Hello Starlight
I am a bit confused “When i was younger, i could have gone to art school to do a foundation course, and then perhaps fine art. But about the time i was thinking of this, my mother decided she was going to go to the art school. She told me i should help support her by doing housework. I ended up leaving and going to work.”

When your mum asked you to do housework, was that taking on some of the chores around the family home or did she mean you going out & earning money to support her? Also you said you were thinking about the art course, did you talk to your mum about your dreams, before she went ahead & actioned hers?

I did art as a nightschool subject ( I was rubbish, but still got pleasure) & I also did a distance learning course in arts & antiques ( I think I have a good eye) all whilst raising a family & working.
Is art for you an expression of your thoughts & feelings? and or a way of getting money, recognition & prestige? Does the action of creating something bring you joy?
Who owns your art & joy? you, your mother, art critiques?
Was/ is your mother happy & fulfilled by going to study art?
What is art to you? I have a friend who is in their seventies & has only just started to express & explore herself thru art, so it is never to late to reclaim yourself.
Kind regards
Roberta

Hi Thomas

For a long time I did not have the time for formal practice & missed/resented that aspect until a friend & fellow practioner/carer said that looking after our parents is the practice put into real time reality.
Now I am not so busy, but have got out of the habit of extended daily practice, so I am always grateful to make time to sit with others when they request or take up an offer of a session.

Been married twice & had more relationships than I can count, so romantic relationships are definitely not my area of strength. The more I understand myself, I realize I was a sense junkie ( giving & receiving sensual pleasure) with limited capacity to put up with bad habits as I judged them whilst ignoring my own faults! Since taking a vow of celibacy I create a lot less havoc in mine & others lives.
I am grateful to this forum as a place where conversations that have a depth & sense of enquiry happen.
I hope your urge to drink is not overwhelming & you are being kind to yourself.
Roberta

Hi Anita
You are the homecoming queen. live, love & laugh your way to freedom
Roberta

Hi
Anita

Sorry that you Bogargt has wet your bed. I hope it was just a passing phase.
Sorry i have been out of loop, I dont know where the time goes.
My satellite dish fell onto the rook last night & the wind kept bouncing on the tiles above my bedroom in sounded like a giant doing a tap dance on the roof. This was the room I was going to put my friends in when they visit at the end of the week, so I had to spend most of today spring cleaning another room for them to use, gosh I have accumulated so much stuff, where is Maria Condo when you need her.
Anyway off to bed, hope you have a dry night
Roberta

Hi Anita
I think it is lunch time for you now, where here the sun is on its way down turning my neighbors eucalyptus tree a lovely bronze color & the sky is a patchwork of blue & what looks like rain clouds. I am off to read in bed shortly after a day on my hands & knees cutting grass & watching the ants go by.
Hope you & Bogart are having a good day.
Roberta

Dear Gabrielle
I am sorry that you are struggling because of your decision to break up with your bf. can I ask how long were you together for?
Did he ever do anything that made you feel/believe that he would leave you for someone else or stop caring about you?
In what ways do you feel that the pair of you were not communicating well?
Roberta

Hi Peter

For years I was confused I thought that it was god fare ing as in being well with god in a nice way, then I asked a devout christian about this phrase & he explained it was God fearing! that made me confused in a different way, if a god, is loving, kind, compassionate, what do we have to fear about him? I guess that is why I like Buddhist philosophy/psychology more.
Roberta

Dear Confused

Have you come across Eckart Tolle & Pain Body, he has talks on this subject on you tube. It may help you get a slightly different take on your situation
Roberta