Dear friends,
Last month, I introduced you to my inner critic Prunella. She’s a pain. She’s grumpy, pessimistic, judgmental - and she’s traveling with me all the time.
Well, I recently heard the BEST PIECE OF ART TRIVIA and I need to share it with you because it’s my new solution to Prunella!
Did you know that The Artist Paul Cezanne was notoriously judgmental, perfectionistic and hot headed about his work? He was known for making models sit 82 times for a portrait and then slashing the canvases he worked on for months. I don’t know what his inner critic’s name was, but whew - that guy had a bad voice living in his own head.
Anyway, Cezanne devised a brilliant (and funny) solution. He bought a parrot for his studio, named it Bijou and taught that parrot to say “Cezanne Is A Great Artist” over and over again!
I can’t stop laughing and now I want a parrot!
You see, lots of people use booze and drugs to quiet their inner critic. The alcoholic artist trope and those paint and sip places across the country are evidence that it can work short term. But for a long term solution, Paul Cezanne chose to counter his inner critic with a strong, positive outside voice.
He also chose humor. And humor is the thing that works best on my inner critic. When I don’t take myself too seriously and I laugh more, Prunella rolls her eyes, but she is quieter and sometimes even smiles.
So this month, let’s all start laughing more and get parrots! Or at least parrot T-shirts, mugs, stuffed animals and posters. Let’s also cheerlead ourselves and each other because if we do it often enough and loud enough and funny enough, it works longer than booze!
I’m starting now: I am Awesome! You are Awesome! We are Awesome!
Want To Learn More Info About Cezanne’s Parrot?
Read Will Kemp’s Blog Post About Cezanne’s Parrot
Excellent Children’s Book Called Cezanne’s Parrot