Norman Rockwell was one of America's most beloved artists. He produced over 4,000 paintings, although the majority of them have been destroyed or are in private collections, such as The Peach Cup, an original owned by movie director George Lucas and Triple Self-Portrait, a sketch owned by Steven Spielberg. The Norman Rockwell Museum is in Stockbridge, Massachusetts - well worth the visit if you are a fan of his.
Although it isn't considered by some to be one of his major works, a favorite of mine (whichwe do not own, I'm sorry to say), is A Family Tree, an original oil painting that is featured in a book we own Norman Rockwell, A Sixty Year Retrospective.
At the top of this graphic illustration is an angelic looking little boy. His family tree is spread out below him. His parents are a smiling homemaker type mother and a rugged father. His first set of grandparents appears to be a no-nonsense dark skinned cowboy whose lady is blond - maybe a lady of the night. The other grandparents are shown as a scholarly "dandy" and his well-dressed wife. It gets better. Great Grandpa is a full bearded mountain man with his Indian woman; while their contemporaries are puritans, the man wearing a clerical collar and backed up by a tough-lady wife. Great-Great Grandfather is a Civil War soldier from the South with a skeptical spouse, and the other set is a Civil War soldier from the North with a demure wife. On it goes until we skip down to a really rough pirate and his just as rough looking female friend.
Pieces of DNA and traits from all of those individuals swirled throughout the family line to bestow something to the genetic makeup of the child who may have an angelic countenance, but most likely also has more than a hint of the scamp in him, as well.
Rockwell's humor blooms throughout this painting, but like his other works, it also contains fascinating glimpses of truth about a slice of American life. We all, American or not, emanate from a variety of individuals with diverse personalities, occupations, interests and experiences. Whatever came together to contribute to what you are today also got all mixed up with experiences and environment. There is enough variety there to allow you to be a unique, fantastic individual.
No matter what your experiences have been - good or bad - you can, if you determine to do so - use them for good. You don't have to be a certain way just because one of your ancestors was like that. Were you abused as a child? Does that mean you have to be abused now - or that you have to abuse others? Absolutely not. Did life keep you from realizing your dreams? So? Everyone has dreams they'll never realize; but everyone who wants to, can have other successes that turn into wonderfully satisfying endeavors.
If you are married, here's something you can do that can bind you closer together. Plan a time with your spouse in a quiet, romantic spot where each of you can share what you know about your respective pasts - the good things - and what dreams you had that might still be possible to achieve. Make up your minds as you do - and in fact, it would be good if you put your arms around each other and vow it - that you will not do anything purposely to prevent either of you from realizing at least one of your dreams. Be sure it isn't one sided; that it is reasonable; it is within reach; financially and practically (if you can't sing, don't aspire to be an opera star) and that above all, that it won't harm the marriage or the family unit. In fact, make plans about how you can encourage one another. You are going to be each other's most sincere fan - the rooting section for your lives. As your children - assuming you have any - see Dad supporting Mom and Mom supporting Dad, they will realize that they aren't the only ones in the universe; and yet they, too, can achieve just as their parents do. That's security for them.
That's why you must have unity and love in your relationship. And that's why we have books and material for women and books and material for men to show you just how to do that. In fact, we are so anxious to save your marriage from unhappiness, that we have spent a great deal of our lives producing material to help you achieve it. Go to our site now and get going, so your past won't affect your future except for good.
Margaret Hardisty International Best Selling Author and Speaker Love Relationship Headquarters
Although it isn't considered by some to be one of his major works, a favorite of mine (whichwe do not own, I'm sorry to say), is A Family Tree, an original oil painting that is featured in a book we own Norman Rockwell, A Sixty Year Retrospective.
At the top of this graphic illustration is an angelic looking little boy. His family tree is spread out below him. His parents are a smiling homemaker type mother and a rugged father. His first set of grandparents appears to be a no-nonsense dark skinned cowboy whose lady is blond - maybe a lady of the night. The other grandparents are shown as a scholarly "dandy" and his well-dressed wife. It gets better. Great Grandpa is a full bearded mountain man with his Indian woman; while their contemporaries are puritans, the man wearing a clerical collar and backed up by a tough-lady wife. Great-Great Grandfather is a Civil War soldier from the South with a skeptical spouse, and the other set is a Civil War soldier from the North with a demure wife. On it goes until we skip down to a really rough pirate and his just as rough looking female friend.
Pieces of DNA and traits from all of those individuals swirled throughout the family line to bestow something to the genetic makeup of the child who may have an angelic countenance, but most likely also has more than a hint of the scamp in him, as well.
Rockwell's humor blooms throughout this painting, but like his other works, it also contains fascinating glimpses of truth about a slice of American life. We all, American or not, emanate from a variety of individuals with diverse personalities, occupations, interests and experiences. Whatever came together to contribute to what you are today also got all mixed up with experiences and environment. There is enough variety there to allow you to be a unique, fantastic individual.
No matter what your experiences have been - good or bad - you can, if you determine to do so - use them for good. You don't have to be a certain way just because one of your ancestors was like that. Were you abused as a child? Does that mean you have to be abused now - or that you have to abuse others? Absolutely not. Did life keep you from realizing your dreams? So? Everyone has dreams they'll never realize; but everyone who wants to, can have other successes that turn into wonderfully satisfying endeavors.
If you are married, here's something you can do that can bind you closer together. Plan a time with your spouse in a quiet, romantic spot where each of you can share what you know about your respective pasts - the good things - and what dreams you had that might still be possible to achieve. Make up your minds as you do - and in fact, it would be good if you put your arms around each other and vow it - that you will not do anything purposely to prevent either of you from realizing at least one of your dreams. Be sure it isn't one sided; that it is reasonable; it is within reach; financially and practically (if you can't sing, don't aspire to be an opera star) and that above all, that it won't harm the marriage or the family unit. In fact, make plans about how you can encourage one another. You are going to be each other's most sincere fan - the rooting section for your lives. As your children - assuming you have any - see Dad supporting Mom and Mom supporting Dad, they will realize that they aren't the only ones in the universe; and yet they, too, can achieve just as their parents do. That's security for them.
That's why you must have unity and love in your relationship. And that's why we have books and material for women and books and material for men to show you just how to do that. In fact, we are so anxious to save your marriage from unhappiness, that we have spent a great deal of our lives producing material to help you achieve it. Go to our site now and get going, so your past won't affect your future except for good.
Margaret Hardisty International Best Selling Author and Speaker Love Relationship Headquarters
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Do you have relationship problems? You are not alone. Millions have marriage problems We'll show you how to save your marriage , and get separate help for men. This article, Angelic Or Not Really? has free reprint rights.
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