Compassion

In the United States, we celebrate Thanksgiving the fourth Thursday of November.  The name of the holiday implies that we celebrate with gratitude for all of our blessings and everything that we are thankful for.  There are many meditations and writings on and about gratitude.  I have written a couple myself.  This year I would like to do something a little different.  I am pondering the emotion compassion and I am examining how compassion and gratitude are interlinked.

In the 1980’s Eddie Murphy was in a film called “The Golden Child.” Eddie Murphy’s character was a type of private investigator that finds lost children.  His current case looking for a lost girl intersected with a case of a missing Tibetan boy.  When meeting with the people looking for the little boy, they explain to Eddie Murphy’s character that this child is special, if he is killed all humanity would suffer.  One character at this point laments that the last golden child, the bringer of compassion was killed and it was a great loss to all mankind.  The film is fun, adventurous and interesting.  It does address some serious topics, child abductions and death.  If you haven’t seen it and are looking for something fun to watch, this is a good movie.  The thing that I remembered most about the film was the discussion about losing the child, who was bringing compassion.

According to Webster Dictionary the word compassion is a noun meaning “sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress or suffering with a desire to alleviate it.”  Compassion is the ability to feel the pain or hurt that others are feeling.  This can be the pain of an individual, feeling sadness of losing a loved one or the pain of an illness.  It can be the pain of a group of people, feeling the devastation of a community that has been hit by forest fires.  Compassion goes one step further than just feeling or sympathizing.  Compassion asks that we address the need or wrong.

Why do we need compassion?  Without compassion humanity wouldn’t care about what happens to other people.  For people that we know or unknow individuals half a planet away, compassion is what gives us the drive to take care of and help others.

Compassion goes hand in hand with gratitude.  Compassion gives gratitude a place to put ones blessings and gifts.

A miser feels gratitude for his money, but without compassion for others, he hordes wealth and allows greed to take over.  Compassion can convict the heart of the miser and enable him to share his wealth with others.  Charles Dickens wrote the ultimate example of this in his novel “A Christmas Carol.”

I hope that you, dear reader, will take a moment and consider compassion and gratitude.  Not just because of the Thanksgiving holiday but because of the role that gratitude and compassion play in your life.  What are you grateful for?  How are you compassionate with others?

May your Thanksgiving be full of blessings and your heart full of compassion.

Just Three Pages A Day

I was looking through some articles I had saved for reading later. One was on making room in your life for books and reading. This article was not about the articles, documents, copacious amounts of emails and blather that we have to read for work, day jobs, school or to surive as a human being on this planet. This is about reading for enjoyment. The one key statement that I took from this article was when the author stated that if you only have time to read three pages a day, you had time to read.

As I pondered this article and reading three pages a day, I wondered was the author reacting to modern life’s catch phrase, “I don’t have time.” This phrase can be applied to anything…. eating healthy, exercising, seeing friends, writing a letter, mowing the lawn, journaling, reading a book…. literally anything. Being busy is the badge of modern living.

It sounds very sensible. To schedule a time in one’s day and read three pages. Continue this practice every day until you’ve read the entire book.

An author from another article said that we all have time to read. He stated that “everyone has enough time to read a few pages, here and there.” He also added that if one is reading the right book, a story that you connect with and holds your attention, the reading will inevitably speed up.

The more I thought about reading and reading three pages a day, I began to wonder if the act of reading had more to do with one’s reading style than actual time. I confess that I go through periods of voracious reading, five or six books in a week, late to bed because I want to read one more chapter, forget other projects until the book has been read, etc. And then go for weeks of being unable to focus myself enough to read. Not even three pages.

If one enjoys reading, are they more likely to read more pages at a time? Does the three pages a day equal out if one reads six books in a week and nothing for the next three weeks?

Does the subject matter of what you are reading determine how quickly you read it? I was in a book club that we all put a title of a book in a jar. There were twelve of us, twelve book titles, one for each month of the year. January was a Scottish philosophical story by an author that I was aware of. It was okay. Took me two weeks to read it. February was a Jodi Picoult novel. I hated reading it and it took me the entire time to read it March was a classical novel. It was okay (chunky language) and took the entire alloted time to read. April was a novel by Anita Shrieve. Tolorated it slightly above the the February book. Again took forever to read. May was my book. Nonfiction travel book that I read in two days. When I saw what June’s book was I tried but I couldn’t finish it. July was the same way. I quit the bookclub shortly thereafter. I’m sure that reading the books by authors I would not have read in any other way were building my character. But they were also torturing my soul and I was not enjoying them at all. If you enjoy or like something, reading goes a lot faster.

My thought is this, if I don’t have to read something for a grade or day job, and it is on a subject I am not interested in, it won’t happen. I won’t read it. Reading for pleasure should be reading for pleasure. Not hard work.

If you have followed my blog, you have seen posts on different books that I have read as well as my great joy of reading. What kind of reader are you? Do you schedule time? Do read every book in series that you can get your hands on? Do you stay up late for one more chapter? Are you in a book club? What kind of books do you read? Do you go through cycles of reading a lot and then nothing at all?

Heat Wave

It says a lot when temperatures are in the 80s degrees (Fahrenheit) and you are excited because that is cooler than it has been in a week.  When temperatures climb over 100 degrees (Fahrenheit), it can be too hot.  However, I do know how to take care of myself in the heat.  Wear a hat.  Wear sunglasses.  Lots of sunblock.  Hydrate. Hydrate. Hydrate.

This got me thinking about situations that are too hot to handle.

There is a saying, “If you can’t handle the heat, get out of the kitchen.”  Popularized by U.S. President Harry Truman who served in the office from 1945 to 1953.  This saying states that if one cannot handle a situation, that one should step aside and allow someone else who can stand the pressure or difficulties to take over or control of the situation.

I have conflicted feelings about this “heated” saying.

For example, I am not the appropriate person to rebuild your car’s engine or perform open heart surgery.  Those are not my areas of expertise.  I would gladly step aside to allow the qualified mechanic to rebuild the engine and a surgeon perform the surgery.  Those situations would be way to “hot” for me to handle.

However, in some cases we need a little heat.  Ever want to learn something?  Really learn it?  Then you are in for some “hot” times.

I do feel like I am the appropriate person to teach about colour theory, acrylic painting, book making or many artistic and creative pursuits.  Those are my areas of expertise.  Even though I am comfortable with a variety of artistic materials, techniques and multiple theories on creativity, this was not always the case.

When in college getting my art degree, I remember feeling very uncomfortable with having to take a printmaking class.  I felt like I wanted to learn intaglio printmaking skills.  I knew I would have to learn acid etching and that scared me.  Was this class to hot for me to handle?  But I had seen the beauty of finished prints, from the masters to pieces from other students.  I really wanted to learn how to do that.  So I signed up for the class, purchased my supplies, and jumped into learning with my whole heart.  Intaglio printmaking turned out to be one of my favorite classes and joyful way for me to create.  Today, twenty years later, I have a printing press of my own and I still enjoy creating art through print making.

My thoughts on this heated topic…. know yourself.  If it is something you are just not willing to learn or qualified to do, then get out of the way and let someone else handle it.  But if it is something you are set on learning and getting better at?  You are going to have to take some heat!

Pondering

Early childhood development experts tell us that the formative years of a person are when they are very young.  Basically, children aged 2 and 3 years old.  It is said that the template for the person you will become is made during this time.  I am not going to argue with experts, but I think there is more to it.

I think that even if the template is made at that time, that we are still becoming the person we are meant to be.  This is the idea that we are evolving and changing constantly.  The experts can argue against this, but according to one of the basic laws of physics, change is the only constant.

I too am constantly changing. I am always hoping to be the best person that I can be.  I am sometimes more successful at this than at other times.

This means that I am also always evolving as an artist. My creative process is changing as well.  After having several conversations with a friend about my creative process, I decided to write about pondering.  You see, when I am asked a question about my creative process or the feelings behind a particular artwork I often say that I am pondering it.

The word ponder means to think about something carefully.  Especially before one makes a decision or reaches a conclusion.  I like that the word ponder is a verb.  Verbs are action words.  The act of pondering is thoughtful consideration.  Not taking a thought or action lightly.  Pondering.

This is very true in my creative work.  In a collage, I pull out papers and lay them out to experiment how the work together and contemplate combinations.  I feel like my collage is conversation with the viewer and to that effect I want the words (images, colours, text, etc.) that I choose to have meaning.  What am I saying?  Will the viewer understand the statement?

In life, the act of pondering has allowed ideas or thoughts forgotten in hidden passages of my mind to make themselves available at opportune times.  Ever have a song, poem, conversation or something you have seen play over and over in your mind?  I believe this is my mind pondering over something.  Trying to make sense of it.  This is especially helpful when creating art.

What do you ponder?  Do you consider the act of pondering to be part of your growth and creative process?  I request that you take a moment to consider the act of pondering.

Do You Really Want to Change?

Now that it is summer and teaching art classes are finished until fall, I like to think about the classes I have taught and any unique experiences from the classes.  In one particular class I had an interesting experience with one of my students.

During the first class, I take role call and ask that each student tell me why they are taking the class or what attracted them to class.  There are some standard answers: to learn a new medium; to get better at this particular medium; try something new, and meet new people or to take a class with my friend or friends.  On this particular day, one of the students said that she was “stuck in her style.”  She said that she wanted to change but didn’t know how and thought that my class could help her.  I had made notes while the students were talking and adjusted my teaching plan based on their answers to my question.

There were several activities that first class to get the students loosened up and thinking.  We talked about the project or homework that would be due for the next week.  I also assigned them some creativity activates to try during the next week and asked them to bring the results of the activities to the class.

I had high hopes that these creative activities in particular would help the student who was “stuck in her style.”  They had been highly successful for students in previous classes.

The day of the second class arrived.  Everyone was there and we looked at the completed projects of the students.  While talking about their work, many students commented that the creativity activities directly influenced and enhanced their finished project.  The time came for the student who had said that she was “stuck” to talk about her artwork.  She stated that the finished project was her typical style.  That she had not done the creative activities because she “just wasn’t feeling them.”

After our gentle critique of each others work, I had selected several projects that everyone participated in.  Even my stuck student.  Most students were talking and sharing, showing each other things that they had learned in their experimentations.  Stuck student stuck to herself.  While the others left with their experiments and ideas shared with the group, she threw her experiments away.

I thought to myself, that there had to be a way to help this person.  So I completely changed the third class to be an entirely hands on experience that would build up to their homework or final project for the class.  I was really excited for the class.   The students arrived and we had a gentle critique of the artworks produced.  Stuck student hadn’t done the project at all.  She did not give an explanation as to why.

After the critique, I did several demonstrations and set up tables for the students to try their hand at the techniques I had shown them.  Everyone was having fun.  Spending time at the different tables.  With the exception of one student.  I could give you three guesses but you will only need one….

One of the techniques, I had taught the students required the use of a pipette.  Also I had prepared handouts on the techniques for the class.  After all of the students had left for the day, I was cleaning up the classroom.  Stuck student had left her hand-outs and the pipette.  I was feeling very discouraged.

The day before the final class, I was really struggling.  I did not want to deal with that student, when everyone else was so excited and interested.  Thankfully, stuck student texted me that she was ill and would not be attending class.  My dark cloud lifted and I was excited to go again.

That particular class had been a real challenge for me.  I didn’t realize how hard I had been trying to help and how much it bothered me until talking with another artist friend of mine, who also teaches.  She shared a similar experience she had, had with a student.  At the end of her story, she said, “Some people don’t really want to be helped or learn.”

My friend was completely right.  Have you heard the proverb, “You can lead a horse to water but you cannot make him drink.”  It is one of the oldest English proverbs still in use today.  And it means that people like horses can be shown or given something, but that does not mean that they will take advantage of the opportunity.

Stuck student was my horse that I had lead to water.  She really didn’t want to change.  I’m not really sure why she took the class.  Maybe she needed myself and the other students to tell her that her artwork was good?  I will probably never know.  I do hope she finds what she is looking for.

Haiku Poetry for Spring

Listen to the rain

Dripping off my window pane

Drip – Drop – Drip – Drop – Drip

Do you hear that bird?

Listen to the robins song

Spring is here at last

Lace bras and panties

Hanging in the shop window

Lingerie on sale!

Peeking through the snow

Crocus, tulips, daffodils

Flowers will soon bloom

Joyous Moments of Cosmic Recognition

I can almost hear the question being asked.  What are joyous moments of cosmic recognition?  It is that amazing day or time where everything goes your way.  It can also be an experience that even when things are not quite going your way, everything works out and often leaves you in a better place than where you were before.

In the sixth book of the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, there is a potion called “Felix Felicis” or  “Liquid Luck.”  Harry has been given a task by Dumbledore, to get a memory from Professor Horace Slughorn.  Harry had been trying for weeks to get alone with Professor Slughorn to ask him for this memory to no avail.  He had won a vial of the potion “Felix Felicis” in a competition during potions class.  One day in desperation, Harry drinks the potion.  Ron and Hermione urge Harry to go see Professor Slughorn.  Harry, under the influence of the potion, decides that he needs to go see Hagrid.  It is through his visit to Hagrid that he is able to talk to Professor Slughorn and convince him that this particular memory is necessary in the fight against Lord Voldemort.  Professor Slughorn gives this memory to Harry and in turn, Harry gives it to Dumbledore completing his task.

In my creativity classes we call this synchronicity.  The definition of synchronicity is the simultaneous occurrence of events which appear significantly related but have no discernible causal connection.  When connecting with your creativity, you may notice that there are things that you need to continue your creative work.  You may need a teacher or individuals to collaborate with.  You may need a new job or a space for a studio.  Be careful what you ask for because you just might get it.

One of my first experiences with synchronicity had to do with a search for a very specific type of paper for a series of collage pieces I was trying to complete.  I needed a very specific red hue of paper that had poppies on it.  I have a lot of paper in my studio and I went through every single piece looking for the right poppy paper.  But I didn’t find anything even remotely close.  This was at a time in my life when I didn’t have a lot of extra money.  And as you may know, art supplies are not cheap.  I went through and collected the change at the bottom of my purse and found a forgotten five dollar bill.  With luck may be I would find a sheet or two of poppy paper.  I left my studio and went to Michaels.  I thought to myself, “why not check out the clearance section?”  In the clearance section was 2 pads of poppy paper that was the exact colour I needed.  And I had enough money to purchase them both.  Which I did and I finished the series of collages.  Synchronicity!

Art series featuring the poppy paper

These moments can also manifest themselves in what I would consider to be a perfect day.  The featured image for this blog post is a leaf on the window of my car.  I captured this photo on what I would call a day as close to perfection as possible.  It was in October 2022.  I had contacted my friend, Faith and we were meeting at a spot along the Flathead river to do a bit of plein air painting.  We had mango smoothies from City Brew.  (Mango smoothies are like drinking liquid sunshine, in my humble opinion.)  The colours were changing and the river bank was a riot of every fall hue.  It was warm but not hot.  I finished one canvas and got a good start on a second one.  I enjoyed the time spent with my friend, sunlight on my face, time doing something I love and being out in nature.  It was the perfect day.

When you trust the creative process and are open to positive possibilities, no matter where they take you, anything can happen.  You may be surprised at all of the amazing opportunities that open up before you.

Poem – unrequited

Sometimes

I think that I could

Fall in love with You

Again

Then I remember

That You never loved me

little

“The little things?  The little moments?  They aren’t little.”                            -Jon Kabat-Zinn

It is amazing how something small and simple as a smile has the power to change and make your day better.  That smile with some kind spoken words is even more powerful.

While attending college my sophomore year in Billings, MT, I had been having a really bad day.  My alarm didn’t go off and I woke up late.  I didn’t do as well as I thought on test that I studied really hard for.  It just seemed like everything I did wasn’t working.  While walking to work at McIntosh Art Company when it was on Grand Avenue, I passed two little girls playing.  One of the little girls came running up next to me on the sidewalk and said, “You are really pretty.  I love your red hair.” And she gave me the biggest beautiful smile.  She made my day.  I smiled back and thanked her.  From that moment on, my day went so much better.

You have probably heard the saying “It’s the little things.”  Just like pennies in a bank account, the little things add up.

I am working on an Artist’s Journal project.  One of the things that I am working on is observing little moments of beauty and document them in my journal.  The bright red of blooming poppy.  A spider web caught in dew and early morning sunlight.  Hints of changing colours creeping into the autumn landscape.  Little things.  Small things.  Things that would easily be missed.

I recently watched again the movie “The Crow.”  There is a scene where Eric Draven’s spirit is talking to the police officer about his dead fiancé and how the little things always mattered to her.  He continues saying that he sometimes thought they were trivial.  Nothing is trivial, he goes on to say.

Here is what I want to leave you with.  Little things are important.  Especially when it comes to how we treat one another.  Notice things.  Notice the little things.  Take time to experience and appreciate them.  The little things… they aren’t little.

Mixing Messages

Have you ever been told something that means one thing?  “I want you in my life.”  And in the very next sentence you are told something that completely cancels it out?  “I can’t be around you.”  The result is…… confusing.  What does this person want? Do they realize they are sending mixed messages?

One unintended consequence of giving someone mixed signals is that the person receiving the signals has to choose what they think you are actually trying to say.  A lot of misinterpretation can happen.  Wouldn’t it be easier to say what you mean?

I have a theory about people who send mixed messages.  I think that they don’t know what they want or what they are feeling.  A person cannot express something simply when they themselves do not know how they feel.

I can understand how mixed messages happen.  Most of us are a mixing bowl of emotions.  Imagine cookie dough before you blend it together.  Every ingredient separate but in the same bowl.  That’s like our feelings and emotions.  We are the bowl and our feelings and emotions are the ingredients.  They are all there together inside our heads.  The emotional mix we get is unique to each of us.

And like making cookies if you take the time to stir everything together, it will become dough.  When you take that dough and make it into little round balls and cook it, you get a cookie.  Or in this case a fully formed thought.

I like it when someone is honest with me and tells me what they mean.  I think that most people would prefer to be treated with honesty and respect.  I also think that most people are like me and would prefer to be given a straight forward answer.

I am not talking about saying cruel or hurtful things.  Mixing signals doesn’t spare anyone’s feelings.  Both of those behaviors cause hurt, confusion and mistrust.

When you give someone the benefit of the doubt and do not try to second guess their feelings by giving them mixed messages, you treat them with respect and provide an opportunity for them to deal with their own feelings.  It is a positive and healthy experience for both parties.

Enough about mixed messages.  I really do like cookies.  And all of this talk using the cookie dough metaphor has made me hungry.  I’m going to mix together a batch of chocolate chip cookie dough and bake some cookies!