As I reach the last page in my block of 15 Arches Watercolour Sheets… I know that I must come up with something “timely” to paint on this humble last sheet. It is by no random coincidence that the last sheet is the most paint splattered of them all… being as it is… well… at the back of the book! (grin)
Maybe it’s nothing very special really… but that last blank sheet with it’s colourful clash of paint seeping along the edges and around the back… sure does have “character”. True grit even. For it has survived relatively unscathed to the end of the block. And with the prior experience of the 14 pictures that have gone before it… that’s got to have made it something kind of wonderful right? (I just know there’s a metaphor in there somewhere…) (((chuckles)))
Cartoon Pen & Watercolour 8″ x 12″
Artwork and content Copyright 2009 Jean Burman
(unauthorised use prohibited)
I decided with all the gloom and doom around on the tellie and in the news… I would try to make a small positive contribution to the betterment of the Universe by staging a virtual positivity “rain dance” (if you will). It’s my way of striking back. So now… if we can all join hands… (((chuckles)))
I have a theory. If everyone across the world were to switch off their television sets and stop reading the doom and gloom peddled by the newspapers for one whole month… the world might spontaneously come out of recession. I say “might”… because the theory is untested. But what if it worked?
Let’s face it… things aren’t really all that bad. Well okay… they might be kind of bad… and for some they might be truly terrible… but the world as we know it isn’t going to end. It might change… but maybe it needs to?
Truth is… things can only be as bad as we believe them to be. Life is a confidence trick. If we keep a positive attitude… and refuse to listen to the doomsayers expounding their pontifications at every opportunity on the little bright box in the corner of the living room… we are half way toward being in a better place already.
And in reality… we can be anywhere or any way we want.
We can be happy.
We can be sad.
We can worry.
Or complain.
The choices are endless.
In the end… it’s what’s going on inside our head (and our heart) that will ultimately determine our own personal experience of the world. And who knows what sort of influence a few positive thoughts… all put together… might collectively have on the world at large?
Okay… it’s just a theory. But from what I’ve seen and read… no so-called expert out there has so far come up with anything better! (((chuckles)))
As for me… I’m on top of the world (as you can see)
Last weekend my son Andrew dragged me kicking and screaming (okay not kicking and not actually screaming) into the lift and up to the 77th floor observation deck of the world’s tallest residential tower (the Q1 Tower on the Gold Coast) No… not scared of heights at all! The lift? Well… yes… maybe just a bit. But it only took 45 seconds and I can shut my eyes and hold my breath for at least that long… (grin)
Awesome view eh?
{ 1 trackback }
{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
Ah Jean, the trickle of simple happiness is making its way to the river of life! And..that river pushes ever onwards to an even larger, more powerful result…that result is only from all of rivers combining and forming an ocean – wow, that was deep! But, when you consider it, it does make sense. What is going to make us, is the formation of hope. The kind of hope that can turn to simple happiness, once the hope is realised. If we could find a contagious “happy” virus, and let it go in the world, imagine what a difference place it would be!! But ..ofcourse that is not going to happen, so the next best thing is to spread the “virus” of happiness from the simplest of sources..that trickle of happiness comes from an overflow of good thoughts, combined spirit and the knowing that we do not really need what we thought we did. We need to share our happiness from simple acts, such as sharing our lives, not being afraid and to help those who need it.
That room with a view Jean..is so apt!!
Love today’s cartoon and message. Really love the photo of you on top of the world! My TV has been off (mostly) for the past couple of weeks, and I’m starting to come out of the depression it had me feeling. I start my day by painting … and checking email from friends. Keep up the positive works.
Jools… I love the idea of your “happy” virus! If only we humans were ready willing and able to manufacture one. Nothing beats that joyful state. That potent sense of contentment gratitude and wellbeing (joy) that is so easily lost in the struggles of our modern world. I do think an accumulated sense of joy is possible though. But some people are hell bent on unhappiness… they thrive on it. They’re just wired that way. Bad news sells newspapers and boosts ratings. If we want to be happy we need to understand that and take the worry-mongerers with a grain of salt. Faith is the key. It’s the antidote to the worries of the modern world. But that’s an even harder one to conjure up! LOL
Thanks Vernita!
Isn’t it amazing what happens when the tellie goes off? I mean… I’m the first person to want to know what’s going on in the world… but the mass produced overinflated drivel that commercial television currently pedals is a surefire recipe for despair. And the “despair virus” is as contagious as they get! Things may be bad… but dwelling on the problem is never going to fix it. It is possible to build some insulation around ourselves… and you have found the perfect foil by starting your day doing what you love!
Jean..when Claire and I first moved into our house here, we could not get TV for 2 weeks, the ariel had to be tuned in again. At first it was like our best friend had died and Claire and I were becoming agitated and even morose! But…after 2 or 3 days, we did not miss it at all and we were coming up with so many great things we could do together to pass the time or entertain ourselves (craft, board games, word games…). When the Tv guy came and fixed the TV, we did not remember to turn it on! We had formed a new habit and were actually thankful for that. But now ofcourse, the TV has become important again…however I rarely watch the news in the “prime time” block, it usually filters through, through out the nights viewing anyway! I have made fun at my mothers expense as she often used to fairly fly home – to get her “news fix” every day at 5pm, then she would sit there hypnotised for the next 2 hrs straight – flicking through channels catching the news on every one! I actually found that to be the reason she would become depressed. Sometimes we can have way too much information..information that is not needed.
I haven’t watched the TV news for a while now. But as you so rightly point out… it’s a bit hard to avoid it altogether as constant updates and breaking news are now routinely scattered throughout the programming. It’s all pervasive. It’s almost like we “absorb” the news by some sort of osmosis these days… rather than having to actively seek it out. No wonder people are worried and depressed!
I do scan the headlines online but don’t dwell on the commentary. And that’s pretty much enough for me right now!
Great message and picture Jean. I am scheduled for a show at Illinois Institute of Technology, a university in Chicago from which I graduated in 1952. It won’t be until June. It is still wintry around here but there are ducks and geese exploring my pond and a few chilly looking red winged blackbirds. I am upping my contributions to the greater lansing women’s center and the food bank. Times are hard here. roger
Oooh, what a pretty lady! Great photo and cartoon, and I’m with you 100% on the message. I can find peace and happiness in the tiny, simple act of turning the television off. It’s amazing what a palpable feeling of pleasure you get. Meanwhile, I agree about the world. With all the talk of economic downturn, the simple reality is that stuff</i? hasn’t lost it’s intrinsic value. The only numbers that have crashed are the false value that has piled up. It’s why it’s called a bubble. So the less stuff we have, the better off we are.
Thank you both Roger and John!
Roger… I think it’s great that your show will be held at the very University from which you graduated back in 1952. Funny isn’t it… how life goes round and round… linking us to the past in extraordinary and unexpected ways. I’m glad the ducks and geese are back… so summer’s on it’s way! I checked out the Greater Lansing Women’s Centre website… and the Food Bank too. What a great initiative that is. Food I think will become the greater issue for all of us into the future. We take it for granted but when it runs out as it did in Russia not that very long ago… (all those empty supermarket shelves!) we really are thrown into the laps of the Gods for survival. I believe knowing how to grow our own food is going to become a top priority for us all in the future. Places like the Food Bank restore faith in people’s goodness and willingness to help others.
hahaha… thanks John! Surprisingly… I was remarkably okay about sitting perched against the glass at 77 stories. I did cringe a little though when a Japanese couple nearby sat their baby daughter on the ledge for a photograph. Somehow the sight of that tiny little thing sitting there so vulnerable with only a sheet of glass between her and the abyss really did something to me! LOL
Yes… the value of stuff is kind of hard to comprehend… or explain… even to ourselves. The world has been suffering some kind of crazy madness which had to end. But given the nature of who and what we are… we will no doubt pass this way again (and again). The new generation forgets the lessons of the past… and the same mistakes will be destined to play out over and over…. until we finally get it that true value remains in the things that are real. Those things that sustain life and give it meaning. Beyond that… we can surely live without it? (That’s the theory anyway… we’ll have to see how it goes LOL)
Great topic Jean, and what a great photo of you at the top of the tower. I also try to avoid listening to too much news, I believe that the worst thing to be developed over the years is the 24-hour news channels on T.V.–seems that wherever you turn, headlines are grim or worse. They just hash and rehash the same old things over and over. In my lifetime, I’ve often been accused of being a “Pollyanna”, and also that I don’t worry about anything, yet those very people often come to me to discuss what is weighing on their minds because I make them feel better. It’s not that I have my eyes closed to what is going on, but I do believe that things will always turn out right in the end, even if the end is not what we have envisioned. We must just do the best we can and put one foot in front of the other to move forward. Life demands that we be flexible I think. The idea of a “Happiness Virus” is appealing to me. (Have you ever noticed that if you smile to a person- they will usually smile back–even strangers?) I even believe that most people really want to be good and do the right things, even though they often don’t. (Call me crazy!
)
Whistling is a good idea–so is skipping, which your girl in the cartoon appears to be doing. –Keep up the good work!
Congrats on the show Roger, I’ve got Redpolls flocking my feeders again.
Anita… I know exactly where you’re coming from! It doesn’t phase me one bit to be labelled a Pollyanna. Like you I know what’s going on… but just choose to filter it for my own viewing pleasure! LOL There are people out there who will find fault with everyone and everything. They are best avoided at all cost! LOL
Re smiling at strangers. I had a lovely day on Wednesday. Some days are just like that. I ate lunch in a small cafe at the local shopping centre. It was one of those places where people are forced to sit almost shoulder to shoulder with multiple small tables all in a row. There was a funny mix of women there and a couple of Italian ladies in the middle of the row. What a funny time we had. All strangers but talking up and down the row about all kinds of things funny and sad. The Italian ladies gave colour to the conversation with their thick accents and their strong opinions. The rest of us smiled a lot between mouthfuls… and enjoyed the convivial repartee. I was topping up my lipstick and checking my mobile phone getting ready to leave when three more ladies approached me to see if they could take over my table. Smiles all round and agreeable reshuffling of seats. Still smiling I stood up to leave and received more smiles from a group of people still waiting in line for a table. I swear something in the air that day was infectious. And whatever it was… it was all good! LOL
I do believe that there is a scent of happiness wafting through the air! I too have been experiencing more laughter and talk of better things to come. My favourite cafe (The Beach House Cafe!) are about to start renovating their space and increasing their “outdoors” area (I shall be the only artist displaying work there)….this has been in the wings for 3 or 4 months now. I went in yesterday to partake in their fine food and was greeted with a big cheesey grin from the owner, telling me to come out and have a look at the tree stump they were removing from the area in question. The absolute delight of seeing a dead tree stump half out of the ground was memorable! We stood there, just stared at it with the excitement of children about to enter a playground and giggled…but the knowledge that this stump was about to go, has set the wheels in motion and the grins of anticipation infect! Having plans and looking forward to those plans is such a boost to morale’!
I always feel happy after reading your blog Jean! What a great way to cap the day!
(Oh, and Roger…come by and say hello when you visit Chicago in June! I’m sure I’ll recognize you…the man glued to his sketchbook! Ha!)
And Jean, that is one AWESOME pic of you! You ARE on top of the world!
Thanks Mary… it’s a very good feeling to think that I might have made someone somewhere happy by something I did! I know… there’s a heck of a lot of “somes” in there… but hey. (((LOL))) How is Chicagoland? Has the snow taken up yet? And are you painting madly?
Funny thing…your positive attitude oozed out of my computer and melted all the snow in Chicagoland prepping the grounds for spring! I actually have some brave crocuses and daffys poking up through the leaf duff. They aren’t blooming by a long shot but just to see some green is encouraging enough!
As for painiting…well…yes! Madly painting…well…I am a little nuts at times. Lately it’s been miniatures. If you want you can see some on my blog at:
marymjansen.blogspot.com
There are a couple of spring shows coming up that I’d like to enter. After that I’m going to give my eyes a rest and paint on larger paper again, (if my eyes still work after these, that is!) Once spring hits full throttle though…nothing will keep me inside in the studio. I’m a hopeless sucker for all that blooms and grows!
Now THAT is happiness Mary!!
I can only imagine the rare gems you must grow in your garden Jools!
Mary I checked out your blog site. It looks wonderful! (I shall put you in my links) You have been busy I can see… and as always your beautiful work is a standout! I’m pleased to hear you will be entering upcoming shows… the world deserves to see at least that much of the magnificent Mary Jansen. Have always loved your watercolours. Stay warm… spring is on it’s way!
Ah Mary..I am working on it, yes the collection is growing! Its not hard to be inspired by mother nature thats for sure.
Aw, thanks Jean! And yes, spring IS arriving! I have some brave crocuses weathering the early nip of both frost and bunny! They are a joyous beacon of what’s to come…even if they ARE a little ragged around the edges…