There is this wonderful thing happening inside all my art girls ... an awesome and inspiring transformation! Lots of talk about what is REAL versus what is PERCEPTION in our daily lives or about the MYTH that happy people don't have problems (or somehow as if by magic their problems don't trouble them). From photos on facebook of our overflowing laundry piles to gory details about our messy lives on our blogs ... the truth is starting to trickle out drop by precious drop. Here's the secret truth folks:
EVERYONE has problems in their life!
everyone
period
exclamation point
the end
I know when you are in the middle of big problems they are all encompassing, but sometimes lots of tiny bits of daily turmoil can coalesc and become the perfect storm just as easily. Happy people have simply come to terms with the fact that LIFE GOES ON regardless of whether you are ready for it or not. My theory is: you can either sit in the corner and cry or learn to shrug it off and try to find something humorous in your dilema to laugh about. Now, I understand this may sound silly or maybe even unrealistic, but I promise you it's not. Just look back at all the problems you've already faced ... did you rise to the occasion and conquer all of them with grace and splendor?
No?
Me neither, but I'm still here, and they have come and gone ... so the lesson is that life marches on with or without you. Do you want to cry and moan and stomp your feet on the sidewalk as life parades on past you OR do you want to pick up your instrument and join in?
I have zero control over some of my problems ... I can bang my head against the wall trying to change them or learn to look for ways of working through them. Which sometimes can be something as small as hosting game night for your family or friends. Cooking out and laughing at all the b.s. there is to put up with in life. Getting together for coffee talk, and most definitely helping each other get through these real, difficult, messy times on the phone or in person.
I love this Brave Girl's quote by my friend Melody: Motivation is when your dreams put on work cloths.
Take a moment to stop and really soak up this tiny little sentance. Getting through life - just like achieving your dreams - requires you to pull on your big girl panties and get a little dirty. Navigating the murky waters of life is dirty business my friends, but the rewards of living a REAL, messy life are endless! Your relationships with be so much better when you are honest about the problems you are having, and ask for help or guidance, your workdays will be tolerable, you may even decide you CAN suck it up and have lunch with your mother-in-law ... you get my point.
Jenny Doh just wrote about choosing the burdens we bear in the latest CRESCENDOh newsletter. {You can sign up to receive it in your inbox here: CRESCENDOh .} She posted this quote at the begininning of her letter: "Freedom means choosing your burden." {Hephzibah Menuhin} I love this quote. It reminds me of my choice to ALWAYS put my family first ... something that Jenny and I talk about often. When I started publishing and writing almost 10 years ago {facepalm} I made the CHOICE to never put my art before my family. Am I amazing and awesome at doing this all the time? Nope ... and that's okay. Because I am most of the time so they let me slide when I get a little compulsive about writing, sewing, and making things.
It's so completely amazing to be loved and accepted for who you REALLY are instead of who you want people to think you are. REALITY VS. PERCEPTION I know your reality might be scary, and a burden, or just a downright incredible mess ... but if you quit hiding it away and trying to take care of it all yourself things will get so much better!
So, I've rambled on forever, but in case your eyeballs still have some juice left in them you can read more about REAL life over on some of my art girls blogs:
Jeanne Oliver's ART SAVES story
Lara Blair's confession @ being a soccer mom
Kolleen Harrison on her journey into healing thru art
This is only a smidgen of the wisdom out there ... but I wouldn't want your noodle to pop :)
NOW GO MAKE ART!
So true, so true. I love your heart. We are who we are because we have survived the past and embrace the future. Life will always have some kind of stuff. Just think of how boring it would be without it. But the glass is always half full!
Posted by: JaYne | 09/03/2011 at 10:37 PM
So true and wonderful!
Posted by: Mikal | 09/02/2011 at 11:25 AM
That's accept...
Posted by: Dawn Sokol | 09/01/2011 at 07:47 PM
I agree with this. I've been through rough times, but I TRY to see the good while I'm down. It helps to pull me through. What gets me are those who—every time you see them—always have issues and have to dominate the conversation with those issues. And whenever you try to offer suggestions, they have excuses for why they can't do this or that...*SIGH* I've realized there is ALWAYS a way to work through something. You can't just lie down and except the crap...
Posted by: Dawn Sokol | 09/01/2011 at 06:42 PM
That was a wonderful post Jen, and oh so true. Thank you for sharing! I wish you all the best and lots of happy happy days! xo
Posted by: kelly lish | 09/01/2011 at 01:18 PM