Monday, January 11, 2010

My Life's Successes So Far

This week's prompt in my “Creative Dreams Come True” journey is to list our life's successes so far. I feel like I'm bragging, but as Andrea explains it: "It is important to own our successes and be proud of what we have done. This can fuel us to accomplish more. Sharing our lists with our fellow creative dreamers expands the sense of success~fullness and helps us bring that sense of success into our dreams for 2010 and beyond." So here goes:

  • Made National Honor Society in high school (going WAAY back!!)
  • Got scholarship to college (didn't use it, though - ended up going to a different school)
  • Got my graphic design degree and have worked in that profession for 26 years
  • In the final student art show in my last year of college, I had the most pieces selected (11) to be shown
  • Won Blueberry Hill's 1995 CD Cover Contest
  • Bought 2 brand new cars (and without any co-signers!)
  • Wrote poem that placed 3rd in our local paper's Valentine's personal ad contest
  • Designed and painted sets for a local play
  • Bought home
  • Got married, and had a beautiful wedding
  • At my third job in my field, I got promoted from production artist to jr. designer, then to supervisor of the jr. designers, then to art director
  • Joined SCBWI and attended several local conferences
  • Approached a group of strangers at one of those conferences and we started an illustrator's critique group
  • Attended an Oprah show taping and was in the 4th row!!
  • Learned to laugh at myself
  • Given 4 cats and 1 dog (so far) loving homes
  • Traveled to: Sun City, AZ; Boston/Cape Cod, MA (and saw a whale so close that I got wet from water coming out of his blow hole!); Orlando/Destin/Cocoa Beach, FL; New Orleans/Baton Rouge, LA; Chicago, IL; Hot Springs, AR; Washington, DC; Austin, TX; South Haven, MI; Seattle, WA; Portland, OR; San Francisco, CA
  • Have been in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and The Gulf of Mexico
  • Participated in group art show - The Sketchbook Project
  • Traveled to Utah alone for the BYU Children's Writers/Illustrator's Conference and my drawing won the daily challenge on the first day
  • Going to New York alone for the SCBWI Winter Conference
  • Gotten over fear of dining and going to movies alone
  • Have maintained several long-term friendships with some awesome women - including one that has lasted 29 years, and one that has lasted 22 years
  • Started this blog and cyber-met (I think I just made up a word!) some awesome artists
  • Illustrated a story in the 2009 ABC's Children's Picture Book Contest - we came in third
  • Have sold some of my art on merchandise in my Zazzle store
  • Completed PiBoIdMo in November and came up with 33 picture book ideas
  • Joined several (probably too many!) artist/writer networks
  • Started my new journey this year as a freelancer, with a goal of illustrating, then writing AND illustrating children's books along with my graphic design
  • 8 comments:

    ABCcreativity said...

    excellent list!
    isn't it great to see all you have already accomplished?

    Mama Bear said...

    What a great list! Amazing! GO YOU!!!

    Katherine Herriman said...

    Hi Lynn, I'm really curious, what's a National Honour Society. It does not compute in my Australian head :) It's sounds pretty important though!

    Anonymous said...

    You are a shinning star!

    Love you list Lynn :)

    Jannie aka Chickengirl said...

    I love this list! I think its important to do this! I love how you mixed in with both personal and business successes. Its quite fun to read. Wishing you all the best in 2010! yeah!

    Ginny Baker said...

    What a fantastic list Lynn! It's going to be so much fun seeing you achieve all the other dreams you have on your list! I have no doubt you'll do it!

    P.S.I love your banner on your blog and your adorable little avatar!

    Vanessa Brantley Newton said...

    Hey if you don't write it all about you may never get to do it! This really speaks to me Lynn. This is soooooo awesome! Good For YOU!!! I'm so proud of you my friend! Keep moving forward!

    Shirley said...

    It is SO nice to hear from you - thank you for stopping by so that I could "cyber-meet" ya! I think this is one awesome post as it's great to see it in print, and speak it..something I should probably do myself! We have a lot in common - graphic design, illustration! I am SO not a writer though..so great for you..congratulations and all the best this year to you! Thank you for your super comments at my blog..I love your blog header..she is deeeeelightful! I think if you put the challenge to yourself out there, you'll attain it..look at all of those accomplishments...that takes hard work and bravery! : )