I think I'll stay with 7

 

Reading on the dock

Acrylic on canvas

24 x 24 inches

Barbara Muir © 2013

The other day I watched a seven year old in our family, run around
cheerfully moving from one activity to another, creating art
easily, and effortlessly with great enthusiasm and joy, and I thought
 -- that's how I want to be -- like a seven year old.  Yes. I know
I'm a grown woman. And I am grateful that I am, and that I have
the love of my husband and family and friends.  

I wrote about this last year too, inspired by the self-portrait based
in part on a super portrait photo my father took of me when I

was a little girl, and a photo of the beautiful lake where my son's

mother-in-law has her cottage.  

There's a new year coming, and instead of hemming myself in with
New Year's Resolutions and intentions for the new year, I want to permit
my adult self to be creative, and have as much fun as is possible given some of
the harder, and sadder parts of life.

"The painting hangs inside our front door -- and reminds me, the 
grown up, supposed adult, to know this is my essence -- a
happy kid who loves to play, and read, and loves beauty.  Being at the
cottage when I was a child was the easiest place to find equilibrium,
because the setting was beautiful, and my parents who were lovely
people, but also critical, and back in the city highly disciplinarian,
were happy, and distracted.  In other words no one paid
attention to me except my aunts and uncles down the path, and
my cousins, who were warm, kind and funny. So fun was possible
and available."

Have a loving your life day!