A Vote for the Underdogs

I will admit it. I am a bandwagon fan. My brother has been a true Cubs fan, the one who through the most major sports drought in history, kept believing. Kept cheering. Kept watching. It's admirable. Really! He's got the jersey, he's got the lingo, he's genuine. 

Me, on the other hand, I just like to see the underdog get a chance. When I heard the Cubs were going on to greatness, I was kind of doubtful. But when they kept pushing forward, proving their strength and dedication, I jumped on the bandwagon full force! Why, I even learned the "Go Cubs Go" song (I'm a little ashamed that I didn't know it, but believe you me, it's etched into my memory forever now. Like it's never gonna leave. It's stuck permanently. LOL)

As I watched the team rally together, and watched the fans join in harmonic support, it was truly inspiring. In light of the current political environment of slander and negativity, the fact there was something we could all believe in together felt surreal. It felt patriotic! There was a feeling of unity as we saw the impossible becoming a reality.

And then there was that 7th game! What a nail-biter! What a victory! And we all celebrated with them. Why? Because when an underdog wins, all of us other underdogs feel a fire stir within us. I feel like I am an underdog at times. Art teachers. Farmers. Small Business Owners. Even the lowly sheep. Those who swim upstream in the river of societal culture. 

We're all underdogs. Yet watching the Cubs, I realized so many things. Deep life lessons. Teamwork. Dedication. Belief and faith. Talent. Persistence. Discipline. Passion. Here are the traits of success. The Chicago Cubs have reminded us how to dream and with all those attributes, how to dream big. Congratulations on making history! 

We celebrated their win at the Illinois Art Educator's Conference in Normal, IL . Here art teachers gathered from around the state to learn, share, inspire and engage in their passion of art education. For me, art teacher conferences are like the World Series of my year. Something I look forward to, something where we can all celebrate together what we love doing. Where we get support and a shot in the arm to keep going. Art teachers are really the best!

It was fun hanging out with all of you and getting to celebrate our victory together. And especially fun was creating and crafting with you, Cassie Stephens, another kindred spirit who loves life, fun, fiber just as much as me. She's a great resource with her art teacher blog and an awesome person to know.

So on behalf of all the underdogs of the world, we congratulate the Chicago Cubs on winning the World Series after 108 years! If this is possible, ANYTHING IS! Dream big my friends! 

Meeting a Superstar!

Meet Cassie Stephens , art teacher extraordinaire. I first learned about her, literally a few days before the National Art Educator's Conference. I was meandering around the internet, as that happens far to often to us, and I came across her picture. 

I stopped in my tracks and I was like, who is this? She looks fun! And she is WEARING FELT!!!! I totally have to meet her now. In the hubbub of the next 72 hours of packing and prepping, getting to the show, setting up, dealing with the Union Teamsters and such, I kind of placed it in the back of my mind. 

Well, lo and behold, I was talking to the vendor coordinator of the Illinois Art Educator's Conference, and who should come walking up across the aisle but Ms. Cassie Stephens herself? In her wonderful, colorful glory, she definitely had the aura of a superstar. So the gal I was chatting with, casually glances over and says, "Have you met Cassie Stephens yet? She loves to felt too! I'll introduce you to her". 

So that's how it happened. Cassie is one of the nicest, most genuine people and crazy creative. An elementary art teacher and blogger, she really makes art come alive for not only her students, but a whole cyber world of her devoted fans- many of whom are teachers drawing ideas for their own classrooms.  

We chatted, and I learned that she had taught a needle felting embellishment class a day earlier at the conference. She said everyone in class was asking her if she had heard of Esther's Place! We laughed and said "where have y'all been my whole life" (well she said it that way in her charming Nashville accent). I really felt like I met a kindred spirit. 

The lesson I learned from Cassie? If you love something, love it with abandon! Go after it in a big way. Forget what people will think. The right people will love it. You will be a star, one that illuminates and lights the way for others. A superstar!