Whimsical Houses and Courage
As I’ve taken on this new mindset of “it’s an experiment”, I wondered what it would be like to draw. I’ve never been good at art, and until recently never even considered trying my hand at drawing.
But the Universe has a way of pulling one in and pointing out new directions when we least expect it.
A friend on FB posted her drawings of Whimsical Houses - Tracey Telgen Art offers YouTube videos of how to draw and doodle a variety of houses, flowers, and signs, with pencil/pen and watercolours.
Never before in the history of me would I have spent any time on drawing but what I love about Tracey’s work is that one doesn’t have to be perfect. The lines can be slightly wobbly, the dimensions not quite right (although she gets it right), and there’s no right or wrong about how it looks. It doesn’t have to look perfect.
As I followed Tracey’s lines and squiggles, I felt excited to step out of my comfort zone. When I look at my drawing and don’t compare it to Tracey’s or anyone else’s drawings, I love it - I did this! Me, the woman who’s not a good artist and who wouldn’t have had the courage to try it until now, let along share it publicly!
Unfinished drawing - experimenting with crayons. Think I’ll explore using watercolour next!
It Takes Courage.
The word originates from the old French word “Corage” which means “heart” and if we go back even farther, it stems from the Latin root “cor”, which also means “heart”.
It was first used in a manuscript written in the late mid-13th century, outlining the life of King Alexander the Great who was considered to be a most courageous King. He was apparently fearless in battle, a leader and hero that inspired courage in his troops.
Brene Brown in her book “The Gifts of Imperfection”, notes that the word courage was once understood as "To speak one's mind by telling all one's heart."
We often associate the word with heroism, but Brene suggests that it’s also about vulnerability, about putting oneself “out there”, a willingness to be vulnerable as we share our experiences, feelings and lives.
When we take that leap of faith - * when my youngest son steps onto the stage and sings in front of thousands, * when my eldest son leaps at an opportunity he knows is going to challenge him, * when my client’s are willing to explore their shadows, * when I post a drawing that I know isn’t perfect - we’re saying yes to vulnerability, yes to courage, yes to an open heart, yes to taking a risk that some will love what you’re doing and others not so much.
As I look back on my life, sometimes my courage and vulnerability were rewarded with kindness and support, and then there were those moments when I regretted sharing my heart. Either way, we learn and grow. I’ve learned and grown.
What would life be like if we never asked for help, or shared our deepest thoughts and feelings, or took that first step towards creating our dream, or told someone we loved them - or never drew an imperfect whimsical house?
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Joan
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