4 Tips for Staying Youthful — and Motivated!

USE YOUR IMAGINATION; BE SILLY; STAY IN TOUCH WITH YOUR INNER CHILD – AND YOU CAN ACHIEVE ANYTHING

Unleash the power of your imagination and you will be a-mazed at what you can achieve. The possibilities are endless when you allow them to be. Putting your imagination to work unlocks your creativity and inspires you to come up with new ideas that you never thought possible. Also, don’t forget to be “silly”. Silliness is a very important trait, and allows you to do crazy things…like create a book when you’re only 7 years old, which is what I did. How silly was that? When you’re silly, you’re in touch with your “inner child”, and that’s not a bad thing. Never lose track of your inner child, because you will be able to call on it when you need inspiration. Use your imagination, be silly, stay in touch with your inner child and you will be motivated – at any age – to create new beginnings.

APPRECIATE YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS… AND YOUR PETS, TOO.

Take a look around you. Who is really there for you helping you to achieve your dreams? Appreciate them, because they are a gift to you. My grandmother, who is one of my great inspirations, wanted to be a fashion designer when she was a young girl, so that inspired me to make Joliea, the main character in my Puwaii Adventures books, “the world’s youngest fashion designer”™, which I modeled after my grandmother. When I started drawing fashions Grammy always encouraged me to continue, and I really appreciate her for that. Of course, all my family members, as well as my friends helped me to create the books. I appreciate them, too!

Don’t forget to appreciate your pets! They might know you better than you know yourself, and they love you unconditionally. I appreciated my Maltese, Izzy Beth, by basing the character, Princess Issa – ruler of Malta, on her in my Puwaii Adventures series.

LEARN ABOUT OTHER CULTURES

Since we live in a world that is becoming more and more global, it is important that we discover other cultures because it will open our minds and expand our thoughts. Even though I had never been to any of the countries I wrote about in my books, it helped me to learn who these people might be. People from other lands -ranging from Panama to Gibraltar to Ireland and Greece – are a very important part of the Puwaii books.

Also, learning a foreign language is a good way to explore another culture. I am taking French lessons right now. Bonjour, everyone!

SPREAD GOODNESS BY HELPING OTHERS

Helping others is a win-win situation. It makes you feel good, and it makes others feel good, too. At the same time, it makes our world a better place in which we live. Puwaii is all about happiness and spreading goodness.

Even Jack “the Rat”, my Puwaii villain who is a misguided, envious individual is capable of being saved. Just being in the company of goodness can be contagious!