Though it seems like each day is a bit rushed for me lately, I’m having a blast! Autumn is my favorite season and there are so many exciting things happening on Doodlewash now with our community that even I haven’t had time to sit down and enjoy everything properly. Be sure to check out our Forums on Doodlewash as there’s lots of great information on watercolor appearing there all the time! I’ve been busy figuring out the final big feature to complete this fabulous community, so time has been a bit short lately. And if I find myself distracted, which I often do, I blame the squirrels outside my window. They’re endlessly fun to watch as they scamper about, often rushing off with a too large acorn in their mouths. Sometimes to consume them in a quick bite or to hoard them for winter. I read somewhere that their occasional forgetfulness of where they actually hid them is what helps to keep oak forests thriving. It’s awesome to think that just a little stockpile of acorns can become a mighty oak.
For me, I think I’ve always had a bit of this feeling that something big could happen from just the smallest thing. Each day, I start out not with a to-do list, but a what-if list. The difference is everything. I’ve never liked chores and truly, some of those get pushed to the edges, but my what-if list is always calling me and feels like the perfect place to start. I don’t usually write anything on this particular list down, because I don’t have to. These are the things that are always burning in my heart and my mind all of the time. Those things that I just want to try to see if maybe, just maybe, they might work out and turn into something amazing. That incredible idea might not be fantasy after all! So, what’s on your what-if list? Let me know in the comments below! I know there’s something that immediately jumped into your mind while reading this. I can assure you that there’s no better time than the present to start figuring out how to make that thing happen.
Of course, one should do all those necessary things in life, and not avoid them entirely. But sometimes, in our quest to do all of those things and check them off the list, we put that list of dreams in the background. To me, this seems like an odd way to prioritize. Shouldn’t the things that burn in our hearts the most take priority? Shouldn’t we be able to carve out minutes each and every day to make them happen? Okay, sure, I’m a well-established Peter Pan sort of childish dreamer, but still. Haven’t you ever wondered about what would happen if you actually chased after what you wanted most in life? Your what-ifs. This is something that I make a point to focus on each and every day. While I struggle to make my to-dos happen, my heart is always working toward completing those what-ifs. After all, no matter how impossible something might seem it’s always entirely possible that it can develop into something grand and amazing. Great oaks from little acorns grow.
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About the DoodlewashDa Vinci Paint Co.: Yellow Ochre, Terra Cotta, and Ultramarine Blue. Lamy Al-Star Safari Fountain Pen with sepia ink in an A5 Hahnemühle Watercolour Book. |
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“Autumn is my favorite season”
I second that emotion!
Love the article…it challenges the reader to grow, to fly!
I love those acorns too. They make me smell the forest smells of autumn.
The moss, the pine, the cedar, and a blend of wildflowers holding on from
summer. My sisters and I used to gather acorns and paint faces on them.
We would use them (and gum burrs painted silver) to trim the little Charlie Brown
tree we put up in our room.
I always feel like I’ve spent time with family when I read your articles. Thank you!
Aww that’s such a wonderful thing to hear!! 😃💕 Thank you so much! I always hope that when I post something it’s not my own memories that I’m exploring, but bringing back great memories for anyone who happens by.
I relate to your lovely acorns, because I’m definitely the nut that fell from the tree, lol. I can’t say that I’ve grown into something that others find all that impressive, but I’ve succeeded in getting what I want for the most part. I don’t think it gets better than that! Thank you, Charlie for another interesting read!
Thanks so much, Sandra! 😃💕 No, indeed… it doesn’t get any better than that! That’s exactly a life well lived!
We don’t have autumn from where I live, but I think it’s a very beautiful season. I love the drawing of the acorns. I like what you said, “Of course, one should do all those necessary things in life, and not avoid them entirely. ” We should our best to participate in life with all our heart and might.
Yes to that! 😃💕 Life is meant to be lived to the fullest!! Even if you don’t have autumn you can still experience the joy of it!
Hope I can experience autumn in the near future. I got sister in the UK. Fingers crossed!
Fingers crossed! Hope you DO!
I love this post. You’re not just a childish dreamer, Charlie, you actually make wonderful things happen!
Aww thanks so much, Sharon! 😃💕 I’m trying hard each day to do just that! It’s not always easy and things don’t always work out like I envisioned, but DOing is so much fun!
AAAAH! <— the sound of my brain exploding.
The whole concept of a "What If" list vs. a "To Do" list is BLOWING my MIND right now. Talk about a perception shift…that's a perception SHIFT, boyhowdy.
I'm stealing this idea. (Is it still stealing if I tell you I'm stealing it?)
hehe! Thanks, Elizabeth! 😃💕
Charlie: You are amazing! And don[‘t you forget it!
Aww you’re too sweet Kaye!! Thank you!! And back at you! 😃💕
I wasn’t surprised to read this as my love for autumn is the same. If you get a spare moment have a read of my post ‘Squirrel Sunday’…. maybe you could paint one. Gotta love Acorns, Oak trees and squirrels.
Thanks so much! 😃💕 Actually I think I only sketched a squirrel once. Must make a point to paint one properly!
Beautiful little capped acorns. I always love the little caps for doll hats.
Awww cool! Doll hats are awesome!! Thanks, Sharon! 😃💕
Great looking acorns. They are truly so much of autumn.
Thanks so much, Teri! 😃💕
Charlie – my watercolour adventure is moving along very slowly – but I’m not giving up! I’ve been practicing washes and just playing around with different colours. Sounds pretty lame, but I tell myself that it is like a little kid finger painting and exploring! That’s how you learn 🙂
Thank you for Doodlewash and the community. It is wonderful to have a place to go to – the amount of information on the internet is utterly overwhelming, this is a safe place to start and learn. You have done us all a huge favour conceiving of this baby, you should feel proud of and satisfied with your vision and its implementation! Hugs!
Thanks so a wonderful and inspiring comment to receive! Thanks so much, Jakki! 😃💕 I’m thrilled that you’re enjoying Doodlewash! And yeah… it’s all just a big crazy journey isn’t it? I have some days where I don’t like what I made at all, but the days that I DO, all make up for it!
Once again, we are of like-minds about Fall — sweatshirt weather!! <3 I love the colours and cooler temperatures, although now with wheelchair difficulties in snow, I'd like to keep Fall around ever so much longer. LOL
Those chore lists and heart-lists made me smile … I simply must write down both or truly would forget it all. I blame the medications! 😀 Seriously tho, Charlie, I agree with you whole-heartedly. My daughter is not much of one for good housekeeping but absolutely no one can make life more fun and interesting than she can with thoughtful adventures planned for every idea and every one. I've learned my gift of cleanliness is not nearly as rewarding and when people look back on my life someday, I regret they won't have nearly as many interesting things to comment on as they will for my baby girl. <3 Obviously she realized early on what matters most and just ran with it! <3
Yay to that Von! 😃💕 That’s the spirit exactly! It’s not what we get done, but what we DO that matters in the end. The things that make our heart smile will always be the things that we should do more of!
What if, I packed my sketch bag (with watercolors included), jumped in the car and just drive. Stopping whenever I saw something interesting to paint. No real destination in mind, just a journey of painting. No telling where I would end up.
Hmmm… I think you should DO just that, Sandra! It sounds amazing!! 😃💕
Only real problem is that I might end up seriously lost 😆, which would be fun for a while but might eventually get annoying. 😁
Your acorns are germs of ideas that grow into actions, I’m thinking. Enjoyed this.
Thanks so much, Susan!! 😃💕 Glad you liked this one!
I’ve always been delighted by things like acorns. A finely dressed nut, complete with its own beret.
hehe!! Exactly!! yeah… the little hats make them awesome!! 😃💕
great post about going for your dreams Charlie. This is always a good time of year to start think of that, a new year is coming and so is Christmas, a time where you could request things to help you achieve your new dreams.
Oh yes… I know!! 😃💕 I think I’ve earned LOTS of things this year and have been spending most days trying to convince Philippe this is true.