: characterized or marked by resilience: as
- A positive attitude
- Optimism
- Ability to regulate emotions
- Ability to see failure as a form of helpful feedback
Over the past few years I have reflected many times on where I’ve been and where I’m headed. I’ve become more adaptable to situations and circumstances by trying and doing things that perhaps I might not have seen myself doing. I’ve also enjoyed things I never dreamed I would have and surprised myself! Optimism is something that comes to me pretty naturally (I think I have my mom to thank for this:). And I almost never view anything I try as a failure. I’m not sure where I learned this from but I’ve always felt that everything I do I can and will learn from. Failure is something that happens to all of us in different forms but it’s not the failure itself that’s the lesson, it’s how we learn from experiences and how we bounce back.
Best selling author Seth Godin devotes a whole chapter to Resilience in his book Linchpin.
Here’s an excerpt:
You will fail at this. Often. Why is that a problem? In fact, this is a boon. It’s a boon because when others fail to be remarkable or make a difference or share their art or have an impact, they will give up. But you won’t, you’ll persist, pushing through the dip. Which means that few people will walk in the door with your background, experience or persistence.
If our young men miscarry in their first enterprises they lose all heart. If the young merchant fails, men say he is ruined. If the finest genius studies at one of our colleges, and is not installed in an office within one year afterwards in the cities or suburbs of Boston or New York, it seems to his friends, and to himself that he is right in being disheartened, and in complaining the rest of his life. A sturdy lad from New Hampshire or Vermont, who in turn tries all the professions, who teams it, farms it, peddles, keeps a school, preaches, edits a newspaper, goes to Congress, buys a township, and so forth, is worth a hundred of these city dolls. He walks abreast with his days, and feels no shame in not “studying a profession” for he does not postone his life, but lives already. He has not one chance, but a hundred chances.”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Are you resilient in certain areas of your life but not others?
I’m ready for a little more of this!
I loved how expressive, spontaneous and painterly these exercises were. I found working on the black background both challenging (seeing colors in a new way) and liberating (leaving my “typical” color combinations behind). I thought that the square format would be good for me (i.e. challenge me even more) because one of the things I really wanted to explore at Penland was my understanding of composition. Sure, I’ve got degree’s in art but my past 12 years as a designer of repeat patterns has stunted my ability to create artwork with “proper” composition. I found this out as I began to explore photography. As a designer I tend to center or repeat things out in a certain manner so I wanted to throw that aside while there and focus on understanding composition better. 
I may finish this piece off with a few beads at the ends to give it a little extra pizzaz but nothing flashy. I love the simple beauty of it. As you can see there was a lot of exploration and self expression that came out of this class for me. I’ve got some other bits I worked on as well that I’ll probably share down the road but this give you a good idea of the amount and kind of work we did within the two week class. It was fabulous!
Inside the 3rd floor dorm rooms a “typical” individual non-private accommodation (above). Not bad especially with the windows and fans (they provided us with).
Below are some of the typical views looking out across Penland road and along the walkways that run across the campus. Craft House has a fantastic big porch with swings perfect for enjoying sunsets, reading, having a glass of wine and relaxing (although I felt short on relaxation time with all that was crammed into the schedule!).
The meals were really diverse and always included a vegetarian option and a great salad bar. They make a fantastic Wasabi salad dressing, man do I miss it and miss not having to cook (but really I love to cook). Each day the big chalk board in the dining hall told the daily events.
Some of the veggies and herbs are grown at Penland but they feed on average 250 people at lunch and dinner during their 5 summer sessions (each 2 weeks long).
Some of the buildings at Penland are on the National Historic Register (such as the Dye house below) and others are fairly new. They are also in the process of building a brand new dorm building. 
Clay Studio (outside kilns)
Metals Shop
Glass Studio
Northlight, houses Photography, Book making and a large hall for social gatherings and Yoga:)
Walled garden leading behind metals and clay to Lily Loom, it’s covered in clay tiles and found objects and I could always find something new as I walked past it.
View out the side of the Pines on our last morning.