Hello again Napkin Kin!
This is #6 in my self-help series. I have done them all live on Periscope (@thenapkindad #napkinkin). Some of them have been a ‘Guess the Quote’ style scope where I start with just a few words of the quote on a blank napkin and the viewers guess the quote as I draw. The drawing hopefully is illustrating the quote so the more I draw the more hints the viewers have of what the quote might be about.
The only rule is you can’t google the quote. You have to just guess live. While doing this drawing someone did look it up but it was towards the end so it wasn’t a big deal. Plus, I had forgotten to mention that rule at the beginning anyway.
Being Deliberate
The key to making the most of who you are is first, knowing who you want to be. Not ALL of who you want to be, just part. Then, you act deliberately to become that. As you create that part of you that will help you understand what more you want to do or be. Then you go about doing that as well. Yes, you may have a big picture vision of your overall ‘YOU’ but practically speaking you are going to be doing one small step towards that at a time. So, focus on that and don’t worry about the big picture, it will take care of itself.
Being Courageous
Another essential element is courage. Whoever you want to become, whether it’s the best burlesque dancer in town or the town librarian, someone is going to judge you negatively for it. You may be judged a loose woman of easy virtue as they used to say. You may be judged a prude and a spinster. It doesn’t matter what you choose, someone won’t like it. But it’s your life, not theirs, right? And if you want to live their life then bow to their judgment and be who they want you to be. But if you want to live YOUR life, then have the courage to say, “This is my life, my choice.”
The Juiciest Peach
There is a famous quote by Dita Von Teese, “You can be the juiciest peach on the tree and there is still someone out there who doesn’t like peaches.” It’s futile to try to persuade every random person on the planet that you are a juicy peach. You just go about being the peach you want to be and be that confidently. That confidence and courage will do more to persuade the world and gain you respect than any bending over backwards trying to please everyone.
Drawing and commentary © 2015 Marty Coleman | napkindad.com
Quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson
Haha love the quote by Dita 🙂
Yes, it’s one I find myself quoting a lot!
I had to stumble this post as I think it’s message is so important. If we wait around to do something that everyone will approve of we will never do anything at all. I may borrow your Dita quote – brilliant !!!
Thanks Michelle, I couldn’t agree more. For me, being an artist has always been about having the courage to say, ‘this is what I love’, whether it’s drawing naked people or drawing couches. And it translates for all people who want to live their true life instead of someone else’s.
Love this series!
Thank you Brianne, I appreciate that! It’s been great fun and a new way of creative interaction for me to do it on Periscope.
Interesting napkin!
Thank you Kerri! By the way, I raised/helped raise 4 savvy ladies so I know what you are going through! LOL
What great advice! We all need these reminders sometimes, especially about the courage! You are totally right there!
Thanks Natalie! The older I get the more I realize it’s the courageous people who are happiest and most productive. They are who they want to be.
Excellent reminders. We get caught up in the day to day that we forget!
Thanks Caroline! I need to remind myself of so many of these (and other) things. It’s one of the main reasons I do my blog, to remind myself!
great read
Thank you Vera, I am grateful you came by to read the post!