it's in the air... betsisanders 09

Title: "it's in the air"
(abstract painting of pine trees)
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
(Museum Wrapped)
Size: 12 x 16 inches
Artist: betsisanders 09

Christmas is 'in the air', in the malls, in store window displays, on the radio, and even on the streets... jeepneys playing Christmas songs, street children singing Christmas carols. Christmas is near and real. It's the happiest season of all....ut there are those who get more depressed and lonely during this joyful and festive season. Perhaps, they have just lost a loved one. Or they work abroad and are far from their families.........

This Christmas, think of how you can make a difference in someone else's life. Share what you have, the little that you have, start with your immediate families, relatives and friends, even house helpers, drivers, security guards, the postman, your pool cleaner, the street sweeper, or those who sell balut, taho and fishballs at the corner.By making someone else happy, you can feel happy too. Happy people make other people happy.

So start with yourself. Choose happiness. Happiness is a choice that one makes every single day. Remember that Christmas isn't about you or me. It's His birthday!!! Let's have a happy Christmas!

>>>>

"Life is all about choices. Don't let depression be your choice by default, instead, choose love, life and happiness all the time!" betsisanders 09

solitude by betsisanders 09

Title: Solitude (2 paintings)
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 8 x 11 inches
Artist; betsisanders 09

SOLITUDE / SILENCE

Aquarius ... “Solitude in beautiful surroundings will delight you today. Set aside some time with an extra cup of coffee (or tea) to ponder on the meaning of life. Enjoy your own company today.”

We live busy, chaotic lives, often stressed and need to find a special place, to have a few moments of silence or solitude. It is during these tranquil moments that we realize the existence of a Supreme Being, Who resides in the deep recesses of our selves, in our hearts. Our sadness, loneliness, insecurities, fear, hatred and anger are transformed by this Presence, who frees us from the suffering that we endure.

Find a special place in your home, a small garden perhaps, a corner in your bedroom, a nook in your kitchen or even your bathroom... this can become your place for reflection, meditation or prayer. We need silence and solitude to keep us focused, to give us direction and hope that someday, one day, we will be reunited with our loved ones who have gone ahead of us to our eternal residence, where God awaits all of us, where only joy abounds.

>>>>>>>>

“I never thought that I would enjoy being alone... I am my own best friend. No one can love me the way I want to be loved. If you've been true, honest and shared the little that you have, it comes around. Life has always been good to me. I have always been blessed, with a comfortable life, a loving, kind and wonderful husband, a good, obedient and cool son, a caring family and a few great friends. What comes around goes around. Life is so much happier when there are no fiends to disturb the calm and joy. ”

Painting, reading and writing are the most solitary activities. It is during these moments, in this stillness that you are able to hear yourself and connect or reach out with the Being inside us. This discovery is not found in seeking remote areas like the beach or the mountains. It is seeing within you, and seeing the world around you with different eyes.

When you keep still, your surroundings do not change. They remain as they are, but what changes is your perception of what is. You see the goodness that is inherent in every person. You see, feel , hear the beauty that is around you. You see the clear blue sky, the tall majestic trees as you drive down the road; you hear the birds that chirp on your window every morning; you hear the rustling sound of the leaves as they are blown away by the wind; you feel the cool breeze in the afternoon; you feel the softness of your pillows , the smooth silky feel of your satin sheets; you smell different aromas --- the coffee that you just brewed, the scent of your husband's cologne, the delicious smell of food you are cooking, or the sweet smell of freshly baked oatmeal bars, or simply delight on the sight of the flowers that are in your garden. You see the goodness that abound around you.

Sometimes, the calm is often disturbed by a phone call, a text message, or the ringing of the doorbell... more often, this tranquility is destroyed by monstrous thoughts. When these thoughts come, get up, do something, create art, bake a cake, clean your toilet, scrub your kitchen floors... do something, anything, to distract the mind. Step back, even for a short while, stop whatever you are doing. Confront your worries head on. Pray, meditate, read, write, paint, or take a walk. Reflect, give thanks for all the blessings you have received. Let go... let God handle the rest.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>>
"A moment of anger destroys years of patience." (betsisanders 09)

The Truth ... is that I'm turning 50 :[

Title: Truth
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas & Wood
Size: 18 x 24 inches / Museum Wrapped
Artist: betsisanders 09

I'm currently reading "Comfort Food", a novel by Kate Jacobs. Gus, the main character is turning 50. She loved celebrating, just like me, who loves throwing parties. This book had me at 'hello'...(I've always wanted to use that phrase) ;] ;]

Anyway, "some hostesses love parties because they relish being the center of attention. Gus, on the other hand, found her greatest pleasure in creating a party world with a place for everyone and where she believed everyone would be made to feel special." "There was only one birthday that Gus was tired of organizing. Tired of really celebrating at all. Her own..." She was turning 50. "She who never missed a chance to have a party. And that's when she realized she didn't want to do anything about celebrating either...In fact, she had preferred canceling her birthday altogether." :( .... my thoughts too !!!

>>>>>>>>

It is now Autumn in many parts of the world. Autumn is actually beautiful, any artist would surely love to paint the colorful landscapes--- crimson, burnt sienna, umber, lemon yellow, yellow ochre, tangerine, pink, --- against the ultramarine, phthalo blue purplish sky, a whole palette of colors. The hot summer days have gone and the long cold winter months are just around the corner.

I am in the 'autumn' of my life, like most of my friends, we 've had the best summers and the most wonderful springs. I am so familiar with the past and have been quite accustomed to it, telling and retelling stories of the past that I have known so well. But looking towards winter, the 'not so' near future, gives me a strange scary feeling of the unknown, of the uncertainty, where the only thing certain is death, mine or a loved one. :(

>>>>>>>>

Now let me ask the following questions... please try and answer them, be honest, be truthful.
1. How much are you worth? and do you share what you own?
2. What are you doing? Do you like what you are doing? Why are you doing it? To whom do you offer what you are doing?
3. Are you happy? Do you make other people happy? Are you a source of happiness, inspiration or delight for others?
4. How is your love life? Is there enough love in your life? Does your husband and son love you? Do your sisters, their families, and special friends love you? Will they cry when you die? Will you be missed by them?
5. Who are you fooling? Are you being truthful? or Do you live in a web of lies, not knowing where the truth ends and the lie begins?

(I actually based these questions in one of the articles I read written by Fr. Orbos. I just added a few more questions of my own.)

Pondering on all these questions and knowing the answers to most of them, I realized that I am ready... prepared to face the winter of my life. I do not own much but I am always sharing the very little that I have. I am semi-retired from my profession, Dentistry, and currently pursuing a different path, something that I have always wanted to do, to paint, create art, immortalize my thoughts and feelings on canvas and paper. I am happy, content and grateful. I am loved by a wonderful, caring, understanding and loving husband. I have an obedient, kind, respectful and lovable son. They are my reasons for living. As for friends, I do have a few. well meaning, truthful, 'fair or foul weather' friends, just a handful and you know who you all are.

Now the last question... "Who am I fooling?" I try to be as open and honest with everyone. I have walked away from people who did not love me back. I stayed away from people who dragged me down, are heavy, ungrateful and unappreciative. If this entails being quiet and spending time only with family and a few friends, then, that's good enough.I'll spend my precious time with truthful, honest, smart, fun loving and happy people. Choose to walk away and turn your back on those who fabricate lies, to gain sympathy and attention.

>>>>>>>

"A truthful person is confident and free. A person full of lies is fearful and trembling deep inside." (Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD)

>>>>>>>>
It takes two to tango, two to fight and two to make things right.
Choose life, love and happiness always.
Live, love and party...all the time! (betsisanders 09)

********

The Rose by betsisanders 09

Title: The Rose
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 8x11 inches
Artist: betsisanders 09

THE ROSE

The rose is one of my favorite flowers. It symbolizes love, life, friendship & relationships.

LOVE.... I received three red roses in the summer of 1982. It came with a card where these words were written, “Life is like a flower, of which love is the honey and I am the B...” The card was unsigned but I knew who sent the flowers because I recognized the handwriting. It came from Boyet, my better half and ultimate best friend.

LIFE ... the rose starts as a small bud --- a child; it blooms and opens itself, emits a delicate scent, becomes the most beautiful flower --- a young girl, a lovely lady... this is her moment, her time, her greatest and most beautiful stage; after some time, it wilts, dries up, and each petal begins to fall one by one --- an old woman who is at the end of her journey.

FRIENDSHIPS & RELATIONSHIPS ... all friendships & relationships are never without trials or difficulties, these are like the thorns of the rose. Each thorn is carefully removed by the florist before the rose can be artfully wrapped, then given by a young suitor to a lovely lady, or to someone celebrating her birthday, or one who is recuperating from an illness, ..... Let our mistakes, worries, problems and pain be discarded like the thorns of the rose. Let those trials and suffering become learning experiences. Let them aid us in becoming stronger and better individuals. Let these obstacles become our teachers , that guide us as we go through our journey. These thorns are best removed, discarded, thrown away. Stay away from miserable, unhappy people who pull you down and hurt you.They are like those thorns on the rose. See how much lighter and happier you will become, when the 'thorns' have all been taken away.

“Thorns are potential roses. Roses are thorns that opened up. Every day, let us turn whatever thorns we encounter into roses, so that at the end of the day, at the end of our lives, we will be carrying more roses than thorns. How do we do that? Whenever we accept a thorn, forgive, reach out, open up and surrender it to the Lord --- thus a thorn becomes a rose. Wishing you more roses and less thorns in your life”.... 　（I came across this paragraph as I read the Sunday paper , written by Father Jerry Orbos, SVD.)

>>>

It's my Dad's 80^th birthday today. My sisters, their families and some relatives are celebrating his special day with a surprise party on Sunday. It would be real nice if I could be with them, too :( but since I can't, let me just offer this painting and a few words for my Dad, BENTOL, short for Ben Tolentino.

Thanks Dad for being the 'great provider', not just for your three daughters but for your relatives, friends, even co-workers. You showered all those you love with material things, provided them with all their needs and wants, even spoiled them too much. You may not have been the perfect father, but you did what you can, the best way you knew, to show that you loved us all very dearly. I wish you more birthdays and the best of health always. I'll see you soon Dad. Take care and we love you :)

November 20, 2009 / betsisanders 09.... live love and party :)

"it's not what you do that makes relationships last but what you don't do"

Title: Lotus Flowers (Mother & Child)
Size: 8 x 10 inches
Medium: Watercolor on Paper
Artist: betsisanders 09

"It's not what you do that makes relationships last, but what you don't do."

DON'T EXPECT ... never expect that your kindness will ever be reciprocated; never expect to be loved the way you imagined being loved; too much expectations will only lead to unhappiness.

DON'T SHOUT ... I read somewhere, (forgotten where)... there is this tribe that drives away evil spirits by shouting and yelling. They believe that by doing so, they are able to kill the bad spirits. They never shout or utter hurtful words towards their loved ones. They fear that they will find themselves alone, because they have killed the very core, the being, the spirits of those they love.

DON'T IGNORE ... Every act of kindness, every gift received should never be ignored. Always be generous with praise and appreciation. Blessing are to be grateful for. The happiest person is the most grateful of all.

DON'T DISAPPEAR ... always be available. Elizabeth Gilbert, author of 'Eat Pray Love' wrote, "there's a constant level of closeness that I need from the person I love, and it destroys me not to be able to count on that affection when I need it..." She was referring to her husband whom she divorced because he was "always disappearing in the room, the bed and in the planet." In all relationships, there is a constant need for love to be returned, and the relationship suffers or ends when this need is not met. Love begets love, kindness begets kindness.

DON'T COMPLAIN ... Misery doesn't love company. Your friends can only take so much of your complaints. They too have their own problems. They just don't say much and cry in the confines of their bedrooms or bathrooms. They deal with their pain, both physical and emotional pain. Even husbands and sons who provide a listening ear or shoulders to cry on, will not always be around. They, too, have to sleep. To whom do you complain at midnight? Yes, there is our God, But won't he prefer that we give praise and thanks than always hear our sad stories?

DON'T DEMAND... never demand attention, respect or love. Instead, earn it and it shall be given freely. One need not ask.

DON'T LIE... the greatest sin is theft. When you lie, you rob the person of the truth. Never think that your white lies will never be discovered. Always be truthful and honest. You will be loved more.

"Those who mind what I say or do, don't matter. Those who matter, don't mind."
Live, love and party :) betsisanders 09 / Nov 15, 2009