I am addicted. I painted a stain on Saturday, and got such a rush from it, that when Sunday came, and the sun came out, I couldn’t help but feel the urge to go outside and paint more. So I did. By myself. A little confession from me to you – that scared me a little bit. Being the weird artsy kids on the street together is one thing, being it all by yourself is another. But no fear is going to hold this girl back, so I packed my backpack, grabbed my bike and left on a mission.
It wasn’t that bad at all. In fact, it was really good. It was sunny and peaceful and quiet. I just sat and painted. And I was really happy I didn’t stay inside sulking about what I could have been doing.
This little anecdote comes with two morals. One: Overcoming your fear will make you feel good about yourself. Two: The only real boundary you have is you.
I do not want to live in a closed off box. The one that opens up when it really really needs to, but normally is conveniently and comfortably closed. It is good to realize something might scare you, even if it is only enough to make you slightly uncomfortable. Then, rationalize your fear, and do it anyway. 9 out of 10 scenarios we are scared off never happen. Don’t let it define your actions.
The only real boundary you have is you. Of course, for everything in life there are practicalities that you need to deal with. But that’s not what I am talking about here. I am talking about you making your life-story a happy one; you have the world at your feet and endless possibilities. You owe it to yourself to make the most out of your life in every possible way. And I am not talking ambitious here. It is not necessarily about that dream job, and that life goal and those travels you are dreaming about. I am talking about a Sunday afternoon and doing what makes you happy, even if chances are that the process might make you slightly uncomfortable at first.
I am not saying you should all go out and paint stains. That happens to be what I like to do, but chances are you will have your own version of fooling around and feeling energized from it. Think about it for a moment. Think outside your life and routine. Think about the silly little thoughts that pop in your head and you often directly wave away again. I live on these thoughts. I cherish them and feed them and carry them out as much as possible. Don’t rationalize too much. I wouldn’t do half the things that make me really happy, if I only would do them if they rationally sounded like a good idea (why would I go smear paint on the street? It doesn’t make sense in any way if you think about it too much) And never let a lack of time be your excuse. I finished this stain in about 1,5 hour. That’s not even close to the average time people spent daily watching TV.
So, think silly thoughts, and go live out your hopes and dreams :)
Love it! I also love your comparison to how long people spend watching TV each day - one of my housemates is always complaining that she's bored, and also that she never has time for things like food shopping and cooking nice food for herself. Every evening, when I get home from work, she's sat in front of the TV.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I should show her your blog!
Haha you should! ;) I personally don't really watch TV. I don't even have a TV. I do watch the new ands programs or movies I like on my laptop, but then it is already way more selective than simply hanging in front of the TV. I have a lot of extra time for doing it in this way.
DeleteThis advice is so useful to me right now - I've just started new classes and a new job, and I always get myself so worked up that everything's going to go wrong... then everything almost always turns out fine!
ReplyDeleteThe alien that you painted is super cute, I'd love to see something like that while I was walking along the street!
Faye x
Yeah I can worry a lot about my school projects too. I do think I am getting better at letting go though.. But it takes a lot of practice!
DeleteSo very true and very helpful. When I add up how much I sit around doing, well, nothing rather than what I'd enjoy to be doing, it's really no contest; it's on me. Plus, your stain is so awesome looking!!
ReplyDeleteYeah although it's not like I never ever sit around and do nothing. I like to do that sometimes as well. But it's all in the balance isn't it? :)
DeleteSuch lovely advice. Plus, it always feels so good to challenge yourself a bit and to see that everything we make into such a big deal isn't really one at all.
ReplyDeleteI know right? Sometimes it is amazing to see how big we can make are tiny problems just by thinking too much about them. It's funny in a way how our brain tries to protect us from 'danger'.
DeleteThat's so awesome! Great advice too. Life's too short to worry!
ReplyDeleteIndeed! Although of course it is an everlasting challenge
DeleteThat's so cool! making alien astronauts out of splats!
ReplyDeleteHaha thanks! The cool thing really is that you can make anything out of splats. But yeah, this one was just destined to be an alien astronaut ;)
DeleteI love that alien so much!!! His posture, his facial expressions, even his outfit. Or maybe it's a girl! I don't care! I love it!
ReplyDeleteI am not sure about its gender either haha. And the postue was just what I made from the outlines of the splat. In fact, even his mouth started from the texture of the paint that formed a line on his face.
DeleteThis is super cute!! I love the idea :)
ReplyDeletethis is amazing :)
ReplyDeletehttp://nadiadelacorazon.blogspot.com/
Hihi, thanks :)
DeleteI know you're right, but living up to it is a whole other thing...
ReplyDeleteI really do love your stainpaintings. I'm imagining what it would be like when you're just walking and then bump into one, I think something like that would really make my day!
That's with most 'truths in life'. We kind of know them, but the living up to it part is always a challenge. Reminders are good though, but I still struggle with this.
DeleteAnd that's great to hear and exactly way I hope I will accomplish by them! It's like turning these ugly unwanted things, stains, into cool happy art that makes people smile. I hope. :)
Haha, i love what you did with this stain!
ReplyDeleteAnd you are right, we often use not having time to do something as an excuse. But most likely, we are either lazy or scared to do it.
And i think habits are things that so often stop us doing something different. You get stuck in a false sense of security by doing similar things each day and before you know it, time goes by and you haven't changed much in your life.
It is so important to do something different each day, even if it's something tiny, like taking a different route to work, only then can we slowly make bigger leaps and allow ourselves to enjoy more things and more often.
As ever lovely post.
Red x
I completely agree with you. I try to expose myself to new experiences on a regular base, even if they are on a tiny scale. And habits are incredibly strong. And we can use that in a positive way, because then it is just about making positive things part of your habits :)
Deleteyou're such an amazingly cool person, marielle! your creativity and positivity are two things i admire about you best! this post is so inspiring. :)
ReplyDeleteHihi yay :) Thank you for the special compliment. It is a really nice thing to say of you :)
DeleteYou're GENIUS! This is so cool, I'm really glad I found your blog. Stay creative!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.tamarasblend.com/
Thanks :) And welcome to my blog ;)
Deleteoh my gosh i am so glad you commented on my blog so i could find this! i am loving everything i see here! thank you for such this, it is so wonderful.
ReplyDeleteHaha thank you :) I always enjoy discovering new blogs myself too!
Delete"the only real boundary you have is you" - SO TRUE! Love this, thanks for the creative inspiration!
ReplyDeleteYes so true and so difficult. But we're here to learn right? :)
DeleteWow, solo... you are so brave. I'm trying to work up the courage to do a yarn bomb. Maybe this will give me the push to go for it. :)
ReplyDeleteWell, I finally did the yarn bomb....
Deletehttp://caughtonawhim.blogspot.com/2012/09/yarn-bomb.html
Whoooohooooo! :)
Woah it is so awesome! Love what you did :D You go girl! (we should totally start some kind of street art movement)
DeleteThis is so awesome! I love it :)
ReplyDeleteXo,
Eeka
This is adorable! and so creative!
ReplyDelete<3 Melissa
wildflwrchild.blogspot.com
this is just adorable!!!! I wish I could see something like it on my way home! :)
ReplyDeletexxx,
Lilla
http://lilycupcake.blogspot.co.at
Keep an eye out for stains! And then, maybe one day if I happen to be close, I can paint it! ;)
DeleteLove your stain collection! I recently spotted one in Amsterdam, unfortunately I didn't have the time (or skills) to do something with it.. I also love your positive story. I can totally relate to that. When I've done something that seemed scary at first, the satisfaction of doing it makes it all worth it!
ReplyDeleteXx
Anne Lien
Cool! When you start to look for them they seem to be everywhere. At least in my experience. That's true, overcoming your fears definitely makes you feel better :)
Deleteoh my gosh i love how this little sidewalk guy turned out:) like i say, you're such an inspiration for creativity!
ReplyDeleteThanks! creativity can be applied everywhere, even on the streets ;)
Deletethis is amazing. you are inspiring!
ReplyDeleteAhh thank you Bethany :)
DeleteThis is awesome! Good for you! It's funny how little insecurities and worries can stop us doing things that might be great fun. What you say is very true :)
ReplyDeleteYes it is. Or for that matter things that are not fun. Worries don't bring us much in any way do they? ;)
DeleteHow inspiring! Now I really want to go outside and paint some stones. Unfortunately it's night. And I have exam tomorrow. But my holidays start right on friday and this comes definitly on our summerlist. :)
ReplyDelete