kindness:

I did my first one yesterday when I dropped off my daughter at the movies with her friends. I admit, mine was a pricey one, but I wanted to pay for two tickets – cause ya know, most people go to the movies in pairs. You do NOT have to spend a cent to do this contest, just use your imagination to show someone kindness exists.

I printed out my note, bought an online gift certificate for enough for two movie tickets that worked at the theater I was dropping my daughter off at. I went up to the ticket agent and said, “Can you give this to the next person that comes up to the line?” She smiled and said that was so awesome and she totally would! Her smile alone was worth it and she wasn’t getting anything! Here are pics from mine.

Bob is a Unicorn – THE PLAY!!!

Okay, so maybe undiagnosed ADHD can cause me to be a little scattered at times. But! It can also cause hours of endless entertainment! Admittedly, I possibly only entertain myself, and there could might be a better system of time management in my life…but…still!

A few months ago I was in the shower. I think of lots of ideas in the shower. And I was thinking how AWESOME and AMAZING Bob is a Unicorn would be as a play for children!

“YES!!!” I thought to myself. “I must relay this idea to my editor! POST HASTE!” I am pretty sure my hair was still dripping wet while this (quite professional, I might add) theatrical dramatization was created. You are welcome.

And also: Welcome to my world, Awesomeville. Population: Me. C’mon in, there’s always room for more awesome!

Your Dream is As Important As Curing Cancer. Yeah, I just said that.

(Below is a guest blog post I was asked to do for Steve Spring at stevespring.org who found out about me from the guest blog I did for Daniel Gold at  www.degconsulting.net. Don’t you love how this computer/internet thing connects us all? LOVE. IT.)

 

I know someone that often says the phrase, “Hey, let’s put it in perspective. It’s not like what we do is curing cancer.” Now, I get the sentiment, but I hate when he says it. Because to me, what that’s really saying is, “What I’m doing doesn’t matter that much, it’s not that important.” And I think that leads to losing focus, excuses, quitting, and mediocrity. And also, it’s just not true. What we do in this life, all of it, is as important as curing cancer.

Who am I to say such things? My name is Michelle Nelson-Schmidt and I am a children’s book author and illustrator. And right now you might think I am an ass to say such a thing, but trust me and keep reading. And if this is too long, I just wrote a book (that just came out this week – WOOHOO!) called, “Bob, is a Unicorn” that sums all this up nicely in a children’s picture book. It is about believing in who you are and living your passion in this life. No matter what that passion is – even if it’s to be a unicorn – when you’re clearly not. (That’s Bob up there in the picture with me.)

Is what YOU are passionate about, what you love, what you want to do as important as curing cancer? YES. It IS. We can’t all be the next person to cure a disease that will save lives, no. But what YOU want out of this life, what YOU are passionate about, what you feel you are on this green and blue ball to share with the rest of us? It matters. It matters to the rest of us simply because it matters to YOU.

Your passion will change lives. That novel you want to write may be the words someone else out there desperately needs to hear, to make them not feel alone in this world, or to inspire them to share their words. You may think the career you want won’t be life changing, but it WILL – if it is your passion.

You may want to be a chef. Let’s say you have wanted that since you were young. If you follow that dream with everything you’ve got, you may open up a restaurant one day where you have regulars every week – your restaurant might be the place family memories are created and shared for a lifetime. I could go on and on and on with lots of other examples, but I think you get it.

Seriously, any dream any of us have MATTERS because we are all connected to each other. Do not think your dream or passion is too small or mundane. If you feel it in your bones? It matters. Pay attention to that feeling.

After years of rejection and perseverance, I finally had 2 children’s books published. I couldn’t wait to get into schools to share my books with children. At first, my objective was, ya know, to sell books. But quickly, very quickly, I realized my books were just a vehicle. They allowed me into the schools and in front of children where I realized my true passion – talking to children.

I love meeting kids and giving them the pure and unfiltered message that they can dream big, giant dreams. I don’t talk to them about back up plans, playing it safe, mediocrity. Heck, the rest of the world is happy to give that message to them over and over every day. But when I am there for a brief 45 minutes? I tell them that if they are willing to work hard, have persistence and perseverance? The world and their biggest dreams in life are at their fingertips.

Now, I don’t sugar coat it. I tell them there will be rejection, probably lots of it. There will be naysayers – boatloads of ‘em! (Again, read my new book to see all about those guys.) They may have to work really, really hard – I tell them about working three jobs to get myself through art school. (Remind me to tell you about the time I cut my finger almost in half at 3 am matting an art project for an 8am class that next day after getting home from my third job. Good times.) I tell them without ANY uncertainty, “Look, following your passions and your dreams is NOT going to be easy. But boy, will it be worth it.”

And the old adage about if you love what you do, you don’t work a day in your life? It’s true. I often say at schools, “I wish there was a word for hard work when you love it.” A teacher wrote to me and said her class talked a lot about that when I left. They came up with a phrase that is giving me goose bumps as I write it, “Heart work.” Yes. That’s it. Heart work.

We ALL have something to share inside us. We do. Are we all willing to admit what that really, truly is? Maybe not. But for the ones of us that are ready? You simply MUST dig deep, find the courage to begin and go after that dream you have no matter what it is. Because when you are doing it, following your passion and shining for all the rest of us to see? You are allowing another human being on this big old ball we live on to see that they can, and are SUPPOSED to shine too.

I can go on and on, but I will end with a story that happened at a school in Maryland. After I was done talking, a fifth grade boy came up to me wanting to talk in private. He said, “Miss Michelle, what if our dream is too big. Like, it seems impossible? What if people might think you’re crazy if you say it out loud?” I paused for a moment, looking into his eyes, so filled with hope for me to tell him it is okay. I said, “Well, if you’re asking me if there is a dream too big to have? No. There’s not.

The world needs the biggest dreamers we’ve got. Please,’ I begged him, “Don’t be afraid to go after it all, that big, huge, giant dream you have – because what if…you get it?” He smiled a giant radiating smile. Then I asked, “So, will you tell me what your dream is?” He replied, “I know it sounds crazy, but I think I was born to be the person that finds the cure for cancer – and after hearing you, I believe in it more than ever.”

What you want in this life matters. And your dreams will matter to others in ways you cannot begin to imagine. We are all connected. Now go find your heart work.

All About Bob (Sorry, couldn’t resist.)

I feel like this is a birth announcement! And with how much I love to yap, you better grab your coffee and get comfy. I have lots to tell you about my Bob.

Bob is a Unicorn is my fourth children’s picture book. And while I don’t play favorites and I tell school children I can’t possibly pick a favorite book (they are like my children, I love them equally for different reasons) Bob does have a very, very special place in my heart. Soon (like today or tomorrow) you will be able to buy Bob (and his plushie version – SQUEEEE!!!) from my publisher’s website here http://new.myubam.com/search?q=michelle+nelson-schmidt They are getting in online to sell today I hear.

First let me tell you a question I am getting asked over and over again. “Why did you name him Bob? Of all the names on the planet. Bob? Really? Original much?” Well, like all my books, it has a personal back story. When my daughter Sophie was little she loved stuffed animals. I don’t mean just loved, she LOVED them. She slept with a mountain of them and even at 15 still has quite the stash. (To be fair it is in her genetic code – you should see my studio.) Anytime she got a new stuffed animal she always named them Bob. I have no idea why. Maybe to keep track, but Bob was the name for almost all of them. It became a running joke and I always knew one day I would use that as a character in a book. When the story for Bob made its way into my brain? With all my heart and soul, I knew his name was Bob. And it fits. Now you know. (Incidentally, last year she acquired a pink dolphin named Phil. Phil is trying his best to work his way into my brain and another book. We’ll see.)

So. Bob. What is Bob all about? The message of Bob IS up to interpretation – I want people to find what they need in Bob. But in my humble opinion? Well, Bob is about you. And me. And her over there. And you. Yes you, sitting reading this right now. It is about who we are right now in this moment and being okay with whatever moment it is. A perfect one. A messy one. A terrible one. A breath-taking one. A heart-wrenching one. All of it. In this life we don’t always get to choose what is thrown at us. But we do get to choose to own it. To live it, and walk through it. No matter what moment we happen to be in.

Bob is about loving who you are and who you want to be in this life. And sometimes? People are not going to understand you. They are going to look at you like you are crazy because you are a stay at home mom and have four demanding children all under 10 and you want to start your own business. Or you make good money and have a good life, but all you can dream about is starting a dog rescue and using every penny of your savings to make it happen. Or you want to move to Europe for a year and see what adventure may come of that. Maybe you are 100 lbs overweight and you decided in one year you are going to run a marathon. And you decided that over a piece of stuffed crust, extra pepperoni pizza. Or maybe, maybe you want to be a unicorn. And you know what? Own that. Own what you want and who you want to be no matter how silly, crazy, strange or impossible it might look to anyone else.

Believe in yourself.

Believe in yourself right NOW. Right this minute in your awesome, depressing, silly, messy, perfect, unorganized, beautiful, chaotic life. Because guess what? This is it, people. You don’t get a do-over. (Well, not that we are absolutely sure of anyways.) Love who you are RIGHT NOW. And want to know a secret? None of us have it figured out. We are ALL scared of messing up. We are ALL terrified of showing the world who we really are. What if no one likes us? What if no one gets us? What if no one understands us?

This is where trusting in, and believing in yourself comes in. See, the magical, amazing thing that happens when you decide to love and own who you are – with all that entails? When you do that, you begin to shine. You shine in a way that people notice. And while yes, some people may not get you, or EVER understand you, something else amazing happens. You attract people just like you! People will begin to resonate with whatever vibration you are giving off. They will find you. They will come out of the woodwork looking for you. Like attracts like. I promise. And even though you may start out with not a soul understanding who you are and what you want, or supporting you at all – and I’m not going to lie, that is painful – but, eventually? You will find yourself surrounded by other amazing, messy, happy, chaotic people that will get you. And support you. Promise. We are all connected. They will find you.

So while you are out there beginning to own your life and looking for your unicorn horn to put on and go be a Bob, do me a favor and remember something? We are ALL doing that. We are all finding our way. So be KIND to each other. Your journey might look so different than someone else’s journey that you might not get it or understand it. And you don’t have to. But you do have to respect it. So be kinder than you need to be. Yes, even to the mean people. Maybe they just haven’t located their sparkly horn yet.

Moments from South Dakota

Six months ago I was asked by the awesome and amazing Lisa Hemmingson if  I would come out in June to Camp Bring it On if she could get all coordinated. This camp if for children that are currently battling cancer or are in remission. It is a camp where they get to just be them – kids, not their illness. This year the camp was at Joy Ranch in Florence, SD. I of course said “YES!!!”, the moment she asked. She worked with Angie Wahl, from the Optimist Club to help make this happen. Optimist Club members, Deb Zienka and Star (Ugh, I don’t know her last name, but will edit this when I find out!) were also instrumental in making this trip extra beautiful with some personal donations for books and monsters to give away. The itinerary was to go to the camp on Tuesday, then the hospital on Wednesday to see the kids not well enough to make it the the camp. That afternoon we would also go to a local Sioux Falls Boys and Girls Club. After a delayed flight in Atlanta, a missed flight, delayed flight and finally cancelled flight creating an overnight in Denver, I FINALLY made it on a standby flight to South Dakota! Woohoo!

Here we are at Camp Bring it On!



From Left to right, Usborne Books and More consultant, Natalie Van Houten, Me, Usborne Books and More consultant. Lisa Hemmingson and Optimist Club President, Angie Wahl.

After dinner I spoke with the kids – age 7-18. It was amazing, as it always is when I get to talk to a roomful of kids. I had so much fun. I know I was connecting with lots of kids, I could see it in their eyes. And I have to tell you, by looking at these kids? You would never be able to tell that any of them were sick. At the end Angie got to tell them that they each were getting a book and a Whatif Monster. I always love the squeals of delight from the kids (especially middle and high school girls – hee!) when they find that out. The they stood in line to have me sign their books. The moment I will never forget? A boy, maybe 15 or 16 came up to have his book signed. He wanted it signed next to a particular illustration of Jonathan James after running a race just for the fun of it – realizing winning was not the goal, the joy of participating was. I told the young man that this was in the book because I run half marathons and that I can never hope to win or ever really have a good time, but it is for the joy and accomplishment I feel at the end. I said, “Why are you having me sign this page? He said, “Because I am doing an Iron Man one day.” I looked into his eyes and saw determination and not a shred of doubt in them. I said, “Oh yeah, you are! You better let me know when that happens!” He promised he would. I found out he was not one of the kids in remission, but was having treatments at the camp while he was there. No matter, that kid? He’ll get to that Iron Man, I have no doubt.

Here is a picture from that evening with a group of girls that wanted their picture with me. Sweeties!

Now this awesome dude?? This is J. I won’t use his full name, but I cannot get this 12 year old boy out of my mind. I met J at the hospital I went to on Wednesday this week. I went room to room meeting kids and talking to them and reading them my book. I mean it when I say every single child was just amazing, but J? He and I connected. He had just had surgery on his spine a few days before. He had a trach in his neck, so I wasn’t sure he could talk, but he nodded and smiled when I asked if he wanted me to read my book to him. As I read he looked from the book into my eyes and there was so much expression in his eyes, his eyes seemed to smile. I just was so instantly smitten with this boy. When I finished he grinned. I asked him if he wanted me to sign the book for him. He nodded yes. When I went to put the book down, he said, “Did you sign it?” That was the first time I realized he could talk. And I heard the happiness and joy in his voice that matched those happy eyes. I said, yes I certainly did sign it. He smiled bigger. Then I told him that sometimes kids write to me and I stay in touch with them long after we meet. I said if his mom wanted to help him find my website and write to me, I would love it. He immediately said, “Mom, get her website!” and had his mom get the iPad and put in my website. I asked if we could get our picture taken together and the mom said, “I was just about to ask you the same thing!” In the picture I am looking at his mom and J is looking at the, Lisa or Natalie taking the picture. See those eyes? See that smile? Tell me your heart is not melted too.

J, I hope you do write me because I would love to get to know you more. I am pretty sure we would be good friends. And even if you don’t? Please know that you touched my heart forever and I won’t forget those smiling eyes of yours!

Then I went to the Boys and Girls Club that afternoon. So much fun! The kids were on summer break and suddenly telling 150 kids age 4-16 to quiet down in a gym like at school? Heh. It had its challenges, but I got them through my WHOLE presentation! At the very end after question time was done I said if they wanted to come up to me afterward to ask questions that way I was sticking around a bit. Right after I said that, one little boy ran up to me, gave me a giant hug and ran out of the room. Heart = Melted.

These two sweet girls are best friends. They stayed with me until everyone was gone and I was packing up. They had a million questions. I answered all their rapid fire questions as fast as I could. They asked if they could have a painting. I said I couldn’t do that. They asked if they could help put them away. I said of course they could. They stacked them all up and brought them to me. Then I took them aside and said, “You know what? This was my very, very last presentation of this school year. See these three books?” I held up Jonathan James and the Whatif Monster, Dogs, Dogs! and Cats, Cats! “I have used these books for a very long time. See how they are not brand new and looked used?” They nodded. “I have read these books hundreds of times and shown them to kids all over the country. Because you stayed so long and helped me so much you can each pick one of these and I will sign it for each of you.” Their smiles lit up the room! They were a bit more shy for the picture.

After that we HAD to go visit the name sake of the town. I mean, how could we NOT? The Whatif Monster was very excited!

We ended the visit with a morning meeting (7:15am, HELLO!!!) with the Optimist Club. Within 10 minutes of their meeting starting I was fighting back tears. Talk about feeling so at home amongst a group of strangers. When it was my turn to speak I began with, “Here you all are! I have been looking for you! You are all my people!” I will be looking for a local Optimist Club to join this summer. They are the epitome of how I try to live my life. I mean really, just read their creed:

Promise Yourself

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

Thank you Sioux Falls, South Dakota for the PERFECT ending to my visits for the 2012-2013 school year. I will never forget you and I hope to be back SOON!

Cathing my breath and catching up

Every time I think, “I need to post about that!” I never get the chance. My life has been a whirlwind for the past 9 months and it is coming to a close – for at least 2 months. At the end of June I will be done with traveling, visits, trips anything work related until September.

There are so many moments I hope never to forget, so many children that touch my heart. I try very hard to always live in the moment and experience each one. I’m glad I take pictures to document things so I can look back and remember. I am glued to my phone for many reasons, but the real reason? Are those pictures. I need to remember, HAVE to remember.

Pictures that make me remember the beginning. Like being at my parent’s house this weekend and remembering that three years ago the Whatif Monster was just notes and sketches on paper and handmade plushies with lots of ‘character’!

Meeting my “Number One Fan!!” in New Jersey in January. His Whatif Ears had that written across with many exclamation points. I simply HAD to get a picture with my biggest fan!

Meeting an awesome kid in February in Maryland. He plays a mean game of ping pong and began to teach me poker with his Grandpa. Then I found out he races cars. Um, how COOL is that? I asked to sponsor his next paint job. And then I asked if I could ‘add a lil’ something.’ He said Yes.  Thanks, Nathan!

Finding out my visits translate well from a studio in Georgia all the way to Ohio.

Even to the pinkie promise part!

Moments that just make me laugh out loud.

Seeing my Whatif Monster on the shelf next to the Very Hungry Caterpillar??? Pinch me.

I do adore the signs and art they make and take pictures of them ALL. This one? AMAZING!

Having photos that parents send me of their children that make me tear up they are so beautiful. Is this not the most gorgeous image? This epitomizes childhood to me. Love this so very, very much. Thank you, Kristine!

Walking into libraries to find candid moments that make me grin like an idiot.

Finding love everywhere….

Meeting kitty cats named Rose in Seattle.

Having my hair done in Fort Worth.

Getting to meet extra special and amazing children whose eyes light up just like any other child’s.

Meeting a Bearded Dragon in Wisconsin. (Hi Char!)

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I am so very lucky and grateful to get to live this life.

What is it YOU want out of these days we get to have and be here? Are you doing it? Are you moving in that direction? You should. You really, really should.

From a run I did after some visits in Savannah on Tybee Island, GA.

I am going to be taking a rest for about 2 months. But then? Well, there are some surprises I have for the kids in America this fall!

A Love Letter to ‘My’ Children

Dear Every Child I have met and will ever have the honor of meeting,

I look at your faces, out in the crowd and my heart aches at your beauty.

And I wonder, can you feel it too?

The love I have for each of you is so deep it overwhelms me. I hope it washes over you like a soft cloud, enveloping you so that you feel all the love, warmth compassion, healing, faith, belief, desire, care, hope and possibility in this world for you.

I want you to know that there is so much love in this world. So much hope for you. So many people that will and do believe in your dreams, your imaginings, your play, your innocence and your wonder. Your absolute and incredible potential.

To the little boy whose eyes filled with tears when I told you I had no doubt that one day I indeed believed you would be the professional baseball player you hoped to be. I am not sure what made you cry, but I know and am certain that in that moment, you believed me when I said I believed in you.

To the little boy that asked what if some people thought his big, giant, magic dream life was a ‘girly dream’? I think you will have an AMAZING and WONDERFUL life that will be the envy of many. Because the fact that you were willing to ask that in front of everyone, proves you are brave enough and strong enough to do anything in this world you want to.

To the little girl that hugged me so tight and said she would miss me after she said goodbye. I said I would miss her too. She walked away but then ran back to make sure I would remember her name – so I would know who it was I would be missing tomorrow. I remember you Adelaide. You walked away with part of my heart that day. I will never forget you.

To the four year old that was a foster child in a room full of foster children and their siblings. You came up to me at the end of my presentation. I kneeled down to talk to you. You took my face in both your hands and said, “Well what did you think of us??” I told you that I think you are more amazing and brave than most of the people in this whole wide world. Then you gave me a giant kiss. You made my heart swell so much I felt it could bust from my love for you.

To the little girl who whispered in my ear that she loves art and that people call her weird because she is different. And then you whispered even more quietly, “And I AM.” I told you, that weird is okay, different is okay. And most likely, you are an artist too. And weird and different are compliments. Your smile at my response could have lit up a city. It lit up my heart.

To the little boy that said I made him want to live a magic life because I made him believe he can. Yes, a million times, yes – you can.

To all the other children who have taken pieces of my heart with them, I love you. I love you for who you are right now. I love you for who you want to become. I love you for who you will be. I believe in you and what will drive me to continue to go into schools and talk to as many children as a person can possibly fit in a lifetime, is your thirst. The thirst for someone to tell us that we can BELIEVE in our dreams. It does not matter if I am in a school filled with children of affluent parents or a school where most of the children come from homes with very little money. The feeling in the air as I talk is always the same. You all want to be believed in. And it shocks me every time how thirsty you ALL are to hear that. How are you all NOT hearing this everyday from everyone? It should be there when you wake up, when you go to sleep, when you breathe. The world needs to get better about telling you that you are an amazing, wonderous creature and we believe in all of your dreams. Ferociously and unwaveringly.

But until the whole world joins me in saturating your day with those words of love and support? I am here. To tell you what you need to hear. You matter. And I believe in you. And I always will.

Love,

Miss Michelle

Taking the Risk to Blossom

When, about 10 years ago, I began in earnest to move towards my dream of being a children’s book writer and illustrator, I was scared. Scared of wanting something so very much and not being able to attain it. I saw others living my dream. I went to book signings, read blogs, followed authors and my heart literally ached at the desire. It physically HURT to see someone living the life I KNEW I was meant to have. It was not jealousy, it was… something else. I can only describe it as the horrible heartache that happens when you cannot be with a loved one. My heart was missing something it had never even had. And it finally hurt so much that I HAD to move forward. I HAD to TRY. I once heard a quote by Anaïs Nin: “And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom”

When I read that? It said everything. And I began.

And the pain of the rejection that inevitably MUST come when one begins and is a novice hurt – oh, it hurt. There were many humble and embarrassing tears, but it hurt far less than not trying.

And little by little, the rejections got better and better. They went from no replies at all to, “Oh, we love this, but we just published a similar title last season, we wish we could buy this!” Until finally one day, years into it, I finally got that beautiful, amazing, wonderful, life-changing, “Yes.”

And I thought, “Now. Now my life is really beginning.”

But as one begins, finally, on the journey you were meant to live, on the road you had been searching to go down, you realize something. You had been on the right road the whole time. Every experience, every tear, every moment you thought your heart could actually stop beating from the pain of seeing other live your dream, or the times in your life you simply could not do anything to move towards your journey except wish for it, was part of it. And needed. And your life gets so much more beautiful as you connect all the broken pieces and realize they were all not broken at all, not keeping your from your path, but leading you towards it.

And now, two years into living the magical life I have always wanted? I am so overwhelmed every single day by how much MORE it is. More than I could have ever imagined. I am grateful for every moment. But some moments take my breath away, plow into me with a force I could not have prepared for. Like the one from this week.

This week I went to a special needs school. I did four presentations. The first two sessions were for kids at the school because they had behavior issues. They did not behave, they acted out in other schools and were sent here. They were too disruptive for mainstream schools. When the children walked in I began talking to them as I always do. Engaging them before I begin always sets a tone with them. I want them to know I am here for THEM. Not some adult agenda, just to talk to them, to make friends with them, to be with them. They get it. And both of those sessions were amazing. They showed me respect, they stayed quiet, they waited if I asked them to wait, got quiet if I asked them to quiet down. You would have never guessed they had any impulse or self-control issues. The teachers afterwards told me that they had never seen most of them sit that quiet and engaged for so long. I would like to take credit, but when I present, it is as much my audience as it is me. I feed as much off of them as they do me. We share an energy and it is passed back and forth and I know we all feel it. I don’t make that happen, it just does, and I am so very grateful for it.

The next two presentations had me worried. These were children in wheelchairs – with severe physical limitations. I was told the comprehension of some of them was not known. They could mentally be the age of a 6 month old or they could, possibly, be taking it all in – understanding. It was impossible to know the extent of their comprehension. I count so much on eye contact, feeling the energy of the children to know what direction to go in, to know what emphasis to give – I literally feel the energy as I talk and pass it back and forth. Would I know how to do this with these children – some of whom could not even see?

As I began, I looked at these children, I talked to them. I looked into their eyes. Some could not look at me, some looked at me as their eyes fluttered open and closed. I could not tell much. So I began to rely on JUST feeling them, their energy. And when I shifted to just feeling, not seeing? I was overcome. Overwhelmed. The love I began to feel emanating from these children poured into me. And as I talked, we began the exchange of energy between us – as I always do. I began to see smiles. Hand movements. Head nods and bobs. I saw reactions to my art – whether they saw the art or just the colors, it did not matter. These children all understood that I was SEEING them. Their souls. And they saw mine. And none of us did it with our eyes. And I was changed. Forever.

These kids WERE in there. Without any doubt. And just like every presentation I have had for 2 years, these kids knew how much I meant it when I told them they matter so much to me.

As I keep having new experiences like this, my heart aches in a whole new way. It is so filled up with love that some days I am not sure I can take it all in. So all I can do, is keep giving out as much as I can, because my heart keeps filling up so fast – I can’t give it away fast enough. I try so hard to help as many people as I can, encourage and support as many in their dreams as I possibly can. Because that seems the only way it is fair that I have so much – if I can share it. The problem is, giving as much away as I can, fills me up even faster. I think I need a second heart to hold all my love and gratitude.

Whatever road you are on, know you are on a road you are supposed to be on right now. And if it is a hard and troubling road? Seek out your dreams, your magical life. You MUST. Because even just the thought of where you want to be, of who you know you are meant to be, will immediately begin leading you there. The road you are on is absolutely connected to the one you KNOW in your heart you should be on. Just keep moving forward.

And I will end this with something I say at each presentation: You matter. You have a magical life to live that only you can live. You matter so much. And I believe in your magic life dream – even if you don’t quite know what it is yet.

Now, go BLOSSOM.

These sunflowers were given to me at the end of the presentation with the children at the special needs school. Are they not breathtaking? That star hanging in the background? Is a star I made fourteen years ago with my son when my son was 2. He wanted stars in the house so we made these out of cardboard and tinfoil and hung them all over the living room. We had very little money at the time, barely paying our bills, barely enough money for food. I had a two year old and a baby and my dreams seemed impossible – or at least a million, billion miles away. This is the only star that survived over the years. I keep it in my kitchen to remember back when my dreams seem absolutely impossible. Now? It is my symbol that absolutely ANYTHING is possible.