Pass The Gratitude Please

Some time this weekend many of us are sitting around listening to their stomach digest after eating copious amounts of turkey and all the fixin's plus great portions of pie.

Thanksgiving is rather like Christmas. There's the build up. Followed at times with the anti-climatic let down. I say this because the expectation often doesn't measure up to reality. It's way too early for me to even think about Christmas and so I write today about Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving's emphasis is on gratitude, but as most of us know it certainly wasn't about this so much historically for many, especially for Indigenous First Nations people.

Gratitude is exactly where my happiness lies. Regardless of what is happening in my life or around me, if I can maintain a grateful attitude this can diminish many of my feelings of unhappiness when I have them. But I'm not always looking to rid myself of unhappy feelings, because otherwise I'd be in denial, going backwards, and I'd probably appear as a rather unfeeling person, lacking in compassion. Reality is life isn't always happy. Shit happens.

There was a time when I did everything I could to avoid feelings, mostly through the abuse and misuse of alcohol, something a lot of people do. After 22 years of sobriety I am so very grateful I no longer have to live this way. I've learned to live gratefully, clean and sober, one day at a time.

Yesterday I heard a timely CBC Radio re-broadcast of a program about Viktor Frankel and his book Man's Search for Meaning. Viktor Frankel's framed his perception of life as having the freedom to choose his attitude and his own way of response to life whatever our life's circumstances. I see this as learning how to have a grateful attitude and a way of living my life, not simply for one day out of the year.


How ironical. Just as I was about to hit publish, the power went out and just came back on about three quarters of an hour ago, all over Nova Scotia, about 7,800 people, with some people not expected to get power restored until Wednesday morning. It's been out here in Apple River, all afternoon until now. My response was mostly good but I admit, I said a few swear words.

On the other hand, the gratitude I have is that we weren't hit by Hurricane Matthew here in Nova Scotia as first predicted. While in the dark tonight, I wrote twenty pages in my journal by candle light, and I prayed for those who have been effected by this Hurricane, especially in Haiti.

There is so very much to be grateful for everyday. My prayer for you on this Thanksgiving Day, is that you be blessed with abundant gratitude, everyday and to pass it on..

Eudemonia

Just getting over a real bad cold and with the change of the season, which is usually a sad time for me, I'm very happy to be having started on this day a new blog. It's called Eudemonia. In Greek it's spelled Eudaimonia, and means happiness. Oh goody. I could certainly use some happiness. Not that I'm unhappy, but prior to 21 years ago I came to the realization I am the only one responsible for my own happiness and ever since then that's what I have been doing. If I am happy I feel successful yes, however happiness is complex, and much more than feeling.

My blogs correlate, and also directly or indirectly relate to happiness. So I figure happiness is the perfect theme, and subject of this brand new blog that I have been wanting to write. If anyone had told me years ago that I would be writing three blogs I could've never imagined taking on this kind of commitment.

Writing is a disciplined commitment like any art, and I do it because I love it, whether it is long hand or online. I learn a lot about my inner and outer world through the writing process, and it gives my world order, plus it's real cheap therapy.

 " Success doesn't come from what you do occasionally, it comes from what you do consistently."

The idea for this blog started incubating in my mind a while back. I had no idea what it was going to be about.
Creativity and synchronicity work hand in hand I believe, and when all things intersect at the right time, shit happens, good shit. It might not seem so good at the time, but some how seems to work out, without awareness or even knowing it. Mistakes and crappy things are all part of the mix that go into a  new creation. Trusting that muse, and creative guardian spirit is crucial.

This word eudemonia  is a beauty, and I can only imagine if it were to be anthropomorphized, what might take the form of a water being that shape shifts and powerful energy flows into everything.

Of course happiness is different or similar for every individual. Perhaps it can be reading a good book with a good friend over a cup of tea in the garden, or the beauty and bounty of nature. The simple pleasures often provide the most happiness. Primarily for me happiness is pleasure, and finding gratitude in these simple pleasures.

" But One Day I Know It Will Be Otherwise"

I love it when my two blogs intersect. It's what I most love and why I am passionate about what art does. It intersects, compliments life and all learning.

Yesterday I wrote a post about the wonderful poet Jane Kenyon, and today in my Tarot blog, http://applerivertarotreadings.blogspot.com I wrote a post about the Four of Pentacles, that focused on finding order out of chaos and attaining serenity within the storms of our lives.

There was a comment left by a Tarot deck collector and who studies Tarot and has over 300 decks. This blogger has three blogs, is an artist and an avid reader, and writer. This posted picture of the Ten of Pentacles is a card of hope and stability, in a world that often seems hopeless and without a stable foundation. This card is from the Animalis os Fortuna Tarot Deck by artist Megan Weber.

The quote along side of this card, is from one of Jane Kenyon's poems entitled, Otherwise. I think it is simple, beautiful, and poignantly full of gratitude for the day of simple pleasures in life. I relate very much to this poem, because it is so relevant to what I've been thinking a lot about lately, in our chaotic world that seems to be collapsing in on itself.

Otherwise - a poem by Jane Kenyon


 I got out of bed
on two strong legs.
It might have been
otherwise. I ate
cereal, sweet
milk, ripe, flawless
peach. It might
have been otherwise.
I took the dog uphill
to the birch wood.
All morning I did
the work I love.

At noon I lay down
with my mate. It might
have been otherwise.
We ate dinner together
at a table with silver
candlesticks. It might
have been otherwise.
I slept in a bed
in a room with paintings
on the walls, and
planned another day
just like this day.
But one day, I know,
it will be otherwise.

"Being a Cynical Asshole"

 Have we all become a bunch of cynical assholes?

I was sent this article I've highlighted  exploring the topic of cynicism that you might find interesting.

 The world needs cynics to cut through the crap of elitism, and it's necessary fodder for comedians. There will always be those who become cynical to the point of being jaded, and that's not helpful, healthy nor is it funny. I believe we have to find an inner resource to rise above of the horse shit, and not get stuck in it. Integrity within the world is hard to find by times.

I don't see cynicism as a negative thing in and of itself, but normal and healthy. I'm of the opinion that what's really at the heart of the situation being discussed in this article, in relation to the present generation, is a pervasive sense of hopelessness. I don't believe it is only present within the younger generation, and may very well be increasingly prevalent throughout the world.


 As a 60 something artist who attended two Universities to study art, during very different periods of time, first as a young somewhat naive 22 year old art student in the early 70s, and then as mature art student in 2008, I got to see two unique perspectives.

I have to say, I didn't find the level of cynicism so much different then, from now. Though perhaps because there is more of a wake up call for so many younger students today, who can be naive, and are a rather privileged group. Once they're out of University, reality comes crashing in, upon realizing they've no employable skills, are saddled with an overwhelming debt, and after having some very high unrealistic expectations.


Returning to University as a mature student, I met some younger students who were astute, intelligent, insightful, and wise beyond there years. The smart ones could see through the way things are, as opposed to illusion and hype.  Those students that weren't so discerning, often came from very privileged backgrounds that fostered a sense of selfish entitlement.

The world in general, and it's no different within the art world, there exists a division between two socioeconomic camps. This can result understandably, in resentment toward those who hold the power and control or a disdain for those who don't.

A sense of hopelessness is proportional to the ever increasing gap between rich and poor. It's a affront on generousity, abundant joy, and gratitude on both sides.

Each individual has to find a way to rise above the hopelessness. I believe and know there's always hope for the hopeless regardless of what camp you are in.

A BIG THANK YOU!

I wanted to say a BIG THANK YOU to all of my supporters through out this big global online world who have and continue support me. Your, heart felt comments, loyal visits, and ad support sure make it all so rewarding and worthwhile. You ROCK and I love you all!

A special shout out to my special Canadian peeps

This past week I hit another milestone and got another achievement notification from The Google! LOL Here it is!

AdSense achievement

Lifetime ad impressions: 100,000 Congratulations! On March 15, 2015 you reached a lifetime ad impressions achievement.

What Is Heaven?

I spent a good portion of my day yesterday doing a Tarot reading for a friend. This can be time consuming as I don't rush, and want to be thorough. I was intending to paint, but I sensed perhaps there might be a pressing need for this friend to get a reading as soon as possible. I don't see my kind friend during the Winter, and so wanted to get the reading done, which I eventually finished, but first there was a problem of power.

I had just started to cook supper, and had been working away at my friend's Tarot reading, when the lights flickered during what wasn't supposed to be a big ass snow storm. Fortunately I had a candle burning, and so I wasn't in total darkness when the lights went out. The weather developed into a big mess. I lite all my candles, kept feeding the wood stove, and had containers of water because I have had some 'pipe issues.'

I thought, well it's way too early to run to my bed, and I'd made up my mind I was going to refuse to give in to having a lack of power, when I have personal power to make the best of this situation. So I wrote in my journal, listened to my radio, the country station which was barely coming in, because the batteries were near dead, and decided to transfer my uncooked supper onto the wood stove. I cooked my grub and made a hot pot of tea. Oh I was so grateful for  'old faithful', my New Olympic Record Foundry wood stove, made in Moncton New Brunswick, probably 100 years ago. She's a great old beast, and got me through many a storm. I was grateful for my beautiful maple wood, my radio, and for being warm, full of supper, and hot tea.

The power was off for about three hours and came back on by 7p.m. I have been without power much longer in past days, over the twenty years I've lived in the country. When the lights came back on this time, I was so frickin' joyous and grateful I felt like I had been given the best gift and a new lease on life. I was high on happy. Later, I'd wondered why I'd felt this way. I attribute it to having a number of 'things' that have gone off the rails so to speak, nothing too serious, just the usual life events. But out of these events, I have really come to appreciate the little things so much, that it brings me a lot of happiness when things are right, and the ability to cope when things aren't.

Mind you, no one wants to be endlessly without power. Truthfully I resent being so dependent on the power company, especially here in Nova Scotia were we have some of the highest rates int he country. I dream of being of the grid.

And so I assure you, I am not Pollyanna, though I do like her I admit, because she had a good attitude of gratitude, in spite of her shitty life, but I think she knew how to focus on what she had, instead of what she wanted, and that's why she was happy because she was grateful  for what she had.

I'd never seen or heard this quote by William Blake before, but oh, it is a good one.
What is heaven mean to you?

Summer School

Last week after registering for my 4th year classes I figured I'd better do a degree audit, which is a look at what you need in order to graduate. I didn't expect to find out I needed 12 more credits for Art History and 6 credits for non- fine art electives. After the initial shock and panic I have decided it is the most practical decision to simply attend Summer school in order to fulfill those 6 credits of electives.

Going back to school as a mature student has given me many great rewards, simultaneously, several challenges of a lifetime. I keep wondering when and if they are ever going to come to an end. The "challenges", I call them in order to keep myself from completely going off the deep end. I am certain without doubt, when it comes to graduating next year I will have considered all this stress and anxiety, over a myriad of things, to be all very secondary, compared to the satisfaction I will feel when it comes time to graduate. I am going to do whatever it takes simply to enjoy the journey and keep a positive attitude of gratitude and when I reach the destination I think it is sure to be a wonderful day but none the less a very happy day!

It's a good thing I have had some significant practice at learning to live one day at a time. I don't like to think of where I would be otherwise.

Shout Out

I wanted to give a shout out of gratitude to the Universe and the Great Spirit today in this blog.

Writing daily in my journal over a period of many years, has been and is always a great way for me to keep an ongoing inventory of things I have to be grateful for, and to simply keep the garbage of my mind's windshield clear, so I can see where I'm going a little clearer and enjoy the view!


I go back and forth from blogging to long hand writing in my daily journal and really prefer that for different reasons than blogging. Both have advantages and drawbacks. I will say, long hand writing allows my thoughts to gel and clarify, before I get them down on paper. When I type sometimes my thoughts are pouring out and I write them faster then they come. I am not quite as thoughtful at times when typing. Though I am getting better at slowing my thoughts down to be in cinque with my typing, I still am very partial to the long hand process; even the writing of the letters and sentences in themselves I love.

One of the reasons I am writing today, is to say to the God of my understanding, thank you, thank you, thank you. One of my favorite writers Anne Lamott says two of her best prayers are thank you, thank you, thank you and help me, help me , help me. Mine too. I don't ever want to forget to say thank you. This is what keeps me happy in my life, regardless of what happens, having a grateful attitude toward life in general makes me happy. I believe it is this attitude that is the secret to happiness.

A few days ago I picked up my journal and realized I hadn't documented one of the most momentous events of my life, that has been a constant dream I was consciously and unconsciously wanting and working toward fulfilling. I have written about this some in previous blog entries, relating to my " Soul Bargain". Specifically I am referring to my creative goals, and longings; returning to University to finish my degree in Fine Arts.

For those who are don't know a bit of the background, I will tell you. I was 27 in my last year at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design and newly married for four months, to the love of my life. He very unexpectedly died and though I tried to return to complete my degree, I was simply unable to cope emotionally, in spite of the fact, I was producing probably my best art work. So, life happened and I wasn't able to return to school.

The fact that I hadn't graduated weighed very heavy on my heart, for many years. With many prayers, trust and persistence, I now find myself after almost thirty years in the incredible and I believe miraculous position of being able to return to the University I always desired to attend. When I left high school, the marks were in the dumper and I didn't think I'd ever be accepted, so I went to NSCAD. I am not sorry I went, but I am absolutely so grateful and my cup is overflowing, that after all these years, I will be attending the University I wanted to originally attend, as I was accepted this summer to attend in the Fall!

On August 7th I received notification my Student Loan application had been approved and with that, this is the final notice I needed to actually be able to go! Because no dough...no go! And for this I am so grateful! As well, I want to say I am so very grateful to all of my friends and family who have been so encouraging and supportive to me in my decision to return to complete my BFA! You guys rock!


It's very easy to loose track of the things we could and should be grateful for and I think this is why for me, it is a very positive, life affirming, transforming and empowering activity to involve myself in. Writing always reminds me, hey, don't forget what you are supposed to remember! Be grateful, be happy! Hell! I feel better already!

And remember this...don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things! Except if it's your horse of course!

Kind Regards - Catherine