"Happiness is a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but which if you will sit down quietly may alight upon you."
Nathaniel Hawthorne
What a beautiful sentiment. I googled happiness quotes this week in preparation for my entry to the Inspiration Avenue challenge on this very theme. There were many that echoed Nathaniel's words. We all need to take time to just sit and take life in sometimes to realise how happy we already are. That constant pursuit of 'If only..' just leads to much distress. However, one thing I have learnt though is that you can't just sit around expecting it to fall in your lap. If you want butterflies, you're not likely to find them lying around in bed. You have to go out and grow the flowers - then sit quietly in the garden you made!
If you want something you work at it. You learn, you practice and hone your skills. It doesn't just land in your lap.
As I posted a couple of days ago - I'm planting some seeds in my garden right now. I wonder when the butterflies will arrive?
Day 5 of Art Every Day. I thought I might as well join the NaBloPoMo gang too - that's blog posting every day month! It's also Happy Friday. So many reasons to post today!!
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I agree with your very wise sentiment about happiness. You have to make it happen or be a part of the happening. You have sewn the seeds and soon will start to reap your harvest.
ReplyDeleteYou created such a happy little person.
Such a happy piece,great sentiment to go with it.
ReplyDeleteI like the quote and you did a great job of illustrating it. Happy indeed!
ReplyDeleteDarla
Your piece really speaks to me. I am right there with my thoughts and growth. You put it so eloquently, that happiness is a noun and verb.. I could not agree with you more. I love the design of the piece too. The little one is cute and I love the way you did the background. Very nice!
ReplyDeleteI agree that at times we need to plant the seeds and at times we need to sit quietly. I loved your analogy. Good luck with the growing of your seeds. You are welcome to guest on my blog, but my audience isn't quite the range you may be looking for.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend :o)
Beautiful!!! I love the tranformation..what a dazzling soul..I loved it yesterday..and i love it even more today..wonderful job! Fabulous!
ReplyDeletehave a most happy day!
Victoria
and thanks again for your thoughtful mention..you are a shining star!
This is lovely, the quote is perfect and the artwork is fabulous.
ReplyDeleteLove this post Lisa. Totally agree about things not falling in your lap! It's a bit like waiting for the perfect job to be advertised! I'm a great believer in deciding where you want to be and then just getting yourself known! I think 50% of the jobs I've had have been where I have gone along and said "I can do this this and this and I want to work here". Youngsters these days (there goes my age giveaway) are not encouraged to do this, and so they wait...and wait for that job to be advertised when possibly they could be first in line for it just by getting in there! Ooops! Ouch! Fell off my soapbox!
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend!
Ro xxx
Cute! So much creative yumminess around these days!
ReplyDeleteLoved your quote and post.. I completely agree. I also feel that we need to be open to all the happiness around us and be ready for the butterflies!
ReplyDeleteLovely post. The quote says it all. I'm missing the butterflies now.
ReplyDeleteI love your comment about having to grow the flowers in order to get the butterflies! So true. And I adore your little whimsical character! She? He? has the sweetest expression!
ReplyDeleteawesome!
ReplyDeleteGeat post!! And so good to see what you ended up doing with this till character, soooo cute! Lovely the colours and the butterflies too! :0)
ReplyDeleteHappiness is a little bug with striped legs and an arrmful of butterflies...perfect as always Lisa :)
ReplyDeleteXoX
Happiness is the smile you put on my face with this drawing. Your little bug made me smile the minute I got here. She is adorable and so are the butterflies. I'm sure this piece will bring happiness to everyone who sees it. As always, I LOVE your art!
ReplyDeleteAnd it took me to day 6 to realize I had signed up for AEDM. Glad to see you joined, too.
Lovely art and quote. This is such a sweet piece & perfect for happiness is. Happy Sunday to you! ~Theresa
ReplyDeleteThis is an adorable painting Lisa - it made me go "aaaww!" out loud! May your seeds bloom magnificantly and your butterflies be abundant! :)
ReplyDeleteLisa this is so cute!
ReplyDeleteJust precious.
8-)
I love the idea of finding a way to bring the butterflies to me... plant the garden and I can enjoy the garden while I am waiting...love the words and the pic!
ReplyDeleteWhat a powerful belief! Even at their young ages, I am teaching my daughters that they need to "make their own happiness". Thanks for sharing this!
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