The Love of a Family Accordion

Many people feel they're just unlucky, with a dark cloud hanging over their head, or the majority of life is spent living in problems, being overwhelmed by fear and anxiety, left wondering why things never seem to work out. Happiness and contentment appear elusive.

I certainly know some folks get more than their share of misery, and it's hard to figure out why, because it seems so unfair. I admit when I was younger happiness eluded me, and I just couldn't figure out how to get it.

It was only when I accepted that I had to let go instead of holding on, attempting to force solutions, that ultimately I couldn't control or manage. I was out of control, and my life had become unmanageable. Fear and anxiety were often my default, and I let that dictate my behaviour and reactions.

I don't have any superstitious bones and don't believe so much in luck, but I do believe in the power of prayer. This certainly doesn't mean that I get what I want. More often I get what I need, and I'm not always happy about the outcome.

What has made all the difference, is acceptance, which has been the key to my happiness and contentment, regardless of my circumstance. Now mostly I control my fear and anxiety it doesn't control me, and I exercise courage.

Creativity and courage go hand in hand and is a way of life that I believe exists within the spiritual realm.

Within the last two weeks, I've had an unusual run of things happen that are all very positive and frankly if I was the superstitious kind, I might say this has been a streak of luck, or I might be holding my breath, waiting for the other shoe to drop.  But I think most has been a result of prayer, grace, and acts of love.

The most important lesson I've learned is to live a creative life by opening my mind and heart with a willing, open spirit of trust, not devoid of fear, but with courage. It's only then that I pay attention, I become grateful, happy and content.
 Living creatively is a way of life. I can never expect that material gain will lead me to this spiritual realm, no matter what we think or gain materially.

I've also learned the more I try to hold on and force an outcome, the less control I have. I want and need to be open to the creative process in every aspect of living life fully.Instead of focusing on the outcome, I focus on the creative process.

The last thing on my two week list, that happened was having wonderful visit with my cousins, both of whom I hadn't really seen in many years. One of my cousins gave me her father's, (my late uncle and my late father's only brother),  his beautiful button accordion. Accordions have a long tradition in our family, and I took lessons as a kid when the accordion wasn't cool.

I've wanted one of these button accordions for so many years, but never ever imagined I'd be so generously and lovingly given this treasured family heirloom. Out of all the blessings I've been granted this one is so very special to me and I'm deeply touched, and so very grateful for the love of my cousins and creative family.

Luck vs Opportunity

Thursday I had to head to the University, an hour and fifteen minutes away, to get some student loan paper work done. I really was not up to the task. I was so tired, and frustrated. Along with feeling overwhelmed and having to rely on hitch hiking to and from my classes being with out a vehicle for so long, my circumstance was all beginning to feel rather like a hopeless situation to me. I came so close to finally getting my car back, with the help of such generous and kind friends, and being able to sell a few of my paintings, I very unfortunately was sold a used motor that craped out the first day after having it put in and losing a lot of much needed cash to add to my "luck".

As I waited for a ride along the side of the road I looked down, to find a penny, a lucky penny, I thought perhaps and picking it up and placed it in my pocket. Walking ahead a little further I found another, then another one, three pennies I found in succession. How usual that is I thought, and would they bring me luck?

I've been thinking a lot about luck lately, because I keep hearing it from others, who are constantly wishing me luck. I tell them I don't need luck, I need prayer. I am not one to believe in luck, in that, I am not superstitious. I expect for some folks this notion is somehow reassuring, in thinking it's all one needs, like buying the right lottery ticket, meeting the right person, being there at the right time and place, or finding that we've suddenly been willed an inheritance by a wealthy relative, who has just died, that we never knew existed.

I very much relate to what Malcolm Gladwell speaks of, about luck and opportunity in his book, Outliers.

" To build a better world we need to replace the work of lucky breaks and arbitrary advantages today that determine success - the fortunate birth dates and the happy accidents of history - with a society that provides opportunities for all. " - Malcolm Gladwell

Coming into my fourth and final year of University I am acutely aware of how the combination of right circumstances can and often do result in successful employment as an artist or not. Artists need to be flexible and resourceful, work hard and have many employable skills. The making and selling artwork is more likely than not, going to be nearly enough, to be financially solvent. As artists, we can and must promote ourselves and support one another in order to enable a society that, " provides opportunities for all ."

In the mean time to all those who, "wish me luck" I appreciate the sentiment, pray for me instead, that's providing tangible opportunity for me, and I in turn will provide the same.