Oddly enough, I was just pondering some of what you said on my walk this afternoon before I read your email. (The part about being artistically blocked and your reaction to critisism.) Reading your words, you sound just like all my artist friends. You are a highly sensitive person and what others might brush off as just being rude, an artist will absorb. This is the angst of being an artist because you are needing to express to make others understand. It is a beautiful thing really because from feeling deeply, you are able to create something meaningful. However, this extreme tends to drive creative people a little frustrated if they are not careful.

When you internalize criticism on yourself (and you usually sprout negative thoughts to yourself and don't realize it), the criticism of others seems to be worse. This becomes a visious cycle because it effects your artist flow, resulting in a block and not being able to sing. I know about this stuff because for 15 years I was a gallery class sculptor and sold and showed my work all over Vancouver. For every one that liked it; five stepped in to tell me what they thought was wrong or how I should change.

But getting back to you. Listen to the words you tell yourself while you are walking or working or driving. Are you being nice to yourself? As for the comments about you being grouchy; I see that as a compliment because you are not so phoney as to put on a mask of false sincerity. You are just being real and next time someone makes a comment, just flip them a 'deal with it, thats the way I am' comment to two. Better yet, flip out on them and give them something substantial to talk about. Shake them up, you are what you are, and that is beautiful as it is.