YESTERDAY I HAD A DELIGHTFUL CONVERSATION……………………..

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

YESTERDAY I HAD A DELIGHTFUL CONVERSATION……………………..

…..with an Episcopal Chaplain who said that his definition of faith is to be present in the moment/situation. That was an eye opening statement that got me thinking about why I was so very moved at Judith Nelson’s recent birthday bash.

There we all were, over two hundred happy campers who have all been the beneficiaries of Judith’s being ‘present in the moment’ with her friendship. It was humbling and awe inspiring.

This delightful painting greeted us as we entered the grounds of college roomie Marsha Bohr’s ‘French chateau’.

Beginning to mingle and below is guest of honor, our Miss Judith in the middle with effervescent Marsha to the left.

Dr. Charles Rosenbaum is engrossed by wife Isabel who I will love forever and delightful Marsha.

Someday I will have to write a blog about the amazing Min Lush who thanks to Judith has become a dear and precious faith filled friend who continually gives so generously of her time and heart.

Min is the most knowledgeable person on real estate and her lectures throughout the state are continually sold out!!!

This was so amazing…Judith wrote “I regard the people connected to me as treasured gifts’. And ditto to you we say!!! The tree had various branches showing where we all fit in. One from being Chief Counsel at Teledyne,a cute branch for ‘The Tuscany 12’…12 friends who as the title suggest, had a memorable journey to Tuscany. And so on….

See if you can find Charles and me in this (one of two) collection of friends who share in their awe of Judith.

The band was sooooo much fun!!!

Even as a confessed foodie I can’t begin to describe the food….and the impeccable service. Wine? The finest California has to offer, carefully selected and truly running over!!!

We were given free range of the house and ‘facilities’ with the exception of the ‘forbidden room’ which I may be arm twisted to divulge.As each guest left we were handed a beautiful long stemmed rose by “The Girls with Roses”, The Valettes, Ltd.

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Introduction

There is no avoiding the pull of the internet, the blogs, the YouTube imaginings. It's as if we're all 'On the Road' with Jack Kerouac each in our own world of meanderings. When we tell someone to 'get a life' it might be a bit difficult when you're dragged into other people's 24/7.

I've come to realize two foundational principals, there are no accidents and everyone has a purpose. More and more I'm desiring everyone to come into a full realization of their purpose as we all find our way on this little jewel of a planet.

For me, as a professional 'Western style artist', I stumbled into Chinese Brush Painting after a trip in 1980 to Monet's home/garden. Seeing all of his collection of Japanese woodblock prints was an ahh haa moment for me and when I returned to the States I started painting in the Chinese manner and never looked back. The first year was extremely painful for me as I felt that I should be able to master the technique since I was a 'trained' artist. Not a chance ... that just gets in your way.

Now, after teaching close to 3,000 students and having my book 'The Ch'i of the Brush' published by Watson Guptill, I can say that every one of my students does better their first day than I did my first year! Why? Because I insist that they leave their critical parent outside and just enjoy the journey, respecting the work that they do. I never let anyone throw anything away because that just ingrains frustration and defeat.

We really only begin to learn when we stop and figure out how to 'save' a painting. It works every time.I am so proud of my students, their receptivity and eagerness to express themselves is a continuing blessing for me.So, back to finding your purpose. Perhaps it starts with realizing 'it's not about me'. It so easy to want our needs met and to filter everything thru this attitude. When we realize that we're here to be of benefit to every life that we touch the universe really provides the ways and means.

The best part is that it's really exciting to not have yourself on your mind all the time!I'm re-reading a wonderful book about authenticity and in my next meandering I'll tell you about it. In the meantime I'd love to hear about your journey and am here to answer any and all questions about Chinese Brush Painting.