My Evolutionary Journey...

The Journey

By Helen Hampton 

My beloved Bigmomie - my grandmother named "Helen" whose name I proudly carry painted the above & below pictures. She began painting at the age of 65 through arts and crafts classes at a senior citizen center in New Mexico, AFTER she retired from doing a lifetime of domestic work. My grandmother didn't name any of her paintings, but I have named her pieces myself. Her paintings evolved over the next 20+ years and although she primarily painted southwestern landscapes, she also painted several portraits of a few family members, including my daughter, niece and cousins. I often think that if my grandmother had never enrolled in these classes, she may have never tapped into this talent. I also wonder how many of us have gifts we haven't yet discovered.  So, whatever your interests, wonderings, inclinations have been - go for it, explore, stretch out, try something new- because your greatest gift might just be waiting to be uncovered.

Reflections

by Helen Hampton

These past 3 years have been a journey indeed - a massive juggling act. As a full time educator working in a demanding position, with a lengthy commute - I also managed to complete all the coursework for my doctoral program, and begin the research and writing for my dissertation - which I am steadily working on. That in itself was no easy feat - but I was blessed to achieve a final average of a 3.88 average. My family (both real and virtual) have been very encouraging and supportive and I also know my ancestors have been guiding me along the way.  I am closer to the light at the end of the tunnel - in this particular journey - which is the acquisition of my Doctorate in Educational Leadership. I intend to graduate in 2016.  However, during this process I am still discovering more of who I am and my purpose in this journey called life...

I have devoted my professional life to the field of education - and for many many years I believed that is who I am - "the educator" and that is what I was put on this earth to do. I am eternally grateful for the experiences, the opportunity to serve many children, touch many lives and work with many families - and I truly cherish those memories. I am blessed to have touched countless lives! I have been fortunate enough to reconnect with hundreds of my former students and they tell me the impact I made on their lives - and I am grateful beyond measure. I love every student I have ever taught and retain fond memories of all the experiences, activities and families! I also don't forget my former student's faces (nor names) - no matter how many years go by. 

Yet, a dear friend - a personal "muse" helped me to see deeper into myself, and the full essence of my gifts and existence. Although I work in the field of education, I am a literary and visual ARTIST! I see the world through colorful lenses, express my thoughts through lyrical phrases, and capture the images in my mind through story collages.  My spirit resonates with art and literature! I am in heaven in libraries, museums, art galleries, book stores, stationery stores, and art supply stores. Even as a child I spent hours in libraries reading, and in stationery stores reading every card.   I dream vivid, colorful dreams of unseen places, and engage in wonderful adventures with unknown people - in places I hope to one day go to.

Words flow freely out of me when surrounded by nature and I capture those thoughts, reflections, ideas and wonderings in poetic phrases and short stories. 

I get lost in the zone when finding, sorting and arranging images to paste on a story collage.

Yet, my day to day "grind" is still centered around work, commute and school - and I can truly feel the burden of that on the artist trying to fly freely. I recall many years ago going to a "Discover Your Life Workshop" and receiving confirmation of what I am here to do...(healing work - through multiple modalities). Yet, I still remained tied to a "JOB" but I felt good about it because it is in education, and I feel I have been making a difference. In 2015 - God, spirit and the ancestors are pushing me to fly... to step out on faith and reclaim my creative spirit 100% of the time...It is a process, and I am not one to make a rash decision...but the time for me to embrace all that I am and all the gifts, talents and insights that I have been blessed to have is forthcoming...  My spirit is STILL Rising... 

Taking time to smell the flowers... AND

Embrace life with a positive attitude and a smile...

I am open to divine intervention and letting spirit and the ancestors guide me - with the Creator ordering my steps...  My spirit is smiling...my energy is flowing and my third eye is open! My journey is unfolding right before my very eyes, and I am excitedly and eagerly embracing this next phase of my life... I have more places to go, people to meet, books to write, art to create and creativity retreats to plan - stay tuned... with the Creator on my side, it's going to be an incredible ride...

As always, your sister in the spirit

I remain...Helen