The "Park Guy:" the brain ramblings of a single woman out for a run.
Ok self, first day back at the park in a little while let's take it easy; simple 5k, yeah I can do that.
Ok, first lap, not bad, it's kinda hot though....oh hey he looks like he might be around my age.
Alright steady breathing. This playlist is good. begin lap 2...
ok green t-shirt man this is it...today is the day I meet a "park guy" how does this work? should I talk to him....no I have asthma that's silly I can't talk and run at the same time....ok well how does this work I guess we just have to end our workout at the same time...
AHHHHH OH MY GOSH IS THAT A SNAKE....AH IT IS A SNAKE...I'M GOING TO DIE....what is the saying "red touches black you're ok Jack?" yeah that's it. Well what color is that...I don't have my glasses on and I'm not getting close enough to look at the snake
step around the snake...don't provoke it...wayyyyyyyy around the snake....BUT DON'T FREAK OUT green t-shirt guy is behind you...don't freak out....
Ok, good job you got around the snake and you didn't die...awesome just keep running.
Lap 3. Green shirt man ...what does his shirt say? I don't know, I wish I decided to run with my glasses. Oh well.
WAIT WHAT ABOUT THE SNAKE? WHY ARE ALL THOSE PEOPLE STANDING AROUND THE SNAKE?!?!?!?!?!?!
Oh ok, ok, ok, they killed it. The snake is dead and I just ran wayyyy off the sidewalk for no reason. Oh well.
Alright lap 4, how many laps around this thing is a 5k? this is getting kinda boring I'm not going to lie. Oh look green shirt man is further ahead. Am I running slower or is he walking faster? No telling.
At least I'm almost done it is dang hot out here. Ok, play it cool green shirt man is up ahead don't run too fast you don't want to be intimidating...cool cool a nice smooth run.
JUST KIDDING A BUG FLEW AT MY NOSE where did that thing come from...must get rid of it...great now green shirt man thinks your blowing a snot rocket or something weird like that...that's it you just blew your chance at meeting a "park guy" because of a gnat...you handled the snake just fine but a bug....nooooooooo.
lap 5 this should be my last full lap...wait where's green shirt man? Oh man he's gone that's it I really did lose him. Was it the bug? must've been the bug.
And so I'll wait to see if one day I will meet a "park guy," but today will not be that day.
Monday, April 2, 2018
Saturday, February 3, 2018
"Movement" Artist's Statement
"Movement." Brittany Hennigan. February 3, 2018. Acrylic on White Canvas. Inspired by Photo. 15.5 hours.
So I've never written one of these before and when I had a teacher willing to teach me how I chose not to because I was only painting specific types of paintings because he assigned them; there was no deeper meaning.
So here goes...
I paint as a form of stress management. I did not realize this until I was an adult, but that is a huge part of why I do art. (If we're being entirely honest it started as anger management as a child and then transitioned well to stress management as an adult).
I started this painting because I was injured. I fell off a long-board over the summer and gave myself a good ankle sprain complete with nerve damage and also somehow tennis elbow. I was down for the count and unable to exercise (my other main form of stress management) I was going nuts and was getting pretty angry at the injury and my inability to manage my stress.
I bought the biggest canvas I could find at Walmart and started painting. I was feeling more of a color than a particular object, so I looked up pictures of purple things until I came upon this great butterfly picture.
I chose the name for the painting while working on the background. I've been told I make things "too busy" and I began to worry that there was too much going on in the background. Using my reference picture I decided to continue despite the large amount of movement in the background: I liked it.
I left the top left of the background rather plain because I enjoy the purple/green contrast. It is also symbolic of the movement yet to come in my life.
Fun new disclaimer!
This blog and the posts contained within may or may not reflect the views/beliefs of my employer.
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
Thy Will be Done
A long time ago I wrote a blog post called Pray the hardest... about the phrase "pray hardest when it's hardest to pray." I didn't find it hard to pray in difficult circumstances at the time but I think I have a new understanding.
It is TERRIFYING to pray for a miracle, to need a miracle, knowing that you might not get one.
Let's back up for a second. Yes, God has the power to do anything, and I firmly believe that he can perform the miracle that you or I pray for. I have no doubt in that!
Where the fear, worry, and anxiety set in is where I know God has the power to do what I so desperately want Him to do for me, but it might not be His will.
Knowing, believing and trusting in God can be a roller coaster ride. For me, trusting can be like the first big drop on a roller coaster. You know, the one that looks like its practically a 90 degree angle? The one where you're really hoping the people who welded the coaster together, and fit the seats and the buckles and everything together actually knew what they were doing? Where you go, oh shoot! was there an inspection sticker? How long has it been since this has been inspected? Will I survive?
Yeah, trusting God can be like that for me sometimes. Like I know He has a plan and I know it is better than mine but sometimes I really just want His will to be exactly what my will is. I want a miracle.
Yet, in the same breath, every Sunday as I say the Lord's Prayer in church I pray these three words
Thy will be done...
God's will may not be the same as mine.
He might not will for me to get a promotion, to do a certain thing, to feel a certain thing...
He might will that something else happens, that I go a different direction, that someone else needs that thing, or even that it is time for a loved one to go home to Him in Heaven.
This, I feel, is often why many people have questions. If God could save them, why didn't He? Why is life so difficult? Why am I in this situation?
The is often glory and beauty in the struggle. There could also be someone waiting for you to let them help you. Honestly, I'm sure it depends on the situation and I'm no expert here for sure. I too, am learning as I go.
I have experienced glory in trial, I have seen people turn towards God who otherwise wouldn't. I have pushed through something thinking I was trusting God until I ran out of options and then BOOM God came through. I've also been given the answer of no, or not yet to my prayers and have/am working really hard to see the glory in that.
God's plan is good, we have to trust in that. We may be riding the roller coaster, but He is there; watching and waiting for the moment that we slow down and see Him. Don't give up because you are scared. Trust that His plan is great though it may be difficult to see at this moment.
Fun new disclaimer!
This blog and the posts contained within may or may not reflect the views/beliefs of my employer.
It is TERRIFYING to pray for a miracle, to need a miracle, knowing that you might not get one.
Let's back up for a second. Yes, God has the power to do anything, and I firmly believe that he can perform the miracle that you or I pray for. I have no doubt in that!
Where the fear, worry, and anxiety set in is where I know God has the power to do what I so desperately want Him to do for me, but it might not be His will.
Knowing, believing and trusting in God can be a roller coaster ride. For me, trusting can be like the first big drop on a roller coaster. You know, the one that looks like its practically a 90 degree angle? The one where you're really hoping the people who welded the coaster together, and fit the seats and the buckles and everything together actually knew what they were doing? Where you go, oh shoot! was there an inspection sticker? How long has it been since this has been inspected? Will I survive?
Yeah, trusting God can be like that for me sometimes. Like I know He has a plan and I know it is better than mine but sometimes I really just want His will to be exactly what my will is. I want a miracle.
Yet, in the same breath, every Sunday as I say the Lord's Prayer in church I pray these three words
Thy will be done...
God's will may not be the same as mine.
He might not will for me to get a promotion, to do a certain thing, to feel a certain thing...
He might will that something else happens, that I go a different direction, that someone else needs that thing, or even that it is time for a loved one to go home to Him in Heaven.
This, I feel, is often why many people have questions. If God could save them, why didn't He? Why is life so difficult? Why am I in this situation?
The is often glory and beauty in the struggle. There could also be someone waiting for you to let them help you. Honestly, I'm sure it depends on the situation and I'm no expert here for sure. I too, am learning as I go.
I have experienced glory in trial, I have seen people turn towards God who otherwise wouldn't. I have pushed through something thinking I was trusting God until I ran out of options and then BOOM God came through. I've also been given the answer of no, or not yet to my prayers and have/am working really hard to see the glory in that.
God's plan is good, we have to trust in that. We may be riding the roller coaster, but He is there; watching and waiting for the moment that we slow down and see Him. Don't give up because you are scared. Trust that His plan is great though it may be difficult to see at this moment.
Fun new disclaimer!
This blog and the posts contained within may or may not reflect the views/beliefs of my employer.
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