Heartfelt Congratulations & Know-It-All Advice

So yesterday I received about 200 messages congratulating me for the appearance of my dropback painting in the New York Times.  It was fantastic and a little overwhelming.
We’re talking about my speed dials & people I haven’t spoken to in 20 years;  people I’ve just met & folks I’m discussing possible ventures with — ie, EVERYONE.
In all sincerity, I really loved the outpouring.  It’s so sweet that people felt inspired to just shoot an email back just to say “Congrats” or “Yay” or even “Woooooohooooo!!!!”  (that one from Amy Ahlers.)
It takes so little to show your support and enthusiasm, and for someone like me who remembers every single kindness and each slight from the third grade … it means more than you can ever imagine.
I posted a few times on The Face Place and got lots of responses, too but what was really fascinating is when I posted in the private David Neagle Miracle of Money group, I got tremendous acknowledgement and support, along with tons of unsolicited advice.
Really, I was simply sharing good (ok, GREAT) news and yet so many folks felt compelled to offer unsolicited advice on how I had to maximize the opportunity.   While overall it was quite lovely to receive the encouragement, it was also a little … perplexing.
First, it was a reminder that not everyone gets me, especially my sense of humor.
I began my posting by saying that “I can’t really go door to door and ask if anyone wants to buy a $15,000 six foot canvas, as though it was a box of girl scout cookies.”  [IE, a humorous statement about the challenges of selling pricy art.]
Somehow that inspired a few comments that I actually should or shouldn’t go door-to-door.  I mean, can you just imagine how that would be, taking traveling salesmen/Jehovah’s Witness techniques to an entirely different level.  Honestly, just how absurd do I have to make a statement for its levity to be obvious?
But secondarily, more than one person began to outline strategies for my self-promotion — including what their cut would be (endorsements and references) — without actually having read the New York Times article or exploring my website.   They felt qualified to offer unsolicited action plans for how I should maximize the opportunity.  Basically, “Although I know nothing of you and your work, nor have I even read the article which inspired this post, nonetheless here is my seven point plan for you.”  (I’m not kidding or exaggerating –– and I write this with total freedom because clearly they are NEVER going to read it in a million years.)
I suppose this is well-meant but somehow also idiotic and endearing all at once.
This, however, is secondary to the real question of the day:  the Cosmic Battle between the David Neagle “take action and show your subconscious who’s boss” philosophy and the Abraham-Hicks “It’s all about alignment, with action a VERY distant second.”
For example, Susanna posted yesterday about how this whole New York Times episode is truly an allowing victory and I actually agree.  I did NOTHING to make this happen –– I didn’t even know it was in process.  Sure, I invited Emily to a holiday party three years ago where she saw the painting in my loft and snatched it up … but I more or less forgot about it until I woke up to find a google alert notifying me it was featured in the New York Times.
Here’s the loft, although a different painting is hanging in that spot, one of me and Tyrone, done by another artist friend, Anne Hall:

And yet this Go With The Flow thing is obviously working both amazingly well for me, and yet not 100%.
Here’s the gazillion dollar question:  is it because I’m not doing it (the Art of Allowing stuff) 100% or because I also need a good David Neagle vaccination of ACTION THROUGH RESISTANCE to move forward?
OY!
Anyway, yesterday was so fantastic –– and I am skipping over Adrian and my delightful drive to see Tevis speak (brilliantly) and then have dinner with her and drive her to the airport — but this morning you can see how even Belle was beyond exhausted during our morning intimacy work:
BELLE THIS MORNING
And finally, if you’re asking yourself “What’s the deal with that picture at the top?” — well, it because the greatest challenge of our life on Telegraph Hill is parking –– and while Susan is away, I am delighted to share with her every Parking Miracle, my new and favorite metaphor for Possibility.
Amen.