loving art, science and creative kids
12/19/2022 12:26:32 PM
LAST NIGHT'S DREAM
To Move a Mountain
"The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones." This 2,500-year-old quote is attributed to the philosopher Confucius. It remains true for anyone with a goal and entrepreneurial spirit. Yet, we make resolutions to follow our dreams but are slow to follow through. Why is getting started so difficult?
Procrastination doesn't help a person begin, but neither does motivation work without the energy to engage. Brain scientists say that a sufficient amount of dopamine has to be released in the brain for people to move ahead with their plans. This is especially hard for those who have difficulty focusing. They wait until the last minute for an impending consequence (reward or negative outcome) to heighten the brain so it will release dopamine.
Some people have interest-based rather than value-based (importance-based) nervous systems. Those who do are challenged to get close to the task. Their best path forward is to break their goal into achievable parts. Let's say, the goal is to fix your snow blower but don't do it because you don't know where to get it repaired. If you change the task from fixing the blower to finding a repair shop, it is easier to get started. With the first task complete, the next goal is to call for an appointment. In other words, smaller tasks are the pebbles that get you to the starting line.
Unconscious negative emotions can hinder motivation, making it difficult to tackle even simple, straightforward projects. Waiting for external pressure to build a sense of urgency is a slippery slope that can lead to disaster. People who wait until the last minute can become sleep deprived, do mediocre work, and make mistakes.
If your hesitance is due to a lack of confidence, reaching a goal can feel like an overwhelming task. The way forward is to execute a plan with a timeline, small attainable parts, and a reward system that kicks in after each task is complete. Rewards can be as simple as taking a break for a cup of hot chocolate or a walk around the block. Whatever it is, it is important to recognize progress by patting yourself on the back. But don't forget a contingency plan. Having one strengthens confidence and eliminates unwarranted fear.
A warm-up routine helps some people get you going. I remember my husband sharpening a dozen pencils before delving into a math assignment without the aid of a computer. He went through the motions daily even though most of the pencils were sharp. Self-talk can also work. When I was in high school found it hard to focus on school assignments so I bargained with myself. I agreed that if I concentrated on homework for a half-hour, I was entitled to daydream for 10 minutes. The method helped me through many difficult assignments.
Lack of financial security is a major hindrance to starting. Living month-to-month isn't good enough to launch a big project. Depending on the project, it's best to have a six-month to a year reserve before starting. But money isn't the only thing to consider. Time management skills are also essential. You may have to trade away TV hours if your project is to succeed.
Self-confidence is a sticky wicket, especially for perfectionists When analyzing my business, I looked at annual rather than weekly trends. I found that perfectionists couldn't take the stress of multi-year goals that aim for an imaginary pinnacle. I found it best to inch my way forward and celebrate small winnings rather than sit on the sidelines to work out every detail. Of course, that wouldn't be a good idea if launching a spacecraft or new pharmaceutical.
If you have too much on your plate, lighten the load and find distraction-free space. You need to talk to family and friends to get emotional support and respect for your needs as you pursue your dream. But if you stall because you don't know enough to implement the project, take time off to learn about it rather than let your dreams die.
A surprising number of people hesitate due to the fear of success. What will happen if you pull your dream off? Will you be treated differently? Will more be expected of you? It may seem irrational, but the fear of success can be as paralyzing as the fear of failure. It helps to visualize the future so you can avoid an unwanted outcome.
Whatever your dream, no matter your age, you have one life, so make the most of it. I started painting in my fifties and was a published author in my seventies. Gladys Burrill was a marathon runner at 92 years. Julia Child became a success at 50. Toni Morrison won a Nobel prize at 62. Ray Kroc was 52 when he founded the McDonald's chain. At the age of 69, Hubert Jones started the Boston Children's Choir. Vera Wang was a figure skater until entering the fashion industry after 40.
This coming year, why not resolve to follow your dream? Set goals, take a risk, and start to move one pebble at a time.
Reference:
Pandey, S. (2018) Things That are Stopping You from Pursuing Your Dream Career. Careerindia. retrieved from https://www.careerindia.com/tips/things-that-are-stopping-you-from-pursuing-your-dream-career-022785.html
Wax, D. What's stopping You from Getting Started (and What to Do About It) Forbes Magazine. retrieved from https://www.lifehack.org/articles/featured/whats-stopping-you-from-getting-started-and-what-to-do-about-it.html
Cummins, M. (2022) Do You Know the 2 Reasons You Have Trouble Starting Tasks. Marla Cummins website. retrieved from https://marlacummins.com/trouble-starting-tasks-adults-with-adhd/
Please share your thoughts about getting started below.
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Art makes a wonderful holiday gift. Peruse www.eichingerfineart.com
and click on the works tablet at the top to see available pieces.
For questions, contact me at [email protected]
Books are also a wonderful way to say happy holiday. Over the Peanut Fence, about homeless and runaway youth, and Lives of Museum Junkies-second edition, a behind-the-scenes look at museums, are available in bookstores and online. For fast delivery try Amazon.
12/10/2022 1:28:59 AM
This is an image that can be seen with your eyes.
What does this image say to you
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"I try to apply colors like words that shape poems, like notes that shape music. "- Joan Miró
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Interpreting art
Anatole France once wrote, "Even a little dog is at the center of his own universe." We interpret the world in different ways because our experiences are different. There is no single reality. Not only do our pasts differ, but the cones and rods in our eyes are not the same. The notes we hear at a concert are similar to fingerprints that are uniquely our own.
When I paint, I use bold colors and shapes influenced by how my eyes see and my ears hear. They are expressions of past experiences mixed with a little bit of mystery. My pictures tell a story that viewers interpret in their own way. When they are abstract, I'm overwhelmed by the feedback I get. Listening to such varied comments makes me wonder how interpreters of Rorschach tests would analyze the responses.
In a clinical setting, the Rorschach tests provide insight into healthy emotions. It is a way for people to gain insight into their psyche. The test also helps diagnose diseases like schizophrenia. Assuming most of us are not psychotic, I thought it would be interesting to look at my artwork as though interpreting an inkblot. It might be a way to get to know yourself better.
When shown an image, some patients respond by seeing it in its entirety, while others look at parts. Some focus on the white space, others on color, and still others on the details. People tend to have similar interpretations of parts in the image. Psychiatrists pay special attention to the uncommon details patients talk about.
Art patrons and clinical patients alike vary in cognitive abilities and perceptual accuracy. They attend a viewing with different goals, interests, flexibility of ideas, and emotions. They come seeking order whereas others find chaos. Following are a few of my abstract pieces. With a Rorschach test in mind, I'd like to know what you make of them. Please comment below. I would love to hear your interpretations.
I think there are many open-ended questions that artists can pose and we can ask communities to feel empowered enough to reply, respond, rebel, and feel amazed by the relentless spiraling of thought and image and action that is the artist's profession. – Kara Walker
References:
Frothingham,B.( 2021) Rorschach Inkblot Test: Definition, History & interpretation. Simply Psychology. retrieved from https://www.simplypsychology.org/what-is-the-rorschach-inkblot-test.html
For information contact me at [email protected]
Books are available in bookstores and online in paperback and kindle formats. go to AMAZON
12/3/2022 8:57:01 PM
Oriental Maple Redwood
Reminder! Get in your orders today in for Canvas Tree Art to insure delivery by the holidays. $99 is all it takes to get there. To see the entire canvas print collection go to https://www.eichingerfineart.com/collections/182747 and purchase online.
Art gallery at www.eichingerfineart.com: click on works.
State of the Forests
This year, 140 countries pledged a green recovery to tackle the environmental crisis. The goal is to improve biodiversity and reduce forest loss by 2030. They came up with three pathways to achieving their goal; halting deforestation and destruction of remaining forests, restoring degraded lands and expanding agroforestry, and clearing trees in a sustainable way.
The nations agree that to keep global temperature increases below 1.5 °C, it is imperative to act now. To reduce the risk of future pandemics and ensure food security for all; to eliminate poverty, lessen the frequency of violent storms: to minimize rising ocean levels; and to offer hope for the future, we cannot afford to wait.
Why should I care when there are so many other things to worry about? Can Trees and forests help with the recovery of sustainable economies in badly affected regions of the world?
The answer is before our eyes. Economies are falling apart, and armed conflicts over water rights and fertile land are growing. Rising
temperatures are degrading water and land use and creating a health crisis, especially in rural areas. If the U.S. wants to stop immigrants from around the world from seeking asylum, we have to look to the source of their flight. If your family lost everything they had and was starving, wouldn’t you do all you could to find shelter in a climate more favorable to survival?
The population of the world passed the 8 million person mark recently. We don’t have to look further than our country to see what happens when such a large number o people consume irreplaceable fossil fuels, metals, and minerals. Increased production, consumption, and waste affects our way of life. We know this and applaud nations to set priorities and goals. Unfortunately, no one holds them responsible to meet them. We all fear the draconian measures that are called for. And so, the climate continues to warm, and our towns and cities decay.
There is a way forward if we look to sustainable resources instead of gobbling up those that are irreplaceable. We have only to grasp the potential trees and find ways to harvest them in a sustainable manner. By not doing so, deforestation and forest degradation will continue to warm the planet.
Nearly 90 percent of deforestation between 2018 and 2018 was related to agriculture. Forests presently cover 31 percent of the world’s land surface, but that area decreased every year, especially in the tropics. The world loses more than it gains by letting it continue.
Forests protect most of the earth’s terrestrial biodiversity. They are a buffer against invasive species and diseases that wipe out monoculture plantings and cause illness. Millions of people get their food from wildlife and plants growing in forested areas, especially in rural and indigenous communities. Each clearcut puts hundreds of people at risk of starvation. In Africa and South America, families take to the roads, fill refugee camps, and come knocking on First World doors for asylum. There is plenty of evidence that deforestation bad for your health. The Ebola virus, that killed over 11,000 people between 2014-2015, attacks residents two years after deforestation. The increase in dengue fever, malaria, and yellow fever are also associated with deforestation.
Approximately, one-third of global forest loss is fire-related. Though my house is only three miles from center city, it too is at risk. I live in fear that the park next to my house will go up in flames that engulf it. If the temperature keeps rising, the entire city is vulnerable. A fire in the park could easily spread through the west hills where most people reside in wood-framed homes.
- Halting deforestation is a cost-effective action for slowing climate change.
- Have a more efficient, sustainable agrifood system that reduces a need for land.
- Reduce illegal wildlife trade by increasing surveillance.
- Public and private initiatives promoting sustainable land-use
- 7 percent of deforestation is due to oil-palm plantations that trade internationally. reduce its use and find alternatives.
- Increase financing in forest investment so climate targets can be met by 2050.
- Improve the regulatory rules to avoid the harmful impacts of deforestation.
- Develop coherent policies that are scalable.
- Finance small-scale producers. Bigger is not always better. These small farmers do the right thing by experimenting with sustainable agriculture. They use fewer pesticides that kill biodiversity. Small-scale producers reduce inequalities.
A green recovery gives me hope for the future. It is an immediate pathway to take to reduce environmental threats. If we make conservation a political priority, it will improve all of our lives.
References
Website. The State of the World’s forests 2022. retrieved from https://www.fao.org/3/cb9360en/online/cb9360en.html
You Tube. A Tree Talk by Ewald Rametsteiner. retrieved from youtubetreetalkbyewaldrametsteiner
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I look forward to your comments below.
Art is always for sale. For information go to my website or contact me at [email protected]
