Monday, April 15, 2013

to thine own self be true

Post cards for my winners are coming  along :-)

As I perused the pages of Facebook, at 3 am, while dealing with the demons of my imperfect self, I realized how many times I have been unkind to myself. How many times have I been authentic and how many times have I created a character.

I remember speaking my mind true to my heart and I remember speaking what someone else wanted to hear. Or sometimes, just silencing.


As I deal with my, at times, debilitating perfectionism, I realize that what draws my friends, my husband, my family to me is what hurts me the most: my imperfections. It is amazing to realize that it is exactly my quirks, my complete inability to put anything back in the same place, to pick up after myself, that makes my husband smile.

Sometime, somewhere along the way, I decided that making mistakes was unacceptable. Nonetheless, it was each mistake I've made that taught me an important lesson.


Today, as I start a new journal, I will devote it to my true self, the divine feminine, to my imperfect being. Today, I accept thee, even if it will be a hard journey, but I will proceed.

This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
Farewell, my blessing season this in thee!~Shakespeare

37 comments:

GlorV1 said...

Well there certainly aren't any imperfections in your pieces. Fine art I would say. Yes I will be true to myself.:) Great work. Enjoy your new journal.

The Dancing Crone said...

I look forward to your posts!! My worst fault is saying what I think others want to hear, not what I really think. It never ends well and I never learn. (I'm better at speaking my mind in my blogs naturally).

Red Shoes said...

Hey you...

A new journal, huh? I've started a new one myself.

One thing about imperfections...

We ALL have them... that's part of what makes us who we are. :o)

Embrace your imperfections... that's what helps make you who you are!!!

~shoes~

turquoisemoon said...

Love your artwork...just keeps getting better and better. Sheesh...I've got lots of imperfections and keep finding more and more. hahaha

Plowing Through Life (Martha) said...

The best thing to do is to be true to yourself, but it's not always easy. There is certainly enough pressure to be someone we're not. Your artwork is beautiful!

Jenny said...

Beautiful and heartfelt post Ana... we can all learn something from your words... and love the Shakespeare quote... gorgeous birds too...

Jenny ♥

Debra She Who Seeks said...

I believe that the Divine Feminine gives everyone permission to be imperfect. "Imperfect" is just another word for "human."

Riot Kitty said...

Debilitating perfectionism describes it so well! Good for you for working through this.

Cloudia said...

hmmmmm

imagine how your already beautiful birds would FLY if you could fly free creatively yourself?

Crippling perfectionism was my hint :)


ALOHA from Honolulu
Comfort Spiral
~ > < } } ( ° > <3

alteredstatesstudio said...

well quirks are certainly not imperfections- they are what make us who are....what we may be known for, especially by those who love us- but, definitely not imperfections. :) i am as quirky as they come! i didn't use to think so, but, the older (and maybe wiser) i become, the more i discover- i am quirky.

your birds- lovely!! the colors are spectacular! love these!!

Sulky Kitten said...

Such beautiful artwork, Ana. I think being true to yourself is the first step to happiness. Imperfections are what make us interesting.

Unknown said...

Never forget that you are a beautiful person.

The Cranky said...

Beautiful artwork; your birds look as though they could come alive and fly off the page. Perfectly imperfect!

It must be journal time, my Livre de Tenebres was begun this weekend past.

Sara said...

I do trust more in people who show their imperfections than in people whom are simply perfect. And like you said, I also know I am far from being perfect but I also love people for their imperfections; it is not only our best self that matters, it is also all of our problems and frustations that show what type of person we are.

Sherri B. said...

A beautiful reminder...thank you for sharing, Ana, because I think this is something we all need to be reminded of. Your art work is so lovely...

Optimistic Existentialist said...

Perhasp we are perfect in our imperfections...perhaps that's what "perfection" really is...

Jeanie said...

A splendid goal! There is something beautiful about imperfection -- something so genuine, so real. It means we always have something to reach for.

Beautiful images in this post. Again!

AntiquityTravelers said...

wonderful post, and such true words! we all look for acceptance and believe that being perfect gets us there ... but life is imperfect, and us along with it. It is what makes the journey so interesting

Anonymous said...

Beautiful art, Ana! Cheer up. If you don't love yourself, who will?

Fundy Blue said...

Your birds are lovely, IA! I try to be kind and gentle to myself after so many years of being my harshest critic. Thank you for sharing these important and personal thoughts. I'm sure that they will resonate with your blog readers.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a good goal, I know you´ll succeed..! :-)

Ileana said...

I'm happy to hear you are in a good place and accepting what everyone else finds charming in you. I know we are our own worst critics but I sense a very loving, honest and beautiful soul in you, amiga. I'm glad you see it now, too.

Shaharoh said...

New journals are exciting! I'm still on one that I've had for years now because I don't write everyday anymore. I don't know why we are the hardest on ourselves--you'd think by now, we'd realize that this is the longest relationship we'll have on earth, lol. I commend you on embracing the imperfections because your are right, to others, they are what make us unique, beautiful creatures.

fromsophiesview said...

You will be fine!!!

Magic Love Crow said...

Your new journal is looking amazing! Very powerful words ;o) I am happy, you are happy ;o)

Jeane M. said...

Brilliant! Hats off to this talent. Evverybody finds imperfections once in a while but to love them and conquer it makes them more even lovable. Got my eye on your next posts.

MulticoloredPieces said...

There are mistakes and mistakes. Mistakes in life may be totally undesirable, however, mistakes in any creative endeavor may be gold mines. I generally get to a point where I say "This is the worst thing I've ever done"... then I continue, knowing that I must be into new territory and that I will consequently learn a lot, whether it turns out right or not. And if it doesn't turn out, I'll simply cut it up and recycle it. So forge on!
best from Tunisia,
nadia

Anonymous said...

you are who you are and people love you for it. xo

Ariel said...

Your birds look beautiful. I especially love the yellow one. The little things that you don't do 'right' at home makes me smile. I have the same problem, of keeping things in their places, of being organized. Though my husband doesn't smile at me for those imperfections in me, he still puts up with me and I realize that I'm so lucky to have him.
Susan

Annette said...

My dear young friend, there in nothing imperfect in God's eyes. We are all perfect, some of us may do things a little differently than what people think the norm is but we are still perfect in every way. I say this because I am one who march by a different drummer as the saying goes. So we shall beat our drums together. This is what makes us-us. As always love your art work and hugs and hugs from Texas. xooxxo oh did want to tell you this friend of mine, who died years ago said that is we don't make mistakes we are not human. so here you go that now we have a title, we are indeed human. oxo

Anonymous said...

You are perfect to me! A new journal...it seems everyone is on to a new journal...something is in the air! Beautiful birds : )
XXO
Lynn

Koosje Koene said...

Imperfection is beautiful. Accepting it even more so. Let's embrace it! Nice words (poetic,really), a great start for your new journal, and I love those bright watercolours too!

(Not sure if it's appropriate to add this bit but I guess it's ok: I just remembered a comment you left on my blog a while ago, about maybe joining in 'JustDrawIt' if the course is ongoing, so I want to let you know there's an early bird fee for the June class if you're still interested - koosjekoene.nl)

Jess said...

It's interesting you say your family love the imperfections in you, that's lovely. :) I wonder what a 'mistake ' is? Maybe it's having or doing something you didn't intend to do? Being a perfectionist might be the wrong description, maybe striving towards the true authentic self is nearer the mark? I could be wrong but you have me thinking! Thanks Ana.xx

Palomasea said...

A terrific post...a great lesson.
Perfectionism can be so debilitating...speaking from personal experience... ;)
Be yourself...everyone else is taken!
said the fabulous Oscar Wilde...
Blessings,
- Irina

And Congratulations to the very lucky winners of your art!

foxysue said...

This wanting to be 'perfect', say or do what we perceive to be perfect, it always gets in the way. It isn't always easy to just be ourselves without adjustment, it takes practise. I am a life-long student, on the path to finding me, and presenting to the world, it has taken many years to de-construct the me formulated by perceived perfection of both myself and others!

Have a lovely weekend.

Hugs x

Zena said...

Oh... this resonates so deeply with me. You have read my posts and know how many times I have talked about this issue. Perfectionism is indeed a deception and creates important cognitive biases, but we can learn to let it go. I am learning to do it and I am far from the place I was before, you´re learning to do it too... and this create (or is already creating) peace in our lives. Happy Weekend dear friend xx

Anonymous said...

I love the watercolors, they are wonderful. I like the idea of starting a journal for your true self. I've been doing a page or two over the past couple years in my depression journal. Maybe it's time I do one last page to end it and move on.