New work inspired by George Harrison and the here and now.
Tag: acceptance
Gratitude 2.0
No one will argue the benefits of practicing gratitude. Count your blessings, look on the bright side of life, be thankful for what you have, the wise advise. Sure, it’s good for us, and enjoyable too, to acknowledge our wins — an achievement, acquisition, validation, improvement. But what about gratitude when things don’t go our way at all — during loss, failure, uncertainty, rejection? GRATITUDE 2.0 Lately, I am practicing my gratitude on this deeper level. Advanced gratitude. Gratitude 2.0, I’ll call it. The foundational pre-requisite for this course is humility, the acceptance that perhaps I don’t know what is…
Ask. Let Go. Listen.
This painting is one of intention, hope and faith, from the Light chapter of Millennial Mom’s tale. Desire is fundamental to our human nature. It fuels our growth, and leads us to evolve. Ultimately, it is the path to our true selves, leading us to work for the things that bring the deepest fulfillment. It is a universal desire… a need… to be known, to feel understood, cared for, loved. When those needs aren’t met, we turn to substitute gratifications. We over-consume substitutes — food, drugs or alcohol, entertainment, shopping, sex, work, perfectionism. Or we seek to protect ourselves with…
I Didn’t Think It Would Be like This
Here we visit those infamous partners in sorrow – expectation, and resistance. We expect life to turn out a certain way. In annoyance and complaint, we resist what actually happens. This painting is of the DARKNESS chapter of Millennial Mom’s tale. WANTING AND WISHING And this is the noble truth of the arising of sorrow. It arises from craving… — The Pali Canon If only ____, life would be better. Many of us seek happiness in achievement and lifestyle, in living well. We are certain the answers lie in the right relationship; in financial security or status; in the comfort…
Forgive Me
Forgive Me, is a pivotal work in the final chapter of the Millennial Mom story. THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE Want freedom from suffering? A good place to start is to face your painful truth. In trying to make sense of challenging outcomes, rather than blaming those things we cannot control – other people, society, fate/the universe/God/whatever-you-believe-in – instead, look within. After many years of struggle, I’ve found freedom in honestly and humbly looking at my part, in how things go down. How have I contributed to what is troubling me? Where have I selfishly wanted life to go…
Love Yourself First
I have pondered long the difference between selfishness and self-love. My husband has a problem with this one, says people will take it the wrong way. Egos will read this as license to think only of themselves. Mayhem will ensue. That I fail to acknowledge the true One-Self of the enlightened. But I trust my readers will understand what I’m saying, largely because many have lived the consequences of what happens when we don’t heed this advice. Below, I share why this matters, and what it means in our day-to-day life. We can heal the world by first healing ourselves,…
Millennial Mom Battles Mediocrity
Millennial Mom’s tale begins with Myth, which examines our pursuit of happiness through perfection and validation from others. In Millennial Mom Battles Mediocrity, I address the illusion that achieving a certain weight or physical accomplishment will deliver that sense of worthiness and wholeness we all desire. That all will be right in our world, if only we be can be… better than we are now. WHAT I WAS DOING For years I pursued this illusion — if only I could lean down and get fit, look “beautiful”, wear my favorite clothes again, my worries would be over. I would finally…
There Will Be an Answer
When life is challenging us, we may push away our discomfort, wanting life to be different. In this place of fear, we are lacking faith that we are being led through a gateway to deeper understanding. Sometimes the best thing we can do is … let it be. Soothing our suffering with the wonder and magic of our natural surroundings can help ease the pain, until our faith is restored, until we know from deep within … THERE WILL BE AN ANSWER. INSPIRATION On the 49th anniversary of the release of The Beatles’ Let It Be single, I honour that…
Life School in a Hippie Rock Opera
I believe life is about learning to love. And that we are given lessons in various forms, be it relationships, events, stories, religion, art, or anything, really. Always seeking wisdom, I listen for answers everywhere. Here I share with you a timely and profound life lesson which took me years to understand, and one which I revisit regularly. THIS IS ABOUT SPIRITUALITY, NOT RELIGION All religions teach stories from which we can learn. I’m sharing an Easter story here, but only because Christianity is the religion I was raised in, and am familiar with. I don’t attend church any longer,…
The Complexity of Love
If you’ve seen my work, you know my paintings aren’t pretty pictures. My art explores illusions, suffering, relationships, love, courage, trying to make sense of it all. Loving Can Hurt is about deep, long-lasting, Real Love. Here I attempt to lift the veil for a moment, and explore the idea that the true experience of family life is not the one we portray in our family portraits of harmony and connection. Those moments occur, sure. But many of us have seen another reality go down behind the scene captured by the camera, one which we often do not share in…
DARLENE BAKER 