Sunday Morning Thoughts – March 3, 2024
Surely, it can’t be March already?
My mind was all over the place this week. A weird week. Weird and wonderful and unexpected. Anyway, I was thinking about the Origin of the World. Not the big bang or anything like that, but the painting by Gustave Courbet from 1866. The original title is “L’Origine du Monde”. It was not displayed at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. It's on loan in Metz. Metz is a beautiful city; I've been there before.
Maybe I can stop on my way back from vacation in April. The fastest route is usually through Luxembourg and Metz is right there. Plan made.
Anyway, that painting has caused quite a bit of controversy, but I do love the title and I do think at a time when basic female healthcare is at stake, it's a good idea to remember that's where all our lives started. And a side note: if you're in Alabama and think embryos are babies - I have several questions but let's just go with one for now. How is it okay to freeze babies? Or maybe you want to stop that too – is that it? I can't say more on this subject, or this will turn into a full-on rant.
Oh, and if you don't know the painting, maybe don't look it up. I won't put a picture of it here - I might get censored.
On Thursday a bunch of people from work went to see a “Tribute to Simon & Garfunkel” at Theater Rigiblick in Zurich. If you’re in the area, it’s well worth it. I was surprised I knew all the songs (except for one). A really lovely night. I also love that our employer offers cultural outings like this. Some of us clearly do need some culture. And before anybody gets started. Yes, I do mean myself. Of course I do.
Friday was trauma therapy day. EMDR and such. Fascinating. It’s difficult to explain. And I don’t think they (scientists) have figured out why it works, but it does. I might talk about what happened some other time. My entire body got involved and it will need some time to process. Totally new perspective on certain things and reprocessing memories. Seriously fascinating, I just can’t put it into words yet.
I got a real energy boost from it but also felt really drained. It was weirdly interesting.
Then I had this moment of feeling completely inadequate – this was unrelated to my therapy session. I’m gonna use this as an example of how your feelings are real, but they are not facts. Such an important lesson a friend helped me learn. I know what triggered this feeling (see below) and I don’t need anybody to tell my I’m enough. What I wanted to highlight is that these feelings happen and it’s our job to acknowledge we’re feeling that way. Now what would usually happen is that I would get stuck in a downward spiral of frustration and feeling like I’m not enough etc. This time I was like “okay, makes sense that I feel that way”. And that was that.
Happy to share what triggered it. I was looking at somebody’s LinkedIn profile and there was such focus in it, and they were high achieving. Okay, I’m no slouch either, but mine is lacking that focus. Looking at it objectively, I’d have hated just doing one thing pretty much all my life. That’s when the moment of inadequacy was over. I’m okay being me. This would not have happened if I hadn’t first acknowledged that feeling and taken a step back to see what was really going on. Moment was over in less than five minutes.
And watch this space. I got big plans. I told you guys that I was gonna do a TED Talk at some point. That’s still one of the plans. No idea what I’d talk about, but we’ve established that I can easily talk for 30 minutes straight on anything.
And then there was art. I know I started this with art, but this is different. Growing up I was not allowed to be creative, because I was too smart. I don’t have to tell you how damaging hearing that was. I mean what does that even mean? And also, are creative people not smart? I think whoever told me that got it completely wrong. Creative minds are some of the smartest people I know. How was that even a thing? You could be good in school OR creative. That’s just stupid! No freaking wonder I never fit in.
And it didn’t work as my creativity is back with a vengeance. I mean you guys are reading this because I started writing. Then there is painting. I found this art studio/gallery that offers classes and also just a space to work on your own art. You pay a small amount for using the space and then for materials as well. I think I’ll start with some guided classes and go from there. I do have some ideas I wanna play around with as well. I’ll keep you posted.
I used to sketch growing up. Mainly buildings and stuff – in pencil. Somebody told me I wasn’t very good at it, so I stopped. People are idiots. And yes, I was one too for stopping. I enjoyed it and that’s what counts. Have I told you about feeling inadequate? Here we go again. But did you know that some of the most famous painters weren’t famous during their lifetime? I’m thinking of Vincent van Gogh for instance. He once wrote to his brother that he hoped he would be good enough to have a small exhibition of his work at a café or something like that.
Let that sink in and also, he never knew how famous he’d become after his death. Tragic, sad and all the more reason to enjoy what we’re doing and follow our dreams. I’m sure there’s many others, he just came to mind. And that art studio I mentioned offers a course called “Paint like van Gogh” – I’m totally doing that. There was also one on painting cows that I missed. I’ll need to make sure I catch the next one.
And then there is Augusto Giacometti a Swiss artist whose work is shown in a temporary exhibit at the art museum in Aarau. Now, I’d not really been there to see an art exhibit before, but I went yesterday. Now, you might have heard the name Giacometti before if you like art. There are several of them around. I stopped reading where it said that this one was the second cousin of that other one’s dad or something like that. Augusto is the one who is responsible for the painted entry hall of a police station in Zurich. I know I said I wouldn’t look things up for my thoughts, but I did look this up yesterday to share with a friend so here you go.
There’s a quote in there: “Thanks to Augusto Giacometti, what is probably the most beautiful police station entrance hall worldwide is located in the heart of Zurich.” I haven’t actually seen that one in person, but I should be able to make it there at some point.
Where was I? Oh yes, the Giacometti exhibit at the art museum in Aarau. I actually liked it. I was not sure that I would, but it’s a nice museum. Pretty big for the size of the town, spacious and not crowded. So, you can take your time to look at things. One painting was entitled “My hotel room in Paris” and that was not the only Paris connection I made yesterday.
Looking up the architecture of the building, basically just to check that I got the architects’ names right, I realized why I immediately recognized one of the works of art on display at the Centre Pompidou in Paris. Have a look at the outside of the building here and I’m pretty sure you can see why this work of art by Rémy Zaugg reminded me of the Kunsthaus in Aarau.
Now I haven’t mentioned the architects. They are Herzog & de Meuron and they’re pretty famous. See, there’s another reason to visit Aarau. And yes, I know – I do owe you a city profile. I’ll get there.
I’ll be back at the museum next Wednesday. There’s an annual exhibit I’ve actually been to. I didn’t count it above as having been to an exhibit. I had been gifted tickets and only went because I didn’t want to hurt the person gave them to me. I was very grumpy at the start but ended up loving it. So, I’m going back. It’s called Flowers to Arts – although I prefer the literal translation of the German title “flowers for art”. Anyway, it’s works of art that are recreated using flowers and floral arrangements. Should be fun. A managed to book one of the last timeslots that still had tickets available. They went fast. It’s only on for six days – for obvious reasons. They are using real flowers.
So much more going on in my head, but 1500+ words is enough for today. Just one more thing. A HUGE thanks for all the lovely comments on Hope. It means so much.
Have great Sunday everyone. Fingers crossed for good things to happen out West.
Dearest Evelyne I had left an entire response to your Always thought provoking and teaching posts on so many topics of interest to me! I was nearing the end of my response to your post and it disappeared and now at nearly 6 AM I am just needing to shut down for a bit and will try to reconstruct my thoughts another time! I will say here that I was so thrilled to hear of your experience with EMDR. The Feelings you experienced post your session are both necessary and expected after a Freeing and Understanding exercise such as that! I was trained in EMDR, by PHD Dr George Everly in 1985. Here in the USA because I do not hold the credentials to perform EMDR I always had people on my CISM Team that were trained and credentialed and near 98% of my referrals were Positive experiences. Your post session experiences and expressions are both Expected and Necessary to cleanse your thought process. As I was taught it is a “Normal Reaction”, to what is considered, regardless of Etiology, a very “Abnormal and Traumatic” Response to any thought provoking expression such as you described! I am so glad your experience was a Positive and Cleansing session for you. All the post session Feelings are “Normal”? and to be Expected to help continue the Healing Process. I feel I need to shut down for now as I feel I am speaking ragtime here at 6 AM! I thank you for your entire post and I did want to ask you about the translation of the Wording outside the Police station! I just Loved all you had to say about Art and the Art’s and you’re Brilliance on the topics of Museums and the Incredible Interest in and of the classes and Art Related tours you avail yourself to. Thanks again for all you shared! I am not sure my mind could ever catch up with what I said in my previous reply to your Always Educational and Caring posts! Thanks as Always,
Neal from Boston.
I'm so excited for your art plan!!!
If you're referring to my "West" I thank you 🤞🏻