Oh Look! It’s Me!

There you are! I’m so glad you’re here, because if you weren’t I’d just be talking to myself, and I’ve already heard all my stories!

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Since you found your way to this blog, I figure we must be two peas in a pod, kindred spirits wanting not to see the glass as either half full or half empty, but overflowing with inspiration from the breath of God. That thing that makes you want to get up each morning and face the day with anticipation of receiving blessings and of being a blessing to others, of being kind, being at peace, and being joyful. Being positive and optimistic.

Being inspired.

Finding inspiration, fun, and hope in the oddest and most unexpected places as well as in the most common and mundane places. 

Finding love and laughter along the way. 

I’ve always considered myself a creative person, which some say requires inspiration. But through the years, when I have taken those right-brain left-brain tests, I always come out right down the middle. The left brain is associated with things like thinking in words and dealing with facts and logic. That’s me. The right brain is all about feelings and visualization, daydreaming, imagination and creativity. That’s me, too! Am I left-brained or right-brained? Yes! I’m both! And apparently it doesn’t matter, because my left-brain just had to go look it up and find out that the dominant left- or right-brain theory has been disproven. They are different, yes, but neither is dominant. Which is just a bummer because I totally fit the right-down-the middle brain theory. I figured that’s why in my career I taught business and computers in college until I retired a few years ago, and why I spend my “me” time writing, drawing, and generally being creative while I watch my Hallmark movies (don’t judge—I’m retired, remember?)

By the way, my name is Becky Bullough. That last name is pronounced “bull-oh”. Just ignore the “ugh”! If you stick around (and I hope you do—you can sign up below to be notified when I post and receive occasional goodies), we’ll go on a journey together to seek out inspiration and positivity in our sometimes humdrum, sometimes exciting, sometimes introspective, sometimes really hard, not-picture-perfect days. You can read all about our inspiring pets —our incredible blind dog Watson, our beloved old-man dog Fala, and our sweetly obnoxious cat Cleo.

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And did I mention I’ve been married to Richard, the love of my life, for 39 years and counting? We didn’t find each other until we were almost 30, and our beautitful and amazing daughters were born when I was 37 and 40. I was an educator for 44 years—I started teaching when I was barely older than the students. I’m also an interpreter for the deaf. And now in our 60s we have been blessed with an awesome son-in-love and the most precious granddaughter IN THE WORLD. I guess it’s true—good things come to those who wait!

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As I’m sure many of you have, I’ve lived through loss and grief that still shapes and colors my days, and I’m a breast cancer survivor (10 years and counting). Can inspiration be found even in dark days? I’m gonna say yes, but you may have to look a little harder. 

We live in the “other California”—the Central Valley. Pretty much equi-distant from the Bay Area, the Los Angeles area, Yosemite, and the Beach (or the Coast, as we like to call it here). How can you not be inspired about all that! 

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My current creative projects include drawing coloring books and wall art and creating journals and planners. I get the same kind of stress relief that the colorists do when I create my pages. If you want to check out my art, my Etsy shop is SpringMillArtDesigns. I’ll also be sharing some of it in these pages (like the inspirational bookmarks above) from time to time, and the pictures will be linked to my shop in case you want to see them there. I’ve written and illustrated a couple of children’s books, and I’ve written for a couple of Christian magazines. I’ve been a speaker for ladies’ events in California and Arkansas, and done mission work in Paris, France, and Ghana, West Africa. I believe all inspiration is God-breathed and within each of us, so we can find it in every part of our lives if we’re open to it. I’ll be sharing things that inspire me, make me giggle, make me roll my eyes, and make me say “Wow! What an awesome God we serve!” I hope you’ll come along for the ride!