The other day I posted three more of what I endearingly call “My Masterpieces,” a winter’s art project. I am not a professional artist — I’m actually not a professional “anything.” But I love to play.
One of my friend/followers, Maddie Cochere at Breezy Books wrote a comment that really rang my bells: I love these! You’ve put so much detail into them. And colorful! Don’t they make you happy every time you look at them – they’re so vibrant! That quilt effect is fantastic! 4 exclamation points from me. 🙂.
I found myself thinking of a short thank you, and found myself writing:
You know, everyone likes praise now and then for feats accomplished. Sometimes it’s tough with those around you.. maybe they’re used to your efforts or don’t quite understand the point of why you do extracurricular things. I have written a number of novels and short stories and no one in my family and friends circle have ever asked to read them. Same with Art. So an outsider saying something nice in a particular way makes me feel amazing. Thank you.
After I hit “send” and moved along to reading other blogs, my answer began to haunt me. In a good haunting way, of course. Yet I thought about how much a little compliment means to me. To others.
And I wondered — do we all consciously or unconsciously seek praise for our accomplishments?
Even if it’s something small like cooking a great dinner or cleaning out a closet or teaching your kids how to chop parsley, we all like to hear an atta’ boy now and then.
I mentioned I’ve written a number of things through the past 30 years. Novels I thought were top notch, short stories that were on the mark, poetry that was clever. Yet not one of my circle has ever asked to read anything.
Not that they don’t love me — not that they don’t appreciate me. It’s more like they’re not aware of my writings. Or I don’t talk about my Creativity enough. Or I haven’t printed something out and requested them to read it. You can’t say something nice about something you’ve never seen.
Yet I do love a good atta’ boy just as much as the next person.
That’s why I always try to throw out compliments to strangers when I can. Nice outfit, great t-shirt, great blog. The complements are genuine, the moment genuine. And a mere sharing of that appreciation at that nano-second can make someone’s day.
And their reaction can make yours.
This isn’t a blog about fishing for compliments. This is a blog about appreciating all kinds of gestures and moments and choices and sharing that appreciation. Getting and giving.
I don’t think that’s narcistic at all.
That — is human nature.
Having fun looking backwards at my Days of Future Art, seeing what was a hit and what was a miss. I can definitely tell which were experimental and which were a definite plan. Sometimes any sort of art can do that to you — start out with one idea and wind up with something different. Writing did that alot to me, too.
Flashing back through my Sunday Evening Art Gallery blogs, I get a thrill every time I look — really look — at how other artists show their Creativity.
Deep cold outside today — and lots of snow to come tonight. Welcome to Wisconsin.
There is always two sides to a coin — a perfect side and a flawed side.
Every once in a while one needs to be weird and out there on a Saturday morning (although I’m weird and out there more often than not…)
Have you ever had one of those days? Weeks? 
Sunday/Monday Evening Art Gallery — Jamie Moreno
or having a cup of Caffè Totò at the 
I don’t know if New Year’s Resolutions are still a big thing these days.
At this point on the cosmic timeline, everyone and their mothers are posting Christmas stories — sad stories, inspirational stories, funny stories — there’s something about the season that brings out the nostalgia in all of us.
The other day I read a post by my friend and fellow blogger
To those of you who write blogs — and to those who read them — we all have a few fellow bloggers who feel like they’ve become friends too, even though we will never see them or meet them.
Humoring the Goddess 