- Published on
"The Soft Whisper of Winter" - mixed media on canvas paper, 16" x 20". Ready to frame. Available on Artfinder.
ARTHUR: Knights! Forward!
[boom boom boom boom BOOM boom boom boom boom]
What manner of man are you that can summon up fire without flint or tinder?
TIM: I... am an enchanter.
ARTHUR: By what name are you known?
TIM: There are some who call me... Tim?
-from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Scene 3
What might happen if we look in the mirror each morning and say "I...am an enchanter" - would flames shoot from our fingertips? Would potato chips savored in the mouth become like kale in the belly? I've been pondering the power of the mind (a theme I often return to in, well, my mind) and the limitations we place on ourselves with our self-labeled descriptions. Our minds don't hesitate to call us names (softly, sneakily whispering words like ugly, boring, fat, shapeless, failure, victim, powerless, unlovable or whatever your own subconscious' cup of tea might be. And we KNOW these things aren't true, yet we listen...
What if, just for a moment, we replaced these outrageously negative labels with equally outrageously positive ones? This is my mental math at work - let's balance the scales and make things even-steven. What if we shouted back things like outrageously resilient, courageous, stupendously gifted, terrifyingly powerful, compassionate, love bomber, hug maker, word whisperer, paint wizard...well, you get the idea. Just typing the words made me smile. What if I SAID THEM? oooooh no, first thought is people will think I am full of myself.
Second thought is so what? Shouldn't we be full of ourselves? Our biggest advocates? Our greatest super fans? Our tenderest lovers? There is a divine child inside of each of us, perfectly formed and deserving of every tender word and thought. And maybe she wants pancakes for breakfast, but more likely she just wants to feel cherished by us.
I'd love to know, sweet reader, what is the most exquisite compliment you can give yourself. Let's help each other build a vocabulary of self-adoration.
ARTHUR: Knights! Forward!
[boom boom boom boom BOOM boom boom boom boom]
What manner of man are you that can summon up fire without flint or tinder?
TIM: I... am an enchanter.
ARTHUR: By what name are you known?
TIM: There are some who call me... Tim?
-from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Scene 3
What might happen if we look in the mirror each morning and say "I...am an enchanter" - would flames shoot from our fingertips? Would potato chips savored in the mouth become like kale in the belly? I've been pondering the power of the mind (a theme I often return to in, well, my mind) and the limitations we place on ourselves with our self-labeled descriptions. Our minds don't hesitate to call us names (softly, sneakily whispering words like ugly, boring, fat, shapeless, failure, victim, powerless, unlovable or whatever your own subconscious' cup of tea might be. And we KNOW these things aren't true, yet we listen...
What if, just for a moment, we replaced these outrageously negative labels with equally outrageously positive ones? This is my mental math at work - let's balance the scales and make things even-steven. What if we shouted back things like outrageously resilient, courageous, stupendously gifted, terrifyingly powerful, compassionate, love bomber, hug maker, word whisperer, paint wizard...well, you get the idea. Just typing the words made me smile. What if I SAID THEM? oooooh no, first thought is people will think I am full of myself.
Second thought is so what? Shouldn't we be full of ourselves? Our biggest advocates? Our greatest super fans? Our tenderest lovers? There is a divine child inside of each of us, perfectly formed and deserving of every tender word and thought. And maybe she wants pancakes for breakfast, but more likely she just wants to feel cherished by us.
I'd love to know, sweet reader, what is the most exquisite compliment you can give yourself. Let's help each other build a vocabulary of self-adoration.
Then, maybe, "Sweet girl, you are enough. Wonderfully enough."
---
Winter? Where did THAT soft whisper come from, Jen? I'm liking the darker blue etchings in the pond ice in the upper right quadrant.
---
Have now subscribed to your blog w/ a gmail address. I'll see if that yields results. Everything about the MailChimp subscribe-and-confirm process was what I would expect, and appeared to be in working order. Fingers crossed.
Thank you! This abstract just wanted to be made. It is the boss of me.
Crossing fingers here, too. Technology is wonderful when it works!!!