Make Something Good

Every so often, a phrase strikes you like a brushstroke across a blank canvas — simple, yet profoundly true. My friend Ralph Marston once wrote, “Make something good. Make something valuable.” Those words stirred me because they echo what I’ve spent a lifetime trying to do with my art: use the gifts I’ve been given to create something that endures.

It’s easy to live as consumers — of moments, possessions, even beauty. Yet the truest satisfaction comes not from what we acquire, but from what we create. Whether it’s a phone call, a compliment, a handwritten note, or an act of kindness, every creative gesture leaves a trace of who we are and what we care about.

The simple card above says it all — “Your kindness was better than a pot of gold.” No store-bought message could ever say it better because it came straight from the heart. It reminds us that the most meaningful creations don’t come from a shelf; they come from within. So don’t just buy a card — make one. Doodle a rainbow, write your own words, let your authenticity shine through. There’s something deeply powerful about daring to be original.

Three Brushstrokes of Meaning

1. Awareness – Seeing Beyond Ourselves
Creation begins when we open our eyes to what’s around us — the needs, the beauty, the quiet details that others overlook. Awareness transforms ordinary moments into opportunities for compassion and connection.

2. Resourcefulness – Using What You Have
You don’t need a studio or a stage to make something meaningful. Creativity blooms in everyday gestures — a shared meal, a note of encouragement, a helping hand. When we use what we have, we multiply its impact.

3. Timing – Acting in the Moment
Inspiration has a window. When we sense the call to create, that’s our cue to move — not later, not someday. The best creations are born not of perfect plans but of willing hearts.

A Closing Thought

What gives life its richest hue is not what we consume, but what we contribute. Each of us carries the power to create beauty — not just on a canvas, but in the way we treat one another.
So the next time you want to express something meaningful, dare to be original. Make something good. Make something from you.