Decide what it is you want.

“Focusing on your purpose is everything. Don’t allow negativity to distract you from where you’re headed”

I want to start this blog by expressing my gratitude to all of those people who everyday take a little time out of their busy schedule to send me so many beautiful and encouraging words. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, it means a lot to me.

 I have always been a very private person. It was never “my thing” to go on the social media sharing everything I was up to. That has all has changed now. As many of you might have noticed, I’m currently all over the social media. Even on Instagram. Who would’ve thought, huh? The best part is that I am enjoying it so much. To wake up every day and share something with my friends and the new friends that I’m making in the process, is just fabulous. It feels like we are all connected now and there’s no excuse not to hear from somebody you have always cared about. And it’s a great idea to make new friends too. Who doesn’t love making new friends?

Throughout my life I have always been pretty much the same person. I would like to describe myself as an optimist, creative, and somewhat insecure. As a young boy, I was into a lot of things and they all had to do with arts. I was six years old when I first started playing the piano, at the same time I was into gardening, I used to go “antique shopping” with my grandmother and my mom and collect the most unique pieces I found. Then I started working with flowers, planning events, interior designs, raising my two kids (I was a housewife for 27 years), and in the middle of all that I started quilting.

I remember how excited I was about quilting. It was back in 2001 when there were just a few men quilters. That wasn’t going to stop me! I had always admired those incredibly talented women who had spent their lives creating such beautiful quilts. I wanted to do that too. I wanted to make something inspiring, something to be remembered for. “The fame” and all the illusion that we as humans like to create, was never part of my goal. All I wanted was to make quilts and most importantly something Remarkable that I could be proud of. I didn’t even know what the national quilt shows were back then.

Later on someone told me to enter my quilt in a show. Back then those shows were extremely hard to get into, let alone win! It was right at that moment when the competitive Mark woke up and said “let’s do this!”. Of course I didn’t get into the show.  In that moment I told myself that nothing worthwhile is ever easy and if I really wanted it I must pursue what I want and not give up.  It wasn’t that I wanted to win because I needed to be famous or because I considered myself better than any of my fellow quilters. What I really wanted was my hard work, discipline, creativity, and the long hours trying to make it happen, to be awarded. It’s a satisfaction when our work receives an award. And that’s all I really wanted, and yes, eventually I got it. If you knew me back then, you know I never bragged about it. I’m still not bragging about it because there is no need for that. All I did was create something I felt proud of, share it with the quilting community in the hope’s that they would feel proud of me as well. And that’s what I did with every one of my quilts.

Thank God, most people around me have always been the kindest, sweetest, and the most Remarkable individuals. But unfortunately I have had to meet several people that are just the opposite. People who have tried to discredit my work by saying the most negative things that come through their minds. And of course, my personality wouldn’t let me confront those people. I would just let that negativity go. I will never be unkind to anyone. At least not on purpose.  I keep creating, sharing my journey with the people that love what I do, having fun in the process. And in the end I will have had the last laugh.

It hasn’t been an easy journey for sure. It’s hard to make it when there’s a lot of jealousy, bad energy, negativity, favoritism and politics around you. But it’s not impossible. In the end, if you’re doing what you are supposed to do, and you have defined what is it you want, whether you have fun and do what you love or do a business,  you will always be a winner. Do what you do with good intentions.  Be honest with yourself and be consistent.

I want you to know that whatever it is you’re going through right now, it is only temporary. It will only last as long as you allow it to. Ultimately you have the power to decide what it is that you want to do with you your life and keep walking towards your goals.

Don’t be scared to start something new. Don’t rush yourself. Don’t pay attention to what anybody says about you unless it’s positive. Keep your life and your art in perspective. Keep going. Believe in yourself.  Things are not always going to go your way but no matter what, never, never, never give up!

Be happy, have fun, love, laugh, create, explore, be grateful for everything and live your life as if you have no boundaries. For everything else, just kill them with kindness.

Mark L Sherman.

We should all get along like these butterflies do. Shot taken at the Butterfly World, Pompano Beach, FL.