Jekyll Island Beach 2012

Jekyll Island Beach 2012

Friday, January 7, 2011

Playing To Your Strengths

The Rogue Speaks:

I started blogging in January of last year. I had a LOT of posts with NO comments, which means that I had no followers. Now I do. Thank you very much!! I have seen several posts this week dealing with resolutions, and moving forward (whatever that actually means.). I decided to post some of those entries from last year because they actually weren't very bad, and could be useful to SOMEONE out there in cyberspace. Here is my post from 24 Jan 2010:

"We decided to see a movie this afternoon. We had intended to go yesterday, but I had a lot of running around to do, and by the time I got through, I was chilled to the bone and only wanted to warm myself over a palette of hot wax. So we went today, instead.

I have been drawn to Robert Downey, Jr. ever since he played Chaplin so brilliantly, so we went to see "Sherlock Holmes." BIG disappointment! Robert is certainly no Basil Rathbone, who was, and still is, the quintessential Holmes. Robert plays himself, in all his insanity. Every quirk, every bizarre thought, every addiction comes out in his portrayal of Holmes. I think that any actor worth his salt should play to his strengths, not his weaknesses.

I believe that to be true in all the arts, not just acting. I have a friend who is an extraordinary artist. Her grasp of realism is exquisite, and it comes through in the detail in which she paints. This is her strength. If she were to paint to her weaknesses, no painting would ever be finished, the colors would appear dull and with hesitancy, and she would always be holding back, always afraid of the consequences.

Her husband, also an artist, paints to his weaknesses. He is an excellent artist, when he is on a high. But most of the time, he is painting to his weakness, and his paintings are dark and angry, and scary. His reality is so skewed that he doesn't even realize just what his strengths are.

Find your strengths, you artists out there! Whether you paint, or throw clay, or write, or play an instrument, find your strengths and hold on to them. Do not succumb to your weaknesses. They will not serve you well.

Once I get this depressing film out of my head, I will write something cheerful, and happy, and a little off-the-wall. Off-the-wall is one of my strengths."

O.k., it is now 2011, and I am NOT coming home from a movie! All the movies I have seen lately, you already know about. But I have learned a lot the last year about just who is out there in the blogging world, and there is an incredible amount of talent just waiting to be discovered! I am humbled by what I have seen!

We connect with each other on a somewhat daily basis, and we encourage each other with our comments and our ideas. There is no network on earth that is more fulfilling than our blogging world!

Thank you for the opportunity to share my ideas and thoughts with you and for sharing your thoughts with me in return! My life has been made richer and fuller by you and your world!

9 comments:

Cher Duncombe said...

Judie, you enrich all of us through your art, your salty wit, your keen instincts and your loyalty to others. We are better bloggers and more knowledgeable people for having you and your inimitable thoughts in the sphere of blogging. Take this from a real Cherlock! Hugs, my sweet sister~~

bluzdude said...

I always look forward to the next installment from the Hot Arizona Auntie!

Jo said...

that was one wonderful post ... you dear Judie are so encouraging ... I look forward to your posts, and most recently those movie reviews ... I am so happy to have met you through blogging ... it is wonderful to feel like you have friends out in cyberspace and that we can encourage and help each along ... :)

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year Judie. You are an absolute joy and inspiration. You post such eloquent pieces on such a regular basis so when i come along there is always lots for me to read. I always have plenty of ideas for my own blog but of late, my life has got so overloaded again I am not posting very often.
I really like your words about playing to your srengths. For so many years I was a round peg in a square hole. Today i am a round peg in an oval hole - still room for some tweaking!

Jo-Ann Sanborn said...

The depth and variety on your blog enriches and delights me. Good advice to play to one's strengths, sad to all too often see the oposite. Hope you have a fabulous year and only watch uplifting movies!

Unknown said...

Happy New Year, Judie! I think that your post from last year is quite inspiring for beginner artists like me. I'm still searching for my own strengths and weaknesses. It feels so much easier to succumb to our weakness when times get rough. I've just recently discovered your blog last year and I love coming here and getting inspired by your words :) Let's hope this year will be even better for all of us!

Anonymous said...

As a journalist I can say it's become increasingly difficult to do my job and be taken seriously simply because I'm from Arizona. The hateful, ignorant rhetoric of the politicians here, and the voters who put them in power will sooner than later, catch up. We, the literate, thoughtful and progressive of Arizona need to step up and to quote the haters, "take our state back." But first, thoughts and prayers to the good Congresswoman and to all else who have been injured today.

Judie said...

Edgewater,please let me know exactly who you are so we can communicate.
Thanks.

Unknown said...

I am glad he told you and that he is safe.