Monday, September 17, 2012

the book & its cover

Butterfly post card  

When I was in college, I had pink (and blue, and purple, and red) hair. My nose was pierced, I had 9 earrings, and my shirts were probably too short and my pants too baggy. It was with great amazement that during a trip for a school conference, I found out my classmates thought I was a pot head or a modern version of a flower child.


Fast forward it 15 years and during a conversation with some co-workers, I got surprised by people's view of me once more. At first, extremely conservative, foofoo wine drinker who turned out to be bubbly and... SHOCK:  an extrovert with some serious social butterfly skills to boot.

Butterfly watercolor card- in between

I have always known that who I am is comprised of much more than one "I". Who I am is comprised of an idealized me; the true essence of my self; AND the idea others have of who I am.


It is only when faced with these conflicting and insane ideas of me, that I wad confronted with the knowledge of how much I might judge people solely on their book covers. I am not looking at their essence, the true nature of what's important to them, and not even on the reality that we are multifaceted and complex beings.


 It might be so easy to make assumptions on a person based only on what I see... but I've been warned: the pages between the covers hide a much more wonderful tale of smiles, tears, and enchantment than we are willing to read.




43 comments:

An'Angelia Thompson said...

What a lovely post, Ana, and how true are the words you speak. It makes me wonder how deep is the chasm between who I am and how people see ME. Hugs to you!

Annette said...

Ana I love this post and it is so true and for your young years you are wise my dear. So many people don't realize this until they are my age. The cover may be tattered or different from what they are use to seeing but there is a lot of wise information in there and a wonderful soul. BTW the butterfly is wonderful. xoxo

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

Your butterflies are so beautiful. We are all influenced by what we see! Sweet hugs!

Red Shoes said...

It's ok... once upon a time, I was a hippie.. :op

Looking back at your ink printers, I recalled back in grade school when the teacher would have us bring potatoes to school... we would cut them in half, and then crave designs and print with them.

Thank you for jogging that memory... :o)

~shoes~

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Don't you just love the people who identify you as an extrovert? That's fun!

Kathryn Zbrzezny said...

Mmmmmmm, I LOVE this, Ana. I too have had people think I was outgoing and extroverted based on one meeting...not reading my many pages yet. Interesting and fascinating, isn't it? A good reminder to never judge someone... ( thank you for your visits. I am resting and doing what the doctor orders, and taking it moment by moment again...while trying not to be hard on myself). Ack!

The Cranky said...

I've been thinking about this theme off and on for the last year or so...people have such wildly disparate ideas of who I am...and so I'm forced to try to look more deeply at other people.

Unfortunately, until we can live as that other person we can only rely on what they allow us to see and extrapolate from there.

Å olanje na domu-Waldorf said...

I ran out of one of those blank postcard sets. :) They are really awesome and I LOVE your butterflies! :)

Dianne said...

Such true words... It's good to be reminded of this once in a while... Lovely butterflies...

:.tossan® said...

Wonder. I like the art. It's hard to choose which one.

Irene said...

"Who I am is comprised of an idealized me; the true essence of my self; AND the idea others have of who I am." -- i love this, Ana. beautiful writing, as always! i realize again how i am being judgmental of people, thinking i know a lot about them, but really what i know is truly very minimal, learning from what you just said.

and as always, beautiful art. <3 :-)

turquoisemoon said...

I love that butterfly. Just keep on being your beautiful self. In Buddhism, we're taught not to worry about other people. They don't mean concern for welfare...it's the other things our minds come up with...judgmental stuff. I constantly work on this. It's really not as easy as it sounds.

Jenny said...

Very true words indeed Ana... and I love the last sentence in your post... the pages between the covers... beautifully written...
and... your butterflies... totally gorgeous...

Hugs
Jenny x

Sulky Kitten said...

Looking at your butterflies makes me happy - they're so beautiful. I always find it amusing to find out people's first impressions, not just of myself, but of others.

Shaharoh said...

Ah, my friend -- A lifelong struggle that we will forever face. I think I'm still learning to just accept the fact that people will never see me the way I see myself...and that's fine with me. xoxo!

CraveCute said...

Butterflies are so special to me and yours are so filled with color and life, they almost fly off the page! Impressions are fleeting....

Jeanne said...

Words have never been truer! All too often people are judged by their appearance and not by who they truly are.
Lovely butterflies. :0)

The Cranky said...

Yup, storebought cinnamon works just fine!

S said...

Very true. People are complex beings with multiple personalities and we cannot claim to "know" or "understand" them in a few meetings. It has been my experience.

Tracey FK said...

Thanks for leaving a comment on my blog as it led me to yours... great drawing and painting skills and it sounds like we could have been twins back in college... luckily for me that was the norm at my art school... funny how our lives change and progress... great writing to go with your art and now I am following you so that I can keep up with your work...xx

Ileana said...

This reads like a beautiful and revealing picture book and I love your artwork. The butterfly in you has emerged!

Plowing Through Life (Martha) said...

Great post, Ana! We do indeed judge people by the cover...unfortunately. And sometimes we are way off the mark. I love that you were thought of as an extrovert! That is funny.

Jess said...

So very true. Only yesterday a doctor asked me if I smoke anything? Does he ask everyone that? Why put the word 'anything' on the end? He made assumptions about me based on what? I wonder. Anyway, enough of that! Your butterflies are surely gorgeous indeed!
Jess x x

Arkansas Patti said...

Excellent post and I guess there really are at least two of us. The perceived and the real.
Love the depth of the butterflies by the way.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting. So far no plans to return except for an PSI I am working on. These days, I am really enjoying being a reader instead of a writer.

Denise said...

Beautiful paintings and beautiful thoughts.Thank you for visiting Me. So nice to meet you.Denise

ArtSings1946 said...

This is way so true ... I can sense people's essence sometimes ... it's kinda weird ... and most times it's nothing what is apparent.

Love this post and your art, as always

Happiness,
Jan

Almost Precious said...

So true. People have many layers that run far deeper than the thin veneers of their surface appearance.

I love your butterflies, it is a gorgeous piece of watercolor art.

cookievf said...

Ohh, ana ~ i'm still mesmerized by what i just read ~ your words run so deep and true. I will tell you a story one day about a 14 year-old who broke all the rules because she refused to pre-judge(judice). Thank you for stating this so eloquently <3
- vicki xo

Dion Dior said...

Beautiful words and art Ana. Inspiration goes all around. Hugs xx

Shannon Ganshorn said...

I'm in awe of your butterflies. I could only *hope* to be able to create such lovely, realistic-looking creatures. Kudos :)

The Dancing Crone said...

Beautifully put, Ana! People often dress to identify themselves as part of this group or that clique but truthfully it doesn't tell us anything about them as people. (I thought you wrote "serious butterfly issues" - had to go back and look at it, ha ha!) But if you had serious butterfly issues that would be okay too! :)

Unknown said...

Interesting post. Enjoyed it :).

Patti said...

Thank you for your comment on my blog. It seems we have a few things in common. I've carved a few rubber stamps, I'm crazy about my dog, I eat too much sugar until my joints ache. I'll visit your blog again. peace.

BIKBIK AND RORO said...

How very true. And what lovely watercolours -- this is definitely one of my favourites. P.S. do drop by my blog today for a little surprise for you! Have a super lovely day :)

foxysue said...

Oh you have a long list of comments here Ana! I agree with you "the reality that we are multifaceted and complex beings", I don't think we can always understand ourselves let alone judge anyone else! Your words help to put a handle on the subject-thank you.

Hugs too :~)XXX

Buttons Thoughts said...

Oh Ana you are so very wise. Love the butterflies and the picture you have created in my head of your wild and crazy teenage years. My daughter and you are very similar. I love artists. B

Lea said...

I agree. By the way, those butterflies are beautiful. Love the colors :)

GlorV1 said...

Love your book. Beautiful butterflies and love your words. Thanks for sharing.

Debra said...

May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun
And find your shoulder to light on,
To bring you luck, happiness and riches
Today, tomorrow and beyond.

Ana, you are a beautiful and amazing soul, and your art depicts this.

We’ll always be flower children!
Hugs!

alteredstatesstudio said...

so true...people are easy to make assumptions on "who" people are without evening knowing anyone; and it is so interesting sometimes to hear what others think they know about who we are. i like to purposely wear things a little off the beaten path because i live in a small town, and i know how the coffee groups work- just to maybe add to that speculation. :) your butterflies are beautiful! love all of them!

Unknown said...

wow ......... very enchanting ...♦

Susan said...

Love your butterflies Ana. A thought provoking post as usual.

Christine said...

thanks for sharing some of your many facets with me ~ i love how complexed and nuanced we all are :)