Darkness envelops me like a velvet cloak, not a single photon daring to peek through the bedroom window. The world holds its breath in that magical pre-dawn stillness. After stretching with a yawn so massive it threatens to dislocate my jaw, I remember my secret mission: stealthily brew that life-giving coffee before tiny footsteps and demands for breakfast shatter the silence, giving me these precious moments to share my thoughts before we rush headlong to the airport for my big artist convention.

Pondering Life 

Contemplation visits me uninvited but welcome as I balance on this tightrope between yesterday and tomorrow. This morning’s meditation feels especially poignant because it was on just such a morning that I awoke from one of those dreams so vibrant, so insistent, it felt less like subconscious meandering and more like a heavenly telegram from God delivered directly to my soul.

My Vivid Dream

A massive castle came to me in my dream state, a magnificent stone fortress with soaring 50-foot ceilings, where flags of every nation flapped gently in some unfelt breeze. I find myself centered at an impossibly long table, a feast fit for royalty being laid out by silent servants, while the fireplace — tall enough to stand three of me stacked like cordwood — sends golden light dancing across ancient stones.

Surrounded by the Greats

Legends surround me at this dream-table, their faces somehow familiar though we’ve never met in real life. But I recognize them from their self-portraits. Leonardo da Vinci gestures animatedly across from me, Rembrandt nods thoughtfully beside him, and as my gaze travels the length of this improbable gathering, I recognize each face — women and men whose artistic breakthroughs hang in the world’s most prestigious galleries and museums.

The air is thick with laughter and camaraderie as wine flows freely and conversation dances between tales of masterpieces created and techniques mastered and debates about which medium is the ultimate. We speak of pigments and brushstrokes, of types of clay and marble,  as lovers discuss their beloveds — with passion, reverence, and intimate knowledge born from lifetimes devoted to capturing beauty.

As this feast of great artists continues, I somehow realize that this isn’t our first gathering, but one of many — a tradition where artistic souls reconnect like old friends, the highlight of our collective year.

A Dream That Never Stops

This vivid dream of a gathering of artists continued to haunt me in my waking hours for weeks afterward, replaying in Technicolor detail during vivid discussions about art. Then one morning, after yet another nighttime return to that stone castle, I feel something — a presence, a gentle pressure on my shoulder, and a whisper: “You need to invite everyone to the annual dinner, Eric.” I don’t recognize the voice, but its authority is undeniable. Is this divine guidance? Or just my subconscious playing telephone?

Sudden Clarity

The meaning became clear during another bout of soul-searching — something vital was missing from my life. PleinAir Magazine, my passion project shuttered three years earlier due to financial realities, had left a gaping hole. Galleries had scoffed, “We don’t sell unfinished plein air paintings.” Art supply companies shrugged, “There aren’t enough plein air painters to justify advertising dollars.” Yet former readers still contacted me regularly, their disappointment a mirror of my own. I felt the self-induced pressure for it to return.

My Bold Announcement

Soon after this moment of clarity, I gathered my team of senior advisors to announce my revelation: We must resurrect PleinAir Magazine and simultaneously launch a convention. I explained the dream as eyes rolled, everyone thinking I’d finally gone crazy. My grand plan was to unite the scattered tribe of outdoor painters, with the intention of creating a movement that barely existed at the time.

Serious Discouragement

Without hesitation, my trusted advisors told me it was a bad idea. “Don’t do it, you’ll be ruined,” warned my top lieutenant. “We’re just regaining financial footing — this is suicide,” pronounced my numbers person, spreadsheets practically quivering with fear.

Insistence

I pride myself on listening to my advisors, and it’s rare that I ever pull rank. Yet defiantly, I claimed victory as I rose from my chair, spine straight despite knees knocking beneath the conference table. “We’re doing this one year from today,” I declare, knowing full well I’m gambling with my business, my dwindling savings, and potentially the roof over my family’s heads.

History Writes Itself 

Though bullets were coming out of my pores, knowing the risk was high and my team was against me, it turned out to be a good call. The magazine flourished, the movement exploded, and plein air events multiplied like rabbits across the landscape. Subscribers arrived by the hundreds, then thousands, then tens of thousands. Advertisers who once scoffed were lining up with checkbooks open. The timing, it seems, was divinely perfect. That was 15 years ago.

On the Runway Soon

In just a few hours from now, my wife, three kids, and me will be joining my dedicated team for a week of organized chaos as we create an unforgettable experience for our plein air family. Dozens of vendors, 80 master instructors, and nearly a thousand attendees will gather to celebrate what Jean Stern calls “the largest movement in the history of art.”

Fear whispered to me about losing everything back then. My gut shouted louder. The risk terrified me, but the dream’s gravitational pull was irresistible. Failure has lurked too close to home in the past, sharpening its claws. I’d lost everything before — the memory of that emptiness still haunts me. But this time I had three small humans and a spouse depending on my judgment. Relaunching the magazine and creating a convention was either brilliant or catastrophically stupid — possibly both simultaneously. My gut insisted this path was necessary, and hopefully, lives have been transformed because of it.

I’ve learned to understand that our gut speaks truth when we’re brave enough to listen. What is your gut telling you right now?

Fear accompanies greatness like a shadow — inseparable but ultimately powerless unless given authority. Every remarkable person who’s built impossible things knows fear intimately. Their differentiation isn’t fearlessness, but action despite trembling hands and racing hearts.

Dreams call loudly, though we often pretend not to hear, turning away from their persistent call. What vision keeps returning despite your logical objections? What do you know deep in your soul needs manifestation, even though you can’t fathom how you’ll accomplish it?

Don’t Let Details Stop You

Details remain hidden until your commitment materializes. You don’t need a complete roadmap — just the courage to take the first step. Even when the math screams “Impossibility!” if your gut vibrates with certainty, if you know that inaction means permanent regret, you must leap. The rest always falls into place. But it starts with commitment.

Our Brains Betray Us

Worst-case scenarios are always exaggerated in our minds. Yes, you might lose material possessions — homes, cars, bank balances. But your essence remains intact, perhaps even energized by a passionate pursuit. Solutions materialize when desperation fuels your creativity and the solutions you need to make your dream give birth. Yes, you’ll work harder than you believed possible. But most importantly, you won’t die wondering, “What if?” You won’t look back with the regret of not pursuing your dream, and you won’t ever have to wonder what might have happened.

Failure teaches lessons impossible to learn elsewhere. I’ve been so broke that ketchup packets became a food group. I survived, and I know if I crash again, I’ll subsist on ramen and determination. But ignoring my purpose? That’s soul-starvation of the worst kind.

The failed dream that almost crushed me

Technology dreams were big in 1999, when I envisioned putting music on this newfangled internet thing. It hadn’t been done. So I marched into Silicon Valley, charmed millions from investors’ wallets, built a company, and invented technology to stream radio and audio online. My team created standards still used today that had been deemed unworkable back then. In fact, most engineers told me what I wanted to do was impossible and defied physics. I interviewed 50 engineers, and 49 told me, “What you want to do is impossible.” I hired the one who said, “Yes, it’s impossible, but I’ll figure out how to do it.”

Soon employees are hired, and we’re doing business with iconic brands, and I’m meeting with the biggest names in Silicon Valley, like the founders of Google. Massive progress is made, and impossible technology is invented. And soon we are the number two consumer of streaming in the world. But one September day ends everything when planes hit the towers and investment money evaporates, and my company collapses into bankruptcy. I lost millions that others had entrusted to me, and my own dreams were shattered. The weight of that failure crushed my spirit, plunging me into years of depression where risk-taking became unthinkable. The wounds festered until I realized how much time I’d wasted nursing them instead of healing.

Behavior models excellence when you embrace the big dreams and necessary risks — but please, don’t emulate my years of paralysis and self-flagellation. That part of my journey was an unnecessary detour and a waste of human breath.

Finding Your Gifts

Gifts remain unopened within each of us — offering unique perspectives and solutions the world desperately needs. Most lie forever dormant, smothered by a blanket of fear. What would happen if you reframed your fear as excitement and took your shot?

Movement requires action, and thankfully I did not listen to the negative voices calling for caution in my head. Without taking a terrifying leap, PleinAir Magazine would not exist today. The convention might never have materialized. The plein air movement might have remained a scattered collection of individual painters rather than a global phenomenon. Perhaps someone else would have stepped forward — maybe even done it better. But I was the one chosen for this task, and when inspiration strikes you with similar force, you must recognize you’ve been selected for a purpose only you can fulfill.

Dreamers change everything when they cast aside risk and fear in pursuit of possibility. Every great woman or man who has built something life-changing has experienced fear. Join our ranks, and watch how your courage transforms not just your life but ripples outward to touch countless others. This is your moment. Hold your breath and jump in. No matter the outcome, you’ll never look back in regret.

Eric Rhoads

PS: A Little Nervous
Despite organizing this big convention many times before, my stomach still performs Olympic-level gymnastics. What if we mess up with a thousand people depending on us? It’s an enormous production. Yet excitement consistently outmuscles anxiety. Looking back, the journey seems impossible — especially for someone who skipped college, started without funding, battles ADHD daily, and finds business calculations more challenging than space flight. Success materialized despite my limitations, suggesting divine intervention for purposes still unfolding. I’m just grateful to have been hired for this unlikely role!  I hope to see you there.😊

PS: Switzerland Beckons
A couple of days ago we closed registrations for our upcoming Switzerland painting adventure, but fate intervened — one couple has cancelled at the last minute, which means two lucky souls can claim these coveted slots. I’ll share details during the convention, unless you grab these final seats before they vanish. Discover more at www.pleinairswitzerland.com.

PS: Hollywood Meets Canvas
I’ve had a 20-year secret love affair with digital painting. It accompanies me during travels, helps me solve compositional puzzles, and occasionally joins me outdoors. My iPad is filled with my digital paintings, sketches, and compositional experiments. On a skill scale of 1-10, I’m barely a 3. Asking around, I discovered everyone’s experimenting with it while feeling similarly inadequate. This made me wonder: Who are the world’s preeminent digital painters? The answer materialized instantly — those wizards crafting Hollywood’s breathtaking matte backgrounds and visual designs. I’ve convinced these industry giants — the artistic geniuses behind Lord of the Rings, Avatar, and countless blockbusters from the most prestigious studios — to teach you digital painting during a special one-day event on June 14. Whether you’re a digital novice or experienced pixel-pusher, you’ll discover new creative freedom. Not to replace traditional methods but to complement them, using devices you already own. More importantly, watching these masters work will elevate your non-digital painting exponentially. Register at www.digitalpaintinglive.com.

The first light of dawn creeps across the Texas sky this morning, a gentle watercolor of pinks and golds that feels both timeless and fleeting. The dew clings stubbornly to the wildflowers, their purple and yellow heads nodding in the whisper of a breeze that carries the mingled scents of fresh coffee, rain-washed earth, and honeysuckle. From somewhere nearby comes the persistent, hopeful chattering of grackles, and their abrasive sound puts me on high alert, awakening me better than coffee.

Suspended Time 

On mornings like this, time seems suspended. The porch swing creaks in gentle rhythm, a metronome marking moments that will never return. The coffee mug is warm between palms that once were held by my mother’s steadying hands. There’s something about these quiet moments that peels back the layers of adulthood, revealing the child within who still longs for the comforting presence of Mom. I’m missing her today.

Love Unbounded

Mother’s love is perhaps the most profound miracle of ordinary life — a love so expansive it seems to defy the laws of nature. It’s like the Texas sky itself — boundless, ever-present, sheltering us through storms and sunshine alike. Even when they’re gone, mothers leave an imprint on our souls as permanent as the lines on our palms.

Empty Chairs 

For those experiencing their first Mother’s Day with an empty chair at the table, an unheard voice on the other end of the phone, I see you. That first year carries a special kind of ache, a bewildering emptiness where celebration once lived. The calendar pages keep turning with cruel indifference to our grief, bringing us to days marked by absence rather than presence.

Enduring Presence

Yet in that absence, we find the enduring power of a mother’s love. It lives in the recipes we’ve inherited, like her amazing beef Stroganoff, which has never been the same in my kitchen. Mom’s influence is eternally passed on unexpectedly as phrases from her lips emerge from our own mouths, in the values that guide our decisions, and in the way we love our own children. I even catch myself saying things I swore I’d never say to my own kids, things that came from my mother. A mother’s love is like the horizon line — even when she disappears from view, her influence continues to shape the landscape of our lives.

Wild Gardens

Today, as we honor mothers everywhere, let’s remember that motherhood is like tending a garden that grows wild and wonderful in unexpected ways. It’s the quiet strength of showing up every day, of bandaging scraped knees and mending broken hearts, of celebrating triumphs both small and significant. It’s like holding water in cupped hands — precious, essential, and impossible to fully contain.

Time’s Gift

For those whose mothers still walk this earth, today is a gentle reminder not to wait. Make the call. Write the letter. Ask the questions. Share your gratitude. And for those whose mothers have passed beyond our reach, perhaps today we can honor them by embodying their best qualities, by telling their stories, by becoming living memorials to the love they poured into us. Let our kids know the legends of our youth and the stories of the mother only we knew.

Stubborn Beauty

The porch will always be here, the coffee will always brew, and the Texas morning will always break with stubborn beauty. But mothers — they are the irreplaceable treasure, the North Star by which we navigate our lives long after they’re gone. Thank God for mothers.

Timeless Wisdom

In honor of the power of motherhood everywhere, I pulled some quotes about motherhood from the book of Proverbs:

“She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.” — Proverbs 31:26

“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old, they will not turn from it.” — Proverbs 22:6

“A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.” — Proverbs 10:1

“May your father and mother rejoice; may she who gave you birth be joyful!” — Proverbs 23:25

“A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man despises his mother.” — Proverbs 15:20

“Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.” — Proverbs 31:28

“A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.” — Proverbs 12:4

“A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.” — Proverbs 31:10

“Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all. Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” — Proverbs 31:29-30

“For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.” — Proverbs 8:11

Eric Rhoads

Dawn breaks early across the Texas landscape this morning, carrying its own special music — mockingbirds competing for attention, the rustle of new spring green leaves dancing in the warm breeze, and the hoot of a confused owl perched atop our water tower. There’s something magical about these mornings here on the long porch that wraps around this Texas ranch house, where I sit with my coffee reflecting on whatever comes to mind.

This morning, as I watch the intricate dance of nature unfold around me, I’m reminded of how often the most valuable treasures require us to dig beneath the surface. We live in a world of quick fixes and instant solutions, yet the most transformative answers often lie several layers deeper than our initial search. Chances are if I were to dig deep on my own property, there would be a massive cave that would fit the Empire State Building — or at least an aquifer filled with spring water.

The Doctor’s Verdict

Years ago, I faced a non-life-threatening physical issue that left me in constant pain. My doctor delivered what felt like a life sentence: “Nothing can be done. You’ll need to learn to live with it.” While most people trust their doctors without question, I don’t. I respect them, respect their time commitment to medical school and their experience, and I’m willing to listen. But I also know all humans – doctors included – have biases and tend to get set in their ways. So I’m always asking, “What if they’re wrong?” 

Medical Certainties That Weren’t

The reason doctors must keep their licenses current with continuing education is because what are thought to be facts are often proven wrong. What seems safe today becomes tomorrow’s danger. Even medical journals have been proven wrong countless times, yet people believe them as gospel.

Think about what doctors have told us in the past that is no longer valid today. Most still tout cholesterol-busting drugs while recent studies indicate cholesterol is actually good for your brain, and the lack of it may contribute to Alzheimer’s. Some doctors still push low-fat diets, while the latest wisdom embraces good fats. When I was a kid, ads claimed “9 out of 10 doctors recommend Chesterfields” cigarettes — which turned out to be terrible advice. And the food pyramid, pushed for decades to benefit the grain industry, has been largely debunked as we now understand most grains are meant to fatten cattle, not humans.

What we see as standard medical practice today will eventually be challenged, and some current treatments will be shown to destroy lives.

The Persistence of Questions

The question that changed everything for me was simple: “What if my doctor is wrong?” Unwilling to accept a lifetime of pain, I began digging deeper. Second opinions from other doctors yielded the same verdict. Most would have stopped there, but I was not willing to accept the sentence. Alternative medicine practitioners offered hope but no results. Yet I persisted, asking questions, exploring unconventional approaches, and refusing to settle for the accepted wisdom.

Eventually, my search led to an unconventional treatment that even a doctor friend dismissed as “a waste of time and money.” I pursued it anyway. After multiple sessions, the problem medical science had deemed permanent vanished. The pain that was supposed to be my lifetime companion disappeared because I was willing to dig below the surface of conventional wisdom. I could give you three or four examples of medical issues that have been solved by this same persistence.

The Parallel in Your Life

Does this resonate with you? Have you ever solved what others considered unsolvable simply because you refused to accept the first, second, or third answer? What problems in your life right now might benefit from this deeper exploration?

When Life Hangs in the Balance

Now imagine the stakes elevated — your very survival hanging in the balance. When doctors recommend aggressive treatments like chemotherapy and radiation, is that the time to dig deeper or explore alternatives? The question becomes infinitely more complex because the answer might determine life or death, and timing is often tight.

The Cautionary Tale

Apple founder Steve Jobs famously rejected conventional medical treatment in favor of alternative approaches for his pancreatic cancer. His decision ultimately proved fatal — by the time he returned to conventional medicine, it was too late. Even his vast wealth couldn’t change the outcome. Yet we can never know with certainty if earlier conventional treatment would have saved him either. Some diseases defy even our best efforts.

The Contemporary Dilemma

I have a dear friend currently battling aggressive cancer who wisely chose to follow medical advice given the disease’s severity and progression. Yet emerging peer-reviewed research suggests a complementary treatment that wouldn’t interfere with his current protocol. In fact, it’s saving people with his disease, or at least buying them more time. His stance is to take the treatment only if his doctors approve. But what if their rejection stems not from evidence but from professional entrenchment? If the alternative posed no risk to my current treatment, I might choose differently. What would you do?

Beyond the Information Gatekeepers

We exist in an information ecosystem where a select group of experts determine what constitutes legitimate knowledge. Those operating outside established frameworks are often labeled as fringe thinkers or conspiracy theorists. We often get our news from someone who promotes what we already believe. The left thinks the right is crazy, the right thinks the same about the left. Are extremes really a good idea? How can we be certain the gatekeepers are correct? How can we be certain the alternative thinkers are right? We can’t. That’s precisely why we must question our information sources and explore beyond conventional wisdom. True understanding requires depth and never accepting the first or second answer.

The Solution Paradox

A mentor once shared wisdom that transformed my approach to problem-solving: While most of us can generate two or three solutions to any problem, those initial ideas are rarely optimal. The best answers typically emerge only after generating 20 to 50 possibilities — a process that forces us beyond comfortable, conventional thinking into the uncharted territory where innovation thrives. It’s not easy or quick, which is why most people don’t dig deep.

Depth in Relationships

This principle extends beyond problem-solving or accepting medical advice. Are you facing challenges with your children or family or work? How deeply are you willing to dig for meaningful solutions that address root causes rather than symptoms? Recently, I resolved a persistent personal issue only after extensive research led me far beyond mainstream approaches. Because I did not rule out the unconventional, my life was changed. The answer had been waiting, but only at a depth few are willing to reach. Where will you go that is beyond the mainstream?

The Hidden Treasures

Life’s most profound gifts are discovered through depth — in conversations that move beyond pleasantries, in relationships that transcend superficiality, in business connections built on genuine understanding rather than transaction. Surface-level engagement rarely yields significant value. The gold lies beneath layers of effort, discomfort, and persistence — requiring us to sift through considerable “dirt” before discovering the nuggets that transform our lives.

The Investment of Depth

A truly meaningful life consists of meaningful memories and experiences. Depth requires investment — of time, inconvenience, and often financial resources. Yet this investment yields returns others never discover. The question isn’t whether you can afford to go deep. It’s whether you can afford not to.

The Philosophical Core

At its essence, the pursuit of depth reflects humanity’s most noble characteristic — the refusal to accept limitations imposed by conventional wisdom or the appointed “thinkers” or “gatekeepers” of our time. It’s never a bad idea to ask yourself, “What is the reason they are pushing their particular narrative?”  When we dig deeper, we assert that reality is more complex, more nuanced, and more possibility-filled than commonly recognized. We acknowledge that truth often lies not in what’s immediately visible but in what remains hidden until we commit to the search.

The depth-seeker embodies the recognition that what we know is dwarfed by what remains unknown. Yet ironically, this humility becomes the foundation for a more empowered existence, as we free ourselves from the constraints of unexamined assumptions and well-worn paths.

What if you were to explore the depths in your own life today? What if you were to question what those in the high tower in white lab coats or on the TV screens are telling us is true?

Eric Rhoads