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My good friend Becca Borrelli is an artist based in Austin, Texas and above are some examples of her work. She is the author of The Austin Coloring Book, she creates sign art all over Austin and she also teaches art classes for children and adults. She is not just an amazing artist but a kind and wise person. She sends out a weekly newsletter called "Museletter," with her thoughts about life, art and the intersection of the two. She recently sent out a piece about her New Year's Resolution to eat foods that are kinder to her body. I loved what she said so much about making and keeping goals that I asked if I could share it with my readers and patients. Please check out her story below, and you can find more of her art at http://beccajborrelli.com (and even subscribe to the Museletter yourself!).
New Year's Resolutions and Art by Becca Borrelli
Resolution talk. Have you ever chatted with someone about your resolutions, and they kind of slam on them a little? Like, not in a crappy "I hope you fail" kind of way, but in a "that's too much for me, you're very brave" kind of way.
I was telling someone the other day that I wanted to eliminate dairy and gluten more permanently from my diet this year, because overall my health sky-rockets when I do.
And they said the most FASCINATING thing:
"I couldn't imagine doing that."
They used the word IMAGINE.
You probably have heard this in other contexts:
"I just can't imagine giving up sweets."
"I just can't imagine my life without him/her."
"I just can't imagine saving twenty percent of my income."
"I just can't imagine leaving my job for a better one."
Whatever.
I love that people use the word IMAGINE. It's a CLUE.
Struggling with change isn't a crisis of effort. It's not a crisis of laziness. It's not a crisis of intention.
Struggling with change begins as a crisis of imagination.
I mean, how in the world am I supposed to change my diet if I can't imagine myself with tons of energy, lit up with nutrition, glowing hair, skin and nails? How will I possibly change what my meals look like if I can't imagine myself savoring the most delicious clean proteins and home-grown market veggies? How will make changes to my grocery list if I can't imagine going to the farmer's market for my snacks. Sun in my hair, jazz music in the background... savoring the sights and smells... instead of the convenience of the corner gas station?
What if the people who grow into higher and higher versions of themselves aren't simply warriors? Like, we have this idea that people who make positive change are some how more tough than we are. Gritting their teeth and bearing the brunt of this ridiculously hard change they are embarking on. They prevail! They have enough stamina!
But what if they aren't more tough?
What if they are more imaginative?
What if they are artists?
When you're an artist, you don't do battle with that thing... your imagination does battle for you.
So when I get home starving for a snack, my boyfriend's box of Joe Joe's doesn't do battle with my freaking willpower (I would lose, let's be honest.) Instead, it does battle with a vivid, crisp, technicolor, artistic vision of myself, calm, energized, full of life from all the nutrition in my body.
An imagination like that kicks the Oreos a** every day of the week.
Resolution talk. Have you ever chatted with someone about your resolutions, and they kind of slam on them a little? Like, not in a crappy "I hope you fail" kind of way, but in a "that's too much for me, you're very brave" kind of way.
I was telling someone the other day that I wanted to eliminate dairy and gluten more permanently from my diet this year, because overall my health sky-rockets when I do.
And they said the most FASCINATING thing:
"I couldn't imagine doing that."
They used the word IMAGINE.
You probably have heard this in other contexts:
"I just can't imagine giving up sweets."
"I just can't imagine my life without him/her."
"I just can't imagine saving twenty percent of my income."
"I just can't imagine leaving my job for a better one."
Whatever.
I love that people use the word IMAGINE. It's a CLUE.
Struggling with change isn't a crisis of effort. It's not a crisis of laziness. It's not a crisis of intention.
Struggling with change begins as a crisis of imagination.
I mean, how in the world am I supposed to change my diet if I can't imagine myself with tons of energy, lit up with nutrition, glowing hair, skin and nails? How will I possibly change what my meals look like if I can't imagine myself savoring the most delicious clean proteins and home-grown market veggies? How will make changes to my grocery list if I can't imagine going to the farmer's market for my snacks. Sun in my hair, jazz music in the background... savoring the sights and smells... instead of the convenience of the corner gas station?
What if the people who grow into higher and higher versions of themselves aren't simply warriors? Like, we have this idea that people who make positive change are some how more tough than we are. Gritting their teeth and bearing the brunt of this ridiculously hard change they are embarking on. They prevail! They have enough stamina!
But what if they aren't more tough?
What if they are more imaginative?
What if they are artists?
When you're an artist, you don't do battle with that thing... your imagination does battle for you.
So when I get home starving for a snack, my boyfriend's box of Joe Joe's doesn't do battle with my freaking willpower (I would lose, let's be honest.) Instead, it does battle with a vivid, crisp, technicolor, artistic vision of myself, calm, energized, full of life from all the nutrition in my body.
An imagination like that kicks the Oreos a** every day of the week.
Becca Borrelli is an admirer of doodling, lettering, and art teaching. Since graduating with a MA in Art Education from The University of Texas, she has been working as an art teacher at The Contemporary Art School, and establishing an illustration and sign making business. She is inspired by the invisible connections between all things, and her works aims to be a playful, bright, and hopeful interpretation of the world's whimsical and magical sides.She has fallen in love with her hometown in Austin, TX where she spends free time jogging Town Lake, collaborating with local businesses, and hunting for the best breakfast tacos
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