Oh 2011, You Can Just Go...

Alright, so, it hasn't been the greatest year for me. While graduating college and doing the Camino de Santiago were great accomplishments and life-changing, this year has all previous years beat. My Dad is no longer here. He was battling melanoma for who knows how long, and on March 27th he lost. And I lost him for the rest of my life on earth.


However, I actually did not set out to just post a random, depressing vent session. I have been thinking more recently about things I enjoy and skills/interests I would like to develope. Artistic things have been on my mind like drawing and especially photography. But also writing. I enjoy writing. I have been told once or twice that I'm good at it. One space where I can write freely (and randomly, hinthint) is this blog. So, once again, I'm going to try blogging. We'll see if I post more than 2 things this year.

2011, you can just go... get creative!

For the Image Conscious

This blog has a lot to do with things I love. I'd like to introduce you to another love of mine: art. When I was in Spain this past January I had the priviledge of visiting some spectacular art museums, including the world famous Prado. It was here that I first laid my eyes on the real subject of this blog: Peter Paul Rubens' "The Three Graces." My understanding of the image is that the woman on the left was Rubens' first wife, the one on the right was his second wife, and the woman in the middle is the ideal combination of the two of them. Here is the image.



I mean check these ladies out! It looks like there is not an ounce of muscle on all of their bodies combined! Now, I'm not advocating that we stop exercising, I just love that these are the women that Rubens found to be beautiful. Being perfectly toned isn't everything. In fact, I'd like to start a movement. I'll call it "Embrace the Muffin Top!" Or maybe that's more of a slogan. But either way, I'd like to try to live my life being comfortable in my own skin. In fact, I like my little stomach! I don't have abs at all and it's fabulous! So ladies and gentlemen that is my charge to you, be like Peter Paul Rubens and Embrace the Muffin Top.