I just blogged about Christine Mason Miller on Tuesday, but since she just added original paintings to her Etsy store that I really, really like, I'm highlighting her work again. Sure, I love the colors and composition, but it's their upbuilding messages of hope that impress me the most because life isn't always smooth sailing. But you want to know a not so secret secret? Hope and inspiration are actually easy to find, we don't have to go that far anymore thanks to the internet.

"My work now is to sink deep into all of the joy, the blessings and the good fortune. It is so easy for me to be wary of it, and put myself on high alert for something to go wrong. I am all too aware of how quickly everything can change, but I cannot let this get in the way of all that is good right now. That is my challenge." -CMM

"We all need cheerleaders. We all need supporters who look at us and exclaim, "Yeah, YOU!", going crazy when we score a victory, whatever that victory may be. Supporters who feel deep in their hearts that when you win, they win, and if you lose, they'll keep on cheering, because the most fundamental truth is that you're worth your own cheering squad simply by being yourself." -CMM

"When you are standing at the bottom of a mountain that you have no choice but to climb, taking one day at a time is the only thing that matters. It is the only way you will reach the top of that mountain, the only way you will find your way through the darkness. It is solid. It is reliable. It is like the rising of the sun everyday - it is something you might not take much time to notice, but it is always there, a reminder that each new day holds endless possibility." -CMM

"There are strange connections everywhere and messages waiting for us if only we take the time to pay attention and listen quietly. Sometimes the best thing we can do for ourselves is to take the peaceful road and approach whatever task is before us - pleasant, unpleasant or otherwise - with gentle steps. To be vulnerable like a fawn, trusting there is someone watching over us, trusting it is OK to lie still." -CMM

Think about this: Most of us ultimately have a choice when it comes to our own actions and feelings. (If you are diagnosed with depression or something related to that, your choices are often very limited though.) But for most, we have a choice. We know our own buttons, both good and bad. Do we press the right ones? If we're feeling bad, thinking about something that only triggers further negativity is a definite no-no. Sometimes we have to step out of our own heads for a moment and identify the feeling and take action to feel better. Sometimes simple things lift the mood. Toast with jam. Going for a run. Calling our best friend. Popping in our favorite CD. I like to create lists. Others paint or pick up a pencil and sketch. What about you? Isn't it empowering to know that we can each choose to feel better? And isn't it great that gifted artists are out there sending us heartfelt messages of hope and healing through their works? I'm grateful that technology has brought us all a little closer together.

If any of the paintings shown above interest you, please visit Christine's etsy store to enjoy more, or browse through her wildly creative website. :)

(images from christine mason miller)