Patricia Marie Sorenson

Lake Jackson, TX - United States

Soulful and sentimental, Patricia Marie's heart art drawings have an energy about them that is almost magical and makes people smile and feel happy when they see it.

Her creative work has a playful, lighthearted, upbeat, unpretentious, and somewhat whimsical essence about it which began when she was a very young child...doodling hearts while daydreaming. .

LIFE SHOCKS & SERENDIPITY ~

As an adult, Patricia Marie (also called 'Amber' by her friends and family) enjoyed many creative pursuits, but never more seriously then when she began an inspired healing journey with her 'art with heart' in 1990 as a way to help soothe the pain in her own heart after the tragic loss of one of her sons.

And when she thought things couldn't get any worse - just shortly after her son's death - she unfortunately suffered a complex leg injury which forced her out of the mainstream of life for a few months. That event ultimately served as the catalyst to give her a lot of unplanned solitary time to seek peace and comfort in her creative endeavors, during her time of grief and the fracture enforced period of immobility and healing.

DOING WELL BY DOING GOOD ~

During those days of experiencing a 'dark night of the soul', with her injured leg in traction, drawing provided a healthy distraction and an effective healing tool for the return of joy to her life, heart and spirit. As part of her healing process, she wanted to get outside of her own pain and put her focus on passionately helping others by donating most of her creative works to many worthwhile causes and charity fund raisers, in memory of her son. She found that there was so much truth in the phrase she had always heard ~ 'doing well by doing good'.

One of Patricia Marie's favorite quotes:
'I expect to pass through this world but once; therefore any good thing that I can do, or any kindness I can show, let me do it now, for I shall not pass this way again.' ~ William Penn

A NEW LIFE PURPOSE AND MISSION ~

All of the positive feedback from her contributions to worthy causes greatly encouraged and firmly supported her decision to begin selling her work and she began to go out into the world doing that soon after her physical recovery.

Creating had became much more than a positive distraction during her healing. Her passion for life was renewed, and being of encouragement to others who were also trying to overcome a painful loss, inspired a new and more meaningful life purpose.

In her earlier adult life, Patricia had been a personal development workshop facilitator and enjoyed her role in helping others interested in self-growth. In keeping with her love for that, she felt that her own self-help journey might be an inspiration and help for many others walking the same path. So, she wrote and published an inspirational and motivational story of how creative expression had nurtured her spirit and helped in her struggle to overcome loss and tragedy. In addition, she wrote about the positive steps she had taken in her own emotional recovery and shared that with her readers. Her inspiring 'take charge' message encouraged others stuck in a life rut, to make the choice to be an active participant in their challenge to transform their own lives. She believed that anyone who desired change could benefit by a self-directed, and successful plan of action for a very satisfying and life enriching transformation.

For Patricia, her effort to uplift others and see them become enthusiastic about life renewal became a soul-satisfying mission that had become bonded and linked with her own creative process. Without planning it, she had become a motivational artist and encourager of others needing and wanting to renew their own lives.

Through the years, her biggest 'ah-ha' in life is that Love is really all that matters...when it is all said and done. We all can carry an energy of love wherever we go. And look for opportunities to smile and acknowledge others who cross your path. We never know what just a few kind words can do to empower someone to decide to live their best life...no matter what has happened in their past, or will happen in their future.

WE ALL HAVE IT WITHIN OUR POWER TO MAKE THE CHOICE TO BE OK AGAIN...EVEN BETTER THAN OK ~ MUCH MORE SO!

As time went by, Patricia received many cards and heartfelt letters of how she had touched lives in a positive and meaningful way with her uplifting message about the importance of making the choice - after heartbreak - to pick up the pieces of one's life, and to become fully engaged in living, once again. Most of all...to be mindful of the importance of urgency. The longer one waits to rise up out of the ashes, the more of a toll it takes on body, mind and spirit.

Yes, yes... people must be gentle with themselves during the tender days after loss, but just not procrastinate, nor postpone or cancel their joy and future happiness. It is too important to our wellbeing..

In life, bad things happen. But unlike Humpty Dumpty, we can take action to put ourselves back together again after a major loss, disappointment or life disruption. But it is up to us to make the decision to intervene in our lives for our own best interest. Change isn't easy. It won't happen overnight. But anyone can get beyond their state of being 'stuck'.

To get started, here are some tips:

Be gentle with yourself.

Decide not to be resigned to what is - today. You have to desire and believe that you can get unstuck. Stop ruminating. Give up the negative and destructive self-talk to experience a healthy 'shift' in your mindset. That will take you out of the 'loop' of despair.

Forgive yourself, and forgive others. No matter what.

Knowing that you want to 'fly' again, you have to create an intention which will change your life direction. Write a new life script. Create a vision of the new you that you want to be. Decide to adopt a victorious attitude.

Stay focused on that intention. Everyday, take a baby step into your new and better way of being.

Look for the 'gift' or rainbow in every life crisis, crossroads or turn.

Practice gratitude...when you are weak and all you can think about are challenges, stop and think about the good in life. Don't let yourself linger in the pity mode. Don't look back and waste precious time ruminating about regrets.

Don't allow others to be 'triggers' that take you backwards. Some may try to trip you up because they don't want you to change. Be strong and manage your emotions. Don't 'go there'.

Your brain will begin to rewire itself after giving it a rest from all your worries, fears, guilts, disappointments and sadness.

Notice yourself becoming more resilient. Little things won't upset you as much anymore. Yay!

Stuff happens. It always will. But life goes on. Think of life as an adventure. With adventure, there is never certainty.

Begin today. Dust yourself off and decide to transform your life, in every possible way.

Stop thinking about it. 'Just Do It!'. It's said that every transformation begins with a decision.

Live more in the act of 'doing' which helps us emotionally, in times of trouble.

Thinking too much will only drive people deeper into pain. It's important to break the cycle of despair...and deliberately decide to once again get up, fully live, laugh... and LOVE.

When you've experienced enough pain and lingered in your life rut way too long, then begin. It's up to you. No one can do it for you. There is a BETTER way of being. Believe it.

Just do it.

LIFE TOOK AN EXCITING NEW DIRECTION ~

For many years, Patricia participated in juried art shows with her original fancy heart art designs engraved on glass and carved into eggshell as well as drawn on greeting cards. She enjoyed meeting all of her customers and engaging in conversation with them during her years of showing in many art and gift/boutique venues. Many purchased her items as gifts and the gift recipient felt led to contact Patricia with a thanks for the special encouraging message that was enclosed in the gift box. It wasn't just the art...it was the message of hope and encouragement that went out into the world with it.

She was also asked to create the speaker gifts for one of The Compassionate Friends national conferences hosted in Texas.

During the 1990's, she was an award winning artist at an International Show for eggshell art and her prize winning 'fancy heart' sculptured and engraved Swan eggshell was purchased by the Franklin Mint for display in their museum. However, these days, she no longer works in the mediums of eggshell and glass.

AND NOW ~

Her love of hearts as design has continued on with her drawings for cards, prints and posters. In the near future, some of her designs will have additional applications.

THE CREATIVE ARTSY LIFE IS SO COOL ~

Patricia lives in Lake Jackson, Texas - known as the 'city of enchantment'. In a space in a heavily wooded area with a beautiful view that she calls her Daydream Believers Studio, she creates her colorful heart designs, while focusing her thoughts on love and gratitude, with classical music usually playing in the background. At other times, musical artists such as Elvis, Celine Dion, Dolly Parton, Fleetwood Mac/Stevie Nicks, ABBA, Journey and even Willie Nelson and other really, really old 'oldies' may provide her the 'proper inspiration' and set the mood for the day.

In her serene and sunshine filled space, she experiences a peaceful state of flow and her work reflects the joyful conditions she purposely sets up in which to happily produce her creations.

Patricia sincerely believes that during the creation process, she transfers good energy to her designs just as if the art were a 'living' thing. Some may pick up on this and others may not. . . but it makes her happy to know that her artwork is inspired by and filled with every good positive emotion ~ and created from a vibration of love and joy within the artist, and in the lovely inspiring surroundings.

She describes her work as uplifting, nurturing, fun, playful, and 'smiley art'.

WE CAN ALL MAKE A SIGNIFICANTLY POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THOSE WHOSE PATH WE CROSS ~

We all have the power to bring hope and light into others' lives. Patricia creates her designs to make people smile and feel good....and to produce images that people can enjoy on their walls, as well as send as greeting cards to those we care about.

Her life's purpose, passion and mission is all about touching lives in a positive and meaningful way and she has always received a lot of love and encouragement, in return, for that heartfelt endeavor.

The heart is a universal symbol of love and we all need to give and receive love 365 days a year - not just on Valentines.

Patricia Marie's philosophy of living a successful life is found on one of her poster artworks and can be summed up like this::

Above all, strive to be happy.
Smile.
Give warm hugs.
Treasure the moment.
Show gratitude.
Be charitable and practice random acts of kindness.
Follow your heart and stay true to it.
Have a meaningful purpose for your life.
Try to find the rainbow in every tragic situation.
Be at peace with your soul.
Look for opportunities to celebrate...everyday if possible!
Be nice. Play fair.
Live, laugh & love.

~ Patricia Marie Sorenson
c1990 Art With Heart