| If there is no struggle, there is no progress. ~ Frederick Douglass |
The image above came from FaceBook, so I can’t vouch for the validity of the numbers. However, I feel that there is a lot of good stuff still going on, even in these potentially stressful times. So here’s a bit more good news and humor I’ve recently stumbled across:
- This came from a couple of friends of mine. I’m not an extrovert and have greatly been enjoying my time at home, with my wife, daughter, and art supplies: As an extrovert, I have been warned about the stresses and strains of self isolation. It reported that people are going crazy from being in lock down! It was strange, actually, because I had just been talking about this with the microwave and toaster and all of us agreed that things are getting bad. The closet told me to “Just hang in there.” The plants aren’t much help… they just want me to “leaf” them alone. I didn’t mention anything to the washing machine as she always has to put a different spin on everything, and certainly not to the fridge as he is acting cold and distant. Similarly, interacting with the olive oil can be slippery… as they tend to keep things bottled up. In the end the iron calmed me down. She said everything will be fine, which surprised me because she’s usually the first one to apply unnecessary pressure and get steamed up over nothing !!! I think she might have been sneaking off to the medicine cabinet, or she’s just trying to smooth things over.
- 70,000 sea turtles are having an easier time laying eggs this year!
- Places like Yosemite are being enjoyed by the animals who live there.
- Until April 26 you can order some art supplies, stickers, and other goodies through the local online marketplace that was coordinated by Local First, BID, and the Chamber of Commerce.
- Feeling stressed out? Activate your vagus nerve. “Actions like — deep breaths, gargling, humming, or even social cues like smiling or making eye contact with someone — send messages to the brain that it’s okay to relax.”
- Here are 10 ways to be a happy artist. (The list starts about halfway down the page.)
Sometimes dreams don’t come true. The best of plans unravel and life takes you on an unwanted detour. As horrible as this pandemic is, we will learn from it. We will develop better medical solutions. Better preparedness, for the next one down the road. All this time at home gives us pause to reevaluate where we are, and where we’re headed. Perhaps there are changes we want to make? Maybe now is a good time to adopt healthier habits, and sharpen our creative skills. If possible, use this time wisely, to progress in your life. Learn a new skill, have some fun, get some fresh air, and be creative – you need your art!
Cheers!
Matthew & the Art Supply House crew
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