Tuesday 30 October 2012

Fall Fearless and Fly - #3


Challenge #3:

Headline: Triumphs and defeats. What do you see as your greatest triumphs and defeats? What have they taught you? Which have you learned more from?
Colour: Black and white
Quote: Not in the clamour of the crowded street, not in the shouts and plaudits of the throng, but in ourselves, are triumph and defeat. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

Hop on over to Artists in Blogland (see the Fall Fearless and Fly button in the bar) and see the fabulous challenge answers over there.

Wow! This one was a real toughie. As you can see, I couldn't stay completely black and white, but mixed a little cream in there, too, just to get some texture going. This is the second piece. The first one wasn't at all to my liking. From that 'defeat' I learned that I needed a little cream in there :)

So, I just about did the colour prompt, used the quote, but what about the headline? Well, this really made me think. I don't really see my life in terms of 'triumphs and defeats'. What usually happens is that I make plans and God laughs at them because He has something else in mind. And I have to admit that He knows best.

For example, I had my heart set on going to Durham University, but ended up in Sheffield instead. But that was where I met my husband (who also, by the way, wasn't planning to be in Sheffield). So was it a defeat? Absolutely not! It was just a different path. If I had wallowed, feeling defeated, I might have not gone to university at all and my life would have been very different.

Triumph and defeat, as Longfellow points out, aren't anything to do with how others see it. Sometimes what others see as success in our lives we feel very differently about. And vice versa.

Triumph and defeat come from whether the heart can see the light or not.



10 comments:

  1. I love the swirling vortex you created here, all leading to the heart in the center. Great story about how you and your husband met too! Thanks for joining Fall Fearless & FLy!

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  2. Lovely story ! Love how you excelled this challenge with your post and your beautiful page..I've always loved this greenish grey color you based your page on! It's really brilliant..I especially love the fact that you used newspaper ( I, too, LOVE newpaper backgrounds..really give a shabby feel to the page ! )

    Duaa

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  3. It doesn't look like it was tough at all for you :) I really like what you did--especially with the book text showing through. Loved that you added your story too!

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  4. I really like all the diamonds and how it looks to be spiraling. Very dramatic effect!

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  5. I really like your words: Triumph and defeat come from whether the heart can see the light or not.

    And your art journal has a hopeful light in it. :)

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  6. This is really beautiful...and so are your words.

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  7. Very nice spread! I love your thoughts on triumph and defeat. God laughs at our plans, He certainly sees the big picture and turns our 'defeats' into triumphs! Lovely!

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  8. Love the black and white print under your diamonds. I guess our triumphs are our diamonds!

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  9. this is beautiful... it has kind of a gritty texture that perfectly represents the theme!

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  10. Lovely back story to go with this page. I strongly believe that as one door closes another opens, just as with your experience.

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Thanks for dropping by. I read and appreciate all your comments.