Online Predator

I've been neglecting my blog! January is always a busy month for me and for that I'm glad. For most of us January brings with it snow, cold, and seasonal depression. I know every year I trudge through these first few months trying to remember what warmth and sun are. The one bright spot however is January does bring with it some of the best art shows of the year. I'm excited that my "Let Go" portrait has been accepted into the Slater Art Show in Norwich. The show runs from February 8th to March 20th. 

My all-time favorite show however is the Salon Des Independents hosted by the Hygienic Art Gallery in New London. It’s done in the spirit of the original Salon Des Independents which began in Paris in 1884.The original group of artists started this tradition because they needed a way to present their works to the public independently rather than use traditional galleries that rejected them or put restrictions on their work. Artists such as George Seurat, Henri Matisse, and even Vincent van Gogh participated in the shows throughout the years.

The rules are simple: anyone can enter one thing. There are no rules, no judge, and no censorship. Needless to say every year you find some interesting and memorable pieces. The very first year I entered I remember showing up and the first thing I saw was a gigantic bra made out of the cardboard hanging on the wall. I knew instantly this was the show for me! This will be my sixth year participating and I've spent the last week putting the finishing touches on this year’s entry. I always aim to do something a little silly and outside of the box. So here it is: “Online Predator.”

The show starts at 8pm on Saturday January 31 and runs to Saturday February 14^th. Stop by and see all the amazing, creative, and strange entries! It’s always a memorable show.

Inner Monologue

Another week down and another lesson learned. My assignment this week was to recognize the achievements of the past few months. It’s so easy for me to get wrapped up in tomorrow that I forget to take a moment to see what I have accomplished today. So I will take a moment and acknowledge my achievements.

Examining ones inner (and outer) self is one of the hardest things to do in life because often you don’t like what you find. I know I certainly didn't. I recently read an article that stated when polled a majority of people admitted that they’d rather do anything other than be alone with their own thoughts and feelings. For the past few months I've been doing a lot of that and I can confidently say if I survived hearing my own inner monologue then I can survive pretty much anything.

My fears and self-doubt are still there but I do feel more confident in my ability to fight back against them. In the end I am proud of whom I’m becoming and while I may acknowledge my fear I refuse to let it control my life. I will continue to fight for me.

Wings

A new year means a clean slate and new beginnings. I’m determined to make this year amazing. For so long I waited for someone to fix my life but what I now realize is that only I have the power to change it. So where does one begin? Well first I needed to find out what was holding me back. It turns out it's myself. 

Recently I've been trying to find ways to confront and control the things that tend to hold me back such as fear and anxiety. It is so true that I am my own worst enemy and get in my own way. Once my mind gets going forget it, I get sucked into a spiral of self-doubt and anxiety. For the past few weeks I've been experimenting with different techniques and tools to help control and battle these negative thoughts and feelings. As of now I've tried meditation, kickboxing, various brain games, learning German, and even learning to tap dance. It’s my hope that having these tools and distractions at my disposal will give me wings to rise above the fear and anxiety that threatens to control my life.