A Muse's Daydream: Creative Journeys to the Present Moment

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Blanche is back critiquing another of my creations. She's pretty tame on this one, probably because she's not a joiner either. 

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Hi ,

Blanche Baldwin has decided to critique paintings. There's a back story to that that will be revealed soon, but she has this first critique of Jill Badonsky's painting: Five Women in the Rain. 

You can see the painting in the title of this episode but also at Substack where the items in the Museum Gift Shop are available for reading. 

To catch up with Blanche's first podcast, go here.

Jill Badonsky

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Blanche is my alter ego. She’s from New Jersey. I was born in New Jersey but we left when I was five. Nothing to do with New Jersey - having to do with a mother who wanted to live in Florida. Anyway, I find Blanche refreshing. She says things like they are. She had some thoughts about art.

The full script is on Substack. Please support my writing by subscribing. You can do it for free or for a small monthly cost that gives you admission to my monthly creative Zoom workshops. Here I am on Substack

Music from Epidemic Sound

Written, narrated and engineered by Jill

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Sometimes ya just gotta go for the humor without an inspirational message... and maybe that's the message. Laughter is required to get through this disturbing time we are required to endure. 

I had fun writing this. I hope you have fun listening to it. 

Artwork by Tony Thompson

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Five rules to Arguing Politely and Ineffectively - Dedicated to Dolly Parton

There are rules to quarreling in the South. Arguments there are slow-cooked, sugar-glazed, and served with a side of pecan pie you didn’t really ask for.. 

First rule: Use a Sweetness You Don’t Really Mean … Most people know the Swiss Army knife of Southern disagreement is “Bless your heart”. It can mean either Hon, that is a worthy contribution to this discussion, or I feel sorry how profoundly misguided you are. You are Pathetic 
 For example:
 “I hear what you’re saying about liberals… bless your heart.” Translation: I do not hear what you’re saying, but I encourage you to continue being incorrect in a way that will eventually exhaust you because I’m not giving you anything to push back on.

#2: Smile Like You’re Being Photographed for the Church Directory …The smile is essential. It should say: I am kind, I am composed, and I am not listening to a single word you're saying, I am thinking about how you have a barbeque stain on your white shirt and bless your heart, it probably won’t come out.

#3: Disagree Indirectly, Preferably Through a Third Object …Direct confrontation is considered uncouth. Instead, go in this direction: My cousin tried that once and, well… we don’t really talk about it anymore.”  Or: “I’ve noticed some people confuse ‘feeling strongly’ with ‘being informed.’”

Rule #4: Offer Food as a Distraction  …
Mid-argument, just say: “Have you eaten?” This isn’t a question. It’s a ploy. If they say yes, you insist anyway. “Well let’s get you something else.”  If they say no, just know that nothing undermines a firm opinion like a plate of warm cornbread slathered in butter and honey.   

Rule #5: Escalate Courtesy not Volume ..As tensions rise, so must your politeness. Fir instance: “Well, isn’t that just so interesting, Evelyn.”“You have clearly given this a lot of thought.” Bless your heart, Aren’t you just the smart one here.” Each phrase should be served like tea that has too much sugar in it.

Final Thought …Polite arguing is not about changing minds. It’s about preserving the relationship while quietly rearranging your internal seating chart. Some people get to sit right by you, and others will be seated in the garage next to the water heater.

With these rules, you won’t win the debate. Who cares, if you maintain politeness, you will be invited back and in the South, that’s all that matters. 

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In this week's Substack article, The First Church of Waffle House, an after hours breakfast dive is a place to go just to be yourself.

Enjoy a little reverie in a different atmosphere of the imagination.

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For workshops and retreats.

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Hi,

Here is an article I wrote in honor of David Hockney. This guided relaxation takes us on a meditative ride with him.

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We are tiny dots in a vast, beautiful masterpiece, each small on our own, yet essential to something far greater than we can see. Wherever we land, we add depth, color, and purpose to the whole.

This special episode is a guided meditation that you can listen to. Something that reminds us that art, color, and imagination can transport us away from the difficulties of the world, if just for a little bit of time, to nourish, revive, and inspire us.

Know that, you can return to that green dot anytime (or any work of art that gives you a break from the chaos). Art is an antidote to the craziness.

Best wishes,

Jill

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My alter-ego ,Jilly Ann, seems to want to tell more stories these days. 

I hope you enjoy this one about Kudzu. It's amazing what an invasive strain of flora can tell ya in terms of how to live your life.

Thank you to my subscribers! Share with your friends! Make it a gift.

Jill

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I had a hankerin' to do another episode with a Southern accent, I suppose because it feels like coming home to a part of myself I didn’t realize I’d been missing. It feels like returning to a world where differences involved accents and not ammunition. I think I slip back into it from time to time just to remember there was a time that even though we didn’t pronounce our vowels the same way, we still knew how to love each other.

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The script to this podcast is at The Muse is In on Substack 

Bhutanese philosophy views death not as a tragic end, but as a natural transition, a continuation of life, and an integral part of existence. 

Back in 2019, an MRI indicated that I had an aneursym in my ascending aorta. Yikes, I thought. I must be on my way out. I wrote a letter to all my people telling them I loved them and … see ya. 

Well, here I am almost seven years later. Turns out it’s just hanging out there to remind me how temporary life is. I had that same wake-up call many people describe after near-death experiences where the ephemeral nature of life makes you much more present to the incredible blessing of being alive. I got busy living deeper and thinking about death in a more friendly light.

I pondered the question, what if dying is something much better than we think? What if what happens after you die… is what you believe will happen to you? And if that notion is preposterous to you, what would it hurt to believe in it anyway? It relaxes me, which inspired this podcast.  Complete with a wild parrot honing in.

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