« Older Archive for November, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving America

Thursday, November 27th, 2008 by Alyice

Happy Turkey Day America! I hope you’re having a fantastic holiday, surrounded by loved ones, good food, and of course, The Macy’s Day Parade!

When I was a little girl, I spent the day sitting in front of our television set watching The Macy’s Day Parade while my single mom busied herself in the kitchen. She despised help on this day because everything had to be “just right” so I spent the day watching the parade. Truthfully, I liked watching the parade. It was exciting to me. I’d watch for specific floats to appear then holler at her to come see them. She’d stop what she was doing, come into the living room, and watch the float until it passed by.

To this day, one of my “BUCKET LIST” to-dos is to attend The Macy’s Day Parade in person.

Today, on this very special day in America, I am thankful for:

the good times I had with my mother,
the relationship I share with my husband of 18 years,
the bonds I share with my children,
the freedom to choose what I do for a living,
the freedom to make bad choices,
the freedom to make good choices,
the freedom to drive the highways at all hours of the day or night,
the freedom to shop at a store that’s open 24 hours a day/7 days a week,
the freedom to attend social gathering in public,
the freedom to attend church,
the freedom of speech, and
the freedoms we all possess simply by living in THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

What are you thankful for?

Give thanks…

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Art Play With Backgrounds

Wednesday, November 26th, 2008 by Alyice

I wasn’t always a firm believer in playing with art supplies. As a young child, my single mother worked hard to provide for us—often going without meals so that we could eat—which meant that we had to learn to stretch things and to use what we had cautiously. As I grew into an adult, I found it difficult to do anything without purpose. I was even too afraid to try new things for fear of wasting our hard-earned money.

Then I had kids and everything changed. I wanted them to try new things, I wanted them to experience life, and I was willing to do whatever it took to allow them those opportunities. If they showed interest in something I made sure they had the supplies necessary to give that hobby or that interest a real try—even if it meant I went without things.

The ironic part is that while I would allow the kids to “waste” money and supplies trying out new things, I couldn’t get myself to do the same. If I was going to create something, I had to be darn-tootin-sure that what I was about to create was something that someone I knew would want and use. I couldn’t create simply for the sake of creating. I couldn’t create because it gave me pleasure. I had to create with a purpose. And so, many of the cool crafting books I had purchased would get read, but never fully explored.

Until now…

I finally get that to become a good artist, you can’t just read the books, watch the videos, or talk art. You must get out there and get your hands dirty. You must practice techniques, try new things, and use your imagination. You must create.

And you know what the best part about playing with your art is? It’s extremely therapeutic! It feels fantastic to just immerse yourself in the moment, even if what you had in your head doesn’t quite come out that way in your art and even though you discover that you have much, much more to learn.

Until next time,

Posted in Artist's Life | 9 Comments »

Thanks For The Season

Monday, November 24th, 2008 by Alyice

Last Monday I mentioned having a hard time letting go of the people I love, but what I didn’t mention was how I have a hard time letting go of anyone in my life—acquaintances, business relations, co-workers, and people I’ve built bonds with during mutual activities or group sessions.

How do you say good-bye to people who’ve shared so much of your life—whether it was for long hours during short periods of time or short minutes during long periods of time or a combination of both? How do you just “let go” and move on with your life? That’s something I’ve never been good with.

One day, during a Bible study, I was taught the importance of seasonal friendships—the type of friendships that aren’t meant to last forever; the type of friendships that are meant to last a period or season of your life and no more and it helped put things into perspective. I was taught that just because someone wasn’t meant to be in your life forever doesn’t mean that the relationship was less important or less significant—in fact, it could have been quite significant and important, even life altering. It just wasn’t meant to be more than that—to continue.

I’ve had several of these types of people enter and leave my life over the years; people who’ve stayed around for only a short period of time (a day, a month, or a year) but have changed my life forever—some for the better, some not so much. And I’ve had people who’ve stayed much longer—often entering, leaving, and re-entering my life at different periods in my life.

I haven’t always been able to appreciate or say “thank you” to these seasonal friendships; partly because I didn’t understand, partly because they ended too soon or without warning, and partly because I couldn’t handle saying good-bye. So I’d like to do that now.

Thank you for being there for me and allowing me to be there for you. Thank you for sharing in life’s joys, thank you for sharing the normalcy of life with me, thank you for helping me through some very difficult times in my life, and thanks for allowing me to help you through yours.

Though the friendships have ended, the memories and the lessons learned remain.

Give thanks…

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AlyiceEdrich.com
I'm a freelance writer, mixed media artist, SMVA, and the owner of The Dabbling Mum.

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