"We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them." Albert Einstein

Maze 245:  I chose this quote because my fight to get back on track by doing the maze early in the day continues.  Finishing mazes 20 and 30 minutes before deadline is taking a toll on the fun I usually have drawing them.  But I’m really beginning to appreciate the look and feel of the mazes that are deadline influenced.  For the uniqueness sake of the project I might have to push the deadline another dozen mazes or so to help push the envelope a bit.

I tried to freehand this one to see how straight I could draw it.  I could have done better but I like how it came out given the time.

"Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat. Theodore Roosevelt

Maze 244: Wow what a crazy day.  My son had his semi-final game today in the Presidents day tournament.  They lost the game 5-4 in a shoot out in overtime.  The game was so close and my sons team lost the lead with only 2 minutes left in the game.  The cool thing was that my son scored two goals and had an excellent game. 

For those that don’t know a shoot out is when the teams have 3 opportunities to score on the goalie.  If it’s tied after 3 they keep going.  Todays game went to round 4 where we needed a goal to keep playing and my son got to take the shot.  He juked the goalie leaving the net wide open on his attempt but lost the puck at the last second.  He was devastated as well as many of his teammates. 

I happen to be the only parent in the locker room at the time and pointed out to all the players that they had a helluva a game and shouldn’t place blame on themselves, and that they win and lose as a team.  (My son, the goalie, and a few players who were on the ice when the team tied it were blaming themselves.) 

After the game I didn’t have much to say but pointed out that he had a great game and that if it wasn’t for his goals they wouldn’t have made it to OT anyway.  I also explained how proud I was and that he needs to realize the positives.  In his first year of hockey he not only scored two goals in a game, but that he was also chosen to take the shot in the first place.  Hours later he seems to be fine and be able to appreciate his performance and game. 

"“A perfect method for adding drama to life is to wait until the deadline looms large.” Author Unknown

Maze 243:  I chose the quote because one more maze finished minutes before deadline.  That was a close one. 

" “The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don't play together, the club won't be worth a dime.” Babe Ruth

Maze 242:  Another quick maze tonight.  This one was inspired by my sons performance.  He scored a goal and had two assists and they one 6-1.   I can’t believe how much his hard work has paid off more than I ever imagined it could so fast.  The best thing about this is that the team has had major issues with passing instead of everyone trying to be a hero.  And yesterday I heard my son complain about not getting passes because he passes.  And today he still passed and got two assists even though he was angry and could have chosen not to pass.  Thats why I chose this quote this evening.  Tomorrow he will have a long day with two more games.  But I know I will enjoy it.

" “The entrepreneur always searches for change, responds to it, and exploits it as an opportunity.” Peter F. Drucker

Maze 241: Today was the first time I visited my blog as a visitor.  All this time I didn’t realize that there were advertisements on my blog posts.  Which sucks when I think that my goal is to make a living from my art, only to find out a company is making money from my daily posts. 

So I realize now that I need to come up with a plan and take action toward making money from my work.

"The chains of habit are generally too small to be felt until they are too strong to be broken." Samuel Johnson

maze 240: I chose this quote because I feel this quote happening with my productivity.  For  February I have felt like I haven’t been to productive toward my goals.  The majority of my nights I feel as though I wasted the day.  But then I can look back and see a completed maze and realize that I’ve taken a major step.

This tells me that I have gotten so used to drawing a maze that it’s a daily habit now like eating or showering.  The act or completion itself has lost its shine as an accomplishment and has become business as usual.  Although the shine has gone it feels good that the project has turned my art into a daily occurrence or reflex.  I have a feeling after the 365 days I will still be drawing daily mazes for a while.

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." Aristotle

Maze 239: I was pleased to find out yesterday that my son was the player of the week for his association in hockey.  He got the hardest worker award for his team 3 times this season, with 2 in the past three games.  He had two goals, one a short-handed tally (he leads the league in shorthanded goals with two)  in his game over the weekend helping him win the player of the week.  It makes me proud to see that all the work he did this past year to prepare for hockey panned out. 

Although its his first season he has improved by the practice and definitely doesn’t look like a rookie.  As a first year player, playing with a majority of kids who’ve played for three seasons or more he stands out as one of the better players.  

After watching him this past season and how hard he worked this past summer  a during the season.  I admire what he’s been able to accomplish in such a short time in such a difficult sport. I have to admit many times when I can’t find inspiration on my own my sons have been a great source/example of what action can accomplish in one’s life.  Being able to maintain good grades, practice/play hockey 3-4 times a week and run a trash disposal business I can truly say his efforts are inspiring!

“The reason people find it so hard to be happy is that they always see the past better than it was, the present worse than it is, and the future less resolved than it will be” Marcel Pagnol

Maze 238: Sticking with yesterday’s post I wanted to share that although this has been the worst few months of my life, I have enjoyed life.  For the first time ever I have learned to see through the hurdles of life without getting stick in them.  When things suck I work hard at looking and appreciating what is good and right in my life and thus far it has worked.

As many have mentioned the past few mazes have been a step in a new direction.  And yes, Mary something is different in the set of mazes you spoke of.  The key is that I’ve been trying to “miniaturize”  my mazes.  I have worked at make smaller mazes with smaller pieces adding more detail as well as stronger illusions within the angles.  Making them smaller seems to give them more of a crisp clean look that leads to better illusions.

"One isn't necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can't be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest." Maya Angelou

maze 237: Since doing this project on a daily basis I realize how much that maze making has kept me afloat in the drowning tides of life.  The past seven months has been the worst time of my life.  Many times I’ve felt like just throwing up my hands and giving up and its been my committment to making a daily maze that has really helped save me. 

Many days when life was stressful and hard to deal with I made my way to the sketchbook to fulfill my goal and free my soul.  Instead of letting the bumps leave me depressed I find peace, a solution in creating a problem.  I didn’t realize but by starting the project I created a “life raft” that I can use at any time to help me deal.

How has it really helped me?  I can honestly say that on a few occasions this past few months I have decided to give up and just say screw it all.  And each time I end up rushing home to finish my maze instead of whatever destructive activity I had planned to participate in.   All this has helped me to feel like life is great even in the face of so many bad things that have happened.