"Starry Night"

Hey Guys,


"For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream."

- Vincent Van Gogh

"When I have a terrible need for--shall I say the word--religion. Then I go outside and paint the stars."  -Vincent Van Gogh

  Vincent Van Gogh: a common household name, an artistic genius, a bit nutty, with the perfect amount of insane logic. He is my all time favorite artist. A man of much imagination and determination. He craved love but did not know how to receive or give it. So misunderstood, but such an intriguing mind. Everything a tormented artist was supposed to be. 

   His "Starry Night" inspired me at a very young age to pick up the very delicate and unique art of painting. I have painted many pieces in my short time, beautiful in their own way, as art usually is. However, they are obviously not extremely well put together pieces, but there is no shame in admitting the need for constant practice. To develop a sense of over-driven determination to reach some level of greatness. Every human being wishes to attain greatness in one way or another and if you deny this, then I will know you certainly aren't being completely truthful. 

   I've said this before and I will say it again. Life is your canvas, you are painting your very own masterpiece, even if no one else recognizes it as a masterpiece, it is. There are so many stars out there in space. If one would just take the time to breathe in the majesty and the mesmerizing mysteries of our world we'd learn a new feeling of humility and humanity. Life is so precious, it is so amazing, and it can be so wonderful if we allow ourselves time to remember just how spectacular and miraculous all of God's creations truly are. Falling in love, maybe with another person, but more-so with life is essential to joy. To just be so grateful to be able to watch the stars for hours. To feel the breeze kiss your face and to just close your eyes and rest. To paint a picture of beauty and grace for the sake of loving remembrance. Remembering all the while who you were, who you are, and who you can become with the right ingredients. But, most importantly remembering that there really is something so much greater than you. He is the one who set up and polished all the stars. 

  The night is so whimsical. So quiet and cool. The stars are breathtaking. We are so small, but so loved. Life is too beautiful to waste. Watch the stars and feel the gentle breeze and know, you are not alone. Let yourself love, let yourself paint, and more importantly let yourself remember everything. 

-Jess

Ice Cream!! :)

Hey guys!

    "Age does not diminish the extreme disappointment of having a scoop of ice cream fall from the cone."
                                                                                                                    -Jim Fiebig
  
   When I was really young, my grandmother bought me my favorite flavor ice cream at my favorite ice cream parlor. (Yes, an actual old fashioned ice cream parlor) I was so sad. I remember as the steamy tears welled up and started to spill over my heartbroken eyes, a very nice parlor lady gave me a brand new ice cream cone with an extra scoop at no charge. I was so happy I literally could have died. :)


   Sometimes your ice cream scoop is going to fall on the ground, and even you, will want to cry. There is no shame in crying, especially in extreme disappointment. Sometimes a nice parlor lady will give you a new scoop of ice cream. Sometimes you won't receive a new scoop of ice cream. But never be ashamed to cry. Disappointment never is forever, it's only a small hill on your path of life. Next time your ice cream scoop falls off your cone try to look on the bright side. If you're this disappointed now, imagine how happy you will be when you finally walk through this disappointment. 

     -Jess

Welcome Back!

Hey guys,

     Sorry it's taken so long for me to blog again. Been busy. Anyways...

"Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them." -Marcus Aurelius

   Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor, philosopher, and is the last of the "Five Good Emperors".

   He was right in saying that we should dwell on the beauty of life. If we allow ourselves to become entirely caught up in the ugliest parts of our lives, we will lose track of the beautiful ones. Sometimes it becomes too easy to dwell on the small but extremely painful parts of our short lives. It's easy to become depressed or angry or full on sorrowful. We find ourselves mourning our pasts, regretting our presents, and fearing our futures. This is a horrible condition!

    You see, if we allow failure to rule over our lives, we come to expect failure from ourselves for the rest of our lives. And that, that is torture. Pure, unadulterated, self-inflicted torture. I guarantee you, those who you might have wronged or hurt or who seem to hate you, they aren't meditating on your trespasses everyday of their lives. They are living their lives, so I suppose that means it's time for you to live yours.
 
    I understand how difficult it has become for some people to focus on the beautiful and joyful parts of our lives, but we are only human. I mean, do any of you truly expect to be perfect or do you expect others to be perfect? If you expect any of these things, you will be disappointed and I'm not sorry you will be. It's time for us to shape up and seize the day. To remember the bad parts of our lives only enough to caution us in the future. But for now, ay this very moment, wake up! Smell the coffee and the fresh air, and be glad you have a new day to try to turn things around. So many opportunities knock on our door everyday, we just need to let them in. So let them in. And, don't be afraid, things always work out some way or another.

                                                                                                                -Jess