So bad things happen all the time, but like the line goes, “at least you don’t have maggots on your scrotum”.

I don’t.

So…

The car got totaled.

On the other hand no one was hurt and I wound up getting a newer vehicle in the process.  I’m not thrilled about having a car payment again, but at least I can get around.  In that I am happy.

Got rejected.

Threw my hat in for some graphic design, and public Art gigs.  Didn’t pan out.  A little bit of a blow to the ego, but there you go.  Rejection is more common than acceptance in the world of illustration and design (and everywhere else).  Advice: Don’t take it personally.  More opportunities will come along.  In that I am happy.

Taxes kicked my arse.

They get nearly everybody same as me.  Not as bad as last year.  At least I had the funds to pay.  In that I am happy.

E.D.S.

Not really, but that’d be pretty bad.  Just sayin’.  In that I am happy.

A pack of blessings light upon my back.  Thanks, Shakespeare.

So it’s really just a matter of perspective right?

The thing is bad stuff just happens.  Right along with the good stuff there’s the bad perched comfortably next to it.  Many people (Americans especially) just don’t get that bad things happen to good people for no reason at all.  It doesn’t have anything to do with some Heavenly father figure taking a disliking to you because you did a bad thing or didn’t say the right number of prayers.  It doesn’t have anything to do with that penny you picked up that was face down or the ladder you walked under.  It’s not because you didn’t work hard enough and make all the right decisions.  It’s just damned bad luck plain and simple.  You can do everything right and still not succeed.  You can be on the fast track to success and still have a piano dropped on your head.  That’s something that an ever-growing number of people in this country are losing sight of.  I’ll say it again:  You can do everything right and STILL not make it.  Try your hardest.  Do your best.  Eat your Wheaties.  Sometimes it just doesn’t matter.  The odds are stacked against you.

That doesn’t mean you give up.  Ever.  No matter how often you fail you get back up.  No matter what people say about you or your work you keep working.  Keep going your own way.  Don’t stop because eventually things WILL come your way.  Not forever, no.  There are no happily ever afters.  No triumphant ride into the sunset.  The only real finish line we’ll ever cross is the one where the machines stop reading a pulse.  But that’s OK.  That’s all part of the show.  Have reason to take a bow on your way out.

(takes a break from life to sleep a bit)

So here I am… plugging away and look what happened: In the course of one evening I was approached for two more (paying) projects.  In that I am happy.

This morning I finished up prep work for three more paintings.  In that I am happy.

Here’s to more broken brushes.

Cheers,

R