Some ink and marker practice...
Someone found my blog the other day with these search words - what book? and the day came when the risk to remain in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to bloom? anais nin
Most awesome. And fitting.
Most awesome. And fitting.
Still listening to Bobby Chiu. His common sense stay on track message is exactly what I need right now. Another thing he keeps saying over and over again is that if you want to enjoy more success you have to learn to control your mind. Don't let anything distract you from your goals. Don't complain all the time. Don't dwell on the bad things. Like people being mean to you. And wouldn't you know it, someone, a total stranger, was super mean to me today (Saturday) on purpose and for no good reason. I almost let it ruin my evening trying to make sense of a senseless act of unkindness. But I kept reminding myself of his advice: take control of my mind, decide how I want to feel. So I did some screaming therapy in my car (anyone who says I'm quiet ought to hear me scream) and went on to have a great evening at the ball park listening to Il Trovatore with friends. Not that the incident didn't flash in my mind now and then threatening to make me someone not fun to be around. But I kept reminding myself of where I was, in a ball park, on a beautiful if chilly September evening, listening to exquisite music. I told myself it was a test. Can I decide how I want to feel or not? Think of the opera. A woman throws her own baby into a fire by accident, most of the main characters die. My life is a piece of cake compared to those tragic lives.
Enough for now. I'm spending Sunday in a park, listening to comedians making me laugh at life's absurdities (Comedy Day, GG Park), with friends or without them, and sketching.
Monday morning addition
Robin Williams accepting a comedy award, the best five minutes of Comedy Day (which was only five hours actually). Just before him, some poor comedian completely bombed, a few titters, but mostly complete silence. (The equivalent, I imagine, of people walking by without glancing at your work in an art show.) So, it was even more striking when the audience roared with excitement and rose up to get a better look at him. He was hilarious of course.
This being San Francisco...
a gorgeous afternoon in the park turned into a foggy evening.
Enough for now. I'm spending Sunday in a park, listening to comedians making me laugh at life's absurdities (Comedy Day, GG Park), with friends or without them, and sketching.
Monday morning addition
Robin Williams accepting a comedy award, the best five minutes of Comedy Day (which was only five hours actually). Just before him, some poor comedian completely bombed, a few titters, but mostly complete silence. (The equivalent, I imagine, of people walking by without glancing at your work in an art show.) So, it was even more striking when the audience roared with excitement and rose up to get a better look at him. He was hilarious of course.This being San Francisco...
a gorgeous afternoon in the park turned into a foggy evening.
Love the ink and marker practice, Cheryl! As for Bobby Chiu - such great wisdom. Hope you're having a super Sunday in the park. Much love you brilliant artist. xx
ReplyDeleteThanks Carol Anne, much appreciated!! I'm writing this just before getting ready for the park, much love to you too, xx
ReplyDeleteWhen bad things happen, we need to remember it's all about us....not to let that person have any effect on us, but to instantly detach from their crap and think, "This has nothing to do with me...it's all about how I'll react, and I don't even need to....nothing to do with me."
ReplyDeleteHi Braja, yes! It's all their crap which they're trying to dump on us and we can take it or not. Despite the temptation to wonder, what did I ever do to them? Especially despite that temptation. It's taken me a long time to learn that lesson. And I still waver now and then. But at least I'm much better at it than I used to be.
ReplyDeleteWow, they found your blog like that? That is amazing and so cool!
ReplyDeleteNasty people know only nasty words. Staying clear of their viciousness makes them frustrated, which in turn, makes you feel better and them feel crap! Sorry you had to endure this.
ReplyDeleteCJ xx
We can’t control the behaviour of others – we can only control our reactions to that behaviour. Not always easy to do but so worth it when we succeed.
ReplyDeleteAnd, yes, life can be absurd! Sometimes delightfully so.
Hi Maya, isn't it cool? I take it as a sign. Time to bloom, time to take more risks.
ReplyDeleteHi Crystal Jigsaw, yeah, that kind of viciousness, for no apparent reason, is inexplicable. But I just have to shrug it off. Negative people, I think, are always looking for someone to 'infect' I've decided to be immune to their crap. Thanks! xx
Hi Beth, yeah, it wasn't easy at first. You always want to figure out, what? Did I run over their cat and totally forget about it? What's the deal here? But I am so glad I didn't let it ruin my weekend. Yesterday, it occurred to me I'd barely thought about it, and how mad the person would be to know how little she had affected my good mood. That made me feel even better!
That drawing on the top is just fantastic!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Peter!
ReplyDeleteWay to go for trying to control your thinking - I believe it can work. I'm not so great at it but I still try! I read your last post too... I feel the same, why is it so hard to trust in and believe in ourselves?? We'll have to keep soldiering on with that... believe in you cuz you are all you got! Cheers -
ReplyDeleteaw it is good advice to try and ignore the mean folks. but it would be nice if they just stopped doing that shit! glad to hear that you had a nice day anyway!!! :)
ReplyDeleteI love love love your ink and marker practice!
ReplyDeleteHey Shanster, yeah, I used to spiral out of control and stay upset for days. I felt controlled by outside circumstances. Which didn't help with my self confidence. I'm still...horrible at it at times, esp. around a certain time of the month. But doing it even once proves to myself I really do have control over my own feelings. Shew! Next, digital painting! So maybe...oh my God...I should be grateful for what happened?
ReplyDeleteHi Drollgirl, ah...if only...but from a distance it does serve some kind of purpose in that it helps us gain better control of our feelings. Hell if I was going to let anyone like that ruin my day!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Dutch donut girl!!
Bobby Chiu gives good advice. It's not easy to turn off those nagging doubting voices in our head. Opera and comedy are great diversions. I love, love, love Robin Williams.
ReplyDeleteThat's a brilliant way to spend a Sunday. Hope you got lots of laughs in.
ReplyDeleteHey thanks for stopping by and asking, yes the new job is going well, hoping they keep me on and give me more classes next term. A practice I found that helps me when I want to smack idiots is to remember that everybody is somebody's child, or somebody's mother, and is probably somebody's brother or sister. Helps me to remember that we are all human and at one point we are the idiot to somebody else.
ReplyDeleteT.
Every time I come to your blog I see beauty, art, and extraordinary self-awareness. And I always leave with insight. Thank you, Cheryl, for sharing that Bobby Chiu.
ReplyDeleteAm I wrong in thinking that you wrote about a poem about a Rose( was it Rumi?) and that I wrote that Nin quote in the comments? I think that's right. It is my favorite Nin quote.
xoxo
my new guy that ive been seeing always tells me u cant control anything all u can do is adapt.... dont sweat the small stuff and everything is small stuff. hes gorgeous n brilliant!!!
ReplyDeleteFantastic post !! This is a nice post.Unseen Rajasthan
ReplyDeleteHi Elizabeth, when all else fails, turn to comedy and opera. And Robin Williams :)
ReplyDeleteHi Dedene, Thanks, I had a GREAT Sunday. I love being outdoors. The Comedy Festival, though not a laugh a minute, was really fun.
Hi T. that's great! I hope they do to. Yeah, I try to remember that. And that, unless they're a sociopath, no one hurts another person without being in pain themselves.
Hi La Belette Rouge - already commented on your blog about thanks to you too!!!
HI Awesome Sara, gosh, already? That's truly awesome, but what else would one expect from Awesome Sara?
Thanks Unseen Rajasthan!!!
great to read your positive post Cheryl. your picture is excellent and the gigs look great fun.
ReplyDeleteNice art. I love comedy. I try to get to the Improv (we have one pretty close) at least once every couple of months. Robin Williams. Wow!
ReplyDeleteStop by my place and pick up your award.
wow your pen and ink drawing is incredible, I love the composition
ReplyDeleteI've always said that if I got stuck in an elevator for any lenght of time I'd want to be with Robin Williams. Sounds like you had a good day.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about playing the tape over and over in your head. And when it comes to something a stranger did? We've got to stop doing that. I'll try your suggestion.
Blog hopping to say hello today, how are things going in your neck of the woods?
ReplyDeleteT.
Wonderful picture, love the ink and marker look. Funny how people find blogs, no accidents.
ReplyDeleteI just hate mean people. They take all their inner anger and try to take it out on others. I try not to react or not to take it personal, it feels like it gives them too much power.
Seeing Robin Williams must have been so much fun. Much needed laughter.
Take care.
I really like Bobby Chiu's message especially --
ReplyDelete"if you want to enjoy more success you have to learn to control your mind." and
"Don't let anything distract you from your goals."
I find my negative voice often holds my mind for ransom and has me believe I can't do something.
I'm going to put these in my journal and remind myself of these 2 things DAILY.
Thanks again for posting this.
Man oh man! You always have the most fun! I wonder what people type in to search for my blog...hmm...I'm going to go look now! Have a great one!
ReplyDeleteBack after some absence, I came here to see some interesting news, some paintings, drawings... Nothing new! I hope you have a good excuse! :-)
ReplyDeleteLoved the marker practice !! Nice post !! Thanks for sharing..Unseen Rajasthan
ReplyDelete... and still nothing new? :-)
ReplyDeleteHello again Cheryl! Seems like you're on the right track there, it's so easy to let little things get you down, I often find it hard to forget about those little acts of unkindness but it's true that life is a piece of cake compared to what some people have to go through! Love the drawing! :)xx
ReplyDeleteHey there, Cheryl. Just checking in to say `hello' and to see if you're ok. Sending you bright thoughts and joy-filled wishes. Love & light. xx
ReplyDelete