Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Be brave, be strong ...

Nick -You don't always have to be so brave, you know.

 Liz - Oh, but I do, actually...

from the film 'Parent Trap'

Why do we have to be brave all the time?  Why do we show the world we are coping when deep inside we are crying, longing or searching?

My friend Bernice was very brave and showed her vulnerability in her blog post which she has kindly given me permission to share

http://newlycreative.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/one-little-word.html

Why do we see showing our inner feelings as a weakness?  We see it as a flaw and hide it - even from ourselves sometimes.  So many people are hurting and the world has no idea.  Even funny men Robin Williams and Stephen Fry suffer in silence but when they let people know "the newspapers splash it about as though it's entertainment" (Pretty Women).

Recently a friend posted on FaceBook that she was consumed with guilt  - her friend had committed suicide due to depression which she was unaware of.  How could she possibly know.  We a taught from an early age that achieving and self respect are all important.  How can we possibly open up and let the world know we can't live up to these self restraints.

Hopefully society and media will stop selling us the impossible dream and help us face reality. Then we can all come clean about depression and encourage more support and self-help so we are not so reliant on secrecy and medication.

If we’re not creating something, there’s a good chance we’ll start destroying something.

"If we’re not creating something, there’s a good chance we’ll start destroying something." Ed Cyzewski

I read this today Creating Space: The Case for Everyday Creativity  and it really spoke to me.  I'm currently going through a weird journey - self discovery or mid life crisis?  I've no idea where I'm heading but it appears I am rekindling my faith, joy of life, readdressing my art output and deepening my family relationships.  Everything is changing and growing. 

Today I had so many revelations through FaceBook and two friends who I have not seen in years (thank you Carolyn and Bernice). 

“I seek distractions in order to avoid the struggle of creating. Creating is hard. Distracting myself is really, really easy.

This phrase spoke to me as I honestly feel that the depression I have been suffering from stems from me finding distractions so I have an 'easier' life.  These distractions however are slowly destroying me.  So often I am frustrated and seeking something.  Creativity is a gift I've been avoiding as I always strive for perfection and feel I have inadequate knowledge to do it justice.  Not creating takes away this need for perfection but is obviously destroying my soul.  Also filling my life with distractions is taking me away from my family, faith, creativity and even myself. 

I'm on a new journey - I may share some of this with you and hopefully I won't be distracted or too scared to walk this new path.

Wednesday, August 06, 2014

ATDML Cybercrop

Some LOs I made during the ATDML Cybercrop.  This first is virtually a copy of one of Mel's classes - I bought the kit and loved what she had done with it so I just amended it slightly.  All the photos were taken at a Venture photoshoot.

I also managed another double spread using background papers I've had for ages.  The strips were from my scrap boxes and the extra bits and bobs were from Studio Calico kits.  I still have loads of LOs I want to do from the crop and another Mel kit still unopened to play with.