Be Like a Brush

The real meaning of resilience (2 min read)

I don't exactly know what specific issues your are facing right now. I assume you are quarantining, and so adjusting to a new routine required by the pandemic. I am not sure what concerns you more, if your health at risk, your business to crash, running out of TP or getting bored at home. Or all of them. I guess it might depend on where you live. 

As we Italians are about two weeks ahead of USA, we past the shock phase, the scary phase, forgot the sing an cry phase, the family yelling at each other phase, the ok let's make a cake (followed by let's make a pizza) phase. Now we are in the phase: cool to slow down and reconnect to what really matters, but how long the hell are we gonna live like this?

Things we miss

My brush set

They say our life will never be the same. I hope so, there's so much to be changed in the world! Still there are things we're deeply missing, being outdoor in the first place

Last time I went out for a non-grocery reason, I walked to the huge park I use to go roller skating, but without skates. If the orthopedic ER sees me again, they will spit the coronavirus on my stupid face on purpose! So I went to run a bit. We were still allowed to run or gym solo and in the neighborhood. 

That day I found the park completely deserted, only one dog walker, in a mile square area. We did not even crossed each other, taking different trails as we spotted each other from afar. I guess I scared the dog. And as I was panting and sweating (man how rusty I am!) a lot of what I have been through in my life, came into my mind. 

Tough skin

Mafia, terrorism, illness -- to only mention the scariest ones. I grew up seeing bodies on the pavement for mafia murders in Sicily, survived the killing and bombing of political terrorism in the 70's and  shared the shock and terror for 9/11. More recently I cried the innocent lives shot at the Bataclan in my elective city Paris, and not later than 12 months ago, faced a tough and scary surgery to 'save my life'.

At that very minute in the complete silence of the sunny park, I found myself stronger than ever! "If you made it so far, you'll make it this time too" - I said to myself! Tough skin.. resilience..

So when anxious about the current situation, we should think of the difficulties we have been through and how and where we found strength, courage, faith and help to overcome them. We so easy forget. So as soon I got home, I searched the precise meaning of the word resilience: 

- The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.
- Ability to spring back into shape; elasticity. 

Wow, just like a good painting brush. Spring back.. then I started painting. 
Keep safe, have a bit of fun and help others. 

Francesco
PS. Needless to say, artists need to resist financially as well as emotionally. Please take a minute to check my StayHomeArt sale to both support the arts and enjoy a special happy deal! 

Please leave a comment and visit www.francescofontana.com

Italian Diary with Surprise

13 things I am learning from the total lockdown

I've been staying at home for most of the time in the past couple of weeks. Since the all of Italy lockdown, we can only go out for grocery, pharmacy and other essentials. That’s severe, we can get a fine if police check on us and we fail to prove a good justification. 

Flags (Before St Patrick, NYC)
Oil by Francesco Fontana, private coll.
Click here for my
Italian Diary Surprise Deal! 

1. Got more time to paint, study and research
2. Enjoying the silence from my deserted avenue
3. More family time (nice!) and more fight (crap!)
4. Reconsider lifestyle, what if I keep it this simple?
5. Confrontation with the fridge. Who's gonna win?
6. Realize how many products I can perfectly live without
7. For the reason above, I am sorry for the people losing their job
8. I wonder why we’re so surprised, as many disasters have happened before 
9. Virus don't need a passport, a new meaning for globalization
10. It’s a leadership test, governments turn out their real nature
11. Lucky we can still be connected (another meaning for globalization)
12. I lost a lot of business (class) but I am spending virtually nothing (see 6.)
13. Lucky we don’t need to fight for toilet paper. Got bidets! 

Hope some of these points can inspire you, help take care of your safety and make you smile! 

Cheers — Francesco

PS. Today is St Patrick day. Let's celebrate and pray together to get rid of fears. Good news is today the CV19 cases in Italy have decreased for the first time. One more good news is this a good time to buy. Prices are going down for many a product. As an artist forced to close his studio to classes a month ago, I want however be part of the solution. Please click here if interested in my Italian Diary Surprise deal! 

Please leave a comment and visit www.francescofontana.com

Stay home, please stay home!

Life in Italy at the time of Coronavirus

I can't deny the situation here in Italy is more than serious. Coronavirus went as far has having the entire Country locked down. We cannot basically drive out of town, and flights are near to zero in 'n out of Milan. All schools and public venues are shut nationwide -- from gym to movie theaters, soccer events to many categories of business. No audience at TV shows. And every person if really in need to be out -- is required to stand one meter away from others.

For the sake of our old folks

Overall we are recommended, plead, implored by the Government and Health authorities to stay home. Please stay home! Even if we individually feel safe out there, we might affect elderly and vulnerable people, without knowing.

I admit I didn't take that too literally up to a few days ago. But insiders and friend doctors report a dramatic situation at hospitals. By experience I have a great appreciation for the Italian health system. The high number of infected people reflects the systemic testing that was started earlier than any other western Country. Doctors and paramedics are working relentlessly, night and day, and not only are exhausted, but are cracking emotionally for the lives slipping away from their hands on a daily basis.

A good system under huge pressure

The breaking point is that the number of infected people is increasing faster then the increasing of intensive care rooms available, and equipment needed to treat pneumonia, as a consequence of the virus. It's not a shortage, it's just too many cases at the very same time!

Teresa attending Chinese class via Whatsapp

As a family we are safe. The girls are having fun doing home works via conference calls. Roberta will go to her office only two days this week. I am lucky to have my studio upstairs, and some portrait commission to work on. Otherwise 90% of students do not show and maybe I should cancel the remaining 10%. Forget about economy!

Prayers for those fighting alone

That's just to give friends and family abroad a picture from inside. And to suggest you to take it seriously. Please do not trust those who minimize the issue! Even if they wear the presidential suit! Here we stay positive, reconsider our agenda and try to enjoy family and homely time.

We pray for those struggling on a hospital bed, who cannot even have the comfort of their family hold their hands. We are so grateful to the professionals on the frontline and even for the Government for  they're doing the right things this time! Let's hope this will be over soon, and that we can hug again!

Take a lot of care! -- Francesco

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