Sharika Roland

I often wonder what people are thinking when they write obituaries. Are they trying to list what the deceased accomplished  in the way of a job. Or is it how many kids and grandkids they had or what their favorite sport was.

An obituary is a notice that someone has died and it is the last time you can speak to this world. Such a monumental  event maybe could  be a clearing house for finishing unfinished business. I mean wouldn’t you want to say I am sorry to everyone you  hurt or I am so proud of you, or leave a thing or two about what you learned that is important form living for how ever many years you had.

Instead there is a list of what high school you went to and who your second cousin is.

When I die I am going to write a long obituary not about what I did or did not accomplish or who I married or how my kid turned out.

I am going to write about what is most important for anyone to know about me, Yes I was a painter but that is not important. I have people but they also are not important. What I can share as I am leaving this world, that is important. I would love to read anyones last thoughts . You don’t know what you would say until you are there but I imagine they would be worthwhile.

Lived and died yes but what was significant in between those dates in what matters.

the basement in my house is where my husband and I have been dwelling for the past few months. It has a kitchen and bath and 1000 square feet so it is not like we are slumming. We did this because he went back to school and if we rent out our first floor of our big house  we don’t have to pay a dime for the mortgage.

So we have been here since September and are doing fine.

ish

the thing about interiors is that you have to feel comfortable and not stressed out so you can work. So the space we lived in had to be made as warm and cozy and light filled as possible. Randomly looking through pintrest I found Boho style which is short for Bohemian. It is a riot of colors and lots of textures and pretty much hippy looking which has a lot of beads and small white lights everywhere and lots of good smells and gobs of art and feather and mirrors  and material draping all over. This was perfect for making our CaveB as we call it, super comfortable.

first I was going to do Japanese style but then the Boho came screaming into my view and my heart was in agreement. I am not Japanese style no matter how I love it, it is too stark for my bones.

I need womblike emotions going on in my environment to feel healthy.

That is why I am writing this blog today. Your environment no matter if it is a tiny house or a mansion or a basement apartment has to feel nurturing to you or you will get sick and depressed. You don’t want that for anyone.

Your Man will like it no matter what you pick because he picked You for a reason. Your insides should match your outsides. If they do, he will like it too. Don’t even ask him what he thinks . Just do it and say “Welcome home to me!”

 

In the 80s Laurie Anderson made a record called “The Art of Noise”‘ She is an artist who paints with her music and uses her talking voice in the recordings.

I was thinking about how noise in the background sometimes makes the noise in our head be quiet for a while. It is like a mini vacation from thinking about whatever you might be dwelling on.

some artists i know must paint in the quiet. they have to listen for the voice to tell them what do do next and other voices would be distracting.

some like music or talk radio in the background. Then you can build a wall around yourself made of the noise  to help you focus on your inner voice .

It is a good experiment to try a different environment when you are working to see how it goes. every once in a while I will play music I don’t know anything about  just to stir things up.

Every artist should have a large noise vocabulary. It can be like a new tool

 

Putting off working out is like putting off your taxes. It accrues interest every single day. This the the horrible truth.

I started a difficult work out program today . My husband gets up at 5 every morning and goes to work out at 6 am. He has been doing it since June. He had to go to school and work full time and study  and take care of the houses for the next 9 months so he decided to work out to be strong enough to do it.

 

He changed into a molded body of steel. The change to his mind is the thing that was more impressive. He did all the work and then some

and still got up each day at 5 and worked out. He would come home drenched with sweat. sometimes he would be shaking and nauseous.. Yet he kept at it.

So now it is my turn at bat. Instead of laying in the nice warm bed , I have to join him.

I can hardly move my arms and I am sure it will get worse as the day goes on. Tomorrow I think we are doing more arms which seems nuts as jello can only do so much but I will go, Even if I lay on the mat and cry,

I will go

When you body is tested and pushed  your mind follows.

I used to teach aerobics when I was in my thirties . Now I am in my sixties so that is a little bit of a change. Somewhere I have to find the gal who used to push others to do their best. Now I need the pushing.

Discipline is Freedom

Updates to follow and also if it affects my artwork.