06 January 2010

it's all in how you see it..

basic life lesson - 
see things/people for what/who they are... our interpretations/expectations of things can very seriously get in the way... this concept came to me this morning in a visual way... 

my cat draco will squeeze himself between things to be near the heat... the way he was laying reminded me of  a lesson taught in foreshortening while i studied art history... it has to do with perspective... 

edouard manet 'the dead toreador'
national gallery of art, d.c.


when seen from certain viewpoints, things can look shorter than they really are... that is how they appear, but not how they are... 


'when people show you who they are
believe them the first time.'
~ maya angelou


as caring, loving people we may want things to be different, may try to adapt ourselves, may avoid what is there... how often do you sacrifice your SELF?


think about it...  this ties back into the 'truth to self' lesson, right?

10 comments:

  1. USUALLY sacrificing myself! Trying to change that! BTW, my black cat BooBoo used to LOVE sitting in front of the heat - she would get so hot and get such dandruff! But it's so cute!

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  2. Maybe a question of balance - I chose it as my word for this year. I need more balance...

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  3. Perspective is TRICKY. One of the things I've come to understand through the years is that perspective is in the eye of the beholder. What we see is shaped by our experiences hence our perspective/our reality is just that, ours. As a trusting, sensitive, OPEN being, I'm not sure I like that idea, but y'know that's just my perspective on perspective. {Hugs}

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  4. You have shared a valuable lesson:


    'when people show you who they are

    believe them the first time.'

    ~ maya angelou

    Powerful and shocking (I think) words to remind us to always trust our first gut feelings.

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  5. foreshortening is so HARD! Love that painting. Your cat is so cute and fluffy.
    You're right.. dinner during the week is great.. wish I did it more often. :)
    happy wednesday.

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  6. I love the Maya Angelou quote, but I believe perspective changes as YOU change. When someone shows you themselves, you cannot count that they will change, but that you have the ability to do so. It's a struggle we all deal with ... when you consider the countless interactions we have, how could we not appreciate perspective. My word for the year is "authentic" and for me that means being true to myself and true to my work ... that inspiration will come from within.

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  7. I am SO guilty of mentally "crafting" the people around me into who I think they ought to be...and then being surprised when they turn out not to be that way. BIG life lesson I learned and am trying not to do it any more.

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  8. love the squeezing white cat, my 3 try hard to do that too! How totally odd, my second son is a painter,and for one of his projects in college they had to reproduce a masterpiece and he picked the dead toreador. synchronicity shhhhh

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  9. OMG I carted that painting around on a postcard for years, I just loved it (how perverse is that?). Not sure why. I think it's lovely. In spite of the dead body. I think people are like crazy quilts--innumerable patterns and pieces. We only can show each other small pieces at a time, and every piece is different. Many pieces are actually contradictory. One piece does not define the whole. Maybe someone shows me a "kind" piece today; tomorrow they may show me a "mean" piece. A "strong" piece, a "helpless" piece. Which is "real?" They are all real. However some people's pieces seem to be more homogenous and they are easier to trust. Some people can shock you with near schizoid behavior. Only time can give you an impression of the larger design. I would amend Angelou and say EVERY time someone shows you who they are, believe them.

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  10. My sweet MJ, you hit the nail on the head with where I am at with sacrificing self. But that is just my peculiar circumstance right now in a life time of peculiar circumstances. I love the Maya Angelou quote, in fact I love most things about her work. And 'perspective' is what the core of life is about isn't it? Once again, I am so thankful that you make me think about things in a fresh light.

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