Matisse Radical Invention and Me

I visited MoMA, the Museum of Modern Art last week to see what I could see. This used to be a regular activity for the family in years gone by but I have not done this in a very long time. I have been just too busy or too tired chasing my tail. I had a good ole time at MoMA like old times. The highlight was the Matisse exhibit. I was also happy to see Monet, Picasso, Chegall, Rivera and so many other favorites. MoMA has Matisse: “Radical Invention” from 1913 – 1917 which he called Methods of Modern Construction. These works are from a period of change and growth for Matisse as an artist. What is ironic of this period is that Matisse is said to have been ‘searching for something deeper than that could be seen on the surface.’ I do not know if I can put my ‘re-construction’ phase quite like that but it certainly is a search for.

You know, it is funny how things clarifies or perhaps reveal a meaning of a feeling or situation that you have pondered. Well, this was one of those moments, again, and it was just timely. I think that I was at a point of veering off course heading to the fret zone for being disengaged from the work force or other things. As I walked through the exhibit it said, hold it; wait a minute! Hmm, Stop. Look. Listen, and think. Curious, but I did. After a time I moved along with some amount of buoyancy and litheness.

Nearing the end of the Matisse' exhibit, almost at the exit, there was a poster of a quote from the summer of 1917. As I scanned the print, these words in the middle of this big board caught my attention. I read and then re-read. I stopped. I listened to myself reading and thought; humph. I smiled, and gave off a sigh of relief. I looked around; saw my daughter who was on the other side of the room looking at another painting. I beckoned to her to come over. As she came over, I pointed to the section that I was enamored with. She read it and then she looked at me with her right eyebrow raised and smiled and said, hmm, well then! I then said to her, this is a lesson for you too. She smiled again, and nodded and said, true!

So according to Matisse, "When you have achieved what you want in a certain area, when you have exploited the possibilities that lie in one direction, you must, when the time comes, change course, search for something new."

I am not saying that I am wise or that I thought of my actions in these terms, but I think I was in that place feeling it's time for a change. Now I see, in so many places and ways, that it is an important and perhaps a necessary thing to do; stop, assess and change course when the time comes. It is the knowing, that is the challenge. You have heard me say that piece before. Knowing!

Friends and loved ones exploit your possibilities and when the time comes, move with boldness. I believe the rewards will be great.

Happy Birthday Leonians!

OK, so I have been slacking on the posting these weeks. I am sorry but I have been trying to catch up on some other things that I have neglected for some time like going to the library and reading books, etc. So here, we are at the end of a year and the beginning of a new one. Happy birthday to you Leonians! I am not really big on astrology or keep up with it but the over the last couple of days I have had an inclination to look up the astrology and voila, I was able to take a deep breath, a cleansing breath, knowing that all is well. Yeah! I am not just going through a crazy phase, or in a mid life crisis or spinning out of control or just slacking in terms of my latest actions. I guess I am just being my Leo self. This piece is very telling:
          "Leos make excellent employers, due to their good powers of leadership. However, they must retain their natural enthusiasm for life and their desire to improve the lives of others."

My struggle!!

Here is a synopsis from Astrology On-Line of a description of Leos and that I find pretty true. Hmmm, food for thoughts. So, to all my fellow Leos, Happy Birthday. Read, think and act. Celebrate your prowess and be glad that the universe placed you and me in this awesome place within the cosmos.

"The Leo type is the most dominant, spontaneously creative and extrovert of all the zodiacal characters. In grandeur of manner, splendor of bearing and magnanimity of personality, they are the monarch's among humans as the lion is king of beasts. They are ambitious, courageous, dominant, strong willed, positive, independent, self-confident there is no such a word as doubt in their vocabularies, and they are self-controlled. Born leaders, either in support of, or in revolt against, the status quo. They are at their most effective when in a position of command, their personal magnetism and innate courtesy of mind bringing out the best of loyalty from subordinates. They are uncomplicated, knowing exactly what they want and using all their energies, creativeness and resolution to get it, as well as being certain that they will get whatever they are after. Their followers know where they are with Leonians. Leonians think and act bigger than others would normally dare; the ambitiousness of their schemes and idealism sometimes daunt their followers, their practical hardheadedness and ability to go straight to the heart of any problem reassures those who depend on them. If Leonians meet with setbacks they thrive on the adversity."

Happy Birthday to you!! Find your best you.

Thanks to my dear friend Nana for the on-line greeting that I lifted the flower above from.

Taking Time to Find My Way

I am actually enjoying being detached and unconnected and not responsible for anything outside of my household and what I care about right now. I thought about not having to go to ‘work’ every morning and thought that I would feel like a fish out of water because I have done that for so long. I enjoyed my work, the people I worked with, and the mission we shared. I thought I would feel like a looser, a careless and misguided person with nothing important or demanding to do. Well you know what; I do not feel that way at all. What were misguided were those thoughts and feelings of being on the wrong path. I realize that getting somewhere takes risks and is a risk but I am expecting a good outcome. I am very busy working on me.

I am enjoying the time off. I have found time to think about and see things in ways that I have overlooked or had not had the time to observe in a very long time…You know, take time to smell the roses. Having the time and the sense to find meaning in and importance in things and people around me gives me hope for a better tomorrow. I have lots to do that I have neglected or only handled the periphery to get by. I am improving my energy and vision by getting rid of clutter and understanding how to be purposeful with my time and finding my way back. A few days ago, I read a book, cover to cover, in less than two hours just for fun, just for me. I cannot remember doing this for fun in recent years.

So for now, I am finding things to do for self-improvement and growth and enjoying the down time, the playtime, free time, me time. Because now I know that this is the best I can do for me to emerge, stronger, better and happier, finding my way back. Find Peace and joy; life’s simple pleasures and service.

Let me end this post like my dear friend Donna does, with a quote. I found this quote on Exquisite Transitions blog this week entitled, Getting Somewhere.

It’s only when you don’t run from yourself that you begin to get somewhere. -Anonymous

Another Confirmation for Change

So here is another confirmation for change. Change is important, necessary, and essential for growth. Growth: progression, emergence, change.


You know how folks say that they need a sign to be sure that they are doing the right thing when they have to make a decision or change to the ‘unknown’ or something new or different. Some say they need confirmation and that could be in the form of someone repeating or something acknowledged by others or a thing, well read below.

"If we don't change, we don't grow. If we don't grow, we are not really living. Growth demands a temporary surrender of security."  — Gail Sheehy, American journalist

I got this quote from my friend Donna's blog, Flying Solo Travelling Light. She generally ends each post with a quote to ‘close’ the record and perhaps provide more food for thought. As I visited this week, I lifted this one because it speaks volumes about my recent situation and posts. Lord knows I have surrendered security because I want growth; growth, not just from food and nourishment from food for physical growth, which is a different issue for me. It is vast, deeper, wider, and broader growth than that - it is temporal, enduring, and profound.

Huh, what do you say? What are your thoughts and ideas about the topic of change, growth and the issue of confirmation? Please share with us.

Revelation and Comfort in Knowing

It is amazing when you retreat, step back from being so engrossed in the thick of things and watch it go by how much you see. It is great to see the unfolding and what is revealed. I have taken control and action to halt a slippery slope of what seems to be oh humdrum existence. I have taken flight and time to step out of the fray and move on, to seek new opportunities and place.

I’ve spent time introspective, analyzing, and studying and assessing the who, what, how and where do I go from here. In grappling with the process, which is huge, I got to the point where I needed another ear, voice, ideas, and help, to sort through to keep going. I have taken on a coach who has helped me to find the questions that will help me find the direction. So there were more assessments, thinking and understanding to do. She directed me to some assessment instruments that have proven very revealing. Its weird to have a test confirm for you what you have wrestled with or have experienced and perhaps questioned but not absorb and accepted. My Coach gave me the Language and Behavior Profile, which was outstanding. I did not know about this test or have experienced it before but let me tell you, it was on point! Of course, a couple of the items were not what I expected but for the most part, it is very true.

The most revealing and clarifying thing for me has to do with my desire for change. It seems that I am programmed for change with a set frequency. I have made major changes before, about the same time frame as was revealed in the test and for similar reasons as I seek to move on now - satisfaction, challenge and need to create and make better. I take comfort in knowing my pattern within the cosmos.There are no open doors or clear path or sure thing in my pocket but I know it is time. While I am free to explore, to see to think to be, I can create, develop, and achieve success finding myself in a place where I can contribute, make a difference and find peace and joy.

Lessons along the way

++ Take time to know you self and decide what is in your best interest

++ Know when to say when and what that will mean

++ Explore all of the options, open all of the windows, doors, drawers and see what is there and where you are

++ Ask the questions – the easy ones, the hard ones, the silly ones, the scary ones and take on the answers

++ Ask others and be open to suggestions, ideas and recommendations

++ Analyze, measure, re frame, recapture, discard, absorb

++ Find your inner joy as you explore and find answers

++ Take a breath, step back and look at the options, move ahead

++ Be honest. Be sincere, be committed, and be thankful

++Take the path where you find peace

This is not easy or simple and it is certainly not done yet for me but I am hopeful and  taking it one day at a time.