Sometimes the dying live more fiercely and wisely than the rest of us. (146)

Choice by choice, moment by moment, I build the necklace of my day, stringing together the choices that form artful living.

As artists, we must learn to be self-nourishing. We must become alert enough to consciously replenish our creative resources as we draw on them.

I surrender my anxiety and my sense of urgency. I allow God to guide me in the pacing of my life. I open my heart to God's timing. I release my deadlines, agendas, and stridency to the gentle yet often swift pacing of God. As I open my heart to God's unfoldings, my heart attains peace. As I relax into God's timing, my heart contains comfort. As I allow God to set the tone and schedule of my days, I find myself in the right time and place, open and available to God's opportunities.

We tend to think being hard on ourselves will make us strong. But it is cherishing ourselves that gives us strength

All too often too often we try to push, pull, outline and control our ideas instead of letting them grow organically. The creative process is a process of surrender, not control.Mystery is at the heart of creativity. That, and surprise.

Once we are willing to accept that anything worth doing might even be worth doing badly, our options widen.