We are living in interesting times, and each of us has experienced something that is a part of history, a time future generations will look back to through our eyes. Though I knew most of my great-grandparents, I don’t have too many memories of their stories. But grandparents offered many a tale, family lore, tales of struggles and interesting times.
The Great War
I can remember my Grandfather Walter telling stories about World War One. Not so much stories of war, but life in the army. I can remember sitting at the little yellow 1950s breakfast table in the kitchen of my grandparents’ Webster Street house as he told me I needed to learn to eat faster. “In the military they gave us only about five minutes to eat, and if you don’t eat fast, you won’t get enough, and you won’t know when the next meal is coming.” Yes, he converted me to a fast eater because I was too poky.
Al Capone Days
My other grandfather used to tell tales of living in a boarding house in Chicago during the Al Capone days. I seem to remember him saying that Chicago at the time was like the Wild West, with people getting gunned down by mobsters in broad daylight. I don’t know if he saw it or read about it, but it sticks with me.
Dot Com
Today we hear stories of the “dot com era” of the Silicon Valley boom, when money was being thrown at companies and speed was needed to go public. Billions were made, and legends were created. I remember being so excited about it that I wanted to be part of it.
A Big Win
Knowing nothing about raising money, I got on the phone with an old elementary school friend I had reconnected with as a result of a reunion. He was a venture capital guy in the middle of Silicon Valley and had been involved in some legendary companies. I told him I had an idea and had no idea how to get it funded. That call turned into a conference call, a quick flight out for an in-person meeting, and then multiple flights. The end result was that my idea was funded, we moved to San Francisco, and we were in the middle of a historic time. I met with people who became legends or funded legendary companies, including the founders of Google as it was just getting started, Napster, SalesForce.com before it was ever funded, and others. I’m sure I could bend your ear about those interesting times if you were ever to ask, and maybe one day I’ll be blessed with some curious grandchildren to listen.
Stories for the Future
Imagine being alive to tell your grandkids about a special time in America where you experienced something like the Civil War, the Revolutionary War, or more recently the Vietnam War or the Iraq War.
Living History
We are living in one of those times now. Our lives will go down in history. We have spent most of 2020 in the midst of a worldwide pandemic. From it we’ve learned about ourselves, our families, our government, and what people are willing or unwilling to tolerate. We’ve learned about fear, about anger, and we’ve experienced a change in our culture. We’ve seen things in our streets we could never have imagined, we’ve watched our lives change, and we’ve gained or lost trust in others. As a result of 2020, we will never be the same. And, I suspect, one day some curious grandchildren will hear the stories of 2020 from us.
I could cling to the stories of my grandparents for hours, but what was sometimes missing were the lessons they learned. Maybe they shared them and I missed it.
Topsy Turvy
Here we are, having lived through 2020. We’ve had our world turned upside down. We’ve discovered that some we trusted cannot be trusted. We’ve learned that others we never suspected were capable of it would become patriots or heroes. We’re wondering who to believe about matters impacting our way of life. We’re hearing contradictory messages about science from equally credible people who disagree. Everything has been turned upside down.
There are millions of stories. Some will be stories of disruption and destruction, others of lost family, others of lost businesses. We’ll hear stories of wild and unexpected success along with stories of devastation.
This week before we enter a new year, perhaps a new era, we’ll write our stories about 2020.
If you were to write your 2020 story, what would you say?
How will you say 2020 treated you?
What lessons have you learned that you can share with your future offspring?
I’d like to think that in 2021, we’ll get beyond 2020, see the sunshine of success again, and soon it will seem like a blur.
Though I suspect, just like the Great Depression affected the behavior of an entire generation, we will think differently forever as a result of this year.
How will you think differently?
What will you DO differently?
I look at restaurants that have been around for decades going out of business. The great 21 Club in New York, which brought me lots of lifetime memories with friends, is going away forever. What could they have done differently? Maybe nothing, because the restaurants were forced to shut down.
Rethinking Everything
You have to believe it will make people rethink leases on buildings, and wonder if the next business won’t require a building. It will make people rethink savings. A steady cash flow that continued week to week for decades wasn’t enough to keep some in business, because they had not saved enough to sustain them through something unexpected.
I’m wondering how many will want to work from home forever, who will no longer be out in the community. How many will never live in a city again due to the fears of experiences like civil unrest and basic supplies being unavailable?
How to Get My Attention
Though I don’t want to make light of tragedy … tragedy was the only thing that got my attention enough to fast-track things I’ve talked about for years but never done. I don’t think I realized just how vulnerable my income was, and had I not made some fast, radical decisions, I’m not sure I’d be able to write about it today.
That’s why it’s important for all of us to look at the lessons.
Though many things were out of our control, what could we control?
What could we do differently?
How could we have been more prepared?
This pandemic wounded many, destroyed many businesses, but at the end of the day, if we ponder the lessons, we’ll all be stronger for the unexpected next time.
Yes, we’re living in interesting times, and there will be stories to share and lessons to learn. What will you take away from this tough year that will make you stronger and better?
Eric Rhoads
PS: I was listening to a podcast where Matthew McConaughey was interviewed about his new book, Greenlights. He talked about how most people stop at the red lights life puts in the way and how you have to learn to turn them into green lights. Pros never give up or give in; they keep at it till they find a way. If you believe in something, let no one, no discouragement, and no challenge get in your way. You can defy gravity. You have vision that no one else can understand and that others will discourage. Don’t let them talk you out of the great things you can do. There are no limits, and no age limits (too young or too old). No matter what is happening in the world, it cannot stop you. The limits exist only in your mind. Make 2021 the year you take your moon shot.
Back in April, if you’d have caught me on the right day, I was ready to give in. I was at a loss. I thought I’d be out of business. I faced laying people off, and I saw my business crash. I got pretty depressed for about 24 hours. But then I told myself, “Enough pity. It’s times like these that separate the amateurs from the pros.” Either I was going to accept things as they were, and accept failure, or I was going to find a way, no matter what. Failure was not an option. So I pulled myself together, and let fear guide me to action. I talked to all my mentors, talked to my team, and launched ideas that could have failed. In fact, I almost didn’t launch them because I was convinced they would not work. But I had nothing to lose. We survived 2020 by doing two virtual events when everything else was cancelled.
Our third virtual event, Watercolor Live, is coming up in January. It’s breaking all previous attendance records so far. It’s a gathering of the world’s best watercolor master artists, teaching watercolor. People are attending from 30 countries so far. You can become an incredible artist, and this is the open door inviting you in. Don’t let this opportunity pass. You CAN do this.
2020 is near the end – Praise God I get to write this comment. Many ohers were not as lucky. May 2021 bring us happiness, health, hope and peace.
2020 has been very difficult for everyone who has lost family members and friends to COVID and for all those affected by the disease, either by loss of business, loss of income, fear and dismay, etc., even having differences over social distancing, and wearing masks. It has made me more aware of times past. It seems that all people have suffered great and terrible things all through history. We are learning to be survivors, to be encouraged and to encourage. Even the issues of what is more real, science and all its theories and accomplishments, or life given by God for God and for us, that it is a blessing to be here, to know him and to learn from him. To me, science is the study of what God has made, when he made it, what it is composed of, and what and how we can know more about it. They are both one actually. It is God that gives revelations to his creation. When fear wants to creep in, bringing doubt with it, this is what God’s word counsels us (in my paraphrase) Isaiah 26:3,: Thou will keep in perfect peace those whose eyes are staid on thee, because they trust in You. When we paint a portrait, with eyes wide open and scanning every detail of our sitters face, we try to capture their likeness and their nature. When we learn our Lord, we have a heart picture of His nature and look with our spirit, not only our eyes, and dwell upon his face, his nature, and knowingly trust Him. As we look to his face, we receive that perfect peace, no matter what is going on around us. Practicing painting makes us better painters. Taking time to turn our eyes upon the Lord brings us into that perfect peace and you might also discover how he wants to be part of your painting activities. He is the one who inspires your desire to create art. If you ask him, I think he will give you pictures to paint and the understanding of what he shows you to paint. That may be more than some wish to hear, but it is true. He doesn’t miss a thing and he will prove it by showing you something that only you know.
I just started reading your column and really enjoy it, actually look forward to it popping in my email, and that’s rare b/c 99.9% of my email is junk. Going to be optimistic that there’s a turning point to the bright side 2021. Happy New Year to all!
Thanks for a interesting read,it sure has been a strange year in this changing world.I,m not sure things will be for the better.I’m soon aged 63 and I honestly enjoyed my childhood,I grew up in a semi rural area, where nature played a big part of my and my mates lives.we would spend hours studying nature.we carried pen knives and would whittle away carving animal heads,and attach them to a hazel nut stick.I had about 20.l still have some of the heads,however the sticks had woodworm and I had to burn them.But the one good thing to come out of this year is being able to paint more often,and get to know lots of fellow artists.
I so enjoy reading these. My grandfather died when I was only 2 and my Grandmother when I was 4 so I don’t really remember them. And the stories my mother and later my dad, that adopted me, told never had any lessons in them.
Perhaps they did not learn any? Last year I was at a spiritual meeting where we broke into triads to tell a story about when we did not listen to our intuition/God/source and the lesson we learned.
While the gentleman and I both related incidents where things turned out badly for us when we “disobeyed” the still small voice, the other lady seemed to have learned nothing. She went on and on about being a victim. Even though in her story, she admitted she was given the thought that she should not have parked where she did.
perhaps some people need to tell their story just so someone else can point out the lesson?
Thank you for this heartwarming message, Eric. I had the wonderful experience of attending your first Plein Air Live Conference in July, 2020. It was even more instructive than I had expected. Although I have painted over 50 years, your Virtual conference re-ignited my creativity. I am now painting outdoors most days on my secluded Palm Desert patio. It is filled with flowers I planted in October that have multiplied to cascade out of their containers: Purple Petunias, Yellow Pansies and bright Red Geraniums are all competing for space by pushing their blooms together.
One of the best things of 2020 for me was marrying Stan on February 18. We are very mature, both widowed years ago, so it was a risky venture. We left the desert for a beautiful honeymoon over the ocean in San Diego and, when we returned, Covid-19 had gripped the country. We followed the government mandates to stay indoors and have had a ten-month honeymoon! We prepared meals together and learned to enjoyed each other’s music styles. We read and had long conversations each day. This year has created so many new experiences for people – uplifting memories or disappointments – I believe people’s attitudes boosted them in either direction. So many people ran through their life’s savings.
I thank God for protecting us and always providing our simple needs. I pray that we can have a better 2021 and emerge from this terrible pandemic with courage to embrace a new lifestyle. Reduced retail shopping, adaptation to home offices and less dependence on cars will change America in ways we cannot yet imagine. As artists, we know creative thinking will be necessary to adapt and survive. It can be an adventure! We are ready for new horizons!
I believe that I was saved by art. I wrote a newsletter to that effect. In 2007 I was hit with an illness that left me partially paralyzed and then with a stroke. I regained some sensation and that was not necessarily a good think, because I have chronic pain at the level where the spinal cord was damaged. So I felt good and sorry for myself until I began to paint again.
Your Plein Air Live and Realism Live have helped me to stay with the learning curve and I can’t thank you enough. I won’t be able to go on plein air workshops again, but I can go to local parks, and places where I can park for a couple of hours.
You are living proof that we can reinvent ourselves when we need to. I quit a lucrative career in one day-but learning art may take a lifetime, but it is a labor of love. Thank you Eric and Happy New Year-a better one than the last!! Warm Regards, Kelly
Thank you again Eric for the marvelous encouragement we all need now and in the future..have a great week
Eric. Whether you want to or not you have become my virtual mentor. I’ll bet you never thought you would be mentoring an 88 yr old, did you? I am thoroughly enjoying and learning from your great marketing book. I am making a ten year plan at this time. How optimistic is that?
Stories for the Future: These days I am painting plein air with Dennis Poirier in Southern Maine. For the past few weeks we have been painting at an amazing historic farm in South Berwick. Three Civil War soldiers and a Revolutionary War soldier lived there. The land was granted to one of the Civil War soldiers for his service! They are all buried in a small family cemetery out in the field behind the barn. So fascinating to be painting these surroundings while thinking of how they once worked this farm!
I have spent most of this down time Plein air painting with Dennis and others in his class. And as one of the founding members, I have been thoroughly enjoying and learning from our Dreamliners group. Did you know I coined the “Dreamliners” name?
Thank you for making all this possible by sharing your Streamline Artists videos. I am happy to be part of this community that you have created. And I always look forward to your Sunday Coffee posts. Thank you for helping me to get through this very tough year!
I don’t think this era is near ending, I will be surprised if matters don’t offer possible darker events ahead. In the broad spectrum of life – I am now nearing 80 years and I am only now realizing how tentative events of life are around us. We are spending money which we do not have, and it the trillions – ie. 30 – repayment, financial stability is like wondering how far space goes and what is there in its vastness. This seems a catastrophe and I am among those of this mind, however, to those of the American Revolution, Civil War, World War I, II, and Vietnam , the Towers, et.. al. it is just one more event in the cascade of our lifes events – one we will deal with or which will dramatically change who, what, we are and will become. Currently many feel China is a enemy nation – and I include myself in that group – however, I also studied China in collage an when you consider that in their time (years) our history is but a drop in the bucket, and that early on and – possibly even now , they felt they were the only people who mattered in the world. They have been conquered by other peoples in history, however, those conquerors became Chinese themselves. I note these points only because I don’t know what lies in store for this nation – I love it and the people of it – but we will have to have the strength and beliefs and creativity of our founding fathers, and great leaders of the past to survive. They seem to arise when needed but I question that with the division of the people, the pandemic and the things which allowed recovery in the past disappearing – we have some very hard roads ahead. I do realize that socialism or artibrary power aren.t the answer – look at the world and its history and one can understand that. I do ask that all those who wish to survive this period as a nation needs to look deeply within themselves and find the strength and forebearance to work together as a nation and unify rather than destroy ourselves through strife, bittnerness and self-centeredness.
Eric, as a nursing instructor, watching student I love become ill and lose their jobs, I just thank the Lord every day for people like you and your company that help to keep us sane. I work all week, but the second I get a chance, out come these videos. When in Las Vegas, I got to assis with the plain air painting, and paint with everyone when the show was over. I hope to return to those days soon. Thanks for all you do and for sharing! Brought back memories, some good, some not. Thanks
Always a good positive message. Thank you so much!
Thank you for all of the wonderful videos and beautiful works of art . I have gained so much knowledge and understanding of composition, marketing, and painting techniques.
Davina
Super questions to ask ourselves! Thank you thank you thank you !!! for writing to us and most of all for your daily visits that people our collective artist brain. Artists generally are open and thoughtful people I’ve found, but your generosity equals your extraordinary Vision!
Pun intended!
Eric: These Sunday Musings are documenting the Great Global Art Movement for our times. Great work! Thank You!
Thank you, God bless and may the New Year be kind. I appreciated the questions to ponder more at length later.
Eric, I enjoy your Sunday Coffee very much. I’ve also been following the daily videos.
Have y’all considered a “Virtual Paintout” online concept? I participated in one by artist Bill Guffey for several years using Google Street view. Everyone posted their works each month and it was fun to see What everyone painted.
I know that watercolor Live will be a great success Eric, you deserve it, and I wish you and your family a Happy New year,
you wrote “We’re hearing contradictory messages about science from equally credible people who disagree.” Who is a credible person who disagrees with the science of coronavirus & vaccinations (& humans causing climate change , for that matter) – credible?
The scientific method employs only one fact- that human ability to understand the natural world is ever changing and derives its future work from an evolutionary perspective- the concept of “settled science” is antithetical to its processes. Please stop politicizing it.
Hey Eric, I Love Sunday Coffee and I’m looking forward to Watercolor Live. I remember hearing you talk on one of your weekly posts about “Plein Air Force, Veteran Squad”. I was in college during Vietnam and luckily had a high draft number. I never served in the military but have often thought about helping those that did. I like the idea of helping people through art, and I know after 40 years in advertising art has been my form of meditation. I have talked to a few people here at the Red Cross and Veterans Affairs in Wilmington, NC. They love the idea and I thought you might have some info for such a program. I know as your events this will need to be planned for a time when we can all gather together to work one on one. But the planning can start now and I hope you can help. As you have said many times, this is a time to reach out and help your neighbor. Hope to meet you someday face to face. All the Best, David Meffert / meff-art.com
I admire your stick-with-it attitude. You just don’t give up. That is a rare quality. If more people had this one quality, we might not have seen the devastation of our cities. A person can do anything if they THINK they can. You are living proof of this.
I must say, You are an amazing person. Thanks for that.