"What do you do?" is a question that plagues me. Last week when I answered "cooking and cleaning" as my honest response, I was cheered by the new book group circle and validated by the recognition that my work is still undervalued and mundane.
(I sound like a housewife, I think I'm a housewife!- thank you for the lyrics, Michelle Shocked).
Today, I answered the same question with, "I'm an artist." I was cheered by the local circus guru and validated by the assumption that I would have a website and that my efforts to share my visions with the world are valued and respected.
Instead of struggling for ten more years to re-classify myself, I'm putting my thoughts into words, and my words into action.
I am an artist.
Life is cherries.
Cherries just are.
You can choose to think thoughts of suffering, using statements ironically, by listing your challenges followed by the sarcasm of "Life is a bowl of cherries" with sting and sorrow. OR - you can turn it around to the actual sweet idiom: Life is a bowl of cherries! and just experience gratitude. It's all in the naming of things.
Looking at what is my life, I'm reminded of the character quote:
Watch your thoughts, for they become words.Watch your words, for they become actions.Watch your actions, for they become habits.Watch your habits, for they become character.Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.
Author Unknown
Now I'm heading to upstairs to eat some cherries and cut up some fabric in my studio, because I am a hungry artist.
