Peace begins at home! Paint Party Friday

 Paint Party Friday
I am so late posting because I completely 
changed my subject matter for this week.

This photo doesn't do this painting justice. It's richer and more vibrant in person.

Wednesday a handsome father, husband, son, soldier was 
killed on  parliament hill by a lone gunman. 

 Canadians are a peace loving people, producing many 

creative souls.  A threat to our Government was felt by all!

 Thursday business continued as usual on the hill. 
Not with hateful hearts, but with strength, defiance of fear, 
and heartache for a peaceful country's loss of innocence.

The color on this painting is less vibrant.

Although sad, I feel  prouder today than yesterday
that our Country came together holding " Strong and free" 
Government speeches were  genuinely spoken  
with conviction and a sincere emphasis on gratitude!

Velda has a green face but her color is not accurate..I have no idea why!

 Peace begins at home! 
Outside of a wonderful drive into the 
Valley I find a frenzy on the roads  these days.
 
  I know that life is fast and everyone is in a hurry. However what

 do we teach kids when we don't wave people into a lane,

 or let them go first at a stop sign.  
  Is courtesy a dying art?

There are so many polite and loving artists on
 Paint Party Friday..

 a wonderful example of what 
peace looks like an often chaotic world.

I think to myself how are children suppose to learn kindness,

 manners, courtesy when there are so many overt 

examples of  narcissism, anger, and bullying out there.

  There needs to be more conversations about adult bullying

 before we are able to honestly discuss what happens at a junior level.

More Kindness campaigns like this!  More compassion in schools! 

There are already so many amazing people in the world doing the lions share.

Everyday  courtesies matter!!

 I still see so many everyday rude occurrences.

  I love to give people the benefit of the doubt.

Of course there are unique circumstances,

"A death in the family,  a sick child

or some other crisis..." causing

 people to become oblivious to their actions

....they're excused.

It's the everyday courtesies....like letting traffic in, helping an old person 

who crosses the street and drops her groceries...

No one did.

If our Prime Minister can hug his opponent with conviction
the day after a  parliamentary crisis and 
possible threat to our country.

I think there is hope and room  to  be kinder and
more courteous in our everyday lives. Not just as 
good customer service because we're directed to, but
as thoughtful, kind, loving  human beings by example!

If what we do to others truly comes back to us, doesn't
it makes perfect sense to make every effort to 
always treat people with kindness  and dignity
even if they're being difficult!

" Every Action has a reaction of consequence,"We reap what we sow" 
Ralph Waldo Emerson

And Peace begins at home!

What act of kindness have you received lately that

 affected you one way or another?

Confession of a former Energy Vampire! Paint Party friday!

Acrylic painted collage

During the eighties and nineties I was always reading cook books in order to dazzle friends with my culinary skills! We had couples over every weekend.  No expense spared! Many special meals were served, lots of cards played, loads of giggles were had!!  On a very rare occasion  an intimate meal was reciprocated. Instead, friends often invited us to join them at the local pub, or a large party. 

original acrylic

 One day my mom mentioned that friends might find it difficult to compete with my fabulous scallop st Jacque, that sparked a bout of painful gout for her with prime rib, special liquor infused coffees and desserts! I had been putting my best foot forward, without a thought that it might be intimidating. My deep seeded fear of not being good enough for my friends, transformed into me being TOO MUCH!!

original acrylic

Entering the room with  a colorful bow in my hair commanded attention! My wit, opinionated demeanor, and  chatterbox nature depleted the room of energy. Although I had many friends I was a large entity, an immediate Energy Vampire. I was TOO MUCH!! 

In a coffee room I had an audience. Sincerely interested in what everyone had to say, and how they thought I was quick to banter using contemptible humor. Males were often intimidated by my wit...... Albeit funny, you may not want to be the brunt of my jokes because .....I was TOO MUCH!

Thankfully as long as I don't feel threatened I try  not to be that person anymore...

and yet I know at times I can still be TOO MUCH. 

I would always strive to be my best.... I had the nicest houses, the nicest cars,  the nicest kitchen  and appliances, I had everything and nothing....It was all TOO MUCH!!! 

Now I see others. They too are a big entities striving for perfection.... everything they do...is TOO MUCH. Like a vacuum, they suck the energy from the space. When they leave you exhale....and peacefully wait for the energy to return to the room.

Being "TOO MUCH" is born from feeling like you are never enough!

Have you made any drastic changes to your 

character that made you feel better about yourself?

This is my contribution to the wonderful Paint Party Friday!

Paint Party Friday Bride syndrome

Illustration Friday  she's out in the "Wild"

Be wary of the "hiker who doesn't hike"....someone who pretends to be something they're not. I have coined that phrase, used it for years, I own that metaphor, lol.  It`s a person who is not exactly authentic, and  deceives you by feigning a common interest to impress you!   They sport brand new hiking boots, while huffing and puffing up the mountain! .... Not that I would know! I've never been a hiker  nor have I ever professed to be!! However, I`m sure I tried to impress a boy or two by doing something out of my element....oh yeah, I  baked three cakes for his birthday, see here!!  an interesting read!

 Or the "smoker who doesn't smoke"...  a closet smoker  who knows you abhor  smoking. A dear friend had two boyfriends like that!! She had no clue they smoked, until one started having ass ashtray breath. She refused to kiss him, it ended soon after!

 "Twenty years later I've coined the way I fooled myself in youth, "bride syndrome." The fantasy many young girls have about life, love and babies!! We imagine the perfect day, beautiful dress,  music, dancing, and great food. I  was not immune!!  When in fact the bride is usually dead tired from all the planning, has her period, or comes down with the flu. The brides mother, or future mother in-law, has some kind of beef about something the bride did or didn't do!  Everyone  complains about either the food, the music or the  venue! To top it  off, uncle Joe gets too drunk and makes a total ass of himself spilling all the family secrets!! It's bitter reality and happens WAY too often!!

 Cupcake can attest to it, having worked in the wedding industry for five years. She saw everything from a grooms hankie pankie  with a bridesmaid from another bridal party in different room! To the wedding party in such a brawl the cops were called! These were very costly weddings too!! Enough for a down payment on housing kind of indulgence!!  I know many weddings turn out beautifully,  but still it can be a very expensive gamble, and often an extremely exhausting day for the bride! Sometimes a simplified wedding is better!

We`ve  all had  a fantasy at one time or another! I spent nine months talking about how I was going to raise my daughter. The moment she arrived that was tossed out the window. Instead I used my god given common sense to nurture her to adulthood!! Nothing of how I supposed it might be! Guess what, she`s been raised without Bride Syndrome.  I'm a blunt realist. It may sound cold but I think it's less disappointing to face life the way it is rather than how we fantasize  it! So far it's worked for my daughter.

Having dreams is completely different than having fantasies!! Dreams are imperative for success!  Babies and  puppies are so gosh darn adorable to lure us into  the mounds of work and self sacrifice they take in rearing !! It's nothing of how we imagine it will be. It's no sleep, lots of worry and years of putting yourself on the back burner. I'm a realist who loves to dream, fantasies are not my thing... thankfully I shook off bride syndrome some years ago!

Have you betrayed yourself by being something you weren't in order to impress someone you thought you wanted? Did it work?

This is my contribution to Paint Party Friday this week!!