An Artist is Someone Who Creates
‘Most of us feel secure when we play it safe. We wear a string of pearls, for example, instead of hand-painted glass beads we glimpsed and passed up at the craft fair. Yet it is precisely those red and purple glass bead around the neck of another woman that stop us dead in our tracks. “Wow,” we mumble as we pass her on the street, “that looks fantastic.” We also wonder how she knew it would.
She probably doesn’t. She probably just took a leap in the dark and trusted her instincts. She trusted her own sense of style. The necklace whispered her instincts. She trusted her own sense of style. The necklace whispered “Try me!” and she listened. She played at living- in a small way to be sure, but relevant all the same-by taking a chance.
Every day we’re given chances to embrace the new. It could be serving focaccia at dinner tonight instead of garlic bread. It could be choosing a pair of floral socks that make our feet want to dance, instead of the plain pair we automatically reach for. It could be trading in the headband for a short, sleek sophisticated cut that really feels right.
Psychologist Susan Jeffers suggests we “take a risk a day- one small or bold stroke that makes you feel great once you have done it.” Today, take a real risk that can change your life: start thinking of yourself as an artist and your life as a work-in-progress. Works-in-progress are never perfect. But changes can be made to the rough draft during rewrites. Another color can be added to the canvas. The film can be tightened during editing. Art evolves. So does life. Art is never stagnant. Neither is life. The beautiful, authentic life you are creating for yourself and those you love is your art. It’s the highest art. “Since you are like no other being created since the beginning of time, you are incomparable,” writer Brenda Ueland reminds you.
Hold that thought.’ -Sarah Ban Breathnach, Simple Abundance A Daybook of Comfort and Joy
I have those fashion savvy friends who can just take this and that and put it all together and look amazing!
I never would have thought to wear that scarf with that shirt and my goodness she carries it well!
Being natural and being bold.
Far too often I play it really safe when it comes to me. That clearance rack just does not always have the most edgy fashion options… and when will I stop this? When will I admit that it is ok to grab something at full price and buy it…. for me, not my children?
We are evolving. Every single day, we are. I am and I know this.
We are simply normal- not perfect. In due time, we’ll get there.
‘Living is a form of not being sure, not knowing what next or how… The artist never entirely knows. We guess. We may be wrong, but we take leap after leap in the dark.’ – Agnes De Millie
Just found your blog! It's wonderful!
I can relate to the fashion feelings…I used to put so much time into how I looked. Now I just throw on whatever is clean. I definitely miss feeling pulled together! = ) Maybe one day!
Caroline-
Thank you so much. I'm glad you found me and I'm glad you like my blog and/or find it helpful.
In the mist of raising children, I think sometimes Mommy's just get a little lost. Nurturing everyone before ourselves. That is what we are supposed to do, right?
I love the Simple Abundance journey. I am sharing my adventure with my readers as I go along. While I share my emotion in it all, I hope it helps someone know they are not alone.
If you are looking for the perfect mom or parent, you will not find her in me… and I am ok with that!
Stop by again soon!