Ok, I admit it, I watch American Idol – not all the time but from time to time. And yes, I sit there and say things like, “Oh Randy’s going to say that was pitchy”, end my sentences with “dawg” and laugh. However something struck me about the last show.
The judges were speaking to a female contestant and they kept saying, “I just don’t see where you fit. I mean in the industry, where do you fit?”
I’d be lying if I said I never tried to “fit in.” As a child I wanted to “fit in” at school and there have been times throughout my life when I wanted to blend in with the crowd. However, I never ever felt like I did. It always felt like an act to me. I always felt like an outsider. It’s only now that I realize that’s a good thing. It’s ok to feel “different” we all are and thank goodness for that!
Our differences are what make us special and unique. They allow us to develop new ideas, cures, arrangements of music, painting, government laws and so on. I don’t think we celebrate ourselves, and the breath of fresh air we bring to the table, enough in life. To that contestant I say, “Who cares about fitting in? Be you, break barriers and please create some new music!”
So, today I ask you to really put yourself out there. Say that thing you’ve been dying to say or do that thing you’ve been longing to do. Don’t worry about fitting in, rocking the boat or what the Jones’ will say. Just do it. Be YOU!
I was going to begin by saying, “I don’t really like to talk about myself” and then I got hysterical laughing. You guys know me; I share crazy things about my life here all the time so clearly that’s not true. I think what I meant to say is that I get tongue-tied when people ask me questions about myself. It’s one thing to share my pj and red clog stories because those are things that are on my mind thus I choose to share. However, it’s another to be on the spot. What am I talking about, you wonder? Well, I was interviewed by an artist I adore and initially I was a little star struck and a little tongue tied.
Ruth, owner of Allover Art, interviewed me for a new series she is doing called, “Monday Must-Have“. I recently featured her awesome tutorial and giveaway on the Thursday Sweet Treat. Then, out of the blue she asked to interview me. I am such a fan of her work and was honored to be asked. When I began to answer the questions, I found myself looking for the “perfect” answer. Isn’t that what we do when we want to be seen in the best light? Isn’t that what we do on a first date or when applying for the school or job we desperately want? We try to put our best self forward. However, that best self can sometimes be someone we think we want to be but someone that is not at all who we are. So, I stopped and gave myself a little time. I want to present my best Natasha – no question – but I also want to present the real Natasha. So, after a little bit I went back and answered those questions as honestly as I possibly could and it felt great. To be fair, I should tell you that I laid in bed last night feeling vulnerable but the excitement I felt at promoting the work I am doing soon overshadowed the worry that I’d let myself roam too far out there. In the end, I decided to simply hang in there, like my favorite hippo, and enjoy the ride. The interview says, “This is me. This is what I do. I hope you enjoy it.”
Have you ever tried to put your “best” self forward only to find that you felt uncomfortable in your own skin? How does it feel when you are true to you regardless of what anyone thinks??
I love art. I love going to museums and seeing the works of great painters and sculptors but I also love meeting artists of all kinds and learning about their process, their life. I find that there is little more I love more than feeling the passion an artist or writer feels for their work.
On the Thursday Sweet Treat, I started an “Artist Play Date” which allows me to learn something from an artist I admire. Today, Allover Art shared a tutorial for pendants that I now want to try and she is having an awesome giveaway.
I’d like to invite you to see her work (follow this link to today’s post and giveaway http://thursdaysweettreat.blogspot.com ) AND I’d like to ask for you to share some of your favorite artists with me here.
Who moves you? What artists and writers inspire you??
Recently, my husband and I went to see Slumdog Millionaire. I highly recommend it. It is a deeply moving film that will leave you thinking long and hard about your life and the lives of others in this world. For those who have not seen the film, I will not give anything away. I will simply say that this film made me realize how lucky I am to live in a country where I have so many freedoms. And despite the fact that we are all facing tough economic times we still have so much.
I am not ignorant to the fact that many live in this world live in extreme poverty but I know I have not seen the worst side of it. As I watched this film, I felt a desire to help more people within this country and in the world. It just makes you think about life and love. And that right there – the love part of it – that’s the beautiful part. It makes you think about how some people – no matter what they have been through together and separately, no matter how many times they have met and it has been the wrong time – still and will always love one another. I don’t mean that in some fairy tale way; I mean that some people will always love one another no matter what. In fact, I would guess we all have someone in our lives -family, friend, lover – that we will always hold in a very special place in our heart.
What movies have recently inspired you? Or made you think for days after watching the film?
This wall art reads: “We are little ripples with the power to change the world so fill yours with love.” It was created as part of the Thursday Sweet Treat.
Dear Nachos,
I am extremely sorry that I have been MIA. I’d like to share a bit about what’s been going on with me.
You all know that I started an Etsy shop – http://doodlestar.etsy.com – which has been doing well. It’s all so new so everything I do takes more time than I imagined. I look forward to when I know it well and have everything running like clockwork.
In addition to my shop, I started a second blog which took off a little faster than I anticipated. The Thursday Sweet Treat (http://thursdaysweettreat.blogspot.com ) was born from a conversation where several people were talking about how to stay motivated to create while having fun. It has grown to include the works of talented artists.
I would truly love it if you would stop by my shop and stop by the Thursday Sweet Treat. I cannot tell you what your support has and will continue to mean to me. And I promise to be here to play as well. I’m so very sorry I missed our date yesterday…I’ve simply been trying my hardest to balance everything.
I look forward to hearing from you….you mean the world to me. You’ve been my blog playmates from the start and I cherish that. Please let me know your thoughts and all that is going on with you.
Thank you for inspiring me to live my dreams.
Love and thanks,
Natasha Nacho
Meet Bertha who releases glittery confetti when she feels joyful!
If I could get my hands on him, here’s what I would say. “ARE YOU SURE? Try it again Phil. Try it again!” Or if I were one of the Soprano’s I’d say, “Phil, do again and do it right. I wouldn’t want you to accidentally slip one day and end up swimmin’ with the fishes.” But, I imagine he’s well protected and would simply shrug. He’d see his shadow again and walk away saying, “Six more weeks biznatch, so deal with it.”
Do you believe in the whole idea of Punxsutawney Phil? Are you superstitious? I can say that I don’t walk under ladders – well mainly because I don’t want anything to fall from the top and hit me in the head – and I don’t like it when black cats cross my path. Oh and that whole accidentally spilling salt thing? I do throw it over my shoulder after. What about you?
Although I do think the whole Punxsutawney Phil thing is nuts, his predictions usually end up being right. Once, on the first day of a new job, my husband gave me a plush Punxsutawney Phil. A couple of weeks into the job, Phil was kidnapped and held for ransom. It was by far one of the funniest things I’ve ever experienced. I kind of wish the real one had been taken on a trip today or been groundhog-napped for a few hours so we wouldn’t have any idea how much more winter was ahead!
