By Shirley M. Carolan
For all you writers, speakers, and others who may need some uplifting thoughts today, I think you will enjoy this article. Hopefully, it will take you back to your childhood to discover what your favorite book from childhood was and how it may have impacted your life! It’s something you can write an article about, include in a speech, and lift your spirits.
Recently, I was reading Writer’s Digest on-line and really enjoying it. Then I saw a question that rang a bell with me. The author was feeling nostalgic and wanted to know what childhood books had had an impact on us. Without skipping a beat, I decided to respond.
Without a doubt, for me, it had to be “Wind in the Willows” by Kenneth Grahame. I loved how he introduced little animals into the story and gave each its own unique personality and character, as well as the way he painted word pictures of each character and scene. Some characters are easy to understand like “Ratty” and “Mole,” others like Mr. Toad, were more complex; he was a bit of a braggard and I identified with him. The story is fun, easy to read, and a wonderful adventure.
To this day, I lovingly pull out this book, read it and transport myself back in time. It has had a profound effect on my life. I remember visiting Disneyland in Anaheim in my forties, years after I’d emigrated from Great Britain to America.
I chose to go on the river/canal ride that takes you along river banks and childhood stories and events. I distinctly remember the guide calling out “Toad Hall Ahead!” I could hardly believe my ears. Quickly, I jumped up, nearly capsizing the boat and the rest of the passengers, and screamed “Let me out! Let me out! I want to see Toad Hall and talk to Mr. Toad.” My eyes caressed the rolling green hills and what I perceived as Toad Hall in the distance.
To my chagrin, and everyone else’s utter annoyance, I was unceremoniously told by the guide to “Please sit down before your capsize this boat!” Then it dawned upon me that there was no way I was going to see Toad Hall or have a one-on-one chat with Mr. Toad and tell him how much I enjoyed his adventures as a child and how much I identified with his personality...
I think it’s safe to say I’d still be there now if the guide at let me off at Toad Hall and who knows the mischief Toad and I would have fallen into... my kind of mischief! But, I can dream can’t I? That incident happened over 30 years ago but I still remember it fondly to this day So what childhood book has had a significant impact on your life…why?
Shirley M. Carolan, ATMG
Artist ● Speaker ● Writer
artistwithaflair@att.net
Phone/Fax: 760-732-0663
http://www.shirleycarolan.com
http://www.angelscross.blogspot.com
http://www.smcarolan.blogspot.com
Copyright© 2008 by Shirley M. Carolan. All rights reserved. To reprint any part of this article simply contact Shirley Carolan at artistwithaflair@att.net. Thank you.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Sunday, July 13, 2008
FINIS! A Labor of Love Completed
by Shirley M. Carolan
IT FINALLY HAPPENED! THE END OF A PROJECT! Today, July 13, 2008. All you writers out there will appreciate my excitement and enthusiasm.
YIPPEE! It’s over! It’s been a work in progress for a long time. I never thought I’d see the day when I would finally finish an eBook that I hope will inspire others, get them to think about how they are living their life, be honest with themselves, especially if something needs changing, not expecting others to change for them, and then taking the appropriate action to live a richer, fuller life!
It's been enlightening, sometimes sad, sometimes painful, sometimes humorous writing about the myriad events and people in my life and what I discovered needed changing and daring to go for it! I am truly grateful to all the folks who gave me feedback, they didn't hold back anything! Even my doctor said "Shirley, folks of all ages will enjoy these insights but I hope you will address the senior citizen population too!"
Culling all the articles was perhaps the hard part and selecting those that had a true, viable message for others to enjoy was a huge challenge. I have enough chapters and articles left over to either do another eBook or think of converting into a full blown book!
Right now my focus is on editing the material and getting an ISBN number then loading it onto my website for others to see, download and enjoy!
My labor of love is entitled: “IT AIN'T OVER... TILL IT'S OVER!"
IT FINALLY HAPPENED! THE END OF A PROJECT! Today, July 13, 2008. All you writers out there will appreciate my excitement and enthusiasm.
YIPPEE! It’s over! It’s been a work in progress for a long time. I never thought I’d see the day when I would finally finish an eBook that I hope will inspire others, get them to think about how they are living their life, be honest with themselves, especially if something needs changing, not expecting others to change for them, and then taking the appropriate action to live a richer, fuller life!
It's been enlightening, sometimes sad, sometimes painful, sometimes humorous writing about the myriad events and people in my life and what I discovered needed changing and daring to go for it! I am truly grateful to all the folks who gave me feedback, they didn't hold back anything! Even my doctor said "Shirley, folks of all ages will enjoy these insights but I hope you will address the senior citizen population too!"
Culling all the articles was perhaps the hard part and selecting those that had a true, viable message for others to enjoy was a huge challenge. I have enough chapters and articles left over to either do another eBook or think of converting into a full blown book!
Right now my focus is on editing the material and getting an ISBN number then loading it onto my website for others to see, download and enjoy!
My labor of love is entitled: “IT AIN'T OVER... TILL IT'S OVER!"
Thursday, June 26, 2008
THE 3 M’S of TOASTMASTERS
MEMBERSHIP - MENTORING - MAGAZINE
BY Shirley M. Carolan
When folks find out I’ve been in Toastmasters International since 1981 they often ask why do you stay in Toastmasters? My immediate response is that for me it is a way of life! It has been one of the few constants for the last 27 years!
I feel this can further be broken down into three significant benefits: Membership, Mentors and Magazine.
Membership
When you join Toastmasters International you have joined one of the most prestigious, international, educational, organizations in the world! Not many organizations can boast this. I believe it is the largest, non-profit organization in the world! Members are committed to learning how to be better communicators, listeners and better leaders. This translates into being better workers, managers, leaders, teachers, parents, etc.
Mentors
You immediately have access to the finest mentors in the communications field at no cost!. Whether you avail yourself of that expertise is up to you. I suggest that you do because it will speed up your learning curve in communicating your thoughts and ideas substantially. My club has mentoring program and I consider it an honor and a joy to mentor others. It’s a win-win situation for both parties.
Magazine
The Toastmaster magazine is one of the finest, glossy, educational magazines in the world. It is printed in over 30 languages and distributed throughout the free world. Forbes magazine would envy us. A visit to world headquarters in Mission Viejo, which I highly recommend, will bear this out. It’s a thrill to see our magazine in so many different languages waiting to be shipped out.
If you would like a copy of the complete article, please contact me at artistwithaflair@att.net. Thank you!
Shirley M. Carolan, ATMG
Artist ● Speaker ● Writer
artistwithaflair@att.net
Phone/Fax: 760-732-0663
http://www.shirleycarolan.com
http://www.angelscross.blogspot.com
http://www.smcarolan.blogspot.com
Copyright© 2008 by Shirley M. Carolan. All rights reserved. To reprint any part of this article simply contact Shirley Carolan at artistwithaflair@att.net. Thank you.
BY Shirley M. Carolan
When folks find out I’ve been in Toastmasters International since 1981 they often ask why do you stay in Toastmasters? My immediate response is that for me it is a way of life! It has been one of the few constants for the last 27 years!
I feel this can further be broken down into three significant benefits: Membership, Mentors and Magazine.
Membership
When you join Toastmasters International you have joined one of the most prestigious, international, educational, organizations in the world! Not many organizations can boast this. I believe it is the largest, non-profit organization in the world! Members are committed to learning how to be better communicators, listeners and better leaders. This translates into being better workers, managers, leaders, teachers, parents, etc.
Mentors
You immediately have access to the finest mentors in the communications field at no cost!. Whether you avail yourself of that expertise is up to you. I suggest that you do because it will speed up your learning curve in communicating your thoughts and ideas substantially. My club has mentoring program and I consider it an honor and a joy to mentor others. It’s a win-win situation for both parties.
Magazine
The Toastmaster magazine is one of the finest, glossy, educational magazines in the world. It is printed in over 30 languages and distributed throughout the free world. Forbes magazine would envy us. A visit to world headquarters in Mission Viejo, which I highly recommend, will bear this out. It’s a thrill to see our magazine in so many different languages waiting to be shipped out.
If you would like a copy of the complete article, please contact me at artistwithaflair@att.net. Thank you!
Shirley M. Carolan, ATMG
Artist ● Speaker ● Writer
artistwithaflair@att.net
Phone/Fax: 760-732-0663
http://www.shirleycarolan.com
http://www.angelscross.blogspot.com
http://www.smcarolan.blogspot.com
Copyright© 2008 by Shirley M. Carolan. All rights reserved. To reprint any part of this article simply contact Shirley Carolan at artistwithaflair@att.net. Thank you.
Friday, May 30, 2008
“HOW TO EXPAND YOUR VOCABULARY!”
By Shirley M. Carolan
Here's a simple, painless and fun way to expand your vocabulary! Read on.
Whenever I am the Table Topics Master, at my Toastmaster Club, I choose the “word of the day” to accompany my Table Topics, which Toastmasters must use in their Table Topics. Often I am told “that’s an interesting word! Where of how did you find it?”
I have to give credit to doing daily crossword puzzles. Nary a day goes by that I don’t complete at least one crossword puzzle. Even if it’s midnight, I cannot go to sleep without doing a puzzle! Since words are my passion, I am fascinated by uncovering new words and meanings to words. I don’t always agree with the choice of word in the puzzle but I learn volumes because this gets me to think about what word I would prefer to use. Hence, I am always building or adding to my vocabulary.
If you are not an aficionado about crossword puzzles now, I urge you to try completing one and see what new words you will learn as a result. It’s an overlooked pastime, or game, that can pay dividends in your career, especially if you are in a management position. Take the daily newspaper with you wherever you go and find a few minutes here and there to complete the crossword puzzle.
This wonderfully overlooked learning tool can work for you especially if you are sitting in a doctor’s, dentist’s office, waiting for a bus or train, eating lunch alone, or are even on a coffee break. You learn while you wait! Once you’ve completed one crossword puzzle don’t give up. The following day try another puzzle. The fun of completing and “outwitting” the experts can gradually become a daily habit with you too! Before you know it, you will be amazed by how much your vocabulary has improved!
Shirley M. Carolan, ATMG
Artist ● Speaker ● Writer
artistwithaflair@att.net
Phone/Fax: 760-732-0663
http://www.shirleycarolan.com
http://www.angelscross.blogspot.com
http://www.smcarolan.blogspot.com
Copyright© 2008 by Shirley M. Carolan. All rights reserved. To reprint any part of this article simply contact Shirley Carolan at artistwithaflair@att.net. Thank you.
Here's a simple, painless and fun way to expand your vocabulary! Read on.
Whenever I am the Table Topics Master, at my Toastmaster Club, I choose the “word of the day” to accompany my Table Topics, which Toastmasters must use in their Table Topics. Often I am told “that’s an interesting word! Where of how did you find it?”
I have to give credit to doing daily crossword puzzles. Nary a day goes by that I don’t complete at least one crossword puzzle. Even if it’s midnight, I cannot go to sleep without doing a puzzle! Since words are my passion, I am fascinated by uncovering new words and meanings to words. I don’t always agree with the choice of word in the puzzle but I learn volumes because this gets me to think about what word I would prefer to use. Hence, I am always building or adding to my vocabulary.
If you are not an aficionado about crossword puzzles now, I urge you to try completing one and see what new words you will learn as a result. It’s an overlooked pastime, or game, that can pay dividends in your career, especially if you are in a management position. Take the daily newspaper with you wherever you go and find a few minutes here and there to complete the crossword puzzle.
This wonderfully overlooked learning tool can work for you especially if you are sitting in a doctor’s, dentist’s office, waiting for a bus or train, eating lunch alone, or are even on a coffee break. You learn while you wait! Once you’ve completed one crossword puzzle don’t give up. The following day try another puzzle. The fun of completing and “outwitting” the experts can gradually become a daily habit with you too! Before you know it, you will be amazed by how much your vocabulary has improved!
Shirley M. Carolan, ATMG
Artist ● Speaker ● Writer
artistwithaflair@att.net
Phone/Fax: 760-732-0663
http://www.shirleycarolan.com
http://www.angelscross.blogspot.com
http://www.smcarolan.blogspot.com
Copyright© 2008 by Shirley M. Carolan. All rights reserved. To reprint any part of this article simply contact Shirley Carolan at artistwithaflair@att.net. Thank you.
Friday, May 23, 2008
HOW TO STREAMLINE YOUR SPEECHES!
By Shirley M. Carolan
When you first join Toastmasters International it is very tempting to want to tell your audience everything you know about a specific topic. Take it from a 27 year veteran, that isn’t the best way to go!
One of the toughest lessons I had to learn is that “Less is More!” I didn’t conquer this lesson overnight. It took several years to appreciate and understand the benefits of this. First, I had to conquer the fear that others would think I didn’t know my subject if I didn’t include everything I knew about it. Then I ran l amuck trying to select only the salient points. Organizing them into a logical flow was another challenge. After all, everything in Toastmasters is timed and I needed to be sure the material I did select would hold up under scrutiny with an opening, body, and close!
It is far better to leave your audience clamoring for more than to overdo it with minutiae , especially with clichés, pet words, and jargon. The mind and the seat can only absorb so much. Better to save some material for a follow-up speech than to overdo it.
Boredom can also cause you audience to tune you out. While the topic may be of utmost interest to you, if you’ve not engaged your audience, or given them something to think about or take action on, then you run the risk of losing them!
Here are a few tips to help you streamline your talk:
• Start your presentation with a quote, statistic, or controversial idea is a good way to grab their attention.
• Use a handout to give more details or examples.
• Use slides, an overhead projector, flipchart, or music to create a mood.
• Ask your audience a question(s ) at the start or even conclusion..
• Tell your audience you’d be happy to send them more information if they’d like to leave their name and email address at the end of your presentation.
These are just a few tools to help you streamline your presentation so that it flows, is interesting and lets the audience know you are an expert on your subject. Hence, Less is More!
Stay tuned for more tips!
Shirley M. Carolan, ATMG
Artist ● Speaker ● Writer
artistwithaflair@att.net
Phone/Fax: 760-732-0663
http://www.shirleycarolan.com
http://www.angelscross.blogspot.com
http://www.smcarolan.blogspot.com
Copyright© 2008 by Shirley M. Carolan. All rights reserved. To reprint any part of this article simply contact Shirley Carolan at artistwithaflair@att.net. Thank you.
When you first join Toastmasters International it is very tempting to want to tell your audience everything you know about a specific topic. Take it from a 27 year veteran, that isn’t the best way to go!
One of the toughest lessons I had to learn is that “Less is More!” I didn’t conquer this lesson overnight. It took several years to appreciate and understand the benefits of this. First, I had to conquer the fear that others would think I didn’t know my subject if I didn’t include everything I knew about it. Then I ran l amuck trying to select only the salient points. Organizing them into a logical flow was another challenge. After all, everything in Toastmasters is timed and I needed to be sure the material I did select would hold up under scrutiny with an opening, body, and close!
It is far better to leave your audience clamoring for more than to overdo it with minutiae , especially with clichés, pet words, and jargon. The mind and the seat can only absorb so much. Better to save some material for a follow-up speech than to overdo it.
Boredom can also cause you audience to tune you out. While the topic may be of utmost interest to you, if you’ve not engaged your audience, or given them something to think about or take action on, then you run the risk of losing them!
Here are a few tips to help you streamline your talk:
• Start your presentation with a quote, statistic, or controversial idea is a good way to grab their attention.
• Use a handout to give more details or examples.
• Use slides, an overhead projector, flipchart, or music to create a mood.
• Ask your audience a question(s ) at the start or even conclusion..
• Tell your audience you’d be happy to send them more information if they’d like to leave their name and email address at the end of your presentation.
These are just a few tools to help you streamline your presentation so that it flows, is interesting and lets the audience know you are an expert on your subject. Hence, Less is More!
Stay tuned for more tips!
Shirley M. Carolan, ATMG
Artist ● Speaker ● Writer
artistwithaflair@att.net
Phone/Fax: 760-732-0663
http://www.shirleycarolan.com
http://www.angelscross.blogspot.com
http://www.smcarolan.blogspot.com
Copyright© 2008 by Shirley M. Carolan. All rights reserved. To reprint any part of this article simply contact Shirley Carolan at artistwithaflair@att.net. Thank you.
Monday, May 12, 2008
WHAT'S NEW?
Two major projects are taking up my time right now.
1. Recently I received several phone calls about my "Journaling For Success" classes. Yes, I am going to conduct them again! I am looking for an appropriate meeting room to hold these classes. I want it to be easily accessible from a freeway. Also, I want to keep the fee down and so want to find a venue that will pick up the insurance, in case of accident or injury. If you know of any places I might check out please contact me immediately, either by phone (760) 732-0663 or email: artistwithaflair@att.net!
2. I am in the throes of combining several of my blog articles with other unpublished articles I've written and am creating an "inspirational/motivational" book for women over 40 to read, enjoy, and start making better choices for their life styles. The baby boomers will definitely benefit from it. It will start with my first "Firewalk" with Tony Robbins in San Francisco when I was 56 years old and how it changed my life right up until I'm ready for Eternal Hills, together with the ashes of my little Pug/Terrier "Jake."
Stay tuned for more!
1. Recently I received several phone calls about my "Journaling For Success" classes. Yes, I am going to conduct them again! I am looking for an appropriate meeting room to hold these classes. I want it to be easily accessible from a freeway. Also, I want to keep the fee down and so want to find a venue that will pick up the insurance, in case of accident or injury. If you know of any places I might check out please contact me immediately, either by phone (760) 732-0663 or email: artistwithaflair@att.net!
2. I am in the throes of combining several of my blog articles with other unpublished articles I've written and am creating an "inspirational/motivational" book for women over 40 to read, enjoy, and start making better choices for their life styles. The baby boomers will definitely benefit from it. It will start with my first "Firewalk" with Tony Robbins in San Francisco when I was 56 years old and how it changed my life right up until I'm ready for Eternal Hills, together with the ashes of my little Pug/Terrier "Jake."
Stay tuned for more!
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
POSITIVE ENERGY HEALS!
By Shirley M. Carolan
We’ve all been around folks who are not very happy, either with themselves, or with life. As a result, we can often get sucked into their negative energy (aura) and start feeling down too, if we are not careful, or are unaware of what’s happening.
How refreshing it is then, to meet someone with a positive attitude, no hidden agenda, and a joy for life! Just being around someone like this is a blessing! One quickly forgets what might not be working in one’s life when we encounter someone with a joie de vivre ! Our energy is improved and so is our outlook. We literally savor the experience.
The latter happened to me recently when I ventured out to meet the public for the first time, after a dreadful accident almost 4 weeks prior, when I had a nasty fall, smashing my face, breaking my nose, and pulling some tendons in hands and legs and ended up in an ambulance being rushed to the local hospital. The fact that the huge black and purple circles around my eyes were still visible troubled me. I still had quite a swollen lip, my teeth hurt, and the skin was pulling all down the left side of my face so I had to forego makeup. That also bothered me. I hadn’t left the house without makeup since my pre-teen years and now I was a septuagenarian! I remember vividly asking the E/R doctor how I looked because I am quite vain, and there were no mirrors around, and he said “beautiful!” H’m. This guy was in the wrong profession!
But, as fate would have it, it was my turn to “sit the gallery. “ I’m a member of the Carlsbad Oceanside Art Leauge (COAL) and part of our dues, if we hang a painting at the gallery, is to pay a small hanging fee and sit the gallery for one session. Officers are exempt from sitting (the gallery), and, being an officer (Publicity Chairperson) I could easily have passed on this. However, I love to meet and talk to the public, find out what they are interested in, which paintings, sculptures, photos, etc. appeal to them and why. I love it when folks come in from other parts of the country too and I get to know what it’s like to live in another state or region.
This was the scenario two weeks ago when it was my turn to sit the gallery. I was settled in at the front desk when in bounced these two women. They whizzed through the gallery and returned to the section reserved for the “Artist of the Month” exhibition. This month it was a famous watercolor artist. They were in animated conversation when in worked the artist in the flesh! Apparently the three were friends.
After a few minutes I heard one woman say “I’ll take that one! My husband will love it too.” Hello, was I experiencing a fantastic sale so early in the day or, was it a joke? Further conversation ensued and I heard the woman say I just love this “Phoenix and the Mission” watercolor. Sure enough the woman was serious and I got to write up the purchase.
As I completed the paperwork I congratulated her, and asked her where she intended to hang the painting. She smiled, a bit sheepishly, and said that she had lost her house and all her belongings in the wildfires last fall in Fallbrook and that she had nowhere to hang it at the moment. Again, I took in a deep breath as I weighed the situation. This was pretty heady stuff. The painting was quite expensive, just under a thousand dollars and the buyer didn’t even have a wall to hang it on!
H’m what to do … I quickly called the Gallery Manager and asked him where they kept the “sold” stickers at the gallery. Whereupon he told me the client could take the painting with her once it was paid for. Then I told him the dilemma and there was a pregnant pause at his end. It was agreed the client could leave the painting at the gallery until the end of the month when a new exhibition would take over. I quickly made up a “sold” sign for her and placed it on the painting. The woman was overjoyed with her purchase, just like a kid in a candy shop. I just had to admire her courage and gift of life.
I asked her was she going to rebuild in Fallbrook and she said “Yes!” However, things were moving slowly and the Fire Department had come up with new regulations to make fighting such dreadful blazes more easy. It also meant thousands more dollars would be added to the price of the new home. She seemed undaunted ... almost matter of fact. Then she said her husband was a collector and had lost everything in the fire. But they were going to pick up the pieces and start anew. Again, I congratulated her on her positive outlook and philosophy and wished her well.
After the three friends departed I sat quietly and reflected on the scene of a few minutes ago. I was feeling euphoric and then it hit me. How would I act, or react, if I had just lost my beautiful home and all my possessions? Would I feel like buying a beautiful, expensive, watercolor with nowhere to hang it? Would I even be out gallivanting with friends? I think not. My reaction would probably be much more somber.
However, I’ve discovered a very important lesson from this experience. Since then, whenever I’ve felt down in the dumps, disappointed, frustrated, annoyed, or angry at anyone or anything, I’ve thought about the woman who has lost everything she ever loved, bought, or collected in one fell swoop, and how her spirit has remained positive, friendly, and almost childlike! If she can exhibit such joy and pleasure at life after losing everything, then I can certainly handle the minor, ego-driven things in my life! She has certainly helped me to put things into perspective and, for that, I am eternally grateful!
Shirley M. Carolan, ATMG
Artist ● Speaker ● Writer
artistwithaflair@att.net
Phone/Fax: 760-732-0663
http://www.shirleycarolan.com
http://www.angelscross.blogspot.com
http://www.smcarolan.blogspot.com
Copyright© 2008 by Shirley M. Carolan. All rights reserved. To reprint any part of this article simply contact Shirley Carolan at artistwithaflair@att.net. Thank you.
We’ve all been around folks who are not very happy, either with themselves, or with life. As a result, we can often get sucked into their negative energy (aura) and start feeling down too, if we are not careful, or are unaware of what’s happening.
How refreshing it is then, to meet someone with a positive attitude, no hidden agenda, and a joy for life! Just being around someone like this is a blessing! One quickly forgets what might not be working in one’s life when we encounter someone with a joie de vivre ! Our energy is improved and so is our outlook. We literally savor the experience.
The latter happened to me recently when I ventured out to meet the public for the first time, after a dreadful accident almost 4 weeks prior, when I had a nasty fall, smashing my face, breaking my nose, and pulling some tendons in hands and legs and ended up in an ambulance being rushed to the local hospital. The fact that the huge black and purple circles around my eyes were still visible troubled me. I still had quite a swollen lip, my teeth hurt, and the skin was pulling all down the left side of my face so I had to forego makeup. That also bothered me. I hadn’t left the house without makeup since my pre-teen years and now I was a septuagenarian! I remember vividly asking the E/R doctor how I looked because I am quite vain, and there were no mirrors around, and he said “beautiful!” H’m. This guy was in the wrong profession!
But, as fate would have it, it was my turn to “sit the gallery. “ I’m a member of the Carlsbad Oceanside Art Leauge (COAL) and part of our dues, if we hang a painting at the gallery, is to pay a small hanging fee and sit the gallery for one session. Officers are exempt from sitting (the gallery), and, being an officer (Publicity Chairperson) I could easily have passed on this. However, I love to meet and talk to the public, find out what they are interested in, which paintings, sculptures, photos, etc. appeal to them and why. I love it when folks come in from other parts of the country too and I get to know what it’s like to live in another state or region.
This was the scenario two weeks ago when it was my turn to sit the gallery. I was settled in at the front desk when in bounced these two women. They whizzed through the gallery and returned to the section reserved for the “Artist of the Month” exhibition. This month it was a famous watercolor artist. They were in animated conversation when in worked the artist in the flesh! Apparently the three were friends.
After a few minutes I heard one woman say “I’ll take that one! My husband will love it too.” Hello, was I experiencing a fantastic sale so early in the day or, was it a joke? Further conversation ensued and I heard the woman say I just love this “Phoenix and the Mission” watercolor. Sure enough the woman was serious and I got to write up the purchase.
As I completed the paperwork I congratulated her, and asked her where she intended to hang the painting. She smiled, a bit sheepishly, and said that she had lost her house and all her belongings in the wildfires last fall in Fallbrook and that she had nowhere to hang it at the moment. Again, I took in a deep breath as I weighed the situation. This was pretty heady stuff. The painting was quite expensive, just under a thousand dollars and the buyer didn’t even have a wall to hang it on!
H’m what to do … I quickly called the Gallery Manager and asked him where they kept the “sold” stickers at the gallery. Whereupon he told me the client could take the painting with her once it was paid for. Then I told him the dilemma and there was a pregnant pause at his end. It was agreed the client could leave the painting at the gallery until the end of the month when a new exhibition would take over. I quickly made up a “sold” sign for her and placed it on the painting. The woman was overjoyed with her purchase, just like a kid in a candy shop. I just had to admire her courage and gift of life.
I asked her was she going to rebuild in Fallbrook and she said “Yes!” However, things were moving slowly and the Fire Department had come up with new regulations to make fighting such dreadful blazes more easy. It also meant thousands more dollars would be added to the price of the new home. She seemed undaunted ... almost matter of fact. Then she said her husband was a collector and had lost everything in the fire. But they were going to pick up the pieces and start anew. Again, I congratulated her on her positive outlook and philosophy and wished her well.
After the three friends departed I sat quietly and reflected on the scene of a few minutes ago. I was feeling euphoric and then it hit me. How would I act, or react, if I had just lost my beautiful home and all my possessions? Would I feel like buying a beautiful, expensive, watercolor with nowhere to hang it? Would I even be out gallivanting with friends? I think not. My reaction would probably be much more somber.
However, I’ve discovered a very important lesson from this experience. Since then, whenever I’ve felt down in the dumps, disappointed, frustrated, annoyed, or angry at anyone or anything, I’ve thought about the woman who has lost everything she ever loved, bought, or collected in one fell swoop, and how her spirit has remained positive, friendly, and almost childlike! If she can exhibit such joy and pleasure at life after losing everything, then I can certainly handle the minor, ego-driven things in my life! She has certainly helped me to put things into perspective and, for that, I am eternally grateful!
Shirley M. Carolan, ATMG
Artist ● Speaker ● Writer
artistwithaflair@att.net
Phone/Fax: 760-732-0663
http://www.shirleycarolan.com
http://www.angelscross.blogspot.com
http://www.smcarolan.blogspot.com
Copyright© 2008 by Shirley M. Carolan. All rights reserved. To reprint any part of this article simply contact Shirley Carolan at artistwithaflair@att.net. Thank you.
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