Earlier today I drew a card for myself.
It was the Six of Wands inverted.
This card, when in the upright position indicates that one will be getting some sort of recognition or acknowledgement.
In the inverted position it could mean that your efforts may go unnoticed or you may not get the answer or news you were hoping for.
For me this meant that no matter what, I should not become discouraged or give up. The possibilities included both personal and professional matters. It could be either or both, but it doesn't really matter. The point is to avoid being derailed or stopping because of an unfavorable response. Perhaps you or I will have to make some adjustments or fine tune things and try again, but trying again is what's important. It's like a writer getting a rejection letter. You can't let that stop you. It is just a part of that life. It is part of every life.
Think of the song: I Get Knocked Down. The line that follows is But I get up again.
Now all I have to do is remember it and hold myself to this.
c
Friday, July 31, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Looking Ahead
Here are a few up coming topics:
- Wide Open Defined
- Almost all of us are just finding our way as we go
- Will you pass on the pain that comes your way?
- Pushing through our own self-imposed limitations
Sunday, July 26, 2009
On Being Fearless
Becoming fearless is so multidimensional. It seems simple enough at first, right? just be brave, but there's more too it than that. There's actually a lot of subtlety and introspection required.
c
c
Friday, July 24, 2009
Experts will probably debate their definition of terms as to whether or not our current economic situation is actually another Great Depression for many years to come. Some may be more willing to use that particular label a little later, after we have come out the other side, feel safer and are not in danger of undermining the level of societal confidence even further.
To me, it's not so much what one calls something, but rather what effect something has.
Prior to this, before our current downturn, thoughts of the Great Depression were often linked to parents or grandparents who went through that period and how they were forever changed by it. Most became very thrifty and hardworking, even if they had not necessarily been that way before. Even after good times returned, which came with a world war and was not so good for those most closely and directly involved, when things did eventually get better, many were still wary. They were careful about all that they did. They did not waste their money on extravagance.
Our own "Roaring Twenties" were marked by more and more luxury items becoming available. We spent freely, because many of us were doing better than we ever had. Larger homes, bigger cars or SUVs, and second homes or at least time shares became common. There was a lot of discretionary spending. Why hold back on anything? There was a lot of money to be made. It was fast and easy. Even our government began to move toward not only encouraging, but compelling us to get into the market and forget about social security. Making a quick buck was what was important. buy low, sell high. Quality was still available, but at a premium price. Customer loyalty was old fashioned notion. Old time, small business couldn't compete with mega-stores, and closed their doors. Start up entrepreneurs dreamed of being bought out by larger firms. But the bubble did burst and most people were forced to wake up.
A lot of us are rethinking everything. And that may be our best hope for a brighter future, but still there are those who would like assist us in racing to the bottom if they can make a profits for themselves while doing so, even if it means that many others will ultimately suffer. I may be wrong, but it seems that the leaders of many those large businesses which have managed to thus far weathered the storm don't realize how much things have changed.
Discretionary spending, both minor and on a larger scale has diminished. That won't really come back. Yes, almost all of us do still like treating ourselves to little rewards and getting things for those we love, and spending more on special occassions, but not nearly as much as before. We are really prioritizing, and not buying everything we see. Those firms which are able to understand this and adapt to these changes will survive. Those which can not will wither away and take their place with the other relics of the past and remain only as memories of the good old days. Sustainability on a personal level and on world wide scale, has become a very real issue and is now a matter of survival.
To me, it's not so much what one calls something, but rather what effect something has.
Prior to this, before our current downturn, thoughts of the Great Depression were often linked to parents or grandparents who went through that period and how they were forever changed by it. Most became very thrifty and hardworking, even if they had not necessarily been that way before. Even after good times returned, which came with a world war and was not so good for those most closely and directly involved, when things did eventually get better, many were still wary. They were careful about all that they did. They did not waste their money on extravagance.
Our own "Roaring Twenties" were marked by more and more luxury items becoming available. We spent freely, because many of us were doing better than we ever had. Larger homes, bigger cars or SUVs, and second homes or at least time shares became common. There was a lot of discretionary spending. Why hold back on anything? There was a lot of money to be made. It was fast and easy. Even our government began to move toward not only encouraging, but compelling us to get into the market and forget about social security. Making a quick buck was what was important. buy low, sell high. Quality was still available, but at a premium price. Customer loyalty was old fashioned notion. Old time, small business couldn't compete with mega-stores, and closed their doors. Start up entrepreneurs dreamed of being bought out by larger firms. But the bubble did burst and most people were forced to wake up.
A lot of us are rethinking everything. And that may be our best hope for a brighter future, but still there are those who would like assist us in racing to the bottom if they can make a profits for themselves while doing so, even if it means that many others will ultimately suffer. I may be wrong, but it seems that the leaders of many those large businesses which have managed to thus far weathered the storm don't realize how much things have changed.
Discretionary spending, both minor and on a larger scale has diminished. That won't really come back. Yes, almost all of us do still like treating ourselves to little rewards and getting things for those we love, and spending more on special occassions, but not nearly as much as before. We are really prioritizing, and not buying everything we see. Those firms which are able to understand this and adapt to these changes will survive. Those which can not will wither away and take their place with the other relics of the past and remain only as memories of the good old days. Sustainability on a personal level and on world wide scale, has become a very real issue and is now a matter of survival.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Lesson from Twitter
If I'm not really careful, I have a tendency to go on and on, to include a lot of unnecessary detail and sometimes take forever to get to the point. It is more likely to happen when I am talking, but even when writing, I sometimes say much more than I need to. So, I am trying to be more brief and concise. And PERHAPS it will help me to be more productive in the long run, because it's usually easier to get a small piece of writing into shape than a longer one. I don't write that much on twitter, but having to now and then has forced me to put things into smaller packages, and I think that may be a good thing.
c
c
Friday, July 3, 2009
Juice
For some time, a part of me wanted to disappear-to slip off into the distance and withdraw from almost everything, at least for a while. More than anything I just wanted to write, even more than make art. I considered a number of possibilities, building a studio on some land that my mom has up in the Northeastern corner of California, moving out of state to some obscure place where the cost of living is exceptionally low and perhaps working as a substitute teacher, and I considered teaching English overseas.
Yes, I knew that I would miss my family and close friends, and that they would not like the idea. Even so, I thought that it might be good, good for me. I am a person with escapist tendencies, it’s true, but more than that, more importantly, I felt that it would allow me to fully concentrate my energies. Life often gets in the way of art.
Growing older has forced me to become more aware of the finite nature of our time. If there’s a way to do what you really want to be doing, you should- right now if at all possible.
But the demands of daily life do tend to get in the way-if you let it. It doesn’t need to be that way. Not if we are truly creative, resourceful, and on the highest and most conscious level, responsible. What has tended to happen to me and to others I know is that we slip into feeling sorry for ourselves when it appears that the inevitable obstacles of life get in the way of what is it we say we want for ourselves.
Some of us have a history of giving up far too easily. It’s time to get tough.
Most of us have at one time or another taken jobs or even spent years preparing for careers which were far from being our first love. Some are able to make this a temporary situation, while others settle in for life. Once in a while we can find themselves longing for what might have been in the best of all possible worlds. Even so, the creative person usually remains filled with “juice” which little by little, permeates, enriches and enlivens what might be an otherwise dull, or even dead end job/ existence. Though not always valued by tradition-bound peers or bosses, they do in fact become remarkable practitioners. The more aware of their colleagues and bystanders can’t help but notice and sometimes even give praise for the exceptional way in which something is done.
I have few friends who are remarkably talented artists of one sort or another, some with a great deal of formal training and others with lots of raw talent who are no longer producing their art. Viewed from one perspective, it is sad. It is a small tragedy, but it is always a person’s choice, even when they don’t understand that. Most however remain very creative and adaptable people, so all is not lost. They do make the lives of those around them better and for most the flood gates of creativity will eventually open again at some point in their future. Aches and pains aside, growing older offers many wonderful promises and potential rewards.
One of the most talented and conscious of my artist friends who is not presently painting or doing sculpture, made the deliberate decision to shift her focus from fine art to living every aspect of her life more creatively isn’t waiting around. It seems that her efforts are paying off already. She seems happier and more connected with life and humanity than ever before and is really attempting to do some good with her time and energy. Once a week, she cooks with whatever is available in a women's shelter and turns the random ingredients into a delicious feast for the residents.
I salute you Linda.
As for me, even though it looks as though I will need to get a second part time job for the summer, I am not worried or upset about what is being lost. The juice will still flow no matter what I’m doing, no matter where I’m at. And even if I’m totally exhausted at the end of the day, I will still find time and energy to write in my journal, take walks at the beach, find wonderful rocks and pieces of driftwood, make a few pieces of art, work on a story or two and connect with my friends and family. I know that through and through, and that is more than enough to make me happy. And so it is.
Yes, I knew that I would miss my family and close friends, and that they would not like the idea. Even so, I thought that it might be good, good for me. I am a person with escapist tendencies, it’s true, but more than that, more importantly, I felt that it would allow me to fully concentrate my energies. Life often gets in the way of art.
Growing older has forced me to become more aware of the finite nature of our time. If there’s a way to do what you really want to be doing, you should- right now if at all possible.
But the demands of daily life do tend to get in the way-if you let it. It doesn’t need to be that way. Not if we are truly creative, resourceful, and on the highest and most conscious level, responsible. What has tended to happen to me and to others I know is that we slip into feeling sorry for ourselves when it appears that the inevitable obstacles of life get in the way of what is it we say we want for ourselves.
Some of us have a history of giving up far too easily. It’s time to get tough.
Most of us have at one time or another taken jobs or even spent years preparing for careers which were far from being our first love. Some are able to make this a temporary situation, while others settle in for life. Once in a while we can find themselves longing for what might have been in the best of all possible worlds. Even so, the creative person usually remains filled with “juice” which little by little, permeates, enriches and enlivens what might be an otherwise dull, or even dead end job/ existence. Though not always valued by tradition-bound peers or bosses, they do in fact become remarkable practitioners. The more aware of their colleagues and bystanders can’t help but notice and sometimes even give praise for the exceptional way in which something is done.
I have few friends who are remarkably talented artists of one sort or another, some with a great deal of formal training and others with lots of raw talent who are no longer producing their art. Viewed from one perspective, it is sad. It is a small tragedy, but it is always a person’s choice, even when they don’t understand that. Most however remain very creative and adaptable people, so all is not lost. They do make the lives of those around them better and for most the flood gates of creativity will eventually open again at some point in their future. Aches and pains aside, growing older offers many wonderful promises and potential rewards.
One of the most talented and conscious of my artist friends who is not presently painting or doing sculpture, made the deliberate decision to shift her focus from fine art to living every aspect of her life more creatively isn’t waiting around. It seems that her efforts are paying off already. She seems happier and more connected with life and humanity than ever before and is really attempting to do some good with her time and energy. Once a week, she cooks with whatever is available in a women's shelter and turns the random ingredients into a delicious feast for the residents.
I salute you Linda.
As for me, even though it looks as though I will need to get a second part time job for the summer, I am not worried or upset about what is being lost. The juice will still flow no matter what I’m doing, no matter where I’m at. And even if I’m totally exhausted at the end of the day, I will still find time and energy to write in my journal, take walks at the beach, find wonderful rocks and pieces of driftwood, make a few pieces of art, work on a story or two and connect with my friends and family. I know that through and through, and that is more than enough to make me happy. And so it is.
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