on the creative side

Coat Check

Originally uploaded by sheiladeeisme

Do you know people who always have to have someone they are mad at or someone that is their ultimate enemy? Someone that when you bring up a topic you can feel the hatred coming from that person? When you have a person in your life like this how do you deal with them? Because I find that my energy drains.

Over my lifetime, I have had several people in my life like this. I try to be a positive person and see different sides of various topics. Ultimately, I am seen as the ‘devil’s advocate’ sometimes because I will bring up different sides that are not always thought of. I am not saying I do not get angry or have a dark side because I do, but I like to think that I can speak rationally about topics that I do not agree with or even have strong feelings against. However, I don’t think that there is a topic that is off limits to discuss with me.

I care about people’s feelings and have (I know it sounds strange coming from me) always been what I call a ‘pleaser’. I don’t want to upset the people I love. Especially because I am not close (distance-wise) to many of them. I choose to chat with them about good things and not bring up the bad (or things that will upset). I would not mind talking about these topics if the person I was speaking with could speak rationally. However, other when a topic is brought up that is not in the “safe zone” it can end with a fight or someone really upset because that person only sees their side and it turns emotional. I think I am seen as cold and heartless with certain people because I do not show any emotion except joy. That is unfortunate because I am a complex person full of emotion.

Speaking in more specifics, there are people that this person cannot stand and I am in contact with these people (for various reasons). I have listened to the bad-mouthing throughout my life and I really do not like to hear it about anyone (whether someone I know or not). “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say something at all” should really be in place for all, not just some.

During the last round of drama, I have now been deemed untrustworthy and do not know right from wrong. This is unfortunate in the sense that I am not sure I am up for winning back the trust of this person. Again, I love this person and would not want to hurt them, but that is all that I seem to do these days. So with that, I will distance myself even further. I have to do what is best for me and my own immediate family. They do not like it when I am upset or hurting.

Many of you may be thinking is she talking about me and the answer is no. The person I am speaking of knows for sure because they are the one who left the voice mail last week!

Ciao…

She

Enjoy

Originally uploaded by sheiladeeisme

I recently was able to speak about the benefits of social media and art. There were two authors (Tee Morris, Starla Huchton) , a web comic (B. Casimir Slaski), and me as a photographer on the panel. Several in the audience did not understand that social media had actually helped launch our art. It was fabulous to hear others talk about how they got started in social media and how it has helped there craft!

One audience member wanted a step-step guide to how to make social media work. There is really no one right way. However, I think the biggest thing that came from the panel was that you have to cultivate your community. In other words, you have to be social.

What have you done to cultivate your community and what will you do in the future? What do you think works best and what have you done in the past that didn’t work so well?

Let me know your thoughts…

She