Once upon a time…
Things were good… and then they weren't.Lately, things have been tough. About a month and a half ago I could see that this time was coming. I wasn't sure how my wife and I would be getting through it.
I'm sure you remember that time in your life where you have to choose between important things. Which ones are most important from what is less so. Ever been there? In this I am talking about money, as in what do I pay and what will have to wait.
Thankfully, this time, the most pressing bills got paid, while food, gasoline and medicine were not. I have not had to resort to using food banks for a long time. I had thought all that was long past, but now, I am thankful that there was a resource like that available this last month, and by the look of the lines, I am not alone.
I've been trying to sell my artwork during all this, but no painting sales, no nibbles, no luck… no surprise. As I have tried everything, lowering my prices, half off sales, even put a few paintings on auction with a starting price of $9.99. This for paintings worth 30 times that amount, and at the end of the week, nothing. Not even one bid or offer.
This pretty much confirms my thoughts from the last blog, where I concluded I'm wasting my time, painting to earn any money off it. Paint for pleasure or personal projects, OK, but marketing my work, not so much any more.
I did have success on eBay selling a 15 year old pair of Converse, Chuck Taylor All Stars sneakers. That was a $22 life savor, it allowed my wife and I to supplement our food bank supplies. Had to borrow money from my son to get my wife's blood thinner medicine. As far as gas, we mostly stayed home.
At this point I should say, that I am not trying to complain… even though that is exactly what I am doing. There is much to be grateful for, and I am grateful, for not missing a meal (though the food's not on our normal menu), beautiful roof over my head (25 year old as it is), well running car (though very low on gas!), utilities still working, most pressing bills paid. Life could be much worse… much, much worse, and I'm thankful for what (actual abundance) we have.
Pardon me if I will stop here and chuckle (to myself), if any body had the idea my art business actually supported my family. That was the idea but as it turned out, a failed idea. No, if it wasn't for Social security and my wife's retirement, we'd likely be living under some bridge somewhere. Some do live off of art… that's great for them. It hasn't happened for me. Yes, I've sold hundred(s) of paintings but it hasn't been enough over the last thirteen years.
So, in the end of it all, things have not worked out the way I had imagined they would, but still I see there is, and has been, an invisible hand working things out in a different way. Somehow, no matter how life has come at me (or after me), like a raging bull, or a fluttering butterfly… My wife and I have gotten through it all, even quite pleasantly at times. I may not have been jumping for joy, although maybe I should be, but at least at this point, I can see and do say, "Thank you God." For as small a part, as we seem down here, on this floating blue ball, seemingly lost in your big boundless universe… I can see with my little eyes, that you are watching over us. I feel like somehow there is a working out of some mysterious purpose, some plan that is bigger than our imagination.
A plan for us, and I mean the collective 'all of us'. Something marvelous, that would make us all jump for joy, if we knew what is planned for us in our own, "Once upon a time…" story.
Dave
Edited
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