10 Things Artists Should Be Thankful For

by Sylvia White

This was sent to me by another Artist... It struck a nerve... caused some sinus activity... I think about this almost EVERY day as I struggle to be the Artist I think I should be...

By the time most artists come to see me, they are usually beaten down and depressed by the struggles of the artworld. They have been abused by their galleries, taken for granted by their collectors, misunderstood by their families and exhausted from juggling real life with creative need. It is so easy to forget how special you are, when there is no one around to remind you, but you. So, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I give you my list of 10 Things Artists Should Be Thankful For. Print this out, fold it up and put in your wallet. Send it to your artist friends. Read it whenever you feel all your work is for nothing and you are thinking maybe you should just stop making art and grow up. Post it in your studio when you are wondering what the heck you are going to do with all this work? But, most of all…believe it. Remember, it is impossible to feel thankful and be depressed at the same time.

1. I am thankful that I am not one of the majority of people in this world that wakes up every morning, goes to a job they hate, just to come home and do it all over again.

2. I am thankful that when I am away from my studio, my ideas come with me, they keep me company everywhere I go.

3. I am thankful for this passion that gives me so much joy (and angst) but mostly joy.

4. I am thankful that when I have left this earth, I will leave something meaningful behind.

5. I am thankful that I have a mind that can not sleep, I will never be bored.

6. I am thankful that there is a part of my life that nobody but me can control.

7. I am thankful that no one in the world can ever take this gift from me.

8. I am thankful that I am brave, it takes courage to pursue my gift.

9. I am thankful that I am never satisfied, it forces me to move forward and grow.

10. I am thankful I discovered this list! Pass it on.


Reprinted from:

In response to FEAR

I don't do fear... it focuses on the negative... I have learned that fear is the opposite of love... and I am all about the LOVE! I choose LOVE as my religion.

What can I do in these times for my country I ask myself [daily]? I can continue to live the life that many have died for me to live ... I can continue to believe in the fact that I live in a country where my choices are my choices ... I can smile at my fellow Americans and those who are here visiting our great country each day I am out in the world, and be kind in thought word and deed ... and remember to live each day like it is my last ... for now, that is all I can do ... but FEAR is not one of the things I choose.

We are in a GREAT transition ... for me, it is important that we stand together as countrymen and women with a consciousness of the freedom that we've earned with our history ... Yes, things are really different today than we've known in the past, but all I can do is the BEST that I can do with my individual life... I talk to God every day about my life and hand it over to him/her once again... and it makes it easier for me. I do trust that God has a higher plan... a better plan than I could ever imagine... but sometimes it looks like God has screwed up, and then I remember that it isn't always 'pretty' walking through the muck...

Thinking back in my lifetime, it seems this President has had a lot more muck to deal with from the get go... more than any other President in the history of my life... I do not envy him at all. I wouldn't want the job, and don't understand why he would either... but I choose to lift him up rather than to beat him down ...

The last President wasn't my choice, and especially not one of my favorites... but he was our President ... I had to learn to lift him up for the bigger picture. HE is the reason I can do that today.

I once thought about a political career... I was very young (late teens)... but that was then, and this is NOW...

TODAY I am just living for today...

No turtles, only cardinals...

Totally for the birds... I was headed out to take some pictures of turtles down by the creek... when two cardinals kept teasing me...

Now, I'm not much of a bird photographer... but they were really flying close to me, churping for attention... soooooo... I snapped a couple of shots. This is my favorite one. So cute in all his glorious RED!

BTW, I walked about a quarter mile from my car to get a shot of about 14 turtles on a log in the middle of the creek... as soon as I lifted the lens up... they all fell into the water... I was about 50 yards away from the turtles... little $#!&'s.

Nashville Lucy LOVES the SNOW!!!!

It seems like winter just isn't finished with us here in Tennessee just yet... today's snow was like sparkly little powder crystals coming down from the heavens... it was GORGEOUS!
Lucy and I went out to play in the white stuff for a little bit! LOVE my POOCH!

in the biz 2.0 - an exhibit submission

Every time I enter a "Call to Artist" exhibit it is different. Here is the most recent entry I created for the Chromatics Nashville, "in the biz 2.0" exhibit.It should be an interesting show... people with 'day jobs'...

CRAZY about this POOCH!

A year in the making... YES, you CAN teach an old dog new tricks! Lucy and I worked with these sunglasses off (mostly off) and on for a year... isn't she ADORABLE!!!

Day 6 - NOT Easy

I took several days off because my husband was home for the holidays... MISTAKE! I had shown all the videos to my husband, he didn't know what I was doing, I had told him about it, but he said he didn't think I was really going to do it... HA!

So, today was the first day back since before Christmas and I am telling you THIS WAS HARD!!! But I did it, and I am proud of ME! I tried some DIFFERENT exercises today so that I don't get bored with the same games/exercises on the Wii. I'm telling you, if you have a Wii, and you've never done the Sports edition... you need to give it a try, it IS Amazing!

Here's my video entry for today from right afterward:

P.S. - I'm trying to decide if I should join Weight Watchers... I am really ready to get rid of this weight...

Peace & LOVE

Abundance, prosperity, standing one’s ground and protection of resources are just part of what Buffalo represents on an energy level. In Ted Andrews book Animal Speak he says in reference to Buffalo that “The Lord helps those who help themselves” and that the Lakota Sioux believed that right action combined with right prayer resulted in the manifestation of all that is wanted or needed. How many times has anyone heard that someone wants something, be it money, a new relationship, a new job, etc. and yet the person wants someone else to do it all for them! When Buffalo appears to us, it is at this time that we ourselves need to take action on our own behalf and then and only then can we provide a channel for the manifestation to flow through to us from the Universe.

A White Tennessee Christmas

From the upper deck of our home on Christmas Eve 2010I just read that since 1884 when records were beginning to be kept about the weather... here is more from the National Weather Service... kinda cool... pun intended:

Since the winter of 1884 and 1885, when snowfall records began in Nashville, snow has fallen 23 times on Christmas Day. Only 9 have been a measurable amount. A measurable amount is one tenth of an inch or more.

From a statistical standpoint, there is a 19 percent chance of a trace or more of snow on Christmas Day, and only a 7 percent chance of measurable snow.

The last time snow fell on Christmas was in 2002 when a trace occurred.

The last time measurable snow fell on Christmas was 1993 when 0.3 inches occurred. 0.3 inches also fell on Christmas in 1992 in downtown Nashville, but 1 to 2 inches fell in the Joelton and Ridgtop areas. 1992 and 1993 is the only time that two consecutive Christmases have had measurable snowfall.

The last white Christmas in Nashville was in 1969 when 2.7 inches of snow fell. A white Christmas is one or more inches of snowfall.

The warmest Christmas on record occurred in 1982, and the coldest was in 1983.

The wettest Christmas on record was in 1987 when 2.37 inches of rain fell.

Christmas 1984, at 1150PM, a tornado cut a million dollar damage path from the Whispering Hills section of Nashville to near Una.

Day 5

Starting a new exercise regime during the holiday season is probably one of the best ideas I've had in a long time... and I come up with a lot of unimplemented ideas all the time that are pretty good. [Smile]

Anyway, I slept until after noon today... cause I NEEDED it! Got up and didn't feel like exercising AT ALL, but I did it anyway - and, I exercised LONGER than any other day so far... hmmmmm, wonder why?

I'm learning more and more about myself and my body... this is good. I am starting to integrate MIND - BODY - SPIRIT again.

Also, I need to tell you (the imaginary you) that I started working the new Marianne Williamson book on CD called, "A Course in Weight Loss." I'll let you know more when I can... the first lesson really had me deep in thought over why I keep holding on to this weight... it is NOT about food, that is for sure...

Day 4

Hmmmmm... where do I begin... I stayed up WAY too late last night working in my office getting ready for a client to arrive late morning. Thank goodness the client called and gave me an extra hour, so I ate, and did step and ski jumping on my Wii. I had every intention of going back to the Wii later to finish my workout, but it didn't happen... :o(


I feel a little guilty... but there is nothing I can do at this point...

Had to get all my last minute Christmas presents ready to go so I could get them to the post office on time to make it around the country by Friday. DONE!

Day 3

I was feeling a little weak today, but wanted to keep working out. I know that sometimes you MUST rest the body, but since I am just getting started, this is not the time to rest. Besides, I am too afraid of falling of the workout wagon.

I used my Wii Sports today, and found the bicycling exercise... OMG is all I can say... I had to cycle/walk through 13 places in the exercise, and then find the finish arch... It took me quite a bit of time, and it TRULY worked me out more than I wanted initially... but when I was done with it, I felt so good, so proud of myself!

Here is my daily video check in:

Day 2

O.K.! Today I added a new 10 minute workout with my Wii. Ten minutes my ass... It turned into almost an hour... it kicked my butt... but mostly killed my knees. I truly felt like I had a fulfilling workout...

Here's my video check in:


Keep those prayers and letters coming in!

Day 1

And now for something a little different. I haven't been writing in awhile since FACEBOOK took over my social time... so I apologize if there was anyone reading my blog.... not so sure there is...

I'm embarking on changing my life for the good... for the better... for the best. I have recently (the past 5 years) gained quite a bit of weight... and I'm not very comfortable at all... It has taken me months to figure out how to get myself feeling better... motivated... proud of myself... so here we go.

Today is the first day of my personal journey to better health. Each day I will embark on doing something healthy for myself, for my body, my mind, my spirit. AND, I will back it up with a video entry as follows:



This is my way of being accountable with MYSELF. I can't live this way ANY MORE... My body hurts. Soooo, if you are reading this... say a little prayer, do a little dance, send some positive vibes my way. Cause I plan to really make a change for the better!

I Did Not Die

I Did Not Die

Do not stand at my grave and forever weep.
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn’s rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and forever cry.
I am not there. I did not die.

Author: Melinda Sue Pacho