Art in our daily lives

 

                                                Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh

 

 When we think of  art, we tend to associate it mainly with the great masterpieces of the renowned painters such as Pablo Picasso, Monet, Vincent Van Gogh or  Da Vinci. Most of us do not realise that we are surrounded by art if we have but eyes to see it.Neither do we fathom how much it impacts us or how much we rely on it to cope with our day to day obligations.

 It is a matter of common sense that  as a species we could survive without art if it was necessary. And that fact exactly brings home the truth that while art is not essential to our basic needs, it does contribute to our joy and happiness.It can be a painting hanging on our wall, a beautifully decorated teapot, an intrinsically knitted quilt on our bed.

Nature is, in my opinion, the master artist.The photos below showcase perfectly the extent of perfection in design and intricacy of  some of the magnificent works of nature.

Apart from the works of art by Mother Earth, there are also works of art created by human hands, using natural materials, such as leaves, flowers,twigs,stones, etc. Some of the most beautiful ones are below.

 

Just like all other works of art, music greatly contributes to our mood on a daily basis. Whether we choose a classical piece or some jazz, ambience to relax after a tough day or upbeat music to workout to or even to boost our energy for work, the point is that each moment is infused with the energy of the musical piece, make it memorable and set the tone we desire. 

 I love classical music despite the fact I'm mostly rock. Some of my favourite classical pieces are below, all excellent samples of the greatness of the artistic genius of the composers. There are of course numerous other musical pieces that are works of higher intellect and have stood the test of time. I have just listed some of the most obvious ones.

Johann Strauss II - The Blue Danube Waltz 

Beethoven - Fur Elise 

Beethoven -Moonlight Sonata

 Beethoven - Ode to Joy 

Ave Maria - Maria Callas  

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Eine kleine Nachtmusik 

Pachelbel - Canon in D Major 

Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker Suite 

Richard Wagner - Ride of the Valkyries 

Antonio Vivaldi - Four Seasons

On a final note, I would like to briefly mention street art and graffiti. In the hideous,grey cities of concrete we have created to live, the soul craves to see beauty, art, colour, a labour of love, an ode to life,creativity and joy. Here in Thessaloniki, many are the examples of such works of art.  These are but a few.

 

 That is a potent dose of art for today. Hope you enjoy it. Have a blessed, gorgeous day full of art, love and happy moments!

Art omnipresent

I would never presume to give a definition to Art nor am I an expert or artist to attempt to delve it in depth. All I can aspire to do,as a teacher, is firstly to offer my own simple view. To see art is to see beauty in what others perceive as mundane. Secondly, to emphasize that human beings, apart from the obvious needs for food, care, support and love, also need beauty. One of the most effective conduits of beauty is Art. Luckily for us, excluding the many widely acknowledged and celebrated works of art throughout human history, art is all around us, if we only have the  curious eyes and eager soul to see it and appreciate it.

Before going on to my main issue, I'll grasp this opportunity to discuss the numerous benefits of Art on us humans.The list is by no means exhaustive.

- First of all, being exposed to art of any kind radically improves one's creative skills.This could include just about any field, such as music, painting or even cooking.

- It gives infinite joy and allows the soul to soar.

- It lowers stress levels. Considering the times we live in, it's a healing balm for both body and soul.

- It gives the opportunity to showcase one's talent (or talents!)

- It gives you the confidence to be yourself, the courage to put yourself out there and be seen.

- It provides a healthy outlet to express your emotions, positive or negative.

- Communication with other people is made easier, smoother, especially for those who are more introverted.

- Art helps you perform better academically. Considering its ability to relieve stress and offer clarity of mind, it subsequently enhances focus on your goals whether those pertain to studies or work.

- It is particularly helpful with visual learning, something students could mine great benefit from.

Considering the above and especially the last two points, it is extremely difficult for me to wrap my head around the decision of the Ministry of Education to cut out from the curriculum of the Senior High school classes all Art lessons.Human beings, and kids especially, being at the very start of their lives, are very malleable. They don't only need Maths, Language, Physics -not that there is anything wrong with these subjects. They're necessary. I just wonder why the psyche must be excluded from the learning process? Why can't emotions, creativity and beauty be included in the curriculum? In that way we could have more balanced human beings, possessing both knowledge and emotional processing skills. Those humans could create a whole, balanced, happier and more beautiful world.

With that off my chest, I'll move on to my main point. Art and all that is beautiful is first and foremost around us. Our precious planet, the universe itself once were big, empty canvases on which some unseen hand painted and crafted both the most breathtaking colours and mind-blowing shapes. The beauty and intelligence behind these works of art have been and still are the ultimate inspiration for any other work of art and fill our souls with infinite joy.

In their latest album Human :II: Nature, Nightwish paid homage to our planet, to Nature. Especially the second part of the album, All the works that adorn the World, is a thank you letter, an ode to Nature. It touches the soul deeply, a true delight, effortlessly stirring emotional chords we've forgotten or never knew we had. It could trigger, finally, some serious action to save our planet before it's too late to do any saving. A true work of love and art.

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnOdQ5WNZJk&t=222s 

 

That'll be all for today. I truly hope this will speak to you. Let me know what you think!

Have a blessed day.

Lia

Gratitude and goal setting

There is much to be said for giving thanks as well as for goal setting and scheduling your precious time. 

Let's first define gratitude.It is the thankful appreciation for what you receive, tangible or intangible. Numerous studies have demonstrated how gratitude journalling significantly increases happiness levels but also enhances one's health.

Let's get a more in-depth look at the benefits.

* increased happiness and positive

   mood

*more satisfaction with life

*  you become less materialistic

*you are less likely to experience burnout

* better physical health

*less fatigue

*lower levels of of cellular

  inflammation

*greater resilience

*encourages the development of patience, humility and wisdom.

As for goal setting.... well, to be honest, it was much more difficult for me to apply than gratitude. Managing my time and doing so effectively had always been my personal, ruthless nemesis. Now we're coexisting rather uncomfortably but I have high hopes that in the near future we'll be allies to a common goal.

The benefits of goal setting are many and crucial I might add.Some of them are listed below.

1.First of all they provide you with a clear direction and purpose, a destination for which to reach.

2. Goal setting gives you a clear focus of your time and energy. It gives you clarity on your goals and motivates you to take action every single day.

3. It increases productivity tremendously.

4.By sticking to specific, measurable goals you are committed to daily action and it is a great help to visualise your future.

5. It gives you more time freedom.

6. Having goals and recording them daily, weekly, monthly or even yearly makes you more accountable to yourself.

7. Goals give you a clear direction and control over your time and therefore the future you want for 

yourself.

8.Finally, having goals inspires you to take action daily. Thus as momentum picks up and you tick off more goals from your list, satisfaction sets in and increases motivation to carry on.

On a more artistic note, it is extremely satisfactory for me to record both my gratitude and goals with a fountain pen instead of your usual ball pen. Lately I have started collecting fountain pens that give a touch of luxury to what might otherwise seem like a dull obligation. It elevates this daily ritual to a whole different dimension.It has become a pleasure I've come to look forward to every morning.

I'd love to hear from you now.

Do you keep a gratitude and goal setting journal?

What are the greatest benefits for

you?

Do you have any other rituals of gratitude and goal setting?

Let me know in the comments!