Monday, March 28, 2011

How Do You Define "Success?"



Thought I'd show off what I've been up to the last couple of weeks. Topping the page are another group of my "Can-Do Doll" series. I had these little paper mache eggs that I painted earlier in the year and just hadn't been inspired how to use them, but as you can see, my muses put me to work and I came up with these little guys. And how do you like my Easter Egg ornies? I posted both on my Facebook page and have to say I got a great response to everything. Sold two of my little eggs and one of my dolls....thanks Letty, Flora and Sandy. I contacted my gallery in Phoenix, AZ and they want them all, so I made another trip to Hobby Lobby yesterday to buy some more of those paper mache eggs and will be making more bunny skellies for the gallery. I haven't updated my Etsy page, so if any of you are interested in any of these, please let me know so I can put them aside for you or replicate the ones that have sold....just email me at the email listed on my Blogger profile.

The other evening my mother and I attended the rosary of a very dear lady who passed away after being ill for about 6 months. She and her husband were dear friends of my parents; "the judge" and my Pop go back to their days in the 'hood. It was quite disconcerting to see many of these old friends I last saw back in November at my uncle's 90th birthday bash; some were now using walkers, canes, in wheel chairs, carrying portable oxygen tanks. There were obvious absences due to the fact others were just too frail to attend or have died within that time period. Of course, all these people are now in their late 80's to early 90's, including my mother who is 88. How I recall parties at our house when I was a kid, all these people were young, many professionals, some not, but the one thing they all had in common and ultimately bound them, was most of them grew up in the 'hood and remained friends no matter where life took them. They were of the high-ball and martini crowd, a generation that resulted from WWII and Korea.

I'm honoured to have known such wonderful people and they were part of my childhood memories, as is many of their children now...I have friends I don't recall when we met, they were just always at our parties and visa-versa..."In-Utero friends," I call them!! LOL I told my SM that I would be attending many of these requiem rituals with my mother for the next few years, and perhaps after my mother's death, if any of them are still around. It's all so sad, but that's the cycle of life.

Recently, someone that was once very close to me criticized me for being, well, being "me." Of course this person told someone else and it got back to me, as gossip usually travels that way. I have "nothing" according these individuals, not the big house, cars, etc. What makes a person successful...is it money, fame, brains, etc.? I married into my honey's house, which is about 50 years old and needs lots of work, and that's coming along, slowly, but coming along, I drive my Pop's '99 Intreped...gave it to me in '05 when he became blind. My hubby drives the company pick-up, is a very hard working, honest man (more than I can say for this person) and toils hard for his paycheck. Let's face it, folks, we are not rolling in the money, honey!! But does that minimize our success'? Many years ago this woman told me that success is the best revenge and I agree somewhat. Success is the best revenge if it matters to you; it matters not to me anymore...revenge, that is. I look at what I've done in the last 15 years: survived a terrible divorce, during that horrific period of time, I decided to get a job, then return to school, completed school, married one of the most wonderful human beings I've ever known, have a wonderful circle of friends, both old and new, here and abroad and of course, you, my bloggy buddies, love my job, which is playing in my studio, have a gallery that represents my work and people who appreciate it, and the love and respect from my children, grandchildren and of course, my extended family. Hell, I'm the luckiest girl if I do say so myself.

These people gauge success with the "stuff" that they surround themselves in....a big house (mortgage to go with it), 2 luxury cars (car payments to match the mortgage), designer clothes (especially that little polo player), etc. I always felt that after a certain age, people who felt it was important, stop climbing that social ladder...you will fall and break your neck!! Well, in this case, Karma caught up with them!! After my conversation with this friend who spoke to these people, I realized, as she did, that they're jealous...OF ME!!!!???!! I had the opportunity to travel back when I worked for a foundation under Johns Hopkins...visiting the cities we tested at was great fun, however, the work was brain sucking! I have also traveled with my SM to various places, some close by, others a bit further in distance, but nothing lavish or exotic...we don't hang that way. Also, I'm just a really happy person, finally. I've always been of the "live and let live" kind of attitude or "till you've walked in my, his, hers, their moccasins...." But growing up in a negative and judgemental environment then marrying into it, made it a bit difficult being me sometimes. But after several years of deciding to stop and smell the roses, I love who I am and what I do. Sure, there's always room for improvement...we should never stop evolving, but that's the problem these people have, they're stuck, stuck in their own set of inflexible rules, they can't see the hypocrisy and lies they live. So for these people, I leave them to heaven.

So as far as I'm concerned, happiness and contentment don't have a price tag on them, it's up to you to make it so. There's nothing wrong with owning the big house, the luxury cars, designer clothes, etc., I have friends and family who have fared quite well in this economy and are very grateful they are fiscally blessed, but they also know, things could happen in a matter of seconds, lives could change drastically, that's why they count other blessings, family, friends, sense of humour, goals, etc. I'd like to think most people think that way, but am I kidding myself, am I just a really big optimist?!?!? Brings me to a question a philosophy prof once brought up, "Is man basically good or evil?" Well, my answer is "a little from column A and a little from column B." Ambiguous? Probably, but then that's being human. All I'm saying, my friends, is to count your blessings outside the realm of the material. Stuff is nice to have, but there's nothing like family, friends and even strangers helping and guiding you along your path. "Don't worry, be happy!" Ok, you can shoot me now!! Peace out.

11 comments:

OmaLindasOldeBaggsandStuftShirts said...

hey dear one.
I have the answer to the cosmic question you posed. Success is being able to look in the mirror and see someone that you like. And tell the fucktards that annoy you that you are fabulous just the way you are.
Oops....too much? Oh well.
I luvs ya mucha muchacha. Leeeeeeeenda the wicked.

Jenny said...

Hello Georgina,

Thank you for stopping by. Don't pay attention to the nonsense that others speak out of ingorance or jealousy. You take care of you, your and your hubby.

Jenny

Yasmin said...

Hello my dear friend.
Your text today made ​​me poke at the bottom of the wound.
You have every right to say that the most important things in life are not palpable and not falling within a numerical scale of monetary values​​.
The family, the husband, children and friends are the most valuable things we possess.
What good is a big house, a luxury car or a LV to blos is sick for example?
And I'm not even talking about serious illness and disease that terminais.A worse in my opinion can exist is the envy, frustration and depression.
Diseases that affect the mind and atormentan the troubled soul.
I do not like you crave success to get back at someone, I long for strength and joy that comes every day to continue to do that give me pleasure ... even if they never take me to success.
What matters is not the end, for all one day come to this end. but how we reach this end .. the best and enjoy the journey.
Super original eggs , crazy :)
xoxo
yasmin.

Unknown said...

Hello My Friend!

Well now it's time for me to stop by YOUR blog and say what you said to me: live, live LIVE!!

You have always been such an inspiration to me, and it's mostly, I think, because we are "cut from the same cloth" (as mama used to say)! You and I both know that it really IS how happy you are at the end of the day, and I don't mean by what you OWN, by WHAT you make and what you can brag about. At the end of it all, you can't take it with you, anyway, so it really is the direction you lead your life.

Besides, those other folks just don't understand your FABULOUS-NESS!! :)

Mary Helen-Art Saves Lives said...

Listen to your heart dear friend. Your marks always make me smile and you share a space on my desk every day I am in the studio...your dancing skelly is my mascot. Have a great weekend! Peace, Mary helen Fernandez Stewart

Janine said...

Dear Georgina,
let the people talk!
They allways did and they allways will, and when you not react and don´t matter, THAT is the best revenge.
By the way your dolls are funtastic.
Have a great week
Janine

Cindi Myers said...

First, I want to say that those Can-Do Dolls are your best yet! And I'm really loving your "eggs"!
Well done.
Second, I couldn't agree with you more. Now I'm not saying that I won't love to have some more cash but....yes, money doesn't buy happiness. Well....some money could buy ME happiness!
:) :) :) :) :)
I've heard it reported several times though, that after a certain level of income and that amount being enough money to pay the bills and have a little in reserve and still be able to take a vacation....that those people are just as happy as many millionares. The crowd I used to hang with have all gotten married and live in very nice homes. I'm the oddball out. The one who lives in the fixer-up (constantly fixing) house with no shower (just a clawfoot tub)and no garage....and I KNOW that some people look at me and shake their heads and kinda pity me but at least I have my health and I don't have to answer to anyone and I can do whatever I want whenever I want and I can drag home any fur-baby I want without someone throwing a fit. So yeah, money doesn't buy happiness but being poor can force a person to be more creative! And without all the EXTRAS my property taxes are LOW. But sigh...I do wish I had the cash for the Tudor that's for sale down the block...not to impress anyone but because it's so pretty. (and has a four season porch for my puppies! LOL)
and a garage! And a pink tiled shower and...Sorry about my rant!
I think that PERSON you know is just unhappy and can't stand the fact that YOU are Happy! Pity Her! HA!
Love ya, Cindi

Anonymous said...

Hi Georgina,
looks to me as if you have identified the things that make up success and are full in living them to the full. I agree with Linda's comment. If you like yourself you are successful,plus I'd say if you can ask yourselfwhat is success and see wher e it is NOT and what is is NOt you are getting there too. I adore your recycled cans, they are quirky and for me anyone who is creative, imaginative, has a sense of humour and doesn't take self too seriously is successful.

yoborobo said...

Georgina - you are absolutely perfect the way you are. Some people can't see beyond the end of their noses (what a weird expression! haha!). It is the blessing of being an artist that we 'see' the world in a different way, and we value the things that we do. I love your new dolls and your eggies. I love your view of the world, and your big heart. Don't you DARE change!!! xoxo Pam

JUNKER JANE said...

These are beautiful!! LOVE!

WingingIt said...

these are the coolest easter goodies ever!
i am so busy living my own life that i do not have the time nor the desire to 'care' what others think of me...i am always shocked to find out that someone else even has an opinion of me....i think....how do you have time to really think that much about others....start enjoying your own life...really!!!
it reminds me of the story about the father, son and donkey going into town....it did not matter if the son rode the donkey, the father rode the donkey, or no one rode the donkey...the onlookers were never happy!!!
deep breaths my love