Talking Time

Alright friends, lets talk... No, I don't mean carry on a conversation in the comments, I mean lets talk.

As I walk through a store to buy much needed items (like Pringles and Pop-Tarts), I'll occasionally come across another shopper.

Whoa! I remark. Another human being!

So I smile at them. Wouldn't they do the same?

No. No they wouldn't.

And I'm not complaining (...Okay, maybe I am.). Honestly, it's a person's own right to keep to themselves if they so desire. But where's the fun in that?

We live in a world where people are offended by the drop of a pen. And people worry they might say something dumb and embarrass themselves.

Let me tell ya, it's even more awkward when you pretend not to notice.

Yes, we see you carefully swerve into that aisle to dodge an awkward situation. We see you staring at the floor so no one will make eye contact with you.

And it hurts.

Do they not like us? Are we looking particularly ugly today that no one wants to acknowledge us?
Are they just a freaky hermit who hates people? Just some of the many thoughts I'm sure don't just cross my mind.

And I'm sure, unless you really are just a hermit who hates people, you've felt the same things on your better days.

I think we should be more open to saying a simple "Hello". Be more respectful of others. Humans aren't meant to be alone. Even the most private introvert needs some quality people time.

If you can't talk, a simple smile will do. Maybe your sick, or maybe you don't want to get close to people. Smiling is a sure fire way to cheer you up.

And for once, I think we can agree that we'll all be happier with the results.

(Disclaimer: If you are a particularly unfriendly person who can't even smile at a baby or a puppy dog, then I'm afraid even I can't help you)

That Little Monster Called Art Block

Ahh, art. It feels so good to pick up a pencil and just sketch what comes to your brain. But sometimes we encounter this mind-altering problem known as the formidable art-block. We struggle and strain to sketch a circle and once we have finally achieved it, drawing no longer sounds relaxing. More of a chore, really. Forcing our brains to draw something we can't possibly draw while we're in this mood isn't good, nor is it safe.

 Now, don't get me wrong, art-block isn't the same thing as pure laziness. (Which I have found myself to have acquired many times before.) Art-block is the feeling of not having anything left to draw, whilst laziness is just plain not-wanting-to-do-anything.

If you're suffering from art-block, don't force yourself to pick up a pencil. Don't force yourself to draw something and make yourself angry and nervous. Relax, take a deep breath, drink some tea, read a book, even! Just let your mind take a break. I assure you, nothing feels better than coming back from a break and realizing that the art-block has been conquered!

Your mind will thank you, your siblings will thank you, your spouse will thank you, even your dog will thank you.

                               Lots of artistic love,
                         Lyndi

Blogging... that's a new one for me. Reading other people's blogs over the years, I finally came to the conclusion that I'd never be able to make my own. Not with the same amount of talent.

Well, that's phooey.

Blogging is writing what comes to you naturally. You needn't fit others standards when you write. You needn't be as good or as smart as another. Just write.

"But Lyndi!" You ask, "What if nothing comes naturally?"

See, that's what I tried to tell myself before I finally got up the courage to try. What if people made fun of me after I wrote a poem for my cat or my own recipe for french fries? What if everything I tried to write ended up in disaster? Let me tell you, no one except you knows what you were trying to write. They might enjoy reading about your new puppy or making a cake. You'll never know until you try.

Sometimes spilling your emotions onto a page is just the thing to get you started. So go on, give it a whirl! It never hurt anyone to try.