Category Archives: self-awareness

Feb 01 2 comments
balance, beauty, French Proverbs, self-awareness

A Big Nose

big noses

I Know Noses

In the past few months I have photographed a number of women who have all told me the same thing; they hate their nose because it is too big.  This isn’t new, I have been hearing it from women (never men) most of my art and photography career, which goes back over 35 years.  In not one of those situations did I look at their nose and think that.  Instead I thought their nose was just right for their face in balance, shape and size.  In other words, I loved their nose and thought it added to, not detracted from, their beauty.  

The French Knows Noses

If there is any place on earth that has refined taste, it’s France. This quote is a French proverb. It’s from the country of high sophistication and beautiful art, architecture, women, men, fashion, food and more.   If France can make a national statement about the beauty of the nose, then who are we to disagree, right?

That’s it. That is all I wanted to say. All you women out there who think your nose is too big, I think your nose is beautiful.

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Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman, who knows.

Quote is a French Proverb

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If you ever do get put down for your nose, memorize this monologue from Roxanne.

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Trivia question of the day

What animal has the most olfactory (smell) receptors?

Come back tomorrow for the answer.

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Sep 03 2 comments
self-awareness

Laboring with Your Self

It’s a different kind of labor day in my mind today.

 

labor with self

Illusions of Your Self

Have you ever had a moment when you realized you weren’t who you thought you were? Maybe you thought you were a paragon of moral virtue then found yourself having an affair.  Maybe you thought you were heroic and brave only to find out when something dangerous happened you became a coward.  Maybe you thought you were dowdy and prudish but later realized you were sexy and alluring.  

How did these revelations come about?  Sometimes they were forced upon you by circumstances.  Other times it was someone who said something that allowed that new way of seeing yourself to come about.  Maybe it was a book or a movie or the death of someone you loved.  Whatever it was, it led you to believe you had a new identity.  It was good perhaps, or maybe it was depressing to find this new you inhabiting your body.

The Real You, Distorted

But at least now you know the real you, right?  Maybe our goal shouldn’t be to know the ‘real’ self. Maybe it should be to realize we have always been our real self, only slightly distorted, like in a fun house mirror. Maybe our goal should be to collect all those mirrors and look at all the multiple distortions honestly and clearly. Perhaps then we will see ourselves most accurately.

How do we do this?  I like the idea of making a list of all my identities.  Going all the way back to when you were young, who have you seen yourself as? I bet we would discover a lot, don’t you think?

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Drawing and quote by Marty Coleman

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Jul 03 0 comments
Betty Friedan, Independence, self-awareness

Who is ‘You’? – Independence Week #2

Yesterday it was about men, today – women. It’s Independence Week at the NDD.

How Do You Declare Your Independence?

Why, Women?

This could be about men, it’s true. Many men don’t ever hear that voice inside themselves. But it does seem, at least in my American experience, to be especially true of women.  But I would like to hear from my female friends, is this true for you? Have you heard that voice? Are you hoping to? How did you know it was from within and not just another voice from without? What did you do about it?

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Drawing by Marty Coleman, who hasn’t read the book, but did see the movie.

Quote by Betty Friedan, American author & feminist

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Jun 25 1 comments
Competition, self, self-awareness

Who is Your Strongest Competition?

You Are. 

Competition with Self

The Fight Within

It’s not ‘the competition’ who is your strongest competition, it’s you.  It’s your decision to settle. It’s your decision to give up. It’s your decision to blame circumstances or others or the weather.  Win the battle with your mediocre, excusing self and you’ll win, simple as that.

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Drawing by Marty Coleman, who is preaching to himself.

 

 

Dec 16 1 comments
Marty Coleman, self-awareness

The Ideal and the Ordeal

ordeal ideal

I had a friend in college who was a great keyboard player. His specialty was church organ music. He even had a real organ in his little apartment. He LOVED to play the organ and wanted to be a professional organist for a church.  It was his ideal.

But his father wanted him to be a banker. So, he worked in a bank as a teller. That was his father’s path for him and he didn’t have the guts, at that point anyway, to confront his father, OR himself, and take the path he really wanted to take.

He wasn’t living his ideal, he was living an ordeal.

Tell us the story of your ideal and your ordeal. If you have achieved or are on the path to your ideal, tell us how you made that change. If you haven’t made it but want to, tell us what you think might be stopping you.  Your stories will help others so don’t be shy to tell them.

Drawing, commentary AND quote by Marty Coleman, a man who lets his fingernails grow too long.

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