Start the work week by saying, doing, and thinking nice things and you’ll feel much better.  Sure, bad things (and people) happen, but if you fester over them unnecessarily you’ll stay stuck in a mode that’s counterproductive.  If you smile, others are more likely to smile back.  If you frown, you will get a different response—possibly making things worse…

re. Surroundings:  Keep them as upbeat as possible and your mood will be similar.

re. Health and Nutrition:  Stay informed and make wise choices—you’re important too!

re. Relationships:  Favor harmony over confrontation and reconciliation over isolation.

re. Activities:  Proceed like everything is going to work out, and your journeys will be easier, whatever their destinations/results.

Don’t put yourself, or others, down and welcome and encourage compliments!  By setting yourself, and others, up for feeling better/successful we’ll all be in more agreable mind-sets to cope with disappointments should they occur.  Bouncing back repeatedly is hard, but that’s what most of us have to do.  Some people just make things look easier…

I might have tried to paraglide, but you don’t have to—and you don’t know why I really did it, or whether I actually enjoyed the experience… 

In competitive environments, many of us feel like we lag behind—are not where others are, or where we want to or should be.  Also, role models who have their priorities in the right places, are harder to find and emulate.  Then there’s milestones that are missed by some and bigger pieces of the pie taken by others.

Life might have felt unfair before, but social pressures to conform, do better than, or defy the odds make a lot of hard-working individuals very unhappy. Circumstances get blown out of proportion when all the facts aren’t known, and what’s on the surface might not reflect what’s really going on—be true or have merit.   

Comparison-making/envy usually hurts

1.  Helps us feel inadequate.
2.  Has us focus on other people rather than ourselves.
3.  Creates jealousies that leave us stuck and/or hopeless.

Self-Help

1. Don’t let yourself feel inadequate. Mix with those who understand your situation, or who have similar circumstances.
2. Don’t focus on others. Really acknowledge who you are and what you, yourself, want and can do.
3. Don’t  have jealousy take over. Think about what’s actually bothering you, and work on remedying that.

So as not to envy others…

1. Their possessions—Consider how and why they might have them, as well as other aspects of their life.  Are they better people for what they have, and do they share or care?  Are they happy, healthy, honest, and kind? Do they ever include or help those who don’t have as much as them?
2. Their professional/educational accomplishments—Consider how and what might have got them there, as well as other aspects of their life.  Are they better people for what they can do, and do they share and care?  Are they happy, healthy, honest, and kind? Do they every include or help those who are not as accomplished as them?
3. Their relationships—Consider how their relationships might have come about, and whether they’re good ones.  Are they better people because of their social status, or do they take it for granted?  Do they ever include or help those who are by themselves?

Keep things in perspective…

Everything is relative, and perhaps, there’s a bigger plan—one that we haven’t been able to map out. We can’t always be in control of what we have or do and who’s in our lives, even if we’d like to be.  So, beating ourselves up for particulars we seem unable to change or equal might only make things harder.  If we know that we try our best in everything we do, we’re less likely to have regrets or feel guilty.  Staying true to ourselves—our hopes and dreams—despite the odds, is essential.  Then, if and/or when we get a lucky break, we’ll be ready, willing, and able to make the most of what could happen next.

Good news!  The Second Cup at Yonge and St.Clair is displaying my artwork from tonight on, in support of the Florence Biennale exhibit. This particular franchise is standing up for Canada by providing neighborhood exposure for a local artist representing her country—giving publicity to issues such an endeavor has come to reveal (as touched on in this blog’s March 07 entry). 

Canada can’t be seen on the world stage as a nation that’s preoccupied with playtime.  Her visual artists and their art events need as much reognition and endorsement as her athletes and their sports events.  Culture and intellect count, as do the individuals who work hard to show this.

The painting included in this blog entry (and already hanging at Second Cup) is "Pansies…Again," 24in x 36in, oil on canvas. 

p.s.  Please remember to click on the images to see them more clearly.  Also, please note, the actual artwork is crisper and more vibrant than a photo of it might suggest.

Yesterday afternoon, I was invited to a "strawberry tea," hosted by the Hon. Carolyn Bennett, MD at her home.  Carolyn is a very versatile and industrious MP who shows an obvious love for her riding (St. Paul’s, where I live) and her constituents.  She’s personable, vivacious, and dedicated, no issue seeming too small for her to try to remedy.  

I’m in discussion with her right now about the arts in Canada and how individual visual artists, like myself—even when selected to represent our country at a world-class event (the Florence Biennale)—find it impossible to get support (funding or otherwise) from government agencies or national and local businesses.  You can spend so much time trying to secure assistance that actual art-making suffers—time as well as impetus gone!

Carolyn showed her commitment to helping turn things around with a recent studio visit, and by purchasing a painting of mine ("Very Berry," oil on canvas, 10in x 10in). 

 

Since I knew this piece was going to be on display at the tea, I decided to prepare a fruit plate to go with it.   

 

This, I think, ended up being the most visited offering on the table, for the children at first. Then, the adults followed, and the plate was soon emptied. 

I believe that when food looks fun and interesting, whatever it is, people will gravitate towards it.  Maybe the shapes and colors drew little fingers in, or it was just because fruit, large or small, is easy to grab and munch—juicy and refreshing on a warm nearly-summer afternoon.  

What happened to those unique/charming little coffee shops and restaurants we used to love so much—even in Europe?  They were taken overtaken by Starbucks and McDonald’s! In picturesque Lausanne, Switzerland, they face each other, on opposite street corners, in the very small pedestrianized downtown area. (Click on the image for a better view.)

What else will follow?  In North America, giant chain bookstores have also put one-of-a-kind enterprises (and those who made a living from them) out of business.  Likely this is happening in Europe too.  Less individuality, more homogeneity!  But, for now, old town Geneva is still able to display its charm (and creativity) with curiosity shops like this one. 

Lev, Sage, and I visited Woofstock this past weekend. The St. Lawrence Market area of Toronto is a wonderful venue for street fairs and the warm sunny weather added to this event’s success.  Then there were all the dog-lover attendees and their very well-kept pets.  Not a bad-looking or neglected canine in sight. On the contrary!  

As for the vendors and their products, there were the more familiar and classic, and the newer and flourishing.  Some of the displays that we perused or patronized included:

• Animal Wellness (magazine)
• Buddy Belts (harness alternatives)
• Four-Legged Style (pet carriers)
• Modern Dog (magazine)
• Pet Plan (insurance)
• Puppy and Dog Basics (magazine)
• Sadie’s Choice (natural potions)
• Wellness (nutrition)

It was an expensive weekend:

• Lev and Sage each got new buddy-belts, pastel blue for Sage and deep pink for Lev—with the idea that strangers may be more likely to guess correctly who’s the girl and who’s the boy.  It’s terrific to see how much this one-woman company has grown in the last five years.  (They had a seconds/outlet store to sell off their a-little-less-than-perfect belts at half-price—$40, which we appreciated.  The belts sold in retail outlets are completely perfect, of course!)

• Sadie’s Choice natural products, something we were unfamiliar with, caught our eye, and we went for their $25 two-item special—choosing their Outdoor Repellant and Solar Shield.

• Modern Dog was selling $5 gift bags, which included a new doggy treat called Barking Mad.  Lev and Sage thoroughly enjoyed sampling this on the way home—so much so that Lev dived into my bag to grab seconds.

• Four-Legged Style’s portable kennel, at $40, was a little bit of an impulse purchase, but I know we’ll get good use out of it.

• Still thinking of Joey, our "rescue dog," Wellness had the solution—its weight management food.  We got him a pack ($13)!

Finally, just for fun, Lev and Sage participated in a photo-shoot contest for Puppy and Dog Basics (looking for a cover-dog, for an upcoming magazine).  Lev didn’t strike her best pose, but Sage stuck out his little pink tongue for the camera. The competition was hot!

At the end of Saturday afternoon, as day one of the festival was closing, there was a black-tie event happening on the other side of the street.  Canada’s Walk of Fame was right there, alongside, and their annual awards ceremony was taking place, filmed by CTV!

Tennis round robins tell us more about participants’ personalities than I’d imagined they could.  As you’ll gather from my May 22nd, 07 blog entry, I’m not a terribly serious tennis player, but I do enjoy the activity.  And, in order to get a somewhat regular game, I’ve been attending bi-weekly round-robin socials. Now, while I’ll put my all into what I’m doing at the time, I don’t always have to win. Others, however, do, and let strangers know it in the clearest of ways. 

For "social round robins," you’re randomly coupled and players aren’t always  the same level—which isn’t  supposed to matter. They’re billed as fun events at the end of a long week, not serious matches.  But, not everyone would agree.  Certain partners send grimaces and give huge sighs, while others praise even the most lousy strokes and misses, suggesting "nice tries" when they’re not. 

You certainly get a sense of who’s a "good sport"—who has a positive attitude and who might be difficult or moody (off the court as well as on).  Game after game, over the last few weeks, I’ve found this a very interesting getting-to-know-you experience, while improving my play—hopefully, in every aspect.

By the way, remember my retro tennis shoes.  Well, after a few spins on the court, they finally disintegrated.  So, an exhaustive search for comfort and value led me to a new pair of Nikes.  Not only do they work for narrow feet, but I like their plain white no-frills look. 

 
An "emerging artist" who paints professionally, full-time, can have a very isolating existence. This year, having decided to devote most of my time to prepare for the Biennale exhibit, I admit to being a little stressed.  When I’m not painting, I’m trying to raise sponsorship funds, and left and right brain don’t always work well together!

When time is limited and exhaustion and lack of self-confidence take over, I’m happy for a few remedies.  First, there’s caninekind.  Studio assistant Poodle Pals, Lev and Sage, witness every up and down, make me laugh, and insist on going for walks. Second, there’s the company of others who can relate and understand. Last Tuesday (May 29, 07), I attended a Portrait Society of Canada master workshop on the ala prima style of painting led by Juan Carlos Martinez at Toronto’s Arts and Letters Club studio. Veronica Tsyglan, the society’s president supervised.  Between Veronica’s exemplary organization and Juan’s unobtrusive mentorship, the experience was a revitalizing and relaxing treat—just the tonic I needed.

On a day when I thought I wouldn’t be able to paint (was "painted out"), and decided to experiment with less familiar materials, techniques, and angles, I was able to create a portrait sketch that pleased and surprised me.  It’s 12in x 9in, oil on wooden board with a black gessoed base (and posted at the start of this blog entry).  I call it "Waiting."  When you’re an artist, there’s a lot of waiting and uncertainty.  Each competition and grant you apply for has you on hold—wondering, hoping, and feeling a tad anxious, especially if you’ve had to pay an application fee and might never receive a response.

Even when painting others, there’s usually a self-portrait of sorts that shines through somehow—"art therapy" happens. Being among other artists and watching their paintings develop, as well as having reassuring and kind experts on hand, was a gift.  After the workshop, I came home and painted again—invigorated from the experience.  I was happy to feel part of a group of professionals that value the artistic vocation—as well as the skill, perseverance, and camaraderie it takes to keep going.

There’s no better feeling than knowing you’ve helped save a life—especially when you weren’t aware of having the skills to do so.  I have to admit that over the six weeks rescue dog, Joey, has been with us, there have been some scary moments. I wasn’t sure if he was going to recover from his injuries or lose the weight he needed to in order to be healthier and more mobile.  

I’m now thrilled to announce that with a lot of love, care, and patience from Lev, Sage, and me, he’s turned a corner—lost fifteen pounds (so far) and is strutting along the street (rather than being dragged).  If this is the first you’re reading about Joey, please go back to my blog entries from May 5, 07 to learn more: ("About Rescue Dog, ‘Joey’" and "Dog Neglect").   

Dog obesity is a growing problem.  But, with careful monitoring of food intake, and a lot of exercise, as well as rest, results can be achieved quite rapidly.  At least, that’s what seems to have happened in Joey’s case.  He’s like a new dog—so much so that some people who met him a few weeks back aren’t recognizing him!  Joey also appears to like the results.  I catch him admiring himself in my hallway mirror quite frequently!

Joey’s month-long stay with us has extended to six weeks.  I know he’d like to remain indefinitely.  But, we’re not sure if that’s possible right now.  Two are company, three’s a bit of a full-time job.  Whatever happens, it’s been a special time and opportunity having Joey around.  Not only have we discovered the perfect dog rehabilitation program, but we’ve also got ourselves fitter. Healthy active dogs help encourage healthy active dog guardians.  Therefore, if you’re looking to lose weight and have a dog (which, likely, also needs to lose weight), go for it together!  No gym necessary, just the great outdoors and a leash!

Remember, most dogs (like humans) are the way they are because of how we treat them.  If we give them cookies and human food all day, and no walks, the results will show. Exercise and attention—and a lot of strokes—go a long way with a canine pal.  Everyone feels and sees the benefits!   

p.s.  In case you’re wondering, the photo was taken at Toronto’s Beaches—a dog wallker’s haven.