An Icy Bling

Years ago when my sister was much younger, and so was I, she gave me a bracelet as a gift. I don't know exactly where she found it, but I've hung onto it over the years.

I decided to take some of the components from it and cast them in pewter.
These two four-petaled connectors, with their simple shiny rhinestone bling, are from the casting off that bracelet's links.

The original was in a gold-toned metal, possibly brass, although it never turned so maybe it's an alloy of some kind. And it had some small rhinestones on it, just like this.

These two would be nice for earrings, or to use as part of a bracelet.

A new one, to make new memories.
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I was always told, growing up, that you shouldn't compare yourself to others. Not favorably or unfavorably.

Because there will always be someone richer, taller, thinner. More educated, more talented. And always someone shorter, less rich, not as fortunate. Someone better at sports, someone with nicer things. So comparisons should be avoided.

But it's hard to keep from doing it sometimes. I feel that I should be doing so many more things.

Trying to set up teaching gigs, trying to write and publish more articles. Working on "getting my name out there" in so many more ways. Being more creative, expressing myself in more ways.

It makes me feel disappointed in what I've gotten done. Why is it always easier to listen to the "you haven't done" than the "look what you've done" - and yet there's a saying that goes something like:

"It's not how much talent you have that matters, it's how much you've accomplished with what you've got that counts."

It's hard sometimes, thinking of the "what you haven't done" and wishing I'd done more, tried harder, been more successful.

Surely I'm not the only self-critic who does this to myself ...