WORDLESS WEDNESDAY:
THE POWERFUL PORTRAITS OF SHELLY MOSMAN
Kisses & Chaos,
Alli Woods Frederick
IMAGES :: ALL IMAGES © SHELLY MOSMAN. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ::
Powerful Portraits
Kisses & Chaos,
Find Your Place In This World
* MAD MEN MONDAY ALWAYS HAS AND ALWAYS WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS AND IS MADE IN A FACTORY WHERE NUTS ARE PROCESSED. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK. *
BELONGING. Belonging was the theme in last night’s episode of Mad Men, ‘The Forecast.’ It was all about finding your place in this world; it was about being lost but wanting to be found; it was about finding something more in life; it was all about trying to belong…to yourself.
The ever inept Mathis, after a massive screw up in front of a client, comes to Don seeking guidance. The man’s clueless as to who he really is or what his place is in the agency (as is evidenced by his incessant neediness and approval seeking behavior).
Instead of finding his own clever way to handle the debacle (as suggested by Don) he tries to be Don and imitate his charm and wit (neither of which he possesses)…and fails miserably. Instead of taking ownership of his f*ck up and coming that much closer to discovering where he belongs in his world, he opts to lay the blame squarely at Don’s feet as a final show of cowardice.
Glen tries to find his place in college, but doesn’t succeed. He then tries, once again, to fit his square peg in a round hole by enlisting for the war. (A decision I believe will be his undoing, shattering Sally’s brave little heart; a decision that will prove to be a pivotal moment, casting the die for her entire future. As someone’s who’s emotionally invested in the characters, I hope I’m wrong. As an artist who understands the journey is everything, that some stories have no choice but to unfold in painful ways or else lose their meaning, I hope I’m right.)
As Sally embarks on a summer adventure with friends, she isn’t sure where she belongs or what she wants from life, but watching the selfish and inappropriate actions of her father and mother she knows one thing for certain: She sure as hell doesn’t want to be like them.
SOMETIMES KNOWING WHAT YOU DON’T WANT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN KNOWING WHAT YOU DO.
Peggy defines her life by her work, seeming to have given up and refusing to find or acknowledge what her place is outside the office. Don, who sees so much of himself in Peggy, knows that if she continues down this path, it will lead her to a life half lived, lonely and full of regrets. He tries to help her realize the mistake she’s making, and though she knows he’s right, she conceals her fear within her anger and rejects his guidance.
Joan, who spent the entire series trying to get out of the misogynistic box in which she’d been trapped, has, by her standards, made it…for the most part. She has money. She has clout. She has exactly what she thought she wanted. She also has no one to love her and feels she is failing her son. Behind closed doors Joan silently doubts, flails and flounders as she tries to find her place as a mother, a lover and a successful executive.
Even the great Don Draper struggles to figure out where he truly belongs. While this is nothing new, his current rock bottom feels different than his numerous others – more somber, more lost, more yearning.
As he muses into his Dictaphone, he knows things aren’t right but he has no idea how to fix them:
“…we know where we’ve been, where we are…(let’s assume it’s good)…but it’s got to get better. It’s supposed to get better…”
And then, in a moment of accidental insight, Don’s realtor unwittingly tells him what he’s known but hasn’t expressed: he’s lost, literally and metaphorically without a home…as are so many of us who are looking for something more than mere existence. Searching. Wandering. Simply trying to find where you really belong and wondering if you ever truly will…
FIND YOUR PLACE IN THIS WORLD
I know I’m still searching. I know who I am. I know many of the reasons why I’m here. I know those reasons will evolve with time and that I haven’t discovered all of them yet. But I am still wandering. I’m still trying to find where I fit in the grand scheme of things; trying to find my place in this world while being not entirely convinced that I have one. Only time will tell…for me and for Don and the rest of The Tribe of Lost Ad Men.
What about you? Is there something missing from you life? Is there something that you just can’t put your finger on but you’re sure you’ll know it when you find it? Have you found your place? Have you even started looking? Maybe we’ll see each other along the way in our journeys…
Kisses & Chaos,
Alli Woods Frederick
IMAGES :: FRANK OCKENFELS 3/AMC :: COURTESY AMC ::
Soul Sessions: The Unity Of Life
RECENTLY I was given a book. I admittedly tend to literally judge books by their covers, and the cover of Soul Sessions: A Story of Love and Awakening, with its dark and subtle artwork, is one I would have walked right past in the bookstore…and that would have been a shame. I would have missed out on a book that drops some seriously profound truth bombs and overflows with my favorite topics: life after death, synchronicity, reincarnation and fate versus freewill.
When it comes to such subjects, I typically prefer non-fiction (I can already hear you non-believers laughing at my use of ‘non-fiction’ in this context and it’s okay. I still love you) due to how wildly farfetched most fictitious accounts are, but considering the author’s history, I felt he was slightly more qualified to write on such esoteric matters.
The author, Carson Gage, was run over by a speeding car at the tender age of seven. Ever since then he has been on a quest, plumbing the depths of the human experience looking for answers to THE questions. Yeah – you know the ones…the heavy hitters like “Who am I,” “Why am I here,” “What happens when I die?” (I told you they were THE questions.) And I have to say, in reading Soul Sessions, I found much of what he espoused resonated with me – both from personal experiences I have had as an intuitive medium and reiki master as well as what my heart simply knows to be true.
I must confess that the first few pages were frustrating. The dialogue had an unnatural rhythm to it that rubbed me the wrong way, but as I read on, curled up in bed with Mischa sleeping soundly by my side, I found myself being drawn in, not so much by the characters but by the truths that came spilling from the pages.
Nick Dalton is a successful investment banker (and womanizer) in Chicago suffering from profound depression stemming from an acute existential crisis and is a far cry from likeable throughout much of the book (which I suppose is the point). Katrina DuMont, Nick’s very open-minded new psychiatrist who introduces him to a less conventional approach of treatment using past-life regression, comes across as cold and clinical despite her extensive knowledge and insights on such an enigmatic topic as the human soul.
But to Katrina’s credit, she helps Nick recover some of his former lives…and in the process he discovers the sources of his discontent, one of which is the absence of his soul mate throughout the ages. Thus begins a series of experiences that permanently alters his very essence and answers some of the greatest questions man can ask of The Universe…and himself.
In several passages Nick, while undergoing regression, speaks of how we are all connected through an energetic field, a web of energy and higher consciousness that unites every living thing on earth. I had come across this concept while learning about Hinduism and felt it deep in my bones to be true. It wasn’t until I began my journey to becoming a Reiki master over ten years ago that I actually experienced this oneness firsthand.
I had moments, fleeting mini-epiphanies (as many of us do) where I would suddenly be in awe, spontaneously struck by the sensation that we are all connected and would be overcome for a few moments by the beauty of it all (like looking up at the sunset and suddenly being so taken by its magnificence that you get lost, everything drops away, times slows down and for a few moments you feel the gentle hum of everything around you and you just feel it; you just know we’re all connected. It’s good stuff). My entire life I’ve been able to know things I shouldn’t know, hear things I shouldn’t hear and had communications with the other side.
But being connected? To everything? Experiencing it? Consciously stepping into it? That seemed impossible.
THE UNITY OF LIFE
When I went deeper into my Reiki training I found, much to my surprise, that I (along with anyone else who chooses to learn) could adjust my focus and tune in to that gentle hum; the vibration of oneness and I could find with minimal effort a specific person’s energy, whether I had met them or not. I could see details of their features, short vignettes of their lives, their hobbies, their passions, their struggles…and I could help them using that same energy.
That which had been impossible to me 24 hours earlier was suddenly reality. I know it sounds crazy. I thought so too…until I experienced it.
I confess I sometimes lose sight of this knowledge…especially after the hardships of the past several years. It’s easy to feel detached, separate and alone when going through a traumatic experience. Soul Sessions reminded me to be mindful and step into those moments of unity with greater frequency. It reinforced what I know to be true deep in bones.
Thank you, Carson Gage, for reminding me of what it means to be human and for having the bravery to explore the mysteries of life, love and death with Soul Sessions.
Okay, ladies and gents. Now it’s your turn to share. Do you believe in reincarnation? Soul mates? Life after death? I shared one of my stories and I’d love to hear yours. Feel free to share your experiences, beliefs and insights in the comments below. And take some time to be in the moment today…maybe you’ll feel that gentle hum.
Kisses & Chaos,
Alli Woods Frederick
IMAGES :: © ALLI WOODS FREDERICK ::
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
Posted in LIFE, SOUL MINGLING, SPONSORED POST, THE UNEXPLAINED
Tagged BODY MIND AND SPIRIT, BOOKS, SPONSOR, THE UNKNOWN
Leave a comment
Mad Men And The Bravery Of Vulnerability
MAYBE it’s because I’m an artist, but I freakin’ loved the office scene last night between my sweetheart Stan (am I the only one who adores him? He reminds me of so many people I know) and the magnificent (and manipulative) Pima. Did their conversation click with anyone else?
All my fellow artists out there, I know your hands are shooting up in the air, but what about those of you who don’t work in a creative field? If you think their dialogue didn’t apply to you, think again. So what the hell is this amazing conversation of which I speak? Let’s recap, shall we?
MAD MEN AND THE BRAVERY OF VULNERABILITY
Pima – ‘You must show me your work.’
Stan – ‘I don’t know.’
Pima – ‘ I can feel the tension of your need for my approval.’
Stan – (pauses) ‘I wouldn’t mind you taking a look if you promise to be honest.’
…
BAM! And there it is. A big old truth bomb (and the overarching theme of the entire episode) served up in menswear. Allow me to elaborate (gee, because I never do that).
Being an artist makes you vulnerable.
ART IS VULNERABILITY IN ACTION.
But to share your art? By sharing you’re taking your thoughts, your experiences, your feelings, your ideas, your hopes, your dreams, your fears, your vision and willingly putting them into the world for others to judge in whatever way they choose. Which, despite most artists’ best efforts to feel otherwise, means we feel like we’re being judged as individuals – our thoughts, our feelings, our vision…you get the idea.
It extends beyond mere execution or talent. And if you don’t think it’s terrifying, guess again. (Yes. Yes, it is terrifying…in case you were still guessing.)
ART IS VULNERABILITY.
Don’t believe me? Just ask Stan how he felt after what transpired between him and Pima in the darkroom. He was feeling like a dissected frog in a junior high biology lab. But that’s part and parcel for being an artist who shares their work…we willingly make ourselves vulnerable. But artists aren’t alone in this most terrifying of emotional endeavors.
IT’S ALSO PART AND PARCEL FOR BEING A LIVING, BREATHING HUMAN BEING ON THIS EARTH.
Several reviews of last night’s episode, “New Business,” seemed to find Pima’s appearance pointless and the entire story lacking. But it’s seems to me that those individuals may have completely missed the purpose of her interludes (as well as the entire episode) – the unspoken part of Stan’s Pima encounter (and every single other encounter by virtually every single character last night) that applies to us all – we are all broken or scarred; we are all wounded in some way either by our own hand or the hands of others; we have all caused pain and received pain in kind…
WE HAVE ALL BEEN HURT AND WE ARE ALL VULNERABLE.
And when we make ourselves truly vulnerable, when we willingly expose ourselves for who we really are and what we’ve truly done, it is an act of bravery – heart and soul both on display for others to judge in whatever way they choose.
Some will accept you. Some will reject you. That’s just part and parcel for such a bold act of bravery; of being a living, breathing human being on this earth.
Without great risk, there is no great reward. And even with great risk…well…most of our asses are still left flapping in the wind. But, in my experience as an artist and as a human being, it is far better to try; to open your heart; to expose yourself and give people the chance to accept you, the real you, the entire you, or reject you. And while it sounds trite, it’s true – even if you fail, at least you’ll know you tried.
Kisses & Chaos,
Alli Woods Frederick
IMAGES :: COURTESY AMC ::
This Was Going To Be a Post About Creative Freedom But Is Pictures Of My Cat Looking Angry Instead
THIS post was originally going to be all about freedom of expression and artists being bullied into needless apologies in the name of political correctness. And then Mischa started grooming himself and making funny faces so I decided f*ck it. The eye-opening, freedom of speech and expression post that was going to be here can wait and instead has magically transformed into…
PICTURES OF MY CAT LOOKING ANGRY
Just to be clear, Mischa, who as we all know doesn’t have a mean bone in his body wasn’t actually angry he just takes his grooming very seriously. So seriously, in fact, that he required a nap immediately afterwards. Now that’s some serious bathing.
Kisses & Chaos,
Alli Woods Frederick
PS – For those of you who just don’t get the whole cat thing and cling to the negative stereotypes of cats and cat owners, then you definitely need to read “New Poll Shows America Is Realizing The Truth: CAT PEOPLE ARE AWESOME.” Thanks, Huffington Post for telling the world what cats and cat owners have always known. And just so you know, Mischa just high-fived me. Awesome indeed.
PPS – Make sure to stay tuned next week. There’s a giveaway coming and you don’t want to miss it so make sure you check back in for details on how to win some goodies from me and a surprise guest.
IMAGES :: ALL IMAGES © ALLI WOODS FREDERICK. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ::
Kisses & Chaos,
Find Your Place In This World
* MAD MEN MONDAY ALWAYS HAS AND ALWAYS WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS AND IS MADE IN A FACTORY WHERE NUTS ARE PROCESSED. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK. *
BELONGING. Belonging was the theme in last night’s episode of Mad Men, ‘The Forecast.’ It was all about finding your place in this world; it was about being lost but wanting to be found; it was about finding something more in life; it was all about trying to belong…to yourself.
The ever inept Mathis, after a massive screw up in front of a client, comes to Don seeking guidance. The man’s clueless as to who he really is or what his place is in the agency (as is evidenced by his incessant neediness and approval seeking behavior).
Instead of finding his own clever way to handle the debacle (as suggested by Don) he tries to be Don and imitate his charm and wit (neither of which he possesses)…and fails miserably. Instead of taking ownership of his f*ck up and coming that much closer to discovering where he belongs in his world, he opts to lay the blame squarely at Don’s feet as a final show of cowardice.
Glen tries to find his place in college, but doesn’t succeed. He then tries, once again, to fit his square peg in a round hole by enlisting for the war. (A decision I believe will be his undoing, shattering Sally’s brave little heart; a decision that will prove to be a pivotal moment, casting the die for her entire future. As someone’s who’s emotionally invested in the characters, I hope I’m wrong. As an artist who understands the journey is everything, that some stories have no choice but to unfold in painful ways or else lose their meaning, I hope I’m right.)
As Sally embarks on a summer adventure with friends, she isn’t sure where she belongs or what she wants from life, but watching the selfish and inappropriate actions of her father and mother she knows one thing for certain: She sure as hell doesn’t want to be like them.
SOMETIMES KNOWING WHAT YOU DON’T WANT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN KNOWING WHAT YOU DO.
Peggy defines her life by her work, seeming to have given up and refusing to find or acknowledge what her place is outside the office. Don, who sees so much of himself in Peggy, knows that if she continues down this path, it will lead her to a life half lived, lonely and full of regrets. He tries to help her realize the mistake she’s making, and though she knows he’s right, she conceals her fear within her anger and rejects his guidance.
Joan, who spent the entire series trying to get out of the misogynistic box in which she’d been trapped, has, by her standards, made it…for the most part. She has money. She has clout. She has exactly what she thought she wanted. She also has no one to love her and feels she is failing her son. Behind closed doors Joan silently doubts, flails and flounders as she tries to find her place as a mother, a lover and a successful executive.
Even the great Don Draper struggles to figure out where he truly belongs. While this is nothing new, his current rock bottom feels different than his numerous others – more somber, more lost, more yearning.
As he muses into his Dictaphone, he knows things aren’t right but he has no idea how to fix them:
“…we know where we’ve been, where we are…(let’s assume it’s good)…but it’s got to get better. It’s supposed to get better…”
And then, in a moment of accidental insight, Don’s realtor unwittingly tells him what he’s known but hasn’t expressed: he’s lost, literally and metaphorically without a home…as are so many of us who are looking for something more than mere existence. Searching. Wandering. Simply trying to find where you really belong and wondering if you ever truly will…
FIND YOUR PLACE IN THIS WORLD
I know I’m still searching. I know who I am. I know many of the reasons why I’m here. I know those reasons will evolve with time and that I haven’t discovered all of them yet. But I am still wandering. I’m still trying to find where I fit in the grand scheme of things; trying to find my place in this world while being not entirely convinced that I have one. Only time will tell…for me and for Don and the rest of The Tribe of Lost Ad Men.
What about you? Is there something missing from you life? Is there something that you just can’t put your finger on but you’re sure you’ll know it when you find it? Have you found your place? Have you even started looking? Maybe we’ll see each other along the way in our journeys…
Kisses & Chaos,
Alli Woods Frederick
IMAGES :: FRANK OCKENFELS 3/AMC :: COURTESY AMC ::
Soul Sessions: The Unity Of Life
RECENTLY I was given a book. I admittedly tend to literally judge books by their covers, and the cover of Soul Sessions: A Story of Love and Awakening, with its dark and subtle artwork, is one I would have walked right past in the bookstore…and that would have been a shame. I would have missed out on a book that drops some seriously profound truth bombs and overflows with my favorite topics: life after death, synchronicity, reincarnation and fate versus freewill.
When it comes to such subjects, I typically prefer non-fiction (I can already hear you non-believers laughing at my use of ‘non-fiction’ in this context and it’s okay. I still love you) due to how wildly farfetched most fictitious accounts are, but considering the author’s history, I felt he was slightly more qualified to write on such esoteric matters.
The author, Carson Gage, was run over by a speeding car at the tender age of seven. Ever since then he has been on a quest, plumbing the depths of the human experience looking for answers to THE questions. Yeah – you know the ones…the heavy hitters like “Who am I,” “Why am I here,” “What happens when I die?” (I told you they were THE questions.) And I have to say, in reading Soul Sessions, I found much of what he espoused resonated with me – both from personal experiences I have had as an intuitive medium and reiki master as well as what my heart simply knows to be true.
I must confess that the first few pages were frustrating. The dialogue had an unnatural rhythm to it that rubbed me the wrong way, but as I read on, curled up in bed with Mischa sleeping soundly by my side, I found myself being drawn in, not so much by the characters but by the truths that came spilling from the pages.
Nick Dalton is a successful investment banker (and womanizer) in Chicago suffering from profound depression stemming from an acute existential crisis and is a far cry from likeable throughout much of the book (which I suppose is the point). Katrina DuMont, Nick’s very open-minded new psychiatrist who introduces him to a less conventional approach of treatment using past-life regression, comes across as cold and clinical despite her extensive knowledge and insights on such an enigmatic topic as the human soul.
But to Katrina’s credit, she helps Nick recover some of his former lives…and in the process he discovers the sources of his discontent, one of which is the absence of his soul mate throughout the ages. Thus begins a series of experiences that permanently alters his very essence and answers some of the greatest questions man can ask of The Universe…and himself.
In several passages Nick, while undergoing regression, speaks of how we are all connected through an energetic field, a web of energy and higher consciousness that unites every living thing on earth. I had come across this concept while learning about Hinduism and felt it deep in my bones to be true. It wasn’t until I began my journey to becoming a Reiki master over ten years ago that I actually experienced this oneness firsthand.
I had moments, fleeting mini-epiphanies (as many of us do) where I would suddenly be in awe, spontaneously struck by the sensation that we are all connected and would be overcome for a few moments by the beauty of it all (like looking up at the sunset and suddenly being so taken by its magnificence that you get lost, everything drops away, times slows down and for a few moments you feel the gentle hum of everything around you and you just feel it; you just know we’re all connected. It’s good stuff). My entire life I’ve been able to know things I shouldn’t know, hear things I shouldn’t hear and had communications with the other side.
But being connected? To everything? Experiencing it? Consciously stepping into it? That seemed impossible.
THE UNITY OF LIFE
When I went deeper into my Reiki training I found, much to my surprise, that I (along with anyone else who chooses to learn) could adjust my focus and tune in to that gentle hum; the vibration of oneness and I could find with minimal effort a specific person’s energy, whether I had met them or not. I could see details of their features, short vignettes of their lives, their hobbies, their passions, their struggles…and I could help them using that same energy.
That which had been impossible to me 24 hours earlier was suddenly reality. I know it sounds crazy. I thought so too…until I experienced it.
I confess I sometimes lose sight of this knowledge…especially after the hardships of the past several years. It’s easy to feel detached, separate and alone when going through a traumatic experience. Soul Sessions reminded me to be mindful and step into those moments of unity with greater frequency. It reinforced what I know to be true deep in bones.
Thank you, Carson Gage, for reminding me of what it means to be human and for having the bravery to explore the mysteries of life, love and death with Soul Sessions.
Okay, ladies and gents. Now it’s your turn to share. Do you believe in reincarnation? Soul mates? Life after death? I shared one of my stories and I’d love to hear yours. Feel free to share your experiences, beliefs and insights in the comments below. And take some time to be in the moment today…maybe you’ll feel that gentle hum.
Kisses & Chaos,
Alli Woods Frederick
IMAGES :: © ALLI WOODS FREDERICK ::
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
Posted in LIFE, SOUL MINGLING, SPONSORED POST, THE UNEXPLAINED
Tagged BODY MIND AND SPIRIT, BOOKS, SPONSOR, THE UNKNOWN
Leave a comment
Mad Men And The Bravery Of Vulnerability
MAYBE it’s because I’m an artist, but I freakin’ loved the office scene last night between my sweetheart Stan (am I the only one who adores him? He reminds me of so many people I know) and the magnificent (and manipulative) Pima. Did their conversation click with anyone else?
All my fellow artists out there, I know your hands are shooting up in the air, but what about those of you who don’t work in a creative field? If you think their dialogue didn’t apply to you, think again. So what the hell is this amazing conversation of which I speak? Let’s recap, shall we?
MAD MEN AND THE BRAVERY OF VULNERABILITY
Pima – ‘You must show me your work.’
Stan – ‘I don’t know.’
Pima – ‘ I can feel the tension of your need for my approval.’
Stan – (pauses) ‘I wouldn’t mind you taking a look if you promise to be honest.’
…
BAM! And there it is. A big old truth bomb (and the overarching theme of the entire episode) served up in menswear. Allow me to elaborate (gee, because I never do that).
Being an artist makes you vulnerable.
ART IS VULNERABILITY IN ACTION.
But to share your art? By sharing you’re taking your thoughts, your experiences, your feelings, your ideas, your hopes, your dreams, your fears, your vision and willingly putting them into the world for others to judge in whatever way they choose. Which, despite most artists’ best efforts to feel otherwise, means we feel like we’re being judged as individuals – our thoughts, our feelings, our vision…you get the idea.
It extends beyond mere execution or talent. And if you don’t think it’s terrifying, guess again. (Yes. Yes, it is terrifying…in case you were still guessing.)
ART IS VULNERABILITY.
Don’t believe me? Just ask Stan how he felt after what transpired between him and Pima in the darkroom. He was feeling like a dissected frog in a junior high biology lab. But that’s part and parcel for being an artist who shares their work…we willingly make ourselves vulnerable. But artists aren’t alone in this most terrifying of emotional endeavors.
IT’S ALSO PART AND PARCEL FOR BEING A LIVING, BREATHING HUMAN BEING ON THIS EARTH.
Several reviews of last night’s episode, “New Business,” seemed to find Pima’s appearance pointless and the entire story lacking. But it’s seems to me that those individuals may have completely missed the purpose of her interludes (as well as the entire episode) – the unspoken part of Stan’s Pima encounter (and every single other encounter by virtually every single character last night) that applies to us all – we are all broken or scarred; we are all wounded in some way either by our own hand or the hands of others; we have all caused pain and received pain in kind…
WE HAVE ALL BEEN HURT AND WE ARE ALL VULNERABLE.
And when we make ourselves truly vulnerable, when we willingly expose ourselves for who we really are and what we’ve truly done, it is an act of bravery – heart and soul both on display for others to judge in whatever way they choose.
Some will accept you. Some will reject you. That’s just part and parcel for such a bold act of bravery; of being a living, breathing human being on this earth.
Without great risk, there is no great reward. And even with great risk…well…most of our asses are still left flapping in the wind. But, in my experience as an artist and as a human being, it is far better to try; to open your heart; to expose yourself and give people the chance to accept you, the real you, the entire you, or reject you. And while it sounds trite, it’s true – even if you fail, at least you’ll know you tried.
Kisses & Chaos,
Alli Woods Frederick
IMAGES :: COURTESY AMC ::
This Was Going To Be a Post About Creative Freedom But Is Pictures Of My Cat Looking Angry Instead
THIS post was originally going to be all about freedom of expression and artists being bullied into needless apologies in the name of political correctness. And then Mischa started grooming himself and making funny faces so I decided f*ck it. The eye-opening, freedom of speech and expression post that was going to be here can wait and instead has magically transformed into…
PICTURES OF MY CAT LOOKING ANGRY
Just to be clear, Mischa, who as we all know doesn’t have a mean bone in his body wasn’t actually angry he just takes his grooming very seriously. So seriously, in fact, that he required a nap immediately afterwards. Now that’s some serious bathing.
Kisses & Chaos,
Alli Woods Frederick
PS – For those of you who just don’t get the whole cat thing and cling to the negative stereotypes of cats and cat owners, then you definitely need to read “New Poll Shows America Is Realizing The Truth: CAT PEOPLE ARE AWESOME.” Thanks, Huffington Post for telling the world what cats and cat owners have always known. And just so you know, Mischa just high-fived me. Awesome indeed.
PPS – Make sure to stay tuned next week. There’s a giveaway coming and you don’t want to miss it so make sure you check back in for details on how to win some goodies from me and a surprise guest.
IMAGES :: ALL IMAGES © ALLI WOODS FREDERICK. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ::
* MAD MEN MONDAY ALWAYS HAS AND ALWAYS WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS AND IS MADE IN A FACTORY WHERE NUTS ARE PROCESSED. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK. *
BELONGING. Belonging was the theme in last night’s episode of Mad Men, ‘The Forecast.’ It was all about finding your place in this world; it was about being lost but wanting to be found; it was about finding something more in life; it was all about trying to belong…to yourself.
The ever inept Mathis, after a massive screw up in front of a client, comes to Don seeking guidance. The man’s clueless as to who he really is or what his place is in the agency (as is evidenced by his incessant neediness and approval seeking behavior).
Instead of finding his own clever way to handle the debacle (as suggested by Don) he tries to be Don and imitate his charm and wit (neither of which he possesses)…and fails miserably. Instead of taking ownership of his f*ck up and coming that much closer to discovering where he belongs in his world, he opts to lay the blame squarely at Don’s feet as a final show of cowardice.
Glen tries to find his place in college, but doesn’t succeed. He then tries, once again, to fit his square peg in a round hole by enlisting for the war. (A decision I believe will be his undoing, shattering Sally’s brave little heart; a decision that will prove to be a pivotal moment, casting the die for her entire future. As someone’s who’s emotionally invested in the characters, I hope I’m wrong. As an artist who understands the journey is everything, that some stories have no choice but to unfold in painful ways or else lose their meaning, I hope I’m right.)
As Sally embarks on a summer adventure with friends, she isn’t sure where she belongs or what she wants from life, but watching the selfish and inappropriate actions of her father and mother she knows one thing for certain: She sure as hell doesn’t want to be like them.
SOMETIMES KNOWING WHAT YOU DON’T WANT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN KNOWING WHAT YOU DO.
Peggy defines her life by her work, seeming to have given up and refusing to find or acknowledge what her place is outside the office. Don, who sees so much of himself in Peggy, knows that if she continues down this path, it will lead her to a life half lived, lonely and full of regrets. He tries to help her realize the mistake she’s making, and though she knows he’s right, she conceals her fear within her anger and rejects his guidance.
Joan, who spent the entire series trying to get out of the misogynistic box in which she’d been trapped, has, by her standards, made it…for the most part. She has money. She has clout. She has exactly what she thought she wanted. She also has no one to love her and feels she is failing her son. Behind closed doors Joan silently doubts, flails and flounders as she tries to find her place as a mother, a lover and a successful executive.
Even the great Don Draper struggles to figure out where he truly belongs. While this is nothing new, his current rock bottom feels different than his numerous others – more somber, more lost, more yearning.
As he muses into his Dictaphone, he knows things aren’t right but he has no idea how to fix them:
“…we know where we’ve been, where we are…(let’s assume it’s good)…but it’s got to get better. It’s supposed to get better…”
And then, in a moment of accidental insight, Don’s realtor unwittingly tells him what he’s known but hasn’t expressed: he’s lost, literally and metaphorically without a home…as are so many of us who are looking for something more than mere existence. Searching. Wandering. Simply trying to find where you really belong and wondering if you ever truly will…
FIND YOUR PLACE IN THIS WORLD
I know I’m still searching. I know who I am. I know many of the reasons why I’m here. I know those reasons will evolve with time and that I haven’t discovered all of them yet. But I am still wandering. I’m still trying to find where I fit in the grand scheme of things; trying to find my place in this world while being not entirely convinced that I have one. Only time will tell…for me and for Don and the rest of The Tribe of Lost Ad Men.
What about you? Is there something missing from you life? Is there something that you just can’t put your finger on but you’re sure you’ll know it when you find it? Have you found your place? Have you even started looking? Maybe we’ll see each other along the way in our journeys…
Kisses & Chaos,
Alli Woods Frederick
IMAGES :: FRANK OCKENFELS 3/AMC :: COURTESY AMC ::
Soul Sessions: The Unity Of Life
RECENTLY I was given a book. I admittedly tend to literally judge books by their covers, and the cover of Soul Sessions: A Story of Love and Awakening, with its dark and subtle artwork, is one I would have walked right past in the bookstore…and that would have been a shame. I would have missed out on a book that drops some seriously profound truth bombs and overflows with my favorite topics: life after death, synchronicity, reincarnation and fate versus freewill.
When it comes to such subjects, I typically prefer non-fiction (I can already hear you non-believers laughing at my use of ‘non-fiction’ in this context and it’s okay. I still love you) due to how wildly farfetched most fictitious accounts are, but considering the author’s history, I felt he was slightly more qualified to write on such esoteric matters.
The author, Carson Gage, was run over by a speeding car at the tender age of seven. Ever since then he has been on a quest, plumbing the depths of the human experience looking for answers to THE questions. Yeah – you know the ones…the heavy hitters like “Who am I,” “Why am I here,” “What happens when I die?” (I told you they were THE questions.) And I have to say, in reading Soul Sessions, I found much of what he espoused resonated with me – both from personal experiences I have had as an intuitive medium and reiki master as well as what my heart simply knows to be true.
I must confess that the first few pages were frustrating. The dialogue had an unnatural rhythm to it that rubbed me the wrong way, but as I read on, curled up in bed with Mischa sleeping soundly by my side, I found myself being drawn in, not so much by the characters but by the truths that came spilling from the pages.
Nick Dalton is a successful investment banker (and womanizer) in Chicago suffering from profound depression stemming from an acute existential crisis and is a far cry from likeable throughout much of the book (which I suppose is the point). Katrina DuMont, Nick’s very open-minded new psychiatrist who introduces him to a less conventional approach of treatment using past-life regression, comes across as cold and clinical despite her extensive knowledge and insights on such an enigmatic topic as the human soul.
But to Katrina’s credit, she helps Nick recover some of his former lives…and in the process he discovers the sources of his discontent, one of which is the absence of his soul mate throughout the ages. Thus begins a series of experiences that permanently alters his very essence and answers some of the greatest questions man can ask of The Universe…and himself.
In several passages Nick, while undergoing regression, speaks of how we are all connected through an energetic field, a web of energy and higher consciousness that unites every living thing on earth. I had come across this concept while learning about Hinduism and felt it deep in my bones to be true. It wasn’t until I began my journey to becoming a Reiki master over ten years ago that I actually experienced this oneness firsthand.
I had moments, fleeting mini-epiphanies (as many of us do) where I would suddenly be in awe, spontaneously struck by the sensation that we are all connected and would be overcome for a few moments by the beauty of it all (like looking up at the sunset and suddenly being so taken by its magnificence that you get lost, everything drops away, times slows down and for a few moments you feel the gentle hum of everything around you and you just feel it; you just know we’re all connected. It’s good stuff). My entire life I’ve been able to know things I shouldn’t know, hear things I shouldn’t hear and had communications with the other side.
But being connected? To everything? Experiencing it? Consciously stepping into it? That seemed impossible.
THE UNITY OF LIFE
When I went deeper into my Reiki training I found, much to my surprise, that I (along with anyone else who chooses to learn) could adjust my focus and tune in to that gentle hum; the vibration of oneness and I could find with minimal effort a specific person’s energy, whether I had met them or not. I could see details of their features, short vignettes of their lives, their hobbies, their passions, their struggles…and I could help them using that same energy.
That which had been impossible to me 24 hours earlier was suddenly reality. I know it sounds crazy. I thought so too…until I experienced it.
I confess I sometimes lose sight of this knowledge…especially after the hardships of the past several years. It’s easy to feel detached, separate and alone when going through a traumatic experience. Soul Sessions reminded me to be mindful and step into those moments of unity with greater frequency. It reinforced what I know to be true deep in bones.
Thank you, Carson Gage, for reminding me of what it means to be human and for having the bravery to explore the mysteries of life, love and death with Soul Sessions.
Okay, ladies and gents. Now it’s your turn to share. Do you believe in reincarnation? Soul mates? Life after death? I shared one of my stories and I’d love to hear yours. Feel free to share your experiences, beliefs and insights in the comments below. And take some time to be in the moment today…maybe you’ll feel that gentle hum.
Kisses & Chaos,
Alli Woods Frederick
IMAGES :: © ALLI WOODS FREDERICK ::
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
Posted in LIFE, SOUL MINGLING, SPONSORED POST, THE UNEXPLAINED
Tagged BODY MIND AND SPIRIT, BOOKS, SPONSOR, THE UNKNOWN
Leave a comment
Mad Men And The Bravery Of Vulnerability
MAYBE it’s because I’m an artist, but I freakin’ loved the office scene last night between my sweetheart Stan (am I the only one who adores him? He reminds me of so many people I know) and the magnificent (and manipulative) Pima. Did their conversation click with anyone else?
All my fellow artists out there, I know your hands are shooting up in the air, but what about those of you who don’t work in a creative field? If you think their dialogue didn’t apply to you, think again. So what the hell is this amazing conversation of which I speak? Let’s recap, shall we?
MAD MEN AND THE BRAVERY OF VULNERABILITY
Pima – ‘You must show me your work.’
Stan – ‘I don’t know.’
Pima – ‘ I can feel the tension of your need for my approval.’
Stan – (pauses) ‘I wouldn’t mind you taking a look if you promise to be honest.’
…
BAM! And there it is. A big old truth bomb (and the overarching theme of the entire episode) served up in menswear. Allow me to elaborate (gee, because I never do that).
Being an artist makes you vulnerable.
ART IS VULNERABILITY IN ACTION.
But to share your art? By sharing you’re taking your thoughts, your experiences, your feelings, your ideas, your hopes, your dreams, your fears, your vision and willingly putting them into the world for others to judge in whatever way they choose. Which, despite most artists’ best efforts to feel otherwise, means we feel like we’re being judged as individuals – our thoughts, our feelings, our vision…you get the idea.
It extends beyond mere execution or talent. And if you don’t think it’s terrifying, guess again. (Yes. Yes, it is terrifying…in case you were still guessing.)
ART IS VULNERABILITY.
Don’t believe me? Just ask Stan how he felt after what transpired between him and Pima in the darkroom. He was feeling like a dissected frog in a junior high biology lab. But that’s part and parcel for being an artist who shares their work…we willingly make ourselves vulnerable. But artists aren’t alone in this most terrifying of emotional endeavors.
IT’S ALSO PART AND PARCEL FOR BEING A LIVING, BREATHING HUMAN BEING ON THIS EARTH.
Several reviews of last night’s episode, “New Business,” seemed to find Pima’s appearance pointless and the entire story lacking. But it’s seems to me that those individuals may have completely missed the purpose of her interludes (as well as the entire episode) – the unspoken part of Stan’s Pima encounter (and every single other encounter by virtually every single character last night) that applies to us all – we are all broken or scarred; we are all wounded in some way either by our own hand or the hands of others; we have all caused pain and received pain in kind…
WE HAVE ALL BEEN HURT AND WE ARE ALL VULNERABLE.
And when we make ourselves truly vulnerable, when we willingly expose ourselves for who we really are and what we’ve truly done, it is an act of bravery – heart and soul both on display for others to judge in whatever way they choose.
Some will accept you. Some will reject you. That’s just part and parcel for such a bold act of bravery; of being a living, breathing human being on this earth.
Without great risk, there is no great reward. And even with great risk…well…most of our asses are still left flapping in the wind. But, in my experience as an artist and as a human being, it is far better to try; to open your heart; to expose yourself and give people the chance to accept you, the real you, the entire you, or reject you. And while it sounds trite, it’s true – even if you fail, at least you’ll know you tried.
Kisses & Chaos,
Alli Woods Frederick
IMAGES :: COURTESY AMC ::
This Was Going To Be a Post About Creative Freedom But Is Pictures Of My Cat Looking Angry Instead
THIS post was originally going to be all about freedom of expression and artists being bullied into needless apologies in the name of political correctness. And then Mischa started grooming himself and making funny faces so I decided f*ck it. The eye-opening, freedom of speech and expression post that was going to be here can wait and instead has magically transformed into…
PICTURES OF MY CAT LOOKING ANGRY
Just to be clear, Mischa, who as we all know doesn’t have a mean bone in his body wasn’t actually angry he just takes his grooming very seriously. So seriously, in fact, that he required a nap immediately afterwards. Now that’s some serious bathing.
Kisses & Chaos,
Alli Woods Frederick
PS – For those of you who just don’t get the whole cat thing and cling to the negative stereotypes of cats and cat owners, then you definitely need to read “New Poll Shows America Is Realizing The Truth: CAT PEOPLE ARE AWESOME.” Thanks, Huffington Post for telling the world what cats and cat owners have always known. And just so you know, Mischa just high-fived me. Awesome indeed.
PPS – Make sure to stay tuned next week. There’s a giveaway coming and you don’t want to miss it so make sure you check back in for details on how to win some goodies from me and a surprise guest.
IMAGES :: ALL IMAGES © ALLI WOODS FREDERICK. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ::
RECENTLY I was given a book. I admittedly tend to literally judge books by their covers, and the cover of Soul Sessions: A Story of Love and Awakening, with its dark and subtle artwork, is one I would have walked right past in the bookstore…and that would have been a shame. I would have missed out on a book that drops some seriously profound truth bombs and overflows with my favorite topics: life after death, synchronicity, reincarnation and fate versus freewill.
When it comes to such subjects, I typically prefer non-fiction (I can already hear you non-believers laughing at my use of ‘non-fiction’ in this context and it’s okay. I still love you) due to how wildly farfetched most fictitious accounts are, but considering the author’s history, I felt he was slightly more qualified to write on such esoteric matters.
The author, Carson Gage, was run over by a speeding car at the tender age of seven. Ever since then he has been on a quest, plumbing the depths of the human experience looking for answers to THE questions. Yeah – you know the ones…the heavy hitters like “Who am I,” “Why am I here,” “What happens when I die?” (I told you they were THE questions.) And I have to say, in reading Soul Sessions, I found much of what he espoused resonated with me – both from personal experiences I have had as an intuitive medium and reiki master as well as what my heart simply knows to be true.
I must confess that the first few pages were frustrating. The dialogue had an unnatural rhythm to it that rubbed me the wrong way, but as I read on, curled up in bed with Mischa sleeping soundly by my side, I found myself being drawn in, not so much by the characters but by the truths that came spilling from the pages.
Nick Dalton is a successful investment banker (and womanizer) in Chicago suffering from profound depression stemming from an acute existential crisis and is a far cry from likeable throughout much of the book (which I suppose is the point). Katrina DuMont, Nick’s very open-minded new psychiatrist who introduces him to a less conventional approach of treatment using past-life regression, comes across as cold and clinical despite her extensive knowledge and insights on such an enigmatic topic as the human soul.
But to Katrina’s credit, she helps Nick recover some of his former lives…and in the process he discovers the sources of his discontent, one of which is the absence of his soul mate throughout the ages. Thus begins a series of experiences that permanently alters his very essence and answers some of the greatest questions man can ask of The Universe…and himself.
In several passages Nick, while undergoing regression, speaks of how we are all connected through an energetic field, a web of energy and higher consciousness that unites every living thing on earth. I had come across this concept while learning about Hinduism and felt it deep in my bones to be true. It wasn’t until I began my journey to becoming a Reiki master over ten years ago that I actually experienced this oneness firsthand.
I had moments, fleeting mini-epiphanies (as many of us do) where I would suddenly be in awe, spontaneously struck by the sensation that we are all connected and would be overcome for a few moments by the beauty of it all (like looking up at the sunset and suddenly being so taken by its magnificence that you get lost, everything drops away, times slows down and for a few moments you feel the gentle hum of everything around you and you just feel it; you just know we’re all connected. It’s good stuff). My entire life I’ve been able to know things I shouldn’t know, hear things I shouldn’t hear and had communications with the other side.
But being connected? To everything? Experiencing it? Consciously stepping into it? That seemed impossible.
THE UNITY OF LIFE
When I went deeper into my Reiki training I found, much to my surprise, that I (along with anyone else who chooses to learn) could adjust my focus and tune in to that gentle hum; the vibration of oneness and I could find with minimal effort a specific person’s energy, whether I had met them or not. I could see details of their features, short vignettes of their lives, their hobbies, their passions, their struggles…and I could help them using that same energy.
That which had been impossible to me 24 hours earlier was suddenly reality. I know it sounds crazy. I thought so too…until I experienced it.
I confess I sometimes lose sight of this knowledge…especially after the hardships of the past several years. It’s easy to feel detached, separate and alone when going through a traumatic experience. Soul Sessions reminded me to be mindful and step into those moments of unity with greater frequency. It reinforced what I know to be true deep in bones.
Thank you, Carson Gage, for reminding me of what it means to be human and for having the bravery to explore the mysteries of life, love and death with Soul Sessions.
Okay, ladies and gents. Now it’s your turn to share. Do you believe in reincarnation? Soul mates? Life after death? I shared one of my stories and I’d love to hear yours. Feel free to share your experiences, beliefs and insights in the comments below. And take some time to be in the moment today…maybe you’ll feel that gentle hum.
Kisses & Chaos,
Alli Woods Frederick
IMAGES :: © ALLI WOODS FREDERICK ::
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
Posted in LIFE, SOUL MINGLING, SPONSORED POST, THE UNEXPLAINED
Tagged BODY MIND AND SPIRIT, BOOKS, SPONSOR, THE UNKNOWN
Leave a comment
Mad Men And The Bravery Of Vulnerability
MAYBE it’s because I’m an artist, but I freakin’ loved the office scene last night between my sweetheart Stan (am I the only one who adores him? He reminds me of so many people I know) and the magnificent (and manipulative) Pima. Did their conversation click with anyone else?
All my fellow artists out there, I know your hands are shooting up in the air, but what about those of you who don’t work in a creative field? If you think their dialogue didn’t apply to you, think again. So what the hell is this amazing conversation of which I speak? Let’s recap, shall we?
MAD MEN AND THE BRAVERY OF VULNERABILITY
Pima – ‘You must show me your work.’
Stan – ‘I don’t know.’
Pima – ‘ I can feel the tension of your need for my approval.’
Stan – (pauses) ‘I wouldn’t mind you taking a look if you promise to be honest.’
…
BAM! And there it is. A big old truth bomb (and the overarching theme of the entire episode) served up in menswear. Allow me to elaborate (gee, because I never do that).
Being an artist makes you vulnerable.
ART IS VULNERABILITY IN ACTION.
But to share your art? By sharing you’re taking your thoughts, your experiences, your feelings, your ideas, your hopes, your dreams, your fears, your vision and willingly putting them into the world for others to judge in whatever way they choose. Which, despite most artists’ best efforts to feel otherwise, means we feel like we’re being judged as individuals – our thoughts, our feelings, our vision…you get the idea.
It extends beyond mere execution or talent. And if you don’t think it’s terrifying, guess again. (Yes. Yes, it is terrifying…in case you were still guessing.)
ART IS VULNERABILITY.
Don’t believe me? Just ask Stan how he felt after what transpired between him and Pima in the darkroom. He was feeling like a dissected frog in a junior high biology lab. But that’s part and parcel for being an artist who shares their work…we willingly make ourselves vulnerable. But artists aren’t alone in this most terrifying of emotional endeavors.
IT’S ALSO PART AND PARCEL FOR BEING A LIVING, BREATHING HUMAN BEING ON THIS EARTH.
Several reviews of last night’s episode, “New Business,” seemed to find Pima’s appearance pointless and the entire story lacking. But it’s seems to me that those individuals may have completely missed the purpose of her interludes (as well as the entire episode) – the unspoken part of Stan’s Pima encounter (and every single other encounter by virtually every single character last night) that applies to us all – we are all broken or scarred; we are all wounded in some way either by our own hand or the hands of others; we have all caused pain and received pain in kind…
WE HAVE ALL BEEN HURT AND WE ARE ALL VULNERABLE.
And when we make ourselves truly vulnerable, when we willingly expose ourselves for who we really are and what we’ve truly done, it is an act of bravery – heart and soul both on display for others to judge in whatever way they choose.
Some will accept you. Some will reject you. That’s just part and parcel for such a bold act of bravery; of being a living, breathing human being on this earth.
Without great risk, there is no great reward. And even with great risk…well…most of our asses are still left flapping in the wind. But, in my experience as an artist and as a human being, it is far better to try; to open your heart; to expose yourself and give people the chance to accept you, the real you, the entire you, or reject you. And while it sounds trite, it’s true – even if you fail, at least you’ll know you tried.
Kisses & Chaos,
Alli Woods Frederick
IMAGES :: COURTESY AMC ::
This Was Going To Be a Post About Creative Freedom But Is Pictures Of My Cat Looking Angry Instead
THIS post was originally going to be all about freedom of expression and artists being bullied into needless apologies in the name of political correctness. And then Mischa started grooming himself and making funny faces so I decided f*ck it. The eye-opening, freedom of speech and expression post that was going to be here can wait and instead has magically transformed into…
PICTURES OF MY CAT LOOKING ANGRY
Just to be clear, Mischa, who as we all know doesn’t have a mean bone in his body wasn’t actually angry he just takes his grooming very seriously. So seriously, in fact, that he required a nap immediately afterwards. Now that’s some serious bathing.
Kisses & Chaos,
Alli Woods Frederick
PS – For those of you who just don’t get the whole cat thing and cling to the negative stereotypes of cats and cat owners, then you definitely need to read “New Poll Shows America Is Realizing The Truth: CAT PEOPLE ARE AWESOME.” Thanks, Huffington Post for telling the world what cats and cat owners have always known. And just so you know, Mischa just high-fived me. Awesome indeed.
PPS – Make sure to stay tuned next week. There’s a giveaway coming and you don’t want to miss it so make sure you check back in for details on how to win some goodies from me and a surprise guest.
IMAGES :: ALL IMAGES © ALLI WOODS FREDERICK. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ::
MAYBE it’s because I’m an artist, but I freakin’ loved the office scene last night between my sweetheart Stan (am I the only one who adores him? He reminds me of so many people I know) and the magnificent (and manipulative) Pima. Did their conversation click with anyone else?
All my fellow artists out there, I know your hands are shooting up in the air, but what about those of you who don’t work in a creative field? If you think their dialogue didn’t apply to you, think again. So what the hell is this amazing conversation of which I speak? Let’s recap, shall we?
MAD MEN AND THE BRAVERY OF VULNERABILITY
Pima – ‘You must show me your work.’
Stan – ‘I don’t know.’
Pima – ‘ I can feel the tension of your need for my approval.’
Stan – (pauses) ‘I wouldn’t mind you taking a look if you promise to be honest.’…
BAM! And there it is. A big old truth bomb (and the overarching theme of the entire episode) served up in menswear. Allow me to elaborate (gee, because I never do that).
Being an artist makes you vulnerable.
ART IS VULNERABILITY IN ACTION.
But to share your art? By sharing you’re taking your thoughts, your experiences, your feelings, your ideas, your hopes, your dreams, your fears, your vision and willingly putting them into the world for others to judge in whatever way they choose. Which, despite most artists’ best efforts to feel otherwise, means we feel like we’re being judged as individuals – our thoughts, our feelings, our vision…you get the idea.
It extends beyond mere execution or talent. And if you don’t think it’s terrifying, guess again. (Yes. Yes, it is terrifying…in case you were still guessing.)
ART IS VULNERABILITY.
Don’t believe me? Just ask Stan how he felt after what transpired between him and Pima in the darkroom. He was feeling like a dissected frog in a junior high biology lab. But that’s part and parcel for being an artist who shares their work…we willingly make ourselves vulnerable. But artists aren’t alone in this most terrifying of emotional endeavors.
IT’S ALSO PART AND PARCEL FOR BEING A LIVING, BREATHING HUMAN BEING ON THIS EARTH.
Several reviews of last night’s episode, “New Business,” seemed to find Pima’s appearance pointless and the entire story lacking. But it’s seems to me that those individuals may have completely missed the purpose of her interludes (as well as the entire episode) – the unspoken part of Stan’s Pima encounter (and every single other encounter by virtually every single character last night) that applies to us all – we are all broken or scarred; we are all wounded in some way either by our own hand or the hands of others; we have all caused pain and received pain in kind…
WE HAVE ALL BEEN HURT AND WE ARE ALL VULNERABLE.
And when we make ourselves truly vulnerable, when we willingly expose ourselves for who we really are and what we’ve truly done, it is an act of bravery – heart and soul both on display for others to judge in whatever way they choose.
Some will accept you. Some will reject you. That’s just part and parcel for such a bold act of bravery; of being a living, breathing human being on this earth.
Without great risk, there is no great reward. And even with great risk…well…most of our asses are still left flapping in the wind. But, in my experience as an artist and as a human being, it is far better to try; to open your heart; to expose yourself and give people the chance to accept you, the real you, the entire you, or reject you. And while it sounds trite, it’s true – even if you fail, at least you’ll know you tried.
Kisses & Chaos,
Alli Woods Frederick
IMAGES :: COURTESY AMC ::
This Was Going To Be a Post About Creative Freedom But Is Pictures Of My Cat Looking Angry Instead
THIS post was originally going to be all about freedom of expression and artists being bullied into needless apologies in the name of political correctness. And then Mischa started grooming himself and making funny faces so I decided f*ck it. The eye-opening, freedom of speech and expression post that was going to be here can wait and instead has magically transformed into…
PICTURES OF MY CAT LOOKING ANGRY
Just to be clear, Mischa, who as we all know doesn’t have a mean bone in his body wasn’t actually angry he just takes his grooming very seriously. So seriously, in fact, that he required a nap immediately afterwards. Now that’s some serious bathing.
Kisses & Chaos,
Alli Woods Frederick
PS – For those of you who just don’t get the whole cat thing and cling to the negative stereotypes of cats and cat owners, then you definitely need to read “New Poll Shows America Is Realizing The Truth: CAT PEOPLE ARE AWESOME.” Thanks, Huffington Post for telling the world what cats and cat owners have always known. And just so you know, Mischa just high-fived me. Awesome indeed.
PPS – Make sure to stay tuned next week. There’s a giveaway coming and you don’t want to miss it so make sure you check back in for details on how to win some goodies from me and a surprise guest.
IMAGES :: ALL IMAGES © ALLI WOODS FREDERICK. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ::
THIS post was originally going to be all about freedom of expression and artists being bullied into needless apologies in the name of political correctness. And then Mischa started grooming himself and making funny faces so I decided f*ck it. The eye-opening, freedom of speech and expression post that was going to be here can wait and instead has magically transformed into…
PICTURES OF MY CAT LOOKING ANGRY
Just to be clear, Mischa, who as we all know doesn’t have a mean bone in his body wasn’t actually angry he just takes his grooming very seriously. So seriously, in fact, that he required a nap immediately afterwards. Now that’s some serious bathing.
Kisses & Chaos,
Alli Woods Frederick
PS – For those of you who just don’t get the whole cat thing and cling to the negative stereotypes of cats and cat owners, then you definitely need to read “New Poll Shows America Is Realizing The Truth: CAT PEOPLE ARE AWESOME.” Thanks, Huffington Post for telling the world what cats and cat owners have always known. And just so you know, Mischa just high-fived me. Awesome indeed.
PPS – Make sure to stay tuned next week. There’s a giveaway coming and you don’t want to miss it so make sure you check back in for details on how to win some goodies from me and a surprise guest.
IMAGES :: ALL IMAGES © ALLI WOODS FREDERICK. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ::
