The Serious Business of Joy
Cleo, the capybara, knew before I did
I didn't intend to paint her, but sometimes embodied living looks like a capybara in a party hat on a scooter, and she was relentless.
It’s the ladies that are the centers of my paintings — not a partying capybara. It’s the ladies with their messages and their subtle ways of being. Their communications that speaks soul-to-soul.
But no. This little rodent needed to be front and center. In a party hat. On a scooter. Holding a balloon string that loops into infinity symbols drifting off into the ethers. Off for a good time. Off to cause a kerfunkle (which I define as play with a dash of mischief).
The rodent kept tugging at me.
I kept going back to the lady. She had always been the point.
The rodent tugged again … and again … and again.
Right about that time I noticed I was grieving — past girlfriend fun, yoga and coffee, weekly music jams. I was sitting at my desk, staring at the painting... missing them... and then I got it.
Go cause your own kerfunkle.
I painted a bit on another canvas to get my energy moving, then got on the phone about a potential girlfriend dance night. Oh, what a hoot. I met Sally, who I may play music with this summer. Another upcoming dance opportunity. And a few other possibilities opened up the next day.
All of it showed right up, as soon as I let go of the serious business of joy.
Cleo knew all along. That’s why she wouldn’t let me skip her.
I’m glad she didn’t. Thank you Cleo.
Wishing you harmless mischief and lots of laughter,
Suzanne
Join me where I write weekly about the journey of being fully alive through reflections on art, presence, and how life guides us home to our truest self. You’ll find reflections, stories, and creative sparks rooted in holistic and intentional living. Sometimes I’ll share insights from my painting practice, sometimes from the quiet wisdom of daily life. Always, I’ll be writing from the heart with honesty, curiosity, and a deep love for the journey.
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