Appreciating a Masterpiece

Do you have a few fine friends who inspire you?  I do. I am so grateful for their presence in my world.  With big love for the others, I would like to thank one, June Rollins, for this week’s inspiration.

June’s latest post, titled Step Away From The Painting, is part of a series showing her work-in-progress on a watercolor painting.  This post, she’s at that place where she has covered a lot of ground and one, not as experienced or talented as June, might sense the finish line and rush headlong toward the gratification of completing the painting – or become frustrated at one particular element and give up.

Not June.

She says, “Take a step back. Look at the whole painting, not just the areas on which you’ve been focusing your work.”

Get some perspective.  This is as true in life as it is in art.

Seeing the whole picture, not just the little niggling details, is the key to understanding it and knowing where the right next steps lie. When we focus on whatever is in front of us, we can become unaware of the life all around us.

Mundane inconveniences, stabbing grief, the grind of an unpleasant job, and myriad other things all clamor for our full and undivided attention, but we do not have to give it. We can step away from the painting – really look at those areas that have been sucking up our energy and make a conscious decision about just how valid are their demands. How big and important are they as part of the whole picture?

There will always be small, detailed, demanding areas. It’s alright – it’s necessary – to dive into them and resolve them. Just remember, as demanding as they might be in the moment, they are just part of your painting.

See the big picture of your life. It is a masterpiece.

p.s. I hope you’ll visit June’s blog at http://junerollins.wordpress.com.