Change Is Hard

…but change is certain.

Still mailing those smiles

38 Comments

It seems like I just wrote about the little water color paintings I’ve been doing and sending off each day. But when I look back I see it’s been a month, and in a month there’s been about 30 more little paintings.

Do you want to see some of them? I’ll be honest, I like looking at them, and sometimes it’s hard to mail them away.

But I hear back from most people that receive them, and so far the notes and paintings seem to be doing the job they were sent to do. They are making people smile.

Not every painting has been a success. There have been several failures, though sometimes I look at one of those and think maybe I can salvage it.

I think that especially on Sunday nights when I don’t have anything to mail on Monday. So far I haven’t missed a day and I don’t want to break my streak.

I’ve started doing something specific for people’s birthdays. I’ve even sent a few sympathy cards made from one of my paintings.

I have a few more ideas, but the momentum is slowing down. I planned on continuing this until life gets back to normal, but the reality is that normal is an unknown thing now and may always be.

In fact we may lose our entire summer to this stay at home order here in Michigan. Certainly there will be restrictions for the foreseeable future.

So maybe I’ll continue painting these. If you haven’t received one, please don’t be sad. It’s probably because I don’t have a mailing address for you. You’re welcome to send me an address and I’ll see what I can come up with!

Author: dawnkinster

I'm a long time banker having worked in banks since the age of 17. I took a break when I turned 50 and went back to school. I graduated right when the economy took a turn for the worst and after a year of library work found myself unemployed. I was lucky that my previous bank employer wanted me back. So here I am again, a long time banker. Change is hard.

38 thoughts on “Still mailing those smiles

  1. I still have your beautiful little painting sitting out in the living room next to a magic stick, a beaded waterfall, a hummingbird nest and some sacred rocks. Love how inspired you have been to create these and mail them out!

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  2. They look great! I’m sure they do bring smiles to all who receive them 🙂

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    • I think they do. Once in awhile I don’t hear from someone which makes me wonder especially if they received one of my favorites. But mostly I’ve heard from everyone, which is also nice because I can catch up a little on what’s going on in their lives. Sort of like the annual Christmas letter but in the spring.

      Liked by 1 person

  3. I just cant get over how beautiful these are. Wow.

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  4. Wow! They are so beautiful and . . . and . . . smiley!

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  5. I love all these it really shows off your talent. Are you using watercolors or watercolor markers? I love the light look of the colors.

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    • I’m using watercolors. I had a big pallet of them from a class I took a couple decades ago. Just add water and they’re good as new! 🙂 I did just order some watercolor pencils though, that I’ll get next week. Should be fun.

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  6. Really? If I send you my address you’ll send my one of those beauties? Now that made me smile!

    Liked by 1 person

  7. They all make me smile, even thousands of miles away. 🙂

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  8. You are very talented, Dawn. I love them.

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    • They are fun to do. I look for ‘easy watercolors’ in a google search. Sometimes if I have something specific I’ll add that to the search. For example, the latest black cat went, today, to a friend whose black cat died a week or so ago. I went back into FB to remember the cat’s name, so I could include it in the note I wrote to go with the picture, and darn if that cat didn’t look a lot like the one I did! But anyway, I’m copying other people’s work, I don’t think I could make this stuff up myself. My version never looks entirely like theirs, but pretty close. So I can’t take all the credit.

      Liked by 1 person

  9. I’m delighted you updated these! What outstanding work you do, Dawn — I especially love the clarinet (having played that all through school). I’m sure they’re a huge hit with the recipients, too. You know, we’re in the same shape Michigan is, probably awaiting a renewed governor’s order to stay locked down. In my own county, we received a bunch of tests, and, despite two full weeks of no activity, now we’ve at least tripled the positive cases. Scary times.

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    • I think it’s everywhere and the only reason some people think it’s not around them is because there hasn’t been testing down there yet. Or they have their head in the sand. Or both.

      I sent the clarinet to my community band director who is locked down at home. Her main instrument is clarinet. She’s not able to go out at all because she’s in the middle of chemo treatments for her 3rd recurrent cancer, so she’s really vulnerable. She does clarinet quartets, playing all the parts and puts them on FB to keep busy. I figured she’d like the clarinet. Not so many people even recognize what that is, but we clarinet players sure do!

      Liked by 1 person

  10. You are a lovely soul. Thoughtful, kind and gracious comes to mind. These are stunning. And anyone who receives one smiles ear to ear.

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  11. I love mine, love smiling at the roadrunner, and especially love that you continue to do this every day! They are so beautiful and are a reflection of your beautiful soul.

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    • Thank you P.J. Your roadrunner was one of my favorites, though as you can see I did another one for a friend that lives permanently in Arizona. I like yours best though. (I tell that to all my paintings.)

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  12. Love my bird he is on my refrigerator, say hi everyday to you!

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  13. I love your art! It’s too bad you didn’t make copies, you could have sold them!

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    • I maybe could…but I kind of like that they’re original (Or as original as they can be given I copied someone else’s really original art) and there’s only one (though a couple I have done more than once, but each is unique.) of them I think, for me, it’s like fostering dogs…you love them while they’re with you but you’re glad when they find their forever homes.

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  14. I love your art dawn
    And such great smiles

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  15. Dawn, I really like your little pictures. Love, Aunt Becky

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  16. Works of art! I enjoyed seeing them all! You are so sweet to send them to people. I have slowed down sending mine out…maybe this next week! I think it help to get mail! 🙂

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  17. Pingback: Painting smiles, one day at a time. | Change Is Hard

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