tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872712733955065437.post1356073048347354578..comments2023-11-05T05:10:04.199-05:00Comments on With Michelle Armas: Infertility and Humility and ArtMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09022819745626507951noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872712733955065437.post-62170933301881083662014-02-21T11:35:34.688-05:002014-02-21T11:35:34.688-05:00Hi Michelle-
I am an admirer of your work and now ...Hi Michelle-<br />I am an admirer of your work and now I am an exhibiting artist at Gregg Irby Fine Art as well...so many great artists! I am excited about coming across your blog.<br />Reading your post was like looking in the mirror...I suffer from stage 4 endometriosis and infertility. The comments I receive are sometimes appalling. This has been an interesting journey to take-it has changed the path of my life, overall outlook and art...some for the better, others I am still working on. The art criticism and infertility/endo comments are parallel...it is a vulnerable state that you open and share with others and when they respond in a negative way-ouch! I appreciate your post and need to remember your words of wisdom when confronted with these same comments. Good luck with everything! Can't wait to see what you create next. -Cherlyn <br />Cherlynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08514139771630264855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872712733955065437.post-67398462767645770772014-02-05T12:13:40.599-05:002014-02-05T12:13:40.599-05:00Reading this post is just what I needed today, it ...Reading this post is just what I needed today, it was like medicine for my soul, much appreciated (-: Jodie https://www.blogger.com/profile/14514520373808984911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872712733955065437.post-52416747289813391662014-02-03T14:13:06.886-05:002014-02-03T14:13:06.886-05:00Michelle, long-time admirer of your art, first-tim...Michelle, long-time admirer of your art, first-time poster. I just wanted to chime in to say that my husband and I struggled with infertility for about 10 years before we finally adopted our son, and I hear you, it's the suck suck suckiest. And the things people say are just so baffling - "ugh, we have been trying to get pregnant for SO LONG." Really? 4 months? That's pretty long, I guess. Just like you said - unintentional but still pretty rude given the audience. <br />When we were waiting to find out if our baby would really end up being our baby, I was terrified and a bit of a wreck and so many of my dear friends and family told me they knew it would be fine and not to worry. The ones who really touched my heart, who finally helped me calm down, were the ones who said, "yeah, it might not work out and if not it's gonna hurt like hell. I'm sorry." Not trying to cure the sadness or the worry; just acknowledging the truth of the situation made so much of a difference to me. I guess I don't have anything beautiful and deep to say, the ladies above have done a fine job, I just wanted to comment in solidarity and say, "yeah, things probably aren't working out the way you hoped, and it hurts like hell, I know. I'm sorry." Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872712733955065437.post-88190344342231887562014-01-31T22:59:28.281-05:002014-01-31T22:59:28.281-05:00Michelle,
I love your blog, your words and your a...Michelle, <br />I love your blog, your words and your art. I am almost 60! And I am so on board ( finally) with being so over all the bullshit. On a personal note, our daughter has Stage 4 Endometriosis and suffers terribly. It's so hard for her and I just want to say the right thing and be there. I am so sorry for all the woman who suffer with Endometriosis. Peggi Kroll-Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01782599041193528090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872712733955065437.post-56389284500753824802014-01-30T14:07:23.077-05:002014-01-30T14:07:23.077-05:00Thank you for your sweet comment Amy! So glad we g...Thank you for your sweet comment Amy! So glad we got to meet that one time, and I will always think of you when I see hot pockets for sure. Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09022819745626507951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872712733955065437.post-71301755434292659312014-01-30T14:06:13.096-05:002014-01-30T14:06:13.096-05:00Katy, your comment is so insightful and thoughtful...Katy, your comment is so insightful and thoughtful. You are right! I never put my need to make order out of the world and my creative brain together, duh. Totally makes sense. Did you watch the video I linked about empathy? Its has great advice about being the listener. Thanks for your sweet comment, I appreciate the confidence in me! I will take it!Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09022819745626507951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872712733955065437.post-40828338196935674132014-01-30T14:04:45.123-05:002014-01-30T14:04:45.123-05:00Ouch, that sounds like a pain in the ass to have p...Ouch, that sounds like a pain in the ass to have people tell you that. I would have a very hard time keeping the "fuck y'all" look out of my eyes personally :) In all honesty. But you are right, it does get easier to brush it off, its like working out! ha!Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09022819745626507951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872712733955065437.post-89157191304001073462014-01-30T14:03:22.148-05:002014-01-30T14:03:22.148-05:00You are so right about reading enough self help bo...You are so right about reading enough self help books, and getting older and saying who cares! Life is short, so short. Isn't it amazing how much it helps to live a healthy lifestyle! Its amazing, for me personally, juicing has changed my brain for the better soooo much!Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09022819745626507951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872712733955065437.post-80510988251051392912014-01-30T14:02:12.917-05:002014-01-30T14:02:12.917-05:00Thank you for sharing that blog post with me! So i...Thank you for sharing that blog post with me! So insightful! I loved it.Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09022819745626507951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872712733955065437.post-44658383520603210642014-01-30T14:01:40.304-05:002014-01-30T14:01:40.304-05:00I am so glad that you maybe saw a different perspe...I am so glad that you maybe saw a different perspective from this post, about accepting yourself and maybe it will help you be braver about showing your art! Thanks for your comment! I love hearing from you.Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09022819745626507951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872712733955065437.post-20840334656728953332014-01-30T14:00:07.991-05:002014-01-30T14:00:07.991-05:00Its just one of those things you learn as you get ...Its just one of those things you learn as you get older I think! I know that I have also been insensitive to grieving people as well, makes me cringe to think of it!Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09022819745626507951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872712733955065437.post-42892536392335266742014-01-30T13:59:24.089-05:002014-01-30T13:59:24.089-05:00You are so funny :) Thanks for the encouragement.You are so funny :) Thanks for the encouragement.Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09022819745626507951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872712733955065437.post-61306575232325310272014-01-30T13:58:19.510-05:002014-01-30T13:58:19.510-05:00Always enjoy your posts, mostly for their authenti...Always enjoy your posts, mostly for their authenticity. And, of course, for the beauty of your paintings, which I now understand are just an outward reflection of your inner beauty. Duh. Keep writing, oh wise and funny one. <br />Love and hot pockets,<br />AmyAmyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13816868145468840298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872712733955065437.post-37670203562803303432014-01-29T22:22:51.002-05:002014-01-29T22:22:51.002-05:00You just blew my mind!! I think creatives have a d...You just blew my mind!! I think creatives have a deep need to understand the world around them,and more importantly what motivates it. You just saved me some thinking time.<br />I find myself trying to offer advice frequently, and you are right it is a selfish need to be the fixer. Gonna be the listener next time.<br />You are every bit as lovely as your paintings. You WILL be an amazing mother!!Katyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13056867319985464538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872712733955065437.post-21669917033085987302014-01-29T11:40:07.536-05:002014-01-29T11:40:07.536-05:00When people pass on their judgement, especially at...When people pass on their judgement, especially at art shows ie.'my nephew/son/mother does the same thing! they should be in this show! what does it cost to be in it? how do they apply?' ...I let it piss me off for a couple minutes (ie. want to kick them in the vagina - that gave me a good laugh, thx!) and then I let it go. The letting go part has gotten a lot easier, I remind myself of all the people who love my work, and that I most importantly loved it enough to hang it on that wall.julie hawkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08247106336939452102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872712733955065437.post-17725819707667881372014-01-29T08:55:44.200-05:002014-01-29T08:55:44.200-05:00Love the sincerity of your post and your entire bl...Love the sincerity of your post and your entire blog for that matter. That's what drew me to make your blog a daily stop! I struggle daily with fear and now that I look back have for most of my life. I think you read enough self help books and get old enough you just start to tell yourself - screw it. Life is to short, get on with it. Follow your heart and anything can be possible. Also, taking care of your self (working out - eating right) can defog the brain and emotions. That has helped more than I ever thought it would.FRIZZhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09902601093349993689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872712733955065437.post-63572836562745022082014-01-28T15:15:41.117-05:002014-01-28T15:15:41.117-05:00Great post! Thank you for your honesty and openne...Great post! Thank you for your honesty and openness. I know it is very hard. While reading this I was reminded of this post I read last year: http://ginazeidler.com/2013/06/11/how-to-bless-your-friends-going-through-infertility/. I thought you might enjoy the read. All my best!Victoria Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17239464221030794825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872712733955065437.post-53098406713177498552014-01-28T14:15:47.185-05:002014-01-28T14:15:47.185-05:00I love this post so much. I do struggle with putti...I love this post so much. I do struggle with putting my work out there for people to see. Even though I know the opinions of others shouldn't matter, and that not everyone will like your art (duh!), I still find that I let it hold me back sometimes. I think a big part of it is trying to fit into and maintain the image that other people have of me. And I totally agree that this is really about being okay with being yourself. I don't think I've thought about it like that before, so thank you! This post really made me think.<br /><br />Also, the things you wrote about it not being okay to live in sadness in our culture are so true. I think we're taught to hide away the so-called "negative" emotions, and so when we're faced with someone who is experiencing sadness or grief, we sometimes panic because we are so uncomfortable with those feelings and we don't know what to do. I think that's when we sometimes say things that are unintentionally hurtful, because we're trying to make the feeling of discomfort go away. I appreciate reading your story. I'm sure I've said some stupid things to people in the past, (unintentionally) and I'm always striving to grow and be a better person/listener/friend. <br /><br />Thanks a lot for this post! Loved it and really appreciate your perspective and encouragement. I wish you all the best!Briannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09925522380321312504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872712733955065437.post-52541447940678890562014-01-28T13:04:31.722-05:002014-01-28T13:04:31.722-05:00Oh and the part about the insensitivity of others ...Oh and the part about the insensitivity of others being related to their own selfishness is SPOT ON. It makes me aware of my own response to others in my effort to be more empathetic, more caring, more selfless. Thanks again. Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02192986272422075714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872712733955065437.post-57994693292086600002014-01-28T13:02:57.678-05:002014-01-28T13:02:57.678-05:00I really love the part you wrote about not caring ...I really love the part you wrote about not caring about the opinions of others... that moment must've been liberating. Definitely gives food for thought. Thanks for sharing. <br />Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02192986272422075714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8872712733955065437.post-89695285781264838202014-01-28T12:48:55.183-05:002014-01-28T12:48:55.183-05:00I like you more and more with each post! That must...I like you more and more with each post! That must have been a hard one to write! I want to be like you when I grow up! ;-)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00195725409985386951noreply@blogger.com