Whatever your reason for travel is, when you get depressed, get out of your cocoon to cheer up. Nobody ever should be depressed. You might think, well, it has been raining now for three months, I think I have a reason to be depressed. I wanted to get outside, I need the sunshine. Whatever you think, do something about it.
I remember long time ago there were three solid months of rain when the sugar beets were taken out by the army corps of engineers because the farmers couldn’t do it. The soil was too soaked. The machines could not get in. My grandfather died because of it. He was depressed, so my mother said, he died because of the rain. I don’t believe the rain did that. True, he was an outdoor man who maintained apple and pear orchards, did research and became a famous figure in his field.
I think he was depressed as a family trait of never being able to perform well enough. He was honored by the queen, but it still was not enough. This is about brain power. My father, his son, was brilliant but depressed because he was never good enough, in his own eyes.
As for me, I needed to find out how I could feel enough and have fun and cheer other people up despite the rain. It is not about sunshine. It is an inside matter. When it rains there is coziness and chores to be done like cleaning closets, sowing gadgets, knitting a sweater and cleaning the oven. It feels great. When the sun comes out, you are ready to go for a walk. The sun always will come out, eventually.
I think all of this is about finding your purpose, your strength, that what will make you happy, despite the rain. When I start feeling blue, I make a painting of four different colors blue.
Here is a tour of my studio, https://vimeo.com/931512569?share=copy
Northlight studio’s, 357 Depot street, Asheville
