Arts & Entertainment
Life 101: When only one thing matters
Published
4 years agoon
Posted By
Outlaw PartnersBy Linda Arnold EBS CONTRIBUTOR
Pop quiz: What’s the great equalizer in life? What’s the one thing that puts all of us on a level playing field?
I’ll give you a hint. It doesn’t make a fashion statement. That’s because it often comes adorned in that blue-checkered hospital gown. In an instant, a Fortune 100 CEO can be sitting right next to the mailroom clerk, waiting to get a CT scan or an MRI.
Three things came across my radar in this vein last week, making me reflect on why we often need a major external event to make the changes we know we need to make in our lives.
The first comment was from one of my friends who was diagnosed with cancer and began making wide-sweeping changes in her life.
“I’m playing the ‘C’ card,” she said. It’s as if the diagnosis gave her “permission” to change. As humans, we’re resistant to change, and it often takes an external event to prod us.
Another friend shared how she copes with an autoimmune disease, equating the illness to one of a number of cards in her hand.
“So, I’ve got this card that says ‘disease.’ And I decide not to play it,” she said. “It’s that card that motivates me to play other cards though. I involve myself in activities. When pain arises, I work it out, lessening the inflammation. I hardly give the pain attention because I don’t want it to grow. It gets voted down when it comes to decisions like sitting at home and nursing my hurt or enjoying the day. Whenever I’ve done my soul wrong by concentrating on my weaknesses, they’ve become monsters in my life.”
And finally, I came across this gut-wrenching post from author James Altucher. It’s about a text he received from an estranged friend.
“You around later?” he asked his friend.
“Sure.”
Altucher mentioned he had been holding a grudge. “We used to hang out five days a week, until I stopped talking to him for 18 years,” he said.
Then the rest of the text popped up. “Oh, I forgot. You don’t even know. I have terminal stage IV cancer.”
Altucher’s friend went on to say that he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer seven years ago and despite removing it, the disease spread to the rest of his body. He was put on a clinical trial, one that people often develop resistance to by 18 months.
“Then it’s a death sentence,” the friend said. “I’m at 24 months.”
Altucher relayed in his post that he didn’t know what to say and felt badly about holding that grudge. So, he replied, “What’s up?”
“I’m happier now than ever,” his friend said. “I don’t do anything I don’t want to do. One thing I realized … relationships are the only important thing in the world. Be with the people you like. Don’t be around people you don’t like. At any moment in the day I’m exactly where I want to be and with whom I want to be. Because of this, I’m always happy. I know that every day I will be doing the things I want to do.
“What else is there for me to worry about? I don’t care about potential accomplishments or anything artificial,” he added. “Relationships are important. Time is important. And my happiness is 100 percent a choice.”
It’s your choice, too.
Linda Arnold is a syndicated columnist, psychological counselor and founder of a multistate marketing company. Reader comments are welcome at linda@lindaarnold.org or visit lindaarnold.org for information on her books.
The Outlaw Partners is a creative marketing, media and events company based in Big Sky, Montana.
Upcoming Events
april, 2024
Event Type :
All
All
Arts
Education
Music
Other
Sports
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before 9/10/2024:
more
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before
9/10/2024: Kindergarten
enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year can be completed by following the
registration process now.
Children
born on or after September 11, 2019: 4K enrollment is now open for
families that have a 4-year-old they would like to enroll in our program for
the 2023-2024 school year. Please complete the 4K Interest Form to
express your interest. Completing this form does not guarantee enrollment into
the 4K program. Enrollment is capped at twenty 4-year-olds currently
residing within Big Sky School District boundary full time and will be
determined by birth date in calendar order of those born on or after September
11, 2018. Interest form closes on May 30th.
Enrollment now is critical for fall preparations. Thank you!
Time
February 26 (Monday) - April 21 (Sunday)
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm We will combine the heart-opening powers of cacao with the transcendental powers of breathwork and sound. Together, these practices will give us the opportunity for a deep
more
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm
Time
March 23 (Saturday) 6:00 pm - April 23 (Tuesday) 8:00 pm
Location
Santosha Wellness Center
169 Snowy Mountain Circle
Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a
more
Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a limited palette to create different color combinations? Are you tired of carrying around 15-20 different tubes when you paint plein air? Have you ever wanted to create a certain “mood” in a painting but failed? Do you create a lot of mud? Do you struggle to achieve color harmony? All these problems are addressed in John’s workbook in clear and concise language!
Based on the bestselling “Limited Palatte, Unlimited Color” workbook written by John Pototschnik, the workshop is run by Maggie Shane and Annie McCoy, accomplished landscape (acrylic) and plein air (oil) artists,exhibitors at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery and members of the Big Sky Artists Collective.
Each student will receive a copy of “Limited Palette, Unlimited Color” to keep and take home to continue your limited palette journey. We will show you how to use the color wheel and mix your own clean mixtures to successfully create a mood for your paintings.
Each day, we will create a different limited palette color chart and paint a version of a simple landscape using John’s directives. You will then be able to go home and paint more schemes using the book for guidance.
Workshop is open to painters (oil or acrylic) of any level although students must have some basic knowledge of the medium he or she uses. Students will be provided the book ($92 value), color wheel, value scale and canvas papers to complete the daily exercises.
Sundays, April 14, 21 and 28, 2024
Noon until 6PM.
$170.
Time
14 (Sunday) 12:00 pm - 28 (Sunday) 6:00 pm
Event Details
Come join us at Cowboy Coffee as we celebrate a fun night of drinks, games, and meeting others within the community. This event is from 6-8 and all are welcome
Event Details
Come join us at Cowboy Coffee as we celebrate a fun night of drinks, games, and meeting others within the community. This event is from 6-8 and all are welcome to come, if you don’t know who to bring come alone this is a great mixer event! This is an event hosted by Big Sky OUT as we work to provide queer safe spaces throughout the community.
Time
(Sunday) 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location
Cowboy Coffee
25 Town Center Ave. Big Sky, MT 59716