motivation

Do you remember how joyful it was to draw when you were a kid?

| brightblueballoon

Do you remember how joyful it was to draw when you were a kid?
To draw something just because you wanted to, without worry about whether you could or what the result would be. Imagine how wonderful it would be to revisit that feeling and just sketch something for the joy of it!

Last year I took part in a #sketchtember challenge and it was rewarding in so many ways. Mostly because it reminded me about the excitement of a blank page and the challenge/ joy of attempting to recreate images captured in imagination, even if they didn’t always turn out as planned. One of the biggest lessons was realising that doing is more important then perfection.

I also met some amazing people and artists along the way.

I really would love to recreate that #sketchtember joy so I have created a prompt list.

30 prompts, 30 days, 30 sketches. They aren’t any rules really just sketch something using traditional or digital means and post on stories or your grid. I have created a new hashtag #wecreateforjoy for the challenge so we can all see each other’s creations. Also pls tag @bright.blue.balloon so I can see and share your creations.

That’s it from me. Thanks for reading and hope you will join in and sketch, sketch, sketch!!!

Sending πŸ’œπŸ’œπŸ’œ to you all!

Dreams are meant to be

| brightblueballoon

π‘†π‘œπ‘šπ‘’π‘‘π‘–π‘šπ‘’π‘  π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑 π‘‘π‘œ β„Žπ‘Žπ‘£π‘’ π‘Ž π‘π‘œπ‘›π‘£π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘ π‘Žπ‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘› π‘€π‘–π‘‘β„Ž π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘£π‘œπ‘–π‘π‘’ 𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 π‘¦π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ β„Žπ‘’π‘Žπ‘‘. π‘‡β„Žπ‘’ π‘œπ‘›π‘’ 𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ π‘‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘Žπ‘šπ‘  π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘›π‘œπ‘‘ π‘šπ‘’π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘‘π‘œ 𝑏𝑒. π‘‡β„Žπ‘’ π‘œπ‘›π‘’ 𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘¦ π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘šπ‘Žπ‘˜π‘’ 𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑣𝑒…

I want you to know
This is not a crossroads
I know which way I’m going to go
But for a moment in time
I let you enter my mind
And now you think you’re
Here to stay

There’s only one thing to do
To get through to you,
The you that’s messing with my mind

I need a song,
A song
Just to get out my mind
And all the things you told me
All the things you said

That mountain’s too high
Don’t reach for the sky,
It’s just not meant to be,
Dreams are just make believe

These words always play on repeat,
But I am learning to skip your beat
And find my own,
Show you how much I’ve grown

I want you to know
I followed my own road
To the mountain high,
So high it touches the sky

Poised and ready to climb
But paused for a moment in time
Because you entered my mind
And now you think you’re here to stay

There’s only one thing to do
To get through to you,
The you that’s messing with my mind

I need a song,
A song
Just to get you out my head
And all the things you told me
All the things you said

That mountain’s too high,
Don’t reach for the sky
It’s just not meant to be
Dreams are just make believe

These words used to play on repeat,
But I learned to skip your beat
And found my own,
I have grown.

I want you to know,
I climbed that mountain high,
One step at a time
Your voice slowly left my mind
The journey was mine
But you were right about one thing
I didn’t touch the sky,
I went beyond and touched the stars
It was meant to be
My dream is reality

Thank you for visiting brightblueballoon.com

©️ Lisa Moralee McLardy 2020

My Little Dream

| brightblueballoon

My little dream⁣⁣
⁣Whispers in the morning⁣ β€œPlease make time for me,⁣⁣
Just a little moment,⁣⁣
⁣While you have a cup of tea.”⁣⁣
⁣⁣
I make my dream a promise⁣ β€œLet’s check in a two”⁣⁣
⁣Then I go about my day,⁣⁣
⁣Listing things to do.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
It’s all so very busy⁣⁣
⁣And soon enough it’s two.⁣⁣
⁣My dream is right on time,⁣⁣
⁣But I’m nowhere to be seen…⁣⁣
⁣⁣
My little dream,⁣⁣
Shouts in the evening⁣ β€œWhere were you?”⁣⁣
I say β€œI’m very sorry,⁣⁣
⁣Tomorrow is anew.⁣⁣
⁣Let’s arrange a meeting,⁣⁣
⁣Just me and you⁣⁣
⁣I’ll be there – let’s make before two.”⁣⁣
⁣⁣
My dream says β€œWill you really?⁣⁣
⁣You’ve promised for a while.⁣⁣
⁣I’ll only wait so long,⁣⁣
⁣Make some time,⁣⁣
⁣Don’t let it pass you by.”⁣⁣
⁣⁣

Thank you for visiting brightblueballoon.com

©️ Lisa Moralee McLardy

Happy JanYOUary

| brightblueballoon

Happy JanYOUary lovely people!

May January be your JanYOUary.
Remember it’s ok to make time for self care.
An opportunity to make moments and carve out time for you!

5 minutes here and there to:
πŸ”ΉHave a cup of tea/coffee
πŸ”ΉDo yoga
πŸ”ΉWrite down your thoughts
πŸ”ΉRead a page or two
πŸ”Ή_____________________
πŸ”Ή_____________________
πŸ”Ή_____________________

I have added a few blank lines for YOU to fill with your thoughts and self care plans. πŸ’œπŸ’œπŸ’œ

Thanks for reading and visiting brightblueballoon.com
We would love to know your thoughts in the comments below
Image and text
(C) Lisa Moralee McLardy

Tell yourself you CAN

| brightblueballoon


Tell yourself you can, you’ll believe it eventually.

Tell yourself you can’t, you’ll believe it instantly.

It takes time to believe in yourself

A daily check-in of mindset,

Regular meetings,

Charts and the like

A flitter of light amongst the shadows of doubt.

It takes time to believe in yourself,

A daily check-in of mindset

Until eventually…

No meeting required,

New habit acquired

Tell yourself you can, you’ll believe it eventually.

(C) Lisa Moralee McLardy

Thanks for reading and visiting brightblueballoon.com
We would love to know your thoughts in the comments below

I have a little dream…

| brightblueballoon

Sometimes it takes longer to start then it does to finish.

We all have dreams that nag us. And it’s easy wait. To procrastinate and wait for the perfect time or moment to start.

But if you start today, even if it’s just 5 minuets then the journey begins and you will be on the path, the path that has a finish line.

I have a little dream

I have a little dream

It whispers in the morning “Please make time for me,

Just a little moment,

While you have a cup of tea.”

I make my dream a promise “Let’s check in a two”

Then I go about my day,

Listing things to do.

It’s all so very busy

And soon enough it’s two.

My dream is right on time,

But I’m nowhere to be seen…

I have a little dream,

It shouts in the evening “Where were you?”

I say “I’m very sorry,

Tomorrow is anew.

Let’s arrange a meeting,

Just me and you

I’ll be there, let’s make before two.”

My dream says “Will you really?

You’ve promised for a while.

I’ll only wait so long,

Make some time,

Don’t let it pass you by.”

Thanks for reading and visiting brightblueballoon.com
We would love to know your thoughts in the comments below

Image and text (C) Lisa Moralee McLardy

Take inspiration from L.Frank Baum

| brightblueballoon

Something wonderful happened in 1900 when L.Frank Baum, age 40, decided to explore his hand at something new. After trying a number of professions he had the courage to try writing. This resulted in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

A copy of this classic tale practically jumped off the shelf during a recent library trip. This is our current family read and we are turning the pages with anticipation and wonder. What will happen next, when will we meet Oz and the Witch of the West.

What an inspiration to think L.Frank Baum started writing at the age of 40 and (according to Wikipedia) went on to write β€œ14 novels in the Oz series, plus 41 other novels, 83 short stories, over 200 poems, and at least 42 scripts.” Where would we be without The Wonderful Wizard of Oz? What if he never explored writing? What if he didn’t have the courage?

One of the themes of the book is just that, courage. Discovering courage and finding it within, something we all have.

Ultimately we all have something within us that is waiting to surface. All you need is the courage to try, to act, to explore. Let this talented author be your motivation to move forward. It’s not late, in fact the time is just right. Learn to play piano, write, draw, run a marathon, whatever it is you find yourself frequently thinking about. β€œYou have plenty of courage, I am sure,” answered Oz. “All you need is confidence in yourself. There is no living thing that is not afraid when it faces danger. The true courage is in facing danger when you are afraid, and that kind of courage you have in plenty.” ― L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Happy page turning and discovering x