IF: New (nuovo)

Wishing you all a serene and creative new year

A tutti voi, l'augurio di un sereno anno nuovo, tutto da creare

Let's throw out something old, let's bring in something new - Buttiamo via qualcosa di vecchio, facciamo spazio a qualcosa di nuovo

Old me: "Oh, look at that advertisement: a drawing and painting course.... I'd like so much to take it... I always wanted to... But... I am still looking for a job... maybe I should save money and time... Who knows if the teacher is a good one? Is learning to paint really a priority right now? What if my children get sick and I can't go? Where shall I store all the paintings I'll paint? Anyway, I can always do it later... One day when all my problems are solved..."

New me: "Hallo? My name is Barbara. I would like to enroll in your drawing and painting course."

The course starts tomorrow.

Happy new year to you all!

***

Vecchia me stessa: "Oh, guarda quella pubblicità: un corso di disegno e pittura... Mi piacerebbe tanto seguirlo... E' sempre stato un mio desiderio... Ma.... Sto ancora cercando un lavoro... forse dovrei risparmiare tempo e denaro in questo momento... E poi chissà se l'insegnante è bravo... Imparare a dipingere è davvero una priorità in questo momento? E se i bambini si ammalano e non posso andare? E dove metterò tutti i quadri che dipingerò? E comunque posso sempre farlo dopo, in futuro... Un giorno, quando avrò risolto tutti i miei problemi....."

Nuova me stessa: "Pronto? Mi chiamo Barbara. Vorrei iscrivermi al corso di disegno e pittura."

Il corso inizia domani.

Buon anno a tutti voi!

"Living well is the best revenge" (G. Herbert) (Vivere bene è la migliore vendetta)

A war is going on here.
Not much time for creativity.
But I opened a Zazzle shop.

Qui è in corso una guerra.
Non c'è molto tempo per la creatività.
Ma ho aperto un negozio Zazzle.



create & buy custom products at Zazzle

IF: Proverb (Proverbio)

Quella che per il bruco è la fine del mondo, per il resto del mondo è una farfalla.

When your mind's made up

There are decisions that are particularly hard to make.
But after so much thinking, sleepless nights, aimless days, tears and hope and anger and fear, there comes a time when all that's left is a clear mind.
(Well, actually some tears and anger and fear remain. But no more doubts).

IF: Ripples

DIY

Almost one year has passed, and the earthquake debris still have not been removed.
The town center is still closed to the people who used to live or work there.
Many or us have not even seen it after the earthquake.
We have had enough of it.
Thus, the people of L'Aquila decided to remove the debris by themselves and have been doing it, with wheelbarrows and buckets, for three weeks now.
On 28th February I was there with my family (my husband and my eldest daughter are in the drawing above). I met so many of my fellow citizen whom I hadn't been seeing for months, I saw the main street full of life, smiling faces, voices, again. I felt part of a community, again.
We all were there to demonstrate, but also to work, in a very concrete way.
It was beautiful.
It felt like home. Almost.

starting the journey

Here I am, with my first post and my first contribution to Inspire me Thursday. This is a difficult time in my life, full of darkness. I'm trying to get through it. After much resistance, I decided to follow my best friend's advice, and to start a blog. I am not an artist, nor a writer. I hope that a regular (?) commitment to a bit of creativity will help me embrace my tiger and return to my mountain. Wish me luck.