Words of Affirmation

The usage of words is interesting to me.  There are all types of ways to use them.  They can be used to abuse, to manipulate, to denigrate, or they can be to used to uplift and affirm.  It's the later that has my attention today.  I want to share something rather exciting (at least to me) that has happened.  Another affirmation, another feel good moment, another woohoo.  Me?  Really?  My insecurities have surfaced once again.  However, I am still going to write about what has happened.  I need to, I really do.

I received an email the other day from a person would put on art shows throughout the country showcasing new artists, photographers, and musicians.  She asked me if I would like to display my photos at her show in Chicago.  I would be one of 20 photographers.  Stunned--that is the word that popped into my head.  Me?  Why me?  I am not a professional at all.  Not at all.  I just like to take pictures--just landscape photos of places that touch my heart.  Memory pictures.  So, why ask me to participate?

Actually, I had just set up an Etsy shop the week before.  It's called (of course) LaDolceVeda.  I am selling some of my best photos and also some vintage keepsakes that I have found along my travels.
And, that's how she found me.  She liked my pictures!  Little ol' me was being asked to an art show--to show and sell my photos--to real live people!  Still shocked!

After much prayer, Google searching, and talking things through with my husband, I decided that I wasn't going to participate in her show at this time.  You see, I'm too much of a newbie and I need more time to get my act together.  Maybe I will have a few of my photos put on canvas, and maybe I will mat a few in different sizes.  And maybe, just maybe I will sell a few through my Etsy shop first.  Then when another offer comes along, I just might take it.  In the meantime, I will bask in the joy of just being asked.

Just thinking about that offer has brought so much to me in the way of affirmative feedback that it has bolstered my confidence, and I think I needed that.  Much in the way the local newspaper article helped me when they did a feature article on my blog.  I was surprised then too!  And, I also placed #16 in a CBS Chicago blogger contest--that I didn't even enter!

So, good things are happening to me.  Small things, but they affirm me.  I can't help but think that God has a plan for me in this new area of my life.  It's a creative aspect of myself that I had never before explored until a couple of years ago.  Starting with writing this blog.  Who would have thought?

It's interesting to me how much these words of affirmation keep me going.  The praise from a friend, the compliment on a photo, the written article, the invitation to showcase my pictures, the winning of a contest--they are all words of affirmation.  I never thought of myself as really needing them before--I always thought I was a pretty tough cookie, however, as I get older I find that I need those kind words a little bit more.

I'm guessing others do too.  So, in the future, I'm going to be looking for things--things that I can say or do to affirm my family, friends, and neighbors.  No, not fake words, but real words.  Healing, soothing words of kindness.  Words of affirmation.