A Guy Named Keith Made A Painting Of You

By Chris Palmer, M.A.

Founder, FigureOutYourLife.com

I write and speak a lot about finding even five minutes a day to do something you love.

In life we spend so much time on survival and maintenance. We have to. But the stuff that makes us feel really alive is the stuff we are each uniquely motivated and driven to do.

For some, that means walking or hiking, playing music or dancing. And for others it’s reading or creating or any of a seemingly countless number of activities and passions we all seem to innately have.

And today I saw a fantastic example of exactly that. Keith Flagler, a very close friend of mine, posted a picture he painted.

He’s never done that before.

I mean, he is a painter. He paints houses and buildings of all kinds. He even spent years painting large boats and ships.

But this was different.

This was a painting. An expression inside his heart and head and soul that made its way onto a canvas for the first time ever.

It was a birth of sorts.

And rebirth.

And all of it is so beautiful to me because it proves we all have our things, our special things that make us who we are.

And every time we spend even a few moments on the things we uniquely love — when we let that “fire” inside us burn more freely — we feel more alive.

Really alive.

And everyone around us feels that light and goodness and energy. It transfers and ignites and inspires. It literally changes the world.

Just like Keith’s painting.

Now you may look at this picture and say “so what?” And that’s ok. Maybe painting pictures isn’t for you.

The point is that for Keith, this is his fire. This is his flame he puts out into the world. And it was hidden for most of his life.

And you have a fire too. Probably more than one. And it burns in you just waiting to come out.

So what is that fire inside you? What do you really love but maybe never made time for?

Maybe you think you’re too busy.

Or maybe you think the world will think it’s stupid.

And maybe both are true. But maybe that doesn’t matter at all.

Because, when I see this painting, I can’t help but smile.

Because you are in this painting. We all are. This was his expression, his beauty. And you have yours.

It’s just waiting inside of you, hoping to get out someday. Even if it’s only for a few minutes.

Your beauty changes the world, one person at a time. I hope you can see that. Because the world needs it. Badly.

We all do.

If you liked this, please click the heart button below. I really appreciate it and it helps others see it too.

And if you ever feel lost or “stuck” or just want more from your life, please contact me:

Chris@FigureOutYourLife.com

I help people get “unstuck” and go after the lives they want.