Every day there are some things that I want to do, plan to do, and somehow they don%92t get done. Painting often falls into that category. Asking myself why that is, I recognize the fact that getting started is what%92s hard. The simple step of getting into the studio and picking up the brushes is what often doesn%92t get done. Once in the studio, I start to paint and never look back, but putting everything else aside and getting into the studio is what%92s hard.

In my mind, I liken this to the space shuttle taking off (okay, it%92s a bit of a grand analogy, but I like it). In order for the shuttle to get up in space, it requires this huge fuel tank and 2 rocket boosters, which fall off once the fuel is used up. Once up there, it soars and floats easily; but to free itself of earth%92s gravity and get up there, well, that%92s the tough part.

Dictionary.com defines inertia as: ‘resistance or disinclination to motion, action, or change%92. That%92s just it, isn%92t it? We get comfortable, we get in a rut, and changing that is like the space shuttle taking off; it%92s hard to do.

You might want to ask, so what? Well, understanding that makes it better for me. When I feel like procrastinating, or when there%92s a change I want to make like quitting smoking, or losing weight, I think of the space shuttle and I know that once I%92m up there, I will soar and I will love it.

Your comments are always welcome. (Click on %92Comments%92 below.)

Suzette

%92Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.%92 (Vincent Van Gogh)

There are 2 kinds of people in the world. %92Cats and Dogs%92 is how I like to describe them. Here%92s what I mean:

Cats are very independent. They are affectionate, when they feel like it. They are in charge, they%92re the boss. They don%92t care if you like it or not. They go about their business, and you%92re just the poor sap who%92s taking care of them. (Don%92t get me wrong, I am a cat lover; I have had cats in my household for over 30 years).

Dogs are the opposite. They love you and they want to please you. They want to gain your affection. Nothing makes them happier than to please you and make you love them back.

Now, I believe that the same qualities apply to people, sort of.

%92Cat%92 people are independent. They live their life on their own terms. They don%92t really care if everyone approves of their choices. They don%92t try to please others; they please themselves.

%92Dog%92 people are pleasers. They want to be liked. They do nice things for others in order to be liked. They don%92t like conflict and avoid it as much as they can. Their reward is the love and approbation of their close ones.

So, I wonder sometimes, is life better as a %92cat%92 or as a %92dog%92? It would be easier to make your way in the world as a %92cat%92, but chances are that %92dogs%92 are more popular and have more friends.

My other question is whether one has any choice in the matter. I don%92t think so. I believe we%92re born one way or the other, that it%92s not a matter of choice.

Me, I%92m a %92dog%92 I%92m afraid. I want people to like me. While I am my own person and quite independent, I care what people think about me and I want them to like me. That just makes me a REAL NICE PERSON, I guess.

So, which one are YOU?? Feel free to share by clicking on %92Comments%92 below.

Suzette

%92You grow up the day you have your first real laugh at yourself.%92 (Ethel Barrymore)

Well, here we are, another new year. I can still remember when the year 2000 came in, all the talk of computer systems that were going to crash, all the disasters that were going to happen, some said it would be %92the end of life as we knew it%92. That all seems so funny now. And here we are, in the year 2007. Seven years later. I know it%92s a cliche, but time does go quickly.

So, this being the beginning of the a new year, what does everyone talk about? New Year%92s resolutions, that%92s right. Personally, I don%92t like New Year%92s resolutions, they never seem to last very long. I prefer to set goals. Does it work better? Probably not. The goals I am setting this year are basically the same as the ones I set last year and the year before that. Does that mean that I failed to meet them during the last 2 years? Not quite, I did make progress towards achieving them, but did not achieve them to the level that I really want, so they are still worthy goals for me at this time.

How can I do better this time around? Good question. I don%92t know; try harder I guess; try not to lose sight of the goals during the year; try not to get distracted by other things and stay focused; just try harder. So that%92s a goal I can add to my list: %92try harder to achieve goals%92.

I wish you all the very best in 2007. May you achieve all your goals and fulfill all your dreams.

Suzette

Don%92t forget to download my 2007 Art Calendar.

%92I have the ability of single-minded determination and focu... Hey, look! A horse!%92 (author unknown)