Inspired! Pass it on
Welcome to the first edition of my newsletter
I’m Denise, a self-taught artist and I live in northern California, born and raised. I’m also a thinker. Some say over-thinker. Whatever.
So many people amaze me every day on the internet with what they do and share, and I’m especially excited by all the new voices on Substack right now. Honestly, I’m here because I just can’t keep all this creativity, learning and inspiration to myself!
I tend to get inspired A LOT
Do you? The word inspire literally comes from the ancient Latin word Spiritus, which means breath.
In spirit, we breathe in something—an idea, a feeling, a sensation, something that catches our attention—and we breathe out a desire to do something, to create something new. We’re overtaken by a special state of wonder: Alive.
For me, I love to draw, paint and collage. Something inspires me that then tumbles into forms and ideas which, as I create, inspire me even more.
I am setting out here to share
Because the best part about being inspired, like a good virus, is that it easily spreads. I hope you catch inspiration, spread it more, and create marvelous new things with it too.
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And/also
Some of us wonder how can we turn our attention to creativity and ideas when the world is falling apart around us at this moment in time in the year 2025?
I say, how can we not?
(I’m not the first to say this)
Joy is a revolutionary act
I believe it is more important than ever in in this time when frankly the wealthiest 1% of all human beings and the greedy minions currently work to destroy the planet, create social chaos, hurt people, and churn out uncertainty and fear.
In the face of their destruction, it’s more important than ever that we create first, peace in our own hearts and minds.
And second, if we give in to outrage and fear, we lose our life-affirming capacity to create anything, including a world we want to live in—and we play into the hands of those who seek to destroy it.
By creating things and experiences in the world, we create resilience and connection and ultimately proper responses and solutions.
So yes. Joy is a revolutionary act.
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Let’s turn our attention to what is inspiring, empowering and good in the world—and then turn up the collective volume. This is important work for each of us in our own lives and in these times.
I leave you with four things that SUPER inspired me this week:
Inspired! Pass it On!
What The Artists and the Birds Know—Kelcey Ervick
The Resistance Will Not Be Rushed—Anne Lamott
What if this darkness is not the darkness of the tomb, but the darkness of the womb—Valerie Kaur
We Are Not Who They Think We Are: How Human Nature Matters In This Emergency—Rebecca Solnit