Criticism

I am as usual reading 3or4 books at the same time. One to help me with my writing is
12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women by Gail McMeekin. She has a chapter on
Conquering Saboteurs in which she covers the subject of criticism which can be a "dragon".
Then today I received this quote.
"Criticism, like rain should be gentile enough to nourish a man's (person's) growth without washing away his roots." Frank A. Clark
And with it this example:

Unpolished Diamond
By: Author Unknown

How a person reacts to criticism often means the difference
between success and failure. Take the case of Ole Bull, the
famous Norwegian violinist of the past century.

His practical father, a chemist, sent him to the University
of Christiania to study for the ministry and forbade him to
play his beloved violin. He promptly flunked out and,
defying his father, devoted all his time and energy to the
violin. Unfortunately, though he had great ability, his
teachers were relatively unskilled, so that by the time he
was ready to start his concert tour he wasn't prepared.

In Italy a Milan newspaper critic wrote: "He is an untrained
musician. If he was a diamond, he would certainly be rough
and unpolished."

There were two ways Ole Bull could have reacted to that
criticism. He could have let it make him angry, or he could
learn from it. Fortunately he chose the latter. He went to
the newspaper office and asked to see the critic. The
astounded editor introduced him. Ole spent the evening with
the 70-year-old critic, asked about his faults, and sought
the older man's advice on how to correct them.

Then he canceled the rest of his tour, returned home, and
spent the next six months studying under really able
teachers. He practiced hours upon hours to overcome his
faults. Finally, he returned to his concerts and, when only
26, became the sensation of Europe. (And America)

I recently read about Ole in a book about Edgar A. Poe. when he was in America in th 1840's so it was interesting to learn more about him,

Clutter clearing

Part of this blog is going to be on my clutter clearing to create space and organization to aid me in my writing.
This first day(Dec 30) was to work on cleaning off a work table for one hour from 9-10 AM

Result: Not quite to a bare table which is my goal to put up a jigsaw puzzle of Yosemite in winter that my grand kids and I do every year and it becomes part of my decoration. We'll start it on the 1st.

Today's Adventure

Went x-c skiing in our 40 acre pasture "front yard", followed by 12 year old grandson, Sam
and 8 year old great granddaughter Rose and 11 year old dog. Made it to the river for the
first time this year and dog tried to get a drink and fell in. Took him 15 minutes to get out
while we called and encouraged. Called Sam's dad for help but before he arrived dog got
himself out and we all made it back to house. Warmed up and re-energized with toasted
cheese sandwichs and now out to make snowmen and feed horses.

Sun is calling

After days of snow the sun is calling me to come out and play, to ski, sled ride and make snowmen with kids so away I goooooooooooooo.