Selfishness and Freedom

"Selfishness is not living as one wishes, but asking others to live as one wishes."  Oscar Wilde

Title: Soft Flowers. 30"x 30" Acrylic Mixed Media
S. King-Allikas

I LOVE this quote!  It feels like a permission slip to leave the confines of a dull class, or a "get out of jail free" card in Monopoly.  It just begs to be sent to all those people in our lives who want us to show up where they want us to be and to behave as they would like us to; those individuals who manipulate and pressure us to make choices and live lives that don't threaten the safety of their world and their choices.

Sometimes I am at fault for not speaking up and expressing my wants or needs, so how could anyone know? The challenge is how to deal with situations when you've mustered up the courage to make the unpopular choice, to say that a situation is no longer acceptable, that you will not be able to fit yourself into their schedule, and that I am choosing something other than what they hoped I would choose.

This is where my thinking was going circular until I found a quote on freedom which has proven oh so helpful.
"The moment I accept the consequences of my choices, I am free to choose whatever I want."

So then it becomes a simple formula, I am feeling pressure to choose "A" but I want to choose "B".  The possible consequences of choosing "B" are ________ (fill in the blank) for example: "They will be angry and may not speak to me". "I may be passed over for a promotion."  "She will gossip and try to turn others against me." "He will say that I am selfish." Am I willing to accept these consequences?   If yes I have the freedom to choose what is right for me, every time.

We must each choose how to live our best life, that is our unselfish gift to the world.

Thank you for stopping in at My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

Wishing you a day of freedom,

Sandra

Out of Hibernation

It's nearly mid-March.  How long have I been hibernating for?  Months in fact.  Months and months of pulling inward away from the world, away from the darkness, the cold and life's winter storms.  Weather patterns can be so unpredictable.  So when life's storms arrive on your door step I hope that you have your survival kit in order.  Mine contains: kindred spirits, a quiet corner, prayer (if you can manage it, and on the worst days you may not be able to), a dog to curl up with and mugs of tea.

With the arrival of March the sun is stronger, the sound of melting snow trickles to the sewers and the smell of mud reminds me that it is time to come out and play again.  That is how I found myself back in my painting studio after months of inactivity.  I tried to paint intuitively choosing colours and shapes that pleased me without giving myself any restrictions.  My goal was to play, to be happy again.

Title: Happy Flowers
40" x 40" Acrylic Mixed Media on Canvas

Detail from Happy Flowers

Today is sunny and the mercury has climbed all the way to 5 degrees Celsius; and tomorrow?  Fifteen to twenty centimeters of snow.  Oh well, today is lovely and I have decided not to let tomorrow's flurries dampen my happiness today.  I'm on my way out the door for a sunny walk with our dog.

Thank you for stopping by at My Turquoise Kettle Life today.
Wishing you a most happy day,
Sandra