Working on being happy -- a full time job!

Fruit singing in a footed bowl 

Acrylic on birch panel

12 x 12 inches

Barbara Muir © 

This painting seems appropriate for tonight's blog.  I am as busy as it seems I

always am at this time of year, so here's some thoughts on happiness from a
while back.  Incidentally one of my phone calls today was with a 
magnificent artist who is struggling with COVID.  She says that she and her
husband relaxed about wearing masks going out in public and bam.  So it's

not gone.  

The Happiness Trick

Is there a trick to happiness?  Yes.  People have written books
about how.  But there is a secret to being happy.  We have to
allow it.  I heard about this phenomenon called the "Nocebo
response".  In medicine it is related to telling a patient that
they will not get better. This message apparently has such
profound effects on the person's mind that she shuts the door
on hope, and may get rapidly worse.

My great happiness magic for today is to talk yourself out of
it.  Of the depression you could get because in this city the sky 

has been grey except for one hour for what seems like most of a month.
(Actually today (January 28, 2025) it was quite sunny for a while in
Toronto, and then a lot of snow.) And in painting of the fear that you
can't do it.

Try this.  Instead of freaking out about what you can't do,
start with "This is easy!"  Just repeat that a few times, and
watch your shoulders quit tightening into a vice grip.
(In the case of COVID, if you have all of your vaccines, and
wear a mask in public you may avoid it.)  And as for painting 

or drawing -- we need to take a look at how tough things are in
the world, and let ourselves know how lucky we are to be compelled
to make something, and to have the freedom to create."

Today I managed to get two coats of gesso onto a good size canvas.

And I sorted through my images and found some things
I would love to paint.  Here's to happiness!

Have a loving your life day.