Vulnerability

 

Take a look at this! (detail)

(Work in progress)

Acrylic on canvas

24 x 24 inches

Barbara Muir © 2011

It's been an exciting and kind of vulnerable day.
Why?  So many reasons, but I guess the overall
one is that I'm stepping into new territory in so
much of my life, and there is so much to learn.

I was on CityLine today with Tracy Moore,
Samantha Pynn, and Ramsin Khachi, all of whom
are wonderful TV personalities, and I give a big
thank you and shout out to them.  I am very proud
of my shy artist self for stepping onto the TV stage, and
I know that is a huge, big world that I've been
lucky to be part of for the last two years. And
I know there is soooo much to learn.  Fortunately
I love learning.

I am also working on a big deadline with so many
parts to finish, so I feel vulnerable there.  I'm trying
something that is both new and old.  The point of
vulnerability here is that there is nothing more
vulnerable looking for a portrait painter, than
people talking to you about their thoughts,
triumphs, and lives through the video on their
laptop computers.  The subject matter is
compelling.

So what do I listen to on TED TV while I'm
working on the second painting in the series?
Brene Brown talking about vulnerability.
What an astonishing and superb talk she
presents on what makes wholehearted people
go for it even when they're vulnerable.  The
reason she suggests is that they believe they
deserve to be loved.  And they go after
new experiences, even when they feel
excruciatingly vulnerable, because of that
base of love.  She says we have to be willing
to risk imperfection, and make mistakes,
in order to be able to experience joy.

 Zowey! My eyes were popping out as
I painted away.  The moral of the tale?
We have to take risks, because being
vulnerable leads to happiness.

Feel better?  I do.  Thanks for making
me feel blessed.  We do deserve to be
loved and loving, and to approach life
with wholehearted zeal, and we can and
do certainly help one another to get there.

Have an enjoying-feeling-vulnerable day