Art Appreciation and a Life Lesson...

One of the highlights of our vacation to Jamaica was the local artists and their art.

Everyone we met on the island was so gracious, sincere and hardworking. The crafts people were so geniune and eager to share their art and how it was created. All of the pieces we bought were hand carved or sewn by the people we bought them from. The carved pieces are solid wood and dolls are bright, colorful and fun. My favorite memory of shopping was when I asked the gentleman if he made this one and he said "oh, my cousin carved that one, but I did this one." and he handed me a carved sun with a smiling face. His face was filled with joy and pride, and of course i bought them both. The spirit behind the art is the gift I see everytime I look at them.

Here is a our new art collection...

This is my favorite piece. It is made out of solid wood and the gentleman's son hand carved each sea creature. It is about 11 x 14 x 2" thick.

Sun and Moon

2 little pigs that are very puggy... I had to have them!

An angel fish that looked just like the huge sculpture in the dining room that Melanie and I loved.

A cup and a Turtle

3 beautiful dolls that actually are two dolls in one as the skirt flips over to reveal another doll with a different colored outfit.

I never truly felt the true ease and joy from the words "Don't worry, be happy" and "No problem" until I visited Jamaica and its wonderful people. One day in particular brought it home for me, and I promised myself I would strive to think and behave by their example everyday...

It was the last day of the trip and the staff was preparing all day for an enormous send off party for the group. The food, concert, and seating was all to be set up on the beach. Storms were blowing in and early in the afternoon the main water pipe to the whole Montego Bay area was damaged. We had no water, toliets or showers in the entire hotel.

The entire staff of the hotel kept smiling. Even if things went perfectly, it would have been a stressful day for anyone setting up, but no one changed their mood at all. They started filling huge carts of water and hand bailing out the toliets, no problem! They set up the hundereds of table and chairs and huge sound stage in the wind and threatening clouds... no problem! They somehow prepared thousand of fresh appetizers and main courses with no running water... no problem! and there was not one vibration of stress or unhappiness. It rubbed off on all of the guests as no one complained of no toliets or showers with the great possibility that there would be none even before having to dress up for a fancy party with sand and sun tan lotion caked all over them. No worries... no problem. And it turned out that the city was able to restore water an hour before the party and we all were able to wash up and flush!

It was such a huge contrast to anywhere I had visited where a broken lightbulb would have sent organizers into a stress fit, this was a miracle to me and an experience in true form to just adapt to the situation, have a great attitude and have fun, because all is well and will turn out well. It is our choice whether we want to suffer and have it still be ok or to have fun and have it all be ok. I choose happiness and joy, and I make it a conscious choice everyday. It is contagious. :)