See the Value (by Debby Thrailkill)

She came into my life quickly, serendipitously, splendidly. I needed something and I wasn't quite sure what it was, but I was watching and waiting for it. I was keenly aware that my next new passion was ahead of me, but I had yet to find it. Then I met Carmen.

Carmen is an internationally accomplished fine art painter from Spain. She has a glorious repertoire of work that spans more than forty years. I inquired about painting lessons at a local art studio and Carmen answered. She invited me to join her morning classes two days a week and described the classes as "Joyful". A few days later, I met Carmen in person to try my hand at oil painting… for the very first time.

My first impression of Carmen was her passion for life and art in every sense. A mature, beautiful, and strong woman with colorful streaks of lavender and pink in her hair, and matching color on her eyelids. Carmen speaks with a heavy accent and a singing, positive spirit, encouraging growth from students of all levels of ability. Having zero experience, I found myself armed with a pallet, brushes, paints, easel, and canvas on my very first day. Carmen guided to me to sketch a vignette she had created, which was posed in front of me under a natural skylight. I was challenged in every sense because although I consider myself creative, I have never been artsy. Carmen explained that I must learn to see the colors, the life, the energy of the scene, in order to re-create it with a brush and vibrant colors.

As Carmen helped me mix the oil paints, I could tell I was in an accelerated program with a master. Watching her take shades of Veronese greens, cobalt yellows and blues, and mix them effortlessly into a spectrum of beautiful colors instantly enthralled me. She showed me how to use my brush using small sideways strokes to work the entire canvas all at once, and to see the very subtle but kaleidoscopic like colors in a simple vase of tulips. Where I was seeing green, Carmen was seeing green and lilac and yellow and purple and even a touch of red. Carmen told me that I must learn to see the shadow, the color, and the value (relative lightness or darkness) in everything. Carmen teaches there are no strict edges, that colors overlap when near each other.

Ever since that very first art class, I see so much more of the “value” of everything in front of me. Carmen is teaching me to see all of the subtleties I had missed before, and with that comes so much more beauty. I laugh when Carmen tells me to, "Stop thinking and just do", because that is not how I normally go through life. But I am starting to realize there is so much more to see. Life is glorious, people are breathtaking, and emotion is in everything… if only you will allow yourself to see the value!

Art is not truth. 

Art is a lie that helps us to realize the truth.

~ Pablo Picasso

Overflowing Cups

I think it’s important to be able to look at ourselves honestly. But it’s also important to hear the viewpoint of what others think about us as well, as long they are people we respect. So, I’m wondering... Is your opinion of yourself the most important thing, or are other people’s opinions more important?

At this time of year, a lot of our family members drive up to a large cabin in Lake Arrowhead to celebrate Easter. The group can range from 12-16 people and despite the close quarters and utter chaos at times, we usually have a blast. This year was different though…

I’m not saying we didn’t have a blast because we did. For one thing, we ate really well, mainly because we took turns cooking awesome gourmet meals. We also played lots of board games, watched movies, shot pool and played cornhole, went on hikes, and visited an arboretum. Easter morning, I made biscuits and gravy as usual and offered up a short but heartfelt prayer to God for his grace, sacrifice, and blessings.  But it was my wife that made this trip different than any other.

Debby is a very caring person and a loving wife, but she is also clever and thoughtful. Easter morning she set out 14 cups, each labeled with a different family member’s name. After a hearty breakfast, Debby announced that the paper cups are “Positive Affirmation Cups”. Not knowing what the heck she meant, we asked, “What up with the cups? She said, “If you feel it in your heart to say something nice about a family member, write it down and put it in their cup.” Of course, my first thought was, “Oh Man, I hope I don’t end up with an empty cup!” My second thought was, “Wow! What a great way to show people some love.”

I have often wished that I could see myself the way others see me because I know I could learn a lot from both the good and the bad comments. In fact, to give an analogy, I recently decided to take golf lessons at Golftec where they have state of the art video equipment. I thought I had a solid grip, great stance and fairly smooth swing. After seeing myself on video and hearing what the instructor had to say, I discovered that I suck! I had at least 10 things wrong and yet, my view of myself was very different.

I guess the only way to know how we are really doing in life is to take an honest look at ourselves and then be humble enough to blend in what others think about us as well. The picture may not always be pretty, but honest self-reflection can bring major improvement. Plus, who knows, one positive affirmation card given out at just the right moment, might change someone else’s life for the better!

P.S. In response to the opening question above… No matter what we think of ourselves, or what others may think about us, we should always remember that there is someone up above who always thinks highly of us! That thought alone filled my positive affirmation cup to overflowing!

I have the power to create change in my life... 

and in the lives of others.

~ Ruby Fremon 

One Stubborn Duck

I don’t know why weird things are always happening to me, but they do. Last week was no exception.

I was sweeping out my carport Wednesday morning when I noticed a car stopped in front of my house. Upon closer inspection, I realized he was stopped because there was a large Cormorant (Sea Duck) sitting in the middle of the street, not moving, blocking his way. This duck was huge, at least 3’ feet tall, with a slender curved neck, and a long sharp beak. I went to shoo him away but apparently, he was injured and couldn’t fly. In fact, he could barely walk so it was a struggle to get him over to the curb.

I went back to sweeping, but sure enough “Donald” hobbled right back into the middle of the street and sat down again. (I named him Donald in honor of our President because he obviously has his same stubborn streak.) I wasn’t sure what to do, so I got a beach towel to try to wrap him up and carry him back to the beach. However, when I tried to wrap him up in the beach towel, he jabbed his beak at me and slashed the back of my hand. With blood dripping, I gave up and walked back to my carport repeating that old saying in my head, “No good deed goes unpunished.”

I guess you could say I’m a little stubborn myself, so after thinking about it for a while, I decided to try one more to save this stubborn beast from being smashed flat in the street. I went inside and got a really large beach towel, walked up close to Donald, and threw it over the top of his head. It worked and as he struggled inside the beach towel, I was able to grab the four corners and start walking with him. Unfortunately, As I headed down my sidewalk towards the beach he managed to escape from the towel and started squawking at me. At that point, he stared me down, while I tried to explain that I was only trying to help him. Unfortunately, he didn’t seem to appreciate my good intentions.

After shutting the gate and setting up some carboard boxes to block Donald from escaping, I called San Clemente Animal Control. They sent a young lady down within the hour and she showed up with an animal net and a special box to carry Donald away. However, when she got her first look at him, she was surprised by how large he was and had to go back to her truck and get a bigger box. I noticed that Donald didn’t seem to appreciate her help any more then he had mine, squawking and jabbing his beak at her the whole time.

That got me thinking about how sometimes when people need help, they are reluctant to ask. Think about it. If we stubbornly wait for someone to ask us for help, before we act, it just might be too late!

If you’re not sure what to do, ask yourself,

"What happens if I do nothing?”  

~ Robert Brault